DC Randonneurs 2012 Warrenton 300K: Don’t think, just ride!

Sometimes the big hurdle on a brevet is simply getting on the bike. MG and I have been feeling some year-after-PBP blahs this season (anyone else too?) and our excitement over Saturday’s D.C. Randonneurs 300K was fairly muted. The forecast didn’t help — showers and cool temperatures in the 50s were predicted.

Chip at the start. Last time we’d see him.

Christian was smiling throughout this day.

MG talks to the runners at a 5K at Syria Mercantile.

Nick, Mike and MG soak up the brief sun at Syria Mercantile.

On the road after Syria Mercantile. Sun. Whoo!

Info control. Notice the wet roads.

Christian’s high-tech saddle cover.

Chow time at the Dairy Korner in Orange, Va.

Jim, Christian and Rick on a fine spring day, for the moment.

Easy roads back to the finish. Rain, stay away!

See all of our photos at Flickr: Mine and MG’s.

UPDATE: DC Randonneurs rider and RBA Bill Beck has posted his photos. See them here. The full results are at the club web site.

We got out to Warrenton on Friday night, managed to stumble over to the starting line at just before 5 a.m., and are sure glad we did. We had a quite pleasant ride, in no small part due to the company of our fellow randonneurs, particularly Christian M. and Rick R. We rode as a foursome through the middle section of this rolling route through central Virginia farmlands. We also spent some time with George W. and Jim L. on his recumbent., and saw fellow tandemers Cindy and John, John’s brother Andrew, and Chris M. at the afternoon food stop in Orange, Va.

The quick summary of our ride: we started with the fast guys in our usual role as the unofficial brevet pace car, before letting them go after a couple hours. Over Old Rag Mountain I overshifted and put the chain behind the cogset, but we got it out and on we went. The sun came out for awhile and we met up with a lot of folks at Syria Mercantile, mile 64, along with local runners on a 5K event.

We rolled out with Jim, George, Christian and Rick, and the latter two stayed with us through the darkening clouds and finally a cold rain shower into Gordonsville, mile 100.

After lunch at Subway, the sun came out a little, then went away again, as we trundled to the Dairy Korner in Orange for Lunch No. 2 at mile 132. The descending terrain from Orange separated us and we rode the final segment mostly solo to the finish, under threatening skies and a few stray sprinkles, without stopping. We caught George at Remington and the three of us traversed the last 20 miles in relatively close proximity.

Many thanks to organizer Maile Neel and her volunteers for another successful DCR brevet. As our own stint as organizers approaches at the club’s Frederick 400K next month, we’re taking note of all the little things that make it easy for the riders to enjoy themselves and get a warm welcome at the finish.

Paul Rozelle hits the big time in Bicycle Times and American Randonneur

TDR was honored to publish Florida randonneur Paul Rozelle’s Paris-Brest-Paris story last September after we got back, got some sleep, and got to writing. You can see it here: Paul Rozelle’s Fixed Gear 2011 PBP: An Epic Ride Deserves an Epic Report.

Paul's stories in Bicycle Times and American Randonneur.

MG and I were doubly glad when his story appeared in longer form in Issue 16 of Bicycle Times a few weeks ago. You’ll have to buy the issue to read the story, and a companion story by Jeremy Shlachter of Ft. Worth. If you’ve gone to PBP, it will take you back. If you haven’t, it will make you want to go.

You can also see a long-form version of Paul’s multiple fixed-gear rides up and down Mont Ventoux, completed four days before PBP, at the Bicycle Times site. Read it here.

I’d be remiss if I did not publicly thank Paul for mentioning TDR in his Bicycle Times sidebar story about randonneuring in general. Sure was nice for TDR, gotta admit. But, it was also great to see randonneuring explained in common sense terms and with an inclusive viewpoint.

Finally, our Spring 2012 American Randonneur magazine arrived over the weekend with another story from Paul on how he approached the Montoux rides, complete with instructions on how to register, in what order to take the four climbs, and what wildlife you may encounter — think wild boar!

All in all, Paul spun a fascinating and encouraging account of his PBP warmup rides that should make any avid rider feel like trying Mont Ventoux at least once.

Congratulations on the publicity, Paul. You’ve earned it, and we’re looking forward to reading more about your adventures, fixed — and geared!

(P.S. We also wish to point you to our own Kelly Smith’s 2008 story about his permanent ride on Ventoux. See it here.)

Fleche Footnotes: Table for Five

Hi friends. I meant to write a post earlier this week, but my post-fleche fatigue and other duties kept me from doing so.

Speaking of the fleche, I wrote a little bit about some of its particulars previously. Last weekend, I ventured out with Team Table for Five for the 2012 iteration of the adventure.

Table for Five at the finish (c) Bill Beck

Felkerino put together quite a nice ride report detailing our experience, but I also wanted to throw my two cents into the ring. (Mixed metaphor of badness, ha!)

The fleche is one of the strangest rides I think I’ll ever do. As a recreational runner and cyclist, I’m used to participating in events where you have a set distance to cover and a specific time limit within which to accomplish it.

In addition, the faster you complete the distance, the better your place in the pack of entrants, the sooner you can stop pedaling, and the more post-event napping you can get in before resuming regular life.

Bye bye, D.C. See you in 24 hours!

The fleche, like many of the events I just described, is also a predetermined overall distance, and must be completed in a time limit of 24 hours.

However, unlike other sporting events, there is no reward for finishing earlier than 24 hours except perhaps a disqualification for not following the rules.

That’s because the fleche is a 24-hour cycling odyssey. No more, no less. Yes, we make stops along the way but the point is to keep moving.

The longest a team can stop at any one place is two hours. So you can’t ride half of your fleche, sleep for five hours, and then ride the other half.

If you pedal your brains out and decide to cover extra miles, it doesn’t matter. You only get credit for covering 360KM.

If you go too fast, you start to have to worry about staying more than two hours at any one stop or finishing the ride too early, both of which can result in a ride disqualification.

The fleche is all about that 24-hour journey with your team.

Eric and Lane

Ah yes, the team. The team rides as a group. Generally, there’s no value in surging ahead of your teammates. You all must finish together in order to officially finish the ride. The point of the event is to cover your team’s full distance, in 24 hours, together.

The fleche encourages one to pedal earnestly, but not frenetically. It’s a ride where stopping to smell the roses (and eating something while you do it) is encouraged.

As I rode along this past weekend, there were times where I felt the need to push along. I wasn’t sure why. Sometimes I get that feeling around sunset. Must pedal. Time to start heading for home. Other times I was totally in the moment, just pedaling steadily, unhurriedly taking in the scenery, as though I could do it forever.

I read tweets and Facebook updates of others who were riding. This was the first time I had ever kept track of anyone this way. It was fun to see how people were doing, where teams happened to be at any given point of their ride, and the miles they had covered. It was weird to imagine that somehow nine fleche team were all going to converge at the finish in Arlington. At times people seemed pretty spread out.

Some teams started earlier than others. Some teams covered more miles than required. Some teams carried an overall faster pace than other groups. Routes varied in their terrain difficulty. Ultimately, the things that mattered for every team were to:

• keep pedaling;
• stay awake;
• keep eating;
• make it to the 22-hour control on time (that is, 22 hours after you started); and
• cover the required minimum distance in 24 hours.

Maybe if our team had pedaled faster we could have spent more time at our various stops. 7-11. Sheetz. Rutters. The Gettysburg Diner. International House of Pancakes. While our stops were not uninviting, none of them offered an ambience that made me think I needed to sit and stay too terribly long. That was a good thing because it made the road appealing, especially since the weather during our ride could not have been better.

Ed and me - finishing the fleche (c) Bill Beck

The fleche is the one event in which I’ve participated that is not about getting there as soon as you can. It’s about passing the miles with your friends and enjoying some laughs and food along the way. It’s about seeing the other teams at the finish, eating a big breakfast, and making sure that, when all is said and done, you can say that you and your team rode for 24 hours and finished the journey together.

Table for Five at the D.C. Randonneurs Fleche

Our five-person Team Table for Five completed the D.C. Randonneurs annual fleche ride on Sunday, one of a record nine teams to complete this year’s running. We rode our bicycles 234 miles in a loop from Washington, through Virginia, then into West Virginia, north through Pennsylvania, and then south through Maryland back to D.C.

Put another way, we went on a really long ride. It was tremendous fun, and, as MG says, “an honest challenge.”

Lane G. was our captain again this year and Mike R. joined us from our previous outing as a fearsome foursome in 2010. Our team expanded to five this year with our pal Eric P., which made for an easygoing and strong group.

Our recruit Pete B. could not join us, due to a cold, and our teammate-in-spirit Ray S. cheered us over the Internet. Next year, guys, OK?

Team meeting: Eric, Lane, Mike, MG

Our Fleche Route. Click to see bigger.

My photoset from Team Table for Five. Click to see more.

See MG’s photoset here. Eric also took lots of photos. See them here. And, we have a GPS track and other data at my Garmin Connect page.

For those who know about randonneuring, a fleche one of the three team events in the sport. In a fleche, riders of up to five bikes ride a minimum of 360 kilometers (223 miles) over 24 hours, with the teams taking different routes of their choosing but ending at the same location, and same time, for a breakfast celebration.

That’s right — we rode overnight, in the dark! Those with experience know how to minimize risk and maximize the magic of riding under the stars, by choosing quiet roads and using bright lights front and rear with lots of reflective gear.

The rules require teams to cover at least 25 kilometers in the last two hours, leading to the so-called 22-hour control. You have arrive at an open business by the end of the 22nd hour; you can’t leave before the same time. See more here. We had four teams converge on the IHOP restraurant in Gaithersburg, Md. for their 22-hour control, which led to some lengthy waits for breakfast, but everyone got served and out the door.

As in the past, the DCR teams finished around 7 a.m. at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington (save for one that came in at midnight — Smart Alec’s TNT) where the 49 participating riders and family lingered to swap stores and greetings over breakfast.

This year’s event was blessed with sparking spring weather on Saturday and only a few passing sprinkles overnight into Sunday morning. We adopted a French approach in which we rode hard, then then stopped for food and drink, then repeated. They eat good food, we eat convenience store and diner food, but the idea is the same.

Our total time off the bike was about eight hours. Somehow we ended up mostly at places that served espresso and coffee, which if you know our team should be no surprise. We consider the bean one of the major food groups of randonneuring.

We started just two blocks from our home in southwest Washington and rode out the W&OD Trail to Leesburg, Va., dodging the local runners and club riders. After a control at the 7-11, we traveled to Brunswick, Md. to the Beans in the Belfry cafe for espresso and treats.

Leaving DC over Memorial Bridge.

Then we took the lovely C&O Canal dirt trail under a canopy of trees for the short run to Harpers Ferry, W.V. The beauty was lost for a few moments while we lugged our bikes up the stairs to the pedestrian bridge over the rocky Potomac River, but the view from up there is always worth it.

On the C&O Canal Trail to Harpers Ferry

Crossing over the Potomac

By then the sun was high and warm. We had shed our arm and leg warmers and made our way over rolling hills to Shepherdstown for lunch at the friendly Blue Moon Cafe. The Carnivores team was finishing their meal and greeted us briefly on their way out.

Lunch Time

After lunch, we lit out to the northeast to Waynesboro and Shippensburg, Pa., with an impromptu coffee stop in Smithsburg.

After climbing away from the river, it was impossibly difficult not to pull in to the Sheetz in Smithsburg where we got a coffee for us, a Coke for Mike and treats for all. Discussion about being behind schedule made for entertaining conversation while got ourselves fortified for the haul to Waynesboro. Nothing much happened there, but we did eat some more and sent out some Twitter updates.

Through Pennsylvania farm country

The skies were darkening by now but the temperatures remained in the 70s and westerly winds made the going pleasant. Our group got to Shippensburg around 7 p.m. as the town was coming to life for Saturday night. Snacks and espresso drinks at Sheetz ensued while we put on our night gear — Lane showed off his new MEC reflective vest, with rear pockets! Snazzy.

Reflective vest party in Shippensburg

Our one major climb, over Big Flat Ridge, took place in the dark with enough cloud cover that the stars were obscured. The air smelled like rain but none fell, and we bombed the descent down into Arendtsville, amidst acres and acres of orchards. This is where we hit our top speed of the event, 54 m.p.h. Mike stayed on our wheel while Eric and Lane took it easy, and we all regrouped for the quick run on descending rollers to Gettysburg, mile 157.

The town was active as we arrived around 10:15 p.m. We parked at the Lincoln Diner for dinner just as drizzle started to fall.

In a good mood in Gettysburg

Eric and me

By now all of us were yawning and thinking ahead to the 75-mile overnight ride ahead. Diner food and sodas fueled us, as we looked out at the small groups of tourists gathered to hear guides in 1800s period dress explain the history of Gettysburg.

Another Coke for Mike, please

A steady, light rain set in and we put on rain jackets. A rather helpful gentleman suggested we didn’t realize the danger we faced riding at night. I thanked him for his kind words, which made him laugh.

Flatter, but not flat roads led us to Thurmont, mile 175, and our third Sheetz coffee stop of the ride. MG danced a little to the terrible 80s music playing inside and we topped up our caffeine and sugar reserves. The rain slackened and we got out of the jackets. The store clerk was on the phone to police after turning away a drunk customer who tried to buy beer.

While I was in line, the woman behind me asked, “you guys are really riding a bicycle at night in this weather?” I replied, “this isn’t weather!” She thought that was funny. The clerk then took her beer away from her because she was with the drunk guy.

The randonneur hokey-pokey in Thurmont

The 40-mile segment to our 22-hour control loomed ahead, over easy roads to Frederick, Md. and then on the hilly Rt. 335 south to Gaithersburg. It was in this segment that we started having some of the typical slowdowns that seem to happen when you’re tired and trying to just get there.

Lane flatted outside Frederick, which we knew about immediately when he commented on it in a very loud and sharp tone. After the rear wheel was dislodged and the rear tire removed, a group meeting broke out over whether to boot the tire.

Lane was also carrying a brand new spare tire. It was roundly agreed that, in the dark and under intermittent drizze, installing a new tire and tube might save some time. That, and the punctured tire was showing cords, which might have led to another flat. Lane pitched the old tire in a dumpster, which we hoped would take the flat tire hex with it.

Later Eric’s front generator light went dark, but the loose wire was discovered and on we went. While we waited for them up the road, I closed my eyes and drifted off, standing up. It felt really good, and I didn’t fall down. Finally we got to the IHOP with 45 minutes to kill, ready to eat. We had planned 90 minutes there. Oh well.

The place was full of randonneurs, late-night clubgoers, and a harried staff. Then, the bad news: Mike Binnix told us their Severna Park group had waited an hour to be served their meals. Turns out IHOP is not ready for the salsa-rando late-night convergence. The riders had to slam their food and run to stay on schedule.

Lane was famished and this was not a good scenario. He dashed across the street to a 7-11 to eat, while MG and I sat in the waiting area, too tired to move. In a few minutes everyone seemed to leave and we were seated and served our food just as Lane came back in. Mike got in a few winks but MG, Eric and I managed to stay awake.

IHOP, the fleche oasis

Fed and anticipating the finish, we got back on the saddles to cover the final 20 miles with visions of pillows dancing in our heads.

First light shone in the east between parting clouds. We enjoyed the downhills and dodged the broken pavement that dotted Rt. 355 as it crossed the I-495 Beltway and became Wisconsin Avenue in D.C.

Georgetown, nearly there!

By the time we got to Georgetown, the sun was up and we had the ride in the bag with time to spare. All five of us crossed an empty Key Bridge and arrived at the hotel to a bustling scene of randonneurs and bikes. Finished!

Mike and Lisa at the finish, at our second sunrise of this event

Handshakes and hugs all around, with Mike’s wife Lisa there to greet us, and a sweet kiss from MG, made it a finish to savor. Bill Beck took our team photo and we were done.

I wish to express gratitude to Lane for overseeing our route and controls, to Eric and Mike for being such good company, and to MG for being her patient and strong self. This was our second fleche together on tandem and we loved it.

The Other Side of Randonneuring — Organizing a Brevet

This year, MG and I volunteered to run the D.C. Randonneurs 400K brevet on May 26-27, our first stint as ride organizers in awhile. Our last event was the club’s Old Rag 200K from Warrenton, Va. back in 2008, the first one under RBA Bill Beck.

The big day is still some weeks away, but we’ve kind of been riding it in our minds. It’s been a cool challenge to plan for all the details it takes to put together one of the club’s longer brevets.

The first order of business was making sure to secure hotel rooms at the start. We had booked a room for ourselves at the Hampton Inn in Frederick, for Friday and Saturday night of the ride, before we took the job.

That room will now be used as a club room for us the evening before the start and then for the riders overnight Saturday for showers and naps.

We got another room the weekend before to use before riding the checkout with our Volunteer No. 1, Lane G., who is assisting us with routing and other tasks.

With the hotel rooms out of the way, we have turned our attention to the route. There has been one looming problem — a key control at the northernmost point, mile 178, closed. It had been the sub shop in tiny Newville, Pa. where the owner agreed to stay open until the 11:12 p.m. control closing.

We heard that it re-opened as a coffee shop, and with that in mind, MG and I rode there on Saturday to see whether the new owner could accommodate us. We also went to check out a minor re-route through nearby Shippensburg, the big town in the area, that would allow riders to get food and drink at a number of places. The issue there is that it can be busy on Saturday and we’d have to make it a control as well.

On our way north to Chambersburg, Pa.

MG wrote about our ride and posted her photos of the day at Chasing Mailboxes. You can also see all my photos here.

We rode from Emmittsburg, Md. on a crystal clear spring day to join the 400K course near Chambersburg, Pa., then scouted the new section into Shippensburg. Along the main drag in town we noted possible stops for riders and counted two gas station/convenience stores and four possible food stops.

MG on the road toward Shippensburg under cloudless Pennsylvania skies.

Our intention right now is to make Shippensburg an open control, so that the grab-and-go crowd can rush through town, while anyone who wants to stop and eat will have a number of options.

If we adopt this revision, folks have to ride 52 miles from the last town with hot food, instead of 66 miles all the way to Newville. The segment has always been a long one, with just a campground store and convenience store along the way.

One of the food options in Shippensburg, Pa.

After Shippensburg, we took familiar roads out of town to rejoin the standing 400K route, and found we would shave just 1.5 miles off the 252-mile total distance — good news on that front. We were afraid of either adding miles, or cutting off too many.

After a pleasant 11-mile run to Newville, we spoke with the friendly owner of the coffee shop, but it was not clear that she could feed really hungry people, or very quickly. Having been open only a week, she is set up to make cold sandwiches and pastries, but she is not offering meals. That could be a problem for anyone who is famished. We’re leaning toward an information control in town, while letting riders know the shop is there until 9 p.m. if they want some light fare.

We made some notes about possible information controls, and then continued on the 400K course to Pine Grove Furnace, before joining yet another route — a ride our pals Crista and Chuck were riding that day, also from Emmittsburg.

See Bennett’s post about their ride, Three Babes in the Woods, here.

The namesake for Crista's ride through the hills around Big Flat Ridge

We didn’t meet up with them until the finish, however, which was probably as well. Their pace through the orchard hills would have been faster anyway. As it was, they were about 45 minutes behind us; we thought they were ahead. We went to hoppin’ downtown Frederick, Md. for dinner afterwards and enjoyed tasty Thai food while comparing our rides.

Through the orchards back towards Emmittsburg

Our next task for this ride will be to finalize the cue sheet, send it to friends for proofing, and make contact with the other controls to remind them we’ll be coming through. More to come on those details.

DC Randonneurs Urbana 200K: Hilly and Hillier

The D.C. Randonneurs started the brevet season two weeks ago with a ride through the gentle Virgina countryside. The inaugural running of the Wilderness Campaign 200K from Bristow featured fast times, warm sunny skies and lots of easy miles.

By contrast, the Urbana 200K from Urbana, Md. last Saturday was all about hills. With about 8,500 feet of climbing, the course takes a good hour or more longer to complete than the club’s easier 200K rides.

Those hills are mostly bunched at the ends, as riders travel a loop through the hills around Frederick and then more hills after passing north of Hagerstown, Md. and the historic Antietam Battlefield near Sharpsburg.

The course has been run in both directions over the last few years, and this time we took the counter-clockwise orientation. We started north though steep rollers, then turned west into the Catoctins before dropping into southern Pennsylvania before returning to the east. I prefer this direction because the toughest hills come first. The downside, however, can be dead legs over the final 30 miles, when the hills return, though not so many.

MG and Lisa, ready to ride.

The day started out fairly cool and cloudy, in the 50s, but without the threatened rain. MG and I signed in at the Waffle House and were early enough to enjoy 15 minutes of greeting our rando friends, including three of our four Fleche teammates — Lane, Eric and Mike — and Lisa S., who was out for her second brevet ever.

See her report here.

Gathering at the Waffle House under gloomy skies.

See all of my photos here and MG’s here.

And, boy, what a doozy she chose. The field of 54 riders immediately hit fast rollers that dot the first 30 miles to the control at Union Bridge, Md. The tandem’s downhill speed allowed us to ride with the front riders for nearly 15 miles, but one too many hills forced us to drop away in due time for a more sedate pace.

With the fast riders, for a little while longer.

After the control at the 7-11 at Union Bridge, MG and I gathered ourselves for the long climb up MD77 past Thurmont, Md. and on to Smithsburg. We were accompanied by Lowell, Alec B., Scott G. and Duncan, who was on his first brevet, among six rookies out today. Welcome to randonneuring! This stair-step ascent seems so manageable early on, but it gets tougher toward the top with two massive rollers to conquer before the fast drop down to the valley.

At Union Bridge. Still Cloudy.

Up MD77 with Scott, Lowell and Duncan. Courtesy MG.

We pulled over outside Smithsburg to fix something, and MG got a couple of photos of riders. Even though the terrain leveled off to the second control in State Line, Pa., at mile 65, we were very hungry by the time we got there. It was still cloudy and cool — a temperature sign said 54 degrees –and we stood inside the store rather than stand out in the chill.

After Smithsburg, a few more hills before flatter roads. Courtesy MG.

We ate chips and nibbled on sandwiches we brought, and drank Gatorade, but did not have what would be considered a meal. Some of the fast riders were leaving just as we arrived, and we rolled out with the last of them, the Severna Park trio of Clint, Bryan and Cliff. They pulled away when we stopped in less than a mile for me to get out my vest, though we kept them in sight for a long time.

Lane, Scott, Mike, Alec and Eric were still at the store but promised to look for us at the “coffee shop” in 16 miles.

Scott (far left), Alec, Lane and Mike, enjoying the good life. Courtesy MG.

The countryside to the next control at the KOA Campground, mile 78.4, is not very hilly, but the wind was blowing from the north, giving the day a blustery spring feeling. As we arrived the sun had started peeking through, giving us hope for a sunny and warmer afternoon.

Our real goal at that point was the Sheetz store (the so-called coffee shop!) three miles away in Williamsport. We consider this course something of a food challenge because the stops are convenience stores with minimal hot food; at least at Sheetz we can get sandwiches made and coffee drinks. After hustling through the KOA, where we saw the Severna Park guys and I bought a Snickers bar, we pulled into the Sheetz alone.

I ran in while MG stayed outside to get some Zombie photos. Lane, Mike, Scott, Eric, and Alec rolled up and we sat on the curb in true randonneur fashion, eating sandwiches out of wrappers and drinking Sheetz lattes and espresso. Gourmet, no, but Sheetz somehow manages to suffice when there’s no better option.

Zombie and Scott (the human). Courtesy MG.

Riders went by in ones and twos, and we finally got ourselves back on the course toward the information control in Antietam, and then pedaled on to the Battleview Market for the last control at mile 97. The skies were partly cloudy and the temperatures were just cool enough to require arm and knee warmers, but it was pleasant riding overall.

Our annual spring visit to the Battleview Market.

This course can be demoralizing because it just takes longer at the end than you want, with hills between you and the finish. We left the control with 30 miles to go sometime after 3 p.m., knowing it would be close to 6 p.m. by the time we finished. MG and I like to finish our 200Ks in under 10 hours, faster if we can, but that was not going to happen today.

Adding to the challenge was a little noise coming from the front wheel. Every so often we’d get a subtle bonk-bonk-bonk-bonk. A roadside inspection found no obvious problem, but we made a note to take the bike into the shop.

After slogging up Burnside Bridge Road we finally made the turn toward the climb over Gapland. It was here that our minimal calorie intake caught up with us at the base of the hill, where it gets very steep for a few dozen yards.

I muttered, “Ready?” to MG, meaning, “Ready to stand?” She heard “granny,” and said OK. I stood up and the bike went all tippy, then MG stood up as I sat down, and we lurched to the right, toward the dirt berm.

Luckily this was all happened at 5 m.p.h. and uphill. I got a foot out and we managed to stop without falling over. We stood for a few moments to gather ourselves, got it together and started up again, this time making it to the top without a problem. Oh, the joys of tandeming!

Over Gapland Road, past the War Correspondents Memorial. Courtesy MG.

After the run down the other side, the north wind blew us into Jefferson, Md. where we stopped to put on layers. We slogged with Lane, Eric and Mike up and over Marlu Ridge, with a view of many happy cows sunning themselves on the hillside in the cool breeze.

From there the last miles through Adamstown and Buckeystown passed slowly but surely, with entertainment from a passing freight train that appeared ahead of us on all three of the railroad crossings in the segment, but clearing each time before we passed.

Eric and Lane on Fingerboard Road, only a few miles to go.

Fingerboard Road is never fun, but it was done and gone in short order and we were finished at the Ledo Pizza in Urbana with a 10:45 time. Carol Bell checked us in, Bill Beck took our photos, and we were done! Some pizza and soda and stories with our fellow riders capped the day.

Thanks as always to MG for being a very patient and hardworking stoker and randonneur partner, to our fellow riders, and to Bill and his volunteers. Urbana, you’ll always be a big ride, even if only a 200K.

Tomorrow I’ll post a summary of the ride by Bill Beck, with links to results and other photosets.

Cobbled together

Cycling season has gotten underway in earnest on this side of the Atlantic too, helped along by a dry spring and some warming temperatures. So far this year I’ve gotten in a 100K audax, a hilly 110K sportive and a 10-mile time trial, but the big early season test awaits on Sunday: the Paris-Roubaix challenge. Organised by the organiser of the professional race, Amaury Sport Organisation, (also owners of the Tour de France and Paris Marathon), the amateur’s sportive version of Paris-Roubaix will be a shortened 148 kilometres and cover 30 of the 50 kilometres of cobbled road that the professionals cover. I’m honestly a bit worried about this — covering that distance over flat terrain is not a big worry, but handling the cobbles will be, which is of course makes it an appealing challenge.

I have no illusions about finishing fast. The goal will be to finish within the time limit and upright — which, come to think of it, is my main goal most of the time anyway. I’m looking forward to getting a taste of what the pros withstand. It should be good insight into what it takes to win.

Utilitaire 12: Done and Dusted!

MG’s winter cycling challenge, the Utiltaire 12, combined randonneuring with the directive to complete a dozen trips around town by bike. What could be more fun — and practical?

In my first post on the challenge, I had completed seven of the needed rides among the 12 allowable categories. I’m pleased to say that on the last day, March 16, I was able to squeak in under the deadline with a full complement in the books.

MG allowed up to two rides in each of the categories, and a minimum of seven categories; I managed eight categories. I had dreams of one each in all 12, but fell short, unable to get to “Museum or a book reading,” “Library” and “Movie.”

The U12 required photographic evidence, so here goes. I hope the judge looks kindly upon my case.

No. 8 – Feb. 24 – Bicycle Shop – BicycleSPACE, Washington — 7.3 miles

BicycleSPACE, on a quiet Friday evening.

I had a hankering to get out of my home office after a long day staring at the screen, and to go to a real bike shop. Since BicycleSPACE is moving to a new location at 1019 7th St. N.W. I wanted to see their original location one last time.

I found it quiet on a Friday night, with Jordan getting some work done on the computer. I hung around, bought some knee warmers, and thought about how D.C.’s cycling scene is really exciting these days, and that it deserves a great shop that caters to everyday cyclists. Thanks for being here, BicycleSPACE!

No. 9 – Feb. 28 – Work – Capitol – 3.3 miles

Up at the Capitol in my new wool hat from Little Package.

When I’m not working at home, I set up shop in one of the press rooms in the U.S. Capitol. The digs are nice and there is a lot to cover, but I’m always glad to get out into the fresh air after work is done.

This was Cycling Cap Tuesday, as seen on Twitter — #cyclingcaptuesday — and I wore one of my two new wool hats from Caroline, owner of Little Package Cycling Caps. Amazing quality and a perfect fit.

No. 10 – Mar. 2 – Community Meeting – Friday Coffee Club – Swing’s Coffee, Washington – 5.9 miles

Jon, Leslie (obscured), MG, DF, Kirstin. Good looking Friday Coffee Clubbers!

MG and I a few weeks ago started inviting folks we know from the D.C. bicycle commuter scene (and from randonneuring) to meet up with us Friday mornings at Swing’s Coffee in downtown Washington. I named it Friday Coffee Club.

We publicize it by Twitter — #fridaycoffeeclub — and it’s open to anybody who wants to stop and chat for awhile before work. You don’t even have to ride a bike. Just come on in and say hello.

This day my daughter DF was in town to join MG and me on a trip to visit family and hike trails in Arizona. DF and I rode over to Swing’s on tandem and had a nice visit with everybody before getting out of the D.C. grind. What a great way to start vacation!

Friday Coffee Club, in full swing, at Swings Coffee.

No. 11 – Mar. 14 – Store, Not Grocery – Apex Optical, Washington – 6.2 miles

Apex Optical. Do you ride, and need glasses? Go here.

MG and I have been very happy to find a shop that is staffed by an avid cyclist who really, really knows glasses. Garrett, at Apex Optical, 2001 L St. N.W., helped MG and I buy Rudy Project prescription sport glasses and has provided invaluable service.

We also get to talk bikes, which makes it a great destination. I went here to get a replacement part and spent longer comparing notes on bike projects with Garrett than it took for him to repair my Rudys. Cool.

No. 12 – Mar. 16 – Community Meeting – Friday Coffee Club – Swing’s Coffee, Washington – 5.9 miles

Fun photo time at Friday Coffee Club!

I had big plans to fulfill one of the unused categories on my Utilitaire Control Card but time got away from me this week. To get that last ride I took advantage of being able to use one category twice. Today’s Friday Coffee Club was relaxing and friendly, as always, and wrapped up my Utilitaire 12 neatly.

Epilogue: MG and I run most of our errands by bike these days, but the Utilitaire 12 challenged me to do even more, such as go to shows and to get my library card. I’ll fill in those unused categories in the coming weeks, just for the fun of it. That’s the idea, right?

DC Randonneurs Wilderness Campaign 200K: Summer in Spring?

The D.C. Randonneurs kicked off the spring ACP brevet season last Saturday, Mar. 17, with the new Wilderness Campaign 200K from Bristow, Va., just south of the Manassas area. This new route traveled south to the Civil War battlefields near Spotsylvania that, in 1864, saw Gen. Grant inflict what would be a slow but mortal blow to Gen. Lee’s ability to sustain the fight, even though there was no decisive victory won by either side.

Ready for the start of a new ACP brevet season.

A total of 38 riders started the ride and all but one got an official finish. Morning temperatures in the 50s would rise to about 80 under bright skies. The warmth caught out more than a few of us, who had to stop to peel off layers as the morning fog rose.

For the first time in years I rode a brevet without MG — shocking, I know! She was off running the marathon in D.C. this day; see her result here.

Way to go, MG! She got a lot of congratulations from friends and co-workers. I note that people seem to understand the marathon much more than randonneuring — 26 miles is a terrific accomplishment, but what we do is somehow unfathomable. Our biggest event, PBP, attracts 5,000 people, which is a fraction of the participation in a major marathon, so I suppose we are still a niche sport.

I last completed a brevet on a single bike in 2007, so this was a rare occasion for me. Being faced with the choice of a racy bike or one of my sport-touring setups, I took my trusty Ritchey Logic race bike. It was my first brevet bike back in the 90s, and I was pleased to find it a fast and comfortable ride after all these years.

Compared to today’s real race bikes, it’s something of a throwback, with steel tubing and fork, standard spoked wheels, triple crank, Brooks saddle and a quill stem. I had it repainted and modified to take fenders a few years ago and the bike remains my favorite, if not the most versatile.

Ride organizer Nick Bull sent us off at 7 a.m., just before sunrise, into a light fog. The terrain is very gentle in that area of Virginia, with mostly rolling hills and many flat stretches. The group stayed together for the first two hours at a pretty fast clip — the main pack averaged close to 19 m.p.h. over the initial 30 miles.

Through the morning fog.

There was some breakup into smaller groups from there to the first control at mile 48. This was a good development as cars backed up behind the big group during the early miles, afraid to pass on windy roads and visibility obscured by fog.

I had ideas of riding with the front riders but gave way to common sense and fell in with riding pals Alec B., Scott S. and with newcomer Rick R. from North Carolina. Eric P., who is gearing up to ride again on our fleche team, Table for Five, joined us at lunch in Spotsylvania. We rolled out together and the five of us rode as a group to the finish.

Alec at our first control at Locust Grove.

Some DCR courses, especially the longer ones, feature epic stretches across hilly ranges in the Catoctins and Shenandoah Valley area. This one was different. I could see how thousands of troops on foot and horseback could maneuver in this area, though from what I read, the forests were a major challenge.

Scott and Rick under bright sunshine at the Bloody Angle information control. Thankfully, none spilled today.

After lunch at the Court House Cafe, mile 68.8, we pushed to keep up our speed, but didn’t rush through our final stop at the country store in Bristerburg. The sun was unfiltered by clouds and the sun was toasty for a March day, which is a good problem to have.

Many blooming trees along the way.

One last stop in Bristerburg.

The finish back in Bristow was something of a outdoor picnic at the Caribou Coffee, where Nick kept to the DCR tradition of having pizza, soda and sweet treats waiting for returning riders. We lingered to take photos and share stories after a long, if not very cold, winter doing our own rides.

Hey, I'm having a great time on this brevet!

First time riders Barry and John R., among others, rolled in and got their deserved pats on the back for a successful maiden outing.

Many thanks to Nick and his volunteers for a fine event.

Club RBA Bill Beck’s report is below, with links to other photosets and blog posts.

We’ll be back on tandem at the DCR 200K brevet in Urbana, Md. on March 31. It was fun to ride solo, but I much prefer randonneuring on the big bike together. We hope to see you there!

Bill’s Report:

38 riders took advantage of the absolutely gorgeous weather yesterday to ride the new Wilderness Campaign 200K ACP Brevet. It appeared that everyone had a great time, and 37 riders earned an official finish. It was around 50F at 7AM when the riders rolled out of the parking lot, and rapidly rose to around 80F by mid afternoon, with clear blue skies.

Because of the warm weather we’ve had this spring, the route was much more colorful than would be expected in mid-March, with blooming pear and crab-apple trees, as well as lots of daffodils. A GPS track of the route is at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159009125.

Thanks to Nick for organizing the ride on a route that he originally designed as a permanent route. Thanks also Tom Reeder, and new member George Flanigan for registering riders at the start, and to George Moore for registering riders at both the start and finish. And special congratulations to all of the riders who completed their first brevet!

Preliminary results are posted at http://www.dcrand.org/dcr/results.php?page=display-results&year=2012. My photos (and a few from Greg C) are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wabeck/sets/72157629610433769/. (Please let me know any missing rider names in the captions and I’ll fill them in.)

I also posted two video compilations, one from the first part of the ride where most riders were still together (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L38hV75R4ds) and the other from my riding group (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRISw0CdLG4).

Other pictures have been posted by Ed Felker (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8193389@N06/sets/72157629607156217/with/6845206536/).

I’ve seen ride reports by Dave Ripton (http://www.ripton.net/blog/?p=71), and by new randonneurs John Roche (http://portajohn.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/dc-randonneurs-wilderness-campaign-200k/) and Steve Martin (http://martinsj2.wordpress.com/).

The next ride is the Urbana ACP 200K on March 31.

Bill

Utilitaire Update: Seven Down, Five to Go

By now you probably know my randonneur spouse and my real-life spouse, the inimitable MG, has a new challenge that puts a twist on the RUSA populaires. She has named it the Utilitaire 12. Read all about it here.

The Utilitaire Control Card. Lots of Empty Boxes to fill.

In keeping with the randonneur ethos, MG has come up with a big batch of rules about distance, the number of repeats (two), substitutions and other caveats. Explaining-to-your-colleague-at-work summary: over 6.7 weeks one has to complete a combination of 12 errands and social outings by bike, and document each with a photo.

Since I am married to MG, a.k.a. The Randonneuse Prime, and I like riding my bike around town, I decided to undertake this challenge.

Week Four started today and I have seven qualifying rides completed. The pressure is on, because we are losing one week to a no-bikes trip early next month. Only two rides can be completed in the same week, which means I have to get 10 rides done before the trip and then two more in the five days after we return.

As controls go, that’s cutting it a little close. Then again, I completed the Coffeenuering Seven challenge on the last day, with two hours to go. So, I’m hopeful.

Here are my results so far, by date, category, destination, distance, and night riding option.

No 1: Jan. 31 — Work — U.S. Capitol — 4.2 miles
I usually ride my old Cannondale touring bike from home to work appointments, which is far faster than Metro and a little faster than using a Capitol Bikeshare bike. This was my birthday, one of those landmark numbers and all, and it made me feel good to get in a ride.

Helmet, Hat, Suit. It was really warm today.

No. 2: Feb. 5 — Dinner — Chipotle, Alexandria, Va. — 20.4 miles
MG and I needed to stretch our legs and skip cooking dinner after a hilly century ride the day before. Old Town Alexandria is an easy destination and there was no traffic because of some big professional football game that everyone cared about. No line in Chipotle either!

Off to Alexandria on Pro Football Championship Day.

No. 3: Feb. 6 — Dentist — Southwest D.C. — 5.7 miles
The dentist office is less than a mile from home, so I rode there, then went on and got coffee to go with my newly-cleaned teeth and gentle admonishments to keep brushing. MG allows one substitution from the category list and one of them clearly discriminates against some of us who don’t mention their age anymore: “To Get Your Hair Cut.” Ha ha!

The Dentist. Whoo.

No. 4: Feb. 12 — Concert — Black Cat club, D.C. — 7 miles — Night Ride!
We had tickets for the indie band Dum Dum Girls but MG was not feeling well and neither was I, so I decided to take the tickets to the show and sell them. They didn’t attract enough fans to sell out so I went in to see them. Kristin G. and bandmates were great and didn’t play too long, a little more than an hour, so I saw their entire set.

I was home and tucked in earlier than most nights. I probably shouldn’t have gone, but it was close by and I would have stayed up blogging or working or something anyway.

Dum Dum Girls. Four Serious Rockers.

No. 5: Feb. 14 — Store, not grocery — Curbside Cupcake — 4.1 miles
I worked from home today and thought it would be fun to have dessert waiting when we got home from Valentine’s Day dinner. I tracked local truck vendor Curbside Cupcake via Facebook until the lunch hour and then dashed out to get a set.

Their trucks were selling out quickly (CC’s biggest sales day of the year, I found out) but I got to the Capitol Hill truck that still had carrot cake with vanilla icing for sale. Their six-pack holder fits perfectly in my Ostrich saddle bag and the little gems made for tasty treats the next three days.

A cupcake journey. Oven>Truck>Bike>Our Home.

No. 6: Feb. 14 — Dinner — Luna Grill & Diner, Dupont Circle, Washington — 6.9 miles — Night Ride
The second half of this both-in-one-day double Utilitaire. I met MG after work and we rode up to our favorite local spot, Luna Grill & Diner, for a quiet Valentine’s Day dinner. We were both still under the weather, so the easy atmosphere and comfort food hit the spot.

Valentine's Day. Making our way by bike.

No. 7: Feb. 20 — Breakfast/Lunch/Coffeeneuring — Caffe Amouri, Vienna, Va. — 34 miles
MG and I got out for a most welcome Washington’s Birthday ride on the W&OD Trail to Vienna, Va. to the independent Caffe Amouri coffee shop. After a thrilling, massive ride in the Shenandoah hill country on Saturday, we were ready to spin our legs a little, despite the cold wind blowing from the north. We scrapped plans for a longer ride and came home after this stop for quiet time before the work week. The coffee (MG’s) and my soy latte were perfecto.

Croissant, Latte, Helmet, Espresso Machine. Not much missing here.

That’s my Utilitaire 12 roundup so far. The rides have been a lot of fun, but I have the tougher ones to complete in the remaining time: movie, library, museum or book reading and community meeting are among the remaining catetories. I have managed to post rides in six categories so far, and only seven are required, but I’d like to get a ride in all 12 categories. Stay tuned; this could go to the last hours of the last day, March 16.

Out to the Blue Ridge for a Big Day in the Hills

The warm winter continues here in Washington, D.C. — today the temperatures reached the upper 50s. Are we complaining? Um, no.

Rather, we tackled our first big hill ride of the year — a 112-mile doozy out at the north end of the Shenandoah Valley near Front Royal, Va. that featured three extended climbs and many, many, many rollers. I guess the bridges at the bottom of the hills were flat but that was about it.

The top of Edith Gap: Lane, MG, Bennett. See all that sun?

Friends Lane G. and Bennett M. joined us on their single bikes, which let them glide away from us on the ascents. That phenomenon has something to do with their climbing skills and the tandem’s pokey 5 m.p.h. pace in the lowest gear. Yes, we went to Grannyville — a lot! Hey, it’s still February.

We used the tandem’s superior downhill speed to close the gaps and managed to stick together the entire day.

My photoset for the day. Click to see them at Flickr.

See Bennett’s photos here and MG’s here. Great shots you two!

Our route was a shortened version of Crista Borras’ “We Can See Clearly Now” 200K RUSA permanent brevet that starts in rural Marshall, Va. Early on we climbed over the ridge to Front Royal, Va., stopped there for coffee, then turned south for a long segment through the rolling Fort Valley, on the west side of famous Skyline Drive.

At the southern end of the valley we crawled up twisty/cruel Edith Gap and then down into Luray, Va. for lunch at mile 63. From there a new-to-us back way out of town led to a short dirt road that connected us to the long, meandering climb over Thornton Gap.

We crossed Skyline Drive at the top and after an exhilarating switchback descent rode through Sperryville, “Little” Washington and Flint Hill before returning to Marshall.

We plugged along but not quite fast enough to beat the sunset, and had a sweet little 45 minute night ride, also the first of the season. We all brought lights and reflective gear, so we were safe.

No jackets, a little goofing around. Spring fever in February!

The first mountainous ride of the year is always tough, and we felt this one in our legs as the day went on. Our knees and lower backs started to stiffen but we didn’t suffer anything more than a little soreness and general fatigue toward the very end.

Certainly it was unusual to ride in the Skyline Drive area this time of year — normally the temperatures would be very cold and we’d freeze on the descents, not to mention finding icy sections. None of that today. We also enjoyed the lower level of auto traffic than we’d see in the spring and summer.

As we plan to ride the Colorado High Country 1200K this July, the chance to start logging the climbing miles was too good to pass up. We’ll need to get in great shape for the long slogs over the Rockies.

Tomorrow we expect rain and maybe some wet snow — allowing us to rest our legs and sleep in! Ahh, the joys of completing a big ride, and the relaxation that follows, can’t be understated.

DC Randonneurs 106K Populaire and 2012 Annual Meeting

Our home club, the D.C. Randonneurs, was to hold its annual meeting and populaire last weekend, but delayed it because of weather. That turned out to be a fortuitous decision — Saturday we were greeted with mostly sunny skies and more of the mild temperatures, in the mid-50s, that have made this one of the warmest months in recent history.

Riders sign in at Glen Echo Park.

A total of 50 riders started and all but one finished in the time limit of just over seven hours (Rudy H. always cuts out midway on this ride to go home). If you don’t know what a populaire is all about, it’s a ride that is shorter than the standard 200K (125-mile) or longer randonneur brevet.

Leaving the park.

Populaires generally have distances of 100K (62.5 miles) up to 150K, and shorter time limits, which is good for beginners and when a shorter ride is desired before an event, such as our annual meeting. Populaires don’t carry the same qualifier status needed for Paris-Brest-Paris and other long randonees, but still earn kilomers toward certain Randonneurs USA awards.

To get the newcomer’s perspective, check out this story of the ride by John R. at his Porta-John blog.

There are a number of photosets from the ride. Mine is here. You can also see MG’s set and Bill Beck’s posting of Curtis Hunter’s photos.

The 106K route on Saturday was one we’ve used before, and we like that the start is only 10 miles from our home, allowing us to ride there and back and stay at about 90 miles for the day.

After a sendoff by organizer Bill Beck, we rode north up on River Road through Potomac and out to Seneca, east to a control point in Hyattstown, then came back to another control point in Poolesville. The return was again on River Road, this time with the big rolling hills in reverse.

John and Cindy were one of a number of tandem teams on this ride.

MG and I did our best to stay with the faster riders out to an information control at Seneca (where we filled in a question on our control cards about a local landmark) and then kept a decently brisk pace with Paul D. out to the halfway point in Hyattstown. This segment is marked by bumpy back roads with tight turns, and I had to keep my eyes sharp and hands on the brakes most of the way.

Jan Bull, temporarily without Nick, on Peach Tree Road.

From there we rode at a more moderate pace with Paul, Ritchie, Bennett and Jeff M. to Poolesville for a stop at Selby’s Market, a local grocery that is closing its doors for good. We managed to get some Gatorade from the dwindling stock and ate some pocket food.

Selby's Market, going out of business.

We saved our lunch stop for a shopping center closer to the finish, at Potomac, where Bennett joined us for coffee at Starbucks and sandwiches from Vie de France. We spent an hour here before completing the 6-mile run to the finish around 3 p.m., an hour before the club meeting.

Mohammed, checking in at the finish.

The club meeting was fast and efficient. Andrea M. and Mike W. were elected to the board and the budget was approved, with a slight increase in fees for our 600K brevet included. Our club operates on a break-even basis now that we’ve got a substantial rainy-day fund built up, and the fees overall continue to be some of the lowest in the rando business. The good news is that we’ll continue to provide hot pizza to riders at the end of our events.

Gathering for the meeting.

Pre-meeting snacks and conversation.

John and Nancy Guth gave a dramatic presentation of her two-woman Race Across America Team success this year with teammate Mary Florian. John was crew chief and described how they managed the progression of three vehicles and crew to get the riders across the country without any real mishaps. They are looking for crew this year for their own two-person team. Let me know in the comments if you want to get in touch with them.

MG gave out the volunteer awards.

Next up for DCR are the longer brevets, starting with the first of two 200K brevets, the Wilderness Campaign from Bristow, Va. on March 17. See the full calendar here. There is a savings of $5 per event for pre-registration.

We could not ask for a better day to get out for the first event of the year, and to enjoy some cameraderie with each other as the new season draws nearer.

Our Paris-Brest-Paris 2011 by Tandem

We were quite flattered last fall when Mike Dayton, editor of American Randonneur, asked MG and me to write a joint article on our tandem ride at the Paris-Brest-Paris 1200K randonnee last August.

The article came out this month (thanks Mike!) and we’re able to re-publish it here at TDR: MG & Felkerino’s Paris-Brest-Paris 2011 by Tandem.

On the road at Paris-Brest-Paris. Courtesy Michael Hansmann.

I had ridden PBP before on a single bike, but not on tandem. This was MG’s first PBP, so for both of us it was a new experience. Riding on tandem at PBP was an absolute blast, even during the difficult parts. We always had each other and lots of company along the way, and the French showered us with hospitality.

At one point on the last day my face hurt from laughing so much at the antics and jokes of our pals! The fun lasted all the way to the finish, offsetting our aches and sore spots.

We’ve enjoyed all the stories we have read about PBP. The course is the same but everyone’s experience is different, reflecting their own goals, challenges and circumstances. It was an honor to be part of the grande dame of randonneuring with our D.C. pals and riders from all over the world.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Here’s an excerpt:

4. You’re never alone!

First, we had each other to while away the hours together — the very best thing about tandem randonneuring. But we also “met” a lot of folks who figured the tandem would provide a good pull down the road. Our friend Jon Gardner was our constant companion throughout and protected our rear wheel, but that didn’t stop many others from settling in behind for a segment here and there.

We spent our second day with a French rider, Guy Soudiere, who spoke as little English as we spoke French, but despite the language issues we formed a solid foursome. We also scooped up fellow Americans Jeff Bauer, Rob Hawks and others we knew from past rides but don’t get to see very often. If you like company, ride a tandem.

Jon G. kept the mood light and the drafters back.

Guy Soudiere, our companion for most of Day 2. Courtesy MG.

Time for a new look

For a long time this blog has been organized with the Sapphire theme, one of the free themes in WordPress. It liked it a lot — can you tell, since it hasn’t changed since, oh, 2006?

The thing I always wanted to change was the placement of the blog title in the header box. It tended to lay right across someone’s wonderful smile or sparking eyes. And, yes, I say that even for the folks whose pictures are taken in the later stages of a long brevet or randonnee.

I looked at themes tonight and saw Reddle, which solved the header problem and opened up a lot of white space on the blog. It’s a change that I hope you’ll like.

Hey, everybody else went to similarly open themes a long time ago (looking at you, Velo Orange!) and it was time to get with the program. Story of my life.

Tinkering with the look is also a way for me to get back in on the blog saddle after taking some time off from TDR during and after the holidays. MG and I have actually been riding our bikes and even completed a January 200K permanent, which I plan to write about in the coming days.

MG and Lane doing a little coffeeneuring.

We’ve got a full year of randonneuring and training rides ahead of us, and hope you’ll come along for the ride.

In the meantime, have a look at one of the blogs that has been inspring me of late with my bike photography: Eric Benjamin’s Adventure Monkey. One of my goals this year is to take photos that tell the story of our rides and Eric does a great job.

To that end I’ve joined the Project 365 group at Flickr. The goal is to upload a photo every day for a year. I’ll be posting a lot of randonneuring and training ride photos to the group!

A belated Happy New Year to all. It’s good to be back.

Chip and Bill’s 2011 Winter Solstice 200K

Chip Adams of the Severna Park Peloton is a man of many talents, one of them being the ability to ride his bike all night. It’s a handy skill when one is in the middle of a 600K brevet or has to ride a loaner bike, say, at PBP, but he chooses to employ it on the occasional 200K permanent as well.

Case in point: he and Bill Beck ignored forecasts of potential rain and rode a 200K on the night of the 2011 Winter Solstice last month. They chose the Woodbine-Dillsburg via Gettysburg permanent and enjoyed unseasonably warm temperatures and twinkling outdoor holiday lighting along the way.

Read Chip and Bill’s story on its own page, and see Bill’s photoset at Flickr.

You might also check out Chip’s overnight Massanutten At Midnight 200K story from 2008 — another overnighter out in Virginia he rode in November that year.

Here’s an excerpt from Chip’s story:

We got into Dillsburg at 11:45 pm and got dinner, or was it breakfast? Not sure, but we ate it outside in the low-50 degree weather. People were coming and going and looked at us like we were crazy. One guy couldn’t believe we riding that distance at night and were only half-way through.

Living it up, rando-style.

He said he didn’t like traveling that far in the daylight and in a car. It was starting to chill off a little but still very mild considering we were now officially in the 1st day of Winter. We added some layers where they were needed and got back on the road heading south. It was now 12:30 am – the exact time that some say the Solstice occurred. Exciting stuff, eh?

The only way this evening could get any better was for the wind to swing around from the north and push us back to Maryland. Well, believe it or not, that is what happened. It wasn’t entirely out of the north, but close enough. It had been downgraded quite a bit, but at least it was not in our faces.

Many of the Christmas lights had been turned off on our way back home and it was then that we realized we should have called ahead and requested they be left on. We’ll remember that for next year.

We got back into Gettysburg just after 2:00 am. The 7-11 had restocked their donuts since we had been gone and we both opted for the Apple Fritter for its fruit benefits. When we had come through earlier, we both took advantage of the glazed Twist for its donut benefits. I just love donuts and bike rides!

TDR’s own MG featured in Washingtonian magazine

As I’m sure you know, MG not only contributes to this fine blog (actually, making it better than I ever could!) but also writes about her rides around our fair city on her own blog, Chasing Mailboxes.

Today, she was featured on Washingtonian magazine’s Well+Being blog as one of Five Local Cycling Blogs You Should Read. See the full article here.

MG's story in Washingtonian magazine blog. Who's that guy back there?

Way to go, MG! It’s fitting that the last post of the 12 Days of Randonneurmas — Recognition — would be followed by that very same thing for her right off the bat in 2012. MG also managed to get a mention of PBP into the article and a picture of yours truly along with her. Awwww.

We were both glad to see the article featured another urban cyclist, Brian McEntee, who writes the Tales from the Sharrows blog. By the way, that’s Brian up there on the TDR banner, from our first meeting a few days ago.

If you think not much happens riding daily on the streets of D.C., read Brian’s blog. For years I rode back and forth from downtown D.C. to Arlington and never saw the stuff he comes across.

Blogging is sometimes a little hard to do. There’s no money in it and you’re not really sure who’s reading. I hope you, like me, are glad to see MG get a pat on the back for riding her bike and spreading the good word about the bicycle lifestyle. Whooo!

Twelfth Day of Randonneurmas: Recognition

Another year is drawing to a close and so with it the 2011 12 Days of Randonneurmas. How quickly the holiday season passes!

MG and I attended a special holiday party last weekend that reminded us that it’s not about the gear, the accessories or even the cupcakes. The best parts of any endeavor are the laughs and adventure you get to share with friends new and old.

A festive holiday party.

The annual party is hosted by Clint Provenza, the main force behind the Severna Park Peloton club in the Annapolis area, and his gracious wife Sherri. A total of 58 members, spouses and friends attended. We were treated to fantastic appetizers, a full dinner and desserts. Way to go, Clint and Sherri, and all the people who helped out.

Clint and MG.

The party was not about just getting together. It was also about recounting the year and the fun the club enjoyed. In that vein, Clint named Bryan Nelson the club’s rider of the year for his successful rookie season, during which he completed a Super Randonneur series and the fleche. Bryan looked surprised!

Clint names Bryan the club's Rider of the Year.

Then, to Clint’s own surprise, club co-leader Chip Adams presented a plaque on behalf of the membership that bestowed on him the title Tete de Peloton, meaning the leader of the group. Chip recounted how Clint has gotten so many people into randonneuring through his unflagging encouragement and good cheer.

The big surprise: Chip has an unexpected honor for Clint.

We were moved by the warmth and cameraderie of the SPP, and were glad to be a part of their celebration. They showed that the people matter most, and that an important part of the fun is recognizing new members as well as the guy who started it all.

Clint and Sherri. Good times!

Please take the time this holiday season and let those around you know your appreciation for their accomplishments. You’ll be glad you did.

MG and I wish to thank everyone who rode with us this year, especially our D.C. Randonneurs pals and Jon G., who escorted us to a successful finish at PBP. You all made 2011 a very satisfying season.

We hope you have a very happy Christmas and enjoy all the best in 2012. See you out there!

Eleventh Day of Randonneurmas — Cupcakes and Cookies

As the 12 Days of Randonneurmas nears its finale, let’s forget the gear, clothing and other things randonneurs need that make good gifts but lack that, oh, the joyous spirit of the season.

Today TDR focuses on one of the best rewards of randonneuring. Sure, there are those obvious benefits of fitness and a finer appreciation of the outdoors. But I’m talking about the ability to indulge in sweets without worrying so much about the calories.

A six pack to go!

What better way to show your randonneur some love than with some extra-nice sweet treats this year? I’m a fan of the fancy cupcakes that have become trendy in the last few years, and we have a local company, Curbside Cupcakes, that sells their revolving menu of cupcakes in vans like the Popsicle trucks we chased as kids.

Fits perfectly. Nice job on the holder, Curbside Cupcakes!

One can even burn off some calories riding to and from whatever location they’ve chosen, employing a little Cupcake Commuting, as MG has chronicled at her blog, Chasing Mailboxes.

There are also homemade cookies that don’t pack quite the calorie count and taste fantastic. We got a box from MG’s sister this week with her annual batch for us and I’m counting her generosity as yet another Randonneurmas miracle in our lives.

Go for it. You've earned it.

We’ve all toiled away at our work and other obligations this year. Now’s the time to bestow that unexpected little baked treat on your randonneur for a job well done.

Tomorrow: the most appreciated gift of all.

Tenth Day of Randonneurmas: Flap Caps

Regular readers of TDR know MG and I like our wool caps; we talked about them in a 2010 12 Days of Randonneurmas post. MG has continued to develop a fine appreciation for some of the best cap-makers in the USA, and that extends to winter caps that look stylish and keep our poor ears shielded from the wind and cold.

Why not treat that randonneur in your life to something better than the standard polyester skull cap? There are excellent, affordable choices and some of the smaller boutique makers offer custom sizing.

Just wait until your randonneur has gotten home and passed out after their latest all-day (or night) ride, measure their head, and send off for that gift they’ll love to wear when the temperatures fall toward freezing and below.

Me with my Little Package merino wool hat, and my own Santa helmet.

MG bought me a subtle green cap from Little Package, the company name for custom maker Caroline Paquette of Portland, Ore. She will produce in custom sizes, special bills, and in your own fabric if you wish. Just ask!

MG is snug with a Little Package hat under her Santa-helmet.

One of MG's wool hats from Little Package. Stylish and warm.

MG is also a fan of Octopus Caps of Columbus, Ohio. Octopus sells production caps through Etsy and also takes custom orders.

And, don’t forget Walz Caps. They have come on strong in the last couple of years, and make a variety of wool flap models in two sizes with optional personalized stitching. See their collection here.

My wool Yehuda Moon cap by Walz. No earflaps. Yet.

Take it from us…the cycling cap is not just for summer anymore.

Tomorrow: make it sweet!

Ninth Day of Randonneurmas: Bike Shop Shirt

Randonneurs put their bikes and gear through some rigorous paces. Putting thousands of miles on their faithful steeds each year means their bikes are going to need some extra tender loving care.

While most randonneurs can do some fairly advanced wrenching at home, it’s also good to have a reliable bike shop to turn to whenever you need any technical assistance, parts, or other mechanical help.

Bike Shop T's: Extra credit if you can name the locations of all these bike shops.

Local bike shops help keep us rolling all year long. This year, show some appreciation for the people at your local shop by buying your randonneur a bike shop t-shirt.

Shop t-shirts are also perfect post-brevet garb, as most randonneurs like to change out of their stinky ride clothing after finishing their brevet and before digging into the post-ride pizza.

The utility of the bike shop t-shirt doesn’t end there. Wearing a bike shop shirt also serves as a sign to others that you are a cyclist, even if you do not happen to be riding your bike.

If your randonneur has been extra good this year, you can also think about getting him or her a bike shop jersey to proudly sport. (Some randonneurs are particular about their jersey fabric and design, though, so only make that investment if you are certain it is something he or she will like!)

Harper's Bike Shop Jersey

Our bike shops do a lot for many randonneurs. Randonneurmas is the perfect time to thank them for their work and to get your special someone a useful off-the-bike treat!

Tomorrow: They will scoff at winter’s chill with one of these.

Eighth Day of Randonneurmas: Bike Security

None of us likes to leave our bikes out of sight, but sometimes it is unavoidable. We have to run into a coffee shop, or want to sit for lunch and not have to keep an eye on the steed the whole time.

That’s where locks come in. Most randonneurs don’t carry locks, but being bike riders they will want one sooner or later, if only to have around when needed.

We’ve collected a few locks of varying weight and size, mostly Kryptonite and OnGuard, that provide a decent amount of theft deterrent.

A professional can defeat these kinds of locks, but otherwise they’ll keep a bike attached to that post or bike rack. They also add peace of mind when leaving a bike on a roof rack to get a post-ride burrito.

Kryptonite cable and u-lock, OnGuard coil lock.

Lock aficionados are turning to a German brand, Abus, that is said to be tougher. They cost a fair bit more, but our pals who look more closely at these things say it is money well spent.

Abus u-lock. The new kid that's supposed to be tougher.

Locks always make a good gift — not that thrilling, but someday, somewhere, your randonneur will savor the thought that their bike will be there when they return.

Tomorrow: spreading the word about the people that keep us rolling.

Seventh Day of Randonneurmas: Gloves inside your gloves

Every year during the 12 Days of Randonneurmas we turn our attention to one of those must-haves for randonneurs — Gloves! During the summer the choices are easy, and some randonneurs ride with no gloves at all.

Wintertime brings different considerations. MG and I are going out for a century ride tomorrow and as always the question in the winter is whether we should start out in our heavier gloves and carry lighter ones for the warmer mid-day. Or, can we take one set would do the job all day long?

The solution? Liner gloves!

Manzella liner gloves and North Face liner gloves.

I’m a big fan of liner gloves. They make the outer glove that much warmer, and can be taken out when the day warms up and put back in later when the temperatures start dropping in the afternoon. If the day stays cold, I’ll just leave them in. On really, really cold days, I find they wick sweat away from my hands and keep my heavy gloves from getting damp inside.

Manzella liner gloves are great for decorating the tree, too!

There’s no need to spend a lot. The best liners are basic polypropylene, like the Manzella seen above. Why not wool, you say? Poly liners are more durable, and stretch well. They also seem to make my winter gloves last longer — I think they work like good socks.

Liner gloves are an inexpensive gift that adds a lot of comfort to any kind of cycling where a little extra warmth is needed. They fit easily into the stocking and come in so handy.

Tomorrow: making sure the steed is still there when the rider returns.

Sixth Day of Randonneurmas: A Picture in a Frame

Where there are brevets, you will find randonneurs. And where you find randonneurs, you will generally find at least a person or two who not only likes to ride, but likes to take pictures of people riding their bikes.

For the sixth day of Randonneurmas, we suggest tracking down a photo or two of your randonneur in action and putting it in a frame.

Randonneuring with Felkerino (c) Alec B.

Maybe your randonneur likes to take photos during rides. Also, many clubs have their own flickrazzi. Ask around, read local randonneuring blogs, or perhaps check out your local randonneuring club’s website, and you can find out fairly quickly who the photographers are.

You can then dig deeper and and sort through potential photos featuring your randonneur that are suitable for framing. Solo shot? With rando buddies? On the bike? Rest stop? (Don’t forget to be polite and ask for permission to use the photo.)

Frame the action shot? (c) Bill Beck

Or should we pick the glamourous post-ride photo? (c) Bill Beck

After you figure out which picture to use, you make the call on customization. Size. Frame type. Matte and frame combinations. There are so many choices, but don’t fret over them too much. No matter what, your randonneur is sure to love that you took the time to find and frame a ride memory.

Sun come up it was blue and gold
Ever since I put your picture
In a frame.

-Tom Waits, Picture in a Frame

Isn’t that a sweet song? But that sentiment doesn’t have to live only in a song. This year, turn your own sun blue and gold by putting your loved one’s randonneuring photo in a frame.

Tomorrow: Sometimes it’s the things you don’t see that make all the difference on a ride.

Fifth Day of Randonneurmas: Chamois Creme

Yesterday on the 12 Days of Randonneurmas we highlighted our favorite winter lip balms and face protectant. In this installment, let’s shift to a place that can be just as sensitive.

Yes, we’re talking about the shorts area. As one of the contact points where the body touches the bike, the rear end is subject to both compression and abrasion.

Most every randonneur who uses cycling shorts ends up using some kind of creme on the chamois and balms applied directly to the skin. We do both if the ride is long enough!

Chamois Butt'r. The perfect holiday present.

There are various kinds of high-end chamois cremes, but the choice in our household is good old Chamois Butt’r. The price is right, about $15 for eight ounces, and it has a nice density that is neither too heavy nor light. It works both on the chamois and other associated body parts that need a little lubrication.

The problem for us is that we run out of the stuff and have to haul off to get more the night before a big ride. Help out your randonneur with an extra tube or two this holiday season of Chamois Butt’r — or their favorite alternative.

It makes an unusual stocking stuffer, but one they will thank you for when they’re up in the middle of the night getting ready for that brevet and have everything they need.

Tomorrow: memorialize those epic rides for all to see.

Fourth Day of Randonneurmas: Protect that Face!

Randonneurs ride in all sorts of conditions. Heat, rain, sun, cold, sleet, wind, and snow, sometimes a little of each in the same ride. (You knew I was going there.) Long days in the saddle may leave randonneurs feeling a strong sense of accomplishment, but they can wreak havoc on their delicate skin and lips.

This sun and cold are doing a number on my epidermis!

Randonneurs need not suffer unnecessarily, at least not where their faces are concerned. This year, why not stuff some lip balm in your favorite cyclist’s stocking? This thoughtful gift won’t bust your holiday budget and it will leave your randonneur’s lips hydrated and happy.

There are many fine lip balm choices, but one my favorites is Hawaiian Tropic SPF 45. It’s a great lip balm for rides because once applied, it stays on well. It’s like applying a little layer of wax for your lips, which is perhaps undesirable if on a date, but perfect for a bike ride. Other lip balms I’ve used go on just fine, but they are thinner in texture and seem to absorb quickly into the skin, leaving your poor lips exposed to the elements. Your lips deserve better!

Lip Balm. So many choices, so little time.

Other favorites in this randonneur household are the All Terrain Lip Armor SPF 25 and Rite Aid SPF 30.

Now that those lips have been taken care of, let’s talk about faces. Featured in prior years, I have to put in a 2011 plug for Kiehl’s UV Face Protector, now sold in SPF 50 and renamed Cross-Terrain UV Face Protector so it sounds extra bada$%! The bottom line is that, no matter what it’s called, this is the best face protection Felkerino and I have found for winter rides.

Kiehl's Face Protector

Yeah, one could argue that petroleum jelly works just as well, but that person would be wrong. It’s mean to your pores and it doesn’t offer any SPF protection.

Kiehl’s Cross-Terrain UV Face Protector is made of beeswax, which keeps your face warmer than regular sunblock and it’s kinder to the skin than something like petroleum jelly or bag balm. At $25.00, the Kiehl’s is a little pricey on the front end, but the 1.4 oz container should last your randonneur at least one winter, if not two.

There you have it- lip balm and Kiehl’s Face Protector. It’s a two-fer on day four of Randonneurmas.

Tomorrow: Something for the parts of the body that don’t see as much sun. Hee hee!