Audax UK or AUK is a British cycling club that oversees randonneuring (long-distance cycling) in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1976 to help British riders complete the qualifying rides for entry to the Paris-Brest-Paris randonnee.AUK 2011, p. 2 Audax UK is recognised by Audax Club Parisien as the official brevet-coordinating organization for the United Kingdom, although in practice events in Northern Ireland are organised by Audax Ireland. Audax UK members sometimes informally describe themselves as AUKs.
By the end of 2018, Audax UK membership had exceeded 8,000 and 2019 saw the highest number of "calendar" events (i.e. mass rides that take place on a specific day) yet. These events are open to all riders, whether they are Audax UK members or not (non-members pay a small fee for "temporary membership" for the duration of the event). The official magazine, Arrivée, is published four times per year.
Events
AUK coordinates and validates Audax events but does not organise any events directly; these are typically organised by existing cycle clubs, local Cycling UK groups, or informal local Audax groups such as "Audax Club Mid-Essex" or "Audax Ecosse". The events are non-competitive, with riders needing only to complete the ride distance within specified time limits. There are three types of rides: Calendar events are organised with some similarities to sportives, although with more emphasis on self-sufficiency. Rides of 200 km and above are known as Brevets de Randonneurs, whereas rides under 200 km are known as Brevets Populaires. A "permanent" is a designated route which can be ridden by the rider on a day of their choice. The attempt is subsequently validated by AUK. The routes have usually been used for calendar events in the past. A "DIY" allows the rider to design their own route (which must be validated by "proof of passage" or a GPS track) and the day of the ride.
In the 2017–18 season, 21,585 rides were completed and validated on 541 calendar events.
Notable rides The notable calendar events include London–Edinburgh–London, held every four years;Cyclist http://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/3151/the-uk-s-toughest-audax-london-edinburgh-london the National 400; London-Wales-London (formerly the Severn Across), a 400 km ride from West London to Chepstow in Wales and back again; the Bryan Chapman Memorial, a 600 km ride from Chepstow in SE Wales to Anglesey and back; and the Mille Pennines, a 1000 km ride held in Northern England. The "Dorset Coast 200 km" is the oldest continuously organised (since 1978) 200 km calendar event in the UK.
In the 2019 season, the most popular events for each distance were:Audax UK http://www.aukweb.net/results/archive/2019/events/?Type=Calendar&Combined=false&Sortby=Riders&Sortdir=DESC 100 km – Devon Delight, Newton Abbot 200 km – Ditchling Devil, Wimbledon 300 km – 3Down, Chalfont St Peter 400 km – Brevet Cymru, Chepstow 600 km – Bryan Chapman Memorial, Chepstow
National 400 The National is a 400 km "flagship" calendar event originally organised by the CTC in 1982. This was re-established in 2012 and has been organised by a different local group each summer: 1982 – Charterhouse School, organised by CTC 1983 – Charterhouse School, organised by CTC 1984 – Lincoln Cathedral, organised by Witham Section 1985 – Charterhouse School, organised by CTC 1988 – Oxford, organised by Oxford CTC 1993 – Exeter Quay, organised by Devon DA 1995 – Poole Harbour, organised by Wessex CTC 2012 – East Anglia, organised by Norfolk Audax 2013 – West Country, organised by Exeter Wheelers 2014 – Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines, organised by VC167 2015 – Scottish Highlands, organised by CTC Highland 2016 – Cheshire and Wales, organised by Peak Audax 2017 – Mid Wales and the Marches, organised by Shropshire CTC 2018-2024 – not held 2025 - Essex, organised by Audax Club Mid-Essex 2026 - Yorkshire
Arrows The Easter Arrow and Summer Arrow are team events in the flèche style, in which teams have 24 hours to ride as far as possible and finish in York.
Time limits The time limits for Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux rides are set by ACP as follows: ♦ 200 km – 13 hours 30 minutes ♦ 300 km – 20 hours ♦ 400 km – 27 hours ♦ 600 km – 40 hours
Brevet Populaire events can be run at slower speeds than BRM events.
Points and awards Points are awarded on the basis of 1 point for every full 100 km ridden on rides of 200 km and above. The AUK season runs from 1 November to 31 October each year. There are trophies for the highest scoring individuals and clubs each year, and results are published on the Audax Website
Audax UK allow members to qualify for numerous awards, as set out in the tables below. All distances are in kilometres (km).
In parallel to the main points system, there is the Audax Altitude Award (AAA) system for grimpeurs. AAA points are awarded on the basis of 1 point for every 1000m of climbing, rounded to the nearest quarter point and subject to a minimum climb rate which depends on the distance.
Distance Awards Medals or cloth badges are available for individual rides of the following distances: 50 km, 100 km, 150 km, 200 km, 300 km, 400 km, 600 km and 1,000 km.
Randonneur Awards The Randonneur awardsAudax UK overview of randonneur awards aim to encourage riders to progress through increasing distances, and are awarded for rides completed within a single season.
The Super Randonneur is awarded for completing 200 km, 300 km, 400 km and 600 km rides in one season. 458 riders completed an SR in the 2017 season.Audax UK Super Randonneurs for the 2017 season Entrants to Paris-Brest-Paris must ride this series in the same year as the PBP ride to qualify for a place. Some groups organise their own "Super Randonneur Series" of these distances, such as the Mid-Essex series and the Wessex series.
Award name50k100k150k200k300k400k500k600k1000k1200k+TimespanOther requirements Randonneur 500 (CB)YYYY 1 seasonLonger distances can be substituted Randonneur 1000 (M/CB) Y YY 1 season Plus another 400 km of events Super Randonneur (M/CB) YYY Y 1 seasonLonger distances can be substituted Super Randonneur 2500 YYY YY 1 seasonno substitutions allowed Randonneur 5000 (CB)Audax events totalling 5,000 km1 season Randonneur 10000 (CB)Audax events totalling 10,000 km1 season
Brevet Awards The Brevet awards encourage riders to keep riding over several seasons, with the exception of the Brevet 500 which is aimed at younger riders and is awarded for rides within a single season.
Award name50k100k150k200k300k400k500k600k1000k1200k+TimespanNotes Brevet 500 x5 1 seasonOr 2x100km and 2x150km Brevet 1000 (M) x10 Lifetimesee note 2 Brevet 2000 x20 Lifetimesee note 3 Brevet 3000 events totalling 3000 km Lifetime Brevet 4000 (CB) x20 Lifetime Brevet 5000 (M) YYY YY either Y4 yearssee note 4 Brevet 25000 (CB) x3x3x3 x3YY eitherY6 yearssee note 5
Special awards Award name50k100k150k200k300k400k500k600k1000k1200k+TimespanNotes Randonneur Round the Year (CB) At least one 200 km or longer in 12 successive calendar months Lifetime International Super Randonneur (CB) YYY Y Lifetimesee note 6 Bronze Grimpeur (M)any Audax event worth ¼ to ½ AAA pointN/A Silver Grimpeur (M)any Audax event worth ¾ to 1¾ AAA pointsN/A Gold Grimpeur (M)any Audax event worth 2 or more AAA pointsN/A Audax Altitude Award (M/CB)accumulation of 12 or more AAA points, i.e. 20,000m of climbingLifetime AAA Triple Award (CB)accumulation of 3 Audax Altitude AwardsLifetime AAA 3x3 Award (CB)accumulation of 3 AAA Triple AwardsLifetime
Notes to tables M = medal, CB = cloth badge 10 rides include rides ridden in Brevet 500; alternatively, 5x200km Audax events in one Season alternatively, 10x200km Audax events plus additional Audax events to top up to 5000 km plus additional Audax events to top up to 25000 km; 200k, 300k, 400k and 600k rides are officially defined as a Super Randonneur series and as such longer events may substitute for shorter ones of these each event must take place in a different country; additional levels of the award also exist, e.g.: ISR(2C) if they are held between 2 continents
See also British Cycling Cycling Time Trials Cycling UK Audax Club Parisien
Notes
References Audax UK (2011). Audax UK Handbook 2011. Ashford, UK: Invicta Press. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
External links Audax UK RUSA Audax Club Parisien