[Closed] Doing an Audax for the first time. A few questions

1) Why wouldn't you ?
2) Why wouldn't you ?

not nowadays
can you?

1) No frame mounts for them. Could get race blades I suppse
2) I can't

1) Does being wet matter to you when you're cold, tired and hungry?
2) Don't worry about it then.

1) No frame mounts for them. Could get race blades I suppse

p clips are your friend, although clearances and tyre size can be an issue, full length guards are far better than race blades and the like.

I couldnt care if you get wet .Its because you spray crap on the group you are riding with you have mudguards

Mud guards this time of year are good manners. If you don't fit any then do the decent thing and sit at the back.

Done audax in the past never had mudguards never been a problem. I do not have a beard

Is it right that mudguards and lights are compulsory?
AUK's regulations used to require mudguards - but not any more. Some events may require mudguards, but that depends on the individual organiser. In the Calendar, the code M indicates that mudguards may be required. Otherwise, they are not required, though their use might be 'encouraged' by some organisers.

Thought guards were a must ,they were today on the flapjack 100km

They say mudguard are recommended. Will I be frowned at if I don't have them?

You will if you take a turn on the front and it's chucking it down.

If you are doing it on your own ,then no worries.

Beards are good for leftovers when you are groveling on the last few miles.
🙂

just taken up Audaxing myself, mainly as winter training for endurance mtb events in the summer, I have done 3 over the winter, last weekend did a 200km from Tewks,

they are okay if you ride with friends, last weekend I lost my mates after 30 miles and rode 100 miles solo, hated it,

i think the regulations do not enforce mudguards, but some organisers still want them, basically to stop you going into the controls and messing the places up, especially if you only spend 50p

Mudguards more comfortable for you and others, but I've never been frowned at for not having them.

I was frowned at for not taking a pen on my first audax.

Beards are optional. For ladies, at least.

Got my first Audax in March in Darlington .. 200km ride.

So are these rides a group start ??? Kind of like a club run but with controls etc ??

Wouldn't mind riding round with more experienced guys to get a feel for what needs to be done .. like I would never of brought a pen !!!

take a pen and a sandwich bag (often IME these are supplied but depends on the organiser)

There will be a mandatory old guy that rides round on his own at just an MPH less than you on his raleigh 20..... last few i did it was george berwick no less....

take cash - esp if your reasonably fast as youll be sitting in controls to stop getting in early.

Yes they're a group start. A lot of the people doing them will be club riders but not all, so don't assume that people will want to ride in the same way as a club run.

Riding round in a big group is good but keep an eye on your route sheet (or your GPS) as there's inevitably a moment where everyone is following everyone else and you realise you're all lost. A A6 map board is a handy bit of kit - make your own from a bit of plastic and a couple of zip ties.

A pen is handy if there are info controls, as if you don't write stuff down you'll inevitably forget whose name was on the war memorial 50 miles back and have to throw yourself on the mercy of the organisers.

Thanks for that ..

I have just had a map board made in carbon fibre for Trans Iowa .. an offer was made to make it for me and I couldn't resist 🙂

Yeah I have been caught out int he past playing follow the leader until everyone realises the guys in front weren't paying attention to the route.

Looking forward to it ... also does anyone know if any rides of required distance can be completed to complete the Super Randonneur ?? I just noticed some event pages have the symbol of the challenege and some don't

Pretty sure that any event of the required distance counts, and you can also do fewer longer rides. YACF is the fount of knowledge for all things Audaxy so I'd check there.