semaine fédérale en australie 2010

Audax is a style of long distance riding popular in many countries around the world. In its original form, the audax style involves riding in strict group formation at a steady pace. The group has a captain and riders stay together for the duration of the ride.

In Australia the allure libre or randonneur style is the more popular form: riders are free to cycle at their own pace.

The goal of an audax rider is to finish the ride within the prescribed time limit (usually based on a speed of 15kph. thus a 100 km ride must be finished within 6 hours 40 minutes and this includes time spent off the bike).

Audax Australia Cycling Club specialises in non-competitve long distance events. It is part of a world wide organisation, Les Randonneur Mondiaux, which can trace its origins back to France in 1904.

In this year, Henri Desgrange, better known as the the inventor of the Tour de France, organised a 200km ride from Paris to Gillion and back. His inspiration was a similar ride in Italy run in 1897. On that occasion, twelve Italian cyclists attempted the challenge of cycling from Rome to Naples (a distance of 230km) during daylight hours. Nine succeeded.

Their attempt was described as 'daring' where the word audax is a form of the Italian/Latinate word "audace" meaning "audacious".

This is credited as an early example of the randonnee, with its combination of a distance to be cycled and a time limit for completion.

Audax Australia Cycling Club

Audax Australia Cycling Club runs cycling events under the auspices of Audax Club Parisien. The club was formed in 1981 as a result of near-simultaneous letters to the ACP by Alan Walker in NSW and Russell Moore in Victoria. The first official Australian ride took place at Easter of that same year, Riders started simultaneous 600 km rides from Melbourne and Sydney, with both rides finishing in Albury. Organised road rides are normally from 50 km to 1200 km in distance and are held throughout Australasia. Raids (multi-day touring style rides) can be ridden at any time convenient to the participants.

Other Audax Events

Audax Alpine Classic (AAC)
The Audax Alpine Classic is run each Australia Day weekend in Bright, Victoria and comprises rides of distances of 70 km, 130 km, 140 km and the 200 km. The first AAC was run on Australia day 1986 over a 200 km circuit with just six riders. Recent years have seen a total of more than 2000 riders participating in the rides offered.

Pyrenees Magic
Held each November from Avoca in the Victorian Goldfileds, the distances available are from 50 to 200 km. Riders explore the picturesque Pyrenees Ranges (the local variety). Participants can get together and relive the event at an after-the-ride meal.

The Fleche Opperman All Day Trial

This is an event for teams of three to five bicycles and is held over 24 hours. The course and distance are chosen by each team and must be of at least 360km (24 hours at an average speed of 15 kph). The event is named for Sir Hubert Opperman, former patron of the club, and its format based on the French equivalent the Flêche Velocio. First run in October 1985, the finish coincided with the Bicycle Expo, held at the world Trade Center Melbourne. Although the Fleche Opperman All Day Trial is a non-competitive event, teams successfully completing the furthest distance are officially recognised. In its inaugural year the Port Fairy Cycling Club, including Graham Woodrup, achieved this honour completing a total distance of 570km.

Great Southern Randonnee (GSR)

The GSR has an out-and-back route, which takes riders along Victoria's scenic Great Ocean Road and in to the Grampians. It is run every three or four years in Victoria, with distances ranging from 300 km to1200 km.

Paris-Brest-Paris (the big one!)

The oldest and best-known 1200 km ride of them all. Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) was originally a bicycle race, with the route running from Paris to Brest and back to Paris. First held in 1891 it was one of the earliest long distance races and remains the oldest bicycling event still regularly run. In 1931 the celebrated Australian endurance cyclist Hubert Opperman won the professional race in the record time of 49 hours 21 minutes. A formidable achievement on 1930s standard roads and in non-stop rain. The first PBP challenge ride (using the randonneur format) was also held in this year. Since 1951 Paris-Brest-Paris has not been a race but a challenge ride with the "First Finishers" receiving the same medallion as those who scrape inside the 90 hour limit. In its current incarnation there are in fact two different PBP events: PBP Audax, which is held every five years, in which participants ride in the group (audax) style and PBP Randonneur (held every 4 years), where riders set their own pace (subject always to the time limits). Most recently held in 2007, the PBP Randonneur was dogged by poor weather. Of 5,312 starters, only 3,603 finished, despite extra time being allowed (normally 90 hours maximum). This is contrast to the normal DNF rate of 14%. Among the finishers were 88 Australians, of whom Peter Moore and Steven Vesel, completed their fifth PBP.

Raids

Raids are rides with some degree of difficulty. The average daily distance is 80km. and no night riding is required.
Riders normally carry their own load and can gain support at the end of each day.

Audax Australia Cycling Club

Other Audax Events

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