Sportive or Audax

[DCLane]

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

Skyride?

 

[DaveReading]

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.

That's a relief to know. I'll admit to having felt a wee bit guilty that I might be cheating when I went out at the weekend to recce part of a 100K audax route that I'm planning to do next month. With a bit of help from Google Streetview, too.

 

[DCLane]

That's a relief to know. I'll admit to having felt a wee bit guilty that I might be cheating when I went out at the weekend to recce part of a 100K audax route that I'm planning to do next month. With a bit of help from Google Streetview, too.

That's what I've resorted to doing so I don't rely 100% on directions / GPS.

An overview of the route plus Streetview at the key junctions worked well for my 200, 300, 400 and 600 PBP qualifiers.

 

[martint235]

That's a relief to know. I'll admit to having felt a wee bit guilty that I might be cheating when I went out at the weekend to recce part of a 100K audax route that I'm planning to do next month. With a bit of help from Google Streetview, too.

Always remember too that on an Audax you don't necessarily have to ride 100% of the route. For example on LEL, I left the southbound route just north of Brampton cos I got fed up of being diverted down very narrow lanes when I had the A7 to my right. I know other people used the A roads around the Howardian Hills.

 

[steveindenmark]

I am so pleased that someone asked this question because I didnt know the answer either.

It has helped me decide on my next bike. Anything that refers to sportive in the make of the bike is out the window, anything with Audax is in.

It sounds like you ride Audax rides with comfy Brooks B17 saddles and not those knife edged pieces of plastic that shove right up the butt.

I almost opted for a sportive. That was a lucky escape.

 

[martint235]

I am so pleased that someone asked this question because I didnt know the answer either.

It has helped me decide on my next bike. Anything that refers to sportive or endurance in the make of the bike is out the window, anything with Audax is in.

It sounds like you ride Audax rides with comfy Brooks B17 saddles and not those knife edged pieces of plastic that shove right up the butt.

I almost opted for a sportive. That was a lucky escape.

My bike Lelly (clue to the purpose is in the name) is actually a Planet X Ti Sportive. Very comfy though

 

[vickster]

You don't need an audax bike to do an audax, also sportive or endurance bikes are designed with long rides in mind...which err is generally what an audax is

You can also put a brooks on an endurance bike as @jefmcg (obviously has the obligatory audaxing carradice though to go with the saddle )

 

[Markymark]

Sportives are for winners.



You'll find people who think that at sportives.

 

[winjim]

Sportive bikes are named that because they are not racing bikes.

 

[Moderators]

Mod note: Several posts have been removed. I've allowed the first post that started the diversion to stand as a different opinion, but I would rather you returned to giving helpful comments explaining the differences., apart from anything I've found it very interesting reviewing this thread

 

[Fab Foodie]

Sportives are run for profit.

Audaxes are run to break even.

Sportives are run for the organiser .... Audax are run for the participants....

 

[Banjo]

One big difference I don't think has been mentioned is on an Audax you look after yourself.
Theres no broom wagon to pic you up if you break the bike or just get too tired.
Other Audaxers will generally stop and help up to a point but you are expected to carry your own spares ,tools and know how to use them.

The other major difference is that on a sportive the route is all signposted and possibly martialled on an audax you have a set of route instructions ,most rides have gpx files available making the old fashioned route sheet a bit redundant now.

There is no typical Audaxer. There are some superb athletes and some slow plodders (like me). You will see featherweight carbon fibre bikes next to ancient steel road bikes.

An audax organizer gives his time up to promote the sport not to make a fortune as some Sportives do.

 

[Smokin Joe]

The standard of riding on audax events is much higher IME. I've been embarrassed at the "Roadcraft" of more than a few people on sportives.

 

[nickyboy]

Oh no, really? They've already ruined the Isle of Wight Randonnee by charging about like it's a race.

I shan't embarrass the individual by linking to it but the fastest guy on the audax I happened upon on Wednesday wrote this on his strava record of his ride:

Marple AUDAX 100k first place

Thin end of the wedge etc etc

 

[Shut Up Legs]

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

That's the worst generalisation I've read all year.