Language please!

[Passion For Pedalling]

What is the difference between a sportive and an audax?

I have done many 100km sportives...am worried about the word 'audax'

Are they faster, these audaxes??

 

[TheDoctor]

Not really.
Sportives have signposting, feed stations, mechanical support and a broom wagon. That's why they cost £20 or more
Audaxes have none of these things. You get a route sheet, and there's a time limit and a few control points where you have to sign in. That's about it. Your bike breaks - you fix it, or you get yourself home. There's a much greater emphasis on self-reliance, and that's why they're cheap.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

The other difference (in my experience) is that Sportives are frequented by middle-aged "lycra-louts" on "what's the most expensive one" bikes and little road sense, chucking their rubbish in the hedge (because Banana skins rot, so that's ok), living out their road race fantasies; whereas the Audax rider is an altogether more earnest and responsible type.

 

[TheDoctor]

It's rare to see Brooks and Carradice on a Sportive, certainly...

 

[Scoosh]

Sportives are usually charity, commercial or a mixture of the two.

Audax

are run by volunteer organisers, come under the auspices of AudaxUK, and are aimed at encouraging people to get into 'long distance' cycling ('long distance' starts at 200km).

There is a good guide to all things audax here.

HTH

 

[G-Zero]

There is a good guide to all things audax here.HTH

Thanks for that link Scoosh, I found it very informative and answered most of the questions I was asking on this subject earlier http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bike-suitability-for-challenges.95241/

 

[Banjo]

Audax is pretty much what you make of it. If you want fast there will be someone up the front to ride with if you want slow then team up with me at the back.

On 200km rides the minimum average speed is about 15 kph maximum usually 30 kmph the clock keeps running during food /rest stops etc so you need to ride a good bit faster than those speeds to keep up the average.

In my experience Audax is much more of a social activity than Sportives. Audaxers are more likely to have lunch in a pub chatting with other riders than to suck lunch out of a gel wrapper on the move.

Audax times arent published anywhere.You get a list of the successful finishers in alphabetical order.I am sure there is a bit of informal racing goes on at the front of the field but at my level its all about completing the ride and enjoying the day.

 

[Beaker39]

The other difference (in my experience) is that Sportives are frequented by middle-aged "lycra-louts" on "what's the most expensive one" bikes and little road sense, chucking their rubbish in the hedge (because Banana skins rot, so that's ok), living out their road race fantasies; whereas the Audax rider is an altogether more earnest and responsible type.

Spot on!

 

[PpPete]

Audax is pretty much what you make of it. If you want fast there will be someone up the front to ride with if you want slow then team up with me at the back.

On 200km rides the minimum average speed is about 15 kph maximum usually 30 kmph the clock keeps running during food /rest stops etc so you need to ride a good bit faster than those speeds to keep up the average.

In my experience Audax is much more of a social activity than Sportives. Audaxers are more likely to have lunch in a pub chatting with other riders than to suck lunch out of a gel wrapper on the move.

Audax times arent published anywhere.You get a list of the successful finishers in alphabetical order.I am sure there is a bit of informal racing goes on at the front of the field but at my level its all about completing the ride and enjoying the day.

^^^^
this

But beware, it is horribly addictive. No sooner have you done a few at 200km than you start wondering what 300km will be like... and so on, and then you want to seriously mad things like the Bryan Chapman Memorial (Chepstow to Menai and back, 600 km with a 40 hour time limit) or the LEL

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Sportive riders have shiny new whistles and bells
Audax Riders have beards and a pipe

 

[e-rider]

The other difference (in my experience) is that Sportives are frequented by middle-aged "lycra-louts" on "what's the most expensive one" bikes and little road sense, chucking their rubbish in the hedge (because Banana skins rot, so that's ok), living out their road race fantasies; whereas the Audax rider is an altogether more earnest and responsible type.

there is perhaps some (a lot) of truth in this statement, however, I ride sportives and don't fall into any of the above. I would certainly NOT recommend 'group' riding on sportives due to the lack of riding skills that exist amongst many of these middle aged 'lycra louts'. However, I plod along for the 100 miles or so on my own and really enjoy the signed routes etc. Annoys me when some random gets on my wheel though - excuse me, do you like looking at a stangers arse or what?

For some reason, a newbie on a very expensive bike seems to annoy most people. I personally don't care at all as long as they stay away from me - especially on descents. After 25 years as a serious cyclist I was more offended when my new bike was descibed as 'entry level' especially after spending over £1K on it!

 

[Baggy]

Sportive riders have shiny new whistles and bells
Audax Riders have beards and a pipe

Am very disappointed that in several years of Audaxing I've yet to see anyone smoking a pipe.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

there is perhaps some (a lot) of truth in this statement, however, I ride sportives and don't fall into any of the above...

I was generalising for (hopefully) comedic effect.

I like the idea of a Sportive: a good long ride with a bit of back-up and all the organsation done by someone else. However, they attract too many "weekend warriors" who treat them as races/closed road events and show little consideration for other road users, both two and four wheeled.

I also found the charity ones (I'm thinking particularly of Action Medical Research) heavily commercialised with the full cost not obvious and really very expensive.

 

[e-rider]

I was generalising for (hopefully) comedic effect.

I like the idea of a Sportive: a good long ride with a bit of back-up and all the organsation done by someone else. However, they attract too many "weekend warriors" who treat them as races/closed road events and show little consideration for other road users, both two and four wheeled.

I also found the charity ones (I'm thinking particularly of Action Medical Research) heavily commercialised with the full cost not obvious and really very expensive.

AMR rides always get critisized for being expensive. However, you can't expect the organisers of these events to pay themselves National Minimum Wage of £6.08 per hour. How many of the people calling these events expensive actually earn minimum wage themselves, or would be prepared to work for minimum wage? Probably close to none! The same people complain that bike shops charge too much for repairs, but expect fully trained mechanics to work for £6 per hour.
All of these people are entitled to earn a decent salary; which means the goods/services offered will cost more than peanuts.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

AMR rides always get critisized for being expensive. However, you can't expect the organisers of these events to pay themselves National Minimum Wage of £6.08 per hour. How many of the people calling these events expensive actually earn minimum wage themselves, or would be prepared to work for minimum wage? Probably close to none! The same people complain that bike shops charge too much for repairs, but expect fully trained mechanics to work for £6 per hour.
All of these people are entitled to earn a decent salary; which means the goods/services offered will cost more than peanuts.

Yes true but... AMR use loads of unpaid volunteers to staff their rides. (I used to be one)