Friends, I've always found the 400km Audax more difficult than the 600km. For most first-time 400km audax riders, I highly suggest that you focus on enjoying the ride and squeeze in as much rest as you can instead of gunning for a fast time. 27 hours is quite a lenient allowance for the 400 so you should have ample rest or breaks throughout the whole ordeal. Please find below a couple of tips from personal experience:
1) LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AND REST. Unless you're a seasoned long-distance cyclist that can cycle with little or no sleep at all, rest when your body is telling you to rest. If you're sleepy, take a nap. You would be surprised on how much you can push on with just a few minutes of sleep.
2) BUDDY UP. The 400km audax is unknown territory to most cyclists and if this is the first time you're doing one, it mentally helps to have a friend or a riding buddy along. This is also for your own safety on the roads.
3) LIGHTS. Make sure you have the proper lights for this ride. Everyone who will be riding the 400km will definitely ride through the dark. Outside the bigger towns, it will be pitch-dark. Also, be visible on the roads. Have the read blinking rear lights ON especially in the dark.
4) CHANGE CYCLING KITS. This is not a fashion-driven tip. I am very particular with hygiene and health in cycling. It's enough that you're exposed to the elements as you ride long hours on the bike. I highly suggest you have a change of clothes (or at least cycling shorts) 2-3 times throughout the entire ride to let your body breathe. Believe me, your ass will thank you for it.
5) USE CHAMOIS CREAM. This helps avoid chafing, blisters and saddle sores. My favourite is the Assos cream. Aside from the lubrication, it is antibacterial. I call this the miracle cream that has helped me go through Paris-Brest-Paris (1,240km) twice without any bum problems.
6) CHANGE TO SHORTS. If you plan to stop (nap, eat, etc.) for more than 45 minutes, get out of your cycling shorts, clean up and wear a breathable pair of shorts so your bum can breathe. My favourite alternative to the shorts is the malong. Your bum will thank you for it. When it's time to ride again, use a fresh pair of shorts and put some chamois cream.
7) KEEP YOURSELF HYDRATED AND BE MINDFUL OF YOUR NUTRITION. There will be times that you won't have an appetite to eat. You have to force yourself to eat properly to avoid bonking.
8) GET PLENTY OF SLEEP THE NIGHTS BEFORE THE RIDE. With the anxiety of the ride creeping in, most won't be able to sleep well the night before. Even if you only had 2 hours of sleep the night before the Audax, you will be fine as long as you have slept well the previous nights. My husband once caught a flight from London to Singapore to the Philippines with just 2 hours of sleep and still managed to finish the 400km Audax strong. I managed to finish Paris-Brest-Paris with just a total of 3.5 hours in 4 days.
9) BE READY FOR THE WEATHER. I've said it several times in the past, "an audax rider is not a fair-weather cyclist". We brave the elements as long as it's not life-threatening, of course. We've ridden through torrential rain, extreme heat, extreme cold, etc. Personally, when I encounter such bad weather conditions, I just imagine myself in one of those Rapha Braver Than The Elements ride and I get a renewed sense of strength. There are a lot of cyclists out there but there are only a small percentage of those cyclists who has the physical and mental strength to overcome such challenges.
With that said, rest and recover properly for the ride.
See you all on March 2!