Do I have to be a member of Audax Australia to ride Audax Tasmania events?
Yes – for insurance reasons.
There are a few membership options including 1-month if you would like to try a couple Audax events. Find out about membership here: https://audax.org.au/membership/
What kind of rides does Audax Australia have?
Audax Australia offers a wide variety of rides for differing club member preferences, skills and capabilities. These include:
Social rides, typically 50 to 100 km
Long-distance rides, typically between 200 to 1200 km
Rides are over various surfaces including sealed roads, gravel and mixed terrain.
See About Audax Rides for more details on the types of rides: https://audax.org.au/ride/about-audax-rides/
Do I have to have a certain type of bicycle to ride Audax Tasmania events?
No, but certain types of bicycles may make the rides easier. For example, if the ride is 90% on a sealed road, you may find a road style bicycle nicer to ride than a mountain bike. However if the ride is 90% on gravel, you may consider a gravel bike or mountain bike. (The Audax Tasmania president did her first 200 km event on a department store mountain bike, but cycling longer distances on a road bicycle was much more comfortable)
See some suggestions here: https://audax.org.au/ride/my-bike/
If I am comfortable riding 20 km, can I do an Audax Tasmania event?
Yes – but we would recommend trying one of our 50 km events first.
As with any sport, it is a good idea to build up to the longer distances. If you are comfortable with 20 km, try 35 km one day to see how that goes, then a week or so later, try 50 km on your own so you get an idea of your speed and how you feel. If you feel ready, sign up for the next 50 km event on the schedule. If you’d like to try more, keep gradually building up your distance.
See Top Tips for riding a Randonnée: https://audax.org.au/ride/my-first-ride/
Why does speed matter?
Audax events are not competitive, but they do have a time limit which adds to the challenge. In general, most Audax rides have a time limit based on a 15 km/h minimum speed over the nominal distance. The time includes all breaks for food, toilet, sleep, etc. For example:
50 km = 3 hours 20 minutes
100 km = 6 hours 40 minutes
200 km = 13.5 hours
300 km = 20 hours
400 km = 27 hours
600 km = 40 hours
There are some variations to this generalisation. See more details here: https://audax.org.au/ride/about-audax-rides/
Do I need to wear reflective gear and have lights on all events?
No, but according to the Tasmanian Road Rules 2019, 259. Riding at night:
The rider of a bicycle must not ride at night, or in hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility, unless the bicycle, or the rider, displays –
(a) a flashing or steady white light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the front of the bicycle; and
(b) a flashing or steady red light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the rear of the bicycle; and
(c) a red reflector that is clearly visible for at least 50 metres from the rear of the bicycle when light is projected onto it by a vehicle’s headlight on low-beam.
We want you to be safe and want you to do what you can to improve your safety! Please have a look at the Audax Australia Safety Rules and some further comments on ride safety: https://audax.org.au/ride/ride-safety/
What happens if my bicycle breaks down in the middle of the ride?
As Audax cycling is meant to be self-sufficient, you are responsible for dealing with equipment malfunctions. If the malfunction is serious enough that you need to obtain a ride home, please contact the ride organiser to let him/her know that you will not be completing the ride. The ride organiser might be able to help, but it is also possible the ride organiser may be cycling the event too.
We encourage you to read the Audax Australia Ride Rules and https://audax.org.au/ride/more-ride-knowledge/
What do you mean by “Tasmanian Flat”?
“Tasmanian Flat” bicycle rides are not “table-top” flat or “pancake flat”. Tasmania is a hilly little island and planning flat routes is difficult. So, “Tasmanian Flat” routes are the flattest routes we could create without going round and round circles in Longford or up and down and up and down the coastal stretch of road near Seven Mile Beach. They are usually equal to or less than a ratio of 1000 metres (1 km) of climbing in 100 km.
For example, the Ross 200 is 1428 metres of climbing in 200 km and the Meander Meander 400 has 3044 metres of climbing in 400 km.
Some of the other terms are also new to me like randonneur, brevet and homologation
Audax/randonneuring started in France so many of the terms are from the French language. Have a look at some terminology here: https://audax.org.au/ride/my-first-ride/ and more here, if you scroll down to Brevet Cards and Homologation: https://audax.org.au/ride/more-ride-knowledge/
How many riders usually sign up for the events?
In Tasmania it varies between 0 riders and about 30 riders. It often depends on the variable Tasmanian weather and many riders wait until the last day or two before registration closes to sign up.
We will usually hold an event if there is 1 rider and so far, it is unlikely that we’ll put a limit on the number of riders who can attend an event.
Why does the registration close a few days before an event?
If the event offers no support, registration might close the day before the event. But if the event offers some degree of support (like mid-ride snacks), registration will close earlier to give the ride organiser time to prepare.
Under what circumstances might the ride be cancelled?
Most of the time rides will go as planned.
However, the ride may be cancelled in situations including: severe & damaging wind, low level snow, bushfire or flooding in the area of the ride, and when the Tasmanian Police do not recommend travel.
We encourage you to have a look at the Audax Australia Safety Rules and some further comments on ride safety: https://audax.org.au/ride/ride-safety/ and weather: https://audax.org.au/ride/weather/
OK, I’ve signed up what else do I need to know?
Have a browse through these pages:
About your first Audax event: https://audax.org.au/ride/my-first-ride/
About the bicycle and equipment you might use: https://audax.org.au/ride/my-bike/
Some suggestions regarding clothing on a long ride: https://audax.org.au/ride/clothing/
Some tips about nutrition and hydration: https://audax.org.au/ride/nutrition/
More tips: https://audax.org.au/ride/more-ride-knowledge/
Can I volunteer to help out on some rides?
Absolutely!! We welcome volunteers!
Volunteering is a great way to meet the cyclists and find out more about the events.
If there is a ride you would like volunteer for, please contact the ride organiser.