Purpose of Sportives

[Bluebell72]

"I recently took part in my first Audax, which was even more relaxed."

I'm confused now. I thought a sportive was all that has been talked about in the thread above, whereas an audax, though not a race as such, has set times that you are aiming to get round in?

 

[BrumJim]

Set times for an Audax are fairly relaxed. They just define when the control points can close and the person stamping the cards can go home.

On an Audax the finishing times are not published, so you can't judge how well you did compared to others.

 

[PpPete]

I started audaxing because it was non-competitive.

Recently came across the route of a sportive - a Wiggle super series one, was horrified by the "visual pollution" of an arrow on an orange background every 10 mtrs - even along a perfectly straight bit of road.

Apart from finding the £5 - £10 for an audax more palatable than £25 for a sportive, this has put me off sportives even more, but then I'm a perverse individual and enjoy the "self-reliance" element of navigating around an audax.

 

[Turning Worm]

Because there are wanabee racers that can't race, so they have to find somewhere else to ride. Alternatively you could enter an audax where the rider fervantly argue that they are not racing yet some are sufficiently competitive to suggest that they are.

 

[PaulB]

I cannot believe no-one has written what is the glaringly obvious purpose behind this. It's the same reason the Ford motor company, Apple Computers, Nike et al ad-infinitum exist; to make money.

Amongst others from this site, I did an Audax yesterday and it cost us £4. For £4, we were given a course, AMPLE food en-route and even ampler at the finish, the good will of the organisers and timings at various points around the course. £4. If they can do it, and do it brilliantly competently, why does it cost £25+ for a similar thing? Where do the multiple £21+s go? They go somewhere and that's for damn sure.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

They go somewhere and that's for damn sure.

Usually the Bahamas or Barbados for a nice holiday.

 

[Bluebell72]

Don't ya even get a cheap t-shirt??????

My OH loves his (my) free t-shirts with 'Askern Miners Welfare 20miles' printed on.
He swears that when he puts one on, it makes him feel fitter!

 

[just jim]

Sportives are in, and appeal to advertisers and C+ editors!