On Sun, 2012-12-09 at 23:38 -0800, Manuel Acosta wrote: > Got to tag along with some SF Randonndeurs, Ely from Ruth Bags, Ray > from Mission Bags and David on their Jittery Jaunt 200k Permanent that > took us to the small town of Valley Ford.
Interesting. That should not have been allowed, as it violates RUSA rules for riding Permanents. > I'm not too fond of doing this much mileage but was pretty curious > about exploring around the Petaluma area so I figured it would be good > to explore with people that knew how to get around and answer that > dying question, Why all the miles? Those randonneur guys, you would > think that would enjoy riding all those miles, but the ugly truth is > that they don't. I cannot imagine how you came to that conclusion. > Apparently no buddy does. Surely you meant to say "nobody"... and, of course, you would be completely wrong in believing so. > So what's the big deal? Why would anyone want to put their body > through that much suffering? 200K and "that much suffering"? That is really a stretch. Now if you were describing 1200K, that might be another story. > I went along searching for this answer. > And finally got it after a day of recovering. > When you have been riding your bike for the whole day and your whole > body is telling you this is a stupid idea. Either you're not in condition for doing a ride that long, or there is something really wrong with your setup on the bike. 200K is, after all, only around 25 miles longer than the typical century, and centuries have been part of recreational cycling since the 19th century (they did them on penny-farthings). > The only thing that pushes you along, sometimes literary, is the other > stupid people that is suffering with you. "People" is plural; I wouldn't call that "literary"... but then, you probably meant "literally" anyway. > You learn a lot about yourself and others when you're cramping and > riding up a steep grade in the middle of the night You rode a 200K in the middle of the night? What time of day did you start? You get 13 1/2 hrs to ride a 200K, so you would have had to have set out very late in the day to end up finishing as late as that. > and the only thing that pushes you on is that there are other people > waiting for you with more food. That sense of finishing something you > set your mind to and doing it in the company of great people and > amazing scenery with plenty of food breaks makes the whole experience > a little less painful. I don't think you'll find many randonneurs who find a 200K to be as painful as you describe, or who regard it as anything like the death march you make it seem. For a somewhat different perspective, let me quote from Seven's 2013 brochure _Love To Ride_, p. 10-12, an article entitled "Through the Night, Together" by Sandy Williams: "More than a format, randonneuring is a culture highlighted by long routes and camaraderie. Rando legend Melinda Lyon suggested that, first and foremost, randonneurs are always polite: you can ride hard, but your speed remains secondary to consideration for everyone, whether it’s another rider, a course volunteer, a motorist, a citizen with no affiliation with the event, or your own safety. In races, other riders try to drop you; in randonnees, your company is a welcome part of the journey. The course itself is the daunting competitor. "The direct translation of the French word “randonnée” is “hike.” In the context of cycling, “randonneuring” is a French invention in the same spirit as events that call themselves a “challenge.” It is not a race because there are no awards or placings, and it is not a relaxed tour because the difficulties are unpleasant at times. There are, however, time limits for reaching each rest station. "Much of the challenge is due to a randonnee’s length. The “short” version, a “brevet” (French for “brief”) is scaled in increments of 100 kilometers—100K, 200K, 400K, etc. While most new randonneurs will try a 200K, many soon try a longer version, both for the challenge and the appeal of riding long routes with like-minded riders. The allure is not more suffering, but a craving to make a full day of it. Extending into the night only amplifies what makes the sport great. You explore like never before. "Randonnee rules are almost transparent. For example, rules require obeying traffic laws, which is the case under any circumstance. Riders have to follow the designated route—which sounds like an invitation to shortcut, except that the route typically follows the best course between points, if not steering clear of outright misery. Randonnees also disallow crew support between designated checkpoints, but that is simply the reality of the open road—and the fact that friends are generally unwilling to drive 200 miles to meet riders in the middle of nowhere with coffee and pastry at 2 am. Thus randonneurs navigate and plan their ride with extra food, clothes, and tools. "Randonnees are open to riders of all backgrounds and goals, from racers to tourists, from experienced ultradistance riders, to weekend warriors looking to highlight their season. They are a classless society. Everyone starts together and gets the same support en route. Randonneuring completely echoes the French motto “Liberty, equality, fraternity”—no wonder it has surged in popularity in the States. The first-timers look tense at the start, but by the end, or at least after a night’s sleep, one of two things has happened: either that rookie has a once-in-a-lifetime experience, never to be repeated, or is completely hooked and can’t wait for the next ride." -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
