FORUMAAA Archive
On this page you will find:
From the AUK 2014 Handbook and AUK Website
From an email from Francis Cooke to the AAA Man on 21 November 2015
From a post by Francis Cooke to the AUK Forum on November 8, 2015
The Origin of the Grimpeur, and Some AUK Early History
The pre-2009 AAA Formula, Audax Altitude Award and Roll of Honour
Previous AAA Badges and Medals
From the AUK 2014 Handbook and AUK Website
1986. The Audax UK Altitude Award was introduced by Francis Cooke, the first counting ride being the Exmoor 200. Dave Pountney was the first rider to complete an AAA card.
1990. The AAA Championship was instituted by Andy Blance and won by Richard Hulls.
1994. The AAA Championship became a titanic battle between between Mark Houlford and David Vinicombe.
1997. Sandra Shaw became the first female AAA Champion.
2012. Louise Rigby smashed Sandra Shaw’s female AAA record, despite an 11-month 'year' due to AUK moving the end of the riding season from end of October to end of September.
2013. Record-breaking totals were set in several Trophy categories: … AAA (Billy Weir, Ann Marshall)….
2016. Record-breaking AAA points total was set - Simon Roberts 324.75
2017. Audax UK standardise the AAA Assessment Process with the introduction of an in-house AAA Tool
From an email from Francis Cooke to the AAA Man on 21 November 2015
“I dreamt it up in 1985, having ridden a couple of the BC-MF events in France and been bowled over by them. This is an award that spans 5 'classic' very hilly 200km-ish events, completed over any period (though the events themselves change every year, you just have to complete one from each mountainous region).
The scale of these events outstrip anything we have in the UK, so I took that formula but adapted it a bit, to "3 named classic very hilly events, plus any number of others as make-weights" the classics gaining 2 points and the total required being 12 (I think, or it might have been 8 originally, can't remember, could find the original announcement in Arrivee though.) The make-weights included quite a few Hilly Hundreds.
As I was a relatively junior AUK member at that time, I enlisted the help of Keith Benton (now President of BRM) who was the organiser of one of the 3 'classic' events and who, as an organiser and longer-serving member, generally was able to command more respect than I could hope to.
It was Keith who came up with the name 'Audax Altitude Award' and the 3 A's /mountains logo (though actually that was already in use, on our Grimpeur medals - so in a sense the logo came first and Keith invented the name around it. So Keith and I co-founded the AAA.
It was introduced in 1986, the first counting (and 'classic') event was the Exmoor 200G of that year, a real leg-breaker of an event. The first person to complete his card (12 points) was Dave Pountney, when he rode the same event again in 1987. In the interim he had bulked his points total by riding Snow Roads 300 event and permanent, back to back.
The Snow Roads was a 'political' inclusion - no way was it hilly enough, but …. it was put to me by AUK's Secretary that ‘no Snow Roads, no AAA’.”
From a post by Francis Cooke to the AUK Forum on November 8, 2015
“Steve is only the 5th 'AAA Man' since 1986, which was the first season that some events were accorded AAA ratings.
I was the first - as co-founder of the AAA, I then ran it for about 3 years. During that time AAA was only run as an award - collect 12 points over any period (using a special 'brevet card' to collect finish stamps at designated events) to get the badge. It was supposed to be a long-term goal - mind, points meant something in those days - a 100km would need over 2200m of climb - fairly extreme - to be worth 2 points. Points were all about steepness of climb (not total climb), which is why several 100s figured in the scheme, and 400s and 600s did not. And there were only a handful of AAA-counting events in the year, maybe 4 200s with maybe 3 100s and one 300. The 300 - the Snow Roads - was a 'political' inclusion, … It was nowhere near hilly enough when measured against the other counting events, but I was told 'from above' that the AAA wouldn't get official AUK backing without the Snow Roads, and indeed it had to be given a full 2 points which was the highest then allowed.
Andy Blance was the second 'AAA Man' - many people will know Andy as the 'tandem guru' at SJS Cycles. It was Andy who introduced the 'championship' - for me that was a facepalm "why didn't I think of that" moment. The AAA really took off during Andy's time. And there were a lot more 'hilly hundreds' in the scheme (mostly half-pointers [i.e. 1600m of climbing – Steve]), plus two more 300s. Longer events didn't figure much because in any very long event, there's generally… [a shorter, hillier section with a higher rate of climb and hence more AAA points – Steve.]
Both Andy and I were in turn 'AAA Delegate' to the Committee - not a full voting Committee post but entitled to our say. The AAA was hard-wired into the AUK Regulations, even down to a complex table of points, from 1988 onwards.
Dave Lewis was the next 'AAA Man' - I think he was the first, or joint first, to ride the Elenith and Hard-Boiled 300s back to back - involving a drive across 3 counties from the after-dark finish of the first to the 2.am start of the second! Dave was given a full 'AAA Secretary' Committee post, so at this time, for 10 years or so, AAA was fully and unequivocably part of the core of AUK. Points underwent a devaluation - more than once I think - during Dave's time in office - this was in a spirit of inclusiveness and a lowering of the bar so as to spread AAA events into more areas of the country, which also allowed in some longer events, 400s and 600s. Consequent on the devaluation came '3x' and '3x3x' awards. It was apparent by now that for some people, riding AAA events was their main reason for riding within AUK at all. By the end of Dave's time - 2002 - from my point of view the AAA was almost unrecognisable from the way it had started back in '86 - but that was fine, I like 'progress', and the huge popularity of AAA justified everything.
Of course this continuing devaluation raised some problems with revising the Regulations, and we eventually worked around this by farming the AAA detail out to a separate Handbook page, and simplifying the Regulation itself to refer to this separate table. Now, I may be mis-remembering this bit, but as I recall when Dave decided to step down (after quite a long spell as AAA Sec) it was with a recommendation that AAA be 'outsourced' - I'm guessing, probably so that any future revisions to AAA could be made with a lighter touch.
Committee went along with that - to a degree - the Committee post was dropped with Graham Mills (already holding another Committee post) taking the AAA on, and continuing more or less in a caretaker role.
In the mid-noughties Steve took over. He obviously was (and is) faced with the problem of progressing any future reforms to the AAA in a democratic way, which I think he's handled very well - the democratic bit that is. Of course the end result (where we are now) is just awful (IMHO) - but that's democracy for you, it's certainly not Steve's fault.
None of this mentions 50s - or minimum speeds - AUK has always had 50km rides in the Calendar (certainly since 1987 [A 1970s article refers to them. See elsewhere on this page – Steve]) but not, as far as I'm aware, ultra-hilly ones…”
From a letter written by Steve Nicholas and published in the CTC magazine Cycletouring, April/May 1975 issue page 83, and reprinted in Arrivee 131 WInter 2016 page 48, and indicating that hilly brevets were there right at the start:
Since reading Jock Wadley’s book Old Roads and New I have become more and more aware of the multiplicity of events that are organized for French cycletourists and which must act as spurs to a cyclist’s efforts; Whilst one appreciates that many cyclists just like to ride where and how the whim may take them, I feel that there needs to be a series of events wherein those who wish may test themselves and also gather to meet kindred spirits.
What I have in mind is something like the Brevets de Randonneurs Francais over distances of 62, 125, 187, 250, and 375 miles (roughly equivalent to 100, 200, 300, 400 and 600 kilometres) which may be covered at random speeds averaging 10 to 12 mph minimum either alone or in company. The time taken to complete a brevet is immaterial so long as it is within the time allowed, there being no ‘classification of honours’. The major consideration should be participation in the event.
The shorter brevets could be run on regional bases and be annual events. The 375-mile trial could be a national event organized annually by the regions in turn, whilst a major brevet somewhat similar to the Paris-Brest-Paris could be an international event organized to fit between the PBPs. Additional to these could be trials amongst our own minor ‘alps’ which, though perhaps not comparable to the Brevet Cycle Montagnard, could be severe enough tests for those who enjoy hilly rides......
I would be grateful if anyone interested in building-up a series of brevets, on the above style, would write to me so that the feasibility of promoting them may be assessed. The beginning need only be modest, but it could lead to something worthwhile.
The Origin of the Grimpeur, and Some AUK Early History
From an article in Arrivee Spring 2014 No 124, which is a reprint of an article published in Bicycling Times in “about the 1970s”, and written by John Nicholas, AUK’s founding secretary, who recounts how AUK was formed.
“Another AUK innovation is the ‘grimpeur idea’. A grimpeur is a hill-climber. We have a 200km event over Exmoor where some 10,000ft of climbing is involved and this is a testing ride in beautiful scenery. Even harder, though shorter, are the Super-Grimpeur events which are 100km in length and which call for about 7,000ft of climbing which includes riding the same very difficult hill several times. Not everyone’s cup of tea, I know, but the three super-grimpeur events which we organise at Greenhow (near Harrogate), in Darley Dale and around Leith Hill, near Godalming, draw a goodly quota of cyclists who accept a different kind of challenge. These events are sponsored by the Paris firm, Specialites TA who provide free gifts, which are drawn for by lottery among the successful participants. The medallions for those events are the authentic French ones, although the standard AUK grimpeur medallions may be taken up in addition.”
And further down the same article:
“We began by adopting a form of cycling event, which proved popular in France, solely with the idea of creating qualifying events for the PBP. To our surprise, the Brevet ride has drawn far greater support than we ever envisaged and, almost, has overwhelmed secretarial resources. Today, AUK has been forced by ‘popular demand’ to institute shorter events than the standard 200, 300, 400 and 600km and we have been delighted to support a scheme which ‘educates’ cyclists into the joys of the randonneur events which leave aside the constraints of compulsory group riding. We now have the ‘Petit Brevet’ of about 50km where we wish parents to teach their youngsters the very best ways of riding cycles for sheer enjoyment, and the longer 100km Populaire brevets which, too, are designed as ‘family days out’. From all accounts we are succeeding in our aims in these respects.
The award and medallion system is an intrinsic part of the scheme. These outward and visible signs of cycling achievement are designed as an incentive to ride a cycle over longer and longer distances. We do this in the full knowledge that cycling in an activity which has so many blessings in the physical and spiritual senses. Cycling gives one exercise and takes one into the open air to enjoy the beauties of our countryside.
AUK does not care what kind of bike you ride so long as it is safe and not ‘stripped down’. We do not care if you belong to a cycling club or not. All we are concerned about is whether you are a cyclist. We want you to enjoy the comradeship of cycling over routes which do have some appeal - and places for various kinds of refreshment - since AUK organisers do know their local roads”
And further down still:
“Even so, we do admit that our major aim, apart from the obvious enjoyment of cycling itself is to produce as many people who will venture greater and greater distances. Audax means ‘bold’ or better still ‘have a go’. Until you do ‘have a go’ you will never discover what you are really capable of achieving”
I’ve quoted at length, not just because of the early history of grimpeurs, but because it summarises to me what Audax is all about. The full article can be found elsewhere on the AUK website.
New AAA Points System
Following an article in the November 2008 Arrivee, a discussion on the Audax email group and on YACF, comments received directly from members, and discussions and advice at the 2008 AGM, a poll of AAA organisers and riders took place.
There was a very clear majority, the ratio was 70:30, in favour of changing to a system of a point per thousand metres of climbing (to the nearest 1/4 point). The main reasons given were simplicity, clarity, to make an AAA point 'mean' something, and to give more emphasis to the longer events.
So the new system was introduced from the 2009 season onwards.
AAA events still had to do the same amount of climbing as before to qualify for points. They didn’t get any easier. A 100k event still had to climb 1500m, a 200k event 2800m etc. before any points were scored.
The pre-2009 AAA Formula
Prior to the 2009 season when the current scheme was introduced, AAA points were calculated based on distance and the rate of climb rather than the amount of climb, and used this formula for events of less than 300km:
P = (c - (d * 14) + ((d-100)*(d-100)/100)) / 400 where:
P = AAA points for the distance, to be rounded to the nearest ¼ point
c = total metres climbed
d = distance in kilometers
In other words, an event scored ¼ AAA point for doing the qualifying amount of climbing and and additional 1/4 point for each additional 100m of climbing. For example, the qualifying amount of climbing for a 100km event was 1500m, so an event climbing this amount scored ¼ AAA point. If it climbed 1600m it scored ½ AAA point. The qualifying amount of climbing for a 200km event was 2,800m, so an event climbing this amount scored ¼ AAA point. If it climbed 2,900m, it scored ½ AAA point. And so on.
The formula was initially used for all distances, but after changes made for the 2001 season it no longer worked for distances of 300km and above.
The changes were to increase the qualifying climbing for the longer events:
For 300km events it increased from 3,900m to 4,000m
For 400km events it increased from 4,800m to 5,100m
For 600km events it increased from 6,000m to 7,000m
So from 2001 for example, a 600km event with 7,000m of climbing scored ¼ AAA point, with 7,100m of climbing it scored ½ AAA point, and so on.
The pre-2009 Audax Altitude Award
Before the points change at the start of the 2009 season, this award was obtained by accumulating 12 AAA points over any period of time (now 20 points).
The pre-2009 Roll of Honour in the Handbook and then in Arrivee
Before the points change at the start of the 2009 season, people who had obtained 8 or more AAA points in a season were listed (now 12 points or more).
AAA Cards used to be required as proof of the number of AAA points obtained. The card listed each AAA event completed by the rider, and was stamped and signed by the organiser at the end of the event when the brevet card was handed in. When enough points had been collected, the rider sent the card in to the AAA secretary to claim his award.
This in no longer the case now results and AAA points are recorded on the AUK website.
Supplies of the AAA card are no longer available.
Previous AAA Badges and Medals
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The original AAA medal to April 2013. Replaced with the current one in April 2015. |
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The AAA cloth badge to December 2013 |
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The 3x3 AAA cloth badge to December 2013. Confusingly, it incorrectly says 3x3x3 on it. |
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The AAARTY badge to April 2013. |
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The AAASR badge to April 2013. |
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The AAASR badge to March 2016. |
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The AAA badge to March 2016. |