My training and preparation for my 208km audax attempt

As I mentioned before, I am going to be attempting a 208km audax/randonnee next Sunday (the 23rd).
I cycle to work every day, and I have a pretty active job, but that isn't going to be enough.
So this is just a short summary of my 2015 training, just so that folks who want to do a similar distance for the first time have some sort of idea what is required!

Cheap Bike Prepares for Audax ...

Audax.
Randoneuring.
Long rides (very long rides!) for no good reason :-)

Anyway, I'm due to do such a ride on Sunday 23rd August (that's a week after tomorrow).
200km.

Hmm.

Of course, I'll be riding "Mermaid".
I only have the one bike at the moment, so that's the one I'll be riding :-)
I've never actually ridden as far as 200km before, so there is certainly an element of challenge to it!

Some folks join organised rides, and ride in a group.
For me, I kind of like my own company, and more importantly, I am working every time a local "organised" ride comes up.
So I am going the "DIY permanent" route.

Choosing the route
I have to submit my route to the organiser in advance (I have already done so!).
My route will be Aylesbury (where I live), Oxford, Rickmansworth, Welwyn Garden City, Leighton Buzzard, Berkhamsted, and back to Aylesbury.
Using the marvel of Google, I am able to calculate the SHORTEST route between the towns I have named.

On Oval Chainrings

On a forum to which I suscribe, one poster got all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed about oval chainrings, and one brand in particular. The poster assured us that they were the greatest thing since sliced bread and had clear, and clearly proven, benefits, and linked to a report by some suitably qualified engineers to prove it. the poster also assured us that they must be good because Team Sky (who have just clocked up ANOTHER Tour de France win!) use them, and as anyone knows, Team Sky are big on marginal gains (apparently, they even take their own beds with them so the riders sleep better!)

So I read the report.
Hmm.
I am not sure how to say this.
The report is based on a mathematical model, not actual cycling.
"So what?" you might ask.
Well, the model doesn't seem to cover the way I cycle.

So many panniers, so little time ...

I looked in the garage, and I have quite a few panniers :-)
They are all mine (all mine!), and I have bought them at various times from various suppliers, paying the "normal" price for them - if I bought them on "clearance", you could have at that time as well!
So none of your dubious "infotainment" reviews here - just a normal chap with normal bike luggage!

I performed to "capacity" test on my pannier selection - first with the box from a pair of Caterpillar boots (US size 12, UK size 11, Euro size 46, i think. I'm not too good on Euro sizes!).
And it is a pair of boots (work boot style, not knee-boots!), rather than shoes, so it is quite a large shoe-box.
Then I did a test to see how my cycle helmet fitted. It is a large/extra-large size (I have a big head as well as big feet!, but hey, I am almost as tall as John Wayne, so I'm not a little guy!)

As I run through each pannier, I will highlight a few of the features of it, and how much I paid and stuff like that, and what I think is the best and worst features of each etc. etc.
So, off we go!

Fitting cheap front pannier racks

Just three pounds (about 5 dollars) gets me this pair of front pannier frames on "clearance".

They attach to the fork and the mudguard/fender
mount.

Hope they don't get in the way of my quick-release!
I usually "fold" it down over the mudguard/fender mount!

What's in the packet - 8 bolts, 6 "nyloc" anti-vibration nuts, 2 spacer tubes, 2 pannier frames, two curved "clamp" pieces for the front fork, and a single-sided A4 instruction sheet.
The anti-vibration nuts are particularly impressive at this price point.