What’s this AUDAX thing?

Some of you have started doing the Audax Tune Up Rides but you’re not really clear about the why of it.  Perhaps you are thinking, “What’s the endpoint?”

We’ll try to give some kind of answer to that question here, along with a few particulars and details.

The objective of the whole exercise is to ride the Audax 200K together and as a group.  What does that mean?

The distance first.  A trip of 200 kilometers is approximately 125 miles.  Our route covers moderate terrain, a lot of mostly rural, low traffic, roads.  There are a couple of some hilly sections, one long stretch of “rollers.” and Pine Mountain is smack in the middle of the thing.  (We get it done just before lunch.)

It’s noncompetitive riding.  Wow!  What a concept.  In the southern United States, most “group” rides turn into races without rules.  This one is not like that.  There are twin objectives here. We are here to finish the ride, and to insure that all of us finish.  Together.  At the same time.

We understand that we are all rough tough cycling animals, and we are confident of our abilities.  Nobody needs to prove anything to anyone on a ride like this.  There are no “break-aways,” no “Primes,” and no bragging rights for being first.  (In fact, at the end of the ride, we assemble into a formation and ride in the last few miles together as a tightly organized unit. 

 The group rides together, stays together, supports itself, and is a moving organism.  We all have strengths and weaknesses.  Some of us can really climb.  We have folks who can sprint like the wind.  Some of us are real diesels, capable of just motoring in the flatter sections.  Over a long ride, such as this, our differences in abilities could spread us out over a lot of terrain.  It won’t happen here.  Our motto is,  “All for one!  One for all!”  If any of has any sort of problem, we will all work to fix it.  A slower rider will be supported and encouraged.  (We’ve all had days when we’ve been that rider.)  Stronger climbers will encourage the slower ones.  Power riders will provide windshelter for the lighter ones.  It all works out.

There is a unique synergy to this kind of riding.  We’ll all arrive, together, at each break point along the route.  We’ll stop for a mid ride sit-down lunch.  It’s about camaraderie and the reinforcing power of belonging to a group with a mutual objective.

The Tune Up Rides are designed to give us experience in terrain that is actually, mile for mile, more demanding than the actual 200K.  They are also intended as a means for us to practice this group dynamic, mutual support riding.  Besides, they are a lot of fun.

One more thing:  There will be a modest fee for the actual 200K.  That covers purchase of water along the way, lunch, gratuity, and a post ride sandwich snack.  We’ll be announcing the price in a future email update and post on this blog.  We just don’t have enough information to set the price yet.  Please stay tuned.