Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: gordon taylor on 25 November, 2008, 09:29:32 pm
-
I know that Audax rides generally have a name: "The Snow Roads" and "Tinsel and Lanes" are just two examples of many that have been mentioned many times on this board.
Am I the only one to find this confusing? Why don't we just call them the Tamworth 200? or the Pitlochry 300? ( I don't know if the Snow Roads starts at Pitlochry, sorry, but you get the gist.)
The naming seems a bit mystical/cliquey to me. I have never any idea which route I'm on, but I know where I start and finish.
I don't mean to offend anyone by this post, but I've just had to open the Audax calendar to check whether I've entered the rides beng discussed here; I don't recognise the titles.
-
I see your point, but I really like the names, they're often really attractive. And there might be several 'Pitlochry 200's (or whatever) in a year, so it would be confusing?
-
I like little jokes and puns.
Long live creative titles!
-
Would it help if I renamed the Kernow & Southwest 600 the 'Exeter'?
-
You'd get confused with all the Forfar 100s, 150s, 200s in 2009 for starters!
And Kirriemuir 300 (Snow Roads starts in Kirriemuir ;)), Kirriemuir 200, Kiririemuir 150(?) and Kirriemuir shorter than that...
..I noted the ride certificates on AUK website name the start town rather than the name of the event ???
-
Why don't we just call them the Tamworth 200? or the Pitlochry 300?
Because that would be a bit boring.
-
Wouldn't they all end up "the chilly dawn car-park 200"?
-
I'd rather ride the Kidderminster Killer & the Elenith than the Kidderminster 200 & 300 :)
-
Or the "Abbey National Cash Machine nearest my house" DIY 200 / 300 / 400 / 600 :hand: :D
None of which compete with calendar events.
-
One of the reasons I rode the Anfractuous was because it has such an attractive name. If it had just been the Chalfont St. Peter Autumn 200 I might not have bothered.
And there must be a limit to the number of Ugley rides anyone can stomach.
-
..I noted the ride certificates on AUK website name the start town rather than the name of the event ???
..as does the AUK calendar:
300 06 Jun Kirriemuir The Snow Roads
06:00 Sat AA2.25 [4800m] BR £8.00
BTW, Gordy, as the Snow Roads organiser, I'm not in the least offended by your post: to be associated with yACF Ecosse, it's a requirement to have a thick skin. ;D
Hope to see you in Kirriemuir in June for the Snow Roads. :thumbsup:
-
Or the "Abbey National Cash Machine nearest my house" DIY 200 / 300 / 400 / 600 :hand: :D
None of which compete with calendar events.
even when we rode a DIY perm 600 based on the BCM we called it Yr Chwech Cant
-
I prefer to give my rides a name which gives a general idea of the area the riders are heading for. Since I live on the edge of a middle range mountain area the riders wish to know if they have to arrive with insanely low gears or they can leave their flatland gearing on ;)
-
Tinsel and Lanes does go down Tinsel Lane near the start, ;)
It was for a short period called Tinsel Lane and Lanes. But that was a bit of a mouth full so was shortened to Tinsel and Lanes.
There are 3 Tamworth 200's and I frequantly have entries for all of them early in the new year. It is not unknown to have an entry for next years Tinsel and Lanes before the running of this years, for example. So it could get very confusing.
It also means that I can offer the essentially the same route twice, Tinsel and Lanes and Two Battles are very largly the same route but one in Dec (hard) and the other in May (easier) also very different.
When I am riding somone else's ride I enjoy not knowing what lies in store for me. ;)
Geoff
-
Alas I've yet to ride my Mothers Pride 300 DIY (to visit my mum!)
-
The Faccombe Haul just wouldn't be the same. The descriptive title tells you a little bit more about the ride and lets face it - its fun.
-
To join the chorus... I love the names.
And I know it's a sportive rather than an audax but the Ride of the Falling Leaves has romance, beauty and seasonality, as does the Brass Monkey.
The Herne Hill Velodrome Sportive or the Coulsdon 100 would not be quite the same.
-
The Mid Sussex Hilly is (a) in Mid Sussex and (b) Hilly.
However, I understand Martin has a groan making pun lined up for the Hillier version next year.
-
The Mid Sussex Hilly is (a) in Mid Sussex and (b) Hilly.
However, I understand Martin has a groan making pun lined up for the Hillier version next year.
The Mud Sexiess perhaps? :demon:
-
That's an excellent name for an audax, Alan. I think you are no obliged to devise a suitable route and organise it! ;)
-
At least the names give us a clue what rides to avoid.i.e anything with the name Killer,or Beast in the title,.Probably organised by some psycho into s&m :demon:
-
And I know it's a sportive rather than an audax but the Ride of the Falling Leaves has romance, beauty and seasonality,
There used to be a "falling leaves" audax out of Winchcombe but it doesn't seem to have been run this year.
When wanting to ride in a particular area I sometimes find the names more helpful than the start points.
My club runs events from two locations on both of which the 100k has had to be split into anticlockwise and clockwise versions due to the number of entrants. If we could only publish start location and distance it would be confusing.
-
I often hear people say that they would like to do an Audax, but are put off because they don't know what to expect at controls, or are afraid that they might be too slow, get lost, <insert other excuse here>. I was thinking that maybe some of us could organise a ride aimed at newcomers where we could ride round with them and be their buddy for the day, helping them to understand how an Audax works, whilst passing on a bit of advice on long distance riding at the same time.
It would probably be best to choose a 100km ride and I thought the ride could be called -
The ride of 100 virgins
-
The ride of 100 virgins
Shame it's a bit late in the year but ideally it would be held around the feast day of St Ursula, October 21.
-
Given the level of inexperence you would want to limit the numbers. To around 24, I'd suggest. Inverness would be an ideal start point.
-
Given the level of inexperence you would want to limit the numbers. To around 24, I'd suggest. Inverness would be an ideal start point.
;D ;D ;D
-
Falling Leaves will be back in 2009. As soon as the new organisers sorts out his controls, I'll put it on the online calendar.
-
LEL sounds much more interesting than Cheshunt-Dalkeith-Cheshunt (Cue cries of 'Where in the world are Cheshunt and Dalkeith?!?'). ;)
-
Falling Leaves will be back in 2009. As soon as the new organisers sorts out his controls, I'll put it on the online calendar.
:thumbsup: That's a good ride.
There was an article in Arrivee about event names a few years ago which included some amusing ones and discussed the variations between the creative "Aparagus & Strawberries" type thing and the matter-of-fact "Denmead 200"'s...
I'm in the former camp. The names are pretty useful. If you enter the Dartmoor Devil you know it's one to leave the fixie in the bikeshed.
If we have to have boring names I'd rather thay were based on destination not start place. The start place is obvious from the calendar but sometimes it's nice to know where they are going before you enter.
-
...
If we have to have boring names I'd rather thay were based on destination not start place. The start place is obvious from the calendar but sometimes it's nice to know where they are going before you enter.
Agreed.
I entered the Beast from the East as it was the only PBP 600 qualifier I could sensibly get to.
For some reason I thought it went from Waltham Abbey up to Norfolk/Suffolk/Cambridgeshire.
Opening bikely when the route had been added in was a bit of a shock to the system.
-
If we have to have boring names I'd rather thay were based on destination not start place. The start place is obvious from the calendar but sometimes it's nice to know where they are going before you enter.
I'm alarmed, not only at the number of calendar events I enter without knowing where I'll be going, but at the number of events that I complete having had no idea where I've been. I've ridden a couple of events that head in the vague direction of the Forest of Bowland. Other than that, I couldn't tell you anything about them other than they were hilly, with lots of pretty scenery.
-
The old A-B-A titles were helpful but uninspiring.
I suppose tracing the route onto a paper prior to departure meant I was not without Clue.
-
The old A-B-A titles were helpful but uninspiring.
Agreed, but I find Paris-Brest-Paris is more inspiring less uninspiring than 'The Paris 1200'.
-
The old A-B-A titles were helpful but uninspiring.
Agreed, but I find Paris-Brest-Paris is more inspiring less uninspiring than 'The Paris 1200'.
34.25 times around le Boulevard Périphérique de Paris? ;D
-
I'm alarmed, not only at the number of calendar events I enter without knowing where I'll be going,
Fear not Danial (and others) - I've tried very hard to give you a clue with a some of my rides for next year. "Mr. Pickwick's tour of the Cotswolds" is a tour of the Cotswolds, another is "Mr Pickwick goes to Hay in a day" - which goes to Hay-on-Wye.
And the Mr. Pickwick connection is used because according to Charles Dickens - he did end-up in Tewkesbury (albeit drinking too much ale), this is of course optional at th end of the audax.
And although my "Rough Diamond" doesn't give too many other clues, it does follow a diamond shaped route - roughly.
Does this help???
-
The Faccombe Haul just wouldn't be the same. The descriptive title tells you a little bit more about the ride and lets face it - its fun.
It does start from Faccombe though.
-
The Faccombe Haul just wouldn't be the same. The descriptive title tells you a little bit more about the ride and lets face it - its fun.
The name aptly describes the final climb to the finish control... F****** H***
I'm alarmed, not only at the number of calendar events I enter without knowing where I'll be going, but at the number of events that I complete having had no idea where I've been.
No danger of that for me. Getting a routesheet through the post is as good a reason as any to get the old OS maps spread out across the dining table and settle down with a beverage or two. Almost as much fun as riding the event :)
-
And the Mr. Pickwick connection is used because according to Charles Dickens - he did end-up in Tewkesbury (albeit drinking too much ale), this is of course optional at th end of the audax.
Does this help???
I think that's a lovely naming convention. Sadly it only helps those AUKs who know their Classics (literature not routes).
Perhaps Arrivee or AukWeb should have an Events Lore Guide for the newcomer (which should include summat about that Bryan bloke ... )
-
...
If we have to have boring names I'd rather thay were based on destination not start place. The start place is obvious from the calendar but sometimes it's nice to know where they are going before you enter.
Agreed.
I entered the Beast from the East as it was the only PBP 600 qualifier I could sensibly get to.
For some reason I thought it went from Waltham Abbey up to Norfolk/Suffolk/Cambridgeshire.
Opening bikely when the route had been added in was a bit of a shock to the system.
That brings back memories Nutty.
PBP year 1999, a new event on the scene named, "The Albion."
Entry was full, so I couldn't ride.
Then people dropped out and I had a space, so I turned up to the start to collect my routesheet and set off on my 102" fixed.
I never expected it to go around Bath and up all those steep hills :o
Twas a fantastic ride though :thumbsup:
I like these odd names.
It would be nice to know where rides went before you entered them though.
-
I like the names of the rides - the calendar tells you where the start is anyway. What really bugs me is the list of Perms on the AUK website. It seems it is down to the individual organiser to decide whether or not to give you any clue as to where the route might start from. The option to limit a search to an area (e.g. Scotland & the North) doesn't seem to work, as sometime Scottish routes aren't there, whilst routes that clearly aren't in Scotland are listed.
When that BNP membership list was leaked the other day it seemed to appear on the web as a detailed map within a matter of hours. Couldn't some computer boffin here do the same for the Perm list? Please?
-
When that BNP membership list was leaked the other day it seemed to appear on the web as a detailed map within a matter of hours. Couldn't some computer boffin here do the same for the Perm list? Please?
Maybe we need a few BNP members rather than PBP members...
-
I like the names of the rides - the calendar tells you where the start is anyway. What really bugs me is the list of Perms on the AUK website. It seems it is down to the individual organiser to decide whether or not to give you any clue as to where the route might start from.
With the perms, it would be even more useful to have a vague route outline, as the majority can be started from various points.
We discussed options for this on YACF once, but there were obstacles. I mentioned the issue to Peter Coates, who was sympathetic - I suggest people keep badgering him :D. What we need is a method that doesn't require the organiser to do any work if they don't want to, IMHO, e.g. a wiki-type thing.
As things stand, I shall NOT be entering any perms, apart from those based on rides I know, and those that come recommended with some details. It's just too much trouble finding out about them. DIYs are now the easier option ...
-
With perms, this is a major bugbear of mine. When I look on the AUK site to see if there any I want to ride, I'm confronted with a number of events that have nondescriptive titles and then no description of where the route goes. All I have is an address to send my entry to, which, since I believe I recently emailed Sheila about a ride in France, doesn't guarantee that the ride will be anywhere nearby. I know nothing, so I'm guaranteed not to enter that event. Is it really too much effort for the organisers to add a list of controls to their perms?
-
With perms, this is a major bugbear of mine. When I look on the AUK site to see if there any I want to ride, I'm confronted with a number of events that have nondescriptive titles and then no description of where the route goes. All I have is an address to send my entry to, which, since I believe I recently emailed Sheila about a ride in France, doesn't guarantee that the ride will be anywhere nearby. I know nothing, so I'm guaranteed not to enter that event. Is it really too much effort for the organisers to add a list of controls to their perms?
It is up to the Perms Organiser to fill in detail in the AUK lists. With mine, I try to give an idea of the route terrain. Also, if anyone emails for a Routesheet, the full works + a map from Autoroute will show you before you book the ride.
I agree that Titles should connect to the spirit of the ride. I tend to use geographical hints 'Cotswold +...', County, River, Gospel Pass or in literature 'Cider with Rosie' where you can enjoy the Stroud Valleys and the Woolpack Inn in the (incredibly beautiful) Slad Valley.
SteveP
-
We also discussed mapping the routes online (which I don't think will work like this, but it's a step in the right direction):
Is there a single gmap with all of the calender and permanent rides on? (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=22901.0)
-
The old A-B-A titles were helpful but uninspiring.
Really, because I was quite taken with the notion of a Middleton Stoney-Stoney Middleton-Middleton Stoney ride, or a ride taking in a selection of Little Londons that could be billed as Little London - Little London - Little London - Little London - Little London - Little London
Mind you, the latter would not have helped the OP.
-
A global map is not entirely a good idea. Riders will take it as gospel rather than the route sheet. Routes are subject to change. Last year I had to make a change to (Down with) The British. We lost a control so I added one West of old route. To make up for the added distance I made a more direct finish. A rider who had ridden the ride several times before "knew" the route went to Llantrisant next. When he got there he discovered the route sheet was all wrong. He finished a lot later than he expected.
It is not obvious the "(Best of) The British" and "(Down with) The British" are descriptive. That former industrial site at the bottom of Mynydd Llanhileth is where "The British" steel works used to stand.
My other rides are easier to guess where they go. Across Rhondda, Ride 'round Rhondda and Glamorgan Gloom (Back Across Rhondda) all suggest flat rides through the fenlands would be a good idea.
-
The old A-B-A titles were helpful but uninspiring.
Really, because I was quite taken with the notion of a Middleton Stoney-Stoney Middleton-Middleton Stoney ride, or a ride taking in a selection of Little Londons that could be billed as Little London - Little London - Little London - Little London - Little London - Little London
What about (from memory):-
Takeley - Tye Green - Tye Green - Tye Green - Tye Green - Tye Green - Tye Green - Takeley
(All 6 of those Tye Greens are different villages in the same county.)
-
That would be excellent, especially if there was a pub in each one and they were visited in a star point fashion.
-
There is the risk of something like:
Bell End - Upper Ramsbottom - Bell End.
Or Weedon - Shatton - Weedon.
Mind you, we have noticed the number of Suttons around the country, so I guess you could easily have a:
Sutton - Sutton - Sutton - Sutton - Sutton.
-
I'm also pretty sure there used to be some CTC rides like:
Ugley -> Nasty -> Ugley 100km ride.
Some people on LFGSS were also trying to set up an Ugley -> Twatt (Orkney) ride which would make a rather interesting 1000.
-
I think the ideal would have to be a ride starting in Crackpot, lunch stop in Sandwich, dinner stop in Beer, sleep stop in Land of Nod, Breakfast in Hungry Law before a climb to Twydall and finishing in Happy Bottom.
-
Anyone care to add up that distance? ;D
-
[/quote]
Really, because I was quite taken with the notion of a Middleton Stoney-Stoney Middleton-Middleton Stoney ride, or a ride taking in a selection of Little Londons that could be billed as Little London - Little London - Little London - Little London - Little London - Little London
Mind you, the latter would not have helped the OP.
[/quote]
As I live in Little London this ride could have some appeal but only if it starts at the right one otherwise it could be a long day.
Others have commented on wanting to know where the rides go to, all the ones i've done go to the same place you started from.
Some pointers of the route on the Calendar would be useful - locations of main controls etc will give you an indication. I did the Willy Warmer in January from Chalfont St Peter and nothing in the title led me to realise it went past the end of my road with 70k to go.
Having said all that it is good to get the routesheet and see where you are ending up when doing new rides.
-
If your ride were to go through Little London in Leeds, you wuold want to keep going as fast as possible!
-
The Gazetteer of British Place Names (http://www.gazetteer.co.uk/) is your friend here.
Longway bank (Whatstandwell), Middletown (Moreton Morrell, and just over half way), Nearton End (Swanbourne, and yes only 30k to go), Dunstable anyone?
I like the names - differentiating El-S rides based on place names would be a nightmare. The map link in the calendar usually works to find the start for me. But, especially for perms, some indication of nearest towns / stations on the route would make picking something plausible a whole lot easier.
-
When I first started cycling and joined a club, I kept hearing of the "Cotswold Corker" and "Cheltenham Flyer". The names intrigued me and got me asking questions and interested in taking up the challenge of doing audax rides. So, they don't tell you always to where you will be going but that too is part of the fun. Waiting for the routesheet and plotting it out on the OS maps is part of the build up for me. As is counting all those little black arrows!
When chatting with non-cycling friends and colleagues, I find the names get them interested too. You can have a much more interesting conversation about the "Kidderminster Killer" especially if you forget yourself and use the local diminutive for Kidderminster :o "Cider with Rosie" sounds like a nice evening at home with Mrs Bones and brings back memories of English Lit. at school. It also does give a clue as to the country the ride is heading for. God preserve us from it being called the SP65/200 or some such.
-
God preserve us from it being called the SP65/200 or some such.
Genius! Until now I had no idea what to call next year's
"DD09-494"
Thanks Bones!
-
"Cider with Rosie" sounds like a nice evening at home with Mrs Bones and brings back memories of English Lit. at school. It also does give a clue as to the country the ride is heading for. God preserve us from it being called the SP65/200 or some such.
The Perm version is SP36 but I also know it as 'Thames and Avon 200'. So Cider with Rosie 200 is Thames + Avon + Slad Valley. If you stop off at The Woolpack Inn, you might well have a nice evening but you might finish (?) out of time. The 100 is more Thames (well Coln tributary actually) + Slad Valley.
SteveP
-
You could have one from Swindon: "Get The Hell Out Of Dodge 600", 600km being enough to get you to another country.
-
God preserve us from it being called the SP65/200 or some such.
Genius! Until now I had no idea what to call next year's
"DD09-494"
Thanks Bones!
Might I respectfully suggest you use 10 instead of 09?
-
God preserve us from it being called the SP65/200 or some such.
Genius! Until now I had no idea what to call next year's
"DD09-494"
Thanks Bones!
Might I respectfully suggest you use 10 instead of 09?
you could but that would take all the fun out of guessing not only where the ride was but whether some form of TARDIS might be required on-board my bike too ;D
Cleary the next "must have" Garmin add-on
-
God preserve us from it being called the SP65/200 or some such.
Genius! Until now I had no idea what to call next year's
"DD09-494"
Thanks Bones!
Might I respectfully suggest you use 10 instead of 09?
you could but that would take all the fun out of guessing not only where the ride was but whether some form of TARDIS might be required on-board my bike too ;D
Cleary the next "must have" Garmin add-on
I shall respectfully consider your suggestion. However, you two should probably avoid some other 2010 events - a quick look at the Events Clash page produces:
...
18 Jul 10 Sun 200 Aldbrough St. John, SW of Darlington Nigel Hall D07-928 BRM
...
:)
(I have no idea where these codes come from, so don't blame me.)