Welcome to the SWRC Audax page.
The information on this page is about Long Distance Cycling, sometimes called Randonneuring, but in this country is known as Audaxing. An Audax can be ridden by a group of riders, with a team captain, all riding together, or can be ridden completly on you own. However, the term "audax" is often used to describe randonnees as well.
Audax events are cycling rides held over standard distances 100km, 200km, 300km, 400km & 600km. For each distance there is a maximum time in which to complete the distance. Generally a 200km is a winter challenge and you have 13.5hrs to complete. Most 300km audaxes start taking place in the spring and you have 20hrs to complete. A 600km audax is a summer weekend event, usually starting at 6am on Saturday morning and have to be completed by 10pm on Sunday evening (40hrs). If you complete all four distances 200-600km is one year, you get to call yourself a Super Randoneur SR, and is a great challenge.
Generally time is based on an overall speed of 15kph (9.4mph) which includes all the stops during the ride. Each rider carries a brevet card during the event which their overall finish time is recorded but no result times are publish, only which riders have completed the ride within the time. For a 200km (125mile) event the maximum time is 13.5 hours. The list of events shown on this page has some SWRC members riding in them.
The SWRC clubruns are not too dissimilar to a 100km audax, and with a little extra planning, preparation and determination most club riders could complete a 200km audax.
A SWRC DIY audax ride can take place any day of the week (weather dependent). Notification of these are via the SWRC SPOND or WhatsApp Audax group or contating Alan Parkinson.
As with events there will be a GPX file issued beforehand and at least two café stops during the ride. These start earlier and finish later than a clubrun so good lights and a hi-viz jackets are essential during the winter.
Only a few SWRC members have ever completed the Paris-Brest-Paris PBP 1200km Audax. (Max. 90hrs). They are:
Well done to all those six that completed PBP in 2023.
Paris–Brest–Paris (PBP) Results (pbpresults.com)
Some Useful Links below:
- Current Calendar of UK events
- Rookie to Randonneur: Diary of my First Audax
- Audax explained
- Audax the basics
- Some more events around the world.
- Damon Peacock video Watch a few of Damon’s audax videos to get an idea what it’s all about.
Clare Liley rode the Welsh 400 in 2023
Clare Liley and Alan Parkinson rode the Welsh 600km in 2023