CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport

"cyclosportives are the glamping of cycle sport"

(11 posts)

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "
    For many decades local cycling clubs, Audax UK and the Cyclists Touring Club (est. 1878) have between them put together a packed calendar of mass rides over a range of distances from 40 mile jaunts to daunting 600 kilometre tests of endurance. These are non-competitive rides organied by volunteer club members.

    ...

    Rides typically cost £3-4 to enter.

    ...

    Compare this with the Cyclosportive, a relatively recent import from the continent. Again, these are organised, semi-competitive mass rides over a distance usually between 100km and 200km.
    "

    http://thebikeshow.net/cyclosportives-glamping-cycling/

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Yeah I did my first sportives last year. Then I found Audax for 1/10th of the cost...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. druidh
    Member

    * yawn *

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    I'm not sure what point he's making. Audax is cheaper than sportives? People who enjoy Audax will continue to do that and the new sportives will attract people who want a more continental experience (though not much more). I guess sportives fit better with the kind of interest in cycling generated by Lance Armstrong. But that begs the question, why don't people try racing their new road bikes?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    It's also possible to go out on the bike and not pay anyone for the privilege :)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. Dave
    Member

    What I like about audax is that it's like going for a bike ride. There are other people about, which makes it sociable (if you like), you get an interesting route you probably wouldn't do of your own accord, and you practically only pay for being fed.

    For example the Dave Harris. You get tea/coffee/bacon rolls after about 30 miles. You also get a campervan stop with tea/coffee/cakes further round. At the finish there was pie (macaroni or meat), soup, huge variety of cake, juice, tea/coffee etc. etc.

    It cost £10 (and that's quite expensive for an audax!)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. kaputnik
    Moderator

    And if like me you don't get your entries in on time, you can still ride it and just pay for your own food :)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I don't mind audax, but what I really like about long weekend rides is that I can change my mind, alter routes, stop for ages if there's something interesting and shorten my route, or lengthen it if the legs are feeling goo, stop where I want to eat and when I want to eat and just, to be hoenst, get away from people.

    That said, the @Dave point of "...get an interesting route you probably wouldn't do of your own accord..." is probably about right.

    But whatever, ride how you want where you want paying whatever you want with whoever you want. Why do we always end up breaking down cycling into ever-smaller constituent parts and then face off each other as if not liking the same thing is somehow 'wrong'? People on bikes, that makes me happy.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. amir
    Member

    exactly

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. kaputnik
    Moderator

    "other events in a range of prices, distances, disciplines and organisations to suit all are available"

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. Min
    Member

    What a pile of pants. They are two different things. Why get worked up about both existing? Presumably he hates "real" races for the same reason he hates sportives. Some people are not happy unless they are miserable.

    Posted 13 years ago #

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