Quote Originally Posted by 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
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