what's the current state of UK Audax ?

[Alex B]

Audax isn't just a fantasy analogue, it's the real thing.

For me this is a key appeal of audax. It's its own structure, with clear rules and a points system which rewards achievements of long distance cycling.

A Sportive on the other hand (what does that word even mean? "Sport-like"?) is for me a kind of fake event, in which most riders are pretending to be racer-like and "pro". Even the send-off is kind of dishonest with the organizer saying "now this is not a race" while middle-aged men in team kit exchange knowing glances.

Mind you, a sportive is worth riding for glorious moments such as when, on the first climb, the lardy bloke on carbon is overtaken by a young girl with pink handlebar streamers. DAMHIKT.

When I'm asked what the difference between an audax and a sportive is, I say: there's no I in audax.

[AK]

The thing with sportives are that they are much more in the public eye, at least in the cycling world. If you buy anything from Wiggle or Evans for example, you’ll be bombarded on Facebook / email with details of their sponsored sportive events. So those riders who are relatively new will see these and see them as something to train for. A lot of people will want to pay the extra money for a way marked route, food and mechanical support. There’s no harm in that, but I would probably hazard a guess that your average audaxer is happier to be more self-reliant and sees that as much a part of the audax challenge than merely the distance itself.

[citoyen]

I would probably hazard a guess that your average audaxer is happier to be more self-reliant and sees that as much a part of the audax challenge than merely the distance itself.

That's a can of worms you're opening...

Many audaxers aren't remotely interested in being self-reliant and will admit to being mechanically incompetent, they just want to ride their bike long distances.

[whosatthewheel]

The thing with sportives are that they are much more in the public eye, at least in the cycling world. If you buy anything from Wiggle or Evans for example, you’ll be bombarded on Facebook / email with details of their sponsored sportive events. So those riders who are relatively new will see these and see them as something to train for. A lot of people will want to pay the extra money for a way marked route, food and mechanical support. There’s no harm in that, but I would probably hazard a guess that your average audaxer is happier to be more self-reliant and sees that as much a part of the audax challenge than merely the distance itself.

I would say this is a good thing... last thing you want is an audax being invaded by needy folks, complaining with the organisers that there was no water for a full 30 miles and that they got lost because the GPS kept routing them onto a gravelly path and that the vertical ascent did not match the one on Strava and that they got dehydrated in the heat and hypothermic in the cold and that when they called the supplied mobile phone number, nobody answered and they were left stranded with a punctured tyre.
It's a good thing if those folks get a bit of experience riding distance and THEN realise they want more, while at the same time they need less... that's where Audax becomes the obvious answer.

[AK]

I would probably hazard a guess that your average audaxer is happier to be more self-reliant and sees that as much a part of the audax challenge than merely the distance itself.

That's a can of worms you're opening...

Many audaxers aren't remotely interested in being self-reliant and will admit to being mechanically incompetent, they just want to ride their bike long distances.

Maybe that’s just me then!

[Philip Whiteman]

Hold on. Let me get some popcorn.

I hope you had a very BIG bag of popcorn?

[Manotea]

>> The thing with sportives are that they are much more in the public eye, at least in the cycling world. If you buy anything from Wiggle or Evans for example, you’ll be bombarded on Facebook / email with details of their sponsored sportive events.

This is why the shop windows are so important; not so much to advertize individual events but simply to build awareness that audax exists at all there is more to cycling than sportives and charity events.

Unfortunately whilst we offer a very glossy shop window to AUK members (Arrivee), the shop window offered to the outside world is rather... Clicky

[Exit Stage Left]

Audax has the advantage of an easily Googled name. That's its shop window.

[Nik's Nick]

Manotea - I clicked on that - can't be right - not a beard in sight.

[Manotea]

Audax has the advantage of an easily Googled name. That's its shop window.

Yes, but look where it takes you...

I refer the honorourable gentleman to my previous response.

[Greenbank]

A Sportive on the other hand (what does that word even mean? "Sport-like"?)

It's a contraction/anglicisation of a contraction of a French phrase.

You could just as well ask what does "Audax" even mean?

When I'm asked what the difference between an audax and a sportive is, I say: there's no I in audax.

The standard quip is:

Sportive riders pretend they're racing.
Audax riders pretend they're not.

[LEE]

My dad says it's changed - it used to have the reputation of a bunch of slightly weird older men sleeping in bus shelters, eating flapjacks, drinking cold tea and scowling at passers by. Now ..............

...they are all a bit older

[Greenbank]

...people have a little bit more money and the bus shelters have been rebranded as "Travelodges".

[LEE]

....there are slightly weird older women as well

[citoyen]

This is why the shop windows are so important; not so much to advertize individual events but simply to build awareness that audax exists at all there is more to cycling than sportives and charity events.

Indeed. When I was preparing to leave my hotel at 3am on Sunday, I had a good chat with the night porter about what I was doing. He was really interested and wanted to know all about it, and obviously had never heard of audax before. I explained that there are a lot more of us doing this kind of thing than most people realise but we're a bit 'under the radar'.

Of course, being under the radar is in many ways a good thing - we aren't subject to the same public scrutiny as some sportives, and I've certainly never heard of anyone scattering tacks on an audax route.

[whosatthewheel]

All latin words referring to moral and physical strength are frowned upon in Italy, as they were heavily used by the fascist regime of Mussolini. In fact I am surprised the word Audax is even used among Italian randonneurs... I certainly don't refer to them as "audax" to my Italian friends, but as "randonnees", or just as organised rides...

[tornandfrayed]

This is why the shop windows are so important; not so much to advertize individual events but simply to build awareness that audax exists at all there is more to cycling than sportives and charity events.

Indeed. When I was preparing to leave my hotel at 3am on Sunday, I had a good chat with the night porter about what I was doing. He was really interested and wanted to know all about it, and obviously had never heard of audax before. I explained that there are a lot more of us doing this kind of thing than most people realise but we're a bit 'under the radar'.

Of course, being under the radar is in many ways a good thing - we aren't subject to the same public scrutiny as some sportives, and I've certainly never heard of anyone scattering tacks on an audax route.

 I had a similar conversation with a passer by when sitting at some traffic lights on LEL!

[rob]

...people have a little bit more money and the bus shelters have been rebranded as "Travelodges".

I recall the hard time I was given by some other riders the first time I used a Travelodge on an audax.

[Ian H]

All latin words referring to moral and physical strength are frowned upon in Italy, as they were heavily used by the fascist regime of Mussolini. In fact I am surprised the word Audax is even used among Italian randonneurs... I certainly don't refer to them as "audax" to my Italian friends, but as "randonnees", or just as organised rides...

Which, as what AUK validates are not audax events but randonnées, is correct.  The confusion relates to the origins of Audax Club Parisien, which also doesn't run audax events.

[Ian H]

...people have a little bit more money and the bus shelters have been rebranded as "Travelodges".

I recall the hard time I was given by some other riders the first time I used a Travelodge on an audax.

I don't know why.  Fast riders grabbing B&B accommodation on longer events is a long-established tradition.

[rob]

...people have a little bit more money and the bus shelters have been rebranded as "Travelodges".

I recall the hard time I was given by some other riders the first time I used a Travelodge on an audax.

I don't know why.  Fast riders grabbing B&B accommodation on longer events is a long-established tradition.

I think it was the 2002 South Coast 1000.   Probably a bit new then.   The words 'going soft' were definitely used.

[postie]

Fast riders were using b&b when i first started in 1991 only thing back then no travelogdes! !! Often we just look for a b&b on route about 10ish at night , bingo

[Peat]

Hold on. Let me get some popcorn.

I hope you had a very BIG bag of popcorn?

I'm full.

[Ivan]

The standard quip is:

Sportive riders pretend they're racing.
Audax riders pretend they're not.

I thought it was "there are no winners in Audax, just losers".

[LEE]

The standard quip is:

Sportive riders pretend they're racing.
Audax riders pretend they're not.

I thought it was "there are no winners in Audax, just losers".

It's not about winning.  It's about taking part, and posting how much you enjoyed the ride on YACF*

*but making sure you post it ASAP, so we can all see from the timestamp that you won.