tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post2968544753314436774..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Brevet SeasonVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-82310472738200334192012-10-19T21:00:16.916-04:002012-10-19T21:00:16.916-04:00Rob's shop does rock, even if I miss every rid...Rob's shop does rock, even if I miss every ride. The bikes are fabulous, the expresso just as good, and my little boys even like it.New England Bicyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609454624593868118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-47769674685575582432012-05-20T14:54:56.640-04:002012-05-20T14:54:56.640-04:00I rode a 400 and 600k in 1983, had 4 kids, the you...I rode a 400 and 600k in 1983, had 4 kids, the youngest graduated HS this year. I started brevets again this year. While I think any strong century rider can and should do the 200 and 300 distances, going overnight presents an element of risk that parents of young children should avoid, IMO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-18902694694783475282012-04-17T06:43:27.397-04:002012-04-17T06:43:27.397-04:00Enjoyed your article and the comments almost as mu...Enjoyed your article and the comments almost as much as a brevet. :-o)<br /><br />I've told people the Yogi Berra rule for randoneuuring: "50% of completing a brevet is 90% mental." If you think you can...you probably can.<br /><br />You said you're not a strong rider. Welcome to the club. On just about every brevet I've come in last or he who is known as the "rouge lantern". <br /><br />One thing for sure is that if you enjoy long distance riding and challenging yourself, a brevet fits the bill nicely.Slo Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13727494438183513283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-86914047207837398022012-04-17T06:34:23.996-04:002012-04-17T06:34:23.996-04:00Velouria, you wouldn't be holding anyone up if...Velouria, you wouldn't be holding anyone up if they offered you help. Helping another rider is simply part of randonneuring. On a 200k brevet (brevet means certificate and has it's origin from the early days when riders who completed the ride got their "cert") I came across a rider with a broken shift cable. I was able to mcgiver the derailer into a middle cog, so he had at least 3 gears. Stayed with him the last 120kms. We finished last, but first in friendship. It's like Christmas...you don't give a gift because you expect to get one.Slo Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13727494438183513283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-76493019174273607652012-04-07T03:38:36.665-04:002012-04-07T03:38:36.665-04:00I've only completed one "rando", a 1...I've only completed one "rando", a 100k Populaire in November 2011 (the same one April was on.) The biggest fear for me before riding was completing it. I knew that I could ride 100km as I've done it numerous times on tours (fully loaded!) But having a time constraint was new to me. Thankfully once I got into the rhythm of the ride, it didn't matter and I did complete the route in time.<br /><br />My other fear was that everyone would have awesome 650B low-trail vaguely French looking bikes, as these were "true" randonneuring bikes. I would be the odd duck with my gangly LHT and its 700C wheels. This was far from reality. About ten people (10% of the riders) had LHTs. And the dominant bike type: standard modern road bike in its crabon glory.<br /><br />And yes I'm going to do more! Just need to get ready for it, and do some serious work on the Long Haul Trucker.adventure!https://www.blogger.com/profile/11840448827760637569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-27010118535433405452012-04-05T06:27:30.051-04:002012-04-05T06:27:30.051-04:00No, it's polyester from ElevenGear: http://www...No, it's polyester from ElevenGear: http://www.elevengear.us/poseur.html<br /><br />If you really want to see what it looks like in real life, it's my current FB profile picture:<br />http://www.facebook.com/bwogilvieBrian W. Ogilviehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045133494402037781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-6608658038304015942012-04-04T16:52:03.065-04:002012-04-04T16:52:03.065-04:00My only problem with brevets is that I ALWAYS want...My only problem with brevets is that I ALWAYS want to deviate from the fixed route and truly ramble. Riding them has improved my riding a lot. I used to take a break every 20-25 miles on longer rides, the brevets got me usedd to 40-50 miles between stops, unless I really need water.<br /><br />Velouria, you'd probably be able to pull off a 200k brevet. Try a populaire, ride a couple 50-75 mile rides on nice weekends with company - fun rides - and then try a 200k.<br /><br />Or just ride as you do.<br /><br />Screech, the fixed route, time limits, and longer and specific distances makes a brevet distinctly not JRA. IMHO.Raynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-67059092862048493562012-04-04T16:28:14.768-04:002012-04-04T16:28:14.768-04:00Sketchy sighting! Yay!Sketchy sighting! Yay!Raynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-10911151001319258212012-04-04T11:23:38.126-04:002012-04-04T11:23:38.126-04:00You could also try the Audax style: a captain in c...You could also try the Audax style: a captain in charge of his peloton lead the group through the landscape and thorugh the towns. Tha captain know the way - all start together and have to finish together - speed is usually set to 22.5 km/h. There are breaks to be held which is not times, but a puncture is timed... you could have help from the group with a puncture.<br /><br />Do a 200 km one day og another with randonneur style riding og Audax style, then you become a randonneur!<br />If you do 200, 300, 400 and 600 km you become superrandonneur!IbisTouchehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13614731309995043960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-37413210345876808362012-04-04T10:12:00.462-04:002012-04-04T10:12:00.462-04:00"No need to think too much about these things..."No need to think too much about these things, or over plan them. You are definitely tougher than you might think. Just do it! It won't kill you.."<br /><br />Exactly! If you're intrigued by randonneuring, love riding a bicycle and want to maybe go a little further than you would on your own on a ride, go do a brevet. <br /><br />Like anything else there can be some uptight folks at a brevet but overall I have found them very welcoming and encouraging. <br /><br />I was an armchair randonneur for about 9 months before I actually went and did an event. For some reason it seemed complicated and like you needed all this special crap, but really you don't. <br /><br />I would say, sign up for a ride, show up with your bike and some food and just ride. Stay away from the Google Randon list and put away Bicycle Quarterly until you have done a brevet. As good a resource as both of those things can be, they can also make randonneuring seem overly complicated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-61428456040914506752012-04-04T09:51:10.316-04:002012-04-04T09:51:10.316-04:00Having just done only my second 200km ever, I can ...Having just done only my second 200km ever, I can say that it really is as much of a mental test as a physical test. I truly was physically not well prepared for this brevet, but something clicked in my mind and I was in a zone where I was determined to finish the ride- and I did, although I was disqualified.<br /><br />You're so lucky to be in a region where you can have good riders (dare I say, living legends?) as mentors. If you decide to give a populaire, permanent, or a brevet a try, you will be in excellent company.Lisahttp://ramblingrider.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-18616129093137943402012-04-04T08:56:31.163-04:002012-04-04T08:56:31.163-04:00I've been changing tires quite a bit longer th...I've been changing tires quite a bit longer than you've been alive. There are stubborn tires that take half an hour when you have to do it roadside in less than optimum conditions. Many many roadside changes lead to pinched and poked tubes and then you start all over again. Or patch the tube you just ruined and try again.After 50 plus years of practice it is very possible to feel like a dork but that's just the way it is.<br /><br />I can't tell you how many "experienced" riders I've rescued because I always have the Silca/Campagnolo pump and they've used all the CO2 or broken the mini.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-12725929450366286122012-04-04T06:20:47.996-04:002012-04-04T06:20:47.996-04:00Hello Velouria - As other people have mentioned, i...Hello Velouria - As other people have mentioned, it's not as difficult as you think. Really, you are just thinking too much about it.<br /><br />For the last few years I've done only 1-2 long distance cycle rides per year distancing between 70 - 120 miles. Then last year I did a crazy 255 miles in 36 hours with a couple of friends: http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2011/07/20/three-go-mad-in-east-anglia/<br /><br />I'd only done a few 20-30 milers as training in the weeks leading up to it, and I foolishly did it on a city hybrid bike. Sure, I was pretty bad tempered by the end of it (weather was atrocious) and I ached for a few days afterwards, but it didn't kill me.<br /><br />And as for cycle maintenance, as long as your bike is in good condition before you start, the worst that is likely to happen will be a puncture - and you're unlikely to get one of those if you use decent puncture resistant tyres.<br /><br />No need to think too much about these things, or over plan them. You are definitely tougher than you might think. Just do it! It won't kill you..<br /><br />Your blog is great by the way :-)Algernondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02475690627958331262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-5157423095536679582012-04-04T03:10:30.768-04:002012-04-04T03:10:30.768-04:00Yep, it was pouring most of the way out to Point R...Yep, it was pouring most of the way out to Point Reyes Station. My feet were soaked and I had a hard time not focusing on that. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03262425857471988498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-65788767690898682112012-04-04T00:45:06.762-04:002012-04-04T00:45:06.762-04:00The Victoria Populaire was just held in Victoria B...The Victoria Populaire was just held in Victoria BC with modest 25km and 50km distances to start the brevet season. More my speed, and if I do actually move to the Victoria area, I hope to get involved in the randonees. But, I have been suffering from an illness that affects my balance and have terrible vertigo and have not been able to ride for a month and it just keeps on going. It sucks since I have been working on 2 major bike rebuilds and may not even be able to ride in the foreseeable future. <br />But it sounds like a super exciting night, and people of all ages getting down for some long distance riding.Heathernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-35708315691911589132012-04-04T00:38:49.006-04:002012-04-04T00:38:49.006-04:00As humbling as randonneuring can be I never find i...As humbling as randonneuring can be I never find it humiliating. I've had some of the best times of my cycling life on brevets. I realize it's not for everyone but really, with some miles in the legs and good company, the seemingly overwhelming distances can be completed. Don't sell yourself short. Don't think you need a special bike or special gear. I really only ride 3 to 5 brevets of varying distances a year and find it an experience that cannot be replicated on my extended overnight bike camping trips or long rides. I will say that because of randonneuring going out for a 100 mile ride doesn't seem like such a big deal and so I get to see more roads and spend more time on the bike without it being painful. <br /><br />If the idea of riding a brevet is not your cup of tea, maybe look to doing a permanent with a friend. Check the RUSA site for a list of permanents and rules for completing them. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the cue sheet and understand the differences between different types of controls--info vs open. Everything is on the RUSA site--www.rusa.org<br /><br />Allez!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-25731325585590501812012-04-04T00:31:32.339-04:002012-04-04T00:31:32.339-04:00In my experience of randonees, other riders are al...In my experience of randonees, other riders are always very willing to help out if requested and they are able and I've never seen anyone express resentment the hold up. It really isn't treated like any kind of race by anyone but perhaps the small set of very strongest riders, but most will never see them beacsue they're already miles ahead. For many this is exactly the attraction - they're turned off by some of the uglinesses of road racing - or just feel past it. You're not holding someone up unless you're really down to the wire on time and near the finish. There's good reason that results are published in alphabetical rather than time order. In some European randonneuring organizations finishing times aren't even published in the results, just a list of finishers' names.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-23405560969668116372012-04-04T00:17:01.751-04:002012-04-04T00:17:01.751-04:00We havehad help with flats, with exploded tyres et...We havehad help with flats, with exploded tyres etc and have done the same help to others: it doesn´t matter because the time doesn´t count like in a cyclosportive.<br />When you can find the time to enjoy a short brevet you should try it - build up the distances and take care about intensity.IbisTouchehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13614731309995043960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-33092218086324799842012-04-03T23:54:51.328-04:002012-04-03T23:54:51.328-04:00Great article and photos!
However, according to M...Great article and photos!<br /><br />However, according to Merriam-Webster, <br />Legend:<br />a : a story coming down from the past; especially : one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable <br />b : a body of such stories (a place in the legend of the frontier) <br />c : a popular myth of recent origin <br /><br />We have been around a long time, which makes us old, not legends ;-)<br /><br />I also think you under-estimate yourself. You absolutely can do the upcoming 100km populaire. You've ridden this distance. The time limits are well within your reach. <br /><br />Remember one of the big things Matt Roy talked about was the reset button. Break the event down into achievable sections. The controls work well for this. On the local 100km populaire, there is a control halfway. So it's just a 30 mile ride, then another 30 mile ride - or two 50km rides if you don't want to mix units! <br /><br />I usually recommend that folks make sure they are comfortable with the idea of doing a century before doing a 200km (124 miles). So the 200km is just a century, which you know you can do, followed by a 24 mile ride, which is no problem at all - or you can think of it as a 100km, which you do regularly, then another 100km. Then the 300km is a 200km which you did a few weeks ago, followed by a 100km which you do regularly. As Dave Cramer said, don't think about the big picture. It will overwhelm you. Break it up into smaller achievable segments. <br /><br />Also don't think about a 300, 400, 600km or 1200km in your first year. Or even your second year. Remember you've really just recently started this thing you call road biking. Build up gradually. <br /><br />I do agree that it is important to get a bit more comfortable at least with fixing a flat, and would also suggest a tire/rim combination that is a bit less tight than what you have now would help. There are also different tire levers that are great for folks with less hand strength. Now all that said, if you are riding with a group, folks are often quite willing to chip in and help out. As Matt pointed out in his talk, there is a distance where your group sticks together and helps each other out. Not everyone is so gracious, but many are. The important thing is to be good company!<br /><br />So hopefully we will see you out on a populaire or brevet at some point in the future.<br /><br />pamelaFixie Pixiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12932022188247682078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-74183688815021817882012-04-03T23:47:11.729-04:002012-04-03T23:47:11.729-04:00It's fine to treat the thing like a sporting e...It's fine to treat the thing like a sporting event but a lot of guys miss all the cool little things in their haste. I've read a bit and a friend who has done it have confirmed this. It's the little town kids that have little food and drink stands in the middle of nowhere, old people cheering in the middle of the night, socializing with riders from other countries that some guys ignore. Same as with the Tour - without the non-riders the event is nothing. That's just my opinion. <br />Little rando scheduled for this Sunday - Paris-Roubaix.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-12672215720276004462012-04-03T23:42:42.113-04:002012-04-03T23:42:42.113-04:00Heard you might have got a little bit wet last Sat...Heard you might have got a little bit wet last Saturday...cyclotouristhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08432432995861421062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-8830000998620315822012-04-03T23:42:02.780-04:002012-04-03T23:42:02.780-04:00In Oz our Audax Assoc. Starts @ 50km rides. I thin...In Oz our Audax Assoc. Starts @ 50km rides. I think that's a lovely inclusive idea for any newbies wanting to dip a toe (and possibly get bitten by the bug).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15636177626451867375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17690515063591581082012-04-03T23:35:44.385-04:002012-04-03T23:35:44.385-04:00Oops, you are right. I was surprised to read that ...Oops, you are right. I was surprised to read that rule actually. <br /><br />Jan Heine had an interesting article in one of the 2011 BQs about the history of how PBP went from an event where finishing as fast as possible was very important, to an event where it was just about finishing before the cutoff. Though I think it might be coming back around now.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-43879006198556994942012-04-03T23:19:04.395-04:002012-04-03T23:19:04.395-04:00Sounds like it falls under the 5km rule cited abov...Sounds like it falls under the 5km rule cited above. The vids in the story are good too.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-32746154828219936872012-04-03T23:02:08.687-04:002012-04-03T23:02:08.687-04:00Unless my riding companion is related to me, or re...Unless my riding companion is related to me, or really doing the ride just for kicks and would fancy a flat-fixing break, I would feel very uncomfortable about others having a slower time on account of dealing with my mechanical. I would rathe abandon than put anyone in that position.<br /><br />Krylions are not the first or only tires I've owned. My other tires include 28mm-42mm widths. I know how to change them and can technically change them, but it takes me over a half hour, saps my strength, and who knows how good the result will be.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.com