Audax or Sportive

[Scoosh]

how do you go about getting in to Audax events.
I live in edinburgh if that help?

There's a very active Audax Ecosse group based in Edinburgh, with rides from 100 - 200 - 600 - 800 - as far as you want to go !

Details are linked from the AudaxUK website calendar, select Scotland in the Region tab at the top, then choose your event and send in your entry.

One which might be a nice introduction is the Twa Wee Coonties 100 on 6 June, starting/finishing at Dalmeny (= nice warm up ride to the start ).

I might be on this one too ... depending on whether or not I can summon the energy/enthusiasm to do the Snow Roads 300 the day before. If so, I'll be much too knackered to even look at a bike for a few days; if not, I'll be there .

 

[andy_wrx]

I do a couple of audaxes a year, just for the kick of them being good rides, not for any points, badges & medals.

But one thing about audaxing without bothering about them is that you have to send two SAE's with your entry
- the first one gets the event details and routesheet to you before the event
- the second gets your validated brevet card back to you after the event.

But I'm not actually bothered about getting the card back, so what I've been doing is simply sending one SAE and a little note saying that I'm not in AUK, am not collecting the points or medals, etc so I don't want the card back thanks and haven't sent an envelope for it.

Some organisers - I guess the ones who are cycling club members who happen to organise the club's audax, rather than audaxers per se - write back a comment on the entry details saying this is fine, but I've had another organiser ring me up really puzzled, just not understanding that anyone wouldn't want their card back.

 

[Ian H]

An increasing number of events are enterable onliine. In The AUK website, click the '3 line' button at the top of the claendar page to show more info about each event, including a Paypal logo where appropriate.

 

[Ian H]

Any Audax event organised by a club has a hidden competitive agenda.

Exeter Wheelers' events don't.

 

[ColinJ]

Exeter Wheelers' events don't.

No, Exeter Wheelers are open about their competitive agenda - it's survival of the fittest!

 

[MacB]

I do a couple of audaxes a year, just for the kick of them being good rides, not for any points, badges & medals.

But one thing about audaxing without bothering about them is that you have to send two SAE's with your entry
- the first one gets the event details and routesheet to you before the event
- the second gets your validated brevet card back to you after the event.

But I'm not actually bothered about getting the card back, so what I've been doing is simply sending one SAE and a little note saying that I'm not in AUK, am not collecting the points or medals, etc so I don't want the card back thanks and haven't sent an envelope for it.

Some organisers - I guess the ones who are cycling club members who happen to organise the club's audax, rather than audaxers per se - write back a comment on the entry details saying this is fine, but I've had another organiser ring me up really puzzled, just not understanding that anyone wouldn't want their card back.

Good post, reckon that would be my take, never been one for collecting badges, stickers etc. If I know I've done something that's good enough for me.

 

[jimboalee]

I do a couple of audaxes a year, just for the kick of them being good rides, not for any points, badges & medals.

But one thing about audaxing without bothering about them is that you have to send two SAE's with your entry
- the first one gets the event details and routesheet to you before the event
- the second gets your validated brevet card back to you after the event.

But I'm not actually bothered about getting the card back, so what I've been doing is simply sending one SAE and a little note saying that I'm not in AUK, am not collecting the points or medals, etc so I don't want the card back thanks and haven't sent an envelope for it.

Some organisers - I guess the ones who are cycling club members who happen to organise the club's audax, rather than audaxers per se - write back a comment on the entry details saying this is fine, but I've had another organiser ring me up really puzzled, just not understanding that anyone wouldn't want their card back.

One day, when your great grand son is learning to ride a bike, he will ask "What bike riding did you do gt grandad?".

Shame you won't be able to show him the Brevet card of the tough bike ride you did back in 2010 on that old fashioned heavyweight bike you had.

 

[Rip Van]

Audax events usually have things like Soreen, sandwiches and biscuits at controls and fell pretty relaxed whereas sportives have energy bars and energy drink and everyone's in a hurry.

SOREEN! Posh! Smartprice malt loaf's a quarter of the price!

 

[PK99]

SOREEN! Posh! Smartprice malt loaf's a quarter of the price!

going off topic..... have you tried the new Soreen cereal bars! - Fantastic!

 

[PpPete]

Apart from the obvious difference of Audax events being significantly cheaper than Sportives I once read the definition thus:

(Apologies if i'm nicking another CC'ers best line)

Sportives are for people pretending to race, Audaxes are for people pretentending not to race.

 

[Randochap]

It's all about the pins. Why else would I ride?

Besides cake, that is.

 

[catalan chris]

Well I for one am incredibly impressed by that much metal and ribbon!

If I had that much I'd be marching past the cenotaph on Remebrance Day.

 

[Arch]

Apart from the obvious difference of Audax events being significantly cheaper than Sportives I once read the definition thus:

(Apologies if i'm nicking another CC'ers best line)

Sportives are for people pretending to race, Audaxes are for people pretentending not to race.

I used that very line to explain the difference to my bro in law this week - he's entering a Sportive in July, I've done one, and entered my first Audax in April (and have an eye on LEL 2013)...

 

[briank]

Am I being unreasonably biased, or should I just stick to being ripped off on sportives.

The costs of sportives can seem unreasonable. Those that give all their profits to a named charity(ies) seem to me to be fine - almost regardless of the cost. If you don't want to give £12 of your £20 entry to that charity, fine: go out and ride the route on another day; you'll probably spend £12 -£15 on food/cafestops anyway and will be able to bask on the satisfaction of being a tight git.

I wouldn't enter any sportive where the excess of income over necessary expenditure went anywhere except to a registered charity.

 

[briank]

Audax events usually have things like Soreen, sandwiches and biscuits at controls and fell pretty relaxed whereas sportives have energy bars and energy drink and everyone's in a hurry.

Not oop North.

Indeed, Le Terrier's organisers have rejected the offer from High Five to supply loads of cheap energy bars, gels and drinks powder, preferring to rely on the top-class rolls and home-made cakes provided by helpers from the local Homeless Center who have done us proud the last couple of years (and who, in turn, receive the lion's share of the proceeds from the event.)