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Discussion
Worth adding Audaxes to the mix? Being non-commercial they're better value, with food provided by volunteers, eg organiser's family + friends.
Calendar here, though rides are added as the months run by https://audax.uk/choose-a-ride/calendar-events/ Often you don't even need to be an AUK member to enter. There's more of a self-supported ethos than sportives, eg you can't assume you'll be rescued after a mechanical. And they're not a race - finishing times aren't published. Some are quite long events.
Calendar here, though rides are added as the months run by https://audax.uk/choose-a-ride/calendar-events/ Often you don't even need to be an AUK member to enter. There's more of a self-supported ethos than sportives, eg you can't assume you'll be rescued after a mechanical. And they're not a race - finishing times aren't published. Some are quite long events.
dojo said:
I really want to get into some Audax's
Definitely interest me more than your run of the mill Sportive's
I'm keen on the idea of them too. Just not so keen on the expense of getting kitted out for them over and above my kit for a 'normal' ride. Self supported really appeals, although having to make checkpoints inside a cutoff time not so much, given how slowly I ride.Definitely interest me more than your run of the mill Sportive's
yellowjack said:
dojo said:
I really want to get into some Audax's
Definitely interest me more than your run of the mill Sportive's
I'm keen on the idea of them too. Just not so keen on the expense of getting kitted out for them over and above my kit for a 'normal' ride. Self supported really appeals, although having to make checkpoints inside a cutoff time not so much, given how slowly I ride.Definitely interest me more than your run of the mill Sportive's
100km audax is the same as a 100km sportive, but you buy yourself a brew at the midway point instead of having some watered down energy drink, and entry fee is £6 for an audax instead of £30+ for a sportive.
You also don’t get choppers wobbling all over the place on an audax.
Your Dad said:
Most audax entry forms give details of average speed expected and also opening/closing times of the checkpoints. Think <14mph avg for flat rides and less for hilly events.
100km audax is the same as a 100km sportive, but you buy yourself a brew at the midway point instead of having some watered down energy drink, and entry fee is £6 for an audax instead of £30+ for a sportive.
You also don’t get choppers wobbling all over the place on an audax.
I get all that, and really it should suit me well because I'm quite used to supporting myself, and by necessity all my cycling is done "on a budget".100km audax is the same as a 100km sportive, but you buy yourself a brew at the midway point instead of having some watered down energy drink, and entry fee is £6 for an audax instead of £30+ for a sportive.
You also don’t get choppers wobbling all over the place on an audax.
The trouble with an organized event, whether it be a sportive (only done one of those, ever, and that was RideLondon) or an audax is that they happen on a set day, at set times. Which means buying into the ethos of the event. And also buying high quality all weather kit, much of which I don't currently have. Because going out solo I can plan a ride for a set day but put it off to any other day if the weather is bad or I have a hangover, etc. Whereas entering an organized event, you either go when the event starts, or you forfeit your entry fee if the weather is beyond your capability/means to ride in it. I don't think 'extreme weather' riding gear and bike luggage is something to be bought on the cheap.
The other issue with joining in with anything (for me, at least) is that the first step, like booking an event or joining a club, is very hard to take. So I end up putting "joining in" off "till next time" over and over again. I'm sure I'll have a crack at one, one day. But I also keep persuading myself that I'm OK without an organised audax event because I'm happy to bang out 100+ mile rides on my lonesome, and with very little training/preparation, if time allows and conditions are right. Kind of a "have OS maps, will cycle" thing.
Your Dad said:
Audax events aren’t always on set dates, there’s also ‘perms’ which can be completed whenever you want and you self validate to prove you’ve done them (receipt from a designated shop or provide your Strava route to prove you did it).
That sounds more appealing. The trouble is they'd more than likely be linear routes or loops. I'm far too wrapped up in VeloViewer tiling these days to want to do anything linear. I'd have to ride a route at least three "tiles" (approximately three miles) wide for anything to count toward my Maximum Cluster... 
I'm just throwing a new problem at your every solution here. Let's not make this thread all about me.
I used to bump into a couple of older audaxers on a route I rode near the cement works at Barrington (I think) in Cambridgeshire. We'd ride along having a chat every now and then. They used to try to persuade me into that scene too, but I didn't have the time for it back then, between family and work commitments. Now that I do have plenty of time on my hands, perhaps I should have a decent look into at least trying an event, even if it turns out to be a once-only thing...
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