Audax/Sportives

Audax Rides

Audax rides maybe unfamiliar to those new to cycling. They are NOT races. People ride them more in the spirit of an event like the London Marathon, everyone riding to their own limitations with the primary objective to just 'get round'. These events suit everyone, clubmen, time-trialists, recreational riders, cycletourists, 'born again' cyclists, young and old, male and female. And you'll see all sorts of machines - bikes, tandems, trikes, recumbents, and occasionally even stranger things ...

Size of entry varies greatly but is typically around 100 starters. Small local events may have just a handful of riders while a few popular events attract 200 starters or more. The routes typically feature a few fast main roads and a lot of quiet, scenic lanes. Many events are quite hilly, some are extremely hilly, and even the flatter ones usually have one or two challenging climbs. Some events are noted for the quality of home-cooked food and tender loving care supplied along the way however, self-sufficiency remains a highly-regarded quality in Audax rides.

There are maximum and minimum time limits, which are designed to suit everyone from the fittest of recreational riders, to more occasional riders who have plenty of determination. Each rider carries a 'brevet card' which is stamped at intermediate checkpoints and at the finish, and which is later returned to the rider as a certificate of their achievement. The success rate on these events is very high - probably only about 10% fail to finish.

Corinium CC organises several Audax events of varying distances during the year which are always well attended and well organised and for 2010 are as follows;

Windrush Warm-Up 108km Sunday 31st January 2010 9am Start Ashton Keynes
Wiltshire White Horses 200km Saturday Date TBA 8am Start Ashton Keynes
Heart of England 300km Saturday Date TBA 6am start Watermoor
Centurian/Super-Grimpeur 100km Date TBA October 2010 start Daglingworth

The details for each of these rides can be found in our 'Events' section

There are also many other Audax events organised locally by other clubs and more information is available by visiting http://www.aukweb.net/index.htm