Has audax in the UK changed?

[yello]

I did a 300 audax yesterday and was in the minority on steel. Carbon fibre was the name of the game. (I've mentioned this before).

What was also notable was the lack of 'stuff' being carried; travelling minimalist. Seat pack for spare tube, energy bars in shirt pockets. This ride started at 4am and a couple of riders didn't even have lights! Such riders just stayed tucked in the group until daybreak.

I looked decidedly old school; steel framed, dynohub, bar bag containing food and camera - and space for sticking unwanted legwarmers etc etc. Large saddle bag (Otleib) containing couple of tubes, spare cables, chain tool, tyre boot, etc.

I stayed with a group for around 50km at the start and found the pace just a little too hot for my liking. It seemed more like a sportive. Close riding, watching the wheel ahead. Not really my thing... so I eventually opted to ride my own pace, immediately feeling more relaxed and being able to enjoy the surrounds (I'd rather admire the Loire than a Michelin Krylion!!).

I continued my ride as I wanted, seeing nobody else and finished in just under 15 hours. (I reckon on around 5 hours per 100km for longer rides - including stops - so that's about normal for me.) On my arrival, around two thirds of the cars had gone; people finished and long since gone.

I was never the fastest in the UK, nor the slowest, but I did feel like I was a part of it. I never felt anachronistic. I don't know if it's just different here in France but I suddenly felt I wasn't part of the audax scene any more... as if it had changed on me. In honesty, it did demoralise me a little. I know you ride your own ride and there are no prizes but I couldn't help alienated a little.

It seemed light and minimal was how you set out, and you went for the best possible time. Is that what's it's like in the UK now? Is it heading that way?

 

[asterix]

Last year I did the 100 hour Raid Pyrenean on my steel Roberts with mudguards and a saddlebag (Carradice Pendle).

Next month I am doing a hilly sportive in the UK. I'll be riding steel (maybe a tourer) with mudguards and a saddlebag (Carradice Nelson). I'm just going to take it steady and finish it, no idea what the others will ride and if I am last, well someone has to be!

 

[Fiona N]

Hi Yello
I think you need to come back to Blighty

My Audax bike is carbon () but built to fit full mudguards and a rack too. As I've only done 200's at the moment, I'm using a biggish saddle pack but the Carradice saddle bag will go on for the first 300km in a couple of weeks. I still use a mapholder and not GPS and have taken lights for the 200's just in case. And I'd say that was fairly typical of the folk I've seen on the rides this year - plenty of steel steeds too - but then in the North (of England) there are still plenty of traditional makers and sellers of custom frames. Perhaps there are now enough sportives to keep the wannabees happy leaving the Audaxes to the older (or more traditional) brigade

 

[zigzag]

hi yello, i wouldn't worry about steel or old school thing, this doesn't matter too much. i think it should feel good to be unique and not the part of the herd. it could be the weather that inspired most to go fast - it felt like a perfect summer day yesterday!

with regards to carrying stuff on audaxes - i personally leave my workshop, wardrobe and fridge at home where they belong. just some basic stuff required on a warm and dry day's ride.

the "bulge" time for 300 is 15-18hrs and i'm surprised you were/felt left behind.

 

[Dan B]

I continued my ride as I wanted, seeing nobody else and finished in just under 15 hours. (I reckon on around 5 hours per 100km for longer rides - including stops - so that's about normal for me.) On my arrival, around two thirds of the cars had gone; people finished and long since gone.

Wouldn't a traditional audaxer ride to the start (or at least from the nearest train station) instead of driving there? Perhaps there were a lot more people still out on the course on less bling bicycles?

 

[yello]

I think you need to come back to Blighty

I do miss the UK audax scene, truth told. I've been musing the differences recently and I do think, though it is subjective clearly, that the UK scene is more embracing and friendlier (or was anyway). It's certainly more active than in my part of the word, that certainly is true to say. It was a 90 minute drive for me yesterday and that was my closest option.

There was another guy on steel yesterday; a Gilles Berthoud bike with a bottom bracket dynamo and rear rack. A 'véritable randonneuse', and a genuine delight to behold. He was merrily spinning away with the quick boys though I did later see him sat outside a café, whether he done his dash or not though, I don't know.

Btw, did you know that I believe we share the same surname. Same spelling too. Or perhaps I'm mistaken... I remember reading something somewhere ages ago and it's stuck since, though I could well have confused it with something along the way. Wouldn't be the first time.

 

[yello]

i wouldn't worry about steel or old school thing, this doesn't matter too much.

I do know that objectively. Equally I know the time doesn't matter (so long as your in before the cut offs). But knowing it and feeling it are different beasts - this was the first time I've ever really felt like a thing of the past. It never happened to me in the UK (there was safety in numbers!) but then I don't know if the UK scene is changing too - hence my question.

Wouldn't a traditional audaxer ride to the start (or at least from the nearest train station) instead of driving there?

Sadly, in my part of France, there's usually some distance to travel to get to the start thus making the car the most practical option - short of getting a train, sometimes via Paris, the night before and staying in a hotel.

In fairness, there were a lot of local club riders that turned up on their bikes, no car. Perhaps therein is a part of situation that I'm not fully appreciating? That is, perhaps these events are also used by club riders for training rides? Not 'traditional audaxers' at all, as it were! It'll be interesting to see who turns up for the 400 and 600s!

Thinking about it, after I dropped from the quick group nobody came past me (that I saw anyway). I don't know exactly how many people took part so maybe there were more behind me than ahead. Maybe I just had the feeling of 'last person on the course'! I'm perhaps foolishly gauging number of riders from the number of cars in the car park.

 

[dodgy]

How many times on forums, when someone has complained about Sportives (pricing, routes, or whatever) and someone always pops up and says "Audax is better, cheaper, friendlier".

I think the Sportive crowd have been listening, at least in France. The secret is out

 

[Fab Foodie]

I think change is inevitable, especially as kit gets better (lighter/compact/flexible etc.) there's less need to lay siege to the route when you can move over-it like a Stormtrooper.

I'm a bit old-school and tend (especially in winter) to be never underknowingly equipped, however, most of my riding compatriots get away with minimal kit (and weight) and never seem to fare any the worst for it.
Possibly the thinking is that they'd rather do a 300 in 15 rather than 18 hours by the lightweight approach.
It's also like ly that the majority of newcomers to Audax will have also been Sportive riders and so 200s and 300s will be well within their grasp without resaort to any more specialised kit. 400s and 600s however would really require a more laden and specialist (see: Auld Skool) and bearded approach

 

[Philip Whiteman]

I too rode an 300 at the weekend, The Elenith. As I sat in one of the cafes, I hardly noticed any 'beards and sandles'. In fact, I wondered whether the 'cool to be uncool factor' is affecting audaxes. What struck was the increase in faster and younger audaxers, some were dressed in deliberately retro-kit and apparently very fashion conscious. However, like Yello's observation, steel frames were few and far between and carbon or ti bikes more obvious. There was also more riders that looked pre-middle age.

It may or may not be the PBP affect but in all of the events I have participated in this year, there has been an obvious increase in numbers. My own Snowdrop and Sunrise Express sold out six weeks ahead of the event, the Cheltenham Flyer was busy, Barry's Bristol Ball Bash had hundreds and The Elenith, more popular than usual.

Talking to my riders at the Snowdrop and Sunrise Express, many of them were new to audaxing. In some instances they were defectors from sportives and in others, completely new to cycling. Yes the 'old reliables' did enter but there was also whole new contingent.

We may be seeing a rebirth. I'm optimistic for the future of audaxing.

 

[bof]

I think PBP is attracting some younger riders to Audaxes this year. Most of them seem very pleasant and agreeably surprised by the welcome from longer term audaxers. It can only be a good thing for the discipline.

 

[Ian H]

A lot, if not most, audax randonnees in France are only run in Paris-Brest years, and they're run (mainly) for their own members. So I suspect it might be more to do with that particular club's ethos than a major shift in randonneur style. In any case, 15hrs is quite respectable, so why worry. There'll be plenty riding at your pace during the main event.

 

[yello]

A lot, if not most, audax randonnees in France are only run in Paris-Brest years, and they're run (mainly) for their own members. So I suspect it might be more to do with that particular club's ethos than a major shift in randonneur style.

Ah, that would explain many things! Certainly the organising club was well represented and, gauging by the (lack of) response to my post on the French randonneur's forum, auld skool audaxers were not in attendance. Audax here is not at all the beast I thought it would be. For instance, my own club is doing a puka 200 audax (road captain etc) next month, its first ever... but only for the club, no outsiders. I can't see the sense in that personally but maybe it's an insurance thing.

In any case, 15hrs is quite respectable, so why worry. There'll be plenty riding at your pace during the main event.

Objectively, I know this. I'm not worried, not really. I was just aware of this kind of demoralising alienated feeling I was getting from the experience. I suspect it's mainly because of what I touched on above... it being different here. For example, imagine finishing your 300 (or 200, 400, whatever) to an empty car park. Nobody to welcome you, sign you in, have a natter and a cup of tea and scone with. Nothing. Just the now nearly empty car park. Then you phone the misses and she says 'oh, I thought you'd be finished sooner' (she was basing her timings on me doing 50km in under 2 hours!)... it makes you wonder why you bothered!

 

[Tynan]

I've only done two, steel with all the commuter guards and pannier, I was very proud of my chain box route sheet holder strapped on with some spliced togther garden ties

yes, there were a lot of sporty types on racers but they cleared off pretty quick and left the plodders and trundlers alone

 

[asterix]

Yello, if you don't mind my saying so your avatar is looking a bit worn out and faded. Maybe a new and brighter one would raise your spirits?

(My avatar is of a Pyrenean mountain dog that looked cheerful even though it was windy, raining and cold and the sheep looked like worn out dish-mops).