LEL 2017 / London - Edinburgh - London Audax

With LEL what are the rules about this kind of rider support.

Same as most long brevets (like PBP etc), it's perfectly within the rules and many choose to do it that way (seems very popular with the Italians).

Supporters must be registered and keep their vehicles off the route as much as possible between controls. Each control will have a designated support vehicle area so that the controls themselves aren't clogged up with anyone other than riders and volunteers although support people are allowed in the controls on LEL with appropriate permission (I remember some of LEL2009 that would help their rider out, get them on the road, and then do a few hours volunteering at that control before moving on to the next one, so it isn't always selfish).

There are various levels of hair-shirtedness within Audax. Some think that supporting riders like this isn't the spirit of Audax, others do. I couldn't care what others do, it doesn't change how I chose to ride those events. Some of the puritans think that bag drops are a step too far, but they'll still gladly use the control facilities and eat the food.

PBP seemed to have more supported riders (I remember what seemed like kilometers of motorhomes parked up in the run up to some controls), possibly because of the lack of bag drops (although some clubs like Willesden organise their own bagdrops).