Audax vs Road Bike

[meic]

well, in the dark, in the rain, half asleep etc whilst commuting I'd reckon my chances of trashing the wheels to be pretty good.

Dark, tired, rain, half asleep? If those conditions led to smashing rims on familiar roads then such bikes would not be being used by Audaxers on unfamiliar roads would they?

[Ayesha]

Further justification for using a steel rim 40 hole 20 x 1 3/8" on a dark, wet Audax.

[fatboy]

Back to the OP I would recommend using the galaxy to commute on and get an Audax bike for fun. Why do I recommend this? Because it's pretty much what I do. As others have said commuting is very hard on a bike for which something like a Galaxy is good for. Also an Audax bike is better for the UK because you get mudguards and it rains all year round. The best way to get fit and fast is to ride a bike and wet weather shouldn't be an excuse. I got a Dawes Century SE which is great fun but I wouldn't commute on it.

I would also recommend a hub dynamo. Look at http://www.rosebikes.co.uk

[Brucey]

well, in the dark, in the rain, half asleep etc whilst commuting I'd reckon my chances of trashing the wheels to be pretty good.

Dark, tired, rain, half asleep? If those conditions led to smashing rims on familiar roads then such bikes would not be being used by Audaxers on unfamiliar roads would they?

Fair enough, but Audaxers don't -as a rule- get to ride on the same roads with the same traffic as some are forced to commute on though...

cheers

[Brucey]

...Any pictures? You got to love old, well loved bikes.

I did a write-up with pics at the start of this thread;

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=67119&hilit=30+years+with+a+sturmey+gear&start=45

Since then the saddle has failed (leather split near the nose, and not the first one I've had go like this) and the respray still hasn't happened.... c'est la Vie....

cheers

[Ayesha]

The vast majority of Audax routesheets take the riders down country lanes which are the last to be repaired after frost damage. They stay dirty for longer and there’s always contra flowing traffic to negotiate.
Clever Audaxers assess the routesheet and devise their own route along better maintained, grippier and smoother roads. There is also the bonus of although the alternative route may be longer, it possesses less climbing.
Some newbie Audaxers simply accept the GPX file from the Organiser and follow it regardless.
With a bit of forward planning and research, bikes can be relieved from undue abuse on single lane roads.

To expand on this theory, a 16 lb aerodynamic racebike might cost 30 kCals/mile to ride. An ‘Audax’ bike with mudguards might cost 45 kCals/mile to ride. Therefore, a 40% increase in distance on the racebike is still less energy consuming than the ‘Audax’ bike.

This said, only a fool rides 40% longer than needed. Its usually about 10%

[meic]

Clever Audaxers assess the routesheet and devise their own route along better maintained, grippier and smoother roads.

Taken to its extremes, geniuses dont even enter an Audax but ride on a route of their own choice from their own front door.

Audaxers on the other hand do the ride for the rides sake and that includes all those itsy bitsy, gravel covered, twisty, climby lanes that make life more interesting than an A40 time trial.

[Si]

Audaxers on the other hand do the ride for the rides sake and that includes all those itsy bitsy, gravel covered, twisty, climby lanes that make life more interesting than an A40 time trial.

+1

What's the point of doing an audax if the only time that you are on route is at the controls?

And, being a lover of Shropshire Audaxes, I find that some of the best scenery is to be found down the rough, unmaintained, lanes. the climbs over the Clee Hills for example, or Wenlock Edge.

Just as long as they don't have any going down the Mercian Way...there are limits y'know!

[Ayesha]

Clever Audaxers assess the routesheet and devise their own route along better maintained, grippier and smoother roads.

Taken to its extremes, geniuses dont even enter an Audax but ride on a route of their own choice from their own front door.Audaxers on the other hand do the ride for the rides sake and that includes all those itsy bitsy, gravel covered, twisty, climby lanes that make life more interesting than an A40 time trial.

That's why the 'DIY permanent' was invented. So some of the geniuses can complete award qualifying rides to our own design.

Some AUK members like 'Itsy bitsy' lanes and views, and some like riding hundreds of kilometres to get 'Long distance' awards.
It ain't called "The UK Long Distance Cyclists' Accosiation" for nothing.


The popular perception of Audax UK has changed over the years. Recently, it has been described as a 'bike ride where you get a card stamped to prove you've done it'.
At its inception, it was a club for cyclists who liked to ride their bikes for distances over 200 km. The Windsor-Chester-Windsor 600 was established to make Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 qualification easier for United Kingdom members.
AUK have 100 and 160 events because new enthusiastic cyclists have to start somewhere. Jumping into a 200 Rando is not the ideal way to start the hobby of long distance cycling.
Studying AUK statistics, Audax purists are the minority. 300, 400 and 600 rides are the lesser ridden distances, with 100 being the most popular.

So what is an 'Audax bike'?
IMO, its a sports tourer, or 'winter trainer' in the old school speak. Fitted with a front hub dyno and a single rack. Also a gadget extension for computer, Garmin, mapholder etc. It 'should' have mudguards because rain happens. Gearing reminiscent of a full tourer and the most comfortable saddle the owner can find.

And what is a 'Road bike'.
Watch the Tour de France.

[Mick F]

And what is a 'Road bike'.
Watch the Tour de France.

I object to the term "Road Bike".

A bike is a Road Bike if it's designed to ride on a road.

TdF bikes et al are Racing Bikes.

[Ayesha]

And what is a 'Road bike'.
Watch the Tour de France.

I object to the term "Road Bike".

A bike is a Road Bike if it's designed to ride on a road.

TdF bikes et al are Racing Bikes.

Once upon a time,,,

There were ‘Roadbikes’, tourers, Sports tourers ( AKA winter trainers ), track bikes, policemen’s bikes and unicycles, and others.

“Roadbike” is short for ‘Road racing bicycle’ because it can be said with less effort in a spoken sentence. “Tourer” is short for “Touring bicycle” for the same reason.


MTB is short for Moun Tain Bicycle or Multi Terrain Bicycle, again, for ease of speech.
‘Shopper’ is short for Shopping bicycle.
‘Chopper’ is short for Raleigh Chopper.
BMX is short for Bicycle Moto Cross bicycle.

All these four examples can be ridden on the road, but they are NOT Roadbikes.

Confusion really starts when one has to differentiate between a 'Tri Bike' and a 'Low Pro'.

[Adam S]

The vast majority of Audax routesheets take the riders down country lanes which are the last to be repaired after frost damage. They stay dirty for longer and there’s always contra flowing traffic to negotiate.
Clever Audaxers assess the routesheet and devise their own route along better maintained, grippier and smoother roads. There is also the bonus of although the alternative route may be longer, it possesses less climbing.
Some newbie Audaxers simply accept the GPX file from the Organiser and follow it regardless.
With a bit of forward planning and research, bikes can be relieved from undue abuse on single lane roads.

I'm intrigued. Sorry, but I don't much about Audax.
Is this within the rules or simply tolerated? If riders can change the route how do you know they're doing the distance? Is it done on trust or is the organized route always the shortest between controls?

[Ayesha]

When an Organiser submits a route for acceptance, the absolute shortest distance should be equal or over the advertised distance.
An Organiser has to only ( by the regulations ) publish the distance and the Control places. The word ‘Routesheet’ does not appear in the AUK handbook. It is a suggested ‘safe’ route the Organiser sends to the entrants. It has become accepted as part of the process, although there is no rule which demands a routesheet.
The riders ride Alure Libre and have free choice of route between controls. A correctly filled Brevet card is the sole proof of completion.
Therefore, a longer distance can be ridden on any roads the rider decides are pleasing.

When it comes to 400 and 600 events, it is wiser IMHO, to take roads where the surface is better maintained and cleaner; and there are filling stations, shops and cafes.

After 575 km of a 600, trying to guide an ambulance to where you are is easier if you are on an A or B road.

[PH]

100 being the most popular....
...Fitted with a front hub dyno and a single rack.

Seems contradictory to me.
All this is getting away from the original question, the OP doesn’t mention any desire to ride Audax, and I think everyone understood what was meant by Audax bike, if anyone doesn’t, just look at any issue of the Audax Mag, it's the sort of bike 95% of the participants are riding, although there's some variation they have more similarities than differences.

[PH]

.
Clever Audaxers assess the routesheet and devise their own route along better maintained, grippier and smoother roads. There is also the bonus of although the alternative route may be longer, it possesses less climbing.
Some newbie Audaxers simply accept the GPX file from the Organiser and follow it regardless.
With a bit of forward planning and research, bikes can be relieved from undue abuse on single lane roads.

If that's your experience we are defiantly doing different Audax rides, on all of those I've done the vast majority of riders are following the route sheet or provided GPX.