What the heck is an Audax Ride? The following definition is from the Randonnuers USA website.
Audax (oh docks) - A style of group bicycle touring found mostly in France, but also in Holland and Belgium to lesser degrees. A steady pace is set by a road captain, who is in charge of a group of fellow club members. In modern times the pace is usually about 22 km/h (13.5mi/h) between stops; the itinerary and resting places are planned in advance.
For the purposes of this blog, we are talking about doing a 200 kilometer (approximately 125 mile) audax style ride. Ours will go on Saturday, May 16, 2015.
Why should I do this thing? One could be forgiven for wondering that. Here’s an attempt at an anser:
- It feels good to meet a challenge (and 125 miles with a mountain in the middle certainly qualifies)
- It’s good to engage with others in a mutual goal.
- There is a sort of magic synergy that occurs when a group of riders decides to enter a non-competitive endeavor. Somehow our strengths add and our weaknesses diminish.
- It’s an absolutely great day!
Getting Ready:
To aid folks in preparing for this style of riding, and this particular ride, I’m leading five “tune up” rides.
Audax Tune Up Rides:
22 February (Sunday) 1:00 PM 35 miles (approx)
8 March (Sunday): 1:00 PM, 45 miles (approx)
29 March (Sunday): 1:00 PM, 45 miles (approx)
12 April (Sunday): 11:00 AM, 65 miles (approx)
3 May (Sunday): 11:00 AM, 65 miles (approx)
I can pretty much assure you that, if you do all of these, you will be able to handle the 200K.
We will ride these in an Audax style. The group will stay together. The pace will be moderate. We will be riding a predetermined course. Anyone who is willing to abide by the intent and spirit of these rides is welcome to come along. The rides will leave from the front of Bicycles Unlimited, in Peachtree City, GA.
A necessary few words about the Tune Up Rides: The group will stay together in mutual aid and support. There will be no SAG. We’re doing this as self-supported rides. The terrain for these rides is (deliberately) more hilly and more challenging than that which will be encountered on the 200K. The idea here is simple. “If I can do something that is harder than the actual ride, then I’ll certainly be able to standup to the ride itself.”
There will be a fee for the actual Audax Ride, on 16 May. This fee will cover your lunch (sit down at a good restaurant), a post ride sandwich snack, and water refills along the ride. There are no fees for the “Tune Ups.” Ride fee is payable, in advance, by check or cash. I don’t have enough info yet to set a precise number on the fee, but it will most certainly be no more than $30.00.
Hope to see many of you all there.
I'll be posting more info on all of this soon.
Oh yes, one last and critically important note: Helmets required on all rides.
