I found out there are several brevets held every year in Missouri and I want to try it. So I joined Randonneurs USA (RUSA). It only costs $20 a year. Their website is www.rusa.org

Are there any randonneurs here on the forum?

Wanted to try randonneuring but there are no rides in Arizona.

C'mon, admit it. You just made that word up!

John

BTW, cycletourist,

I just noticed you're in Branson. Have you ever done the Katy trail and is it a good ride? I'm leaning toward this as my "big ride" this fall, maybe riding the trail out and back over about eight days rather than arranging for transport back from the eastern end.

I've also considered doing the mass ride they have in July, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to get the time off by then and I'm not a big fan of "crowd camping," anyway.

About what time of year does the foliage start to change there and is it a nice "orange" fall or are the forests mostly pines?

Thanks,
John

I just thought Randonneurs were the fancy drop handlebars:confused:

I'm a rando rider. Did the GA series last year plus Boston-Montreal-Boston. This year I'm planning to do Paris-Brest-Paris. At some point I'd also like to do the Rocky Mtn 1200.

Riding brevets and then BMB gave me a real sense of accomplishment. After all, after you've riden a couple dozen centuries, etc. where's the challenge? Rando riding strips away all the BS. You've got to know how to make your bike work (and keep working), how to make you body work (and even harder, keep working, how to deal with all weathers, night, and road conditions. It's 10% physical and 90% mental [toughness].

Then, it's just "Eat, Sleep, Ride, repeat."


Dave

HalfHearted,

I live in the St. Louis area, near the eastern starting point of the trail.

I've ridden on it once, up and down the area around Weldon Springs to Marthasville.

It was a cold, gray day in November, and very windy.

Aside from that, it was OK. Probably better with more green foliage and pleasant fall/spring weather.

Lots of farmland, woods, pleasant little towns. Stores and restaurants along the way. I purchased some snacks at a gas station.

The trail is a decent surface of fine gravel or chipped stone. I would say you would need slightly wide tires, especially if there has been a recent rain. There were also a couple spots with loose gravel.

I think your Trek hybrid is probably a great bike for this trail.

No hills. I think this holds true for the entire trail since it is a converted railroad bed.

The trail does cross roads every few miles (in the area I rode) and even on a Sunday afternoon I had to wait in a couple spots for traffic to clear on a rural highway.

I've thought of doing what you suggested: riding the whole length and back. Of course I'm also thinking of doing a mid-Missouri organized bike tour (360 miles in 6 days) and/or an MS150. Someday.

Here's a link to the trail website:

https://www.mostateparks.com/katytrail/generalinfo.htm

bradw,

Thanks for the info. It sounds like something I'll enjoy and should be within my capabilities pretty handily. I kind of figured it would be seeing as how it's an old railroad right-of-way. Of course, out west there are some wicked grades on railroad right of ways.

Now all I have to do is figure out a way to get far enough ahead on these "hot" projects to actually be able to take some time off this summer or fall. I hate it when making a living interferes with living, don't you?

John

My first "brevet" is coming up in Sept of this year, 203 miles, a single day ride called the LOTAJA.

A few years ago, I did a few 150+ mile weekend mountain bike rides, great times. I haven't done a single 100+ mile ride sense my surgery, I'm looking forward to long saddle days.

I did an event in Wisconsin with the rando's two years ago. Real nice folks. The funny thing was, we thought that we had a side wind on an out and back 200k but when we turned around we found that it had been quartering from behind. The return trip was a little bit rough.
Now when I know I am going out and back I spend a little more time looking at flags to check wind direction.

I've ridden the trail on a Trek hybrid. Works well. The Touring Cyclist sponsors a mulit-day ride on the Katy. You might check the link if you're interested.

Prosody,

Don't know if I'll take the packaged tour, but thanks for the link. It's definitely worth a closer look.

John

cycletourist - Beware!!

I started doing 100k brevet rides a few years ago. I used to think that would be as far as I'd ever care to go.

Last year I did a "Super Randonneur" - 200, 300, 400 & 600 k rides in a a season, and this year I hope to complete Paris-Brest-Paris 1200k in 80 hours.

Beware! it's descent into madness

Stew