Sportive or Audax

[Pale Rider]

Sportives are run for profit.

Audaxes are run to break even.

 

[winjim]

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

I like the fact that someone else has done the route planning, so you get to go places you wouldn't necessarily have thought of, and can then incorporate into future rides.

I only do the small local charity ones though. Would like to get more into Audaxing but haven't the time right now.

 

[Tim Hall]

Going back to the :

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

Now that is a good question. I've done a few audaxes, nothing more than 200km. I don't think I'd bother to ride 200km based on a route I'd made up, or more accurately, I don't think I can be bothered to make up a 200km route. The nearest I've come to it was a "follow my nose" ride the year before last, which ended up at 120km.

 

[vickster]

But still:

Try one of each, see what you think? Kind of need to see what you think
I've done one sportive, on closed roads. Wouldn't do one on open roads I doubt
Never done an audax, don't think I've got 200 hilly kms in my legs or bum, especially not on my own on roads I don't know. I also don't ride in the dark for any distance, and there's not enough daylight on a UK day to allow me to go that far!!

 

[mcshroom]

There are a lot of 150, 100 and even some 50km audaxes. You don't have to ride silly distances if you don't want

 

[Smokin Joe]

Riders on audax events are mostly slim build. Sportive fields are 50% porkers.

 

[blazed]

Audax is for the unfit who cycle at snail pace. All they care about is miles on the clock.

An average sportive rider would easily be able to compete with the best in audax, he would have to adjust his training but his far higher level of fitness would see him through. Basically would have to slow down, and the body would adjust to the long SLOW days on the saddle. The boredom of slowly peddling for hundreds of miles would be the only bit to overcome.

An average Audax rider however would suffer big time trying to ride a fast sportive time!

 

[ColinJ]

I like the fact that someone else has done the route planning, so you get to go places you wouldn't necessarily have thought of, and can then incorporate into future rides.

Forum rides? 'Free' is even cheaper than audax!

 

[Dogtrousers]

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

Good question. I do the vast majority of my riding on my own on routes I've made up. Sportives I've done mainly as an excuse to get together with friends. Audaxes to provide the structure to keep me going for the longer distances.

I think my favourite is just making up my own route and riding round it.

 

[JMAG]

Riders on audax events are mostly slim build. Sportive fields are 50% porkers.

That must make me a sportive rider then. Good to know in case I ever feel the need to join a large organised event

Audax is for the unfit who cycle at snail pace. All they care about is miles on the clock.

Stop the train, maybe I am an audaux rider!

Edit. Has anyone ever done a Spordax? Slow ride for porkers.

 

[F70100]

I did a sportive last year and it left me somewhat underwhelmed. I will take @vickster 's suggestion and try an audax; maybe it will have the right amount of whelm.

 

[jefmcg]

Start here. Select criteria at the top and click "Go" . Note: AAA is about hills. I'm a sh*tty climber, so I select rides without AAA rating. You should be able to find something to suit.

You'll need to do some navigation. Garmin is preferred, or you can use your phone. Or you can be old school, and follow the route sheet. It's easy enough, all you need is a way of clipping them to your bike, and a computer that measures in km so you know how far to the next turn.

have fun!

 

[Norry1]

Sportive riders are proud of how new their bikes and kit are
Audax riders are proud of how old their bikes and kit are

Ditto price

 

[mcshroom]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW9RbrV7PNE

 

[Racing roadkill]

Edit. Has anyone ever done a Spordax? Slow ride for porkers.

Now that sounds like a marketing opportunity