P12 - randonneuring.

My husband is a guy who eats drinks sleeps breathes cycling. He's a randonneur, he likes to do long unsupported bike rides. for 36 months he has done a 200k (126 miles) every month and he has gotten medals for it.

The randonneuring association recently decided that there should be a P12 too. that's a 100k once a month for 12 consecutive months. I don't know WHY I did, but I said i'd try to do it. (that's 62 miles)
So after not having done as much as 30 miles on any ride since august, I did my first "leg" of my P12 yesterday in freezing (but sunny) weather.
For the last week, we've had unseasonally cold weather, but I figured I didn't want to do ANOTHER long ride in January, so I got it out of the way.
It was pretty scary where it was icy, (in long shadows) where I ended up walking a bit. The worse part though was towards the end, my get up and go got up and went and it took me FOREVER to climb the 1 mile hill near my house.
If I can do it, I have 11 more rides to go.
anyone else want to try?

Good for you! That's fantastic to set a goal like that.

I'm doing a brevet series this year, but I am not committing to an R or P 12 because we'll be gone for most of July and I don't want to worry about "having" to squeeze in a 60 - 120 mile ride on the few days I am here.

Have fun!

Ooooh, I like this one! Metrics came very easily to me this last summer, so will keep this in mind as my recovery continues. I won't be able to start this early though, but I think I would like to join you beginning in April, perhaps March, we will see how things go.

Oh, that's terrific, and neat and I wanna try!
My velo comes in at the end of this month, wonder if I could do it in a velo?
Good for you, regardless, you are on your way!

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Originally Posted by biciclista

if i can do it, i have 11 more rides to go.
Anyone else want to try?

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mmmmmeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!
:D

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Originally Posted by TsPoet

Oh, that's terrific, and neat and I wanna try!
My velo comes in at the end of this month, wonder if I could do it in a velo?
Good for you, regardless, you are on your way!

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not sure what a Velo is, but why couldn't you?

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

not sure what a Velo is, but why couldn't you?

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Mine
http://bluevelo.com/strada.html

The one that will actually be mine - it's a shell right now
http://www.bentrideronline.com/messa...1&d=1293166832

Is that 62k or 100k (62 miles)? And does it have to be done on a special RUSA approved route?

They do have to be certified populaires or permanents.

http://www.rusa.org/award_p12.html

I don't think there are any certified routes shorter than 200k close to me.

I would be interested if I could do it easily from Tucson......My DH, who is more like biciclista's DH registered me as a member of RUSA but I don't know that I will ever be up to doing a full brevet. My longest rides have been 60-70 miles and then I overdid it and have slowly been increasing my distances again.

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Originally Posted by azfiddle

I don't think there are any certified routes shorter than 200k close to me.

I would be interested if I could do it easily from Tucson......My DH, who is more like biciclista's DH registered me as a member of RUSA but I don't know that I will ever be up to doing a full brevet. My longest rides have been 60-70 miles and then I overdid it and have slowly been increasing my distances again.

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I have the same problem, closest routes are 1.5 hr drive, and they aren't the shorter distances. They are also not organized since the clubs that have set them up have to drive 1.5 hr from the other direction.
Maybe I'll just do one on my own honor for a personal challenge.
I've wanted to go down to Maryhill and do that route, though, so maybe my goal will be to do it by the end of the summer - I think it's a 200k, if I remember right.

we didn't have many 100k routes either but DH made some new ones, including the one we just did that starts 3 miles from my house !
I would be happy to do the same ride 12 times, it's only once a month, i like routine anyway.

TsPoet, you probably can't do it with a shell, but if you get some wheels and stuff in there you should be fine. :D

Azfiddle, sorry about the typo, 100K or 62 miles..

We have no populaires or permanents in Indiana - I wonder what it takes to establish one? Where IS that manual RUSA sent me :D I like the idea of such a challenge/goal, it gets me out of the door.

Good luck. No reason why you can't make up some routes. You just have to do it, send it in, and get it approved. Of course there are lots of RULES about how the route should work, but I guess that's part of the fun (not for me) of making a route.

Okay Mimi I went and did it. I filled out my RUSA application tonight and will drop it in the mail on my way to work tomorrow morning. It says to allow two weeks for processing. I haven't been riding a lot. My last "good" ride was almost two months ago. I did ride this past Sunday in 34 degree temperatures (as you already know from our FB postings) and got chapped lips from that ride which was only 20 miles long. But what the heck I'm up for a challenge this year. And besides I need to get back in shape I also need to drop 15 pounds! So . . . here we go! :)

$20/year. Not bad.

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

Good luck. No reason why you can't make up some routes. You just have to do it, send it in, and get it approved. Of course there are lots of RULES about how the route should work, but I guess that's part of the fun (not for me) of making a route.

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Hee hee. There are plenty of rules on how to set up and run permanents!
Probably why I so enjoyed designing and running them, I'm so anal retentive. :cool:

Here's a starting point if anyone is interested. http://www.rusa.org/perminfo.html

I gave away my 200K permanent routes after my bike crash (they were too much of a hassle to maintain at that point), but perhaps I'll ease my way back into it again with 100K populaires.

Thanks for the inspiration, Mimi!

Thank you Mimi! I had not heard this, and I've been working out some good targets for me this year. Last year I did fine with longer distances...until I reached 75 miles - that is when it all went to h*ll in a hand-basket and I developed my overuse injuries :o

Metrics are in my reach though, and once I renew my 2011 RUSA dues will determine if I want to establish a permanent here, or simply ride my favorite metric once a month unofficially. Where I tend to ride there are very few places in which to have a control.

Thanks for the encouragement

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Thank you Mimi! I had not heard this, and I've been working out some good targets for me this year. Last year I did fine with longer distances...until I reached 75 miles - that is when it all went to h*ll in a hand-basket and I developed my overuse injuries :o

Metrics are in my reach though, and once I renew my 2011 RUSA dues will determine if I want to establish a permanent here, or simply ride my favorite metric once a month unofficially. Where I tend to ride there are very few places in which to have a control.

Thanks for the encouragement

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Having ridden on the NW side a lot, I could suggest at least a few. There's a gas station in Sheridan. There's also a convenience store in Whitestown. I've actually done a number of rides that hit both of those on the same ride.

One of the rides I used to do a lot, essentially started at Nebo and followed the the shop's training route (or I'd start in Broad Ripple to really get some miles). At the route's northern-most point, I would continue north to Sheridan instead of heading west. At Sheridan, I'd start heading southwest/south again toward Zionsville, ultimately getting back onto the training ride's route for a bit. I think at 156th Street, I'd head west toward Whitestown and hit the market there. Then I'd head east again back toward Nebo, ultimately getting back on the training ride route. I'm not exactly sure how many miles all that is, but it's pretty easy to add miles in and around Whitestown, i.e., by doing a loop from the market toward Lebanon. All but a few of the roads on this route are lightly traveled.

you guys are great! go for it!

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Originally Posted by indysteel

Having ridden on the NW side a lot, I could suggest at least a few. There's a gas station in Sheridan. There's also a convenience store in Whitestown. I've actually done a number of rides that hit both of those on the same ride.

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Yep, am familiar with all of those roads - and those were the only two stores I could think of for controls so we are thinking alike :) I also did a route that I put together that went from the Whitestown area to Morse Reservoir, while you do have to cross a couple of busy roads all of the riding roads are very lightly traveled. Certainly some good thoughts, thanks! The store in Whitestown has limited hours of operation, but there are other ways to determine a control. I think you can even ask a question about something that is seen along the way, and I've found several unique sights that would serve well. hmmmmmmm :)

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Yep, am familiar with all of those roads - and those were the only two stores I could think of for controls so we are thinking alike :) I also did a route that I put together that went from the Whitestown area to Morse Reservoir, while you do have to cross a couple of busy roads all of the riding roads are very lightly traveled. Certainly some good thoughts, thanks! The store in Whitestown has limited hours of operation, but there are other ways to determine a control. I think you can even ask a question about something that is seen along the way, and I've found several unique sights that would serve well. hmmmmmmm :)

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I've never run into a problem with their hours. I can see where it might be a problem for rides longer than 100k, but it's pretty easy to do a metric within your typical daylight hours, presumably when they're open.

I'm not as familiar with Morse. I think I've only ridden out there twice.

yeah, we had something like 6 hours and 48 minutes to do our ride. we finished in 6 hours and 5 minutes. My last 100k was close to 5 hours, but walking across ice really slows you down.. :p:eek:

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Originally Posted by indysteel

I've never run into a problem with their hours. I can see where it might be a problem for rides longer than 100k, but it's pretty easy to do a metric within your typical daylight hours, presumably when they're open.

I'm not as familiar with Morse. I think I've only ridden out there twice.

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That's true. I've been known to start quite early and Whitestown is close to where I typically started last year.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

That's true. I've been known to start quite early and Whitestown is close to where I typically started last year.

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For early morning starts, you could head to Sheridan first and then to Whitestown. That's not to suggest there aren't other possible routes; I was just suggesting one that, in my mind and experience, would be pretty doable as a permanent, if you were so inclined to establish and maintain it.

This is a great idea - and I am going to do it :) Am currently researching what I would need to do in order to establish/certify a permanent. Glad to hear that RUSA provides insurance free of charge for a permanent that owned by an individual RUSA member rather than a club.

Part of this is self-serving, yes, since I won't have to drive out of state to ride a sanctioned 100k route for the P12. HoweverI think it would be great to have SOMETHING in Indiana for RUSA members even if it isn't a full brevet. I still have the desire to do a full brevet series one day, but considering what happened last year I need to start with more modest goals and see what happens.

You have my support. It's really a shame Indiana doesn't have a series. I wonder what it would take to generate some interest within the state to get a series started here. I wonder if CIBA and/or any of ther other local clubs or advocacy groups could at least explore whether there's any interest. I'd be curious other other states have gotten theirs off the ground.

It would be interesting to know how many members of the Ohio Randonneurs Club live in Indiana - like me.

It will take some time to put this together, and there are recommendations on how much climbing should be in a particular route. Unsure at this point if the recommendations are just that or requirements. Obviously southern Indiana has enough topography for climbing, but it might be challenging to design a 100k route in my desired area to meet that recommendation. We will see, but I really do not want to go further afield for a 100k route as I want to be close to it.

This is going to be fun :)

completed my 5th 100k ride this month. have 7 more to go!

Excellent! :cool:

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

completed my 5th 100k ride this month. have 7 more to go!

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Congratulations!

So... where did you ride? :D C'mon give us some details!

Veronica

oh, I posted it in the weekend ride thread.
We found the most gorgeous permanent that started in Olympia washington.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._5996452_n.jpg

we saw lots of lovely vistas as we rode from Olympia to Rochester to Rainier and Tenino
and Lacy and back to Olympia.

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3674870_n.jpg

like the biggest Alpaca Herd I've ever seen!
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6309869_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._2995575_n.jpg
brilliant views of Mt St Helens (center on horizon)


and of course http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._1238553_n.jpg

Mount Rainier dominated the scene.


http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6646049_n.jpg

This is the only photo of us together, right before the ride. We needed to work off all that bulk.
It took us a little over 6 hours to complete this 68 mile ride.

Nice! Thanks for posting it here. I hadn't looked at the weekend rides. (Can't read everything!) :rolleyes:

Veronica

I just rode my first ever 25 miler yesterday and it happened to be on my hybrid. I'm already looking at "road" type bikes (Surly Cross Check, Salsa Casseroll to name a few). I would totally try it on a different bike than my current one. It sounds like a fun and energetic challenge!

the other woman on our ride rode a hybrid. She did great but we worried about her wrists.

Great photos - well done! I had no idea RaleighDon had such awful cellulite.

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Originally Posted by maillotpois

Great photos - well done! I had no idea RaleighDon had such awful cellulite.

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it's from all those donuts...

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

it's from all those donuts...

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Oh well that all makes sense, then, doesn't it?

Way to go Mimi! You sure had a beautiful day for your P5!!!!

I will have to start all over once my back is better. I'm slowly getting there. S l o w l y!

Apparently after seeing many doctors these last few months it's my L5/S1 causing all the pain. Trying to get the swelling and irritation down if the therapy and adjustments don't work the doctor said I will move on to "pain management" meaning spinal injection into the L5/S1. Hopefully I won't have to go that route. And once the pain is gone I am on a life time of core/back exercises to maintain my back health. The thing is I don't know how I hurt it in the first place. It all began way back in January. I tried to ride through it thinking at first it was a pulled muscle or tendon but it just kept getting worse. Anyway I'm happy to see you doing so well with your P12. I'm jealous but happy that you are going for it Mimi! Yeeeaahhhh! :)

Finished my 8th P12 today. We rode about 72 miles (it's more than 100 kilometers). We started in some hilly territory and finished off in the flats. The ride is called the Snoqualmie River run. More than 3/4 of the ride was alongside an event ride "Mountains to Sound" which had 75 milers and 100 milers, most very fit athletes.

We just found out my DH has cancer, and more importantly in the short run, he's supposed to have a "PET" scan on Monday. And they don't want him exercising AT ALL on Sunday; so I was a little nervous about him doing this ride, even though it was saturday; when we looked on line, it said that you should not exercise for 48 hours before the test.. so DH agreed, we'd ride hard until 11am and then take it easy for the rest of the ride. I heard "we'd ride hard for the first half of the ride and then take it easy"
well..
DH meant He'd take it easy, not me; I still had to work hard. I'm kind of exhausted by all the nervous energy expended while discovering your beloved spouse of 33 odd years has Cancer and i would not have even DONE the ride if he hadn't insisted. It seems HE wants me to get the P12 more than I do. So when we had gone about 30 miles, I wanted to start pooping along. DH wanted me to ride more than 12mph (I was going about 8-10 on some very slight grades, maybe it was a headwind slowing me down) so we both got cranky.
we had until 3pm to finish the ride and we finished at 1:45. The start and end of the ride was right next to a Whole foods supermarket. We wandered in there and discovered that Saturday is STILL sample day at some supermarkets and I managed to eat plenty wandering around that store.

Next month? DH already asked friends if they would lead me on my next rides if he is not able. "only" 4 more to go!