Sportive or Audax

[F70100]

Just curious about the difference between a sportive and an audax event, given that neither are a race.

What is the particular challenge of either as opposed to just making up your own route and riding around it?

 

[vickster]

Degree of organisation, distance and mamil quotient

Stickies in each part of the forum tell you more

 

[F70100]

I've read the stickies but the second part of my enquiry still stands:

What is the particular challenge of either as opposed to just making up your own route and riding around it?

Not knocking either, just genuinely curious.

 

[ianrauk]

Sportive participants pretend to race
Audax participants pretend not to race

Sportives you are fed gels, bananas and high 5 tabs
Audax you are fed pasta, bacon rolls, biscuits and tea.

Sportives you follow little dayglo arrows
Audax you follow a route sheet

Sportives you get a little shiny trinket
Audax you get a mention on their website

Sportives cost a fortune
Audax don't

Sportives you are forced to wear a helmet or you don't ride
Audax no one cares

If I think of any more I'll add to the above.

 

[raleighnut]

A lot ot Audax events require mudguards. (and tend to be longer than sportives)

 

[jefmcg]

A lot ot Audax events require mudguards.

That's nearly disappeared. But you are likely to be visiting cafes, so they like you to not muddy them up.

(and tend to be longer than sportives)

That's true. Sportives tend to be up to 100 miles, proper audaxes start at 125 miles (though shorter distances are available)

 

[mcshroom]

A lot of Audax events require mudguards. (and tend to be longer than sportives)

Just about no audax events require mudguards now. They are a good idea if you are stopping at cafes though out of consideration to the cafe's furniture.

To carry on from Ian

On Sportives you get a timing chip
On Audax you get a card to stamp

 

[winjim]

A sportive is a type of mass participation cycling event. Audax is an organisation which promotes long distance cycling endurance challenges.

 

[Dogtrousers]

There's a baffling variety of different kinds of Audax in addition to ordinary scheduled calendar events. There are permanents, DIYs, DIY by GPS, extended calendar events, and probably some more that are secret.

I've only done ordinary ones.

On Sportives it's generally not necessary to make a note of the name of the third pub on the left after you enter the village. On Audaxes, it might be.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Sportive = knobber fest

Auduax = nutter fest.

 

[F70100]

But still:

What is the particular challenge of either as opposed to just making up your own route and riding around it?

 

[jefmcg]

What is the particular challenge of either as opposed to just making up your own route and riding around it?

Audax gives you good routes, suitable stops, company and support. They can also be cheaper than doing the ride on your own. Your rides are accredited so you have a record of what done. They have awards for extreme riding. You can get badges if you want.

Sportives I don't really get

 

[jefmcg]

They can also be cheaper than doing the ride on your own

Eg the ditchling devil, one of the more expensive 200km audaxes included donuts at the start, morning tea halfway to Brighton, BBQ in Brighton and coffee and so much cake halfway back to London. Try to do that at cafes for £15

 

[vickster]

Without a sports nutrition or other sponsor in sight

 

[ianrauk]

Sportives you mix it with Sky fanboys
Audax you mix it with Steve Abraham