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!

Third Day of Randonneurmas: Fancy Bicycle Bags

On this, the third of the 12 Days of Randonneurmas, we turn toward the worst kept secret in randonneuring: randonneurs love to obsess over bags.

It’s true. Every randonneur thinks about how they are going to carry their stuff. Some get by with the storage capacity of seat packs and jersey pockets, but over time many graduate to hauling their jackets, tools and energy bars in bike-specific bags that combine practicality and style.

MG is fully convinced that radonneur men have like to ride their bikes in part to buy bags — and to shave their legs. Read her essay about it at her Chasing Mailboxes blog.

MG has an Ortlieb pannier, Carradice saddlebag and Rickshaw Bagworks mini messgenger bag on the way to work.

If you or your loved one is going to put bags on their bike, the choices to surprise them this holiday season are growing. Here at TDR HQ, MG and I still rate Carradice saddlebags No. 1 for usability and value, and we use them on most of our bikes. But there are many high quality alternatives — perfect for gift giving.

Here are two we like that aren’t cheap but pay off every time you use them.

First up is the Sackville TrunkSack Small from our favorite bike supplier, Rivendell Bicycle Works. This little front trunk is intended for those small front racks that are growing in popularity. It’s perfect for putting in a few items and being able to get to them while riding.

Sackville TrunkSack Small side view, with straps underneath rack.

Sackville TrunkSack Small with fancy Rivendell metal Made in the USA tag.

For the back of the bike, I picked up the Japanese Ostrich saddle bag from Velo Orange this year. Ostrich is not well known in the United States, but should be. The quality is terrific.

Velo Orange is not likely to carry Ostrich beyond current stock, so give Chris and company a call soon. The saddlebag requires a support that fits into a slot under the bag. See more photos of both bags in a set I posted to Flickr.

Ostrich makes a sturdy canvas bag with handy side pockets and lashing straps.

The boxy Ostrich saddle bag holds more than it appears.

Bags are expensive, so you’ll be a big hit with your randonneur with these or any other brand you know they are hoping to get from Santa this year.

Tomorrow: cheap and effective protection from the sun and wind.

The 2nd Day of Randonneurmas: The Business of Randonneuring

Randonneuring is more than just bike riding. It’s about meeting new people when you’re out on the bike, memorable gas station conversations with people who ask about bike riding, and the occasional person inquiring about somebody’s randonneuring bike.

Because the clock never stops on a brevet, randonneurs can’t always talk to people as much as they might like. But the conversation doesn’t have to end.

Randonneur Business Cards

On the second of the 12 Days of Randonneurmas, we suggest purchasing the randonneur in your life a set of randonneur business cards. Really! He or she can be an ambassador for randonneuring and keep in touch with those who they meet along the way.

Many companies make good business cards, but one that Felkerino and I used this year is the simply named Moo. Moo offers stock business card designs, and also allows customers to use as many as 50 of their own photos in creating the perfect set of business cards.

Felkerino and I chose two pictures that we thought nicely captured our randonneur identity. A randonneur business card could feature a bike, brevet card, favorite convenience store, or whatever you think your randonneur would like.

Moo then allows you to enter your “business card” information — name, e-mail, blog — whatever you’d like to add. The company also offers two sizes of cards: a standard business card size, which Felkerino and I use; and a smaller mini-business card. You pick the one that works for you.

The business cards from Moo are printed on quality card stock, which is great for randonneurs that venture out in heat, rain, and who knows what other elements. These business cards can take a little roughing up.

Moo also packages their cards in an official-looking business card box. That’s a little unnecessary to me and certainly not practical for hauling around on a bike ride, but it makes for a nice Randonneurmas presentation.

Moo Business Cards

50 standard-size cards from Moo cost around $22, and the mini-business cards are about $20 for a set of 100.

Tomorrow: You know your randonneur has to carry some stuff on those epic rides. Help them do so in style.

The 12 Days of Randonneurmas, 2011 Edition!

My, how quickly another year has come and gone. MG and I hope that all of you, dear readers, have enjoyed a fantastic 2011 on and off your bikes. We’re grateful for our adventures with friends near and far and for our good health and families, all of which make this a happy season for us.

We’re glad to be launching our annual 12 Days of Randonneurmas. In case this is your first holiday season with TDR, Randonneurmas is our little way of highlighting our favorite gift ideas for that lucky randonneur in your life. If that’s you, don’t worry — we won’t tell!

Tonight we begin with a subject near and dear to every randonneur — headlights. One can ride shorter brevets solely in daylight, but sooner or later all of us who venture past the 200K mark have to put on that reflective vest and fire up the headlights and tailights.

Small and powerful. Finally, affordable LED lights are getting seriously bright.

Many randonneurs have adopted high-output generator lights, but we still like self-contained units that can be easily moved from bike to bike. The best is still the Busch & Muller Ixon IQ, but we’ve taken to a less expensive rechargeable, the new Light and Motion 180.

MG won one of these this fall from L&M in an essay contest (see her entry here) and she’s found it to be very bright and very light. It might not be perfect as a primary light on a brevet, but it makes a great backup and a terrific option for commuting and short rides.

The L&M 180 has bright side lights in addition to a blazing beam.

The street price is less than $100, which is still a fair chunk of change, but the output is frankly amazing, with run times of more than eight hours on low, four hours on medium and more than two hours on high. (L&M also includes the dreaded strobe mode. Please people, that’s for daylight use, not at night on the trail. My eyes!)

USB cable charging is convenient, too. It mounts in seconds with an integrated rubber strap.

Here's an idea of what drivers will see. Pretty good.

Finally, high light output at an easy price. There’s no reason to worry about the night with one of these along for the ride.

Tomorrow: we turn to the solution for those awkward social moments in randonneuring.

Rando Q&A with Velocia, San Francisco Randonneurs

The Rando Q&A returns this week, and today we’re going back to San Francisco to talk with Vélocia, a randonneuse who not only rides, but takes gorgeous photos during her journeys. I got to know Vélocia through her photostream, and knew she would be a great addition to the Rando Q&A participants. Thanks, Vélocia, for sharing your randonneuring perspectives with us. It was great to meet you in person during this year’s Paris-Brest-Paris, and I hope we meet again on another ride someday.

1. When did you start randonneuring?

The records show I became a RUSA member and completed my first ACP sanctioned brevet––a 300K randonnée––in 2006. The first control of that ride was a secret control and the organizers were sizing up the newcomer, gauging my chances for success.

Later in 2006 I did the Raid Pyrénéen, a 710K ride that traverses the length of the Pyrenées over 18 cols between the Atlantic and the Mediteranean. The Raid is sponsored by Cyclo-Club Béarnais and has a time limit of 100 hours; they provide a brevet card and validate the results. So I’ve always had an interest in cyclotouring.

In secondary school I organized multi-day bike camping tours in the countryside with my friends. I did century and double century rides for many years before joining RUSA.

Vélocia's Terraferma Corsa 650B (c) Vélocia

2. Why did you start?

Paris-Brest-Paris! In the 90′s a coworker noticed my interest in bicycling and suggested I should try PBP. He rode the rainy 1987 PBP. At the time the idea of a 1200K ride sounded too extreme so I dismissed it.

Then in 2003 I met a new coworker who was training for PBP. She tried to convince me to join RUSA and do the qualifying rides. She was a real inspiration. By August 2003 I regretted not having followed her advice. It became my goal to complete PBP in 2007.

3. What is your home club?

San Francisco Randonneurs

4. What is your favorite distance of the Super Randonneur series (200, 300, 400, 600K) and why?

I tend to enjoy the 200 and 300K distances the most. Somehow it seems like they’re more social and fun. The longer rides tend to be more serious with fewer new riders.

5. Which distance do you find the most challenging of the Super Randonneur series and why?

The 400K always seems like it’s the most challenging. For some reason I tend to suffer more form the sleep deprivation on that one.

6. If you have done 1000Ks and 1200Ks, what do you like about them?

I’ve done one of each. It’s a thrill to explore unfamiliar territory and meet riders from other clubs.

Editor’s note: This was written prior to Vélocia‘s completion of the 2011 edition of PBP, so that makes two 1200Ks!

Photos from the Central Coast 1000K (c) Vélocia

7. What is it that you love about randonneuring? That is, what keeps you coming back ride after ride?

I like the camaraderie and the physical challenge. Sometimes there’s a spiritual aspect, too. For example, riding alone on a quiet country road under a starry sky in the middle of nowhere. And of course, the endorphins.

8. What constitutes a “good ride” in your view?

A “good ride” follows a beautiful course. Very often a “good ride” will have some element of adversity, which can be satisfying to overcome; for example, persevering through unpleasant weather or solving a mechanical problem.

It can be fun to ride fast, but it’s not necessary to set a personal best in order to have a good ride.

On a recent 300K I was riding with friends, sharing stories. At one point I was laughing so hard I was nearly choking on my sandwich. That was a good ride!

Rando Q&A with Joe Brown, D.C. and PA Randonneurs

This week brings another installment of the Rando Q&A. Today we head to Pennsylvania to talk with Joe Brown, who rides frequently with the D.C. Randonneurs as well as the randonneurs in Pennsylvania. Joe is a blast to ride with, a randonneur who always has a good (and often quite funny) story to tell. Thanks for being part of our Rando Q&A, Joe!

Joe at PBP 2011

1. When did you start randonneuring?

I started randonneuring in 2006. It was the first year gas prices spiked way up and to save a few dollars I started commuting to work 35 miles a day. At the end of the season found myself very fit and did a century or two.

Still wanting more long rides in that season and not finding any more centuries I found an Eastern PA 200K brevet. The control at 112 miles was at a bar, when the door opened 4 randonneurs were drinking beer. I knew then this sport was for me.

2. Why did you start?

Brevets are a great way to get out of your own back yard and travel a bit and see some new scenery. Brevets have shown me great new routes in Pennsylvania, routes within 60 miles of my house that I wouldn’t have found for myself. It’s also shown me Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and a bit of NY state.

3. What is your home club?

Technically its Berks County Bicycle Club in Pennsylvania but the people with whom I ride the most are a group veteran racers who meet at a local super market every Saturday and Sunday 3 miles from my house. I live on top of a ridge, the ride starts in a valley so it’s only about 10 minutes by bicycle. I started attending about 10 years ago.

They ride “nice and easy”. That’s what they always tell new riders. And it is nice and easy until they come to a hill. The average speed barely drops on an incline. More than once they’ve ridden me to my door after 60 miles leaving me more exhausted than a 200K effort.

Joe on the DC Randonneurs Urbana 200K

4. What is your favorite distance of the Super Randonneur series (200, 300, 400, 600K) and why?

The 600K is the most interesting because a lot of it ridden at night. Nothing is better than a dog chasing you in the black of night. Talk about fear.

5. Which distance do you find the most challenging of the SR series and why?

I dread the 400K. Most people probably agree. It’s 260 miles and its usually ridden without sleep. So the question is “Should I ride it hard to get it over with, or should I prolong the agony over time.

The best 400K on the planet is the DCR 400K. Smooth roads and a reasonable profile give the opportunity to complete it in daylight.

6. If you have done 1000Ks and 1200Ks, what do you like about them?

1000K’s and 1200K’s are the best because they take the element of trying to ride for a best time out the equation (for me). I treat them as a tour. However much time I gain on the road, I take back as sleep at night in a motel with pillows and a shower.

My favorite is the 1000K. It’s only three days. It’s “epic,” but at the same time it is lot easier to recover compared to a 1200K and it doesn’t take as much vacation time.

7. What is it that you love about randonneuring? That is, what keeps you coming back ride after ride?

That’s simple to answer. It’s the people, the camaraderie.

8. What constitutes a “good ride” in your view?

They’re all good. What makes a ride memorable is extremes: bad weather, hard terrain, or ridiculous situations like fixing a flat at 3:00 in the morning in a pouring rain. Dogs chasing you in the middle of the night that you can’t see.

A remember a time with Rick C. on a 600K. We’re in truck stop in the middle of the night on top of a mountain. I’m exhausted but Rick wants to push on. It’s an eight mile descent and my brakes aren’t working right. They shudder and nearly push me over the handlebars. Rick has good lights, mine stink. I’m scared to go down the hill.

I make an excuse that I’m too tired. He says he’s tired too, but looks down at the coffee creamers we’re using. They say “2X caffeine.” So he peels back the foil and drinks two of them like shots of whiskey. I look at him and say “Your’re %$#%crazy.” He went down the mountain and I went to sleep.

I’ll always regret not following. He probably descended singing country western songs that he made up as he went along. He’s good for things like that. Memories make a good ride.

Joe and Rick (c) Rick C.

9. What are the qualities you think a randonneur has to have to be successful?

I guess stubborn and compulsive would be qualities we all have but they sound too harsh. What we all share is a great love for cycling. Every time we get on the bike and press down on the pedals we enjoy it. That’s what pushes us. It’s fun. It’s just that simple.

10. How do you define successful?

My first and foremost objective on all rides be it commuting, training, or brevet is to do it without injury. Finishing a ride and damaging your knee is not a success.

Twenty-five years ago I finished a century with knee pain and then didn’t ride for two years. Two years ago I didn’t finish a 400K because of a knee problem but was back on the bike in a few months. (Thank you Ray for the ride)

Thanks again, Joe. Felkerino and I count ourselves lucky have been able to share some miles with you, and you are so right. Memories make a good ride.

DCR Flatbread 200K Brevet 2011: Sun, fun and our friend, Mr. Wind

It’s fitting that the first post here on TDR after Chip Adams’ PBP story last week would be a recap of the D.C. Randonneurs brevet he organized on Saturday, the Flatbread 200K from Centreville, Md.

A club record 79 riders signed up for this annual Eastern Shore jaunt that features flat roads from the Annapolis area eastward to the Atlantic Ocean shore and back.

Chip and his Severna Park Peloton compadres were out in their best SPP finery, ably assisted by Katie Adams and Sherrie Provenza, spouses to Chip and Clint Provenza, at the registration and finish check-in tables.

The weather promised clear skies and high temperatures in the 60s, but also a gusty southwest wind. The route is something of a squished triangle, with a middle section that runs south along the shore and a westerly section afterwards.

Flatbread Map

Those were the toughest miles, right into the wind. Once we made it to the third control, at mile 69, the route trended more toward the north and we got some much appreciated tailwinds.

MG and I started out with the field, then spent most of the first half in small groups. We stopped at the Dolce Bakery in Milford, Del. at mile 50 for some caffeine and sugar snacks. We had a nice visit with Janet and John Bodine and greeted other riders who decided to take advantage of this unofficial stop.

Dolce Bakery in Milford, Del.

MG and me in a rare appearance at a beach.

The trip in the winds through the control at Slaughter Beach and on to the lunch control town of Milton, at mile 69, was draining. We arrived famished and stressed. The town was designated as an open control, meaning any establishment was acceptable to get our cards signed as long as we got a receipt.

The first place we stopped, The Gallery Espresso, was staffed by just one employee who was not having a good day. I shed a tiny tear to walk away from any place with a real espresso machine.

We split and went around the corner to The Vintage Cafe, where we got a sandwich, some pretty good coffee and a much needed break from the wind.

MG and I had a better ride from there, and loved the tailwind sections that blew us and the group that formed along the way — Jack Nicholson, Bob Torres, David Ripton, Nigel Greene and Joe Kratovil — north along variously wooded and open sections.

Alec B. and MG in Bridgeville, Md.

Tailwinds = smiles.

The finish at 4:17 pm, or 9:17 overall, was a good one for us. This was our first 200K since PBP and we did not know how well our legs would respond. At just 1:20 off the bike, we were able to get back to the finish before sunset.

There are some good accounts of this ride. MG has posted a nice story about our ride and our other Veterans Day weekend outings at her blog, Chasing Mailboxes. She has also posted a combined set of photos we took at her Flickr page — click the gallery image below to see more.

Our Flatbread Photos

Read Nigel’s story at his Iron Rider blog and learn more about Joe at his Mellow Yellow blog. They were both riding fixed-gear bikes.

Joe -- trackstanding -- and Nigel await a traffic light.

First timer Lisa S. posted about her successful ride, with dreamy night miles to the finish, at her Rambling Rider blog. Congratulations Lisa!

It was a great fall event. Thanks to Chip and all the helpers, and to our fellow riders for sharing the journey. We’ll be back.

Here’s DC Randonneurs RBA Bill Beck’s summary report.

A record 79 riders started the Eastern Shore Flatbread 200K RUSA brevet yesterday, and all finished! The weather was beautiful with sunny skies and temperatures rising from the high-30s to the low-60s. But a brisk wind from the southwest made that flat course into a tough ride on the return from Slaughter Beach.

Special thanks to Chip Adams for again organizing this gorgeous ride. It was a big job with so many riders. A big thanks also to Katie Adams and Sherrie Provenza who helped register riders at the start and checked in riders at the finish, all while managing pizza orders – a big job with 79 riders!.

Congratulations to Earl Janssen for completing his R-12 award, Theresa Funari for her R-24, Clint Provenza for his R-36, and Tom Reeder for R-72! We think Tom’s streak is the longest for any rider east of the Mississippi.

There were also 8 riders who became official randonneurs by completing their first brevet. So congrats and welcome to Michael Caha, Jane Cross, Richard Downs, Alex McKeague, Jack Nicholson, Lisa Shiota, Jonathan Winkert, and Ping Xiang.

Preliminary results are posted at http://www.dcrand.org/dcr/results.php?page=display-results&year=2011.

My photos are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wabeck/sets/72157627993903523/ and Mary Gersema’s are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/gersema/sets/72157628114335094/.

A GPS track of the route is at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/128517507.

Next up is the Woodbine Wallop 200K on December 10. This is a challenging ride with the second most feet of climbing per mile of all DCR routes. A nice contrast to the Flatbread! I like having it in December so you can keep cool while working up those hills.

Bill

PBP Rewind: Chip Adams’ PBP2011 Story Finale

Today Chip tells us about his final run to the finish of Paris-Brest-Paris. He enjoys a fine roadside nap, marvels at the human debris at the Dreux control, and gets a warm welcome at the gym in St. Quentin-en-Yvelines.

But the story doesn’t end there — what about the loaner bike? Read how Chip gets everything squared away in the Day Four chapter at his story page: The Clock Never Stops.

The final excerpt from Chip’s story is below. Thanks for a great story, Chip! We’re all looking forward to your 2015 tale.

Back on the bike, I made it into Mortagne Au Perche sometime around 3:00 am. I think I was now about 3 hours ahead of the control close time. I saw a few familiar faces and found Bill Fischer. He had taken a 3-hour nap and was preparing to leave soon. I grabbed a little something to eat and filled water bottles.

In at Dreux.

Out on the road heading to Dreux, the terrain became very hilly, but I felt strong and somehow rested. Bill and I were passing everyone on the hills. I thought to myself, I love this compact crank. What a difference it makes in my climbing. I remembered how well I was climbing the night before as I was approaching Villaines.

It wasn’t until the ride was over that I realized it wasn’t a compact crank after all. The loaner bike had my drivetrain. Duh! Anyway, it was all working for me. At least for now.

At dawn on Thursday, the terrain had flattened and we were flying down the road. But, my eyes became very heavy – again — and I decided to pull over. I simply leaned back against a hedgerow and shut down. That’s right, another power nap. Felt great for a while and then someone was yelling at me from a car. I waved to him and just said I’m OK — PBP! He shook his head and wished me bon route.

PBP Rewind: Chip Adams’ PBP2011 Story Day Three

Chip does the right thing and checks in at the mechanic’s tent in Loudeac before leaving, hoping to find the source of his bike’s noise and weird handling.

And…there it is, the problem that threatens to knock him out of PBP. Read how Chip gets out of this jam, courtesy of the magic that gives PBP its revered status. See his Day Three chapter at Chip’s story page, The Clock Never Stops.

Here is today’s excerpt. Check back tomorrow for the final chapter and endearing epilogue.

The final wake-up! From here, I would ride according to my original plan, which was to ride back to Paris without any more sleep stops. All drop-bags needed to be in the pick-up area before 7:00 am. I pushed the heck out of the 7:00 am time limit, and on the way over to the control, I had a minor crash. Actually, I just sort of fell over.

I came around too sharp of a corner and because of my bag which was stretched over Clif’s, it just rolled off and could not get my foot off of the pedal in time. I think all the rain had washed out any lubrication and my foot would not twist out.

The good part is that everyone got to see it! That’s right. It was the kind of thing that if witnessing, you would ask yourself, “how did the knucklehead even make it this far?” The same sort of thing happened to me about 10 miles from the end while stopping at a light.

Anyway, I made the bag area in time, but missed Bill. The last time I saw him around Brest, we had agreed to 7:00 am out of Loudeac. But, I did stop at the mechanic’s tent as planned and here started the most crucial, potentially ride-ending, part of my PBP.

PBP Rewind: Chip Adams’ PBP2011 Story Day Two

On the second day of PBP, Chip Adams and Clif D. greeted MG and me in the hotel lobby in Loudeac, looking fresh and chipper, before they departed for the run to Brest and back. Not all was good, however. Clif complained of some stomach issues, and that problem was not to be resolved on this day, presenting the first big challenge to their plan to ride as a two-man team.

And if you’ve been following so far, the noise in Chip’s bike gets worse.

Read the rest of the story in the Day Two chapter of Chip’s PBP story, The Clock Never Stops.

Today’s excerpt:

It was great finally getting to Brest, but the ride took us on a circuitous route around the port area, and though it only added a few miles, it seemed like it took forever to get to the control. We rolled in at 3:45 pm Tuesday, the halfway point of the ride.

Once there, though, we stayed for little over an hour. We all occupied our times in different ways. Clif got a quick nap on a real cot. I think Bill got a shower and some real food. I got my power nap sitting upright in a chair leaning against a wall.

I awoke to a guy with a big camera in my face. It was about 5:00 pm when we finally hit the street and put the control behind us. Now, what Clif and I needed was food. There was none at the control. Bill had found some a short walk from the control. We decided that we would keep our eyes open for something on the road.

Unfortunately, it was nearly 20 more miles later – another hour or so after leaving. We didn’t know it at the time, but not eating earlier had become a critical factor in how the rest of our ride would go. Though I was able to eat and take in needed calories, Clif could not.

We left the restaurant in two very different mental and physical states: I had eaten and was ready to roll at the fastest speed possible, but Clif had eaten nothing, was in a calorie-deficit condition, and had a nagging stomach issue.

A couple of miles out of town, I could sense the two different mindsets as we thought about the road ahead. We agreed that I would go on at my pace and he would get to the next town and find a pharmacy for his ailment. He would evaluate his condition at that time, being mindful of the controls’ closing times. At Brest, we were a little over four hours ahead of closing, so it seemed he had some time to work with.

So, off I went, haunted about my decision – was it the right one?

PBP Rewind: Chip Adams’ PBP2011 Story Day One

TDR’s PBP Rewind series rolls into its third week with a new story from Chip Adams, one of the lead amigos of the Severna Park Peloton and D.C. Randonneurs. If you don’t know about the SPP, they ride in the Annapolis area and bring a fun, sporty outlook to randonneuring. They’re fast, but never in a rush — a nice approach to randonneuring.

Chip on a Sunnier Day (courtesy Bill Beck)

Chip is organizing the annual DCR Flatbread 200K this Saturday, a neat event that winds through the flat, fast SPP territory east of Washington.

Chip got talked into the 2007 PBP, ignored the rain and was hooked. Back for the 2011 running, Chip and compadre Clif D. had a plan to get out to Brest and back in quick fashion. But as everyone knows, PBP has a way of taking plans, marking them up and handing them back to you!

A potential show-stopper on Day Three did not keep Chip from finishing, but I won’t give away the details now. In today’s chapter, Chip sets the stage for the tale to come. Read more at his story page, Chip Adams’ PBP2011: The Clock Never Stops.

Today’s excerpt is below. Tune in tomorrow for Day Two!

A little over 4 years ago, maybe closer to 5 years, Clint Provenza went to work trying to convince me to do a 750-mile bike ride in 3 ½ days with him. They called it PBP. I told him, “no way.” If you know Clint, of course you know he never stops trying; and, of course, I eventually agreed to the absurdity. And in 2007, we rode it, along with Jim Levitt. Anyone who knows me knows I’ve been thinking about and planning for the 2011 PBP pretty much since the 2007 PBP ended.

I couldn’t get it out of my head. I just couldn’t wait to go back for another go at it. So I was very excited to get going again. Unfortunately, Clint couldn’t make this one, nor would Jim. But Clif was in and as excited as I to ride this epic bike event.

Four years later, back again.

We got to Paris about a week before the ride and pretty much ate and rode our way around Paris. Bill Fischer, from NY, had also gotten in a few days earlier and he was an integral part of our group and the ride. So Monday, August 21, 3:45 am, we three met and headed over to the start, and lined up around the track with a few hundred of our newest riding mates.

I was excited and a little nervous, hoping that I hadn’t forgotten anything that I would need for this 84-hour, 760-mile, out to Brest and back, bike ride. I was hoping I had the right combination of clothing, etc., and wondering whether or not I got it all right in my drop bag bound for Loudeac.

It turned out that we forgot our waterproof cue sheets that Dave Provine had made for us, but then I remembered that in 2007 they did a very good job marking the course. Around us were some DC Rand folk — Roger Hillas and Joe Brown and a little farther back were Greg Conderacci and Andrea Matney.

We finally began to move through the control and got cards signed and ankle chips activated. But, we still weren’t ready to roll — more waiting out on the road. It was very exciting being there and feeling the energy of the riders and the crowd. A lot of riders’ families and friends, and many locals, came out to see the start.

Coffeeneuring Challenge Met, and How Fun It Was

MG has a knack for creative, gently competitive contests. Her latest is the Coffeeneuring Challenge: seven trips by bike to coffee shops over six weekends, all outside of formal events such as a brevet. Read all about it here.

Coffeeneuring. Two great things.

Being married to MG means I had no reason not to know about this challenge, and the timing was fantastic. She proposed the event during our break from big weekend rides after a fun spring and summer undertaking brevets and a grand randonnee in Paris.

I managed to meet the challenge, though we had to make a special trip on the very last day, Oct. 30, to get in my final coffeeneuring stop. Whew!

Here are my results.

No. 1 Saturday Sept. 24 Illy Caffe, Dupont Circle, Washington, DC
Mileage: 65
Beverage: Espresso!
Observations: MG, Lane G and I went here before joining the Washington Area Bicyclist Association annual 50 States and 13 Colonies Ride from the Dupont Circle. It was technically coffeeneuring, as it came before an organized event.

Illy is really just a coffee bar connected to the lobby of the Renaissance Hotel with its own door to the street. The espresso is, as you’d expect by the Illy name, divine.
Rating: Five stars.

Lovely espresso cups at Illy Caffe

No 2 Sept. 25: Peregrine Espresso, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.
Mileage: 6
Drink: Espresso!
This was an local Sunday afternoon ride with MG to get my new SimpleOne singlespeed bike out and about. Peregrine is a little stingy with the espresso but they take things seriously and you have to just savor that little cup, and then go back and get another one.
Rating: Four stars.

MG at Peregrine Espresso, with her new artisan mug.

No. 3 Oct 8: Boccato Espresso, Old Town Alexandria, Va.
Mileage: 20
Drink: Espresso _ and _ Cappucino.
MG and I went to the farmers market in Old Town to start and then went to Bocatto, which is a gelato joint but is trying to get people to also buy coffee drinks. Little did we know they were nearing the end of a morning coffee special of $1 for espresso and $2 for espresso beverages. They make wonderful espresso. We stayed awhile!
Rating: Five stars.

At Boccato in Alexandria. A very nice day to ride to coffee.

No 4 Oct. 9: Starbucks, Palisades, Washington, DC
Country tandem ride to Poolesville, Md.
Mileage: 75
Drink: Espresso!
MG and I met up with Lane G. and Eric P. to ride out to Potomac, Md. and Poolesville. We stopped at Starbucks to meet Eric and have a nice cup before continuing on with our ride. This is a pretty tony area and the drinks were better than your usual Starbucks.
Rating: Three stars.

Eric and friend at Starbucks.

No. 5 Oct. 15: Pound Coffee, Capitol Hill, Washington DC
Mileage: 25
Drink: Espresso!
Another town ride with MG. We had a spirited discussion about where to go and decided to try Pound on Capitol Hill. The espresso was very bitter and I put it down after the first sip. I was not in the mood to ask for another and we went on to Peregine and had a proper espresso, and I got another later at Boccato’s Arlington, Va. location. (I posted a note to Twitter about Pound and they offered me a free one next time I go there).
Rating: One star. I suppose it still counts, even if I didn’t finish it.

Pound Coffee on Capitol Hill. We then went to Peregrine and then Illy Caffe.

#6 Oct. 16 Sheetz, Thurmont, Md.
Mileage: 92
Beverage: Latte.
MG and I took the tandem up to Frederick, Md. to ride the Frederick-Fairfield-Frederick century route on a sunny warm fall day. The afternoon rest stop at Sheetz was very welcome. Sheetz’ coffee drinks land somewhere between 7-11 and Starbucks in taste, though they are a very good value. When there is no Starbucks or better in the vicinity, Sheetz does the job.
Rating: Two stars.

Sheetz espresso machine. An automatic, but still Italian.

#7 Oct. 30. Tryst, Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.
Mileage: 9
Beverage: Espresso!
We trucked out on our bikes on the very last evening of the last day of the Coffeeneuring Season after riding a century with our pals in southern Maryland. Tryst makes a very good espresso. The place is something of an arty 20s singles joint, with couches and candles and tables you share with other Macbook users. Oh, and grinding alt-rock. Being older than 30, nobody looked at me. Except MG. Thank you my love.
Rating: Four stars.

Did it. Final Coffeeneuring Stop with less than four hours to go.

Thanks for the challenge, MG, and congratulations to all the official coffeeneurs, as compiled by MG at her blog, Chasing Mailboxes.

PBP Rewind: Nick Bull’s PBP2011 Story Finale

After three days and three nights in the saddle, on the ground, or at the dinner table, Nick gets back to Paris for a very sweet completion of Paris-Brest-Paris 2011.

I say it was sweet because Nick had to stop during PBP 2007 because of illness, and was determined to get an official completion this time around. It was also sweet in that our man added one more stop to his ride after arriving at the finish in St. Quentin-en-Yvelines — read the details at his story page, Paris-Brest-Paris 2011: Fini, Finalement!.

Thanks for a great story and congratulations on your successful PBP, Nick!

Next week: PBP Rewind rolls on with the PBP tale by Chip Adams of D.C. Randonneurs and the Severna Park Peloton. Stay tuned!

An excerpt from Nick’s final chapter:

Now I rode by myself for awhile, passing some and being passed by others, as I started to feel a little more drowzy. As I stopped in a little square in Brezolles to take a nap, I heard Pam Wright of Texas ride by, saying that her GPS had just come back on all by itself.

After a ten-minute nap, I was rejuvenated, and rode the last sixteen miles in to Dreux very hard. I was having a great time, singing to myself and enjoying the ride and the loose camaraderie of all the randonneurs riding through the night. An Italian started drafting me and we tried to chat a little bit, but he spoke almost no English and I speak no Italian and couldn’t seem to guess the Latinate words from my little knowledge of Spanish and French.

Eventually I got to Dreux at around 4am, an hour and twenty minutes ahead of schedule. I ate and said hi to Pam and went out to my bike and thought about just riding on, as called for in the ride plan. But I had plenty of time, and thoughts of Thai’s fate chastened me so I went back in to the control and found a place to lie down, set my alarm clock, and slept for an hour and forty minutes. I got up and ate a creme brulee and a pastry and headed out, now only four minutes ahead of schedule.

Leaving Dreux was emotional because that is where I DNF’d in 2007. Fortunately, someone had warned me about the big climb out of town, so I was prepared and just took it slow and easy. By this time my butt was feeling a little bruised from four days of pounding. My legs were feeling alright, but I just didn’t feel like riding hard, partly because it was a beautiful dawn and I was enjoying this part of the ride at my pokey little 12.5 miles an hour and I’d get to Paris all in good time as long as I kept on pedaling. I chatted with a Brit for awhile, he has been unemployed for three years and can’t find a job, poor guy.

Riders on the uplands past Dreux, dawn of the last day.