FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions 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. But most are not - self-sufficiency is a highly-regarded quality in AUK.
On the same theme, 'support' - for example a following car - is very much frowned upon. 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.Not at all! AUK dropped the requirement to use mudguards on our rides several years ago. Some event Organisers still ask for their use on certain rides but none of the Peak Audax events insist on them.
You might find that your riding companions may still have something to say on the subject if they are following you along muddy lanes!Peak Audax organises Audax events in the Manchester area (on behalf of Manchester & District CTC) with rides on to the Cheshire Plain, into the Peak District, or to the Yorkshire Dales. Typically rides start from Cheadle, Bredbury, Marple near Stockport, and Denshaw near Oldham.To join Peak Audax is free! Just enter an event and ride it! If you give the Secretary your email address, you will receive an occasional e-newsletter, or just keep an eye on these webpages to be kept up to date.
If you like the concept, you may wish to join Audax UK. You will find that there are events to ride up and down the country (and beyond!) and the rides you complete can count towards various awards and championships. There's even a quarterly magazine, well worth the Membership Subscription on its own.| What are Calendar Events? |
There is a full series of events throughout the year which take place on a specified date. You may be riding alongside just a handful of riders, or dozens, depending on the event. Just send in an entry form and you will receive details of the route and the start location.We very much encourage entries a couple of weeks before the day of the ride, so that we know how many are coming and we can make reasonable preparations for refreshments etc. Some Organisers will accept entries on the line (EOLs) but if you decide late that you want to ride, then an email to the Organiser is better than just turning up.These are rides that you can undertake at any time of the year on a date to suit yourself. You will be on your own of course, unless a group of you want to ride a particular Perm. Enter in good time, as the Organiser needs to send you the route sheet and a Brevet Card, and might be away on holiday or busy with work. |
