Audax? L'etape? WTF??? (new and very confused!!)

LardLover
LardLover Posts: 676
edited February 2009 in Road beginners
Ok, after deciding to give mountain biking due to a SEVERE lack of interest, my heart is now firmly in the "road" side of the cycling camp.

However, for someone VERY new to the road scene, I'm getting VERY confused reading all the road scene literature I can get.

I mean, what's an Audax?

Sportiv??

L'etape???

Any more?????


Oh, liked the cycling weekly article about hand signals whilst out riding in last weeks edition, always wondered what those "funny" little signals meant.

Comments

  • Bodhbh
    Bodhbh Posts: 117
    There is alot of this french stuff - riding on the randoneur while wearing your brevet ajusting your deraileur and munching on a baguette.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    What is an audax?
    More problems but still living....
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    LardLover wrote:
    Ok, after deciding to give mountain biking due to a SEVERE lack of interest, my heart is now firmly in the "road" side of the cycling camp.

    However, for someone VERY new to the road scene, I'm getting VERY confused reading all the road scene literature I can get.

    I mean, what's an Audax?

    Sportiv??

    L'etape???

    Any more?????


    Oh, liked the cycling weekly article about hand signals whilst out riding in last weeks edition, always wondered what those "funny" little signals meant.

    audax - seems to be a long non-competitive road event - sometimes over a few days

    Sportive - a single day event - timed, but not a 'race' (work that out!) - usually made to be as hilly and challengning as possible

    L'Etape - "the stage" ( i think) - a chance for mere mortals to ride an actual mountain stage of the tour de france - usually the week before the real tour riders hit that stage - on closed roads and attracts 1000's of riders from across the world - the etape is a sportive event.


    thats my basic understanding anyway!
  • LardLover
    LardLover Posts: 676
    That's a start, thank you

    :D
  • Hudster
    Hudster Posts: 142
    Is a Sportive not an Audax which you pay 5-6 times the price for? :evil:

    :lol:
  • italiaandyf
    italiaandyf Posts: 120
    http://www.audax.uk.net/

    Have a read of the FAQ - should answer your question about Audaxes.
  • nasahapley
    nasahapley Posts: 717
    Bodhbh wrote:
    There is alot of this french stuff - riding on the randoneur while wearing your brevet ajusting your deraileur and munching on a baguette.

    You're not wrong - here's a few that baffled me not so long ago:

    Grimpeur - skinny chap who's good at climbing

    Palmares - stuff you've won/almost won

    Bidon - bottle (this one really annoys me for some reason!)

    Souplesse - errr....something to do with climbing I think??

    Brevet - god knows!
  • Stewie Griffin
    Stewie Griffin Posts: 4,330
    nasahapley wrote:
    Bodhbh wrote:
    There is alot of this french stuff - riding on the randoneur while wearing your brevet ajusting your deraileur and munching on a baguette.

    You're not wrong - here's a few that baffled me not so long ago:

    Grimpeur - skinny chap who's good at climbing

    Palmares - stuff you've won/almost won

    Bidon - bottle (this one really annoys me for some reason!)

    Souplesse - errr....something to do with climbing I think??

    Brevet - god knows!

    Souplesse means suppleness/flexibility but I think its better thought of as how at home and comfortable you look on your bike. i.e; Those who spin efficiently have souplesse, those who mash the pedals dont.

    A Brevet is a randonnee :twisted:
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,719
    Grimpeur - Specialist climber. Think Robert Millar.
    Rouleur - Big guy who can ride on the flat into the wind all day. Jens Voigt is excellent in this role, as is Cancellara.

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