Of course Audax is Competitive. Well, it is to me and I look at my Palmares and think ‘for how much longer?’ Will I have to go Titanium to keep within the time limit? My first Audax challenge was in 1982, when I gained my first SR. Being a TT-ist I used Audax as long-distance TT training. I dabbled for a few years, opted out while serving in Germany and lost my low member number (0242?). I added a Trike SR as a challenge in 1993 and rode Trike PBP in 1995. All these were personal challenges. Following retirement in 2001, I found Audax was my preferred form of cycling, with Randonnee 5000, Ultra SR, Randonneur 25000 challenges meeting my wheels. After a Trike blast in 2006, last year was a really competitive challenge; based on LEL for a potential 14 points, I went Trike mad and with a variety of early planning, good fortune and luck, emerged with the Trike Trophy, a new Trike Record and, to add cream, the Veteran’s Trophy. As for speed, back in 1982 I was regularly in the first group home (or even home solo). Now, I do not care for position; it is finishing in time that matters. It is something to do with age, something about equipment, something about ambition, something about enjoyment, something about fatigue. Amassing loads-o-points blows out the red-blood count and mineral balance, so you are never fully recovered ride to ride. Doing Trafalgar-Trafalgar (3100km with continuous 14hr days at 200km) was a real battle to keep up the minerals balance.
If you check the names of Trophy winners, many now form the History of Audax UK. But without their inspiration, endeavour and enthusiasm, the current crop would have no yardstick against which to measure. Also, many come into Audax from a touring base; I came in from a TT base, so my outlook might have a different complexion.
SteveP