Orwell 200 Audax 2016- 6th March

This is starting to fill up, so if you're planning to ride get your entry forms in sooner rather than later.

Details and entry form can be found here:
AudaxIreland link.

You can enter by posting a form with cheque or postal order to 11 Morning Star Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, e-mail your form and paypal to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or just drop a completed form into the shop with a €5.

Last year's thread can be found here .

For anyone who is will be using this as their first go at an audax, or their first attempt at a 200, this is probably the gentlest introduction you will find to riding the longer distances. If it is going to be all new to you, here's some useful advice copied from last year's thread:

Diarmuid Donnelly said:

A 200k isn't much different from a regular sportive except that
1. You have to find your own way
2. There is no mechanical / broom wagon backup

With that in mind the main thing is to ensure you can cater for most eventualities without having to abandon, and to have someone on call in the unlikely event that you do have to call it a day.

I would bring the following stuff in addition to what people would normally carry:
- Multi-tool
- Spare gear cable and brake cable
- Tyre boot - piece of flexible plastic to place inside a tyre to cover a rip
- High-density food - fruit cake, dried fruit, nuts, bars or whatever you like (there will be shops, but best to have some spare food in case you need a boost between towns)
- Phone numbers on paper in case phone dies

That's in addition to the standard items of 2-3 spare tubes, tyre levers, pump, rain jacket, bananas, water bottles, phone, etc.

If you've got one of those audax bags on the back of your bike then then you can thrown in a spare folding tyre, spare gloves, socks, top, etc. but for a 200k then that might be overkill.

Directions etc. will be supplied, but it's good to have the route loaded onto your Garmin if you have one, to avoid having to dig out the route sheet at every junction if you get separated from the group.

All the above sounds like a lot but it is possible to get everything into pockets and regular saddlebag. Maybe add a tri-bag on the top tube if you want easy access to food.

Final route check is done, no changes to note from last year: Link.

Entries are trickling steadily in, there are about 35 Orwell and about the same number of guests signed up so far (not that I've had time to count them just yet).

Just bumping this to let people know that I'm still taking entries until Friday, you can send them in by e-mail, post or hand them into the shop. It's going to be the biggest Orwell crowd ever on an Audax event, so if you are thinking of giving Audax a go you'll never find a better one to start with than this.

There are still a few places available and Dave will be taking entries by email up to 10 tonight!

Entries are all done with 90 names on the start list, 60 of whom Orwell and 30 guests.

The weather forecast is improving by the hour, and while it's guaranteed to be cold it looks like most of the field will make it around in the dry and sunshine.

Dave- thanks for organising a super event!
Also, a big thank you to everyone I cycled with today-what a great day. I really enjoyed it!

Dave, great event. The coke at Joe Daly's when I arrived back was as good as champagne.
Thanks to all Orwell and non-Orwell cyclists for the company.

Absolutely Dave, well done. thanks to all who helped me get around the course!

Peter

Thanks again, Dave. It was a great experience.

Cheers Dave for all the effort in putting this together and pulling if off yesterday. Thanks to all riders for the company - great day out and all finished smiling :)

Danny

A 'quick' look back at the Orwell 200 Audax - march 6th 2016 ,with some footage from the on-board camera.

Well done Dave it was a great experience.

Cheers,
Leonard