P12 - randonneuring.

[Biciclista]

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?

[maillotpois]

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!

[Catrin]

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.

[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!

[KnottedYet]

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

mmmmmeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

[Biciclista]

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!

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

[TsPoet]

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

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

The one that will actually be mine - it's a shell right now

[azfiddle]

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

[maillotpois]

They do have to be certified populaires or permanents.

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

[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.

[TsPoet]

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.

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.

[Biciclista]

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.

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

[Catrin]

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

[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.

[Susan126]

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!