Thanks to everyone who came, saw, rode and scoffed at the LVIS Audax 2012! It was a great day for it so the combination of sunshine, quiet lanes and some considerable WI catering made for a fantastic event. We're busy putting together the finishers list that will go onto the AUK website while the photographer that was roving around the course hopes to have his pictures uploaded for viewing within a few days.
I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and will be signing up to more Audax rides in the near future. In the meantime we'll crack on with planning our 2013 event and look forward to seeing you there.
Go Vegas!
The LVIS Audax Team
The Las Vegas Institute of Sport returns for a third year with two challenging Audax routes for the South West calendar taking in some of the sights of Bristol, its outskirts and beyond. Both are being held in honour of the illustrious founder of the Institute, Mr Barry Jaeger.
We hope to encourage new riders to discover the wonderful world of Audax riding by offering both a 116km and 214km route with the majority on quiet, pleasant roads.
Introduced in 2010 this event proved very popular and last year nearly 300 riders enjoyed the varied route and generous baking presented in the unique 'Vegas Way'. Have a look through the gallery of pictures for a taste of what you can expect.
Due to limitations on space at the village hall and at some of the controls, we will be accepting a maximum of 350 riders on the short route and 150 riders on the long route. We cannot accept any entries on the day.
There's an article about the 2010 event on road.cc: My first 200km: Barry's Bristol Ball Buster.
And a report on the 2011 112km event here: Audax Bristol 112k.
Barry's Bristol Ball Buster
The 'classic distance' 200km route (Brevet 'Randonnée') circumnavigates the city of Bristol before climbing up on to the Mendip Hills then down to the Somerset Levels before returning to the start point in Long Ashton.
Highlights include: Clifton Suspension Bridge, views of both Severn bridges, the Cotswold Escarpment, the Mendip Hills, Glastonbury Tor, the Somerset Levels, Gordano Valley.
With over 2000m of climbing over the 200km distance this is sure to test the legs of even the best riders.
Barry's Bristol Bash
The shorter 116km route (Brevet Populaire) takes in the same route as the start of the 214km option but heads back to Long Ashton just south of Bristol instead of continuing onto the Mendips.
Highlights include: Clifton Suspension Bridge, views of both Severn bridges, the Cotswold Escarpment, Bristol City views from Dundry Hill.
Save some energy for the final climb over Dundry!
Start/Finish
The routes start from Long Ashton Village Hall (Keedwell Hill, Bristol, BS41 9DP) where there will be toilets, hot drinks, and hot and cold food available. The food and drink at the start/finish is included in your £6 entry fee, but there will be a collection for the charities WaterAid and Sustrans so please bring some cash! You will also need money to buy refreshments on the route.
View LVIS Audax Start/Finish Point in a larger map
Riders on Barry's Bristol Ball Buster (214km) will set off at 8:00am.
Riders on Barry's Bristol Bash (116km) will set off at 9:30am.
Don't forget that the clocks will go forward at 2am on 25th March 2012!
There will be some parking at the village hall with on street parking nearby. Please consider riding to the start, sharing lifts or using public transport where possible.
Performance Cycles will be selling ride essentials such as inner tubes and back up lights at the start HQ.
Out on the Ride
If you've never ridden an Audax event before then expect a relaxed atmosphere (it's not a race), a variety of different types of riders and bikes and an enjoyable day out on some roads that you may not have ridden before. The ride is self guided and not sign-posted or marshalled so you should be competent at following a route sheet and carry tools, clothing and food to keep yourself out of trouble.
You can ride at your own pace, as long as your overall average speed, including stops, stays between the minimum and maximum
specified for the event.
116km: 12.5 - 30kph
214km: 15 - 30kph
At the start you get a brevet card, which has to be filled in at each checkpoint, to show that the course has been completed.
The opening and closing times of the checkpoints (including the finish) are based on these minimum and maximum speeds.
Food and drink will be available to buy at the manned checkpoints shown as a knife and fork on the route profiles. There are two checkpoints on the 116km route which will be generously stocked by the good ladies of the Hill & Rockhampton WI and the Doynton & Wick WI. The 214km route shares the same first two checkpoints as the 116k while others are either a café or pub.
The info controls, shown as an 'i' on the route profiles are un-manned, but you will be required to answer the question given on your brevet card. If you do not put the correct answer on your card then we cannot validate that you have completed the ride.
Qoroz bikes will be helping out at the second manned checkpoint while also displaying their range of unique titanium bicycles.
Sunrise is at about 07:00 Sunset is at about 19:30 so you will need lights for the long route and should consider carrying lights for the short route.
Sections of the route are on narrow country lanes where there will be some mud and grit on the roads. It is strongly recommended that you fit mud guards to make the ride more comfortable for yourselves and those riding behind you.
To find out more about Audax UK follow this link: http://www.aukweb.net/aboutauk/
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