Ep.33: How to ride your first 600km audax (DIY & solo) on a Mason Resolution2

What do you do when the organised 600km Audax UK event you were supposed to be doing gets cancelled? Create your own route and just crack on. North Shropshire to Glastonbury and back in a little over 36 hours. 618km (384miles) with 5,800 metres of elevation gain.

[@Forever_Tri-ing]

Audaxing is ‘riding you bike, looking for food and drink’. Perfect description. 😂

[@Glenn-gf7fi]

Always, funny,entertaining and a worthwhile watch. Your last comment cracked me up!

[@paullister7293]

A 10/10 if ever I saw one, brilliantly done Paul!

[@SaddleSore]

Thanks Paul!

[@paulmiller7671]

Epic ride Paul. Congratulations on completing your SR. I would highly recommend using tri-bars to take the pressure off your hands. Only another 900Kms to go for LEL. The secret I have learnt from long distance riding is don't expect to go as fast as you would on a 200. Speed is not the key to completing long rides successfully, rather stopping less. Well, it is for me, being slightly older. Still undecided about LEL next year. Not sure whether I can put myself through that.

[@SaddleSore]

Thanks Paul. I’m certainly in the “don’t stop unless you have to” camp. And if I do stop I try to make sure it’s for more than one reason e.g. have a comfort break AND put an item of clothing on/off. Of course, I’ll always make an exception if I spot a Donkey!

[@smellyelle8422]

Annnnnd kept your sense of humour when you were really popped towards the end. Made me lol. Cracking achievement👌 Loved the vid😎

[@SaddleSore]

Thanks Smelly! If you can’t laugh when you’re cycling it’s a poor show!!

[@RickiGoode]

Great effort Mr. S, a great achievement completing your first SR. For the advice though, no gloves is the solution for comfortable hands - works every time.

[@SaddleSore]

Thanks Ricki. That’s what I thought as well. I don’t bother with gloves for anything less than 200km but thought I’d better use mittens above that as I sometimes get rubbed on the heels of my hands. I think next time I’ll start without gloves and only put a pair on when I need them. Cheers, Paul

[@BikepackingAdventures]

Yeah this is good idea, I've started wearing them less over the last of years ago. The only problem I have is in warm weather the bars can get slippery from sweat.

[@jonathanwalters5611]

Great video. Well done on your SR

[@SaddleSore]

Thanks Jonathan!

[@cupidstunt1975]

Graham the Gooch, always makes me chuckle…

[@SaddleSore]

He’s been renamed… currently answers to ‘Gilbert’.

[@BikepackingAdventures]

Well done mate! Idk if its just your mount being in a low position in the second half of your video, but I've noticed in my own videos after long, long rides, it drifts further and further downwith shots up my nose towards the final miles. Good luck with healing those hands, I don't think there's much advice I can give apart from thicker bar tape. And the season for full gloves is nearly upon us!

[@SaddleSore]

Thanks Richard. I’ve got a plan regarding my hands! Time to bulk order some hand warmers soon!

[@BikepackingAdventures]

@@SaddleSore careful you don't create a shortage with your panic buying

[@RickiGoode]

Solution for cold hands - don't wear gloves - works every time for me. Temporarily cold, but then they warm up quickly. And an interesting observation from Mr. Watkins, warmer arms = warmer hands too. I definitely think he's on to something there.

[@ketjurevoluutio]

That looked like fun! Type 2, I mean. I have my first 600 k in 3 weeks, yikes!

[@Bijou-Bob]

Congratulations on getting yout SR, that looked hard at points

[@SaddleSore]

Thank you. I hated it and loved it. But mostly loved it! Already thinking of the next one.

[@adriansmith38]

Congratulations. Hope to do a measly 300km next year. New Forest for Donkey paradise BTW

[@SaddleSore]

There’s nowt measly about a 300… it’s a hell of a lot more than the majority of people will ever ride. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the New Forest. Maybe my next 600 should be in that direction!

[@audaxgareth6243]

Nice one! Congrats on your SR

[@SaddleSore]

Thanks Gareth!!

[@paule4]

Nice! Is there a time limit when you do a DIY?

[@SaddleSore]

Yes there is… same as an organised event of the same distance… have a look on the audax UK website for more info!

[@j8hnlawler]

well done on completing the ride, I have a Mason Resolution 2 on order, looks like a great bike for the miles

[@SaddleSore]

Thanks John. It’s certainly the best bike I’ve ever owned. Not the lightest, but so, so nice to ride and own. And way prettier that most carbon monstrosities!

[@l139x3]

Really like your content Paul, and great achievement. Did you try to manage your HR ? I never did more than the 200s (max250k), but figured if I don’t look after it at the beginning I’ll have a hard time keeping it reasonable later. I have no clue how I’d do on a 400 or 600.

[@SaddleSore]

I try to maintain 130-135bpm when trucking at a sustainable speed on the flat, letting it peak to 155-160 on climbs. For much of day 1 of LEL I was at 170npm even when riding fairly Steadily on the flat… the heat was the issue.

[@l139x3]

@@SaddleSore Thanks Paul! After that 170bpm day, could You sleep well? How way the day after ? Just because a day like that really screws me badly. Maybe not enough training. Anyway, really enjoying your channel. Cheers from a small central eastern european country.

[@carrot595]

170 miles to find a donkey...............Can't wait to use that line!

[@tavisrees3859]

Hi can you tell me what size tyres you have on those wheels because I have a gravel bike with 650b and 47mm on want to get the rite size for audaxs cheers.

[@SaddleSore]

700c with 30mm tyres. I also have a gravel bike on which I run 700c with 36mm tyres.

[@tavisrees3859]

@@SaddleSore I'm going to use the bike for audaxs will it be ok

[@SaddleSore]

If the tyres are slick, or only have a minimal tread, you’ll be fine… just make sure you’re running a decent pressure for the road.

[@tavisrees3859]

Thanks for the help

[@MarkoftheShire]

DONKEYS+POSH BIKE+600KM+SR SERIES COMPLETE=too much in one video, well done young fella … only thing missing was a 5G tower 😜

[@SaddleSore]

It could have done with some piles of dirt as well, but Watkins would have definitely shut my channel down if I’d included that footage. Shame I didn’t have a zoom lens to film the ‘happy time’ Donkeys in more detail!

[@davidatkinson8049]

Hilarious!