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Read on to find out about Audax Derek’s adventures – an amazing feat by any standards – Rebecca Romero eat your heart out!

There And Back To See How Far It Is

Some thoughts on my ride from London to Edinburgh and back.
Firstly the registration on Saturday was a little worrying at 3 hours- this took longer than the drive to the start and provided my bald head with more sun than it would see at anytime on the ride. If this was to be repeated at each check point it would have been a bit of a drain on time. However, things as they say got better.
On Saturday night I failed to get to sleep before the ubiquitous YHA snorer and so only managed about 4 hours kip. Got away to an 8.30 start on Sunday and as the euphoria kicked in the pace was brisk. By about 10 had hitched up with Ferdinand from Vermont and that was the way it stayed until the end. I am sure that company was the reason we survived.
En route met a local audax rider wearing rubber gloves at Thorne. Not sure if he was doing the washing up or had volunteered to apply chamois cream !!! A fine example of the many sterling volunteers that kept us fed watered and woke us when needed. After a rather spicy goulash continued taking advantage of the wind ( nature’s not bean power) and driven by the fact that my bag drop was 50k further than intended, rode to Coxwold 411k and had ½ kip. Suitably refreshed rode to my bag at Middleton Tyas 463k ate and slept for 3hours.Then on again.
The leg from Barnard Castle to Alston provided the first taste of an unhelpful breeze and was the start of the lumpy bits. Many of you know how I climb!! Ploughed on through Alston and through to Eskdalemuir 633k. The fire here proved too much of a temptation and another ½ was spent inspecting eyelids. Then it was the run into Edinburgh. Arriving in just under 48 hours and spurred on by porridge and a wee dram dished out at the Traquair control crew.
Arrived Edinburgh in just under 48 hours as planned, average ride speed turned out to be Edinburgh 26Kph . This left 67 hours to get back. Ferdinand’s wife was at Edinburgh as a volunteer, got our food quickly then went for a 3hour kip in a nearby church. This proved to be a little mistake as the weather turned. The climb out of Dalkeith was into the once helpful wind and boy did it blow. On the run over to Innerleithen we were pedalling downhill whilst those still going north sat up, spread their arms and free wheeled up! It was round about here my chain started to slip on the top 3/4 rings on the rear block but I had sufficient low gears to keep going. Only 500k of irritating shifting.
Later Tuesday the rain then arrived. It was bouncing off the road. So we were battering against a gale force wind in the rain, what joy!! My aim was to get back to Barnard Castle for a decent rest but after a feed in Eskdalemuir it was apparent that would be too far and Alston became the target. Those hilly miles in the dark, battling against the wind were the hardest I’ve done. The control at Alston was a welcome sight at 1.30 am but it was full to overflowing. The stalwart helpers were dealing almost hypothermic riders, every space that could be used for sleeping was.
Another 2 hour kip and then over Yad Moss where the rain did ease slightly but the wind refused to give up. Grabbed lots of food at Middleton Tyas and more sleep at Coxwold on the return. Onward to Thorne and the rubber glove man, who was dishing out some banter. Even said we were looking in good shape- must be those rose tinted specs he wears. Pork casserole was superb- ate slept and ate again before leaving. From there on it was the point at which the ride was in the bag but the ks clicked by slowly, especially any with a gradient, and the route saved one beast just before the finish. Arrived back 11.20pm Thursday- 6 hours to spare, had beer, showered and was the unbiquitous snorer!!!
Return ave 18kph. Unlike Claire my dress size went up!! I put on weight, not wishing to bonk, I ate at every opportunity.

Final time 110 hours 40 mins – 6 hours to spare on time limit total distance 1428Km

If you wish to join the wacky world of audax riding you may find the following training tips useful.
1. Train on rollers going up hill
2. Have someone turn a hose on you
3. Adopt the following mind set Eat-apply cream- cycle- eat -sleep-eat- apply cream- cycle and repeat as often as necessary whilst chanting the mantra “Every k above 12kph is 5 mins off the bike at a control”

Will I do another? I might consider PBP 2011

Derek