G.L.R. April 200K Brevet

Anyone here thinking about going? It'll be my first attempt and any pointers about roads, etc. beyond Velocio's 7 Commandments* would be appreciated. Thanks!


*(1. Make your stops short and infrequent so as not to lose your drive.
2. Eat lightly and often. Eat before getting hungry, drink before you are thirsty.
3. Never ride until you are so tired that you cannot eat or sleep.
4. Put on extra clothing before you're cold, and take it off before you're hot.
Don't be afraid of exposing your skin to the sun, air, and rain.
5. Don't drink wine, eat meat, or smoke---at least during the ride.
6. Never rush things. Ride within yourself, particularly during the first few hours of a ride when you feel strong and are tempted to force the pace.
7. Never pedal out of vanity, don't be a show-off. )

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Thomas Berube on April 7, 2009 at 7:57am
I agree with all points (especially #7) with the exception of #5. I have seen numerous European riders drinking wine or beer during a randonneuring event. They've been at this a lot longer than we have and therefore must know more than we do. True?

Otherwise, I will add #8. "Never offend the cycling gods. Their patience is short and memories are long."

The routes for the 200k and 300k brevets are on the GLR website (www.glrrando.org).
Permalink Reply by Natalie on April 7, 2009 at 8:00am
Terry G and I are talking about going, but we both have reservations because we're terribly undertrained (probably I more so than he, although at least we've both been riding year-round). We too would appreciate pointers!
Permalink Reply by mike w. on April 7, 2009 at 2:46pm
Well, we undertrained ones could keep each other company riding the sweep ;-)

i don't plan on turning any record time, to be sure... didn't ride much this winter and i abhor stationary trainers. (i was just about to add a line about hopes re: weather and terrain, but hope is a lousy training strategy!)
Permalink Reply by Brian Bird on April 10, 2009 at 1:02pm
I cannot attend the ride, unfortunately, due to a family event taking place in St. Louis that I cannot beg off. Think about it - St. Louis, the Katy Trail, wineries on that trail between the villages of Augusta and Hermann, and no free time to ride my bicycle. That weekend, it'll suck to be me.
Permalink Reply by Mike Bullis 5.5-6.5 miles on April 10, 2009 at 3:43pm
Had hoped to go and make up for last years debacle, but I'll be working in Newark, NJ that weekend. Also have to miss my kids' b'day and the Dundee Lions Ranch Breakfast.

Eat and drink often. Brush up on your French while you're riding. Say hi to the cows.
Permalink Reply by Mike Bullis 5.5-6.5 miles on April 25, 2009 at 2:55pm
Let me guess, wind and rain. Right?
Permalink Reply by mike w. on April 26, 2009 at 3:11am
200K sufferfest.

Wind, rain, hills, cccccold... got in at 13H 27M... Thanks to Jim & all for waiting me out!

MANY THANKS! for the couple who rode up the course looking for me, and the shouted encouragement and timecheck. i didn't get your names, sorry! But you ROCK!

Also, thanks to the U of C folks who left me a room to shower up.... highlight of the day.
Permalink Reply by Joe on April 28, 2009 at 2:32am
Way to go Mike! 13H 27M, that is awesome! It was a tough day out there for sure, I had 3 flats myself and managed to finish because of the help from other riders with tubes. Are you going to try for the 300K?
Permalink Reply by J on April 28, 2009 at 4:20am
My team sent out ten riders to the brevet, nine of whom had never done one before, and half of whom had never completed a century. Nevertheless, all but one completed the full course (and three of us did an extra 40km just for kicks).

OK, it wasn't for kicks. We got lost and ended up doing a big section of the last leg twice.

Kudos to Thomas and all the fine folks at GLR for putting on such a cool and low key event. I've decided to make this a mandatory training ride next year for the entire squad, so watch out for twice as many orange wool jerseys in 2010.

Also, glad you enjoyed the shower Mike. Only it was TATI, not the U of C (although I guess that can be confusing since most of my riders are students there)... But yeah, best $60 we've ever spent.

Also, I took a few photos of the event.

http://picasaweb.google.com/velostati/GLRBrevet200km
Permalink Reply by mike w. on April 28, 2009 at 6:45am
Well, i can honestly say that that ride kicked my arse in! i was wondering when your guys got rolling since i thought i was already tail-end Charley by Edgerton (1). Then you all passed me on that hill going up to Oak Hill Cemetery to Verona like i was going backward... i'm regearing for the 300 for sure!

There were a couple of folks out here (maybe some of yours?) who looked woefully underdressed for the conditions. One fellow i met up with on the way back through Edgerton was on the verge of going hypothermic. Managed to convince him to take the sag.

The 11 miles of County M on the last leg is a place very much like Hell.

Other than that, it was an awesome ride!

Great pics! Thanks! And Thanks again for the room!


J said:
My team sent out ten riders to the brevet, nine of whom had never done one before, and half of whom had never completed a century. Nevertheless, all but one completed the full course (and three of us did an extra 40km just for kicks).

OK, it wasn't for kicks. We got lost and ended up doing a big section of the last leg twice.

Kudos to Thomas and all the fine folks at GLR for putting on such a cool and low key event. I've decided to make this a mandatory training ride next year for the entire squad, so watch out for twice as many orange wool jerseys in 2010.

Also, glad you enjoyed the shower Mike. Only it was TATI, not the U of C (although I guess that can be confusing since most of my riders are students there)... But yeah, best $60 we've ever spent.

Also, I took a few photos of the event.

http://picasaweb.google.com/velostati/GLRBrevet200km
Permalink Reply by mike w. on April 28, 2009 at 6:48am
hey Joe,
Well, my time sucked, but i was determined to make it back on my own steam. i needed every minute of the allotted time!

Spent most of Sunday horizontal between meals.

So far, the 300k is on my calendar...

Joe said:
Way to go Mike! 13H 27M, that is awesome! It was a tough day out there for sure, I had 3 flats myself and managed to finish because of the help from other riders with tubes. Are you going to try for the 300K?
Permalink Reply by Joe on April 28, 2009 at 6:57am
Yeah, that section was busy, rainy, and hilly, I wouldn't mind a different route between Oregon and Verona in the future :)

It wasn't exactly a "confidence inspiring" ride LOL, I did three solo centuries before this in training and figured this would be a cake walk.

I really want to do the series...but 600K seems impossible now. Maybe if we take it one ride at a time, one checkpoint at a time we'll make it?

How are you guys training? We've got 2 weekends off in between brevets....I'm not sure if I should go long or just do some shorter intervals and try to be fully rested. I guess I'm thinking kinda long on weekend 1...up to 100 miles maybe? Then just short rides otherwise, especially the week leading up to the next brevet. But I'd like to know what the rest of you are planning.


The 11 miles of County M on the last leg is a place very much like Hell.

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