It has a route, a time limit a start and a finish but it’s not a
race or a sportive … so what is it ??
…. its an AUDAX.
Since I started looking at longer and longer rides I have always
had an eye on Audax as maybe not my main source of events but definitely as a
means of getting in some good long rides and exploring routes I would normally
never have chance to ride.
The events are relatively low key on the whole attracting a
hundred or so riders ... there are bigger events like the London – Edinburgh –
London and Paris – Brest – Paris but on the whole it’s a more relaxed affair. The entry fees are modest somewhere in the
region of £5 which in this day and age of liability and blame which has driven
other events fees through the roof to cover insurances etc is a very small sum
of money.
The principal is very simple … the routes are long distance which
Audax UK classifies as generally over 200km … you navigate via route card or
GPS … you visit controls which may be someone part of the organisation to stamp
your brevet card or simply purchasing good and retaining a time stamped receipt
from a specified town … and there are many awards to aim for in relation
distance of events ridden, cumulative distances and cumulative climbing … it’s
a beautifully simple system.
Audax is latin for ‘bold’ and those that were among the riders
at my first Audax experience could certainly be described as bold.
My first Audax was to be the 200km ride ‘When i'm 64’ ... so
named as it was ridden on or near the birthday of race organiser Nigel Hall.
The start was the small village of Aldborough St John and
registration as I imagine is common amongst most Audax events was conducted in
the village hall. At registration a
quick look at the bikes outside and the riders inside I quickly realised the
disparity between the people at this event and those at my more usual race
orientated affairs … there was very little form over function and peoples
attire and bikes were all very purposeful .. and on the whole looked to have
seen many an Audax mile.
The days weather was best described as consistently poor … we
rolled out at 8am into rain and on the whole it would stay that way for the day
... on occasion it stopped raining.. as it was snowing !
I was amazed at the initial pace as we barrelled along wet roads
everyone settling into the days ride and getting to know one another.
After only 16 miles I punctured and had to stop .. I had been
slightly off route with the front guys as they were avoiding poor condition
back roads (minor detours are acceptable) so after fixing my puncture I was
forced to cut back across on to the official route and allow my GPS to earn its
keep.
I was only riding for another 12 miles or so before the first
control … all the days controls were ‘Free’ indicating no set control simply
purchase something and retain the receipt as proof you were there. In this case it was a Tesco filling station
and I met up with riders from the Hambleton Road Club … leaving the filling
station I stayed with these riders and would do so for the rest of the day.
Having good company and conversation was the order of the day as
the poor weather robbed us mostly of the magnificent views of this part of the
country … plus having 6 wet riders storm a café on a Saturday lunchtime is
slightly less embarrassing to the individual than venturing in on your own and
being the only wet cyclist there J
As it turned out the guys I was riding with on the whole had
ridden many Audax events so were an excellent source of info as to what to use
and which events to ride.
I managed to take no photographs during the day so have to thank
Paul John Manacourt for letting me use his images .. I think the following few
shots capture the day .. cold riders huddled outside a convenience store after
collecting their control receipts around the half way point.
.. and the Warbird taking a well-deserved rest on a railing J
We finished the ride in the dark … it took near 12 hours start to
finish but was a hugely enjoyable day and I left with a massive respect for these very tough Audax riders.
I have decided to try and complete a Super Randonneur this year
which is comprised of a 200km, 300km, 400km and 600km ride so first one down
only 3 more to go !!
Thanks again to Nigel Hall for this excellent event and the guys
from Hambleton RC for the good company for the day.
More info on Audax here.
(Note: I apologise for any inaccuracy in
my interpretation of Audax and welcome all comments to amend factual content J )
