Sportive or Audax

[Ajay]

Audax = a sit down meal with wine and coffee (ok, this one was in France) 18€
Sportive = a gazebo with gels, crisps and (if you're lucky) jelly babies. £35

 

[martint235]

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

Really? The bikes the Sportive lot ride must be really strong.

Then again I've done no sportives and only 3 audax and one of those was LEL which doesn't count.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I've done a couple of Audax's, a 100k where I rode to and from the head quarters and ended up doing 200k, a 100miler that started and finished in Meriden just outside Coventry, enjoyed both rides but they took up too much time, I've got a couple of years to retirement and I'm thinking about doing a few more once I've retired. I've haven't done a sportive, I've looked at them but the ones I've looked at have been expensive to enter, I also got the impresion that they are more like races than the Audax and I'm not into racing.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I've done a couple of Audax's, a 100k where I rode to and from the head quarters and ended up doing 200k, a 100miler that started and finished in Meriden just outside Coventry, enjoyed both rides but they took up too much time, I've got a couple of years to retirement and I'm thinking about doing a few more once I've retired. I've haven't done a sportive, I've looked at them but the ones I've looked at have been expensive to enter, I also got the impresion that they are more like races than the Audax and I'm not into racing.

That's pretty accurate. I don't generally do the organised stuff period. I've done one Randonee (it was free, unless you wished to donate some money, which I gladly did) and one sportive (because it was very unusual) in over 30 years of road riding. I tend to just ride long distance routes, that I make up on a whim:

 

[Retribution03]

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?

On the sportive I did there was a feed station at halfway,riders from a club riding the course to check people were not in trouble a mechanic at the start and at the feed station as well as a vehicle on stand by to assist where needed, all for £18.75 (£16.75 with code) It allowed novices like myself to complete my longest ride with the knowledge there were people around and on call should something go wrong and a nice long ride with like minded peeps....not done an Audax.

 

[Retribution03]

That sounds a good one.

Yeah I thought it was great value.there is a series of 3 the last being in October which they are using chip timing but keeping the price the same as it has only just been decided to use it and it will only go up by £1 next year.

 

[martint235]

Deleted

Unfortunately from what I've read regarding recent sportives, paramedics have been required in quite tragic circumstances (neither particularly attributable to the event or the person imo). However given that the events of RideLondon are less than two weeks ago, your trolling is distasteful, sickening and upsetting to any relatives who may happen across this public website.

 

[DaveReading]

and a computer that measures in km so you know how far to the next turn.

Or, if you're an old imperial fogey like me, download the route sheet beforehand and convert all the leg distances to proper miles.

 

[Pale Rider]

one of those was LEL which doesn't count.

You are too modest.

I think LEL should count at least double.

 

[nickyboy]

Went for a ride yesterday and got caught up in an Audax. I got royally skinned going up Snake Pass by several of them, including one "proper" audaxer on a bike with a big routesheet clipped on the bars, carradice bag and mudguards (it was 20 degrees and sunny).

Pleased to see that there is a blurring of the distinction between audaxes and sportives, particularly on the shorter, sharper audaxes (this one was 100km super-grimpeur type thing). These attract a lot of sportive-type riders too as they see it as a good value option whilst getting the camaraderie of 50+ riders you wouldn't get just doing the route yourself

 

[Tim Hall]

Or, if you're an old imperial fogey like me, download the route sheet beforehand and convert all the leg distances to proper miles.

Some years ago I got ready for my first Audax. South Coast Hardriders, or similar.
Bike? check
Tools? check
Waterproof? check
Water bottle? check
Set computer to km? check

Get to the start and pickup route sheet. It's in miles.

 

[F70100]

These attract a lot of sportive-type riders too as they see it as a good value option whilst getting the camaraderie of 50+ riders you wouldn't get just doing the route yourself

If @blazed is a typical sportive rider, it doesn't sound as if there's too much camaraderie on a sportive.

 

[jefmcg]

Get to the start and pickup route sheet. It's in miles.

That's a very unusual audax, if you didn't get the route sheet until the start. Old school organisers ask you to included 2 SAE with your entry, one to send you the route sheet, and one to send back your card. Now days you mostly download the route sheet - and a gpx file.

The route is not supposed to be a surprise, you are meant to be able to thoroughly plan your ride in advance, if you care to.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

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

I've only done 1 Sportive to date, partly from asking the same question.

Biggest difference is people. Someone else will have set the route and I think Audaxes have a minimum climb requirement, others have mentioned big climb stuff exists, hopefully there will be good reasons for them picking the route they did.

Other people will be doing the route as you do (Sportives always sound busier than Audaxes) so you'll see people on the road and eat with other cyclists who can share experiences.

On the challenge front, possibly the terrain but mostly everyone else doing the event you are is doing the same distance, in the same weather so you have a solid gauge for how well you did. Sportives tend to be closely timed and the one I did published all the times so you could see where you came, with Audaxes I guess you see similar faces and can see how you do over time vs the pack, also who is least bothered by weather and sleep deprivation.

 

[Tim Hall]

That's a very unusual audax, if you didn't get the route sheet until the start. Old school organisers ask you to included 2 SAE with your entry, one to send you the route sheet, and one to send back your card. Now days you mostly download the route sheet - and a gpx file.

The route is not supposed to be a surprise, you are meant to be able to thoroughly plan your ride in advance, if you care to.

Hmm. Good point. It was ages ago, like 16 years ago, so all a bit lost in the mists of time. SAEs definitely, no gpx.