Glossary| Audax UK - The Long Distance Cyclists' Association

Audax Club Parisien was the first Audax organisation and continues to organise and validate many events. Most of AUK's rules are derived from those of ACP.

Two ACP (Audax Club Parisien) awards are available to Audax UK members:

Randonneur 5000

Randonneur 10000

Both have separate validation requirements in additions to those of Audax UK

ACP (Audax Club Parisien) organises Paris-Brest-Paris, a 1200km event that takes place every four years with participants from all over the world. AUK was originally established to organise rides that British cyclists could complete in order to qualify for PBP.

The French for Arrival - it is the finish point of the event. It is also the the quarterly magazine available to members of Audax UK.

The magazine is full of news and information about events and includes articles written by Audax UK members.

Under Audax UK regulations all Calendar events must be published in the quarterly Arrivée magazine.

"Bold" in Latin or "audacious" in French, Audax now has additional meanings:

Audax Event - a long distance, unsupported bike ride along a predetermined route that must be completed within its time limit. Minimum and maximum speeds apply. To obtain points, medals, badges and awards means that proof of passages is required for validation. Electric pedal assist machines may participate but are not eligible for awards.

Strictly speaking, an Audax is an event ridden by a group of riders, with a team captain, all riding together. Events undertaken by riders as individuals are Randonnees. However, the term "audax" is often used to describe randonnees as well.

Audax UK - the UK's long distance cycling club.

Audax Club Parisien (ACP) - the French governing body of Audax

Audax Altitude Award events offer and encourage participation in hilly events.

AAA points are allocated at a rate of one point for every thousand metres of climbing, rounded to the nearest quarter point.

An event with 2,124m of climbing is worth 2 AAA points, an event that does 2,125m of climbing is worth 2.25 AAA points.

The AAA rating is listed on both Calendar and Permanent Events

There are also a series of AAA Awards

The certificate or proof of passage that is date and time stamped at the beginning, during and end of the ride before being sent to the organiser for validation.

Brevet Cards are provided at the beginning of Calendar Events but need to be requested from organisers in advance for other events.

Please note that the organiser who provides the Brevet Card is also the organiser who validates the event. Not all Organisers validate virtual Brevet Cards although all Organisers validate paper Brevet Cards.

Brevet Populaire is a category of an event that is only validated by Audax UK.

They are usually shorter than 200km and often run to more relaxed speed limits set by the organiser (with a minimum of 10km/h) making them a great introduction to randonneuring.

Brevets de Randonneurs events are at any distance over 200km and are validated only by Audax UK.

Whilst not dissimilar in conduct to Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux (BRM) events the speed limits are subtly different.

The maximum time allowed is based on the actual distance of the event and a minimum speed set by the organiser, usually 14.3km/h or 15km/h for events less than 600km.

Lower minimum speeds are allowed in the AUK Regulations for longer events.

Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux events are run all around the world. They fall under the standard set of rules laid down by Audax Club Parisien (ACP) which validates and records the rides.

Only BRM events may be used to qualify for events such as the Paris-Brest-Paris randonnee.

BRM events are at standard distances, with a maximum of 5% over distance, and the maximum time limits for each distance is:

200km 14h30

300km 20h00

400km 27h00

600km 40h00

1000km 75h00

Listings of BRM events are published at least eight months before the actual event date.

Each event uses controls (checkpoints) where riders will obtain some form of proof of passage to ensure the specified distance is ridden.

The distance between each controls will vary depending on the overall event distance but as a guide are:

Event Distance	Spacing between Full Controls	Number of Full Controls	Total Number of Controls (All Types)
100	30 – 50km	1–3	1–6
200	40 – 70km	2–4	2–8
300	50 – 75km	3–6	3 – 10
400	50 – 80km	4–8	4 – 12
600	50 – 100km	7 – 12	7 – 15

Full Controls: Located in cafes, pubs or village halls, provide food, drink, shelter and toilets available to allow riders to rest, eat, drink and have their brevet card stamped, timed and signed. At the most basic, this will be a garage or shop.
Free (unspecified) controls: Provide flexibility so the rider can choose where to obtain a timed receipt from a cafe, convenience store or ATM.
Information Controls: Unmanned locations requiring an answer to a question to ensure the participant passes this point eg a question about a road sign at a junction. The participant can find out the answer only by riding to the junction.
Secret Control: Similar to Information controls but their location/distance are not listed on the brevet card nor made known before the event. These may be used on mandatory route events to ensure riders are following the prescribed route.

Randonnee distances are measured in kilometres, reflecting the sport's French origins.

As a rough guide the distances equate to:

50 km = 32 miles

100 km = 62 miles

150 km = 93 miles

200 km = 124 miles

300 km = 186 miles

400 km = 249 miles

600 km = 373 miles

1000 km = 621 miles

Some events, to allow for inclusion of a particular scenic road or the avoidance of a busy one, may mean the actual distance of the event is a few kilometres longer than the Award distance. The actual distance is detailed in brackets on the Event Description page.

These awards aim to encourage and celebrate riders on fixed-wheel cycles, who ride such machines either for the additional challenge or because they appreciate the minimalist simplicity of them.

This section of Audax enjoys a dedicated and growing following.

Awards may be gained by completing Audax rides on fixed wheel bikes. A trophy is awarded to both the man and woman achieving the highest number of points in a season.

The Event Organiser will list the facilities available at an event on the Event Description page. The letter assigned is in bold and the facilities are abbreviated as follows:

A(1) Free/reasonably priced accommodation at the start or finish, (one night)

Bag drop facilities en route

Camping at or near the start

DIY event, no routesheet or gpx track provided

Some free food &/or drink provided at the start and/or finish or on the ride

GPS files available from organiser

Secur(ish) left luggage facilities at start

Mudguards required

Mudguards not required

Free or reasonably priced car parking at start

Free or reasonably priced refreshments at start &/or finish

Showers

Toilets at start

X-rated 'shoestring' event, few or no facilities or AUK controllers

Youth Hostel at or near start

Sleeping facilities en route

Ordre des Cols Durs (Order of the Hard Climb)

Founded in 1960 to promote and encourage riding up and down mountain passes, not necessarily on randonnees. Read more

Postal Finish events allow the organisers the flexibility to have an arrivée (finish control) that is unstaffed for all or part of the event hours. However:

The completed Brevet Card must be returned to the organiser within 14 days.
Once the cards have arrived with the Validator it is not possible to add any latecomers to the finish list

The Paris-Brest-Paris randonnee is the Blue Riband event of long-distance cycling worldwide. It is held every four years, towards the end of August.

Starting just west of Paris, the 1200km event crosses Normandy and Brittany to Brest, returning along largely the same route. The randonnee attracts more than 5,000 participants from all over the world.

Governed by ACP, the regulations require completion of qualifying BRM events.

PBP is also staged as a traditional (team) audax every five years.

Les Randonneurs Mondiaux is the international body that validates and records brevets of 1200km or longer. AUK is the member representing the UK.

RM events are a minimum of 1200km (usually 90 hour time limit) or longer (time limit based on nominal distance and a minimum speed of 12km/h).

An award for those who complete at least one ride of 200km or longer in each of any 12 consecutive calendar months. Entrants may begin in any month of the year.

	Build up distances. If you can cycle one mile you can cycle 5km. If you can cycle 5km you can cycle 20 km.

	Be comfortable on the bike. Make sure it fits and there are minimum pressure points.

	Wear clothes that stretch and don't restrict. Lycra is ideal for this and dries quickly should it rain. Layers - arm warmers, gilets and over-trousers pack small but protect from the elements when needed.

	Stay hydrated. A minimum of two water bottles is recommended.

	Stay fuelled. Eat well before the event. Keep supplies of snacks for when energy is depleted.

	Look after the bike – keep it clean. Check the bike (tyres for pressure and pieces of glass, that the brakes work, and the chain runs smoothly) before the ride. Be self sufficient. Carry spare tubes, tyre levers, a set of allen keys, a puncture repair kit and a pump.

	Beware of the weather. Check the forecast. Carry foldable items of clothing to combat the cold and the rain (even when it isn’t forecast)

	Be seen. Keep lights and back up batteries ready for low visibility conditions even during the day.

	Check navigation. Have the route and check each location. Have a back up plan if the Garmin fails.

	Check the route before the ride and at each junction to stay on track.

	Keep an eye on the time. How long is being spent off the bike?

	Watch your speed. Maintain the event average without over exertion.

	Ride at the pace that works for you. If others are riding at the same pace that’s great but there is no obligation to stay with someone who is going to reduce your overall speed. The ethos of Audax allows this to happen, meeting up with others at different stages of the event.

	Don’t rely on mobile phones always working. Keep emergency phone numbers written down should they be needed.

	Carry cash as well as a bank card for emergencies

	The Brevet Card sometimes has questions that need answering en route. Keep it somewhere dry.

	A few stretches after the ride will really help muscles recover.