Machka 

2011 Randonnees

Technically the 2011 Randonnee season began on November 1, so if you're riding randonnees this year and have done any since November 1, tell us about them.

Are you riding a Super Randonneur series with the hopes of getting into the PBP or any other longer distance event? Or are you just riding the randonnees for the fun, challenge, adventure, etc.?

Machka 

Rowan and I have completed a 200K (November) and a 300K (December) so far this year, and I think our next event is coming up in February.

I wrote the stories of the 200K and 300K here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Brevets/page2

StephenH

I don't have a lot of specifics yet. But Lone Star Randonneurs is putting on a 1200k later this spring, and in an inexplicable fit of zeal, I sent in my check. I had already planned to do an ACP SR series in order, but an SR series is required to qualify for the 1200k. So that sort of sets my plans for the first half of this year.

Looking at the calendar, that will be a 200k on either January 22 or February 12, a 300k on February 12 or February 26th, a 400k on February 26th or March 19th, and a 600k on either March 19th or April 16th. And yes, it is giving me some anticipatory nerves.

unterhausen

I completed the Dutch 200k on January 1. Last year, this event marked my only DNF. I ran out of time at the 70 mile mark by only 5 minutes. Memories of last year's 25-50mph winds and sub 20F temperatures made this year's ride seem tropical. The winds were light and the temperatures were high enough that I didn't wear gloves after about 30 miles. The course is familiar to me since I've ridden it as a permanent as well as the two times as an ACP brevet. It starts out with a long descent from organizer Rick Carpenter's house continuing on Neversink drive. The next 15 miles or so are made up of rolling hills that seem to be longer on the up side than the down side. Yes, I'm fat and out of shape, thanks for asking. Sub-freezing temperatures and shiny roads at this point made me a little cautious on the descents. I lost count of the number of covered bridges featured on the route. The Amish population was well represented on the roads, and their horses left a steady supply of ... the stuff horses leave behind. As the course approaches the Susquehanna river, there is a good amount of climbing. For some reason you can count on some big hills on any road named "River Road."

The controle in Columbia was closed, which was no big deal since it was a Subway. I met volunteer Mark Kauffman around the corner at the convenience store, and I spent too long talking framebuilding. I finally started the climb out of Columbia. It's funny how some of these climbs lose their teeth after you've been up them a few times. The real horror story of the brevet was when the 4th controle was closed. I was looking forward to their world-famous hot chocolate. I suffered on, into the dark. The day was beautiful in the morning, but typical Pennsylvania gloom ruled the afternoon. It was effectively dark by 4:00. I misread a cue and rode past the next turn where the road sign seemed to be missing. After a quick call to Rick, I got back on track and drafted an Amish buggy up the hill. I finally got tired of that and passed. However, my glory was short-lived as the next steep upgrade revealed that I hadn't been eating enough. I stopped and read the cue sheet while eating a snack, and the buggy passed me, never to be seen again. The rest of the ride is a bit of a blur. Riding in the dark in Pennsylvania is a good argument for a gps. The cue sheet was long and involved. There was a lot of climbing over the last 15 miles or so, and I managed to eat all the food I had except my emergency reserves. The last mile on Neversink road was not pretty. With a mile left, almost all climbing, I stopped at a gas station to eat some Reese cups and drink a Coke. That worked, and I set off at a rapid pace to the finish. Rick had food, beverages and good company waiting at his house. A very good way to start the year.

chewybrian 

UH, I am impressed at your ride in those conditions (even if you did get 'dropped' by a buggy!).

augustgarage

Feeling ambitious this year...going for a double SR series, completing my R-12 (and my R-60 if I can find a flat-ish 600K), doing my first 1000K (Glacier), and then either PBP or (more likely) The Big Wild Ride (in Alaska). Wanted to do Eau de Hell week up in BC, but don't think that will work out (maybe NW Crank instead?). Planning to chronicle all of this on my 'blog...looking forward to all of your adventures and exploits.

cheg

Since 2011 brevets started in November...

I did a crazy 200K permanent on December 19th starting at 8:30 PM. It was the pre-ride for the second annual Winter Solstice ride organized by the Seattle Randonneurs, for those of us who couldn't ride on the actual Solstice. We got to fully enjoy the long night. The temperature got down to 33F and we had a little rain/snow mix at about 3:00 in the morning. 25 started and 17 finished. My time was 11hrs 12 min. Long night's journey into day - Good Times!

steveindenmark

Each year I set myself a challenge.

This year it is to take part in the PBP. I am not a cyclist and have never ridden in an Audax event. I have recently bought a new Bacchetta Giro 26 recumbent bike and as you may now have guessed. I have never ridden a recumbent.

I am 52 years old and a little overweight, only about 5kg.

I have my SR rides planned out for this year;

200km - 18 March
300km - 2 April
400km - 21 April
600km - 14 May

I have no idea how this will pan out. I may ride 200km and think that this is not for me. But I am usually more determined than that and will give the challenge a good go.

I expect it to be hard and a very steep learning curve but I am really looking forward to it, once I can get out on the road and getting the training in. I am sure many riders out there who are thinking that a successful outcome is unlikely. But it is not really a challenge if success is guaranteed at the outset.

Steve

unterhausen

Good luck, that's very ambitious

Marcello

In 2006, my first year of randonneuring, I did a fleche, a full SR series, and finished with a tough mountainous 1000k brevet. Every ride was a challenge, because I had never done a ride that long before. At the end of each ride I was doubtful that I could do something even longer. But, as some say, if you can finish a 200k brevet, you have what it takes to finish much, much longer rides. You will need to learn how to manage your food and fluid intake, manage your time, and manage your sleep, or lack thereof. Fine tune your equipment to be able to ride in the day and at night, in the hot sun, in the rain, and when it is freezing cold, all of those on the same long ride. Find other experienced riders, learn from their mistakes, and make your own. It is going to be a challenging, and very rewarding experience. But you should be able to do it.

As a side note, there sure are a lot of recumbent riders who post here on BF, that are planning to ride PBP.

chewybrian 

I finished a 200k Saturday. Also, I did a 2-day tour down to the ride and back, about 200k each way. Conditions were great, and the ride and the tour both went well. 200k in 9:20. I posted some pics in the Clyde forum.

defrag

This saturday was the first winter brevet held by the CVRM (Montreal randonneurs). It took us 12 hours to complete the 200km brevet. (Pictures)

seenloitering

I live in Canada!

The first 200k in my neck of the woods isn't until April 17th. I'm planning a 50k tomorrow, which sounds like nothing much; but, there's a lot of snow out there. In fact, a blizzard is forecast. O.k., I'm chickening out already. Ask me tomorrow. No, don't bother, I'm going to do it. Maybe not though. Dammit.

gmrv4

In 2010 I finished three 200K brevets each completed in under 8 hours.

For 2011 I have set a goal to complete the SR Series, 200K, 300K, 400K, and 600K.

I hope I am up to the challenge.

LWaB

Early November, the Upper Thames 200 before snow, ice and rain put a lid on long rides (for me).

In January, the Willy Warmer 200, starting a finishing in the dark. A week later, an overseas 200 that topped out around 400 m altitude and bottomed out at -200 m (both altitudes reached a couple of times during the brevet). Never ridden below sea level before!

bobbycorno

DId my first brevet of 2011 this past Saturday: the Oregon Randonneurs "Grab Bag" 200.

Forecast was for a low in the mid 40's and a high in the mid 50's with a 10% chance of rain. Or is that 30%? Or 50%? Oh, whatever - wool and Goretex. Turned out I didn't need the Goretex, just bibs, wool jersey, wool armwarmers, wool knee warmers and wool socks, with Windstopper gloves to keep the digits functional. I was a little concerned at the start, as most of the others were in full winter kit: shoe covers, tights, storm jackets, and several wearing balaclavas. But it worked out fine - never got cold ('cept when I was off the bike more than a couple minutes) and never overheated, as I'm so fond of doing. The weather was just cool and damp enough to keep me comfy. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Since '08, I'd been rando'ing on various recumbents. Thought I'd found the right one, until the 400k last spring where the 200 miles of 15mph headwinds gave me a serious bout of achilles trouble, which I've been fighting ever since. Now I can't ride the 'bent w/o my achilles flaring up again, so it's back to the df*. And this was the maiden voyage of a brand "new" brevet bike - an '84 Trek 610. 531cs tubeset, sport-touring geometry, converted to 650b and built up "a la Francaise". Initial indications were good, but...

So, I was expecting to take it pretty easy, and probably finish near the back of the bus. But as soon as we took off, I was hangin' with the fast kids. Kept thinking, "Heart rate's too high. Gotta stop this.", so I decided I'd hang in for the first 10 miles. Mile 10 came and went. Feeling OK, so let's make it 15. 15 miles came and went. OK, make it 20. Hit mile 20 and, heck, the first control's at 23 miles, so I stayed on that train to the control in Forest Grove. Coffee and a muffin at Maggie's Buns, and the fast kids left while I was finishing up. Just as well. Time to start riding my own ride. I'd sketched out a 20kph schedule, and I was half an hour ahead already.

For the next bunch of miles, I rode with various folks I knew, caught up on the latest news, and mentally prepared for the one big climb of the day, at mile 48, right after the next control. I'd mapped the route, and that one climb was the only one of the day that went over 400', topping out at 950' and a couple stretches of 10-15% over 5 miles. Several of us pulled into Sherwood at about the same time. Sam and I pulled into a "cafe", which turned out to be more of an Italian restaurant, got our cards signed, and headed out up the hill. Sam has a history of being one of the fastest ORR riders, regardless of distance, but he's been off the bike for a couple years. Even so, I was surprised to see him recede in the rearview as we climbed Kruger Rd. I hit the summit by myself, answered the info control question (the cemetery was established in 1889). Figured there HAD to be more climbing, as it'd never really gotten THAT steep, but that was the top. The downhill to Newberg and the mid-point control was a flat-out rollercoaster ride. The next turn was advertised as "Easy to miss, sharp turn on steep downhill". What Marcello didn't say was that the (left) turn was in the middle of a (lefthand) hairpin turn. Made for a little excitement, but no problems. The "new" Trek took it in stride.

The control (back at the start) was a revelation: I have NEVER seen such a spread on a 200k! A grilled "jambon et fromage", a V8, and a banana, and I was ready to roll. While I was there, I found out that the "surprise" left-hander mentioned above had claimed its first (and I hope only) victim of the day. Keith was bombing down the hill on his socked Stilletto 'bent, hit some gravel making the turn, and went down hard on his left elbow. He DNF'ed, which I was sad to see.

Anyway, back out on the road (solo for now) for the south loop. The wind was picking up, out of the SW, so it was going to be pretty unfavorable for a while. Just as I was about to catch one rider, he pulled over for a wardrobe adjustment. Nice thing about wool is you don't need to mess with that as much. I kept rolling, hoping to reel in someone else soon. Eventually I caught up to Dave and a co-worker of his, who is a rando-newbie, but a very strong rider. We rode together thru the rolling hills and headwind until I took a long hard pull to reel in a rider up ahead. Once we'd caught him and I pulled off, I realized that had been, ahem, "ill advised". I watched my erstwhile partners recede up the road, and ended up soloing into the next control, a Dairy Queen kinda out in the middle of nowhere. Had one of my patented "survival meals", a plain cheeseburger (as in meat, cheese, bun, period) and a large Mtn Dew. Mark, whom I'd passed while he adjusted his clothing, rolled in as I was eating, so we headed out together.

30 miles to go. And hopefully, tailwinds. With any luck we'll finish before dark. With Mark pulling, or riding side by side on the quiet roads, we made good time. I tried to take a pull once, but our speed dropped by a couple MPH, so Mark took the front again. Quick stop in Dayton for a fuel-up, and the last few miles melted away. 9 hours, 30 minutes. Half an hour ahead of my 20kph schedule. WELL before dark. ANd of course more great food at the finish control, back in Newberg: home made chicken and veggie soup over steamed rice. Yeah, baby! And so much for "taking it easy": my heart rate was zone 4 almost all day. Guess that power training over the winter is paying off. (BTW, my rolling time was 7:48, for a rolling average speed of just under 16mph. Not bad, considering my expectations going in.)

And what about the "new" bike? Flawless (except for the power plant). Far better than I had any reason to expect. Should work just fine for PBP. This'n's a keeper.


Scott P
Bend, OR

* Yes, I've been through (months of) PT, and been refitted on my bike. But, IME, soft tissue injuries are the absolute pits! Whatever got hurt, it will NEVER be 100% right again. Yeah it'll get better, but "better" ain't the same as "good".

lonesomesteve

Nice report, BC. Congrats on a strong first brevet of the season.

I don't want to take this thread off course, but any chance you could post some info in separate thread about your Trek build? I have a '82 Trek 311 that I was thinking about converting to 650b, but I'm worried about brake reach and clearances. I'd love to see and hear more about how yours worked out.

bobbycorno

I'll have to snap a few pics, and post 'em, either in the "Century Bike" thread here, or over in C&V. But be warned: like all of my bikes, this'n's destined to be a permanent "work in progress".

SP
Bend, OR

downtube42

This weekend's 300k outside Louisville looks to be rainy, cool (upper 40s to 50s), and breezy. It's time to stretch my comfort zone!

TBatty

Planning on doing my first brevet this Saturday, the Oregon Randonneur's Berkie Brevet 200k. I've ridden the mileage before, but always on supported rides with food stops and all the turns marked. If this goes well, I may continue on with the series, see how far I get anyway.

Marcello

The Birkie is Oregon's "gateway drug" brevet, with a nice mix of moderate climbing and river grade flats, and most years I have done it we had a nice tailwind to take you back to the finish. We even have a well stocked food stop at about 60k, in Vernonia. Much of the ride is on quiet forested roads, fairly scenic. It is a relatively popular ride, so there are going to be many other riders to ride with. It will whet your appetite for the spectacular 3 Capes 300k brevet two weeks later, and for the (IMO) great Oregon Coast 600k in early May.

TBatty

That, Marcello, is exactly what I am afraid of . 200k doesn's sound all that bad, 300k two weeks later sounds a bit daunting. We shall see what happens....

RunningPirate

Just completed the Moss Beach 200K - my first Randonneuring event ever (in fact, it's the longest distance I've ever ridden). With the original "party cloudy" forecast and - of course - threats of Tsunami fallout (we started in Santa Cruz), I did not know what I was really in for.

In the end, I do not think I could have asked for a better day - temps topped out in the low 60's, some clouds, but mostly sunny. OK, check that - I could ask for less headwind; other than that, it was about perfect! The level of dress was spot on - though I finally had to pull off the jacket and beany about 25 mi from the end.

I've done harder hills, but that said, considering the distance, I'm glad I had a nice, low granny gear (28 x 32). The Dawes, while heavy and about 7cm too large for me - proved to be a fine ride (multiple compliments during the ride, were also nice

While I'm open to doing another brevet, I think 300K is going to require more training.

groovestew

Did my first brevet of 2011 (200 km) on Saturday, April 9, starting with 3 other riders, but quickly breaking into two groups of two. The ride started with temperatures of about 3C and negligible winds. It seemed like it took a long time for the sun to break through the clouds and warm things up, and by then, the wind had picked up a bit, and, blowing over fields that still have a remarkable amount of snow on them, the wind was quite chilly. Thankfully, by the time the wind was at its strongest, we were already as far into the wind as we were going to go, so it was going to be mainly cross or tail winds the rest of the way. Still, I was pretty weary by the 150 km point, but my riding companion pulled me for 15 km through a front quartering wind until we turned to have the wind at our backs.

Overall time of 8:43, with 7:23 of pedal time. I'm always surprised how much time I spend on breaks, but hey, it's not a race.

FunkyStickman

You averaged 17MPH while on the bike... that's not bad at all! Your average overall would be close to what mine is on the bike. Nothing to be ashamed of.

Thanks to you guys (and a few local friends) I will be trying to schedule my first brevet in June. I hope I can get time off to do it! Pretty sure I can make the distance.