Wednesday, September 29, 2010

New American Randonneur Challenge Awardees!

Irene Takahashi rode her first 1200k in June, the mountainous Cascade 1200.  After some relaxation, riding permanents and brevets, she followed this up last week with the Colorado Last Chance 1200k.

Here Irene is looking pleased as a tailwind has come up to waft her to the LC turnaround point at Kensington, KS:

That successful finish means she's now earned the RUSA American Randonneur Challenge award, for finishing two (or more) US 1200k's in a year.  Bravo, Irene!

Vernon Smith also achieved the ARC award this year, also via the Cascade and Last Chance.  No less an accomplishment, even for the seasoned but still cheery Vernon.  Congrats!

Here is Vernon at the Kensington post office on the Last Chance with the other ARC awardee (Paul Foley photo):


-jle

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Order Your Super-Randonneur Jersey by October 15!

Once again, the RUSA Super-Randonneur jersey is available from the RUSA Online Store

You may order if you've completed a Super-Randonneur series in any year from 1999 to 2010.

Qualifying events must have been on the RUSA calendar, either ACP-sanctioned or not.

The series consists of a 200k, 300k, 400k, and 600k brevet, and you can substitute a distance up to 99km longer than the required distance (e.g., a 450km RUSA brevet for the 400km requirement).

Order deadline is October 15.  Delivery by December 31.

Questions?  Contact souvenirs@rusa.org.

-jle

Have a look at our SR awardees for 2010!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Texas Labor Day Weekend 600k

Still needing a ACP 600K brevet to complete my Super Randonneur, I ventured to Texas for the Lone Star Randonneur's (LSR) Labor Day weekend rando fest. One thousand kilometers of rides were on tap, which allowed an enterprising rider to ride four days in a row. I was in Mineral Wells, Texas, for the 600K brevet on Saturday and Sunday, September 4th and 5th. This was my first Texas brevet.
The ride started at 7:00 am, just as the sun was coming up. There were over thirty riders registered. Many were remarking about the mild temperatures. It was around 60F at the start, and would get up to 90F on Saturday. Apparently, Texas had been having a heat wave, and this was the first weekend were temperatures were under 100F for a long time. Mineral Wells is located in the northern part of what is called Texas Hill Country.


We were immediately into long rollers with the occasional short climb. That would be the theme for the day. There were few long flat stretches. Nothing was really steep, but I never felt like I got rolling. Although I was warned about the rough chip seal of the FM roads (farm to market roads), I don't recall having ever ridden on so much chip seal on a ride. The upside was that there was virtually no traffic, and Texas drivers routinely take the oncoming lane when passing. I noticed that the LSR riders generally rode fat tires, and some had pretty thick bar tape. I reduced the pressure in my tires and found that the ride improved considerably. Chip seal aside, the roads go through some incredibly scenic areas of farms, ranches and parks.

Many small towns on the route seem to be suffering from decline. Yet others seemed well kept and prosperous. Glen Rose was absolutely beautiful, with a park like setting along one of the many rivers in this area. Day one (225 miles) ended with a fast run back to Mineral Wells for the overnight.


Day two started just before sunrise. Upon turning south, we headed into a brisk headwind that would be in our face for the next thirty miles. The nice thing about the wind in this part of Texas is, if you have a headwind going out, you will have a tail wind coming back. The wind didn't shift in the afternoon like you expect in Colorado. Sunday had the look of a club ride. Dan Driscoll, LSR RBA, organized about half the 600K riders into a group that rode together for day two. The temperatures were warmer, reaching the mid 90's. On advice of the locals, I rode with a Camelbak both days. The camaraderie of the LSR group made the ride a lot of fun. The sense of esprit de corps started on Friday night with a group dinner at a restaurant next door to the ride motel.


Since the weather in Texas is mild in the winter, LSR has rides very early in the year with ACP brevets starting in January. Next year, LSR is putting on Texas Rando Stampede 1200K on May 11, 2011. They are extremely organized, friendly and have great cue sheets. I rode with riders from Texas, Washington, Arizona and other states. It was a great experience to ride with this group, and ride in a part of the country I would have never experienced without having done this brevet.
Rick Isham, RUSA 5133

Friday, September 10, 2010

ACP Brevet Medals - Volunteer Needed!

RUSA is looking for someone to help Online Store manager Jennifer Wise in distributing ACP Brevet Medals to those who order them.  Greg Olmstead, who has done an excellent job at this task for some years, is stepping down. 

If you're looking for a way to "give back" to randonneuring, here's a good opportunity!  For details on the duties and how the program works, contact Greg or Jennifer.

Thanks!

-jle

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

New Perm Route #932

View from Glenwood Canyon bike path





As a number of you prepare for the epic 1200K Last Chance this is to announce a new ride for your pleasure. This will come in the form of a free route perm called the Rocky Mountain High #932. It is a fun filled point to point route from Grand Junction to Denver and is designed to go from Amtrak stations in Junction to Denver. All told this is 261 miles/ 420km with questionably 14,000 ft of climbing.




Spencer Klaussen of KC has been the inspiration for this ride with his use of Amtrak to get to the ride starts. The days journey puts a rider in GJ around 5 PM just in time to get started.


Using Hwy 6 this parallels I70 the whole distance. At 150 miles the climbing starts at Vail to then goes over Loveland at 202 miles. The Baker trail is now completed from the base of Loveland which keeps one off I70 for that fast descent with the trucks. At this point descending to Denver is great but not without some annoying climbs with dead legs. Finishing up at Union Station was great. We just wish that we had the strength to do this in the 28 hours allowed but we layed up for needed rest in Vail the night before. At this point even without stopping there was no way the two of us could have made it.
Brent and Beth