Brevet

[Pain Freak]

I did my first brevet yesterday.http://www.pchrandos.com/ It was a nice experience. In fact I liked it so much I'm going to do another, in two weeks. Yesterdays ride was supposed to be approximately 125 miles or 200K, but thanks to my exceptional navigational abilities I ended up doing 140 miles!

This was a really good ride, I've read about the Europeans doing these rides for a long time now and thought it'd be great if they had something like this going on local. I talked with a lady in my road club and she told me about this group. I was in!

The ride starts out in Malibu almost across the street from where the Grand Tour starts, so I was somewhat familiar with the route. I knew we hit a bunch of rollers on the way out and of course on the way back. I went with 4 members of my road club and one of them is a lady who is a super long distance triathalon winner. She does triple Ironmans and wins! (6 mile swim,336 mile bike ride, and 78 mile run) The ride was supposed to be a "smell the roses", type of ride I was told. HA! Roadies lie worse then mountain bikers! Right out the gate my friend hits the gas and we were gone. We went out with the lead group and they were doing the climbs and 20+. I knew I wasn't going to last long like this, so I shut it down and Suzy came up along side of me. She told me "this is nuts", I can't go out like this. I agreed and we took it down a notch. The second group of about 6 caught us after a few miles and we decided to work with them as they were more our speed, but I blew it by going out so fast in those first 5 miles. It wasn't hard to hang on, but my pulls were pitiful, to say the least. I'd pull at around 17 and everyone else was closer to 20. Most of the people thanked me though as I was coming back to the end of the line.
We continued on to the first control and refueled on water and shed some layers. We stayed a little to long and the group behind us pulled in just as we were getting out of there. So of course we had to pick up the pace now.Fortunately the route was more flat around this time so the pace was good. We were consistantly in the 20's. After about another 15 miles my lower back went into spasms, not to bad, but enough to slow me down. I caught up to Suzy to let her know I wasn't going to continue on and would probably join the group behind us. So off they went. I kept them insight for a while, but got caught at a light. We were now in Ventura. I got across the light and I took out my route sheet to see what way to go and the directions said right on Figueroa, but I seen some others going left and thought I must of read that wrong, so I chased the riders. Wrong!!! I followed these riders for 7 miles before I caught them, only to find out they weren't with my group. So now I had to backtrack to where I started from as I'm not familiar with Ventura. Finally made it back and found some riders from our ride. I grabbed a wheel and made it to the turnaround. The ladys in that group have done the RAAM and Furnace Creek 508, so I was in some pretty good company. I was waiting for the group I rode in with to leave as I didn't want to ride by myself again and get lost, but after 20 minutes it still didn't look like anyone was getting ready to leave. Finally a few guys stood up and said they were going and I asked to join them. He told me they were slow, doing around 15 to 18 and I told him that was fine. (Remember roadies lie too). We get out and at this section we are on the 101 freeway and we are doing 24 to 26 mph! True we had a tailwind and it also helped when cars/trucks went by, but come on, this was ridicuolus! I knew I'd be dead if I kept this up so I backed off and turned to look to see if the others were there, thankfully they weren't. We had dropped them and left a substancial gap. They caught up to us and we took it down to a reasonable 22. Now we got off the freeway and things leveled out.We got to a doable 18, but we had one of their friends on a recumbant who was struggling, so we had to wait for him, and dropped down to 16. I'm not sure why, but at this slower pace I started to cramp up? I went to a lighter gear and this helped, but now when I went to hammer my quads would seize? We were now at about mile 110 with about 17 more to go, and I was worried. My slow group was now on the verge of dropping me?? WTF? But after a few climbs I caught and even passed them. I went out with their strongest rider and we worked together for the rest of the ride together taking turns pulling up and down the rollers on PCH.

I couldn't believe the riding conditions, I had to wear a vest most of the day, but it was very comfortable. The scenery of this route is perfect SoCal type, with a few around every corner. We do over 50 miles of coastline and the waves were also picture perfect yesterday, and a little on the large side. In northern Malibu a fisherman got swept of the rocks and they still haven't found him.I stopped and asked what was going on with all the emergency crews out there.

This was my first, but I really liked it and it'll be good training for my doubles that I plan on doing this year. My next is a 300K (185 miles) on Febuary 2, and then I have the Butterfield double on the 16th. After that I'm going to shoot for the 400K (242 miles) and depending how that works out I might try for the 600 (which is a 365 miler). In June we are doing the Grand Tour Triple so I might end up with 2 300+ mile rides in the same year.

I really enjoyed the group of folks doing these riders as they are all very friendly and not your typical racer boy type mentality. Very nice people who will stop and help anybody who needs assistance weather you're in the ride or not. And another good point is the price. 25 bucks! Of course you don't get the full SAG stops, but I don't eat anything anyways. I stay almost 100% liquid on these rides and depend primarily on Perpetuem and water along with some Endurolytes of some type.

Anyways, I'm already looking foward to the next one.If you read in the website, you'll see it's more about pacing then outright racing. They do keep track of your times and it's posted worldwide.

[un-kola]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I did my first brevet yesterday.http://www.pchrandos.com/ It was a nice experience. In fact I liked it so much I'm going to do another, in two weeks. Yesterdays ride was supposed to be approximately 125 miles or 200K, but thanks to my exceptional navigational abilities I ended up doing 140 miles!

This was a really good ride, I've read about the Europeans doing these rides for a long time now and thought it'd be great if they had something like this going on local. I talked with a lady in my road club and she told me about this group. I was in!

The ride starts out in Malibu almost across the street from where the Grand Tour starts, so I was somewhat familiar with the route. I knew we hit a bunch of rollers on the way out and of course on the way back. I went with 4 members of my road club and one of them is a lady who is a super long distance triathalon winner. She does triple Ironmans and wins! (6 mile swim,336 mile bike ride, and 78 mile run) The ride was supposed to be a "smell the roses", type of ride I was told. HA! Roadies lie worse then mountain bikers! Right out the gate my friend hits the gas and we were gone. We went out with the lead group and they were doing the climbs and 20+. I knew I wasn't going to last long like this, so I shut it down and Suzy came up along side of me. She told me "this is nuts", I can't go out like this. I agreed and we took it down a notch. The second group of about 6 caught us after a few miles and we decided to work with them as they were more our speed, but I blew it by going out so fast in those first 5 miles. It wasn't hard to hang on, but my pulls were pitiful, to say the least. I'd pull at around 17 and everyone else was closer to 20. Most of the people thanked me though as I was coming back to the end of the line.
We continued on to the first control and refueled on water and shed some layers. We stayed a little to long and the group behind us pulled in just as we were getting out of there. So of course we had to pick up the pace now.Fortunately the route was more flat around this time so the pace was good. We were consistantly in the 20's. After about another 15 miles my lower back went into spasms, not to bad, but enough to slow me down. I caught up to Suzy to let her know I wasn't going to continue on and would probably join the group behind us. So off they went. I kept them insight for a while, but got caught at a light. We were now in Ventura. I got across the light and I took out my route sheet to see what way to go and the directions said right on Figueroa, but I seen some others going left and thought I must of read that wrong, so I chased the riders. Wrong!!! I followed these riders for 7 miles before I caught them, only to find out they weren't with my group. So now I had to backtrack to where I started from as I'm not familiar with Ventura. Finally made it back and found some riders from our ride. I grabbed a wheel and made it to the turnaround. The ladys in that group have done the RAAM and Furnace Creek 508, so I was in some pretty good company. I was waiting for the group I rode in with to leave as I didn't want to ride by myself again and get lost, but after 20 minutes it still didn't look like anyone was getting ready to leave. Finally a few guys stood up and said they were going and I asked to join them. He told me they were slow, doing around 15 to 18 and I told him that was fine. (Remember roadies lie too). We get out and at this section we are on the 101 freeway and we are doing 24 to 26 mph! True we had a tailwind and it also helped when cars/trucks went by, but come on, this was ridicuolus! I knew I'd be dead if I kept this up so I backed off and turned to look to see if the others were there, thankfully they weren't. We had dropped them and left a substancial gap. They caught up to us and we took it down to a reasonable 22. Now we got off the freeway and things leveled out.We got to a doable 18, but we had one of their friends on a recumbant who was struggling, so we had to wait for him, and dropped down to 16. I'm not sure why, but at this slower pace I started to cramp up? I went to a lighter gear and this helped, but now when I went to hammer my quads would seize? We were now at about mile 110 with about 17 more to go, and I was worried. My slow group was now on the verge of dropping me?? WTF? But after a few climbs I caught and even passed them. I went out with their strongest rider and we worked together for the rest of the ride together taking turns pulling up and down the rollers on PCH.

I couldn't believe the riding conditions, I had to wear a vest most of the day, but it was very comfortable. The scenery of this route is perfect SoCal type, with a few around every corner. We do over 50 miles of coastline and the waves were also picture perfect yesterday, and a little on the large side. In northern Malibu a fisherman got swept of the rocks and they still haven't found him.I stopped and asked what was going on with all the emergency crews out there.

This was my first, but I really liked it and it'll be good training for my doubles that I plan on doing this year. My next is a 300K (185 miles) on Febuary 2, and then I have the Butterfield double on the 16th. After that I'm going to shoot for the 400K (242 miles) and depending how that works out I might try for the 600 (which is a 365 miler). In June we are doing the Grand Tour Triple so I might end up with 2 300+ mile rides in the same year.

I really enjoyed the group of folks doing these riders as they are all very friendly and not your typical racer boy type mentality. Very nice people who will stop and help anybody who needs assistance weather you're in the ride or not. And another good point is the price. 25 bucks! Of course you don't get the full SAG stops, but I don't eat anything anyways. I stay almost 100% liquid on these rides and depend primarily on Perpetuem and water along with some Endurolytes of some type.

Anyways, I'm already looking foward to the next one.If you read in the website, you'll see it's more about pacing then outright racing. They do keep track of your times and it's posted worldwide.

Sounds like a good workout there Mike.You been taking ride report writing lessons from Mr.STP? - Lloyd

[speckledtrout]

i love how you talk about really enjoying yourself in the same post that you mention cramping and seizing.

you really are a pain freak, aren't you?

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by speckledtrout

i love how you talk about really enjoying yourself in the same post that you mention cramping and seizing.

you really are a pain freak, aren't you?

Aren't we all? You got to love pain to do this sport!

[lkn2ryd]

Mike, I would love to join you on one of the shorter trekks.
Simon

[MTBMaven]

So Mike what is the real difference between the brevet and say the Tour de Palm Springs? Is it simply the lack of SAG support?

Are you planning on any 100+ mile rides in January?

[Endo Verendo]

Hey Mike, I saw the ad for the Feb 2nd one a while back and thought it might be good training for VQ mebbe. Anyone else interested?

http://www.pchrandos.com/Brevets/300K.html

[stjunkie]

I can't believe you got lost. That's so unlike you. Glad you had a good ride.

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by Endo Verendo

Hey I saw the ad for that one on Feb 2nd. Looks like good training for VQ mebbe. Might meet ya on that. Anyone else interested?

Hey Mike, I saw the ad for the Feb 2nd one a while back and thought it might be good training for VQ mebbe. Anyone else interested?

http://www.pchrandos.com/Brevets/300K.html

Mike,
Are Brevets and Randonee's the same thing? You'll qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris at this rate.
I've been interested in brevet's for some time but could never get motivated. Maybe I'll give it a shot soon seeing as how I have a couple big ones coming up!
I can't start with 185 though!

[Jslow]

Hey great write up!
Was wondering about que sheets... can you down load them? Or is it a sign up and get them at the start?
I'm stoked this was posted I'd really like to get out for some of these this year... it will help me stay a little more focused knowing I have a reason to keep riding every day, ya know?

Here is a question this crowd might know. RAAM... its nutty but do they use the same course each year? Is there a record for a self supported ride of it?

I had talked to a friend about doing brevets. He said that what he does (he lives in the UK) is sign up online and pay 2-3 pounds.. so its a couple bucks. It gives you turns with distances... you need to ride the exact course...at the controls you write your mileage... and then send it in... if it matches you are credited with that ride?
are the so cal brevets the same? It seemed yours was a competition? I realize from your post and from experience that these things are generally just people who set out to ride a route and they do compete but it is friendly.

I will read more from the site but any info is welcomed?

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by lkn2ryd

Mike, I would love to join you on one of the shorter trekks.
Simon

Anytime Simon, We will probably do a beach ride in the next few weeks, starting anywhere you like along the route is fine so you can pick the distance you want to ride. The course is realitively flat so the pace stays around 18 to 20 mph. I'll pm you when I get the invite.

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

So Mike what is the real difference between the brevet and say the Tour de Palm Springs? Is it simply the lack of SAG support?

Are you planning on any 100+ mile rides in January?

A brevet is more of a timed event along with a history of what rides you've completed.

I've done 2) 100's so far this month. I'm probably doing a GMR climb this Saturday as I need the climbing.

There is some SAG, but I really use very little of this stuff, and usually get by with a bottle of Perpetuem and some hammer gel. They don't have a big deal about it, the SAG's are called controls and it's where you get your card punched. It has a totally different feel then say an organized century ride.

Originally Posted by stjunkie

I can't believe you got lost. That's so unlike you. Glad you had a good ride.

Yeah, can you believe that shiat?

Originally Posted by dirtmistress

Mike,

Are Brevets and Randonee's the same thing? You'll qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris at this rate.

I've been interested in brevet's for some time but could never get motivated. Maybe I'll give it a shot soon seeing as how I have a couple big ones coming up!

I can't start with 185 though!

Yep, same thing. My riding friend did Paris-Brest-Paris this past year and finished amoung the front people, he was the guy on this ride. I have to admit after reading about PBP now for a while, it's something that really has my interest....only 4 more years till they do it again.

Originally Posted by Jslow

Hey great write up!
Was wondering about que sheets... can you down load them? Or is it a sign up and get them at the start?
I'm stoked this was posted I'd really like to get out for some of these this year... it will help me stay a little more focused knowing I have a reason to keep riding every day, ya know?

Here is a question this crowd might know. RAAM... its nutty but do they use the same course each year? Is there a record for a self supported ride of it?

I had talked to a friend about doing brevets. He said that what he does (he lives in the UK) is sign up online and pay 2-3 pounds.. so its a couple bucks. It gives you turns with distances... you need to ride the exact course...at the controls you write your mileage... and then send it in... if it matches you are credited with that ride?
are the so cal brevets the same? It seemed yours was a competition? I realize from your post and from experience that these things are generally just people who set out to ride a route and they do compete but it is friendly.

I will read more from the site but any info is welcomed?

No the routes aren't posted that I know of, but the ride descriptions are pretty much right on.

Yeah, we Americans are just now getting started into the world of Brevets so we might not have it down like the Euro's do. I'm sure we will become a little bit more like them in how we do these rides.


Although not considered being a race, people still want to ride it hard, not racing hard, but still at a decent pace. If you can average over 10 mph, then you could do most any brevet, before you'd be DQ'ed.

Originally Posted by Endo Verendo

Hey I saw the ad for that one on Feb 2nd. Looks like good training for VQ mebbe. Might meet ya on that. Anyone else interested?

Hey Mike, I saw the ad for the Feb 2nd one a while back and thought it might be good training for VQ mebbe. Anyone else interested?

http://www.pchrandos.com/Brevets/300K.html

Hell yeah Ron, after all it's in your neck of the woods.

[Endo Verendo]

So still kinda interested in trying this, but there's this SB amtrak ride too that I'm more leaning toward...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=372170

[Pain Freak]

Good group, Ron. I know a few of them. Kind of mixed too. Some fast, some not so fast. Well if you decide you'd like to log a few more miles then 100 and would like to get in say 185? let me know and I'll look for ya.

[Endo Verendo]

yeah, I prolly should do the 300k to kick myself up to in miles for VQ. How do you do that unsupported anyway? Lots of packets of drink mix in your pockets?