Audax Australia
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Audax Australia runs cycling events under the auspicious of Audax Club Parisien. Rides are normally from 50km to 1200km in distance and operate throughout Australia. The club also has a list of long distance rides that can be ridden at any time called raids.
The name Audax Australia is a misnomer as the organisation runs events in both Australia and New Zealand and the rides are predominantly in the style of randonneur (long-distance over an unmarked course) rather than audax where a ride captain will dictate the speed of the ride.
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[edit] Major Events
[edit] Audax Alpine Classic (AAC)
The AAC is run each Australia Day weekend in Bright, Victoria and is run over distances of 70km, 130km, 140km and the 200km. The first AAC was run on Australia day 1986 [1] over a 200km circuit with just six riders.
[edit] 2003
The 2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires prevented the ride proceeding. This was due to the uncertainty of if the the fire would flare up, the road surface and the residual smoke. A significant number of rider refunds were redirected to the Bright Country Fire Authority.
[edit] 2006
The hot year where the temperature was around 42 degrees but with the reflected heat off the road surface played havoc with all riders. Only 31% finished the 200km and as a result the rules were changed to protect riders in extreme heat.
[edit] 2007
In excess of 2000 riders battled the hills in relatively easy conditions
[edit] 2008
Another year with ideal riding conditions and over 2000 riders. Barcode readers were first introduced to improve processing.
[edit] Irene Plowman
The "Salute to Irene Plowman" recognises the efforts of Irene Plowman who held the Sydney-Melbourne record and rode regularly from Albury to Melbourne to collect supplies for her dress shop [2]. The ride is run in early February as a 200km night ride from Port Melbourne to Portsea and back.
[edit] Great Southern Randonnee (GSR)
The GSR runs every three years in Victoria for distances between 200km and 1200km.
[edit] Perth Albany Perth (PAP)
The PAP runs every four years in Western Australia.
[edit] Dirt Rides
Dirt, or MTB rides, were initiated in the 1997/98 season with the first ride being the 70km Tracks of My Tiers on Sunday 2nd November 1997 in southern Tasmania, followed by the 35km, 70km and 100km 'Down and Dirty' rides on Sunday 8th February starting at Trentham, Victoria[3] . These rides then traversed around the Wombat State Forest and Lederderg Gorge.
Dirt rides are normally run over three distances of 35km, 70km and 100km. A Dirt series award is riding all three in a season.
[edit] Awards
Riders can obtain awards for completing rides. Awards include
- Nouveau Randonneur: For novice riders who complete a 50km, 100km and 150km in one season.
- Dirt Series: 35km, 70km and 100km for dirt rides.
- Super Randonneur: 200km, 300km, 400km and 600km in one year.
[edit] Publications
The club's magazine Checkpoint is now produced quarterly. The first Checkpoint was from summer of 1983 written by T F Gross. Cost of membership was AUD$5.00 pa according to the magazine.
[edit] Patrons and Life Members
- Patron: Sir Hubert Opperman until 1996 (Oppy was also patron of Audax UK)
- Patron: Lady Opperman, 1997 onwards
- Life Member: Father T F Gross
- Life Member: Tim Laugher
- Life Member: Russell Moore
- Life Member: John Martin
- Life Member: Hans Dusink
- Life Member: Phil Bellette
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Annear, Peter (1986). Alpine Classic - The Original Alpine Classic Story. Audax Australia. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
- ^ Minter, David (1986). A Little Audax History. BC Randonneurs Cycling Club. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
- ^ Mathews, Peter (1997). Audax Australia Rides '97/ 98. Audax Australia. Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
