Bicycle Question

[C Law]

Hey Guys and Gals;

I am going to sign up and try this Randonnee (http://newhorizonsbikes.com/page.cfm?PageID=347) and it is a RUSA Populaire.

It is mostly on dirt roads and I was going to do it on my 29er MTB. My MTB is a softtail, meaning 1'' of travel in the rear - and would have a front suspension fork, which I would run locked out for this type of event.

My main question is, are there rules regarding what bikes you can ride ? Can I show up with my 29er and be allowed to ride?

I only have fancy schmancy road bikes, with no room for 30mm tires, or mountain bikes. And most of the reason why I want to do this event is training for longer MTB races.

So anyway, 1, Will I be allowed to ride with my MTB and 2, will I be ridiculed and scorned by other event participants for my choice of bike. ;)

[spokenword]

I did the D2R2 last year, and I saw a lot of full suspension and hardtail bikes in the group, so I wouldn't worry. You're going to have a lot of company in that ride. Also, I did the ride on a touring bike and even with wider 30" tires, I was pining for some kind of suspension as I flew down all of those rocky, pebble strewn fire roads.

It's a gorgeous but tough ride. I DNF'ed on the century route and if I wasn't already planning on being in France for PBP this year, I'd definitely be back for a rematch. Enjoy.

[C Law]

thanks. Enjoy the PBP

[spokenword]

thanks. Enjoy the PBP
Thanks, and I think I may have mentioned this in a past thread about the D2R2, but the biggest piece of advice that I can impart to you is: pay attention to the cue sheet.

Moreso than many other populaires and brevets, the D2R2 is a navigational challenge. The course is barely marked and the cue sheet essentially consists of directions like, "turn left at stone hut." "follow right fork (unmarked)" and the reason for the high DNF rate on the D2R2 is that it's really easy to get lost in the hills of the Pioneer Valley, and getting lost doesn't just mean going off course for a few miles. It also usually means adding a couple of unnecessary 9 and 10% gradient ascents to your ride -- increasing your fatigue and adding to frustration.

Also, don't sweat missing the control cutoffs. While the cutoff times exist for the purposes of being a legal brevet (ie. you have to make the cutoffs if you want certification by ACP) the controls themselves stay open way past the closing times simply because so many riders get lost on the route. So, if you aren't concerned about ACP statistics, and you just want to finish the ride, don't be discouraged if you get to a control 30 or 45 minutes after it's supposed to close. It'll most likely be open and will have supplies available.

[brunop]

whoa! i may do this one on my 29er. i may put skinnier tires on it though. mine's hardtail and rigid fork to boot. but i'm in!!!!:) :) :)

hey spoken! would you do it on a 29er or would you go ahead and use your distance road bike. my distance road bike has 700x25's on it now. what would you run on a road bike?

thanks!:)

edit: i see you ran 30's.

[C Law]

whoa! i may do this one on my 29er. i may put skinnier tires on it though. mine's hardtail and rigid fork to boot. but i'm in!!!!:) :) :)

hey spoken! would you do it on a 29er or would you go ahead and use your distance road bike. my distance road bike has 700x25's on it now. what would you run on a road bike?

thanks!:)

edit: i see you ran 30's.

I was planning on running 35mm cyclocross tires for the event on my 29er MTB.

[stapfam]

I do a tough offroad randonnee most years and in the main it is Mountain bikes. You name it- Hardtails- Full suspension and rigids. In 2004- A cyclocross bike entered, which is not normal, and let me put it this way- He wrecked about 5 sets of wheels (but he did have a backup car following him) till he learnt not to take the downhills fast- but he finished and in a respectable time. The fastest bike in 2004 was a full rigid, and that was the year two Tandems finished aswell.

It doesn't matter what sort of bike you ride- just make certain it is well prepared and that you Get a few extra rides in to get yourself prepared

[bmike]

hoping to ride this one this year as well. goes through some pretty country in my old stomping grounds of svt.

i'll be riding the crosscheck though - which is currently a FG or SS.

debating about doing it SS if i can get myself in proper shape. would be fun - i'll have to research gearing and topography.