RUSA Showers Pass Jacket Offer!

Snow is in the air, and we may not be seeing liquid precipitation for some time, but ...

For RUSA members only, RUSA is offering a limited-time opportunity to purchase a RUSA-Branded Showers Pass Elite 2.0 or Double Century cycling jacket at a special price. 

Here is one of the three colors offered:

Although we luxuriate in an arid climate requiring only infrequent bike cleaning, we do have the occasional joust with downpours, the mountain ones quite chilly, and at remote events we certainly value rando-grade rain attire.
 
A big thanks to RUSA Board and Oregon Randonneurs member Cecil Reniche-Smith for arranging this.  As an Oregonian, she should know good rainwear if anyone does!
 
-john lee

John Klever Polishes Off His R-12!

On a WINDY December 2nd, John Klever completed the twelfth and final month toward his RUSA R-12 award. 

Here is John at the pre-dawn start of the Kersey Kick 206km Permanent with two-time R-12 awardee Leslie Sutton:



John's January 200k, also a Kersey Kick, was his longest ride ever (I think), and first RUSA ride of any distance.  He followed this up not only with a randonnée per month but longer distances - to see how far he would get. "How far" ended up being the Super Randonneur award: 200km, 300km, and 400km and 600km brevets in one season.

John joins this year's other first-time R-12's: Mike Fox, Steve Le Goff, Michelle Grainger, Tammie Nakamura, Irene Takahashi, and Jane Yant.   Have a look at the complete list.

Congratulations to John and all this year's R-12's!  Will you be next?

-jle

Your Idea for a High Country 1200 Jersey, Logo?

Do you have a great idea for the Colorado High Country 1200 jersey or logo?

Send me your idea!  It can be a design element, a vector file with graphics, whatever gets your idea across.  The plan is to offer a jersey and perhaps a pin.  Recognition and a possible prize if your idea is used!

DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 15!

-jle

A Record Flock of Super-Randonneurs!

Congratulations to this year's 28 Super Randonneurs!  That's more than in any other year except the Paris-Brest-Paris years of 2007 (30) and 2003 (32) ... where riders had to complete an SR series to qualify.

What earns you this award?  Riding a 200k, 300k, 400k, and 600k in a season.  The transitions between each distance are a real leap: from part of a day ... to most of a day .. to a day with some night riding ... to (for most folks) back-to-back days with night riding sandwiched in between.  But it's all doable!

ROOKIES - Eight SR's were first-timers: Brett Cook, Cathy Cramer, KC Heck, Michael Henderson, John Klever, Mark Lowe, Tammie Nakamura, and Jane Yant.  Most of the rookies had not ridden beyond 200km before this year, so this was a fast ramp-up into the unknown.

DOUBLE SR - If that weren't enough, Tammie Nakamura and Cathy Cramer (both rookie SR's) became the first local riders ever to achieve two (2) SR series in one season.

The Audax Club Parisien's Super Randonneur series and award have been tested over time as the classic demonstration of randonneuring prowess.  These first-time riders and veterans have demonstrated that you, too, can meet these challenges over even a short range of time (a part of a season!) and then come back and do more.

Have a look at Super Randonneurs going back to 1999 ... and think about what next year might bode for you.  You can do it!

-john

Farewell to the Mountains?

Perhaps you saw Jan Heine's recent "Farewell to the Mountains" post.  Jan constructed a multi-day 900km+ end-of-season visit through his favorite mountain areas, just in advance of the coming snows in the Cascades.  I enjoyed the evocative narrative and scenes.  Surely many of us can relate.

Of course, "farewell" is far from absolute for the hardier among us who simply move to knobbies or cross-bike setups.  Or to those of us who enjoy wintersport (alpine or nordic skiing, ski randonnée, or snowshowing) ... or those who mix both! 

Meanwhile, we've gotten an extended succession of opportunities to enjoy the high country ... such as the Indian Peaks on the Lefthand Lark 200k:

... or Rocky Flats, the Flatirons, and Longs Peak with a dusting of snow:

... and, oh yes, with winter mountain snows come foothill winds!

Meeker and Longs Peak were brilliant on the Glen Haven Gallivant 200k:

... and still a hint of fall colors in Big Thompson Canyon:

Nice enough to pause for a bite and photo op at the top of Devil's Gulch.

... and nice enough that some of us, such as Ray Rupel on the James Canyon Jaunt, biked from dawn to dusk:

Hope you've enjoyed the balmy weather and the mountain views!

-jle

Boston-Montreal-Boston Permanent in 2011!

Boston-Montreal-Boston was America's first 1200k.  From 1988 through 2006 it attracted many an avid rider, up for the challenge of Mount Terrible, Andover Ridge, and Middlebury Gap.  As a three-time finisher, I can attest to the "charm" of the route.

BMB is now offered as the BMB Permanent.  So far one rider has completed it (solo!).  Next August - about the time BMB was normally held - our friend and BMB veteran Susan Plonsky is planning on riding the Permanent.  She invites others to apply to the Permanent Owner (Jennifer Wise, former BMB event director) to ride the Permanent at the same time. 

Though permanents can be ridden at any time (at the route owner's discretion) there are advantages to starting with a group. For example, you may find compatible partners to ride with, and group hotel rates can be arranged.

Just after topping Middlebury Gap near sunset on the first day of BMB'06.  Here are some accompanying photos.

Susan has created a blog with lots of info about BMB - the historical event and the permanent - and a way for interested riders to sign up and to communicate.

-jle

Colorado High Country 1200 Unveiled!

After PBP'07, les Randonneurs Mondiaux relaxed the rules so as to allow other 1200k's to be organized in a Paris-Brest-Paris year.  For the US, the result is five (yes, 5!) US 1200k's for your delectation next year, one a month from May through September.  You can check them out via the RUSA homepage.



Among those, the Colorado High Country 1200 may pique your interest, one of the "adventure" 1200k's (along with Alaska's Big Wild Ride).

More details ... and an interest list you can subscribe to ... will be following soon!

-jle