Randonneur



Saturday I rode my first Brevet. At 200 kilometers (actually 128 miles) this was the longest ride I have ever done in one day. Yet this is the shortest distance offered by Randonneurs USA.

It took me just a little over 10 hours to complete. Since this sport is not about racing, what matters most is that I finished inside the time limit of 13.5 hours. There were many who finished ahead of me, and many who finished behind me; we all get equal credit.

 

 

The Start Meeting 6:45am


As this picture I snapped during the pre-ride meeting shows, Central Wisconsin was sunny, cool (high in the mid 50s), and very windy. More about the wind later. There were a total of about 50 riders on this day, but rode mostly in small groups of 2-5 riders which broke up and re-formed throughout the day. As the day progressed, we spread out according to our preferred personal pace and the sight of other riders became less common, except at the designated checkpoint locations. I rode the last 40 miles entirely by myself, not able to keep up with a group of three ahead of me but not wanting to slow down for the group of two I knew were behind me.

 

Besides turn-by-turn directions printed on a cue sheet, we each received a Brevet Card: 

This card needs to be stamped/initialed with the time at each checkpoint. I took a picture of mine after it was completed because I don't have it in my possession just now. This card is being sent to the Audax Club Parisien (another French term, which may be appropriate since it is in France) for official entry into what I like to think of as "The Book." This book must be very large, since the club was founded in 1904 by Henri Desgrange, who also founded the Tour de France. It will be mailed back to me after they add yet more French words to it. I will call it a souvenir.

There were two things I learned on this ride: First, this is an eating contest. The body can perform on it's own stores of blood sugar at the level of exertion required for about two hours. After that it must use whatever you eat during the ride. If you wait too long or don't eat enough you will experience a rapid decline in blood sugar which we call "bonking" (or maybe I should say "le bonk.") Having done this to myself many times in the past, I can say it is a form of suffering. Besides the obvious decline in energy, your body becomes racked with pain-my back, neck, butt, and arms all demand that I stop riding. Your mental state also deteriorates: poor decision making, despondency, and an overall pissed-off attitude ensues. So it is important to eat enough to keep your blood sugar up. The problem is, your stomach doesn't always agree with the high-carb, high energy stuff you keep cramming down into it. So you can experience 'gastro-intestinal distress.' Most of the conversations with other riders are about what they have, are, or will eat. This seems to be a trial and error process that is unique to every body.

Second, in the words of Gilda Radner, "It's always something. If it's not one thing it's another...." Saturday was about riding into the wind, especially during the last leg when we were tired. This was a stiff east wind that slowed my pace from it's typical 15 mph to below 10. I remember looking up to see a flag flying straight out with it's halyard slapping against the flagpole. I was beginning to feel le bonk but also felt queasy, so it was a mental challenge to keep going. And there was a detour I had to follow on a separate map off the cue sheet, which was new to me anyway. So that was a challenge. But future brevets will have their own challenges: rain, heat, lack of sleep, navigating in darkness, more wind, mechanical breakdowns, etc. It's about having the perseverance to finish each brevet within the time limit.

So my future plan is to attempt a 300K on May 30, also in Wisconsin. This distance may well involve some riding after sunset, so the appropriate lights and reflective gear is required. In June I hope to do a 400K, which means basically riding all day and almost all of the next night. My goal is to do one event of at least 200K each month for the next twelve months, qualifying for the R12 award. After that, maybe I will attempt some of the very long 1200K events that are held throughout the world.

First Solo Century Ride of the Year

After three attempts in March that I cut short to save my toes, I have finally completed my March Century. Lunch at Country Fare Restaurant in Grand Junction was my reward. The RUSA 200K Brevet in Wisconsin looks possible. Then I can change my Facebook status to "Randonneur*"

*Randonneuring: Randonneuring is long-distance unsupported endurance cycling. This style of riding is non-competitive in nature, and self-sufficiency is paramount. When riders participate in randonneuring events, they are part of a long tradition that goes back to the beginning of the sport of cycling in France and Italy. Friendly camaraderie, not competition, is the hallmark of randonneuring.