Originally Posted by chasm54

Hmm, I don't know about that. There are now a huge number of participants in sportives - the event I mentioned earlier had almost 3000, more than 1000 of whom were doing the 104 mile, 7700 feet of climbing route. And I'd say they were modelled more on events like the Etape and the Italian Gran Fondos. Much less grand, and with a much wider range of abilities taking part, but the same sort of thing. Randonneurs, in my experience, tend to be fewer in number, experienced, self-sufficient, content to navigate their way around their courses in a much less supported and more independent way.