Brevet/Randonneuring

[MTBMaven]

I've been researching these events a bit. Basically the are organized rides with minimal to no support. PCH Randonneurs has a local LA and Ventura Co. Super Randonneuring series consisting of the following distances.

200KM (125 mi.) with a time limit of 13.5 hours
300KM (185 mi.) with a time limit of 20 hours
400KM (250 mi.) with a time limit of 27 hours
600KM (375 mi.) with a time limit of 40 hours
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Completing all these elevates one to the status of Super Randonneur and makes you eligible to ride in the penultimate 1,200KM (750 mi.) with a time limit of 40 hours and eligible to ride in the PBP (or Paris, Brest, Paris). From all accounts the PBP is the ultimate randonneur.

This stuff sounds awesome. I am planning on having my DeSalvo built so I can do these types of rides and light touring. I already planned to have the DeSalvo (code named RoadMaven) built for all day rides. I am also going to have Mike build me a fork with through the fork mid fork eyelets to mount a low ride front rack.

I'm looking at the following set up for longer brevet/randonneuring and light touring:
Tubus Duo front rack
Lone Peak P-009 front panniers
Lone Peak H-100 or Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Plus handlebar bag
polly 25mm or 28mm tires

The idea of doing a 600KM 375 mile ride over 1.5 sounds incredible. Get a few hours of sleep along the way... Good times!!!

[donkey]

Keep me posted on which of these you plan to do.....I'd be more than interested in doing a few of these!

Or lets just organize one of our own:-)

B

[MTBMaven]

I will be sure to let you know when I plan to do one of these. Bobbi from PCH Rando mentioned in a email to me that they will likely have an event in the fall this year. I just send her an email asking if she thinks they will do a 400 or 600 this year.

Update: Bobbi said they will have a 200 and 300. Not sure if the 200 includes the Cool Breeze 200KM Brevet or one in addition to that. My guess is the former.

I have a conference for work down in San Diego in early August. My plan as of now is to ride down with all my clothes and laptop for the week long conference as a carbon free commute. From Pasadena it is 145 miles via the route I take. I am contemplating camping at San Onofre as a way of testing out all my gear. We will see if I can get it all in there.

[Rob]

I've read about these on the touring forum at BF. Sounds pretty cool. I look forward to doing them but I still need to do a century first and build up endurance.

Have you considered a front rack with a top shelf? A lot of Randonneur's I have seen seem to prefer this type of rack.


Similar to this Bruce Gordon:

[office]

Ventura County? Do you come through Simi?

[MTBMaven]

@ Rob: I posted something on the BF touring forum about using a front rack only. Someone recommended that front rack. I see the usefulness of the top rack. There is also a Nitto and Velo Orange front rack that is basically just a top shelf as well that is work looking at.

I like the Duo for the following reasons: 1) one of the lightest front racks on the market, 2) keep the weight very low on the bike, 3) cannot carry as much weight and stuff as that rack (which forces one to go light), 4) $99 versus $150ish.

[Jslow]

I like the size of my rei h-bar bag, similar to the ortlieb, I had the choice of both they were side by side. It came down to the fact that I didn't think that I needed the extra weight/waterproofness of the ortlieb. It was around 300 grams heavier... just saying. Pic of bag I bought and love http://www.rei.com/product/733832

I do think the ortlieb bag would last twice as many miles, So if you only wanted one for the next 15,000-20k maybe get the ortlieb and you could decorate it and the such? you know some punk rock patches and shite

I like the see through top for my map. I also like to ride with the top open and reach in and grab goodies... you eliminate stopping for commonly used items and it has a few zipered pockets for credit card or money, passport... it does have a waerproof zipper, I have ridden with it in the rain. It did a nice job... I keep things that need to stay dry in a dedicated spot while riding in rain which might cause damage to these things, camera,phone, dvd player, solar powered heater.... Seems obvious to say but not untill you've messed it up and are trying to fix it does this sorta thing come to mind.


Jeff at carousel made a very nice one I saw a picture of... I was instantly envious. But I already have two bags for the handlebar... It will have to wait. I still want it. Riding to San Diego with work clothes and a laptop? I sure think those ortlieb panniers sound nice?

What events are upcomming? Was their a website? Do you find youself wanting thicker tires than normal? I was thinking about a 25mm I'm not sure anything bigger would fit in my c-dale? if anyone knows how wide you can get in there Im intersted.

How fast do people ride these things? Can you draft?

[MTBMaven]

Some good links:
http://www.pchrandos.com/
http://pages.prodigy.net/scrandonneurs/whatis.html
http://rusa.org/
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=231

[Jslow]

I think "Tour Divide" is the ultimate brivet....

follow along at www.tourdivide.org

[MTBMaven]

Yeah but it's on those stupid mountain bikes. You know those guys, the one that run hikers and horsey people off the trail and destroy the trail. Man I really hate those guys.

[Pain Freak]

Hey trouble maker. I've done 3 of Bobbi's randoneer rides. All were similar to routes I've done on the doubles and although not marked or signed they are fairly easy to find your way. I only got lost once per ride with the longest out of the way detour of less then 5 miles. She's really on to something. You met Bruce Taylor on the Solvang Double as he rode by me. He's a super and did the PBP last year. I'd like to consider doing it but flying all the way to ride to Paris to ride in the cold and rain on cobblestones for 1200K is going to take sometime to get my head around that one. Talking to Bruce though has me more then considering it.

And I've made the decision to add a front rack, just not sure which one yet.

[Evil Chocula]

Duuude! I was just going to create a Brevet post. I've been out of the road biking scene for around 5 years, but I'm planning on jumping back in. They have a sweet, progressive Bevet series out here. Good stuff!

PS Randoneurs- What do you guys think about the Salsa Casseroll triple?

[Jslow]

wondering what events you guys are adding a front rack to your setup for? What will you be carrying? PBP is epic I agree... but I'm with ya on flying to ride cobbles in nasty weather. I don't think I'm the guy for that. I'm a little to keen on the so-cal sunshine.

[MTBMaven]

@PF: You will need to be careful as you have a carbon fork correct? You might need to go with a steel fork.

@Mr Evil: The Salsa Casseroll triple should be pretty killer. Look at a compact double too. Check out the bikeforums.net long distance and touring boards for lots of good threads. The Surly Long Haul Trucker is a fav of many on the boards. As well are many cross bikes. For randonneuring you really don't need anything special. If you are getting one road bike for every type of road riding that with the intention of also using for randonneuring I would get something more oriented for all day riding with a relaxed geometry and that's about it. If you want to do lighter unsupported touring and want full rack I would go steel. With the former you could go carbon and just use a metal post and use a rack post.

@Jslow: When using a front rack I am think about unsupported 2-4 day ultralight touring. So all the gear for camping, cooking, sleeping, tools, and small quantity of food. My sleeping and shelter can fit in my large Carousel seat bag, the rest of the stuff would go in the front panniers (stove, pot, fuel, food, misc small dense items). Tech (solar charger, cables, etc.), maps, snacks, will go in a handlebar bag.

[Pain Freak]

Got a cromoly fork on the tour bike

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Got a cromoly fork on the tour bike

Oh okay, then the world is your oyster. Check out Lone Peak packs. They are light and suposidly well made. I have found them on the Touring Store web site.