A "first Audax": lessons learned

[librarian]

Though it wasn't actually my first Audax, because I didn't actually enter. Plan was to potter along the first leg of the Poor Student and imbibe the vibe.

• 1. You should have sorted out your bag last night. Did you remember the puncture repair kit? Well done.
  
• Corollary to 1. You didn't pack enough food.
• 2. Although at 25 miles you may feel as tired as you normally do at 50, you'll not feel as bad at 40 miles as you'd expect to at 80. Do not take this as evidence that you might be up to finishing the route after all.
• 3. If the first leg is into a west-south-westerly and you turn the corner to NNE the going will get easier. Do not take this as evidence that you might be up to finishing the route after all.
• 4. Schwalbe Marathons don't puncture, but that doesn't stop the inner tube failing at the valve.
• Corollary to 1 and 4. You didn't pack an inner tube, did you?
• 5. Audaxers are friendly helpful people.
• Corollary to 5 and previous corollary. You now owe someone an inner tube. You'll never catch them up to say thank you properly, though.
• 6. Changing tubes in the rain is cold.
• Corollary to 6. Thermos flasks are good.
• Further corollary to 6. Quadriceps muscle cramps are bad.
• 7. It is now dark and raining and windy. And also windy and dark and raining.
• Corollary to all previous corollaries: it's time to go home. The WSWerly should help.
• 8. It's not a WSWerly, it's an Againsterly. And the station is 20 miles away.
• 9. It's not a DNF, it's your first century of the year  :).