Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - What is a Randonneurs

Im looking at this ride in march, but not sure of the difference.

http://pages.prodigy.net/scrandonneurs/routes.html

Sean go here to find out all you need to know!

http://www.machka.net

This is the place that you are seeking. (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=231)

The difference from what? The ride you are looking at is more commonly referred to as a brevet in the US. It is a (usually) unsupported, long distance ride of 200km (120 miles) to 600 km (375 miles). You must check-in at a handful of checkpoints in order to prove that you did in fact complete the ride. There is also a generous time limit (8-10mph depending on the distance) that you must complete the ride under in order to be an officail finisher. Brevet actually means patent and refers to the card that you must get stamped at each checkpoint.

A randonneur is someone who rides randonees. In the US, randonee is generally limited to refer only to 1200km and 1000km rides such as Paris-Brest-Paris, Boston-Montreal-Boston, and the Gold Rush. In order to enter a randonee you must first complete a series of brevets: 200km, 300km, 400km, and 600km. This is a Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) year, so many people are out riding their brevets in order to gain entrance to PBP.

thanks, that explains it just fine.

Wanderingwheel pretty well covered the concept of randonneuring. If you are at all interested in these unsupported rides, Randonneurs USA (http://www.rusa.org/) might be of interest, though the link to the long distance threads probably would get you there as well.

Wanderingwheel pretty well covered the concept of randonneuring.

But he didn't mention that randonneurs are a whacked bunch. $6000 ultralight Calfees covered in grungy reflective tape, with fenders, racks and air raid searchlights bolted on. An OCP's nightmare for sure. :D :D

But he didn't mention that randonneurs are a whacked bunch. $6000 ultralight Calfees covered in grungy reflective tape, with fenders, racks and air raid searchlights bolted on. An OCP's nightmare for sure.
Truth is stranger than fiction.:roflmao: :roflmao:

But he didn't mention that randonneurs are a whacked bunch. $6000 ultralight Calfees covered in grungy reflective tape, with fenders, racks and air raid searchlights bolted on. An OCP's nightmare for sure. :D :D


or you could ride a Fixed Gear bike, ride a Brooks Saddle and wear wool jersey and eliminate all the crap that I see all those "whacked bunch" ride with.

But he didn't mention that randonneurs are a whacked bunch. $6000 ultralight Calfees covered in grungy reflective tape, with fenders, racks and air raid searchlights bolted on. An OCP's nightmare for sure. :D :D
Hey! I resemble that remark! Actually, my bikes are among the simplest on the rides. For brevets up to 400km, I use my racing bike with only a cheap headlight and taillight added. On 600k's and on the Gold Rush, I would have no problem taking my bike as it was on any fast group ride such as Como Street or Food Park -- and have.

But he didn't mention that randonneurs are a whacked bunch. $6000 ultralight Calfees covered in grungy reflective tape, with fenders, racks and air raid searchlights bolted on. An OCP's nightmare for sure. :D :D

Not a Calfee, so I'm not sure I fit, but it is a custom Independent Fabrications... :D

http://www.mikebeganyi.com/webimages/ifcr/ifticr-rain-middlebury.jpg

Not a Calfee, so I'm not sure I fit, but it is a custom Independent Fabrications... :D

http://www.mikebeganyi.com/webimages/ifcr/ifticr-rain-middlebury.jpg


Oh yeah. Thats what I'm talking about! :D :D

I took my Airborne (ti) and hacked it into a travel bike...

My wife jokes that I spent $3500 on a bike just to cut it in half!

Then she needles me that I bought a bike that weighs less than my litespeed only to pile on bags, lights, GPS and stuff so it weighs twice as much as the litespeed!

I took it to a bike shop and one of the guys cringed and said at least I didn't do that to a Merlin. My only comment was if I had the extra money for the Merlin vs the airborne then I'd be crying :D

I ride a trike and drag a trailer behind me. but then i like to eat and drink and have a sack of potatoes along just in case i run into a tornado or earthquake and a herd of guernseys at the same time.


guernseys = dairy cow=cream=butter when agitated. ;)

I ride a trike and drag a trailer behind me.

On Randonnees??? :eek:

But he didn't mention that randonneurs are a whacked bunch. $6000 ultralight Calfees covered in grungy reflective tape, with fenders, racks and air raid searchlights bolted on. An OCP's nightmare for sure. :D :D
I think the "whacked bunch" are the ones who can't ride because of a heavy dew (no fenders) and abandon riding half the hours of the year (the dark ones) because they want to be like Lance.

My days of being a Lance wannabe are long over (actually, I wanted to like Boyer or LeMond...). Now I want to be like Machka. I suggest a substitute for "OCP": Randonneur Wannabe Poseur, or RWP, with the dual-headlight logo. I claim founding membership.

Yeah, it is not uncommon for a randonneur to walk into a store on a rainy night and have people think he/she s crazy. Then you tell them how far you've ridden and how far you have to go and then they think you are really crazy! A randonneur can usually be spotted by the salt deposits on the sides of his face and bike loaded somewhere between OCP weight weenie and brought the sink tourer.
In reference to the above, If nike had an ad campaign for Randonneurs it might read "Be Like Matchka" instead of "be like mike" :)

instead of "be like mike" :)


Whats wrong with being like me?

Yeah, it is not uncommon for a randonneur to walk into a store on a rainy night and have people think he/she s crazy. Then you tell them how far you've ridden and how far you have to go and then they think you are really crazy! A randonneur can usually be spotted by the salt deposits on the sides of his face and bike loaded somewhere between OCP weight weenie and brought the sink tourer.
In reference to the above, If nike had an ad campaign for Randonneurs it might read "Be Like Matchka" instead of "be like mike" :)

:lol:

I can't tell you the number of times I've been called "crazy"!! It's a compliment!! :D

'Crazy' like riding down one of the busiest streets in town during rush hour, in the dark, during a blizzard? (The side roads were crazy!) I think I'm gonna fit right in with you bunch of loonies. :)

Whats wrong with being like me?


It was the Mike Nike was referencing, although if you are that Mike, uh, hmmm, well, are you better at randonneuring than you were at baseball?

:lol: I can't tell you the number of times I've been called "crazy"!! It's a compliment!! :D

Matchka might not remember, but I had the pleasure of meeting her on the RM1200 in 2002. It was the first 1200 km for both of us and most memorable for the scenery, the weather extremes and for me at least, the worst saddle trauma I've ever experienced! Mind over matter, but the satisfaction of completing it was worth it.

There is always the questioning looks when explaining long rides (even to experienced cyclists). Funny thing is, more folks could accomplish these events than they believe. I'm always amazed at what's possible.

Jon

Im looking at this ride in march, but not sure of the difference.

http://pages.prodigy.net/scrandonneurs/routes.html
http://65.54.175.250/cgi-bin/getmsg/babes.jpg?&msg=86153EAD-DB7B-4713-9476-8E9596BAE7E3&start=0&len=104076&mimepart=3&curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&b=41aa833d62fef465d75b5a5d011b51c5&disk=10.1.106.110_d662&login=ksablay&domain=hotmail%2ecom&hm___sig=9345904f01c75865f8b57b700f19c26a744e2c7e7183ff2b

Matchka might not remember, but I had the pleasure of meeting her on the RM1200 in 2002. It was the first 1200 km for both of us and most memorable for the scenery, the weather extremes and for me at least, the worst saddle trauma I've ever experienced! Mind over matter, but the satisfaction of completing it was worth it.

There is always the questioning looks when explaining long rides (even to experienced cyclists). Funny thing is, more folks could accomplish these events than they believe. I'm always amazed at what's possible.

Jon

Yes! I do remember!! If I'm not mistaken, you described your "saddle trauma" as "the size of a large strawberry". :D How are you doing? Are you planning to do the PBP this year?


-----
I have to laugh at those questioning looks!! :) But what throws me off is the comments people make ... there are two comments I've heard on a number of occasions, and I don't quite know how to respond to either:

Scene 1:
Co-worker (or whoever): What did you do on the weekend?
Me: I cycled a 600K brevet ... 600 kms in 40 hours or less. It took me 36 hours.
Co-worker: Yeah, well Amy in Accounting ran a marathon a couple years ago.
Me: ummm ... well ... good for her!

I've actually had a comment like that so often, I'm tempted to run a marathon myself. :D

Scene 2:
Co-worker (or whoever): What did you do on the weekend?
Me: I cycled a 600K brevet ... 600 kms in 40 hours or less. It took me 36 hours.
Co-worker: Yeah, well that's nothing, I cycled 20 kms this weekend, and let me tell you it was a long, hard ride.
Me: ummm ... well ... that's good!


But you're right ... most people can accomplish much more than than they think they can ... if they just push themselves a little.

Yes! I do remember!! If I'm not mistaken, you described your "saddle trauma" as "the size of a large strawberry". :D How are you doing? Are you planning to do the PBP this year?

Probably more like an entire basket of strawberries! Yes, I'll be at PBP with SIR - will you be there with the Canadian contingent? I wasn't going until my wife found a great inexpensive flight and decided that I should keep the streak going for as many PBPs as possible. Would've liked to ride the Raid Alps too, but that will have to wait for another summer.

I'm nearly done with my latest brevet bike, a modified Riv canti-Romulus. Finally have a bike where things are bolted on instead of taped and zip-tied. I'll have some pics up this week.

Glad you're still riding strong! I enjoy your reports.

I wasn't going until my wife found a great inexpensive flight and decided that I should keep the streak going for as many PBPs as possible.

If you don't mind my asking, where'd you find that flight?

I'm still working on the logistics, but am really looking forward to it. This'll be my first PBP (and first 1200km), after four full series, and over 6000km in brevets. I've even got an SIR jersey, although I've never ridden with y'all.

What is this "OCP" to which you refer?

I've done 8 centuries (6 last year, my first year of long rides) and love it. Yet the question remains: How much more can I do? If I finish a century fresh 'n' frisky, can I do another 50 mi.? 100? ???

I want those answers. Guess reading & research are in my future.

Who among you brave souls has done a brevet on a tandem? What's that like?

I wonder what my limits are...

Who among you brave souls has done a brevet on a tandem? What's that like?


200s are fun. I'll let you know when I do some longer brevets on a tandem.

What is this "OCP" to which you refer?

I've done 8 centuries (6 last year, my first year of long rides) and love it. Yet the question remains: How much more can I do? If I finish a century fresh 'n' frisky, can I do another 50 mi.? 100? ???



It's much easier to go from 100 to 150 then it was to go from 50 to 100 mile rides. Try the 200k and then the 300k!

Bob

Thanks. Now to tell the captain what I have in mind. Heh.

I've done 8 centuries (6 last year, my first year of long rides) and love it. Yet the question remains: How much more can I do? If I finish a century fresh 'n' frisky, can I do another 50 mi.? 100? ???

I want those answers. Guess reading & research are in my future.

Who among you brave souls has done a brevet on a tandem? What's that like?

I wonder what my limits are...


I approached Randonneuring this way .... back before 2001, I had ridden a number of centuries and a couple 200 km rides. When I discovered Randonneuring, I wasn't concerned about the 200K because I'd done it (and 200 kms = 125 miles, which isn't much more than a century). But what I decided was that I would do a 200K, and IF it went well, I'd do a 300K. It did, in fact, it went very well ... and I did the 300K. The 300K had some challenges but I was thrilled when I finished it because the 300Ks in Manitoba are 323 kms = 200 miles!! I had done my first double century!! :) The leap from 323 kms to 400 kms wasn't all that much, and the 300K had gone well, so I decided to do the 400K. The 600K was a little more scary, but I decided to give it a go, and it went quite well too ... and I was hooked.

So do some reading and research .... but more importantly, get out there and do one!! You've done 8 centuries, you can do a 200K.


And most people never even come close to their limits. The human body is an amazing thing ... the mind even more so!

And most people never even come close to their limits. The human body is an amazing thing ... the mind even more so!

You're so right! I've seen this over and over and over...both with myself, as well as with friends & students who aren't afraid to trust themselves.

My mind is already at the end of a double century. At my age (52, eek! But don't tell my brain!) I have some challenges, but focus isn't among them. I get that focus is what you need to do the long rides.y

The body will go where the mind goes first...

Okay, I've been away from the sport for a decade or so. What the heck is an "OCP"?

Yet the question remains: How much more can I do? If I finish a century fresh 'n' frisky, can I do another 50 mi.? 100? ???

I want those answers. Guess reading & research are in my future.

Red Rider:

There's only one way to find the answer to your question - and it isn't in reading and research.

I am exactly where you are (even age-wise). I'm going to test my limit and do a double century this May. Why don't you do one too? We can compare notes afterwards (if we survive).

PS: I think I'll print a picture of Machka and tape it to my stem. If I need motivation during the double century, I'll just look to her for inspiration.:)

Okay, I've been away from the sport for a decade or so. What the heck is an "OCP"?Obsessive Compulsive Poseur
http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-117468.html
Watch for photos. :)

Sorry I asked. :rolleyes: :)