I've ridden quite a lot of audaxes (?) over the years, although not too many in recent years due to a number of health related boring issues, and never ridden a sportif. Most of my audax rides have been <200k, with quite a few perms in there.
Right - that's my credentials.
As far as I see it 'audax is to touring' as 'sportive is to racing', with the relative collapse in the cycling club culture over the last 30 years these types of rides, and their loose national organisations seems to have taken the place of much of the culture of the local clubroom / weekly-ride-to-a-tea-shoppe-in-all-weathers.
Both styles seem appeal to the type of rider (and maybe I'm one) who craves that sense of belonging to something, but doesn't want the commitment of turning out every Sunday morning to support the other three sad gits who turn out to support the other three sad gits on the regular ride-to-a-tea-shoppe-in-all-weathers.
One sort might have supported the baggy shorts, cape and stinky saddlebag club-run - they now go on audaxes; the other sort would have supported the shiny locknuts, latest designer shades and ooo-look-at-my-frame chaingang - they now ride the sportives.
That's not to say that Mrs Baggy Shorts never raced, and you never saw Mr Shiny Locknuts on a touring ride - but I think you follow my drift.
I have never been tempted by sportives because: My shorts are baggy, my lockrings are grubby, I'm a cheapskate and - most importantly - if, while I'm riding an Audax event, I want to sit on that bench over there and take in the view, knowing I only have to make up my time, I bloomin' well can, and no finishing list is going to point it's printed finger at me saying "look! he could only hack it in (n+2) hours". Or, if I get bored, knack'd or whatever, I can ring up the missus and say "I've bottled it - collect me"(and tell the organiser).
I don't *feel* the sportive gives me those degrees of freedom.
Audax grew out of a long tradition (albeit continental inspired) of Long Distance riding and fitted neatly into the world of the British Hard-Riding Clubman, at a time when that clubman was becoming a much rarer beast - perhpas due to the nature of the clubs, the state of British cycling, and the state of British roads. It has grown like topsy and at times the club has struggled to cope with its growth pangs, but I sense a very healthy organisation - yes amateur, but vibrant and responsive.
Sportives seem to have grown out of a more 'fashion'/ lifestyle centred style of cycling culture that has developed in recent years (and no, that's not intended as a put-down) where a marketing opportunity has been seen and grabbed to target those who have been drawn into our world by the allure of the Race, but repelled by the sacred mysteries of the Racing Club. I sense that sportives may not flourish as the the economic downturn nibbles at the ankles of the Rapha generation. The challenge for Audax-UK will be to pick upt he peices / for the Cyclosportives will be to adapt downwards.
