Been talked into (ok, didn't take much) doing an Audax next month. What is the aim of one, will i be laughed at for turning up with a mtb helmet & a flat-barred road bike etc?
Sportives are full of people pretending to be racing, Audaxes are full of people pretending that they're not. Enjoy getting your legs torn off be 60 and 70yr olds.
think cycle touring, and you won't be far wrong. Obviously fit people and bikes mean some will race even though it is non competitive. There can be rules like must fit mudguards, but depends on the event.
Tour might not be quite right, but is closer than race.
[url= http://www.aukweb.net/ ]auk[/url]
Like a sportive, but its not way marked. You just get given a map and a list of instructions (go along x road for y miles, then turn left, etc. etc.)
Cheap, good fun, and usually very interesting routes. You can turn up on anything and you won't get laughed at. Expect beards, leather, recumbents, old people, raincoats, sandwiches, and to have your legs ripped off by someone fitting all those.
Like a Sportive but about 1/5th of the price and designed for people who actually know how maps work. You'll usually have to do your own navigating as it's not waymarked.
Imagine it as a sort of CTC version of a Sportive and you won't be far wrong. Also, prepare to be ridden into the ground by some 60-year old who can keep riding at the same 14mph average all day and probably most of the night too.
Just done a 49 mile rout with a fair amount of hills.
4438ft of climbing so some good climbs etc. Managed an average of 13mph...
Going to die aren't i?
Check out audaxuk.
Got a feeling there might be a mini boom in audax ?
I've mentioned before an interest in audax. In particular the challenge of the 'Super Randonneur'.
This might get me out of racing for good. I think it means doing a 100, 200, 300 and 600 in one year, the 600 is I assume a 24 hour ride?
I've mentioned before an interest in audax. In particular the challenge of the 'Super Randonneur'.
This might get me out of racing for good. I think it means doing a 100, 200, 300 and 600 in one year, the 600 is I assume a 24 hour ride?
How i understand it, Audax to stop it being a race, set a minimum and maximum average speed. What you do to get that time is your problem. If you choose to do a sub 4hour 100miles and then go down the pub for a few before crossing the finish line fine. i had a quick look at the Auk site and one permenant 1000km had an min average of 13.3kmph. Which means you must ride 1000km in under 75hours to say you completed it.
Just done a 49 mile rout with a fair amount of hills.
4438ft of climbing so some good climbs etc. Managed an average of 13mph...Going to die aren't i?
I'd say so. But it will be fun. Audax riders are a friendly bunch.
average of 13mph
you'll be middle of the field if you can average 13 mph in January.
You'll find half the field don't wear a helmet at all (I don't when audaxing), but none will make a comment about your MTB stylings.
If you get separated from your mate (who I'm guessing has done this before so knows the ropes), just drop in with anyone who's riding at your pace and start a conversation. They'll be as interested in the trail centres you've been to as you are in how audax works. 🙂
Super Randonneur or however you spell it is a 200, 300, 400 and 600 in the same year. All of the events have roughly the same upper and lower speed limits so you can do the 600 in upto 40hrs i think.
It's lime a sporting. But with mudguards!
Ah yes - the joys of predictive text
My bikes orange and doesn't take mudguards.
oldgit - dont try and do your SR on the 3 consecutive weekends after 10 under the ben .... i got to the 600 for the finish and run out of puff - was sent home from work the day before feeling like i was about to die !
if i could only pick one set of events to do in a year it would be audaxing !
As all the above, you get to meet lots of different people on all sorts of bikes. Mudguards are useful (you can use race-blade type if you can't fit full length), and mandatory on some, also if your are doing over 100km, you will need lights.
Other thing to carry, are a pen / pencil for controls, and a head light is useful for navigating at night.
Have done a few this year, and there isn't much consistency on the maps / route sheets, all are a learning experience.
best thing, is you can enter 5 for the cost of one sportive
i know a fat bloke who rode two 300km events on a flat barred tourer.
you will be reet............... 😉
dont try and do your SR on the 3 consecutive weekends after 10 under the ben
No I won't, because that would make me a bit mental wouldn't it 😉
100 & 200 not an issue. 300 and I'd need an early night. 400 that would be a day off work to prepare and an early night. 600 that's big that is.
There was a thread on this yesterday - check my history to track it down
oldgit - MemberNo I won't, because that would make me a bit mental wouldn't it
100 & 200 not an issue. 300 and I'd need an early night. 400 that would be a day off work to prepare and an early night. 600 that's big that is.
Oh your right about that being big! Back in the early 80's I did the 600km “Wessex Star” with some friends from Bristol CTC and even though I was a 20 year old race whippet I nearly broke down in tears at about 3am having bonked for about an hour, I remember lying on the verge asking them to let me die in peace!!
2 Mars bars & some hot tea later(one chap had a flask in his saddle bag) I was back on my bike and riding to the next control 😮
TBH I was under prepared for the distance having only done 200k events before.
Back in the early 80's I did the 600km “Wessex Star”
Last year three of us did Shawn Shaw's Wessex-based Hellfire 600. Hardest thing I've ever done on a bike. Climbing big welsh mountain roads is nothing compared to relentless Dorset/Devon/Somerset 20%ers.