Least difficult 1200km brevet in the USA?
 

Planning out 2018. Haven't done anything longer than a 300km, but have high aspirations. Thanks for your input on what is the least difficult 1200km brevet in the US.

Possibly the Last Chance ... but it does come with its own challenges. Not sure if it is running in 2018.

Tony Goodnight sometimes runs a really flat 1200k. But the wind can be a problem. Same with Last Chance, from what I've heard. You have a lot of time to finish a 1200, I don't think people usually dnf because of the difficulty.

The Stampede in Texas is probably a good bet. They usually ride together. Always wanted to do that, but it's early in the year.

It's not a 1200k, but the Lap of Lake Ontario 1000k is fairly flat and looks like a lot of fun. (I'm hoping to do it next summer myself. I probably won't have the opportunity to do a 1200k in addition just because of vacation time and other non-rando plans.)

I count Pete Dusel, the RBA who puts on LOL, as a friend, and I don't want to be negative, but I've heard or read several recent LOL riders indicate that getting around / past Toronto is a real pain these days (and nights).

I've read some the same things, and chatted with Pete a little (did a 300k out there) -- and I know he moved the start day of the week for 2016 to hit less traffic compared to the 2014 ride, though I don't know how well it worked. It still seems like a great first 1000k for me, but maybe I'm too optimistic that it can't be worse than being a Boston bike commuter, which I do daily.

I don't know what Tony (NC: Highpoint Region) is planning for the routes in 2018. I do know that Tony doesn't know, either.

However, I expect that the Carolina Spring 1200 will likely be flatter than the Taste of Carolina 1200. (For 2018: Spring ride has been pushed back from April to early May. The Taste has been moved up from early October to late September.) Also note that sometimes flat route does not necessarily mean easy, esp. if you are not used to riding mile after mile after mile after mile after mile sitting, sitting, sitting, sitting, with no variation in your cadence or leg muscle usage.

Also, as "unter..." indicates, wind can be challenging on the flatter portions.

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Um, looking at Tony's website, he needs to do some updating. Perhaps I'll call him tonight.

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I don't know who the OP is, or where he/she lives, but Tony's official qualification standard does include a full series before the 1200, so if you become interested in the Spring 1200, you may need to head south in Jan, Feb, or March or April to get in some rides.

Tony's Lumberton start brevets are likely to be FLAT (although there is one set that goes west from Lumberton and they get hilly in the middle). The Salisbury starts will be on hilly routes. The Sedalia routes get very climbing tough in the middle and are rolling hills the entire route(s).

Being a fairly social person, this would count a lot for me. When you can gab with good people, the miles go a lot faster and easier. :)

The Texas Stampede isn't on the books for 2018. I don't think plans have been made as to when it will be run next time, yet. Presumably it will, but not 2018. There are no big mountains on the route, but it's not flat, either. The "riding together" is highly variable, and the one year I completed it, I was riding with the herd maybe 1/3 of the time.


From what I've heard, the ******* Swamp seems like a good bet, not sure when it is on next, though. The new one up in Minnesota sounds like fun, I've ridden up there a little bit, but don't know what the overall course is like.


I went up for the Last Chance several years ago. Long story there, but one thing to note is that the course presumes a wind from the west, so Day 1 is extra long, assuming you make great time going out and have headwind coming back. Of course, if the wind is blowing the wrong way, you have problems. And then it's far enough north, that it can be pretty cold and miserable, too.


Edit: This is funny, apparently "*******" is a non-acceptable word here and got changed to stars. So if you go to ******* Barrel Restaurant, sit around and eat crackers and cheese and discuss the ******* Swamp 1200k ride or driving down ******* Swamp Road, you're out of luck.

yeah, lots of stuff is in the site censor because of insults in the P&R forum.

If people didnt' use it as a derogatory word, then it would not have to be censored. Sorry.

Who uses a food product as a derogatory word?? :roflmao2:

Can we eat them on brevets? With cheese? Or marmite? Or cheese and marmite even?

Mean people do. And we got a ton of complaints.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/*******

4. (initial capital letter) Slang: Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. a native or inhabitant of Georgia or Florida (used as a nickname).

5. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a white person in the South, especially a poor white living in some rural parts of the southeastern U.S.

when I heard the name of the ride, I thought it was in reference to the derogatory term. And I still do think so. That's the geographic area where it is used. Sort of like calling yourself a redneck is ok, but outsiders calling you that isn't

Especially if they are salty ... good source of sodium, one important electrolyte. And carbs too. :)

I finished the last 200K of a 600K once on salted soda ... oh dear, there's that word again ... and sweet iced tea.

Anyway, in answer to the original question, the Rocky Mountain 1200 in Canada is quite nice. I would like to do that one again. :)

We don't plan on either the Last Chance or the High Country this year.

there are 18 U.S. 1200's this year and a lot of them aren't the old standbys. I guess I'll have to go look at the list.

There is a 1000k in Quebec that looks pretty flat that I'm thinking about riding. And possibly the DC rando 1200, although that's not flat.

In my opinion Marmite should be on that list.

Yeah, I've barfed on enough brevets without throwing in so-called foods like Marmite. :twitchy:

Eric, I think you meant 8 (eight).

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Interesting, though, I thought I had heard that there was to be a Natchez Trace 1400 or 1600 this year, but that is not on the schedule / RUSA website homepage. Maybe they are planning for next year or for 2020.

eight, eighteen, only makes a difference to one rider I know :)

The Minnesota 1200 starts on my birthday, might have to try it.

A certain Seattle rider who would, no doubt, do all eighteen if they were available?

Nah, he only needs eight or nine (I think it is less than 10) to get to his quantity before a certain time goal.