Amazing What Biking Can Do, II

[jobob]

But what I am really, really excited about is a 200k Brevet coming in January. I _know_ I can do the distance as long as I can maintain my current level of fitness through the next cold and dark month and a half. I foresee weeknight rides getting fewer and shorter, but hope to be able to maintain with two long weekend rides. That's the plan, anyway.

Yoo-hoo, SadieKate, we have another Brevet wanna-do !
Excellent

[Lise]

Nanci, What a great story! How very frustrating the compartment syndrome and weight gain must have been. What's a Brevet? I am pretty ignorant about sports in general--I feel like it's a whole new world, and usually pretty fun. I love the biking, but in the winter, in the city, biking after dark feels really hazardous. I am fearful about patches of ice and wiping out into traffic. I will do some riding on days off, but it's going to be running and weights most of the winter. Got to get back in the pool, too, to get through that first part of the triathlon. Connecting with you all here is going to help keep me training during the short, cold, dark days. I did my weights routine for the first time in a long time two days ago, then ran a frigid 8K Turkey Trot yesterday. Believe me, I was sore today! But I'm going to the Y to do some climbing type stuff--work on the hamstrings and glutes. I feel like I'm always on the verge of stopping all together. While I now believe that I can be an athlete (am an athlete), I still don't believe that I'm not going to quit. If I don't do it today, will I do it tomorrow? The biking helps it all hang together. I'm so glad for you, too. Take care, Lise

[Nanci]

Lise, As far as I can tell, a Brevet is a longer ride, starting at 200k, that goes up in monthly steps, 200k, 300k, 400k, 600k, which can be used to qualify for some sort of other race. There is a time limit- for 200k, in FL, that seems to be 13.5 hours. It sounds like plenty of time... The ride is unsupported, but there are check points that you go through and get your card stamped to prove that you were there, as well as secret check points, so you can't cut the course.

In FL, there are several 200k Brevets, as well as two or three series of increasing distances. I can't imagine, at this time, 300k, so I will do 200k and see what happens...

Nanci

[Lise]

Lise, As far as I can tell, a Brevet is a longer ride, starting at 200k, that goes up in monthly steps, 200k, 300k, 400k, 600k, which can be used to qualify for some sort of other race. There is a time limit- for 200k, in FL, that seems to be 13.5 hours. It sounds like plenty of time... The ride is unsupported, but there are check points that you go through and get your card stamped to prove that you were there, as well as secret check points, so you can't cut the course.

In FL, there are several 200k Brevets, as well as two or three series of increasing distances. I can't imagine, at this time, 300k, so I will do 200k and see what happens...

Nanci

Huh. Thanks for explaining it. Another world I know nothing about. 200k is a long ways, but you're an endurance gal. What slays me is that's essentially the bike portion of an Ironman tri. Hey, wanna run a marathon right after? I did my first 100K this summer. At about mile 50, I decided I had to get a lighter bike! I did it with a friend who was in great shape last summer, not so great this summer. We were both wiped by mile 50. Of course we finished, and as we dragged the bikes to the car, I said, "we could go run 13.1 miles now!" He would've hit me, but he was too tired. My goal is to do a 1/2 Ironman tri, so I need to get that tri bike and put in the miles next spring. Good luck with the Brevet. I look forward to learning more about it. Lise

[jobob]

Hi Lise & Nanci -

The Santa Cruz Randonneurs website has a good section explaining what randonneuring is all about.

http://pages.prodigy.net/scrandonneurs/whatis.html

here's an excerpt:

[...]
Randonneuring (rahn doe ner ing) is a type of long-distance cycling, not too different from a century or double-century ride. There are time limits for each distance, so it is best described as fast touring. Checkpoints along the way ensure the rider has followed the route in the prescribed time limits. If one finishes the route successfully, a numbered certificate (or brevet in French) is awarded, so these rides are often called "brevets". Riders of all abilities participate in brevets, just as happens on centuries and double-centuries. Randonneuring brevets are non-competitive events; one rides for the personal pride of having completed the distance within the time allowance, not from beating other riders to the finish line. Friendly camaraderie is a hallmark of randonneuring.
[...]

More details in the link.

Hope this helps, and perhaps piques your curiousity !
- Jo.

[RoadRaven]

OK... I have learned something new. I thought that the "200kBrevet" was just a way to describe a specific race (like the 100k Rotorua to Taupo Fun ride here is called the 100kFlyer)!

So Nanci... when is your first "Brevet" then?

[Nanci]

January 14th eek!

Well, my mileage for this week has been 104 miles Sunday, 30 miles Friday, 60 miles today. Plan on 40ish tomorrow.

I love Florida. I started out at 8AM in a tank top, with a long sleeve jersey over it, with a windblock jacket, with a windblock hat (under my helmet :-) with bike shorts with running knickers over them. By the time I was at the halfway point, all was piled on my new rack except the tank top and shorts. This can't last forever, though. Some day soon it just isn't going to warm up.

Nanci

[Lise]

Hi Lise & Nanci -

The Santa Cruz Randonneurs website has a good section explaining what randonneuring is all about.

Jo, thanks for the info. I had no idea. I went to the web site, and I saved the RUSA site for further reading. I especially liked this quote:
Most of all, come to each brevet with an iron will to finish. Determination is the randonneur's most valuable "piece of equipment".

That I know I have! Lise

[mary9761]

way to go Nanci!!