With the club’s spring Audax rides coming up in a month on the 23rd April, it is worth taking some time to answer a few common questions and misconceptions! So we’ll talk about:
- What is an Audax?
- Isn’t it just a club run that I have to pay money for?
- Why should I ride the club Audax?
- What do I get for my entry fee?
- I’ve heard mudguards are required?!
- How do I enter?
What is an Audax?
An Audax is a ride that has to be completed within a set time limit, including any stops to eat or rest. It’s not a race, individual riders’ times are not published; if you finish within the time limit, you’ve succeeded. Riders are expected to be self-sufficient and there is no support except that some control points may have food provided. Read more about Audax here.
Isn’t it just a club run that I have to pay money for?
No. It obviously has some similarities but really it’s more akin to a very good-value sportive than a club run. There are a number of things that make it different:
- Riders from other clubs are coming to ride our local(ish!) roads, not just club riders
- There is food provided, and you get a stamped record of your ride (the Brevet card)
- There will be many smaller groups or individual groups on the road, riding the same route. You can find other riders at your preferred pace, or set your own.
- It can give you a flavour of what Audax rides are about, which can take you on to bigger and longer rides if you like!
Why should I ride the club Audax?
The main reason to ride the club Audax is because the two routes on offer are great rides! The new longer route (167km/104mi), “Beyond the Cheshire Plains” was referred to by a club member as “a bit like Wild Wales!”. The route is challenging (2400m/8000ft of climbing) and beautiful in equal measure. If you fancy a shorter ride, the Ron Sant Memorial Ride is still a challenge for many at 108km/67mi and has an cafe stop at the excellent Cleopatras in Holt.
It’s also a way to support the club: having a good turnout of our members for public-facing events is always good and gives visitors a good impression. As of now, one month away, we have nearly 40 visiting riders coming to ride our event and normally the entries only get busier in the run-up to the event!
Did you know that a large number of riders completing big events like the Transcontinental Race started off riding Audax?
What do I get for my entry fee?
- Food – some tea/coffee/croissants at the start and some soup/rolls and other goodies at the finish.
- A Brevet card – a record of your ride and a memory of the day. Some riders end up with a big collection of these over time!
- People – the start and finish will be manned, with friendly faces to serve food and answer any questions. We are hoping to have some manned controls on the route as well, dependent on number of entries.
- Insurance – if you’re not a member of Audax UK then you will pay a small amount for day-membership to be covered by Audax UK’s insurance. This protects the club, the organiser and you.
Basically, you get most of what you get on a sportive, but for a much lower cost!
I’ve heard mudguards are required?!
In the past mudguards were a requirement on Audax rides. That’s no longer the case unless specified for an event. Our events do not require mudguards! You may be wise to have lights for the longest route in case you get held up for any reason. Find other Audax FAQs here.
How do I enter?
You can visit the relevant pages on the Audax UK site for Beyond the Cheshire Plains (167km) or Ron Sant Memorial Ride (108km).