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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.