Audax to be shown on BBC

Philip Whiteman

Finally the Wait is over! The Snow Roads 300km Audax will be shown on 18 November at 1900 on BBC-2 Scotland. Plus SkyDigital 990; FreeSat & Virgin.

ugo.santalucia

I suppose it will be after 10 PM...
Some of these Audax guys in baggy lycra and low hanging nuts are for an adult public only...

caledonian1

almost keen to do this next year....was out a couple of years ago and met some of them doing this (going over the Cabrach) couldnt believe it when they said where they were off to that day

Just looked at route......goes right past my folks hoose

bhoyjim

Cracker of an event, done it twice now and going to make it a hatrick next year, which is almost sold out now.

vorsprung

The next edition of this event is on the 25th of May 2013

300km cycling event starting from Kirriemuir. Controls at Banchory, Oyne, Dufftown and Braemar, plus 1 information control.

A classic route round the central highlands, featuring the mouthwatering attractions of the Cairn o Mount, the Cabrach, the Lecht, and Cairnwell, with 4800m of climbing fun.

Map here

Entry on the Audax UK website

Philip Whiteman

I had planned upon entering - within a few weeks of the event date. Instead, it was a rushed entry today!

Philip Whiteman

Dougie did brilliantly - the furthest he had ridden in a day before was 120 miles so bumping that up to 180 miles, with all that climbing thrown in for good measure, was quite an achievement for him. He did it in 18.5 hours and despite having problems with his chain, his derrailleur and his guts, he coped magnificently.

Most interesting was the general camaraderie amongst these enthusiasts. Audax is often described to me as a cycling event for middle-aged men with beards and rickety old bikes with mudguards and lights, and while there may be an element of truth yet the Snow Roads event is exactly the kind of event I would want to take part in, an event where people looked out for each other and actually helped each other complete the course.

This excellent broadcast is available for another week. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... oad_Audax/

Silly Old Hector

It was a great piece as part of BBC Scotland's Adventure Show.

As you state, Dougie did a fantastic job - most impressed. Slogging his way up the Lecht :shock:

Drumlin

Great to see Audax on the telly - well done Dougie !

Here's Cameron McNeish's take on it -
http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/2012/06/the-snow-roads/

I knew very little about audax events before this weekend and I was really, really impressed. Might even consider doing one myself in the future!

dabber

A really good programme. One of our club members (a veteran of Paris - Brest - Paris) posted about it on the club website. I'm not sure if it encouraged me to try the odd audax or not but the whole cameraderie and ethos of the event was great. It's the first time I've seen Dougie but I thought he was terrific. A very heartwarming sort of programme.

vorsprung

I've seen the program now on iplayer

link to iplayer page

It makes me want to go and ride around the mountains north of edinburgh, they look fabulous

Next years Snow Roads audax seems to be sold out.

Philip Whiteman

vorsprung wrote:

I've seen the program now on iplayer

link to iplayer page

It makes me want to go and ride around the mountains north of edinburgh, they look fabulous

Next years Snow Roads audax seems to be sold out.

Alas, it is. As I understand it, over 100 hardy and insane individuals managed to enter, me included. It is glorious country providing a storm is not blowing over The Lecht, which can be quite often. The Snow Roads also appears to successfully tackle these climbs from the hard side.

A good alternative which may also be nearer to home is John Hamilton's, Yr Elenydd starting in Shropshire and heading into mountainous Mid-Wales. His event can best be described as, "epic" and not dissimilar is scale to the Snow Roads.

http://www.audax-salop.talktalk.net/elenydd/

PS. I have been approached by a man from the BBC wishing to produce a private mini-film of the Kidderminster Killer.

dakkar

Great programme and a great event thanks all who stuck up the link to Iplayer.

Cheers.

marcusjb

It was a great programme, showing the real beauty of that part of Scotland (some mighty big lumps there).

Can second philip's recommendation on Yr Elenydd - a fabulous ride with some great TLC at the controls and some cracking climbs. Certainly my favourite 300 that I have done so far.

Drumlin

Philip Whiteman wrote:

PS. I have been approached by a man from the BBC wishing to produce a private mini-film of the Kidderminster Killer.

Good luck with that, I hope it doesn't generate quite as much controversy as the Snow Roads programme.

dodgy

Seems like the stereotypes are accurate after all.

Drumlin

That's not a stereotype, that's a legend !

IGH

Drumlin wrote:

That's not a stereotype, that's a legend !

Hmm, yes. I'm not sure whether 'stereotype' can be applied to a man who's ridden fifty-two 24hr TTs and is a founder member of the Rough-stuff Fellowship.

caledonian1

Drumlin wrote:

Philip Whiteman wrote:

PS. I have been approached by a man from the BBC wishing to produce a private mini-film of the Kidderminster Killer.

Good luck with that, I hope it doesn't generate quite as much controversy as the Snow Roads programme.

I watched it last night and was wondering what controversy it caused?

I entered a couple of weeks ago and i think the programme was very good in giving an idea what it is all about. Much of the filming took place less than half a mile from where I grew up and I had to laugh when Dougie Vipond said he had no clue where he was when I could see my dads farm in the background. He did very well though and should be applauded for taking onsuch a challenge and finishing (for those from Ingerlundshire who don't know who Dougie Vipond is he is not only a former presenter of Sportscene but also the drummer in Deacon Blue)

I first learned of Snow Roads when I met some of them doing it a couple of years ago when going over the Cabrach...I was doing 104 miles then felt quite small when they said they were doing 186 that day.
I am also seriously considering Marmotte next year so the training for this will be good traing for that...if that makes sense

Drumlin

caledonian1 wrote:

Drumlin wrote:

Philip Whiteman wrote:

PS. I have been approached by a man from the BBC wishing to produce a private mini-film of the Kidderminster Killer.

Good luck with that, I hope it doesn't generate quite as much controversy as the Snow Roads programme.

I watched it last night and was wondering what controversy it caused?

Certain prominent members of the AUK establishment down south are now attempting to wrest control of the programme and re-edit it for their own purposes. I believe that there's already a pirate version on You-tube. It's put the organiser in a very awkward position with the production company.

caledonian1

ok but I still have no idea why it is controversial? (tried looking on youtube and cant see anything either....why would there be need for a pirate version when it was on BBC and still on the iplayer)

Drumlin

caledonian1 wrote:

ok but I still have no idea why it is controversial? (tried looking on youtube and cant see anything either....why would there be need for a pirate version when it was on BBC and still on the iplayer)

The controversy is about who owns the programme and who's allowed to do what with it. There are now several pages of correspondence on facebook expressing interest in taking Audax Ecosse out of Audax UK as a result. A pity that such a positive thing as getting an audax on telly has prompted this result.

bompington

Drumlin wrote:

caledonian1 wrote:

ok but I still have no idea why it is controversial? (tried looking on youtube and cant see anything either....why would there be need for a pirate version when it was on BBC and still on the iplayer)

The controversy is about who owns the programme and who's allowed to do what with it. There are now several pages of correspondence on facebook expressing interest in taking Audax Ecosse out of Audax UK as a result. A pity that such a positive thing as getting an audax on telly has prompted this result.

I'm sure this is doing heaps towards rectifying the general perception that audaxers are a bit odd :roll:

JamesB

Great program and interviews, thoroughly enjoyed it; a big increase in numbers from when i did it in 1988 (I think that year) when 5 of us set off at 4am from Braemar---first big climb being Glenshee then; will always remember riding down Glen Isla at early dawn with barn owls on the moors alongside. At one stage didn`t Snow roads just become a `permanent` due to low entries?

Pity it is sold out as am thinking getting back to Audax from excursions into sportives; although down for Snowdrop in Feb as a starter

Cleat Eastwood

That was a brilliant program - beautiful scenery - and what a challenge - well done to all.

By the way when is next months one on, I wouldnt mind watching the triathlon event.

dodgy

IGH wrote:

Drumlin wrote:

That's not a stereotype, that's a legend !

Hmm, yes. I'm not sure whether 'stereotype' can be applied to a man who's ridden fifty-two 24hr TTs and is a founder member of the Rough-stuff Fellowship.

I honestly thought it was a woman.

dodgy

bompington wrote:

Drumlin wrote:

caledonian1 wrote:

ok but I still have no idea why it is controversial? (tried looking on youtube and cant see anything either....why would there be need for a pirate version when it was on BBC and still on the iplayer)

The controversy is about who owns the programme and who's allowed to do what with it. There are now several pages of correspondence on facebook expressing interest in taking Audax Ecosse out of Audax UK as a result. A pity that such a positive thing as getting an audax on telly has prompted this result.

I'm sure this is doing heaps towards rectifying the general perception that audaxers are a bit odd :roll:

Same with many cycling clubs, once they get big you get people with delusions of grandeur, then come the positions of 'authority' like chairman, secretary and soon after you realise you're not riding a bike any more but you're balancing books. Some people (with love of clipboards) find it perfect for them, but slowly the cyclists leave.

Only partly tongue in cheek

I'm well aware that clubs in particular (and audax in general) are important.

Drumlin

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

That was a brilliant program - beautiful scenery - and what a challenge - well done to all.

By the way when is next months one on, I wouldnt mind watching the triathlon event.

Just checked on their facebook page, they don't appear to have a date for it yet.

Brian B

Hats off to Dougie Vipond for his efforts. He is quite fit but was not up to the task and can only appluad him for his efforts as he met the man with the hammer way before the end.

I have cycled all the roads featured on the show but just not in one day. The event for 2013 is sold out which is a pity as I quite fancied doing it.

Anybody fancy doing the route mid summer in 2013? I am only a sportive rider but have done really hilly solo rides up to 175miles.

JamesB

@ Brian B: I would not rule out the possibility depends on other commitments, holiday leave, travel costs etc, but yes have an interest in such an undertaking. As i mentioned in my post is it also not a permanent event ? nice to have a brevet card if doing it !!

Caer caradoc

I really enjoyed this excellent broadcast. Hats off to Dougie (especially), Cameron and Deziree.

The programme was a great portrayal of audax from the eccentric to the tough guys. I just loved one of the interviewees who described audax as badass.

The programme was so good, I have sent off my entry form for the 2013 event.