Golden Anniversary: Audax UK

[Graeme]

Am I right in thinking 2026 will be the Audax UK Golden Anniversary?

I'm an organiser, so a I'm thinking about how to use this to promote both AUK and events. Anyone else begun to think about taking advantage of the anniversary year to make a song and dance about UK Audaxing?

I wonder if we'll become the national governing body by then. That'd be cool.

[roddalitz]

National governing body for what?  Surely AUK is already the national governing body for Audax rides;  what else would we govern?

[Graeme]

National governing body for what?  Surely AUK is already the national governing body for Audax rides;  what else would we govern?

There's an ongoing certification process to have AUK recognised as the national body. But that's not really the point of what I was sharing... I'm more into the "woo hoo, what shall we do to celebrate" headspace. The *national body* thing was an aside.

[Ian H]

Let's get Exeter Wheelers' centenary out of the way first, shall we? (This year, in case you're wondering).

[Jethro]

To commemorate the centenery of the CTC in 1978, there was a one-off special event from Paris to Harrogate (800k) so maybe AUK could put something together along those lines, maybe 500k for the 50 years.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Keen on this 500km brevet idea, but maybe a 500 mile equivalent.

[Hot Flatus]

500k is the ideal audax  touring distance. Means you can do a 6am start,  300k, finish by 7pm, shower, few pints, meal out, loads of sleep, then a nice 200k the next day feeling super fresh.

The extra 100k in a 600k really makes it a different experience.

[Peter]

What an unusual life you lead.  I would have thought that a HUGE majority of the Audax membership would get nowhere near 13 hours for a 300.  And where is the sleep coming from? Almost nobody sleeps very successfully in the middle of such a ride!

[L CC]

Before I did a 500km I ride I thought as you do, Flatus, that it was a long 400 with a good sleep stop.

It was actually a short 600.

(Though a fun ride)

[T42]

Better save a few golden chocolate coins from Christmas to hand out to the finishers.

[grams]

Given BP vs BR doesn’t mean anything anymore, a 500 km with 600 km time allowance would allow us to all live like Flatus.

[Wycombewheeler]

What an unusual life you lead.  I would have thought that a HUGE majority of the Audax membership would get nowhere near 13 hours for a 300.  And where is the sleep coming from? Almost nobody sleeps very successfully in the middle of such a ride!

depends very much on the 300 in question. first 300km of PBP many riders will achieve this, or flatlands. On Bryan Chapman memorial I have been 14-14.5 hours to Anglesey and there were many riders in the control each time. My impression is that I am faster than average, but not in the top 15%

I have had a very good sleep in the middle of some rides. Not in a school hall or community centre with lots of snoring audaxers, rustling their crinkly tin foil blankets, but in a hotel room - perfect.

There are 20 hours to get to 300km, and 24 to get to 360km (where the first control after sleeping might be) While not many can get to 300km in 13 hours, leaving the 300km control by 21 hours means you only need to get there in 15 hours to have a 6 hour stop. I appreciate this is probably still faster than the average audaxer, but probably 30-40% could achieve this, especially with no faffing early in the ride. Given the choice between a leisurely pub lunch or a decent sleep I would opt for the latter on a two day ride.

[Wycombewheeler]

To commemorate the centenery of the CTC in 1978, there was a one-off special event from Paris to Harrogate (800k) so maybe AUK could put something together along those lines, maybe 500k for the 50 years.

500k events also allow for an anniversary 200k series of 200, 300, 400, 500 & 600 events. I believe this was done before for some reason.

[grams]

LEL 2022 had a conveniently placed control at 302 km (Hessle). 127 out of 1265 riders made it there in 13 hours, or just over 10%.

(alternatively, nine out of the fifty who started at 6am arrived in time for their 7pm pints)

[willpom gwraudax]

500k events also allow for an anniversary 200k series of 200, 300, 400, 500 & 600 events. I believe this was done before for some reason.

Before my audax time but wasn't it for the Millennium? 2000km accumulatively?

[Wycombewheeler]

LEL 2022 had a conveniently placed control at 302 km (Hessle). 127 out of 1265 riders made it there in 13 hours, or less than 10%.

(or nine out of the fifty in the 6am start wave arrived in time for 7pm pints)

I think I was 14 hours to Hessle, my strava activity records a NNW headwind on that day, I also remember it being unusually warm. I'd like to put it down to the queues at controls as I felt I was running into the back of the bulge, but my moving time shows that not to be the case.

Strange that the first 300km of LEL (which is not the hilly bit) seemed harder than the first 300km of PBP, which is rolling consistently over the entire course. Probably that NNW hairdryer wind on the day

[Ian H]

Given BP vs BR doesn’t mean anything anymore, a 500 km with 600 km time allowance would allow us to all live like Flatus.

You say that like it's a good thing.

[Ian H]

What an unusual life you lead.  I would have thought that a HUGE majority of the Audax membership would get nowhere near 13 hours for a 300.  And where is the sleep coming from? Almost nobody sleeps very successfully in the middle of such a ride!

 

[Graeme]

Would it be a good year for the board to promote fifty points as a challenge? I've never achieved 50 points before, due to *stuff*. Seems like a good year to reorder my life towards this silly target.

[Hot Flatus]

What an unusual life you lead.  I would have thought that a HUGE majority of the Audax membership would get nowhere near 13 hours for a 300.  And where is the sleep coming from? Almost nobody sleeps very successfully in the middle of such a ride!

That's the thing.  There is no middle.It's a nice 300k.  The 200k the next day is just the casual ride home.

I will admit its been a while since I've done anything like this in this manner (and all audax is out of the window for me at the moment) but when I did the BCM route, cutting off the 50k to Menai, and the 50k back it was an absolute revelation.

[John Stonebridge]

Commemorative 500km events would be a smashing idea. 

Though as 2026 is a pre PBP year there would need to be some consideration of where (if at all) such 500km events fit in to the roolz for PBP pre qualifying silly season. 

Of course the major sporting anniversary of 2026 is Falkirk FC hitting 150 years old.   

[Lightning Phil]

I run a 300 with a midnight start. That gives a 8pm finish deadline for full value.  Then everybody could go get some sleep.  Then run one of my 200s the next day, on the Sunday. Thus a 500km weekend with sleep, though not 500 as a single event. Tomsk, Huggy and co could do something similar using Green and Yellow Fields or possibly Hereward the Wake as the 300.

Or you could run a 400 qualifier starting 9pm on Friday, get some sleep Sat into Sunday then run a 100km BP on Sunday for a golden anniversary combination badge of some sort.

[Peter]

Commemorative 500km events would be a smashing idea. 

Though as 2026 is a pre PBP year there would need to be some consideration of where (if at all) such 500km events fit in to the roolz for PBP pre qualifying silly season. 

Of course the major sporting anniversary of 2026 is Falkirk FC hitting 150 years old.

Which will coincide with them trying to get out of the 3rd division .... again?!  They should make it this year ok.  When I were a lad, Falkirk were a top side, like ... Bury.   :'(

[teethgrinder]

Keen on this 500km brevet idea, but maybe a 500 mile equivalent.

What's this?
LWAB showing a preference for miles over kilometres?
Has he been kidnapped? Should we call the police?

810km works out at 61 hours, so say a 6am start on Saturday, that gives until 7pm Monday evening to finish in time and a split of 270km a day, or probably 300, 300, 200. You'd need to be in pretty good shape to do that comfortably with a good sleep each night. It'd be manageable for most to do it relatively comfortably with some sleep. Though obviously, a number will be aiming for 2x400.

[teethgrinder]

To commemorate the centenery of the CTC in 1978, there was a one-off special event from Paris to Harrogate (800k) so maybe AUK could put something together along those lines, maybe 500k for the 50 years.

Paris Edinburgh Paris (via Brest, obviously)?