I joined Audax UK this week and received two inspiring magazines and a handbook and I am looking forward to riding my first 100 k event this week in Cornwall. I made a decision to do more cycling after many years away and realised that entering Audax events would be a fine way to get fit and be sociable. I then bent the forks of my beloved 30 year old Harry Quinn frame and had to go out and look for a new bike. Bending the bike caused me more grief than my children bringing their friends round to see the 'Elephant Man' until the scars healed.

So my first decision on the new bike specification was that I should be able to fit mudguards, as I knew this was a rule I would have to abide by. I am unlikely to do any heavy duty touring, so a lightweight bike would suffice. I looked at several handsome machines, none of which had clearances as far as I could see. These were priced at under £500. Eventually I had one built, and this cost £1000, but it's the finest machine I've ever ridden (my thanks to Mr Barretto in Plymouth).

What do I find on reading the magazines ? The liveliest topic and one which causes the most vehemence is on whether the mudguard rule should be scrapped. I'm not too concerned either way now, since I can leave or remove mine. I don't recall this being a major problem when I was on club runs 30 years ago, the ones who enjoyed wet backs (and I was one, young and foolish) stayed at the rear of the bunch if they ventured out at all in bad weather. Neither do I remember it causing much discussion, we just went out and rode.

We were riding with older men who wore ties and tweed 'plusses' on Sunday runs. Now everyone seems to dress like racers and the fuddy-duddy image of touring cyclists appears to be rapidly fading. However, it did make me wonder about what sort of organisation I was now joining. As a comparative outsider it all looks so petty and divisive. If I'd seen all this before joining I might have had second thoughts and I think you should be aware of what sort of effect this might have on potential new members. On one hand we have 'ordinary' people regularly doing extraordinary rides, far beyond the imagination of most of the population, on the other hand we have members squabbling over mudguards. I just hope a reasonable concensus will prevail and Audax UK doesn't come to grief over this. It reminds me of the violent civil war which broke out in 'Gulliver's Travels' over whether you should break a boiled egg from the Big End or the Little End.

All my life I have loved the freedom of being outdoors, cycling, climbing, sailing and paragliding. What I have always hated is cliquey rules and defensive committees. Please convince me I haven't fallen into a nest of petty rulemakers and that I will be amongst like minded freedom lovers.

Dave Smith