Ready for sportives...then what?

[BinBag]

I think I'm ready for my first sportive - not sure which one or when to do it yet, I'm gonna get the Manc 100 out of the way first. But my question is....after a sportive, what is the natural progression?

Is it - more sportives, until you're blue in the face - or do I join a club and do some proper road cycling?

My aim to to ride longer, faster and stronger

 

[Chrisz]

Longer, more 'challenging' (hilly) sportives? Club rides/racing?

 

[Baggy]

Audax UK rides?

 

[Philip Whiteman]

Audax UK rides?

And if BinBag does, he may never make it as far as a sportive. He may become addicted.

 

[Scoosh]

The AUK website is '... er ....... 'functional'. It seems to be intended for those who know already know about audax riding.

For those who don't, there is some good info here. Basically, audax riding is long(er) distance, non-competitive bike riding; you are given a route sheet - but don't have to stick to it; however, you MUST go to the Controls (often at a cafe or pub ). You usually have a card which gets stamped at the Control - or you get a till receipt to prove you have been in the right place. There is a maximum speed and a minimum speed, so you cannot go too fast, nor too slowly.
They are also cheap to enter .

It's a good way of seeing more of the country, pushing/stretching yourself - and there are always some hills .

 

[jimboalee]

For those who have race bikes, like to ride fast, want to pretend they are in a Grand Tour peleton and get an ET published at the completion of the event, go on a Sportive. Most have a psuedo mountain stage thrown in.

Those who want a gentle meander through the countryside, refreshing cafe stops, a bit of map reading and following coded instructions, go on an Audax.

The two don't mix.

Bring back the mudguards rule, I say.

 

[BinBag]

Thanks to everyone for that - I'm not sure I fancy the Audax as I don't like the idea of having the time restrictions. I have a race bike, and as jimboalee said - I like to ride fast, I want to pretend I'm in a Grand Tour peleton and get an ET published at the completion of the event!

I think I'll do a sportive and see what's what from there - but at least I don't have to worry about Audax's now - so cheers for that.

I'm looking forward to it though - but I need to get the Mcr 100 out of the way first.

 

[hulver]

Thanks to everyone for that - I'm not sure I fancy the Audax as I don't like the idea of having the time restrictions. I have a race bike, and as jimboalee said - I like to ride fast, I want to pretend I'm in a Grand Tour peleton and get an ET published at the completion of the event!

I think I'll do a sportive and see what's what from there - but at least I don't have to worry about Audax's now - so cheers for that.

I'm looking forward to it though - but I need to get the Mcr 100 out of the way first.

jimboalee is talking rubbish. There are plenty of fast people on Audax rides, often part of cycling clubs. They'll blast away at the start and you won't see them again.

Sure, there are plenty who like to meander on an Audax, it's just a bike ride.

You'd have to be really quick to beat the maximum speed.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

There are plenty of fast people on Audax rides, often part of cycling clubs. They'll blast away at the start and you won't see them again.

Sure, there are plenty who like to meander on an Audax, it's just a bike ride.

You'd have to be really quick to beat the maximum speed.

As I heard quoted once:

Sportivers pretend to race whilst audaxers pretend not to race.

And of course I never race on an audax

 

[Fiona N]

Those who want a gentle meander through the countryside, refreshing cafe stops, a bit of map reading and following coded instructions, go on an Audax.

Some are rather more than gentle meanders managing to fit in three or four thousand metres of ascent into 200 or 300km. Of course, you don't get spoonfed either - no waymarking, food stops (usually), mechanical support, marshals etc. - so you need to be a lot more self-sufficient, which is, I suspect, the attraction to a lot of Audaxers.

 

[jimboalee]

Some are rather more than gentle meanders managing to fit in three or four thousand metres of ascent into 200 or 300km. Of course, you don't get spoonfed either - no waymarking, food stops (usually), mechanical support, marshals etc. - so you need to be a lot more self-sufficient, which is, I suspect, the attraction to a lot of Audaxers.

Or you could choose to join a CTC '100 in 8', which is a 'show up and ride' affair with no cards, no controls, just a ride leader along a leisurely 14 - 15 mph pootle to a pub, a couple of Guinness' with Pie and chips; and a 10 - 12 mph wobble home.

It doesn't have to be as fast as 100 miles in 8 hours. There are no medals or sew-on-patches. A nice day out.

 

[gavintc]

You have asked what is the next step after the Sportive. I would propose that you join a road club. The benefits are significant; training partners, advice on how to eat and train, share lifts to events etc etc. Few road club members are serious about their racing and there will be a range of recreational riders through to the obsessive.

 

[Greenbank]

There are plenty of fast people on Audax rides, often part of cycling clubs. They'll blast away at the start and you won't see them again.

Some famous TT-ers and long distance record holders used to do Audaxes.

Gethin Butler (I think) did the Bryan Chapman 600 (385 miles from Chepstow to Menai and back through the Black mountains and Snowdonia) in under 24 hours. I took nearly 41 hours the year I did it.

One rider did the Midlander Super Grimpeur (5600m climbing in 300km) in about 16 hours last year because he forgot his lights and therefore had to push hard to finish by 10pm (I took 21 hours). The first back on the recent Snowdon & Coast 400 (4700m climbing including Pen-y-Pass) were back in under 18 hours (I took near enough the full 27 hours).

You would probably have to a Cat 2 racer to start worrying the maximum average speed on a hilly Audax. Unless you can do 20 back to back 30 minute 10 mile TTs through very hilly terrain whilst somehow feeding yourself on the move.

Of course, if you are fast then you may prefer racing. Distance cycling isn't for everyone. A road club would be obvious path to Cat 4 racing and frequent visits to A&E and the dentist.

 

[BinBag]

All interesting stuff - I've been advised by a chap at work that a club is the next step, but am a bit worried about keeping up with them, or not being part of a cliqué. Now that all these comments are here, I'll think I'll look into Audax and Cycling Clubs anyway.

I'm averaging just over 18mph (all things considered) at the minute, so going too fast in an Audax event isn't a concern, it was more the min/max speed and having that in your mind whilst on the course.

It's the distance/endurance cycling I'm really interested in.

 

[Arch]

It's the distance/endurance cycling I'm really interested in.

Aha! You need:

http://www.londonedinburghlondon.com/

You've got 3 years to prepare. Actually, just under 3 years now....

Scroll down in this section to find a thread about the people barmy enough to consider it....


(and look up Arallsopp's account of the last one...)