Randonneur(ing?)

[kelownagirl]

I read the word somewhere on this forum one time and wondered what it was so I looked up the local (as in B.C. Canada) website and found some info.

http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/index.html

I don't quite get it though. Do you camp on the longer ones? Hotels? Keep riding for 24-48 hours? Are there rest stations? Do you carry stuff in panniers or have someone driving as well? Or can it be all of these things depending on the ride/place/organizers?

No matter what, it sounds SO cool, it's now my new long-term goal.

barb

[maillotpois]

From what I have seen, every club runs the sleeping arrangements differently. Up to 400k, you don't need to worry about it. For 600k, there are a lot of folks who go right through, especially those with larger goals, like one of the 1200ks.

You typically cannot have private support vehicles. You must be completely self sufficient. You carry food, extra clothes, money, whatever.

For the 600k I did, I brought clothes for all weather which was good because it rained a lot. I made a hotel reservation with some friends for the 260 mile mark, since it was my first time and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go all the way on no sleep. I did not sleep much at all even so, but it was nice to be off the bike especially since I was getting chills.

It is a super fun sport and the folks who do it are great. You will learn a LOT about yourself, because it is mostly mental beyond a certain distance.

[Nanci]

Hi Barb,

The way they run the series in Florida (there are three separate groups) the rides start and end at a host hotel- that way out of town riders all have a place to stay. Bike inspection is the Friday night before, at the host hotel. (Checking things like lights, good mechanical condition, etc.) Riders meet on Saturday morning. The ride starts get earlier and earlier as the distances increase. I think ours this year were 7AM, 6AM, 4AM, and 3AM. (The 3AM was supposed to be 2AM, but luckily it was discovered that the control wouldn't be open by the time the first riders reached it if they were to start at 2AM!!) Typically, no one sleeps on the 200k, 300k, or 400k, though when I did my 400k I had to stop at 10PM because of a knee injury. I iced it and slept until 5AM, when I got up and rode the last 15 miles- still within the time limit. Having the rides start/end at a host hotle also allows the RBA (person in charge of the ride) to sleep in his room while waiting for riders to check in. For the 600k, some people ride it straight through, and some sleep. The route is usually planned so the riders return to the host hotel at about 300k or 400k, so if they choose they can sleep, then finish the ride Sunday. (The time limit for the 600k is 40 hours- when I did mine, I was on the bike for 27 hours, and my total time was 37 hours, so I spent 10 hours doing things other than riding).

I would recommend joining your local (national?) randonneuring club, and I think you'd benefit from joining the US club, too. They have a _great_ handbook they send out, as well as really nice newsletters.

http://www.rusa.org

The website http://www.ultracycling.com/ has a ton of information on long distance cycling, too.

Good luck!

Nanci

[mimitabby]

I read the word somewhere on this forum one time and wondered what it was so I looked up the local (as in B.C. Canada) website and found some info.

http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/index.html

I don't quite get it though. Do you camp on the longer ones? Hotels? Keep riding for 24-48 hours? Are there rest stations? Do you carry stuff in panniers or have someone driving as well? Or can it be all of these things depending on the ride/place/organizers?

No matter what, it sounds SO cool, it's now my new long-term goal.

barb

Hey Barb
My husband is a Randonneur and has done rides with your BC club.
There is a degree of purism involved, some groups DO have sag vehicles and some don't. Some guys do these rides with nothing on them except a cell phone and water and they DO have people helping them. The purists don't do this or like this; they are the ones that carry everything around with them.
The stories I have heard after the rides are why I will never do one. THey are riding seriously sleep deprived, and in the dark, a nasty combination. Last year someone died by driving his bike right into a truck. Was he sleeping? Hallucinating? we'll never know.
On the other hand, those that like this sport are challenged by the times and distances involved. My husband proudly displays his medals from the rides he has completed (breves)

Mimi

[Nanci]

I don't know if this rule is world-wide, but in the US, you are not allowed to have a SAG vehicle.

Article 7

Each rider must be self sufficient. No follow cars or support of any kind are permitted on the course. Personal support is only allowed at checkpoints. Any violation of this requirement will result in immediate disqualification.

Riders do not have to be seriously sleep deprived- there is ample time allowed for rest.

Nanci

[mimitabby]

Nanci
I know those are the rules, but not everyone is following them..
I don't think 3 hours is ample time for rest Lol! Especially when you spend
2 of them getting your clothes dried

[Nanci]

These are my experiences with my first brevet series:

200k http://tinyurl.com/pe79a

300k http://tinyurl.com/ph62f

400k http://tinyurl.com/qxa9k

600k http://tinyurl.com/s3thk

(Hopefully the tiny urls work!!)

It isn't easy, but I had a good time and plan to do the series again next year.

Nanci

[mimitabby]

Nancy,
thanks for the url's I read them all. you are one tough cookie!