Good headlights, taillights and reflective gear were put to good use with the shorter day this time of year as nearly all riders had some night riding time, with sunset at 6:45p. There are still a couple of riders that need to improve in this area, but overall, they were well equipped for safe night riding. For some riders this was their first night time brevet ride, including Craig Futterer who said he really enjoyed the experience.

We moved the final checkpoint across the parking lot to Old Chicago to relax, rehydrate, have a nice meal and talk to other randonneurs about the ride. I think the socializing part of randonneuring is really important. Randonneuring is such a self driven, individual sport that it can be very internal. Talking to others that are going through the same experience is a good way to learn, get encouragement and to get to know other riders. Riding together, when you find a compatible partner is another way to enjoy and share the sport.

While most of the riders were from the Twin Cities area, we also had riders from Cedar Falls, Iowa, New Richland and Madison, Wisconsin, and Rochester, Mn.

See the pictures here.

Elevation

A number of riders asked about the elevation gain for the route and how that compares to other brevets and to PBP. Shown below are my numbers – if anyone else had a GPS or altimeter on the route, let me know your results. GPS elevation numbers are generally around 30% lower than De Lorme or Topo measurements. I’m not sure which ones to really believe, but I did compare the TCBC ride to the Waterloo, Iowa, 300k, which has a De Lorme elevation profile published on the web. A number of TCBC randonneurs have done this ride, so I invite your comparisons of the two rides.

The consensus of the riders at Old Chicago was that the 26 miles into and out of Plainview were some of the hilliest roads anyone had done on any other brevets in the midwest or other parts of the US.

Overall elevation gain for the full TCBC 300k: 8,310 ft according to my Garmin GPS.

Elevation gain for the 26 miles into and out of Plainview; about 4,000 ft – almost 50% of the total elevation gain for the entire ride, in 52 miles.

The Iowa 300k is listed at 11,831 ft of elevation gain, as measured with DeLorme. If the 30% factor is applied to get to a similar base, the TCBC 300k would be about 11,870 ft or virtually the same elevation gain. The Iowa 300k has a number of climbs that are a little longer than the TCBC ride, but there are not as many rollers overall. Most riders that have ridden the Iowa 300k, myself included, would consider it to be a fairly tough brevet.

Comparison to PBP. The terrain in northern France is almost continuous rolling countryside, with one really long climb near Brest that you get to go over both ways. There are some steeper areas, including some tough rollers in the Rambouillet Woods, near the finish. There are also some sections that are somewhat (but not quite) flat. Charles Breer put it nicely when he said it always seemed like you were either climbing a hill to get to the village on the top, or climbing out of the valley as you were leaving the village by the river.

PBP’s 2007 published profile shows 38,000 feet of elevation gain. I don’t know how they measure this, but if you multiply my TCBC GPS number by 4, you get to 33,200 ft for 1200km. If you use De Lorme, with the 30% factor, the number would be around 47,500 ft. My personal experience is that the Iowa and Minnesota brevets are excellent training grounds for PBP, with a good combination of rollers and a few kickers to keep you honest. If you can handle these, you will be in good shape for PBP 2011.

If other randonneurs would like to throw their thoughts into the mix, please send them to me and I’ll pass them on to the group. We have a nice group of newer riders that are just getting into randonneuring as well as a solid cadre of riders that have experienced many brevets and have done the Paris-Brest-Paris ride and other super randonnee events. Let’s keep growing and sharing what we know.

Finishing times for the TCBC 300k

Start Time 7:00
Average Riding time 14:05

Allotted time for RUSA 300k 20 hours

Congratulations to all of the 30 riders that started and finished the TCBC Fall 200k Brevet!  The weather was absolutely perfect and a number of riders had exceptionally fast times for the 127 mile route.  Randonneuring is not about racing, but compared to the TCBC Spring 200k brevet, where head winds were a big factor, the average finishing time was more than an hour faster.   There were lots of smiles at the finish at the AmericInn in Apple Valley followed by plenty of spirited conversation and plans for future rides at the Old Chicago restaurant right next door.

Eight riders that had not done a brevet before came to the ride.  We added five new TCBC members.  So far this year, we’ve introduced 30 new and existing TCBC riders to brevets and added 10 new TCBC members.

The following riders have participated in two brevet rides this year:

These riders have participated in all three TCBC Brevets this year:

Mark Aeling                 Mike Aeling                 Richard Miller                 JR Soderberg

There is one more brevet left this year, the 300k scheduled for October 4th.  We are hoping for another great weather day and another good turnout.  Put it on your calendars and visit the TCBC web site for more details.

Next year the TCBC Randonneur program will be expanded to a full series of brevets (200k, 300k, 400k and 600k).  In addition, we’ll have a schedule of other brevet ride opportunities in the upper Midwest including some interesting grand randonnee rides in other parts of the US and internationally.   More details will be coming soon.

Following is the list of the riders and their finishing times for the 200k.

Thank you to all that participated.

Rob Welsh, TCBC Randonneur Ride Leader

Mike Aeling, Minnesota Regional Brevet Administrator

Welcome Randonneurs to the TCBC Fall Brevet Season.

Hopefully you have had a great summer on the road, are in great shape and ready for a couple of good fall challenges to round out your season. Here is your chance to qualify for a Randonneur USA brevet and earn some major TCBC miles.

We are presenting two brevets for your riding pleasure and experience this fall.

8:00a Saturday, September 20th 200k Apple Valley
7:00a Saturday, October 4th 300k Apple Valley

The rides start at the AmericInn/Old Chicago parking lot on the NE corner of Cedar Ave and Cty 42 in Apple Valley.
These rides are on the TCBC Ride Schedule.

The routes are the same as the spring versions. For those of you who vaguely remember the wind and rain from these rides, keep in mind that fall weather in Minnesota is normally the best time of year to be on the road !!

If you are ready to ride, please send me an email to confirm your attendance.

As was the case for the spring brevets, you must be a member of TCBC in order to ride these events. If you are not a member, please go online to the TCBC website to register. I will have some forms available at the ride start, if necessary. Annual dues are $25.

You do not need to be a RUSA member, but if you want your ride to count for any of the RUSA awards or to qualify for Grand Randonnes, you must join – dues are $25/year.

2009 Ride Planning

It’s not too early to start thinking ahead about riding some longer brevets next year. To whet your imagination, here are some opportunities to begin planning for: Drop me a note if you would like to discuss these adventures!

Super Randonneur Series – TCBC, Rochester and Waterloo, Ia

TCBC will be offering a full Super Randonneur series in 2009. This is a 200k, 300k, 400k and 600k set of brevets, starting in the spring. We will also be coordinating schedules with the Rochester, Mn, and Waterloo, Ia, randonneuring groups so you will have opportunities to ride most weekends through June.

Grand Randonnes

Completing the Super Randonneur series will qualify you for Grand Randonnes brevets, 1000k and longer. There are a number of these offered across the US each year. These are listed on the RUSA website (Shanandoh Valley, Cascade, Last Chance are some of the classics). Here’s a few others to get you dreaming:

 

Warm Winter Brevet Riding

Check out many other short and long brevets around the USA on the RUSA site, including some of my favorite winter oppotunities to give you a break from our chilly time of year and a jump on your spring training.

Jan-Feb Florida brevets – flat and warm.

Mar–April Arizona – PAC Tour Desert Camps – several week long camps, some
weeks include a 200k brevet option. Lots of hills, warm, sunny weather

2008 Accomplishments

Congratulations to the following TCBC riders who completed long brevets of 600k or better this year. If I missed anyone, please let me know

600k
Cascade, Washington
Charles Breer

Waterloo, Iowa
Charles Breer

Great Lakes, Wisconsin
Jim Joy

Quakertown, Pennsylvania
Rob Welsh

1200k
Rocky Mountain, British Columbia
Rob Welsh

A special congratulations to Mark Olsen, a member of the Rochester Randonneurs, who has completed two 1200k brevets this year (Cascade, Rocky Mountain). Mark is also planning to ride the Last Chance 1200k in Colorado in September. Some people just keep pushing back the limits we all think are there, but really only exist in our minds. Mark’s brother Bill, who lives in the DC area, has completed three 1200ks this year and will join Mark on the Last Chance.

Congratulations to the TCBC 300k Brevet riders from the Saturday, June 28th event.  Despite the ride leader’s assurances of a nice day and a reasonable route, the brevet turned out to be a real test of preparation and perseverence.  Rain and thunder kept the riders cool and cautious for the first five hours of the brevet, then after the turnaround, a brisk head wind dried them off and had them working hard for a good part of the way back.  Throw in a plethora of rolling hills, a few tough grunts and a couple of real challengers and it was a great day to learn and utilize key randonneur survival skills.

12 riders started, 8 completed the brevet.

Congratulations to J Richard Soderberg and Bill Bennett on completing their first 300k brevets.

A special congratulations to Brett Thunstrom and Al Voigt for completing their first brevet.  Brett and Al were models of experience with great bikes set up for randonneuring, good rain gear, quality lighting, reflective gear, and terrific attitudes.  Their goal was to get back before last call at Old Chicago – they made it with 1/2 hour to spare. Sorry I couldn’t be there to help you celebrate guys.

Those that were completing their first brevets had good company.  The other four finishers and one other rider (Don McCall) are Paris-Brest-Paris finishers.

PBP 2011 is only 3 years away!  Keep riding to be ready for the TCBC Fall Brevet season, with another round of brevets – 200k on September 6th, 300k on Sept 20.  No promises, but Minnesota fall weather is generally more moderate and less breezy.  :-)

Ride Results
Completed

Riders completing the brevet will get 189 TCBC miles credit.  Other riders will get TCBC credit for the mileage completed as shown above.

Special thanks to Mike Aeling, Charles Breer and my wife Nancy for getting the ride started after I was stranded in Chicago with a cancelled flight.

Rob Welsh

Congratulations to all 18 participants in the TCBC 200k Brevet (125 miles) held Saturday, May 17th.  In spite of a 20-30 mph headwind challenge on the last half of the ride, 16 riders completed the brevet and 2 newer riders made it to the 100 mile control in Randolph.  Coach Rob says, “while it was difficult, the riders will see the benefits of the tough work to complete the ride in other rides and future brevets”.

All of you will get the TCBC mileage credit of 126 miles.  Those of you with RUSA #s will have your brevet submitted – you should see the results on line in a few weeks. If you want to order a medal commemorating your accomplishment, check out the new RUSA online medal ordering facility.

Here is the official list of riders for the event.

First Brevets
Bill Bennet (new RUSA Member)
Jim Bergman
Michael Derner new RUSA Member)
Lisa Dust (new RUSA Member)
Joe Hays
Jeffery Lengmagic
Richard Miller
Doug Sams (new RUSA Member)
J Richard Soderberg (new RUSA Member)

Current Randonneurs – RUSA Members
Mark Aeling
Mike Aeling
Greg Barkley
Doug Dyer
Jim Joy
Don McCall
Rob Welsh

100 miles completers
Ahi Bennuri
Meg Brady

If you are a TCBC Member there is no cost for the ride. If you are not, you need to be. To join, go to the TCBC web site at http://biketcbc.org/ and select the ‘Join Us’ tab on the top right corner of the page. You can sign up online, using Active.com, or can print off and mail the form in. Cost is $25/year – note that this covers registration costs for the other TCBC brevets and other TCBC rides for the year.

2) Are you a RUSA member? You don’t have to be, but if you want your brevet to be recorded by Randonneurs USA and be eligible for a medal, you will need to join them. The registration process takes a couple of weeks. Cost is $25/year. www.RUSA.org

3) Send an email to me () confirming your attendance, with the following information:
Name
Address
Phone (for emergency purposes)
RUSA number – if a member
Is this your first brevet ride?

Sending the email helps me prepare brevet cards, etc ahead of time and saves you time at registration. Day of ride registrations are allowed, but will be subject to rider leader time and availability – you may have to start late If I don’t have time to get the paperwork done.

On the Day of the Ride – May 17th

6:15a Be at the start (AmericInn/Old Chicago parking lot, NE corner of Cty 42 and Cedar Ave (23), in Apple Valley
Sign in and pick up your brevet card and cue sheet
6:45a Mandatory rider meeting
7:00a Ride will start promptly
8:30p Time limit for those looking for RUSA completion qualification and the medal.

Rob
612-801-4196

Congrats to the dozen riders that made it out today for the first TCBC Brevet Training Ride.  We covered 61 miles (100km – 1/2 of the official brevet ride on May 17th).  The weather was as predicted, not particularly friendly, with some head winds and a period of cold rain, but 9.75 of the riders completed the distance.  Two mechanicals early on and one rider had a flat, broke the spare and got a ride in for the last 15 miles.

Listed are the participants for the ride.  I’m mentioning them by name because the conditions were cold, windy and wet – good randonneuring training weather!  Way to go!

Marriner Smith
Charles Breer
Michael Derner
Mark Pruka
Meg Brady
Lisa Dust
Jim Joy
Craig Futterer
Steve Redelsperger
Vincent Dominguez
Ron Kevining

This winter has been a little colder than we’re used to in the last few years, but  I’m hoping it warms up soon so we can get in some solid training miles for the inaugural TCBC 200K Brevet on Saturday, May 17th.

RUSA Membership Note

If you are planning to ride the TCBC 200k Brevet and want to get the RUSA medal and have your miles recorded by Randonneurs USA, you need to join RUSA.   Cost is $20/year, which also gets you a very nice handbook and  a quarterly newsletter.

Attached here is a pdf of the RUSA membership application form.  Check out their web site at www.RUSA.org for more details.

Note that this form is mailed in and can take 2 weeks for processing.  Note that you do not have to be a member of RUSA to do the TCBC brevet rides, but you must be a TCBC member.  You cannot do the TCBC brevet rides as a guest.   This rule is necessary because of the extra insurance TCBC carries for these events.   You do get TCBC ride miles credit – 125 miles for the 200k, 188 miles for the 300k.

Brevet Training Rides

We planned to do some brevet training rides to prep riders for the 200k brevet.  Because there are  longer winter rides already on the TCBC calendar for Jan-March, we decided to hold off on specific brevet training rides until April.  We encourage you to get out when you can to build a good base of miles – and it beats sitting around on the couch watching old Tour d’France reruns.

Here’s the schedule of brevet rides – which will be showing up on the TCBC ride calendar soon.  The purpose of the brevet training rides is to get new and experienced Randonneurs together to spin some miles and talk about Randonneuring and how we can make Randonneuring a success with TCBC.

All training rides will start from the AmericInn/Old Chicago parking lot on the NE corner of County 42 and Cedar Ave in Apple Valley.  We’ll be using some of the official brevet routes for part of the training rides to familiarize you with the typical start/finish miles.

The official TCBC brevets will go on regardless of weather.  The training rides will go on unless there is a severe weather problem (very cold or very wet).   Expect some wind this time of year.  We’ll try to plan for a tailwind on the home leg, but no guarantees.

Sunday, April 6th 10 am.  50 miles – B ride pace.  This will be an easy spin, relatively flat.  We’ll try to stick together to give newbies a chance to ask questions while we’re riding.   Plan on at least one rest stop, about half way through the ride.  We’ll convene at Old Chicago after to discuss Randonneuring over pizza.  Bring your questions.  If you are an experienced Randonneur, come along for the ride and share your knowledge and experience.

Sunday April 20th 10a. 75 miles – B ride pace. A little longer ride, pick your pace.  Maps will be available at the start.  There will be a couple of convenience store/rest stops along the way.  You should be bringing some of your own food/nutrition to consume while you are riding to keep your energy levels high.  We’ll still meet at Old Chicago after to compare notes.

Sunday, April 27th – Minnesota Ironman. This is not a brevet specific ride but is an excellent opportunity to click off some great training miles on one of the most popular rides in Minnesota.  For Randonneurs, plan on riding at least the metric century.  If the weather is reasonable, reach for the full century.

Sunday, May 11th 8am. 100 miles – B ride pace. Last prep ride before the big event.  Maps and brevet type cue sheets will be handed out before the ride.  Set your own pace.  You should be able to complete this comfortably in less than 10 hours.   There will be 3-4 convenience stores/rest stops along the way, but bring your own food/nutrition along to keep you energized.   If you have done the previous training miles and can handle this, you are definitely ready for the 200k.

Saturday, May 17th 7a. TCBC 200k Brevet ride. This is the medal ride.  Be well prepared and it will be a fun cruise.   You have up to 12 hours to complete the event.

Saturday, June 28th 6a.  TCBC 300k Brevet ride. Keep the training miles going and this ride will be a natural.  Lots of sunlight, you have up to 20 hours to complete the event.

Hi, I’m Rob Welsh and I’d like to tell you about the bicycling sport of Randonneuring and the Randonneur program that TCBC will be offering in 2008.

Randonneuring was started in France in the early 1900’s during the first big bicycle boom period. Randonee in French means a trip or a travel in the country.  Randonneuring came to mean to take a long trip on a bicycle as part of an organized event.  In the beginning randonneuring rides were competitive and professional bicycle riders vied for victory on long routes around France.   A big change in the sport came about when they added a ‘tourist’ division in 1924 which took away the focus on winning and emphasized the spirit of self sufficient long distance riding.  This concept was very successful in growing the number of riders but very quickly the professional racers stopped riding the randonneur events to focus on the competitive races, leaving the tourists to focus on the pleasure of the ride without the need to get there first.

Randonneuring grew in popularity, with some highs and lows until after the Second World War.   It almost died out, along with many other forms of bicycling during the 1950s and early 60s, but has enjoyed a remarkable growth, particularly in the past 30 years.  The Audax Club Parisien is the international sponsoring body for randonneuring, sanctioning organizations in many countries including Randonneurs USA (RUSA).  There are many randonneuring groups across the US that put on series of rides and events every year.  In Minnesota there has been a series run out of Rochester for a number of years.  Iowa and Wisconsin also hold a series of randonneuring events every year.

There are a variety of randonneur riding experiences.  The most common is a brevet, which is a scheduled ride where all riders start at the same time, covering distances of 200, 300, 400, 600, 1000 or 1,200 kilometers, or 125 to 750 miles, in a specified period of time.   Other types of events are 24 hour rides called fleches, shorter group events named populaires and predefined routes called permanents that can be ridden at any time.  Awards are given for completing an event and the results are recorded and tracked by RUSA.  Special recognition awards can be earned by riders that achieve combinations of events over a season or multiple years. Randonneur rides in other countries can also count towards reaching these special milestones.

The ultimate Randonneur ride is the classic Paris-Brest-Paris event held every four years in France.  This ride started in 1904 and travels from Paris to Brest and back, covering 1,200 kilometers.  Randonneurs have up to 90 hours to complete the distance – an average of 8.3 mph.  Sounds easy, right?  Over 5,500 riders from around the world entered the 2007 event.  About 700 of them were American with 24 riders from Minnesota, the best showing ever.  A word of encouragement if 1,200 km seems like an incredible distance to ride;   all randonneurs start with the shorter rides and qualify for the longer distance rides every year.  Many riders are fine with these distances and do not aspire to the longer rides – no problem.  For those that do want to continue to grow their interest, the challenges are there.

Starting in 2008, TCBC and RUSA are putting on a 200k and 300k brevet series in the spring and again in the fall.  In 2009 we plan to add more events.  The next Paris-Brest-Paris ride is 2011 so we will have a full program by then for those that are up to the ultimate challenge.  We think there is a lot of interest in these events within the club.  There is a core group of TCBC members already working on routes and organization.

We have started an email group list of riders interested in following our progress as we put together the 2008 season.  If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to Brevets@BikeTCBC.org. If you are already a TCBC member most of this information will also eventually be on the TCBC web site and newsletter.

If you are still wondering why you would be interested in randonneuring, here are a few thoughts:

• It’s a challenge, but a personal one.  Randonneuring is not about getting there first, it’s about completing the route and enjoying the experience.
• Your miles count towards TCBC yearly totals.
• You can ride the events as a group or individually.
• There are awards and recognition from RUSA for completing a ride and series of rides.
• It really takes you to a new level of cycling fitness and awareness of what you can do.
• It’s a different way to ride your bike and it’s fun – what could be better!

Preparing for the TCBC Brevet Rides

Here’s some ideas to get in some training miles and to get you interested in randonneuring for the next few months.

New Year’s Day Century Ride – Get your 2008 brevet training off to a great start with Randall’s New Year’s Day ride – see the TCBC online ride schedule for details.

Brevet Training Rides (see update above or on the ride schedule page)

To help you prepare for the 200k brevet ride scheduled for May 17th, these are some tentative dates and distances for a training ride series to prepare for the 200 and 300k rides.  Rides will start in Apple Valley.  Depending on the number of riders and pace, we may try to stick together or at least meet up at certain points for the first couple of rides.  These rides will be on the TCBC schedule soon.  Rides will be dependent on reasonable weather. Classification is AB/B for the shorter rides, AB for longer routes.

If there is an interest we may use these training rides as a springboard to get together to talk about randonneuring – preparation, equipment, what to expect and why it’s fun.  More on this later

Brevet Route Status

The route for the 200k TCBC Brevet ride on May 17th is complete and is awaiting approval by RUSA.  This brevet passes through the following towns in Southern Minnesota.

Apple Valley – start/finish
Vermillion
Cannon Falls – control
Goodhue – control
Zumbrota
Wanamingo – control
Sogn
Randolph – control
Hampton
Apple Valley

The 300k brevet route is under construction.  This ride will use some of the same roads out of Apple Valley as the 200k, but will go further east and south toward the Mississippi River Valley.  Expect a few more hills and more of the beautiful riding roads of Southeastern Minnesota.

 

Rob Welsh

Questions and comments about this new section can be sent to Rob Welsh at

43 TCBC members started the 200k ride on May 2nd. Everyone completed the ride, including the happiest group of them all who showed up at Old Chicago 14 hours after the start. Sadaf Syede, Kathy Mulier, Ed Hassler and Elijah Rose completed their first 200k ever, taking the time to enjoy the day and evening.

The 400k was our next ride, on May 30th, with 22 entrants and 20 successful completions. This was a very difficult ride, with many tough hills on a fairly warm day, followed by a very chilly evening. Several riders had to overcome bonks and finding enough warm layers.

The Apple Valley 300k brevet on August 8th had 19 entrants. A number of preregistered riders didn’t showing up because of threatening thunderstorms. It turned out there were no thunderstorms but by mid-afternoon it was the hottest day of the year. A refreshment control, halfway through the longest section of the ride helped riders with water, endurolytes and food, thanks to Steve Scholl who provided the canopy, table and his time.

The capstone ride of the season, the AV 600k was held on September 19-20. We had 19 entrants and I am happy to report that 18 of them completed the ride in good form.

Six riders completed their first 600k brevet and seven riders completed all four TCBC brevets offered this year, qualifying for Super Randonneur status.

The brevet started in Apple Valley, passing through Cannon Falls, Lake City and Plainview before heading on to Rushford, in the Root River Valley. From there, the riders did an out and back loop to La Crescent, on the Mississippi River, then returned to Rushford, which was the designated sleep stop after 211 miles. The house we rented in Rushford worked out very nicely for riders to shower, eat and rest for a few hours before continuing the ride. Some riders decided not to sleep and continued on through the night. Randonneur rules require strong lighting systems so everyone was well equipped with excellent tail and headlights. Most riders rode in groups for the night riding segments.

The 162 mile return route included controls in Eyota, Wanamingo and Lonsdale before returning to Apple Valley. The first riders (those that rode most of the night) completed the 373 mile course just after 1p on Sunday. The last riders finished at 8p. A room was rented at the AmericInn for showers and a place to grab a nap before going home. Most finishers also stopped at the Old Chicago restaurant across the parking lot for some refreshment, food and to swap stories.

Success stories

A special congratulations to Ahi Bennuri who finally succeeded in completing his first 600k and qualifying for his first Super Randonneur award. Ahi tried but could not complete the Rochester or Waterloo 600k rides earlier in the year but he maintained a positive attitude and kept riding. He did a pre-ride of most of the original AV 600k course three weeks before the ride to prepare himself and found a number of road construction projects in time for us to reroute the course. Congratulations and thanks, Ahi!

When Gary Bakke completed the AV 600k, it was his second 600k this year, along with reaching Super Randonneur status for the first time. Completing the AV ride was in doubt for a while though as Gary had a pretty serious bonk going in Rushford and later in La Crescent. Gary stuck it out though and made it to the Rushford sleep stop at midnight with the last group of riders. Four hours later, Gary was back in good form and made it through the final 162 miles with no problem. Gary is 69 years old. Gary was one of five 60+ riders on the 600k.

Two women randonneuses, Catherine Shenk and Lara Sullivan completed the ride. Catherine joined us from Colorado, Lara came down from Ely for the ride. We need more women in these events.

Six riders completed their first 600k brevet, including

Ahi Bennuri
Craig Futterer
Andre Solodin
Richard Moore
Norman Ehrentreich
Hall Sanders

Seven riders completed all four of the TCBC brevet series, qualifying for the Super Randonneur award, including

Ahi Bennuri
Craig Futterer
Jeff Hofstede
Jim Joy
Mark Olsen
Andre Solodin
Rob Welsh

Norman Ehrentreich and Gary Bakke completed their first Super Randonneur series this year with three brevets in Apple Valley and their fourth in Rochester or Waterloo. Mike Fox rode three TCBC events and completed two Super Randonneur series this year. Mark Olsen and Rob Welsh also completed two Super Randonneur series in 2009. Lara Sullivan also completed a Super Randonneur series along with the 1000k Rochester brevet.

Next Year

We will offer the full set of brevets again next year, in conjunction with the Rochester and Waterloo brevet series. A 1000k brevet will also be offered by Robert Fry in Waterloo, Ia. For randonneurs considering Paris-Brest-Paris in 2011, 2010 is the year to prequalify by riding at least a 400k to be able to register early in 2011 for PBP 2011. It appears that longer brevets (400k, 600k and 1000k) will be weighted higher than shorter brevets in determining overall priority so check the tentative schedule below and the RUSA calendar and start making your 2010 brevet plans. 2010 schedules from the RBAs around the US are due by the end of September, so the RUSA calendar should be available online early in November.

Fleche Ride – Mid May

A fleche ride is a 24 hour team randonneur event. Teams of 3-5 riders create a route that covers at least 260 miles. Each team is independent but all teams finish in the same place. This is a great team event and a lot of fun. We are working on a good place to finish the ride where we can have a celebration for all the teams. More details to come, but let me know if you would be interested in putting a team together. I’d like to get 10 teams for this event.

Tentative Schedule for 2010

Includes Apple Valley, Rochester, and Waterloo, Ia brevets and the 1200k Grand Randonnees.
Note: if you are interested in one of the 1200k rides, monitor the RUSA web site and be ready to submit your entry quickly, as these rides usually fill up fast.

9-19 & 20 2009

TCBC AV 600k Brevet Ride Report

Congratulations to the 18 riders that completed the TCBC 600k brevet September 19-20. The weather was great, the revised route worked out very well and the riders had a great time. Six riders completed their first 600k brevet and seven riders completed all four TCBC brevets offered this year, qualifying for Super Randonneur status.

The brevet started in Apple Valley, passing through Cannon Falls, Lake City and Plainview before heading on to Rushford, in the Root River Valley. From there, the riders did an out and back loop to La Crescent, on the Mississippi River, then returned to Rushford, which was the designated sleep stop after 211 miles. The house we rented in Rushford worked out very nicely for riders to shower, eat and rest for a few hours before continuing the ride. Four riders decided not to sleep and carried on through the night. Randonneur rules require strong lighting systems so everyone was well equipped with excellent tail and headlights. Most riders rode in groups for the night riding segments.

The 162 mile return route included controls in Eyota, Wanamingo and Lonsdale before returning to Apple Valley. The first riders (those that rode most of the night) completed the 373 mile course just after 1p on Sunday. The last riders finished at 8p. A room was rented at the AmericInn for showers and a place to grab a nap before going home. Most finishers also stopped at the Old Chicago restaurant across the parking lot for some refreshment, food and to swap stories.

Success stories:

Ahi Bennuri finally succeeded in completing his first 600k and qualifying for his first Super Randonneur award. Ahi tried but could not complete the Rochester or Waterloo 600k rides earlier in the year but he maintained a positive attitude and kept riding. He did a pre-ride of most of the original AV 600k course three weeks before the ride to prepare himself and found a number of road construction projects in time for us to reroute the course. Congratulations and thanks, Ahi!

When Gary Bakke completed the AV 600k, it was his second 600k this year, along with reaching Super Randonneur status for the first time. Completing the AV ride was in doubt for a while though as Gary had a pretty serious bonk going in Rushford and later in La Crescent. Gary stuck it out though and made it to the Rushford sleep stop at midnight with the last group of riders. Four hours later, Gary was back in good form and made it through the final 162 miles with no problem. Gary is 69 years old. Gary was one of five 60+ riders.

Two women randonneuses, Catherine Shenk and Lara Sullivan completed the ride. Catherine joined us from Colorado, Lara came down from Ely for the ride. We need more women in these events.

Six riders completed their first 600k brevet, including Ahi Bennuri, Craig Futterer, Andre Solodin, Richard Moore, Norman Ehrentreich and Hall Sanders.

Seven riders completed all four of the TCBC brevet series, including Ahi Bennuri, Craig Futterer, Jeff Hofstede, Jim Joy, Mark Olsen, Andre Solodin and Rob Welsh. Norman Ehrentreich and Gary Bakke completed their first Super Randonneur series this year with three brevets in Apple Valley and their fourth in Rochester or Waterloo. Mike Fox rode three TCBC events and completed two Super Randonneur series this year. Mark Olsen and Rob Welsh also completed two Super Randonneur series in 2009.

The TCBC Randonneur program has been growing rapidly over the past two seasons. This year we offered a full series of brevets, including a 200k, 300k, 400k and 600k for the first time. 104 riders started the four TCBC brevets offered on the ride schedule. 96 of them completed their ride.

Finishers

Next Year

We will offer the full set of brevets again next year, in conjunction with the Rochester and Waterloo brevet series. A 1000k brevet will also likely be offered by Robert Fry in Waterloo. For randonneurs considering Paris-Brest-Paris in 2011, 2010 is the year to prequalify by riding at least a 400k to be able to register early in 2011 for PBP 2011. It appears that longer brevets (400k, 600k and 1000k) will be weighted higher than shorter brevets in determining overall priority so check the RUSA calendar and start making your 2010 brevet plans. 2010 schedules from the RBAs around the US are due by the end of September, so the RUSA calendar should be available online early in November.

The TCBC, Rochester and Waterloo rides will be scheduled in approximately the same order as 2009, except the TCBC 600k will be moved up earlier in September and one of the 300k rides (Rochester or Apple Valley) will be moved back to later in September. September weather is typically very stable in Minnesota, so we want to take advantage of this, particularly since our spring weather is so unpredictable.

We will continue to grow the TCBC program and have even more riders at our events. Randonneuring is a great way to ride your bike. We all need to encourage more of our friends and riding acquaintances to give randonneuring a try. In two years we have introduced randonneuring to 40 riders that had never ridden a brevet before. I would like to double this in 2010.

Compact Doubles versus Triple Cranks – continued

Another viewpoint has been submitted in the ongoing discussion about whether a triple crank (my preference) or a compact double (apparently everyone else) is the best set up for randonneuring. This perspective comes from Michele Brougher, who although she is just starting her randonneuring career has a good deal of experience in long distance rides and tours.

I thought I would put in one thing on your debate on triple vs compact double. I ride a compact double, though I have a triple and used it for many years. Perhaps it is just me, but my knees have been much stronger with my double than they ever were on my triple. Consequently, I started making really big advances in my climbing since getting a double a year ago. I suspect that the reason has nothing to do with weight and more to do with pedal stance. It appears that my knees prefer a narrower stance than I could get with my triple. After about 150 miles, I used to get all kinds of patella pains which drove me crazy – I think women are prone to patella problems more than men are. I have not had them since getting my Waterford (which is a SRAM compact double). I recently switched to a Rival group on my other bike which used to have the triple on it and used it in Oregon without any knee issues (the knee problems were what motivated me to get a Waterford in the first place). One other thing I have also noticed is that my double requires far less twittering than my triple did (seems like the settings are easier to maintain once set). SRAM makes a 12-28 cassette that is pretty darn easy to pedal (unless you are on a 22% grade and at that point, you are going to feel it no matter what).

Rob

8-8-2009

TCBC 300k Ride Report – How much are your zucchini and cucumbers?

Steve Scholl and I were somewhat surprised to hear this question from a lady that had stopped at our refreshment control on the Apple Valley 300k Brevet held on Saturday, August 8th. We were sitting in lawn chairs under a canopy with a table full of fruit, cookies and drinks about three miles west of Lake City, Mn, in a beautiful valley between two large bluff hills.

The riders passed by our refreshment control two times, on the way to and from Plainview. If you know the terrain in this part of the state, you know how hilly it is. There is about 8,000’ of climbing on this brevet ride, nearly ½ of it is jammed into

this 50 mile stretch.

The day started cloudy with menacing thunderstorms threatening. Nineteen riders showed up for a cruise from Apple Valley, through Cannon Falls, Goodhue and Plainview, then back, a total of 190 miles. The potential thunderstorms didn’t happen, but by noon, the temperature and humidity were the highest we have had this year and the riders were feeling it. By the end of the afternoon, all the riders had passed through on their way home and, fortunately, a tailwind was helping them on their journey. Riders finished between 7:30p and 1a Sunday morning. Most riders stopped in at Old Chicago for some fluids, carbs and randonneur conversation – all appreciated after a great day in the saddle.

Randonneuring is built on the concept of independence as well as helping others along the way. I heard about two riders in particular went out of their way to assist other riders. Andrei Solodin stopped twice, once for a flat tire that another rider was struggling with, and later in the day, he helped another rider find held when he became ill . Mark Olson stayed with a rider that was struggling with the heat.

A special ‘nice job’ to Mike Achor, who completed the brevet with 45 minutes to spare. I saw Mike spinning up a big hill in the heat of the day with about 80 miles to go to the finish. At that point, I wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to get to the next control, much less finish the ride. Mike was also not far from his Rochester home, so the temptation to call a life line must have crossed his mind. Mike however inhaled some water and electrolytes, kept on spinning along and finished the ride in good shape. Mike is 62.

We had three riders from the Great Lakes Randonneuring group (near Chicago) join us – Eric Peterson, Doug McLerran and Tom Casson. Also coming from out of state were Mike Lane and John Wharem from Ft. Dodge, Ia. Mark Olson and Mike Achor also came up from Rochester – thanks to all of you for=2 0coming.
Jeff Hofstade rode an extra 40 miles riding to and from the brevet.

Coming up on the randonneuring schedule is the Rochester 400k ride on August 29th and the Rochester 200k on October 3rd, which will finish up the program for the year.

The final TCBC Apple Valley brevet of the season is the 600k ride on September 19-20th. We have rented a house in Rushford as a sleepover/rest spot. The ride can be done in two days of about 210 and 165 miles or can be ridden straight through. We have revised the original route significantly to decrease the amount of climbing by about 20%. The second half of the ride will be noticeably easier. The 200, 300k and 400k brevets have a great preparation for this ride, which for a number of riders will be the final part of the ACP Super Randonneur qualification. We have 12 riders signed up so far. More details on this will be coming out soon.

Rob

TCBC Randonneurs 300k August 8, 2009

Rob

6-24-2009

Thanks to those who responded to the note sent out yesterday – here’s a couple of corrections and some more information for you.

Two more riders have sent in their comments on the Rochester 600k ride – see attachment. A number of people responded saying they really enjoyed the rider comments. I love reading them and it helps me to understand how each of us deals with the challenges of these kinds of rides. There are many common threads but everyone experiences and feels them in different ways. Hopefully you will also find the stories entertaining and helpful. As the old saying goes ‘those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it’ :-)

Rochester 200k – the date of this ride is Oct 3rd, not 9/26

There are currently 19 riders signed up for the AV 300k on August 8th and 11 riders signed up for the AV 600k. If you are planning to do either of these rides, please let me know via email.

A point of interest: in the last issue of the TCBC Newsletter, the AV 200k brevet had the third highest rider total of all TCBC rides this year – way to go guys (and girls!).

Good news: The AV 600k route is being ‘flattened’ and improved with better control access. Mike and I reconized that the climbing elevation for the ride puts it into the ‘very tough’ category, which is not necessaarily bad :-), but we want as many new randonneurs to give the capstone of the TCBC Randonneuring season a try. We also recognized on the 400k that we needed controls that are open longer hours to provide a guaranteed location for riders to check in and get the food and fluids they need. We hope to have revisions to the route done in the next month. We have a house rented in Rushford for the layover stop and are also planning some extra treats and support for 600k riders.

More good news: We also may have a special checkpoint on the AV 300k with extra randonneuring treats and encouragement.

Keep the training miles rolling. Let me know if you would like to try the Randonneur Terrible 25 as a group ride.

Rob

6-23-2009

The first half of the Minnesota Randonneur season is over with lots of tough rides and great experiences for many riders. So far five TCBC randonneurs have qualified for their first Super Randonneur award, completing a 200k, 300k, 400k and 600k series in 2009. Congrats, guys.

Rochester 600k

On June 13-14, the Rochester 600k was held with 12 riders starting the ride. The route had to be changed at the last minute due to some road construction. Mike spent a day redoing the route and painting the new roads, driving 325 miles in the process – thanks Mike. The new route also added 2,900 feet of climbing to the course, which Mike termed ‘very scenic’ – thanks again, Mike.

Attached are several pictures from the ride.

Overall it was a tough course, with 21,930’ of climbing and a couple of very difficult sections. The weather cooperated, particularly on the first day. 11 riders completed the course in the 40 hour time limit.

There was a good mix of riding experience, with three riders (Gary Bakke, Michelle Brougher and Richard Soderberg) completing their first 600k brevets. Gary, Jeff Hofstede, Jim Joy, Richard and Rob also qualified for the ACP Super Randonneur award, completing 200k, 300, 400k and 600k brevets in 2008.

For those of you contemplating a 600k at some point or are interested learning about the experience of riding this distance, attached to this email is a pdf with rider comments from most of the entrants. (‘Rider stories.pdf’)

Randonneur Terrible 25

A number of randonneurs have talked to me about training for brevets. Many riders are looking for ways to improve their hill climbing ability and overall speed. The classic approach (Lon Haldeman/Pete Penseyres) for long distance riders to improve in these areas is to go hard on short rides with challenging terrain.

If this sounds interesting, here’s an opportunity for you. I have a route in the eastern metro that I use as a great training ride and test of my fitness improvement. It is quite challenging, with eight good grunter hills in about 25 miles. If you can do this route in less than 2 hours, you are doing quite well. Less than 1:30? Lance Armstrong will be calling you.
I would put this ride on the TCBC randonneur ride schedule if there was some interest from other randonneurs. Let me know if you would be up for this. Also, there is a great ice cream shop right at the finish line.

Permanents

So far, two riders have completed the 200k Sakatah Permanent ride this year. Congratulations to Don McCall and Craig Futterer. If you are interested in riding this route for RUSA credit, or just to get in a nice day on the bike, send me an email and I’ll get you the materials you need to do the ride. A permanent is an established route that RUSA randonneurs can ride at any time for mileage credit. The ride can be done solo, or with other randonneurs. The Sakatah route has less than 4,000’ of climbing, goes from Apple Valley, through Faribault, Madison Lakes, Lonsdale, Lakeville and back to Apple Valley.

Generator Lights

Several riders on the Rochester 600k were using generator hubs. All three of the riders that rode through the night used a generator hub. These provide great lighting with no worry about battery life. The Edelux LED light from Schmidt throws of a terrific beam which really gives you confidence on the long downhills in the middle of the night. There are also other generator lights that also work exceptionally well. Good battery systems are available, but look for one that can last the night and is strong enough to throw a beam you are comfortable riding with on dark country roads.

Coming Up

After a short break, randonneuring gets serious again with two long brevets in July

July 11-12 Waterloo 600k. A great route, with some awesome hills around the Mississippi River.

July 24-26 Rochester 1000k. The longest brevet in the upper Midwest this year. Two sleepover spots and a great challenge for those ready to take on a grand randonnee.

Randonneuring returns to Apple Valley on August 8th with the classic 300k route, virtually the same as last year. This course has a tough section in the middle of the route, but starts and finishes with easy riding around Apple Valley. Most riders should have lights in case you do not complete the ride in daylight hours (about 15 hours, starting at 6a). Please drop me an email to confirm your attendance for this event and so brevet cards etc. will be waiting for you at the start.

August 22nd Rochester 400k

September 19th Apple Valley 600k – look for more information soon on sleep over details and other extras for this capstone ride for the TCBC randonneur season.

September 26th Rochester 200k

Rob

–Click here for rider stories (pdf file)–

6-5-2009

TCBC Randonneuring Report – Rob Welsh
June 2009

TCBC Randonneuring is having a breakout year. Attendance at the first two brevets has been great with 63 of 65 riders completing the event they started. The rides have been challenging and many riders are setting new personal distance records every time they complete another brevet. While most of the riders are from the Twin Cities, we are getting some good representation from other randonneuring groups, and individuals from outstate Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. All riders must be members of TCBC in order to participate in the brevets. There is no additional cost for the ride.

Here are some of the highlights of the season so far, and a summary of what to expect in the coming months.

200k (125 miles) Brevet – May 2. 43 riders started, 43 riders finished on a brisk day with some challenging winds. Most riders found a group to ride with for the windy part of the brevet, but there were a few tough solo riders that made it back on their own. This was the largest brevet event ever held in Minnesota. It rivals many of the brevets held in other parts of the US where the weather is milder and the randonneur programs have been established for many years. The route started in Apple Valley, passing through Cannon Falls, Goodhue, Zumbrota, Wanamingo and Randolph before returning to Apple Valley. There was about 4,300 feet of climbing for the ride.

400k (250 miles) Brevet – May 30. 22 riders started the brevet, 20 finished, including two women. The days are getting warmer, but some head winds on the return leg and a tough route kept the riders challenged. Some riders took up to 25 hours to complete the ride (for Randonneur USA qualification, you have 27 hours for this distance). Climbing elevation was 16,950’, one of the tougher 400k rides in the US.

For 10 of the riders this was their first 400k and for all of them by far the longest distance they had ever attempted in a single ride. All of these riders completed their first 400k brevet: Mike Achor (Rochester), Ahi Bennuri, Gary Bakke, Michele Brougher, Norman Ehrentreich, Craig Futterer, Dan Nelson, Richard Soderberg, Andre Solodin and Rick Stafford.
Four riders were over 60 years old. All of them completed the ride, including Gary Bakke (Wisconsin), Doug Carlson, Jim Joy and Richard Miller.

Congratulations to the two ladies completing the ride, Michele Brougher and Lara Sullivan (Ely)

Preparation and the Randonneuring Spirit

One of the foundations of randonneuring is the self sufficiency to plan the equipment and food you need, clothing necessary for changing conditions and the mental attitude and focus to stick with it. Another important attribute of a randonneur is the willingness to help other randonneurs out when needed with equipment, clothing, food, repair assistance and encouragement. I have seen good examples of all of these sets of skills on our brevets which really is a great sign for all of us as a randonneur group within TCBC. This helps more riders get through the brevets and makes the experiences even more memorable for everyone.
It is good to see more riders equipping their bikes for randonneur riding, with comfortable frames for long distance riding, lights, fenders, special racks, GPS computers, good saddles and other performance and comfort features. It does make a difference.

Bonking and Nutrition

A few riders had some bonking issues, particularly on the return legs of the brevets. Managing fluids, electrolytes and food is important on long rides to keep you stable and rolling along smoothly. Longer rides require more planning and consideration of what works well for you.

The good news was that the two riders that were having the toughest time on the 400k each took a good rest at the next control, got rehydrated, had some good food and went on to complete the ride.

Nutrition – most riders seemed to do pretty well with this, although with the winds on the way back it was easy to get tired at times. Long distance riding requires more attention to food and fluids on an ongoing basis throughout the ride. Food that is easily digested and doesn’t cause wide swings in energy work the best. Eating while you are riding keeps the flow of energy consistent. Keeping your electrolytes replenished through drinks or supplements also helps to maintain strength, reduce cramping and makes it easier to have a positive attitude.

Upcoming Brevets

The randonneur season continues in June with the first 600k of the season in Rochester on June 13/14 and another 400k brevet in Waterloo the next weekend. Check out the RUSA website for more details and to sign up for these events. Randonneuring returns to Apple Valley on August 8th with a 300k brevet that builds on our 200k ride, going further south through Plainview to Stockton and back.

Here is the schedule for randonneur events in Minnesota and Iowa for the rest of the year.

5-2-2009

Rob Ride Report
TCBC 200k Brevet de Randonneurs – Saturday, May 2nd

Congratulations to the 43 participants on the TCBC 200k Randonneur ride on Saturday, May 2nd.
 
I am very happy to report that everyone who started the brevet, finished the brevet.  The temperatures were 43-60, it was sunny for most of the day and there was no rain, but the 15-20+ mph headwinds across the open prairie challenged everyone on the return leg from Zumbrota.  Everyone stuck with it though and made it back to Apple Valley.  Most riders found a group to ride with for the windy part of the brevet, but there were a few tough solo riders that made it back on their own.  Spring weather in Minnesota is always an adventure.  Completing this ride will definitely prepare you well for the season ahead.  Being fitter and faster for the warmer and less windy rides of the summer and fall will be your reward for the challenges of this brevet.  

This was the largest brevet event ever held in Minnesota.  It rivals many of the brevets held in other areas of the US where the weather is milder and the randonneur programs have been established for many years.  We are growing nicely and will continue to encourage more riders to come out to discover the challenges and pleasures of randonneur riding.

There was a wide spread of ages and randonneur experience on the ride – this was a first brevet for about 1/3 of the riders – a special congratulations to these new randonneurs.  Four riders did not finish until 10:15p, after the official RUSA cutoff time for the brevet, but they had fun along the way and showed up at the AmericInn in Apple Valley in great spirits.  How many other randonneurs stopped for a photo op at the unmanned control in Nansen?  They got a late start and had a flat, otherwise they would have made it back within the RUSA time.  Ed Hassler, Kathy Mulier, Sadaf Syede and Elijah Rose demonstrated a great randonneuring spirit by sticking together and enjoying the ride despite the challenges.

Along with the new randonneurs it was great to see a large number of returning riders from last season.  I hope many of you will continue with the longer brevets so we will have a good representation of Super Randonneurs from Minnesota this year.  PBP 2011 is not that far away. Now is the time to build your fitness and experience.  Mike Aeling, our RBA, said that there may be some changes in the qualification process for PBP 2011.  We will keep you apprised of this situation.  I would expect that the RUSA website and newsletters will also have information on this as this unfolds. 

We continue to attract riders from beyond the Twin Cities including Mark Olsen and Mark Achor from Rochester, Garry Bakke from New Richmond, Wi, Will and Erin Oberton from Winona and Mike Fox from Waterloo Ia.  In addition Mike Aeling our Regional Brevet Administrator came up from Winona and Martin Fahje, retired Minnesota RBA and long time randonneur from Chatfield Mn also rode with us.  Thanks for coming!
 
Nutrition – most riders seemed to do pretty well with this, although with the winds on the way back it was easy to get tired at times. Long distance riding requires more attention to food and fluids on an ongoing basis throughout the ride.  Food that is easily digested and doesn’t cause wide swings in energy work the best.  Eating while you are riding keeps the flow of energy consistent.  Keeping your electrolytes replenished through drinks or supplements also helps to maintain strength, reduce cramping and makes it easier to have a positive attitude.

Another aspect to consider, particularly on our longer, more challenging rides, is your overall fitness level.  Bike riders develop very strong legs and lungs the more we ride.  Consider also your core strength and upper body fitness.  If you are experiencing back aches, sore shoulders, arms, etc. this may suggest a need to work on these parts of your body to enhance your comfort and effectiveness as the ride unfolds.  Persistent aches and pains may also indicate a bike fit issue – have yourself and your bike checked out by an experienced bike fitter that knows you ride long distances.

It is good to see more riders equipping their bikes for randonneur riding, with comfortable frames for long distance riding, lights, fenders, special racks, GPS computers, good saddles and other performance and comfort features.  It does make a difference.  Jim Thill completed the 200k brevet and actually rode down from Minneapolis with Andre Solodin to start the ride, adding another 15 miles to his day.  Jim runs Hiawatha Cyclery http://hiawathacyclery.com/ that has a lot of the unique stuff you need for randonneuring.  Check it out at 4301 E 54th Street, Minneapolis.
 
The randonneur season goes south for the next two weeks, with 300k brevets offered in Waterloo, Ia on May 9th and in Rochester on May 16th.  Check out the RUSA website for more details and to sign up for these events.  Randonneuring returns to Apple Valley on May 30th with a 400k brevet that builds on our 200k ride, going further south through Plainview to Stockton and back. 

Here is the schedule for randonneur events in Minnesota and Iowa for the rest of the year.

  
As you consider 300k and longer events, keep in mind that you will need to have good lighting and other reflective material to safely ride at night.  www.peterwhitecycles.com is an excellent source of information.

Official List of Finishers

See you on another ride soon.

Rob Welsh
612-801-4196

3-27-2009

Welcome TCBC Randonneurs to the 2009 season. This year we have an extensive set of brevets, permanents and outreach rides available for you to get in shape and reach your randonneuring goals. Last year ended on a great note with strong attendance at the last two brevets so we are building on this success with more ride opportunities to develop your randonneuring skills.

Recruiting New Randonneurs

Newcomers are always welcome. If you have some friends that may be interested in brevet riding, bring them along for the training rides, where they’ll have a chance to meet with other randonneur types and learn a little about randonneur riding. Most times we’ll meet after the rides at Old Chicago to rehydrate and talk about the season ahead and past adventures.
Here’s what we have to look forward to this year.

Training Rides

Hopefully your bikes did not spend the winter in the garage and you are already out on the roads, getting in some miles and enjoying our extended winter season. If you were lucky, you escaped to a warmer climate for some days of riding in the sun in shorts and shirt. If neither of these happened for you and you could use a little encouragement and support to get the wheels turning, first check out the TCBC schedule as rides are starting to pop up as the evil white stuff gradually leaves us.
To add to the mix, I have added two randonneur training rides to the TCBC schedule to get us all together and started on the road to a great season. The rides start at the usual place; the AmericInn/Old Chicago on the NE corner of Cty 42 and Cedar Ave in Apple Valley. We’ll start with20a fairly easy ride, with a hill or two. The second ride will be a little longer and somewhat more challenging, with a few hills to stretch your muscles and charge up your heart.

11:00a Saturday, April 11 50 miles
10:00a Sunday, April 19 75 miles

Here’s a great prep ride for the 200k brevet.

7:00a Sunday April 26, Ironman 33-100 miles – go for the distance !

Note: the training rides do not require TCBC membership, only the normal $2 fee for non-TCBC members.

TCBC Brevets

This year TCBC is offering the full series of brevets including 200k, 300k, 400k and 600k events to enable you to achieve the ACP Super Randonneur medal. ACP is the world governing body for randonneuring. Completing the SR series is a significant accomplishment and a base step to qualify for the grand randonnees such as Paris-Brest-Paris. 212 RUSA riders earned a Super Randonneur medal in 2008.

Dates and times for the TCBC brevets are:
8:00a Saturday, May 2 200K
6:00a Saturday, May 30 400K
6:00a Saturday, August 8 300K
6:00a Saturday, September 19 600K

You may notice that the TCBC 400k is scheduled before the 300k. This was done to integrate our schedule with the Rochester and Waterloo brevets so riders would have more choices in ride distance through the year. You can do the TCBC rides in order or do an increasing progression of rides by combining TCBC brevets and rides from these other sites or other locations throughout the US or worldwide.

We have some special plans for the 600k brevet in September that include renting a house in Rushford as a staging and sleep over stop, and providing additional services for the riders. More details will be coming
Some of you may be thinking of waiting until 2011 to do the longer brevets, when you will need them to qualify for PBP. This does work but I can tell you from experience that everytime you do these rides, it gets easier and you know more of what to expect. If you are a newer randonneur, going into 2011 already having a 400k and a 600k under your belt helps to focus your training and gives you a big mental edge. Besides, it turns out that the longer rides are fun too!

All TCBC brevets start in Apple Valley, at the AmericInn/Old Chicago parking lot on the NE corner of Cedar Ave and Cty 42.

To register for a TCBC brevet, send an email to TCBCBrevet@aol.com with the brevet(s) you intend to ride. Note that you must be a TCBC member to ride the brevets. There is no other cost for the ride, except for the 600k which will have some costs for drop bags and sleeping accommodations.

There will be a special recognition for riders that complete the full TCBC SR series this year.

Outreach Brevets

TCBC riders can get mileage credit for riding brevets in Rochester and Waterloo, Ia. Each of these locations is offering a full set of brevets in 2009. A TCBC rider leader will be at the start to sign you up for the TCBC Outreach ride. You do need to register for each of these rides with the ride organizer. Check out the RUSA website for registration specifics for each ride.

Rochester Brevets
Saturday, May 16 300K
Saturday, June 13 600K
Saturday, July 24 1000K
Saturday, August 22 400K
Saturday, October 2 200K

Waterloo, Iowa Brevets
Saturday, April 18 200K
Saturday, May 9 300K
Saturday, June 20 400K
Saturday, July 11 600K
Saturday, August 29 160K

1000k Grand Randonnee – Rochester

For those that would like to experience a true multi day Grand Randonnee event, Mike Aeling is holding a 1000k brevet in Rochester, starting on Saturday, July 24th. Two sleep-over spots have been established so you can complete the ride in three stages, riding mostly in daylight hours. Riders have just over three days (75 hours) to complete the 625 mile course. Count on lots of quiet roads, great scenery and hills. Riders will be expected to have completed a full Super Randonneur series to qualify for this event.

Permanents

I now have a 200k permanent certified by RUSA for randonneurs and others that would like to get in additional training miles, accumulate RUSA mileage credit and to qualify for the R-12 award. The permanent can be ridden at any time. The route starts in Apple Valley, goes south to Faribault then west, following the Sakatah trail, then up through Lonsdale and Lakeville. There are lots of quiet roads, some hills, but nothing too drastic. Send me an email with the date you want to ride and I’ll send you the paperwork.

Randonneur tips to start the season

1. Set your goals for the seas on now so you can get the dates on your calendar and begin planning your training and preparation. This is also a fun way to spend a cold spring evening, dreaming about warm weather, spinning down quiet roads, golden tans and trees full of green leaves.
2. Check out your bike – does it need a tune up? New tires? A good cleaning? Does it have the equipment you need for distance riding?
3. Consider your lighting systems. Starting with the 300k, many riders will need to have good head and tail lights. Randonneur routes are typically rural so you will need good lights, particularly a strong headlight (or two). Also consider auxiliary lighting, like a headlamp or separate flashlight to read cue sheets, street signs or to assist you if you need to fix a flat in the dark.
4. Most successful randonneurs start off the season easy, but they are persistent. Don’t overdo it early on, but stick with a plan and get a good base of miles in.
5. Start talking with your randonneuring partners and friends to pump each other up and sort out logistics for the brevets you want to do.
6. Consider riding some brevets in Rochester or Waterloo to broaden your randonneur experience. The start of the Rochester rides is on the north side of Rochester, just off US 52, about a 1.5 hour drive from the Twin Cities. There are hotels nearby. Waterloo, Iowa is a three hour drive, all on four lane divided highways. The brevets in Waterloo start at the Heartland Inn so staying over before or after the ride is easy.

I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Rob Welsh
612-801-4196

3-9-2009

2009 Randonneuring & Brevet Rides

TCBC is pleased to once again offer randonneur rides in 2009, with an expanded schedule of brevets starting in Apple Valley.  TCBC members interested in long-distance riding, or those seeking a different kind of ride are welcome to come out and give brevets a try.

There will be a full schedule of brevet rides in Apple Valley and Rochester, from 200K (125 miles) up to a 1000K (625 mile) event this year.  See the separate schedule for a full slate of the rides available, which are also on the official TCBC ride calendar.  Last year’s program was very successful and a number of riders completed multiple brevet rides.  Most riders are surprised at how far they can go on a bicycle, so we hope to see even more riders this year.

For more information about randonneuring and brevet rides, click on the “Randonneur/Brevet” link on the TCBC home page or contact Rob Welsh at brevets@biketcbc.org.  TCBC membership is required to participate in the TCBC brevets.  For most TCBC rides there is no cost beyond your TCBC membership.  The Rochester rides require a membership in the Rochester Active Sports Club ($20) and usually a small fee for each ride.  We also encourage riders to join Randonneurs USA (RUSA), which is the umbrella organization for brevet riding in the U.S.  RUSA maintains a complete schedule of brevet rides and provides a wealth of useful information about randonneuring at www.RUSA.org.

What is Randonneuring?

• Randonneuring is a type of organized long distance bicycle riding, started in France in the early 1900’s
• Ride distances are typically between 200 and 1200 km (125-750 miles)
• Participants are known as “randonneurs” and an event is a “randonnée” or a “brevet”
• Randonneurs USA (RUSA) is the sanctioning organization for all brevets in the U.S.

Features of Randonneuring:

• Randonneuring is not a competitive sport & collegiality is emphasized
• It is a test of endurance, self-sufficiency and bicycle touring skills
• All riders who finish are congratulated equally and their results are recorded by RUSA
• Riders are expected to carry clothing and appropriate equipment for inclement weather, spare parts and tools
• Rides in excess of 300K (187 miles) frequently involve night riding and require lights, spare bulbs and reflective gear (RUSA night riding rules apply)

What is a “brevet”?

• Brevets are rides of specific distances, with pre-determined maximum time limits.  Most riders will complete these rides in less time, but the goal is to complete the ride and have a good experience along the way.

• 200K (125 mi.)           13.5 hours
• 300K (187 mi.)           20 hours
• 400K (250 mi.)           27 hours
• 600K (375 mi.)           40 hours
• 1000K (625 mi.)         75 hours
• 1200K (750 mi.)         90 hours

• Completion of a full brevet series (200, 300, 400, 600) in a single year entitles the rider to Super Randonneur status and is a qualifier for most 1000 and 1200K events, called grand randonnée
• Brevets are held all over the world.  Most countries have a national organization for randonneur riding.  France is the birthplace of randonneuring and the home of the ultimate grand randonnée, the Paris-Brest-Paris 1200K brevet, next held in 2011.  Over 5,000 riders from all over the world will be there for this very special, ultimate event.

How does a brevet work?

• Riders must stop at a series of pre-determined locations known as “controles”, or check points, to ensure that the correct route is followed and no short cuts are taken; controles are generally 30-50 miles apart.
• All riders carry “brevet cards”, which are time-stamped and signed at each control
• Controles are typically in convenience stores but they may be staffed by ride organizers
• Brevet cards are turned in at the end of the ride as proof that the route was followed
• Brevet results are certified, tracked, and published by Randonneurs USA

Why ride brevets?

• To seek new personal challenges, including physical, mental & logistical
• To attempt to qualify for longer events in various parts of the world
• To have fun with a different kind of riding & to explore new areas

2009 Minnesota Brevet Schedule

May 2                      200K            Apple Valley (TCBC)

May 16                    300K            Rochester

May 30                    400K            Apple Valley (TCBC)

June 13                   600K            Rochester

July 24                    1000K          Rochester

August 8                  300K            Apple Valley (TCBC)

August 22                400K            Rochester

September 19         600K            Apple Valley (TCBC)

October 3                200K            Rochester

Check out the www.RUSA.org website for more information on these and other brevet rides in the region, nationally and internationally.

Other Regional 2009 Brevets

Iowa Randonneurs, Waterloo, Iowa

April 18                    200K

May 9                      300K

June 20                   400K

July 11                    600K

August 29                160K

Great Lakes Randonneurs, Delavan, Wisconsin

April 25                    200K

May 16                    300K

June 6                     400K

June 27                   600K

August 8                  200K

1200K+ Events in 2009

Some Future 1200K Events

Ride Summary – TCBC Apple Valley 200k Brevet, Saturday, October 2nd, 2010

Congratulations to the 16 riders completed their first brevet of the season. For about ½ of these riders this was their first brevet ever – nice job.

A special congratulations is in order to the seven riders who completed all four TCBC brevets (200k, 300, 400k, 600k) this year, qualifying them for the Randonneurs USA (RUSA) Super Randonneur award.

Four randonneurs (Tom Scott, Randy Foster, Stott Howard and Dan Baldi) joined us from Iowa, Sarah Mullin came down from North Dakota. There were also seven women finishers and one tandem (Ben and Lisa Kingsley)

Thanks again to Jim Joy and Doug Sams for GPS files, Tom Scott for a Google map link and Craig Futterer for helping out with registration and a pre-ride.

Pictures of the ride will be sent separately to 200k riders.

Season Summary

This year, ridership grew by about 20%, from 99 total riders for the four brevets, to 119. Thanks to everyone who came out and enjoyed our riders.

New Permanent Route Available.

For riders that would like the opportunity to continue to add RUSA mileage and stay in shape, there is a new permanent route, starting in St. Louis Park, now available, as of last week. The route passes through Delano, Henderson and Chaska along scenic, quiet roads. Michele Brougher is the route owner. Check out the permanents section on the RUSA web site (www.RUSA.org) for more details.

Stay tuned for more Minnesota Randonneur updates in the coming months. Keep spinning!

Apple Valley 200k Brevet Results

October 2nd, 2010

RUSA

Last Name

First

Ride Time

Comments

1st 600k

State

5695

Askew

Ken

Zumbrota

Legs

MN

5121

Bakke

Gary

33:10

WI

3695

Becke

Alan

37:45

MI

4718

Bennett

Bill

30:05

Yes

MN

td>

4957

Booth

Robert

31:35

WI

5558

Brougher

Michele

37:52

MN

5157

Carlson

Doug

28:10

MN

1940

Danhaus

Paul

27:10

Pre-Ride

WI

217

Fahje

Martin

34:00

MN

4953

Futterer

Craig

33:35

MN

751

Fry

Robert

26:53

IA

6088

Hofmann

Jerry

28:45

MN

3043

Hofstede

Jeff

Cannon Falls

Knee

MN

6396

Husband

Shawn

37:40

Yes

MN

1284

Joy

Jim

33:35

MN

4211

Karlovec

Jim

33:10

OH

5252

Larson

George

37:45

MI

Mangels

Marlin

38:40

Yes

IA

5051

Miller

Richard

31:30

MN

5467

Misicko

Greg

38:05

Yes

MA

3298

Nauseef

Bill

30:05

Yes

IA

2812

Peterson

Eric

36:50

IL

5108

Sanders

Hall

32:05

MN

3488

Shelsoe

John

38:40

TN

4997

Soderberg

J Richard

32:55

MN

5569

Solodin

Andrei

38:40

MN

3391

Sullivan

Lara

37:52

MN

3737

Welsh

Rob

27:10

Pre-Ride

MN