Randonneurs

[Veronica]

I think I've let my RUSA number lapse. I guess I could look it up. I was on my way to an R-12 - 9 months in when I realized I was just not having fun. It was also the first year I did a Half Ironman and I just like those events more and the trainining that goes along with it. I briefly contemplated doing PBP, but realized I really like to sleep every day.

MP what is your route?

Veronica

[Veronica]

Yooza! - I looked up your route. That's a doozy with 8800 feet of climbing. Is it up the "easy" or the "hard" side of Coleman? That is such a pretty area. I couldn't find my RUSA number, but my fastest 200 K was in August, 2 weeks after doing my HIM. Funny, I can do a HIM faster than a 200K, even with not running much of the run!

Veronica

[maillotpois]

Thanks, guys. I only know it because I have gone through the cycle (no pun intended) a few times myself.

Yooza! - I looked up your route. That's a doozy with 8800 feet of climbing. Is it up the "easy" or the "hard" side of Coleman? That is such a pretty area. I couldn't find my RUSA number, but my fastest 200 K was in August, 2 weeks after doing my HIM. Funny, I can do a HIM faster than a 200K, even with not running much of the run!

Veronica

It is the easy side of Coleman. I took a shake out route I have been doing in the dead of winter for a few years (last year it was below freezing for 3 hours and 22 for the entire run up Marshall) and turned it into a brevet. My two local RBAs, DH and I will do the inaugural ride next weekend. Once that's done, we will throw it up on the SFR website.

I am also working on a perm in Tahoe, but that won't really be rideable for a bit.

[tulip]

I admire randonneurs and once researched what it would take to qualify for the PBP. Then I realized that I'd rather just take my time and actually enjoy the route. I'd still like to ride from Paris to Brest and back to Paris, and someday I will, but I will go the round about way and stop in villages and explore small roads and it will take weeks, not hours. I'm of the touring mindset, that's all.

[jobob]

I really appreciate how RUSA acknowledges (nowadays!) that the ultra-long distance rides like PBP and the other 1200k brevets, a.k.a. randonnees, aren't necessarily the do-all and end-all for everyone. In recent years many 100K rides (called populaires) have been added to event calendars, and the P12 award was introduced, which recognizes a rider who completes a RUSA-sanctioned 100K ride (populaire, hence the P) every month for 12 consecutive months (otoh, the R12 recognizes a rider who completes a RUSA-sanctioned 200K+ ride every mo for 12 consecutive mos). That's a good thing IMHO.

If/when I do get back in the grove, I'm likely going to look into some of the 100K permanents routes that have popped up in my area (a couple of which cover much of the same territory as my long-departed East Bay 200K, ahem )

Speaking of the East Bay 200K, I glanced in my file from back when I ran that route -- nope, I couldn't part with that, either -- and V, your RUSA number was 4055. Back when I ran that route I probably could have spouted you number off the top of my head, I think you rode that route more than anyone else back then.

Yeah, I'm going to renew my membership for another year.

Jo, # 3749.

[jobob]

Hee, I'm thinking about the time V, Mel and I attempted to ride my 200K permanent route on what turned out to be the Hottest. Day. Ever. Oy, that was a disaster. But we all lived to see another day.

Ah, but here's a report from a much better day on that route.

[Veronica]

Hee, I'm thinking about the time V, Mel and I attempted to ride my 200K permanent route on what turned out to be the Hottest. Day. Ever. Oy, that was a disaster. But we all lived to see another day.

Oh my, that was awful! I should have known something was wrong with me when I was NOT sweating buckets anymore. But Mel finished.

Veronica

[Veronica]

I thought Kitty was now running your East Bay 200 K. That was a good route, interesting terrain, but not too hilly and food in all the right spots. 4 out of my 9 were on it. 4055, huh, so I renew after a lapse do I get my old number back?

Veronica

[jobob]

I thought Kitty was now running your East Bay 200 K. That was a good route, interesting terrain, but not too hilly and food in all the right spots. 4 out of my 9 were on it. 4055, huh, so I renew after a lapse do I get my old number back?

Veronica

Yep, Kitty's still running it -- I meant long-departed from my own perspective. NOT TOO HILLY? Shee-it. Well, in the scheme of things I suppose it wasn't.

It was difficult to design a route in that part of the East Bay that went over interesting roads, had suitable checkpoint locations spaced about the right distance apart, AND kept the amount of climbing down to a dull roar (i.e., low enough that *I* could possibly do it, heh). And you know what? I really enjoyed designing that route.

[MojoGrrl]

My husband just bought me a 2-year RUSA membership for Christmas. So far I have only gone on one "official" brevet (our local "Last Chance" New Year's Eve 200k) and two other "unofficial" 200k rides. Planning on doing the Last Chance again this year (last year I was unofficial when I did it) and we'll see what the next year has in store, but honestly, I don't see myself doing any distance longer than 300k.

[maillotpois]

My husband just bought me a 2-year RUSA membership for Christmas. So far I have only gone on one "official" brevet (our local "Last Chance" New Year's Eve 200k) and two other "unofficial" 200k rides. Planning on doing the Last Chance again this year (last year I was unofficial when I did it) and we'll see what the next year has in store, but honestly, I don't see myself doing any distance longer than 300k.

You guys have a great club and terrific support on your brevets. I've done your 400k, which was lovely (V joined me for the second half which was awesome, but I now realize is forbidden. Whatever, we had "fun" and I was so grateful for the company.) We had a few folks from your club on our 1000k this year and it was really nice to meet them.

We have a lot of folks in our club who do only 200ks, and that's awesome. You don't have to do 600ks to be a randonneur.

[Veronica]

Forbidden even though I was a RUSA member? All the rest stop people knew and no one said anything. It WAS fun, but only 'cause I didn't do the whole thing.

Veronica

[maillotpois]

Forbidden even though I was a RUSA member? All the rest stop people knew and no one said anything. It WAS fun, but only 'cause I didn't do the whole thing.

Veronica

Yes, actually. If you were not riding the entire thing, technically you were not supposed to be there, even as a RUSA member. I learned this over the last few years as I've gotten more involved with the club. I think it is considered "support". That said, I'm not losing sleep over it.