commuterDude: The beast beckons

April 26, 2007

The beast beckons

Spring is actually seeming to stick around lately, save for this morning's foray into the upper 40's temps again, after a really hearty round of storms. The grasses are REALLY green now, and there is that smell around... and with it some of the usual sniffles and occasional hayfever headache. Ugh. More coffee! Actually, with summer not far behind, it's time to rediscover tea, most likely.... but either way.

Stepping right along is my seasonal shifting of the bicycles, where I start to wonder why I took certain things apart the previous year, etc. After a winter with the messenger bag keeping my back toasty, it's now time to swap back over to the 70+ degrees formula of saddlebag mode. That is, of course, if I can find the parts from the mount from last year. After I quick cal to Harris Cyclery, I find them (sorta.). Turns out they magically regenerated themselves in the parts bin of the bike shop. Weird! So, I'm all set for spring-into-summer riding again!
Come fall no doubt, I'll probably wonder why I ever stopped riding with the messenger bag. Silly dualist.

This weekend is the 400K brevet, and I'm VERY excited about this one for a couple reasons; number one, it probably WON'T be raining, and it will actually be warm! Not only will it be above freezing, it should be WELL above freezing at the start, too! Shocker!!! Seriously, anything short of a major hail-storm and I'd be happy, after a huge addition to the I've-had-worse file two weeks ago. That certainly turned out to be a great ride, but my complaining about weather conditions is pretty much a thing of the past. Another reason to be excited is a new route, which can sometimes carry a little scepter of its own -- it's been several years since the navigation aspect of randonnuering had to be utilized, so it ought to be a tale rife with terms like "got lost" and "5-mile detour".

The next 36 hours will be full of clothing choices, bag-packing, and carb-loading, so stay tuned for the 400K report, complete with a decent video accompanyment. Assuming I remember to bring the camera!

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What is bicycle commuting?

Simply put, bicycle commuting is the act of travelling to a place of work or education by bicycle. In many areas it is common to combine bicycle commuting with public transport. Worldwide, the bicycle remains the most common commuter vehicle, and bicycle riding the second most common form of commuting, second only to walking. While the absolute number of bicycles in existence globally is unknown, it is clear that significantly more bicycles are manufactured than automobiles. In the United States about 40% of automobile trips are two miles or less; using a bicycle for these short trips can reduce your emissions and expenses. If you live within ten miles of work, you could save thousands of dollars in fuel, insurance and automotive maintenance costs each year. This webpage seeks to highlight bicycling as a viable transportation platform and a fun, exciting, healthful way to improve your life! Visit the commuting links below and get started today!

What is Randonneuring?

The French term "randonnée" loosely translates as a long tour or ramble along a defined route, and persons embarking as such are dubbed "randonneurs". In cycling, the term defines a hard-riding enthusiast attempting a long-distance randonnée (called a "brevet", usually 200 kilometers or greater) within a certain time allotment. Non-competitive by design, randonneuring encourages camaraderie: riders test themselves against the clock, the weather, and a challenging route - but not each other. Randonneuring's ethos embodies self-sufficiency and mental toughness; support vehicles are not allowed and brevets are held regardless of weather. Randonneurs USA (RUSA) organizes brevets in the United States under the auspices of the Audax Club Parisien (ACP) and the Randonneurs Mondiaux (RM), and rider's results are recognized world-wide. This website seeks to highlight the excitement and challenge of long-distance bicycle riding by sharing personal ride accounts, with the hope of growing the sport. If this type of bicycle riding interests you and you'd like to find out more, visit the RUSA webpage to find rides in your area!

For ride announcements and discussions on randonneuring in the greater Kansas City area, visit KC Ultra Cycling, and join the KC Ultra-Cycling Email List:

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Courtesy Randonneurs USA

What is Ultra-Marathon Cycling?

Just as the 26.2-mile marathon represents a benchmark for runners, bicyclists generally consider the "century", riding 100-miles, a worthy endurance challenge. Ultra-marathon cycling involves exceeding that benchmark, often several times over, offering the long-distance challenge of randonnuering with a more competitive flavor. This is the world of 24-hour races, double-centuries, and beyond. Where randonneuring rewards all finishers equally and emphasizes self-sufficiency, ultra-racers compete for time and placing, maximizing speed by utilizing support crews for hand-ups and fast repairs. Event courses can be long and scenic, but may take the form of many laps of a looped course. Winning ultra-distance events requires the rare combination of endurance and a high average speed. Randonneuring and Ultra-Marathon often complement one another: brevets can offer base-training to prepare for racing, and fast randonneurs often enter ultra events for a new challenge. Visit the World Ultra Cycling Association's website for more information.

Courtesy World Ultra Cycling Association

April 26, 2007

The beast beckons

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