Alaska Randonneurs

We Have Moved

2011-03-03T19:27:00.004-09:00

We have moved to our own domain.

The space is sparse, but we're sprucin' it up.

Please visit us at our new, permanent home:

WWW.ALASKARANDONNEURS.ORG

CTC 300K Review

2010-09-26T15:27:00.017-08:00

The Chugiak/Talkeetna/Chugiak 300K brevet was one for the record books for possibly the most continuous hours of fog on an Alaskan brevet course to date. Give a hand to all the riders who came out and rode last Saturday. These guys braved over 6 hours of riding in cold damp fog!

As we got closer to Talkeetna the sunshine finally punched it’s way through the fog. Sunny skies and incredible views of the Alaska range greeted us. In beautiful downtown Talkeetna, we basked in the sunshine while munching on Caribou Tacos from West Rib Pub and Grille located right behind Nagley’s General Store.

The day wrapped up with a beautiful clear sunset toward Cook Inlet, and moonrise over the Chugach mountains.

Congratulations to Kirk Louthan who gained his Super Randonneur status!

A special thanks to Alaska Bicycle Center, Inc. in Wasilla, AK for opening a half hour early to sell our volunteer some tubes and a patch kit. We’d also like to thank our

Controle locations: Tesoro at Pittman and Parks Hwy., Sheep Creek Lodge, West Rib Pub and Grille, Nagley’s General Store

Chugiak/Talkeetna/Chugiak 300K

2010-09-16T19:15:00.005-08:00

It's going to be a beautiful weekend, and winter is right around the corner, so come out and ride the last brevet of the year.

The Chugiak/Talkeetna/Chugiak 300K brevet is perhaps our fastest course, with minimal turns and route-finding challenges, and a very low profile too. The turn-around in Talkeetna offers several yummy of refueling options also.

Saturday, September 18

Start/Finish: Chugiak High School, Chugiak, Alaska

Registration: 5:00AM

Distance: 300KM

Full details on the AK Rando website!

Come ride with us!

Fall Colors 200K Review

2010-09-13T23:38:00.003-08:00

The Glennallen/Chitina/Glennallen 200K brevet took us through some incredibly scenic parts of Alaska. The morning started out cool and foggy. As the sun burned off the fog, the fall colors and rusty mountain tops came into view. Along the way were wide open vistas dotted with patches of red leaves (red is a rare fall color here in AK) and glassy calm lakes with mirror-like reflections of the Wrangell Mountains. Along the way was a roadside 'on your honor' stand selling Rhubarb custard pies, brownies, and banana bread! Last but not least -- Tibetan Yaks! Who knew? Yaks in Alaska! The Yaks can be found online at www.alaskayaks.com. We met up at the finish for some tasty Thai food at Tok Thai in the parking lot of the Glennallen Tesoro. All riders had a successful day and all agreed that the scenery was absolutely stunning!

A special thanks to our Controle locations: Caribou Hotel, Copper Center Lodge, Kenny Lake Mercantile, Chitina Grocery, Tok Thai (Tasty), and the Glennallen Tesoro.

Don't forget! Next weekend is the LAST brevet of the season (sniffle). Yes, winter is coming and QUICK! So, for one last chance to work those legs until next season, please join us for the Chugiak/Talkeetna/Chugiak 300K. If the weather holds, this one should also be filled with fall colors and fun times! Maybe no Yaks though.

Fall Colors 200K

2010-09-09T16:36:00.005-08:00

Don't let all the miles you've put in your legs this summer go to waste. If you're not riding Arctic Cross this Saturday, come enjoy the back roads and fall colors on the adventurous 200K Glennallen/Chitna/Glennallen 200K brevet.

Saturday, September 11

Start/Finish: Caribou Hotel in Glennallen, Alaska

Registration: 6:00AM

Distance: 200KM

Full details on the AK Rando website!

PBP Sud - 2010's Last Populaire

2010-08-25T14:38:00.003-08:00

Come join us for our third, and last populaire of the randonneuring season, this Saturday, August 28th, starting at the Midnight Sun Brewery Parking lot.

Populaires are shorter, more relaxed versions of brevets. They're a great opportunity to get on some roads you'd normally never ride, and also to meet some new riders. This one will begin at the brewery, head south to the end of Potter Marsh, then go directly north to Chugiak High School, then return to the Midnight Sun for lunch and suds/sodas.

Start/Finish: Midnight Sun Brewery (bring some $$ for après vélo victuals and libation)

Full details on the AK Rando website.

RUSA Anniversary Populaire - PBP Nord

2010-08-04T17:01:00.006-08:00

If you're not riding Soggy Bottom this weekend, 8/7/10, come join us for our RUSA anniversary ride, the Palmer Populaire (aka PBP Nord). The weather is expected to be nice. Accuweather is saying 67 degrees! Remember, you can't call it from the couch!

Populaires are shorter versions of brevets, and this one is just a tad shorter than 100K. Due to highway resurfacing, it looks like we'll be sticking to the back-roads. It'll make for a grand day out on beautiful roads, with some great new riding partners. Our last populaire had 70 riders.

Start: 8:00AM

Finish: Vagabond Blues

Full details on the AK Rando website.

See you at the start!

Denali Park Road Conditions Report - Guest Blogger

2010-07-12T18:58:00.004-08:00

From our "on-the-scene" rando correspondent and guest blogger, Mike Downer:

The Denali Dirt Road Randonnée melds the spirit of randonneuring with the appeal that draws so many of us to Alaska. It could be argued that no other randonneuring event in the world celebrates the spirit of self-reliance in such a real way. While Paris-Brest-Paris has its challenges; it does not have Grizzly Bears.

I had the opportunity to camp in the park over the recent weekend. Through conversations with several park workers and personal observation I was able to piece together a fair picture of what we will be facing on the 17th. The most obvious thing about the road is that it’s not very flat. “Thank you Captain Obvious” you may have just muttered. I don’t blame you, but seeing those long uphills winding around mountain bends and then reappearing far back on another slope really gave it perspective.

I’m sure that’s a challenge most will relish.

What you may not relish is the traffic. The first shuttle bus heads into the park around 8 am. There are a number of guided tours that leave earlier. The first buses coming out of the park leave Kantishna and Wonder Lake around 6 am. The first bus which passes will bring a semi-regular stream passing at 5-10 minute intervals, sometimes two at a time. The speed limit on the road is a tame 25 MPH and the drivers I observed seemed very respectful of cyclists. Nonetheless, due to the narrow nature of the road, casting a regular glance over the shoulder will be important. Don't let any of this discourage you. The majestic scenery will most certainly overcome any minor inconvenience the busses might be.

The road surface itself also appears to be in good shape. I rode the Denali Highway 200K brevet over Memorial Day weekend, and for sure the Denali Park road is better maintained and in better condition. It is nicely packed down on the regular bus lines and also seems very rideable near the edges. The gravelly soil should provide excellent drainage. I spent time checking it after a night and morning of rain. There were no running rivulets. If anything it will be a faster (and obviously less dusty) surface when wet. According to a friend who lives in the park that’s going to be important. They haven’t gone a day in nearly three weeks without some part of the road receiving precipitation.

At this point I would be no sort of biking enthusiast if I continued sitting inside while the sun beats down on my ride. The trail is calling.

Hope to see you in Denali!

Denali Dirt Road Randonnée 7/17/10

2010-07-11T17:31:00.005-08:00

Wilderness randonneuring, deep into the heart of Denali National Park and Preserve, that's what the Denali Dirt Road Randonnée is all about. It's the epitome of self-reliance on the bike.

The Super Randonneur brevet series (200, 300, 400, & 600K) is over, but that doesn't mean we don't have more brevets and populairs in store for you. Check out the rest of the rides on the calendar HERE.

Last year the Denali Dirt Road Randonnée had to be cancelled due to forest fire smoke that was just too thick to ride through. We're back this year, and we've added a 200K brevet option that goes from Rainbow Village to Eielson Visitor Center and back. This will be a great option for those Fireweed riders who will want to stretch their legs again after their hard rides this last weekend.

This is the most remote ride on our calendar. The Denali Park road is popular with cyclists, and many riders fly into Kantishna and ride, one-way, out to the park entrance. The National Park Service has done much to encourage and improve cycling in the park in recent years. And they maintain the park road to near perfection. A mountain bike or a cyclocross bike will be the perfect tool for the job.

The Denali Dirt Road Randonnée will be a one day roundtrip, out-and-back ride. As with any brevet, all riders are considered to be on an individual ride. It will be a spectacular and unique way to experience the park. Just be sure to pack your water filter and bear spray.

The ride will be Saturday 7/17/10.

All the details for the ride may be found HERE.

See you in Denali!

The Long Ride

2010-06-18T21:06:00.007-08:00

Speaking to many people over the years about cycling, I have realized that what passes as a long ride can vary quite dramatically. For some, anything longer than say 35 miles requires equal parts insanity and determination. For others, the century is the apex of their distance riding ambition. Then there is the randonneur. This lot will ride 400, 600 and 1200k brevets! Just to make sure the point is made, that’s 248.5, 372.8 and 745.6 miles respectively. 200k (124.3 miles) is introduction and consequentially, the shortest distance for a brevet. I believe it’s safe to assume that for the majority of the general cycling population, a 200k is “long” and covering 400k or more on a bike in the allotted time absolutely requires some insanity as a pre-requisite.

Having completed my first populaire this last weekend, the 100k Bread & Water ride, I have given much thought to the long ride and the spirit of randonneuring. Populaire, by the way, is reserved for randonneur rides under 200k and serve as a super intro to randonneuring. I used to be steeped in the competitive world of cycling where I regularly covered 75 to 100 miles as my weekly “long” ride in a six-day-a-week ride schedule that added up to what a 400k brevet covers in one ride. Well, that was seven years ago. I have long since had a “ride schedule”. In the last calendar year, I have been on my bike only a handful of times with my longest ride being just shy of 13 miles. Inspired by a friend who decided to do a 200k brevet on the Denali Highway cold turkey, i.e. no prior experience of long rides and no regular training schedule on the bike, and successfully finish, I decided to test the legs and my will. Just to make the jump that much more committing, I decided to ride to the ride. I live only five miles from where the ride start was. As if to prove that I knew I was in way over my head, I left the lycra cycling kit at home and instead wore jeans, a hoodie and Converse.

It was interesting showing up to a ride looking like a commuter. I rode in a tight knit group of four. Though each of us is very active in other ways (running, hiking, etc.), we were untrained for a longish bike ride. We just wanted to ride!

We started together and we finished together. This was not a race. We just wanted to finish. It was in this light that I understood cycling as I had not since I was a kid. Instead of obsessing on how fast I could go, I wanted to see how far I could go. There is a lot of psychology involved in pushing your limits. Reflecting back, I realized that I suffered more in dealing with the distance psychologically than physically. Yes my legs hurt and at times they really really hurt, but as long as I could talk myself out of pulling off and calling for a ride I could make it to the next mile, then the next and so on. The last 20 miles were as pleasant as the first. By the time I arrived at the finish with my friends, I realized that the extra five miles home would not be all that bad.

I now have my eyes set on the 7/17/10 Denali Park Road 200k randonnée! Either I have already forgotten how painful it was to add 60 miles to my longest ride in a year or the joy of camaraderie and accomplishing something beyond my current limits makes it all worth it. Am I mad for wanting to double my current highpoint a month from now? Maybe, but the memories of a bike ride in Denali National Park will be worth it!

Solstice Rando Adventure on June 19th

2010-06-14T15:46:00.007-08:00

The Bread & Water Populaire was a smash hit! 70 riders showed up to ride the big, beautiful loop around Anchorage. It was great seeing so many new faces on the ride. And even the weather cooperated. Looking for more populaires, or perhaps a 200K? Check out the rest of the rides on the Rando Calendar.

Thanks to Buzz and Carlos for helping out on the course. You two really made things run smoothly.

Results will be posted soon. But in the meantime, populaire photos are HERE!

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Next up is the Solstice 200/400/600K brevets starting from Gakona next Saturday, June 19th.

Ride details for the 200K, 400K, and/or the 600K are HERE.

The 600K is a huge, remote, beautiful ride! If you're not quite up for it, but are still looking for a solstice adventure and a reason to ride the Richardson Highway, consider the one-way 200K to Delta, or the one-way 400K to Tok. It's up to you to get yourself back to your car at the start, or perhaps you can cajole friends or family to drive up and meet you. Another option is to get a B&B in Delta for the 200K, and ride back to Gakona the next morning. For the 400K, consider taking an extra day and ride the remaining 200K back to your car in Gakona.

There are lots of options! The riding is such high quality, and the scenery is so breathtaking, I really hope more people make the effort to get up there sometime during the summer!

Photos from 2009 are HERE.

See you in Gakona!

Bread & Water 100K Populaire, Sunday, June 13

2010-06-07T18:28:00.005-08:00

Now that we have the big Anchorage/Seaward/Anchorage 400K behind us, we're taking a little break, before the Gakona 600K, to see the local sights with a beautiful populaire around Anchorage.

Join us Sunday morning at 7:00AM at the Great Harvest bakery for the start of the Bread & Water 100K populiare.

This ride is a giant loop around Anchorage. It has one big hill, a short dirt section through Far North Bicentennial Park, lots of bike trail riding, and it will be marked. This ride attracts all sorts of riders: racers, commuters, mtb'ers, tandems, 'bents, old, young, fixie-hipsters, etc... It's for anybody looking for a wonderful day on the bike, some new trails, and loads of new friends.

Details about the ride are HERE.

Photos from last year's ride are HERE.

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Congratulations to all the finishers of last weekend's Anchorage/Seward 200K and Anchorage/Seward/Anchorage 400K. Every single starting rider finished!

Results are HERE.

Sorry, no photos for this one right now.

Anchorage/Seward/Anchorage 200K/400K Brevets

2010-06-01T17:30:00.002-08:00

The AEA's Denali Classic was an amazing experience. We made a bunch of new friends and are grateful to Carlos and the gang for letting the Alaska Randonneurs offer a brevet option for their ride. The Denali Highway is a magical 135-mile gravel road paralleling the Alaska Range between the communities of Cantwell on the west, and Paxson on the east. The road offers spectacular riding through the remote Alaska wilderness, especially when the weather is nearly perfect, as we found it over the Memorial Day weekend. If you've never ridden the Denali Highway, I urge you to make the time and go up for a grand adventure!

Denali Classic 200K RESULTS

Denali Classic 200K PHOTOS

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The classic Anchorage/Seward/Anchorage 400K brevet, along with the new Anchorage/Seward one-way 200K option, is this Saturday, June 5th. Either option is a beautiful ride in its own right, and is a great training opportunity for those looking for some big milage in preparation for the Fireweed.

Everything you need to know for the rides may be found at the links below:

Anchorage/Seward 200K or 400K DETAILS

2009 Anchorage/Seward 400K PHOTOS

Looking forward to seeing you at the start!

Denali Hwy Brevet Gear List + Solstice 600K Logistics

2010-05-25T19:24:00.008-08:00

If you're joining us (AEA and the AK Randonneurs) up on the Denali Highway over Memorial Day weekend, you're urged to add the following to your kit:

1) Bear spray

2) Water filter

3) Camelback

This is a very remote ride (no cellphone service), checkpoints (contrôles) are far apart, and the weather outlook is telling us it'll be in the mid to high 60s up there; think "Parched!"

No doubt this will toughen you up for the upcoming Anchorage/Seward/Anchorage 400K!

****************

It's less than a month until the Solstice 200K/400K/600K brevets up in Gakona/Delta Junction/Tok. If you're doing any of these rides, I suggest you make arrangements for accommodations in these towns as soon as possible; places are beginning to fill up rather quickly.

Last year, several riders had a good experience with Young's Motel in Tok. I have no relation to Young's, and there are other options up there, but this would be a good place to finish for the 400K, and to overnight for the 600K. They still have a few rooms open; its $94. They close their office @ 11pm but you can make arrangements for late arrivals. (Several riders got there after midnight and 1AM.)

Here’s their info:

EDDY’S RESTAURANT & YOUNG’S MOTEL and RV Park

Mile 1313 Alaska Highway. Seafood, pizza, steaks, sandwiches, salad bar & soup. 43 Motel rooms, satellite TV, phones, non-smoking available. Year-round 6 am to 11 pm. RV sites, water & electric, Wi-Fi available.

P.O. Box 482

Mile 1313 Alaska Highway

Tok, Alaska 99780

907-883-4411

Ed and Diane Young Email: edyoung@aptalaska.net

For other options, check out the latest edition of the Milepost.

Gakona Lodge

Tok Chamber of Commerce

Delta Junction Chamber of Commerce (visitors' center)

See ya up there!

Denali Highway 200K/300K May 29th

2010-05-24T17:15:00.008-08:00

If you don't think randonneuring in the United States is taking off, then you I guess you didn't know that there has already been 68 brevets, so far just this month of May, ranging from 200K to 600K, all across this Nation.

Check out the photos from the Oregon 600K.

Or what about the San Francisco Randonneurs and their 600K?

These are just a small example of the outrageously high-quality riding being organized from coast-to-coast in this country by the Randonneurs USA. There are a tonne of rides going on around the country and Canada. If you're traveling for business or pleasure, consider taking your bike!

The long days of summer are upon us. I hope you will get out and ride with your fellow randonneurs.

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The Anchorage/Palmer/Anchorage 300K is a wonderful ride that passes through the communities of Eagle River, Peters Creek, Eklutna, Palmer, and Knik. This is about the closest thing we get to the village-to-village cycling experience.

10 riders started in the chill of a cloudless morning last Saturday, and rode some amazing roads, hills, trails, and even through a bit of road construction, to complete the 300K brevet. Congratulations to all of finishers.

Anchorage/Palmer/Anchorage 300K Results are HERE.

A few photos are HERE.

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MAY 29th, Memorial Day Weekend - AEA Denali Classic + 200K/300K Brevets

The Alaska Randonneurs really believe in grassroots events. That's why this year we're teaming up with the AEA for their Memorial Day weekend Denali Classic. We really admire what Carlos has been doing over the years with Frigid Bits and Soggy Bottom, and want to show our support for his rides. Come up and join the fun and adventure. Ride one of the Denali Classic rides, or if you're looking for ACP or RUSA credit, ride the 200K or 300K brevets out-and-back on the Denali Highway. These brevets are likely the longest dirt-road randonnées in North America. Bring your 'cross bike, with extra plump tires, or your hard-tail MTB.

All rides will start at 9AM from the Brushkana campground, which is about 29 miles east of Cantwell. Make a whole weekend of it. Bring the family; there are loads of trials to explore for those not doing one of the rides.

We're planning a post-ride potluck feast, so please bring something to add to the food pile. Don't forget to bring your favorite fermented or distilled electrolyte replacement, if you're so inclined. And if that's not enough, we'll be cookin' up a giant tummy-bustin' homestyle breakfast on Sunday morning. Bring a few donation victuals for that one too. Don't forget to haul your body-weight in firewood up to the campground as well. It's still a little chilly in the evening up there, and we're gonna need lots of community flame.

Details HERE.

See you on the Denali!

Anchorage/Palmer/Anchorage 300K Brevet on 5/22

2010-05-19T19:45:00.006-08:00

This Saturday, May 22nd, come ride the Anchorage/Palmer/Anchorage 300K brevet. If you've ridden any one of our three 200K brevets so far this season, this ride is well within your reach, and can be very rewarding.

Details for the ride have been posted on the website, along with the cue sheet for the course. Note that summer is construction season here in Alaska, and randonneurs are not immune. There's a very short section of the Old Glenn Highway at the north edge of Eagle River, along side Fire Lake, that will be closed beginning this Friday, until July. I've added an easy and logical work-around to the cue sheet.

Chapeaux à Mark, one of our riders who e-mailed me with the road closure alert! Thanks, Mark. Riders will be grateful to you come Saturday morning.

This is a rambling course with a variety of encounters ranging from local urban neighborhoods, quiet backroads, deep valleys surrounded by soaring, snowcapped peaks, a Native village, industrial zones, beaches and ocean views, rivers and railroads. Along the way, you'll pass through Anchorage, Eagle River, Chugiak/Birchwood/Peters Creek, Eklutna, Palmer, and Knik. There will be plenty of places to stop to refuel along the way in any one of these communities; lots of stores, restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, etc. There are a few hilly sections, but nothing the last three 200K brevets haven't prepared you for.

Photos from last year's version of this ride are HERE.

The weather forecast is for SUN with highs between 55-65!! Come ride with us!

Looking forward to seeing you next Saturday.

Matanuska Milestone & More

2010-05-17T19:06:00.009-08:00

30 riders, the most ever for an Alaska brevet, stormed the backroads of the Matanuska Valley last Sunday. Thanks to all the "regulars", as well as new riders, for coming out to test yourself against Palmer's headwinds, Wasilla's pitbulls, and Houston's hailstorms. Tell all your friends how much fun you had on this ride, then bring 'em with you to the next brevet!

Mat Valley 200K photos are HERE.

Mat Valley 200K results are HERE.

Now that you have one or more 200K rides under your belt so far this season, consider riding this weekend's Anchorage/Palmer/Anchorage 300K. It's a beautiful ride that explores everything between the sandy beaches along Cook Inlet to the snow-covered peaks of the Chugach mountains. All the info is HERE.

Join us over the Memorial Day weekend as the Alaska Randonneurs team up with the Alaska Endurance Association for their annual Denali Classic. We'll be offering a 200K and 300K dirt-road brevet, as well as hosting a family-friendly pot-luck dinner, and a hearty pre-ride breakfast. There will be lots of room at the Brushkana campground, so bring your family and encourage all your friends to come up and have a good time. (There's loads of good trail riding for those not participating in the AEA rides or the brevets.) This ride offers stunning views of the Alaska Range, the second highest pass on the Alaska road system, as well as a few fun, quirky roadside lodges.

Looking for more 200K or longer brevets before the Fireweed 400? Check out the rest of the randonneuring schedule for all of our other rides HERE.

Matanuska Valley 200K - Sunday 5/16/10

2010-05-14T14:47:00.003-08:00

Come ride the Matanuska Valley 200K brevet this Sunday, May 16th.

Roll on some new roads, meet some new riders, and have a great time! Test yourself for a personal-best, or simply come out for the views and friends!

Ride details & cue sheet available HERE.

A few photos from last year's Mat Valley 200K are HERE.

Hope to see you out there!

Homer's Odyssey

2010-05-11T20:19:00.006-08:00

The End-of-the-Road 200K brevet was just amazing. The morning snow shower up high on East End Road added to the challenge, but the ocean scenery and warmer late-afternoon temps down at the beach in Anchor Point made it all worth while.

The other critical component making this ride so unbelievably satisfying is the people who helped put it on. Joy and Ruth spent many hours hanging out at controls and driving the course. Thanks you two. The ride wouldn't have happened without your help.

Thanks also to Pat and Kathy who have encouraged the idea and development of this ride since the beginning. Pat has literally been my eyes down in Homer as he's helped me figure out how to squeeze 200K out of the roads around the "Cosmic Hamlet by the Sea."

So, now that you've heard about, and seen the photos of, this brevet for two years, I urge you make the effort to join us in Homer next year. This ride is really gathering momentum. The roads and scenery are just amazing.

Homer 200K photos are HERE.

Homer 200K results are HERE.

Two things coming up this week:

Rando-Info Night #2 at REI-Anchorage, Thursday the 13th at 6:00PM.

The Matanuska Valley 200K, starting in Palmer on Sunday the 16th. Registration will open at 6:00AM.

Looking for something fun for the Memorial Day weekend? Grab your 'cross bike for the longest dirt road brevet in the country. AK Randonneurs and AK Endurance Assoc. are teaming up to offer both a 200K and 300K brevet on the Denali Highway. The ride will traverse the Alaska Range to the north, for breathtaking views of Deborah and Hess. There will also be a huge pre and post-ride pot-luck breakfast/dinner. Should be a blast!

Homer Rides!

2010-04-25T16:33:00.004-08:00

We're heading to Homer, the "End-of-the-Road", Alaska's "banana-belt."

When: May 1, 2010

Where: Two Sisters Bakery

Why: 200K ACP Brevet

Details HERE

Course map HERE

Last year's photos HERE

Last year there was a ton of people, gorgeous weather, and tons of fun. We're promising the same for 2010!

Come ride some new roads, make some new friends, see some new sights, and give yourself an unbelievable challenge.

Iceland Blows While Kenai Knows

2010-04-18T19:03:00.033-08:00

Eliot poeticized that, "April is the cruellest month...", and that's why we only have one brevet in the month before May! T.S. quickly characterizes early spring's bleakness in the first few lines of his poem The Waste Land. And when he writes, "I will show you fear in a handful of dust." I wonder if he was ever a cyclist in The Great Land, riding through the sins-of-winter; the gravel deposited on our roads all winter-long that becomes menacing and dangerous as it emerges from the snow and ice, until the midnight armies of street-sweeper ants complete their twisty, windy journey through our cities by early June.

He never mentioned volcanos in that poem though, did he? Last year a volcano belched, and spewed ash all over the 200K course, causing us to move the start date into the redemption of May, when the leaves just begin to come out, and the air smells sweet with birch and cottonwood sap. This year, it was a volcano again! However, that was in Iceland, and boy, are they feeling it. That's too bad for them. Ash is no fun, and really hard to deal with. Here's to hoping they can get back on their bikes soon!

Here in Alaska, randonneuring season began last weekend, again with a few surprises. Interest in randonneuring is really growing, and four days before last Saturday's Kenai 200K brevet, the number of e-mails and phone calls asking for details about the ride really jumped. I figured we were looking to have between 30 and 35 riders to kick off the 2010 season. That would've been a record turnout.

Then, on Wednesday, the snows began. A spring snow dump isn't unusual up here in Southcentral Alaska, and with three days before the ride, I wasn't that concerned. However, the sudden little squall ended up being the second snowiest day in April on record. By the end of it, 9.5" of the wet, heavy stuff was covering our streets, roads, and yards, hiding the emerging doggie-bombs once again.

For a few moments I considered contacting the RUSA mother ship to alert them of the current weather problem and the possible need to postpone the ride for a week. That's when an unknown rider sent me a text message saying that he and a friend were setting off on their bikes in an hour, to ride the 158 miles, through the snowstorm and over Turnagain Pass, to the brevet start in downtown Kenai on Saturday morning.

Due to the snowstorm, the potential 30+ riders quickly evaporated to perhaps...2. However, knowing the mystery rider was at that very moment launching himself into the tempest, I decided that if he was intrepid enough to brave the storm, I could at least show up and put the brevet on for him.

Good thing he shamed me into not postponing the ride. Early Saturday, in the grey of the 33 degree morning, 18 cyclists (twice as many as last year) from all across Southcentral Alaska showed up to ride! There were commuters from Anchorage, locals from Kenai, a mountainbiker from Kasilof, bike shop owners from Palmer, my neighbor from Turnagain, a schoolmaster, college students, distance-junkies, attorneys, and an assortment of others from as far south as Homer and north to Wasilla (no, Sarah Palin didn't ride our 200K!). Riders were sporting carbon, aluminum, and steel in the form of go-fast road bikes, a recumbent, a few mountain bikes, and a slew of Surleys 'cross bikes (one a single speed).

I kept my pre-ride speech short as everyone stood straddling their bikes, shivering in the cold. And promptly at 7:30AM the 2010 Alaska randonneuring season began as the mini peloton of 18 balaclava-and-bootie-clad riders hummed quietly out of the parking lot and headed north, past Kassik's Brewery, to the first contrôle at North Star Elementary in Nikiski.

The Kenai/Nikiski backroads were open and quiet. And for the most part, the ride up to the Captain Cook Rec Area was uneventful. Riders could just spin, listen to the birds, and take in the scenery. One small group of riders got so caught up in the moment, they missed a turn and earned themselves a few bonus miles.

This flat-ish course is very near the ocean for the most part, and as the riders returned from Nikiski and approached the bridge over the world-famous Kenai River, the early afternoon breezes began to kick up. The same thing happened last year; I think this is the nature of a course on Cook Inlet. Kalifornsky Beach Road is about as flat and straight as they come, but it didn't seem like that in the wind.

The final lobe of the course, up Funny River Road, offers the only real hills on this 200K. By that time of the day, riders were really racking up the kilometers, and the friendly breezes began to turn into mocking headwinds. Funny River wasn't a joke. It was along this section that Buzz rounded a corner to find Kirk (both veterans of last summer's 600K) sprawled and napping in the gravel on a paved turnout. To Buzz it must've appeared that Capt'n Kirk had given up the fight and died right there on the spot. The Kirkinator began to stir as Buzz rode by, gingerly remounted his bike, and continued the push to the contrôle.

There must be at least 18, more interesting versions of the rest of this rando story. But, you'll have to get those directly from the riders who came and rode the fantastic Kenai 200K brevet.

It's early in the season for such a long ride. Congratulations to all the finishers! And to those who didn't make it, thanks for joining us on a great ride!

Kenai 200K photos are HERE.

Kenai 200K Results are HERE.

Thanks so much to my generous volunteer, Joy! You did a wonderful job, and we are all grateful! You were a critical component in making this ride a success for all our randonneurs.

Come join us on one of our other upcoming brevets or populaires, make some new riding friends, get on some roads you've never before ridden, and challenge yourself on some scenic and interesting courses.

The legendary Homer "End-of-the-Road" 200K brevet is coming up in less than 2 weeks. I'll have details posted soon. If you're aiming to go, you might want to start looking into booking a room soon. I'm beginning to hear all kinds of plans for après vélo.

AK Randonneurs Season Opener - Kenai 200K Brevet 4/17

2010-04-11T19:28:00.005-08:00

I'm really looking forward to this year's randonneuring season, and am excited to be heading to Kenai later this week for our season opener.

Rando-Info Night at the Anchorage REI on 4/6 was packed. Going in, there were only 6 people registered to attend. By the time the show started, we were near capacity with over 40 people; mostly new faces! I think this is an indication that Alaskans are beginning to discover what randonneuring is all about, all the goodness it offers, and that they want to ride the assorted brevets around the state. We're having another Rando-Info Night on May 13th! Please help spread the word, and tell all your friends!

Everything you need to know about the Kenai 200K, including a map of the course, can be found HERE.

I'll be heading down Friday afternoon, and will do a little preview of the course if I have enough time. If you're down there, and see my red Westfalia, wave or call, and let's go grab a pre-event beer.

If you're wondering where to stay, you might want to consider one of the following suggestions from friends over at AK Spokes:

Kenai: The Kings Inn, Louies, the 406, The Merit (might be closed) Aspen Extended stay

Soldotna: Micheals, King Salmon, Aspen (w/pool), Riverside, Hooligans, Kenai River lodge, Duck Inn

It's still early in the season, but loads of people are already out riding. The extended weather forecast, as of this writing, looks favorable, and shouldn't throw any surprises our way (like last year's volcanic eruption!). That said, it will certainly be brisk in the morning; embrocate liberally! Your knees will thank you later.

See you in Kenai!

Rando Info Night 4/6 + Kenai 200K 4/17

2010-04-03T07:28:00.004-08:00

It's the season of the Belgian toothpaste. There's still a lot of snow on the ground, but the roads are pretty much dry, and people are out there riding. Inquiries about the brevets and randonneuring in general have been increasing in frequency, so before the April 17 Kenai 200K, Bob Voris (PBP ancien '99) and I will be hosting a Rando Info Night at the Anchorage REI this coming Tuesday, April 6th at 6:00PM. We're also getting a lot of interest from rides Outside, looking to come up for some of our rides. I look forward to sharing the beauty of Alaska with them.

If you're new to randonneuring, Rando Info Night will help get you started riding brevets. We'll cover all the basics, such as: Rules, French Words, History, Riding Styles, Contrôles, Brevet Cards, Equipment, Nutrition, Training, and more. There will be plenty of time for questions too.

The Kenai 200K brevet is coming right up. It's a wonderful course, the flattest one on the calendar. It's early in the season for Alaska riders, but if you can ride 100K at this point, you most likely can roll for 200K.

If you've never made the effort to ride the Kenai roads, you're really missing out. The course is stunningly scenic and varied, and the roads are very low traffic; at least until the fish start running in July. Last year's brevet attracted riders from Homer, the Mat Valley, and Anchorage, as well as local Kenai riders.

All the ride information for the Kenai 200K brevet, including links to the course map, cue-sheet, start time/location, etc., may be found HERE.

Last spring, the Redoubt Reporter did two nice articles about our Peninsula rides. Check 'em out HERE and HERE.

Kenai 200K Brevet, April 17th

2010-03-22T19:26:00.004-08:00

Start wrenchin' on your steed, the first ride of the season is just around the corner; the Kenai 200K on April 17th.

Here's the link to the full 2010 AK Randonneurs' brevet calendar.

Bob Voris just reported, via Facebook today, that the entire Birchwood Lookp is dry!

Stay tuned for more updates...

Denali Highway 300K Traverse of the Alaska Range

2010-02-18T18:13:00.007-09:00

The month of May typically brings very stable weather across Southcentral Alaska. If you're at all familiar with the writings of author David Roberts, and his seminal mountaineering book Deborah: A Wilderness Narrative, you'll stand an excellent chance of seeing Deborah on our newly approved, May 29th, Denali Highway 300K brevet (a 200K is in the works as well). The map above explains the ride pretty well. As you can see, it'll be almost entirely on a freshly graded dirt highway, traversing a significant portion of the Alaska Range. This ride also tops out on the second highest mountain pass on the entire, albeit small, Alaska road system. The stuff of pure adventure, this ride is. The ride will be at the end of May. We'll be less than a month away from Solstice, so we'll have plenty of light. It's on dirt (I already said that) so ride 28mm or larger. And it's remote. That means two things: very, very low traffic, and minimal services. Let your imagination loose on this one, because it can't possibly compare to what the real thing will be like.

I have to express my thanks to Carlos Lozano. He started the spring rides up on the Denali Highway years ago as the "Denali Classic", part of his Alaska Endurance Association series of rides. Over a few beers at the Spenard Roadhouse last fall, Carlos finally relented to letting us rando-types hop aboard his adventure train. Carlos has a lot of style, and imparts it well on all the rides he puts on. With the two of us now teaming up for the magic-weekend-in-May, this should be double the fun, double the adventure, double the experience. If you need logistical assistance with this ride (flights, hotels, how to get to the start, where to stay, etc.), let either of us know. We'll be glad to help.

Two housekeeping items for local riders:

You really need to know what's going on w/ the rewrite of Title 9 here in Anchorage, and the wording proposed by our friends at the Anchorage Police Department. Please read the latest by the truck-drivin' cyclist Thomas Pease in the Anchorage Press.

Second, the Arctic Bicycle Club will host their annual bike shop on April 10th. Save the date!

AT&T Sports Pavillion

12:00-1:00 setup

1:00-4:00 sales

No fees or commissions.

Airlines Boost Flights to Alaska This Summer for Randonneurs

2010-02-05T17:31:00.006-09:00

Okay, so I'm stretching it a little. The truth is though, that if you've ever entertained the idea to travel to Alaska to ride a brevet or two with us, there's never been a better time. This afternoon the Anchorage Daily News broke a story saying that commercial airlines are adding up to 930 MORE seats EACH DAY to Alaska this summer. The article also mentions that there also might be some great deals to be had. Check out the article HERE.

The earliest flights begin May 14th, just in time for our 200Km brevet through the fertile Matanuska Valley. Also consider coming up for our legendary solstice 600Km loop from Gakona to Delta Junction to Tok and back to Gakona. Or...what about the Denali Dirt Road Randonnee on July 17th - a 200km and a 300km option on the only road within Denali National Park.

While you're rolling the crazy notion of flying to Alaska for a brevet, wander over to our Flickr site to be enticed by photos of some of our rides last season. Then...call your travel agent! Click HERE to see our brevet schedule.

Come ride with us!

Thanks to Royston Rascals' via Flickr (Creative Commons) for the phun photo!

Gardez Vôtre Sang-Froid

2010-01-18T12:23:00.005-09:00

The 2010 Alaska Randonneurs' brevet calendar is set in stone. The number and variety of rides just keeps growing. Now it's just a few more months on the fat bike or spinning at the club or in the garage. Meanwhile, I'm putting the finishing touches on cue sheets, and submitting some new routes to the Mother Ship.

So, a few of very important start-of-year house keeping tips:

1) Renew your RUSA membership. Don't delay. Do it today!! Brevets are already rollin' in a few parts of the country. Don't wait until the last moment to support the organization that allows these rides to happen.

2) PBP is only a little more than a year away. Familiarize yourself with the new qualification requirements. Yes, if you intend on riding PBP in 2011, it's a really good idea to get a full Super Randonneur series in for 2010.

3) Head to the shop and begin to get your bike ready. You've been skiing all winter so far, not start getting your steed in shape for next season too.

4) Spread the word about the Alaska Randonneurs. Tell all your friends, and drag 'em along to one of the brevets. I've added a slew of new, shorter rides to attract new riders. 2009 was a pretty big year, even with puffing volcanos and forest fires. 2010 will be huge for us with 18 rides on the calendar!

5) Consider volunteering on one of the rides. It's a great way to better understand the mechanics of the brevets, and also to get to know your fellow riders better.

6) Stay tuned for our upcoming annual "Rando Info" night. It should be sometime in March.

Peace Out!

Anchorage Awarded LAB Bronze, Cop Hits Cyclist

2009-10-27T17:38:00.012-08:00

This past week, two separate items have been spinning around my mind. Today they finally came together. You might say they even collided.

I just realized that the same day the League of American Bicyclists designated Anchorage, Alaska as a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community, announced by way of a volley of excited e-mails and blog posts, a local Anchorage woman, riding her bicycle on her morning commute, was hit by an Anchorage police officer.

While we'll likely never know the true cause or outcome of the collision, I hope it isn't a portent of the future of cycling in our fair city.

In light of these recent events, and in reaction to the confused tone the cyclist's husband had in his initial post of the collision on the AKspokes forum, I suggest making the time to read Bicycling and the Law very soon. You never know when something like this may occur to you or someone very close to you. It's best to be prepared ahead of time.

In closing, consider the current debate taking place in Seattle, attempting to address the epidemic of distracted and/or negligent driving with a "Vulnerable User Bill." David Hiller, Cascade Bicycle Club's advocacy director, notes something you should think long and hard about in regard to your own vulnerability and safety out on the road, "people who don't control their vicious dogs face more criminal culpability than drivers for negligence behind the wheel."

In the meantime, call your insurance company and get a UM/UIM policy.

2010 Brevet Calendar

2009-10-23T19:53:00.011-08:00

The 2010 Alaska Randonneurs' brevet schedule has been approved by the Mother Ship.

Mark your calendars. Even more brevet goodness is in store beginning next April.

4/17/10 Kenai 200K

5/1/10 Homer "End-of-the-Road" 200K

5/16/10 Matanuska Valley 200K

5/22/10 Anchorage/Palmer/Anchorage 300K

5/29/10 Denali Hwy 200K/300K (in conjunction w/ Alaska Endurance Association's "Denali Classic")

6/5/10 Anch/Seward/Anch 200K/400K

6/13/10 Bread & Water populaire 100K

6/19/10 Gakona/Delta Junction/Tok 200K/400K/600K

7/17/10 Denali Dirt Road Randonnée 200K/300K

8/7/10 "PBP" Nord populaire 100K

8/28/10 "PBP" Sud populaire 100K

9/11/10 Glennallen/Chitna/Glennallen 200K

9/18/10 Chugiak/Talkeetna/Chugiak 300K

I look forward to riding with you next season for some challenging rides on beautiful routes.

There's a little something here for everyone; some familiar rides, a few new rides, some remote, some urban...

Donuts, Dogs & Draughts - Saturday Morning "Training" Ride

2009-10-14T19:35:00.006-08:00

The first Frigid Bits ride of the '09/'10 season is this coming Saturday night. So, I figure I have to start training.

Open invitation for a short, informal, Saturday morning "training" ride. We're meeting at Dino's Donuts at 9:30-ish AM, and will carbo load until our 10:00AM departure. The next stop will be for dogs at the Debarr Costco. The final leg will be to the Midnight Sun Brewing Company for some post-ride electrolyte replacement, Frigid Bits strategizing and course preview.

Ride what you have: time-trial bike, unicycle, fatbike, etc. Wear your helmet, bring a lock, and cash for grub and suds.

It's Time for Frigid Bits!

2009-10-10T19:59:00.004-08:00

Figid Bits winter cycling series is starting soon.

I think this is a big deal. I strongly believe in supporting creative, local events, and Frigid Bits is about as good as it can get on both accounts. Carlos has been putting this series on for years now, and he does a hell of a job.

I urge you to come find out what it's all about.

10/17/9 at 7:00PM starting from the Goose Lake parking lot. Get there early for the 6:45PM riders meeting. Show up with an operable front light and your helmet.

More details available here.

Let's Do It Again! 100K Populaire This Weekend

2009-07-27T14:53:00.005-08:00

A bit of a planning snafu by yours truly in regard to this weekend's populaire. I didn't get the Potter-Birchwood-Potter course submitted in time to get approved.

Have no fear though! Let's do the Bread & Water 100K again. (I always think a loop ride is more interesting than an out-and-back anyway.) If you didn't get to ride it the first time, here's your chance. It's a wonderful way to see our city. Come out and join us on this ride. It's a great introduction to what randonneuring is all about. Hopefully, you'll get hooked!

Ride info is HERE.

Denali Dirt Road Randonnée Postponed Due to Forest Fire Smoke

2009-07-16T14:39:00.005-08:00

I just spoke to the Rangers up at Denali. The forest fire smoke up there is too heavy to ride in, so I'm postponing the Denali Dirt Road Randonnée until later in the summer/early autumn. It'll still be a beautiful ride; just healthier.

I'll let you know just as soon as I set a new date.

Photo: NASA

Denali Dirt Road Randonnée

2009-07-11T06:58:00.007-08:00

If you have lots of long-distance riding experience, are really strong, self-sufficient, can handle 300K of huge hills on dirt roads in Alaska's remote wilderness, with the possibility of truly awful weather, consider riding the July 18 Denali Dirt Road Randonnée.

This ride just might be the highlight of our brevet season. It's the most committed brevet in Alaska. If you'd like to ride it, you must let me know beforehand by sending me an e-mail or giving me a phone call.

Ride info may be found HERE.

A few important details:

This is not an event. Each rider is considered to be on an individual ride.

This is not a race.

There is no support whatsoever; nothing.

There are lots of important rules for riding in Denali. If you're the type that doesn't follow rules, please don't bother.

Looking forward to seeing you at the start.

Photo credit: Ed

* Special Alert - Beware of Recent IFAC Raids*

2009-07-05T12:52:00.004-08:00

With the start of the the Tour de France this weekend, and most of the brevet series behind us, it appears that the IFAC is really stepping things up this year to insure that no cyclists, racers or otherwise, including randonneurs and randonneuses, gain an unfair advantage on the bike.

Here's a video of their recent press conference. Be careful out there folks. It'd be unfortunate if the IFAC caught up with you just as the summer riding is reaching its high point.

IFAC Press Conference/Raid Video Footage

The Alaska 600K Brevet

2009-07-01T15:58:00.017-08:00

Where the Bread & Water 100K populaire embodied the light-hearted, fun nature of rambling on a bike from point-to-point around the city, the Alaska 600K brevet, that travels from Gakona to Delta Junction to Tok, and back to Gakona, is absolutely mammoth in scale, scope, and adventure-factor.

Seven riders, long-distance veterans as well as first-year randonneurs, left Gakona early Saturday morning, under a thick blanket of low clouds, to meet the challenge. It was more than an honest test of the randonneuring spirit...

...And a challenge it was! A tire boot and a Leatherman aside, the best tool anyone can bring to a ride like this is determination.

Weather forecasting across Alaska is never very dependable, but the predicted mid-70s temps were as fraudulent as Bernie Madoff's disclaimer statement. None of us realized that it had snowed 4" on the Tok Cut-off the week before. But Alaskans know we live in a land of extremes, and for the most part, the riders that showed came well prepared.

The beauty of this ride is absolutely remarkable. Each 200K leg has its own distinct character; quiet and intimate winding miles through lush subalpine landscapes, vast forests of spruce, birch, and aspen, the expanse of both the Alaska Range and the Wrangell Mountains...and some quirky little Alaska towns too. Its a wonderful way to experience that part of interior Alaska.

A hearty and sincere congratulations to those who finished. And to the riders who looked deep within themselves to understand their limits, be encouraged with the experience you gained. It'll be a really useful advantage next year.

Results

Photos

Thanks so much to all the riders and volunteers who showed up for this year's 600K. It was great having that many riders show in a non-PBP year. And honestly, Kate and Susan, you were a tremendous help along the course. One of the best surprises were Sam and Max who traveled up here from Portland and Washington D.C, respectively. I hope you'll return to join us on another brevet again. In the meantime, please spread the word about all the fantastic riding and adventure there is up here. I'm grateful to you all for your support of randonneuring in Alaska!

Bread & Water 100KM Populaire

2009-06-09T14:04:00.006-08:00

Summer is finally here, and we've had a great randonneuring season with 1,300KM of brevets so far. So we're going to throttle it back a tad this weekend.

Please join us for the inaugural Bread & Water 100KM Urban Populaire.

The ride will be just like a brevet, only shorter. You'll have 7 hours to traverse a scenic 100KM loop around Anchorage, and see parts of your city you never knew existed. The course will be interesting, and have its challenges. But remember...it's not a race.

The ride starts at 8:00AM from the Great Harvest Bakery, and ends at the Moose's Tooth Brew Pub for après vélo. Registration begins at 7:00AM. Get there early enough to get a muffin and coffee.

Full details are HERE.

Invite your friends. This is a great way to dip your toe into randonneuring, and see what it's all about.

Looking forward to seeing you at the start.

Anchorage-Seward-Anchorage 400K Brevet

2009-05-31T11:55:00.004-08:00

Bore tides, beluga whales, eagles, mountains and more are why the Seward Highway holds the All-American Roads designation. The route also holds significant historical and cultural qualities.

If you're aiming to achieve Super Randonneur status this year (check out the special jersey) by completing a full brevet series, or if you're looking to pack in some additional distance work in preparation for the Fireweed 400 or one of Rio's AEA rides, you'll not want to miss this ride to Seward and back. The views along Turnagain Arm and through the Kenai Mountains make this ride a destination of its own. The hills and distance will provide the challenge.

The start will be from Carrs Huffman on June 6th, at 6:00AM. Registration will open at 5:00AM.

All the Anch/Seward/Anch 400K ride details can be found HERE.

With our long days and short nights, randonneurs in Alaska often overlook the use of lights on the bike. However, on this long ride through the mountains, don't underestimate the need for lights. Even though you may be able to finish the ride before sundown, overcast weather conditions during the later hours can make things very dark indeed; too dark to change a flat or a broken spoke, and certainly too dark to descend Turnagain Pass safely. Bring lights on this ride.

In addition to the requirement for lights, you must have a reflective vest or sash if you're riding any time between sunset and sunrise. If you don't you will be DQ'ed. The regulations are spelled out HERE. Please be sure to read them before the start.

As usual, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to shoot me an e-mail or give me a call before the ride.

See you at the start, bright and early!!

Chin' an, Gu Ninyu.

2009-05-24T18:51:00.012-08:00

"Thank you, you came here." That's the translation of the control clue found on the sign at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in the Native village of Eklutna, north of Anchorage.

Nine riders set off early on Saturday morning from the south end of Potter Marsh for one of six 300 Km brevets offered this weekend around the U.S. It was clear and chilly at the 7:00 AM start, but the immediate climb up Rabbit Creek Road warmed everyone up rather quickly. Alaska randonneurs were again treated to spectacular weather, and a new course that wound through every community between Anchorage and Palmer and back. It was a hard, but beautiful ride embodying the true spirit of randonneuring; seeing just how far you can go on a bike, traveling from city, to town, to village, to town, entirely self-supported and living off the land while doing it.

Congratulations to all the riders on finishing! Everyone's bikes and bodies seemed to hold up well against the distance.

Results for the Anchorage/Palmer/Anchorage 300 Km brevet, as well as the Matanuska Valley 200 Km brevet are now posted HERE.

Photos of both rides are on the AK Rando Flickr site HERE.

Our next ride will be the Anchorage/Seward/Anchorage 400 Km on June 6th. I'll have details posted soon.

Enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day weekend!

Anchorage-Palmer-Anchorage 300K Brevet

2009-05-21T18:48:00.003-08:00

Now that the three 200K brevets have loosened the legs up a little, let's turn it up a notch. This Saturday is the Anchorage/Palmer/Anchorage 300K brevet.

This course is designed to really give riders the feeling of traveling from community to community, and living off the land while doing it. This ride will cover some beautiful backroads (I saw a black bear while driving the course yesterday) as well as interesting urban/industrial areas. There will be a few hills, but nothing unusual, and certainly not excessive. A 300K brevet has a time limit of 20 hours. So far, all of our 200K finishers have completed those rides well within the time limit, so I don't think it will be an issue on this ride either.

Please see all the details for the Anchorage/Palmer/Anchorage 300K are HERE.

Don't hesitate to contact me by e-mail or phone if you have any questions.

I'm looking forward to seeing you at the start!

Matanuska Valley 200K: 15 Starters/15 Finishers!

2009-05-18T19:29:00.005-08:00

Another fantastic 200K in the bag! As you can see from the photo above, the views were butt incredible!

Congratulations to all who finished!! Not one DNF this weekend! Lots of familiar faces on this ride. Thanks so much to all who came out to ride and support randonneuring in Alaska.

I really want to acknowledge the generosity of our local randonneurs. These rides do take a lot of time and energy to put together. But, honestly, I really appreciate your support and the encouragement you show! It makes it worth it.

The 7:00AM start delivered chilly head winds, pouring off of the Matanuska glacier, all the way into the King River control. The traffic was really low, and the roads very quiet being that the ride was on Sunday, though it did seem to pick up later in the afternoon.

This ride did suffer from a rash of missing street signs on the course. Is that a Valley-thing? Is that something I should call the governor about? (Note to self: always carry a can of pink spray paint in the Rando-mobile.)

The Anchorage-Palmer-Anchorage 300K will start at 07:00 next SATURDAY at the south end of Potter Marsh. I'm aiming to have details posted on the website tomorrow.

We're stepping the distance up a bit with this ride. The 300K has a 20 hour time limit, so if you think you might be out after 22:00, I expect you to have an operating front and rear light. Check your light BEFORE Saturday's ride!!! Make sure it fits, make sure it shines, make sure it won't fall off. Also, be sure to have spare batteries, and if your light isn't an LED, have an extra bulb. This isn't overkill. This is practical, safe, good advice.

Again, congratulations to all the finishers. It was great seeing you out on the course!!

I look forward to seeing you next Saturday!

Consider the Kenai!

2009-05-10T20:23:00.002-08:00

I am amazed at the high quality of road riding available on the Kenai Peninsula. Throw any stereotypes you may have of the area out the window, and do yourself a favor. Go down and explore those roads. Some of the best road riding in Alaska can be had down in Homer and Kenai.

The Kenai 200K was another fantastic ride. The weather cooperated again, and it was a beautiful day to be on the bike; though the start was a bit crisp, and riders had to push through some afternoon winds coming off the water. The riders were great too, and they came from all over Southcentral.

I'm grateful to Judy Abrahams and Angie Nelson who helped me out at the controls all day checking riders through. I couldn't have done it with out you. Thank you two very much!

Next Sunday, May 17th, will be the Matanuska 200K; an all new course. Details are HERE. I hope you will join us on some new roads.

The few photos I managed to take during the Kenai 200K are posted on the AK Rando Flickr site HERE.

The Kenai 200K results are posted on attached pdf on the results page HERE.

See you again next weekend!

North Kenai Peninsula 200K Brevet on May 9th

2009-05-06T19:48:00.002-08:00

Here are the details for next weekend's 200K brevet on the north end of the Kenai Peninsula.

It's another all new course, in an area we've never ridden before. It should be no less interesting that the now infamous Homer 200K. Plus, it will be much flatter!

Please look over the documents and course map carefully. The only real issues that came about for those who DNFed last weekend seem to be related to navigation problems. Be sure to know how to use the cue sheets along with your cyclo-computer. If you have any questions about that, please don't be afraid to ask.

Before I get to all the brevet info links, I want to emphasize the importance of riding within the traffic laws on these brevets. Part of the Homer brevet's success was that all the riders really took it upon themselves to ride as traffic. While we may have all the rights to the road, we also have all the associated responsibilities; and there are a lot of them. That means stopping at all stop signs and lights, signaling for all turns, being courteous to drivers, yielding to pedestrians, and taking the lane if you need to. As we're the new kids on the block in Kenai, I want to make a good impression.

Kenai Brevet info, printable cue sheet, and waiver are HERE.

Rider Expectations are HERE.

Regulations are HERE.

Rules for Riders are HERE.

Please e-mail me, or call me at 907-276-6299 (hm) or 907-317-6030 (mobile), if you have any questions.

I'm heading down on Friday afternoon around 4:00M-ish

Looking forward to seeing you there! It's going to be another great ride!

The End-of-the-Road Is Just The Beginning

2009-05-04T20:31:00.004-08:00

Thanks to all the riders who showed up and rode the inaugural End-of-the-Road 200K brevet in Homer, Alaska!

I really wanted to see this ride happen, and it never would have materialized without you showing up to ride it. And, now I think we've established a new standard, as one of the riders put it. You can count on the Homer 200K happening again next year, if I have anything to do with it.

It was an incredibly hilly course, especially for the first ride of the season. It was especially tough on some of the newcomers, with navigation being the primary challenge. But, the weather was spectacular, as were the views. I hope that was enough to occasionally take your mind off of your moments of suffering.

Don't forget, next weekend will be the first ever North Kenai 200K. This course is much flatter than the Homer course, and also has some very beautiful and interesting sections of road. I really hope you'll join us.

I've posted photos of the Homer ride on the Alaska Randonneurs Flickr site. Check 'em out! Relive the moment!! If you took any photos during the ride, please post them there too.

The results are now posted on the Alaska Randonneurs' website.

Congratulations to all the finishers!

AK Rando Profiled In The Redoubt Reporter

2009-04-29T14:49:00.003-08:00

The Mouth of the Kenai, aka the Redoubt Reporter, published a great article about randonneuring in Alaska, and the two new brevets we're going to have down on the Kenai. Let's hear it for keepin' it local! Thanks a lot, Redoubt!!

Homer End-of-the-Road 200K Brevet Details

2009-04-27T20:45:00.003-08:00

Here's what you need to know about next Saturday's End-of-the-Road 200K brevet in Homer.

Read the Riders' Expectations here.

There's some more fine print here.

E-mail me, or call me at 907-276-6299 (hm) or 907-317-6030 (mobile), if you have any questions.

I'm heading down on Friday afternoon around 4:00PM-ish

I'm considering getting a large room at the Driftwood Inn with a private bath and shower. If enough people are willing to pitch in, I'll get the place. Then riders can have a nice place to clean up after the ride. The Seattle club and the Oregon club often do that for their remote rides, so let me know if this works for you, and if you're willing to chip in, I'll make it a sure thing.

Cranking Up the Hype Machine

2009-04-23T20:46:00.006-08:00

It's been a week since Rando Info night already, and the roads are that much drier. Thanks to Rose for the kick in the butt to do it. Without her persuasion, it wouldn't have happened. Anyway, it was such a good idea, we're going to have to do it every spring. The turnout was good, and I got hit with some great questions. I think the big take-away for the night was that now all the attendees understand a randonneur's fixation with things like low trail, taillights that don't blink, and fenders with mud flaps.

Today I had to make a run up to Wasilla, so I made sure to stop by the Valley's cycling nerve center to see what was up: Tony Berbeirch's Backcountry Bicycles. It's been almost a year since I've been up there, and boy was I surprised to see that they've doubled in size! The shop looks really great. I guess there are a lot of cyclists up there in the Valley! Good for Tony and the gang. Good for Valley riders!

So, we all chatted it up a bit, but mostly talked about the upcoming Homer and Kenai rides. I'm still really excited about these rides, and am so looking forward to them. Or maybe it's just the thought of a perfect blueberry muffin and latte from Two Sisters. Anyway, from the sounds of it, Palmer and Wasilla will be very well represented at the inaugural End-of-the-Road 200K and the North Kenai Peninsula 200K brevets. If you're a Valley rider looking to join us on these rides, you might want to hurry and check with Tony to see if you can hitch a ride with 'em. I think there's going to be a pretty significant caravan heading down.

Oh, and on the way back to Los Anchorage, I saw Bobby V heading home from REI. He was fighting a ferocious headwind just before the Eagle River weigh station. Good form Bob! From the looks of it, I don't think he's going to have any problems with those Homer hills.

I got news this week that Alaska now has its first permanent course! It's the 300K Denali Road Permanent. Permanents are sort of like brevets, only different. You set the time and date for when you want to ride them. There are other differences too, but that's the short explanation. Now that graduate school is behind me, I aim to get permanents all over this state. Anyone can submit a route for a permanent, and I encourage you to submit a route or two, or three. For more info about permanents check out the details on the RUSA website.

And two more things! Check out what's happening over at the BCA. There's Bike Summit this weekend here in Anchorage, with Mia Birk headlining, and Bike to Work Week/Day, and a very short survey regarding bicycle commuting and alternative transportation here in Anchorage. You may find the survey HERE.

Number two is, be sure to read Bob Mionske's new column in Bicycling Magazine. If you recall, Bob wrote the legal advice column for Velo News until just recently. Anyway, it's totally outrageous. You're going to find it really hard to believe. Do not miss it. Bob is always a good read.

More later...

Rando-Info Night 4/16 at Paramount Cycles

2009-04-03T20:49:00.003-08:00

Now that the spring brevet season has been delayed a month, I’m getting more e-mails from riders wanting to know about randonneuring.

So, on Thursday, April 16 at 7:15 PM, you’re invited to join us for Rando-Info night at Paramount Cycles in South Anchorage.

I’ll cover the basics, including a bit of randonneuring history, why there are so many French words, how brevets are organized, a bit on training, how to eat for brevets, bikes and equipment for randonneuring, and more. Come join us and let us answer your questions about randonneuring in Alaska and the rest of the world.

Hope to see you there!

Revised 2009 Brevet Schedule

2009-03-31T17:51:00.005-08:00

April Fools Day is tomorrow, but this ash isn't a joke.

Due to the persistent, residual ash on the brevet courses, and the related health concerns, this season's brevet schedule has been revised.

Since last Thursday, I’ve received numerous e-mails from riders voicing their concerns about volcanic ash on the roads. Initially it was difficult finding a definitive answer regarding ash exposure, as most of the advice from local and federal agencies only addresses exposure typical to a residential cleanup scenario, not an all-day athletic event. However, after discussing the situation with several physicians, other cyclists, state health officials, RUSA officials, as well as hearing from an occupational medicine physician, I believe it's prudent to let this stuff settle down for a month.

Notwithstanding another volcanic eruption, there are two areas of concern specific to ash exposure to cyclists. First, is increased lung ventilation during prolonged vigorous exercise; in our case for periods exceeding eight hours for a 200K ride. Second, is the risk to the eyes. One of the official recommendations was for all riders to wear goggles. I can’t imagine riding 200K while wearing an N95 facemask and goggles.

While the real-time air quality readings, according to state officials, in the areas of our rides are currently not showing any immediate problematic levels, state officials confirmed that they are not taking into account the ash and dust that street-level, long-distance cyclists are exposed to by 1) stirring the ash up themselves when riding on the sides of the roads where ash accumulates with gravel, dust and other debris, 2) cars and trucks passing cyclists and kicking up clouds of ash dust that riders ride directly into, or 3) simply by winds on the course.

The good news is that we still have a big variety of new rides available. I haven't canceled any rides from the schedule. I've just moved them around and pushed them together, trying to be as accommodating as possible while minimizing conflicts with other events on the calendar.

Please see the new, revised, ash-free ride schedule HERE.

Take the Bike Show Survey

2009-03-28T14:42:00.007-08:00

Your bike is in tip-top condition, and you're not in such bad shape yourself for the beginning of the season. Yet, with no brevet this weekend you find yourself knocking around the house, checking hourly for volcano updates on the innernet, in need of some direction. Well, I have the solution! I urge you to spend some time listening to The Bike Show podcast. Download a few shows, or all of them, as they're available in the archives. They're great to listen to, especially while on the trainer.

I have a few favorite cycling-related podcasts, and Jack Thurston's, The Bike Show, is bar none the best cycling-culture focused podcast going. Jack covers a broad range of cycling topics including on-the-bike rolling interviews, PBP, the Giro, Belgium pavé, the summer solstice Rolling-to-the-Stones ride, as well as a tour from England to France linking 12 bakeries en route! Oh la la!!

And while it might be a push for brevet-riding Alaskans to relate to the London fixie scene or a tour of London's lidos, Jack imbues his show with a real continental flavor, and an inspiring excitement about being on the bike that is easy to appreciate. And his music selection is terrific.

Jack's show is like no other, and is refreshingly different from the racing-centric podcasts dominating the internet. Be sure to sample a few as some shows are better than others. It'd be a shame if you passed judgement too early and missed some of the really good ones.

And after you're hooked...take the Bike Show survey.

Homer 200K Date Change Due to Volcanic Eruption

2009-03-26T20:02:00.005-08:00

It's funny that some people still think it's winter here in Alaska. Not the hardy riders chomping at the bit to christen the inaugural End-of-the-Road 200K brevet in Homer though. Sure, at this time of year, and at this latitude, we Alaskans expect a bit of snow, ice, wind, cold, etc.; key ingredients for character building. (Lord knows, we need some character.) And while we knew Redoubt has been grumbling for some time now, frankly I didn't think it would come to this. Remember my post about "Randonneurs for Global Warming?" I really didn't mean it! Honest!!

Well, thank goodness there's a free weekend before the Kenai Peninsula 200K.

It's official, folks. The End-of-the-Road 200K will now be on 4/4/09. Granted, molten lava isn't flowing down Northernlights Blvd. quite yet. But, there's just too much ash in the air between Anchorage and Homer to put this ride on. I've been receiving a steady stream e-mails and photos from the Homer contingent describing and showing every speck of ash hitting the ground there. Those guys are on top of it! They've been on the beat letting me know the volcano's every burp as they're shoveling themselves out. I have photos from the Spit to the hills, and all stops in between. Rumor has it that if the ashfall lightens up enough to see though, they're going to hold their own version of the Homer 200K: 35 consecutive laps between Two Sisters and the Salty Dawg. I'm hoping that after the second beer at the Dawg, they get some sense and stop early. That ash can be really destructive to bike chains and cassettes.

So, go hit the trainer. Go tweak your steed a bit more. You just gained an extra week. Maybe it's a sign...

Hey, by-the-way, it was really great to see a bunch of you at BP's Cycling Fair today. There was a great turn out of Anchorage's broad spectrum of cycling interests accounted for. Huge thanks go to John Ingold for setting the whole thing up, and inviting the Alaska Randonneurs. I hope they do it again next year!

AK Rando Rides to the End-of-the-Road

2009-03-23T15:04:00.003-08:00

We're droppin' anchor in Homer next weekend folks, merely one week after SIR's 200K opener. I just can't resist those soft ocean breezes down there this time of year, when we're still surrounded by snow here in Anchorage.

Our intrepid Homer-based randonneurs pre-rode most of the 200K course last weekend and report that, "It's all doable, even without studs." How's that for optimism? Pat, Joe, and Derek all went beyond the call of duty to keep me abreast of the course conditions, and they did an excellent job, with photos and all! I'm really grateful for their support. Its stuff like that that makes randonneuring work up here.

So, expect some ice on some of the road shoulders (it's still March in Alaska), but for the most part, nothing you can't ride around.

Looming large, though, isn't the question of "To stud, or not to stud?" (By-the-way, I recommend you wear 'em if you got 'em!) Rather, it's Mt. Redoubt. Currently the winds are favorable, blowing ash to the north and leaving Homer ash free. We're keeping a close eye on the situation, and will let you know if anything changes.

Before you show up to the start of the inaugural End-of-the-Road 200K brevet, next Saturday, at Two Sisters in Homer, be sure to review the ride details, the rider expectations, and the regulations. It's important stuff, and you've got to know it if you're going to ride any of the brevets.

Also, this is a great ride to test bags, lights, food, gear, etc. out on before you get on those longer rides. Take advantage of it.

Shoot me an e-mail if you have any questions.

See you at the beach!

Alaska Randonneurs 2009 Ride Schedule

2009-03-15T22:32:00.005-08:00

Download the ride schedule as a PDF document.

Speed Linking in the Echo Chamber

2009-03-12T19:10:00.006-08:00

Just a few noteworthy items...

Check out the fantastic "compendium of advice for new (and experienced) randonneurs collected from the DC Randonneurs listserv."

If you're planning on riding the full brevet series this year, you might want to acknowledge that achievement w/ the new RUSA Super Randonneur jersey. Personally, I liked #4. BTW, this jersey is only offered this year.

BikePortland.org has been following the LAB National Bike Summit 2009. There's some important stuff going on there. Especially Rep. Oberstar's speech on "Seeking a National Legal Standard to Ensure Traffic Justice."

The first ever Alaska Randonneurs ride schedule poster/flier is available for downloading. It's a great piece of work done by one of our local riders. Print it out in all its full-color glory, post it conspicuously, and e-mail it to all of your friends.

Check the conditions down at the Cosmic Hamlet By The Sea.

I drove back from a few days of skiing in Girdwood on Tuesday. The highway is ridable all the way to the Rabbit Creek exit. It's sloppy and cold, but ridable. Fenders and mudflaps are highly advisable.

The local forums are talking about the awesome Iditarod Invitational, the upcoming ABC bike swap, and the BP Cycling Fair. Alaska Randonneurs will have a table there.

Over on the Rando forum, there's been an interesting discussion regarding a possible increase in "local" 1,200K RM randonnees in 2011 (PBP) in response to the current global economic downturn. Does Alaska need it's own 1200?

Are you planning on riding PBP in 2011? Now is probably a good time to start talking about it, and how we can best run the Alaska Brevet Series in preparation for PBP.

And finally, Pat Irwin was gracious enough to post photos of his Homer brevet pre-ride when he was checking out the conditions (I'M KIDDING!)

New Alaska Randonneurs Forum Group

2009-03-04T11:04:00.004-09:00

I just created a new forum group as a place to discuss and ask questions about the Alaska Randonneurs brevets. I probably should've done it sooner, but I'm just starting to get this website stuff figured out.

So, if you're new to randonneuring, or simply are looking to carpool to Homer, Kenai, or Gakona for one of the rides, check it out HERE.

Randonneurs for Global Warming!

2009-03-01T12:54:00.012-09:00

Homer begins our bicycle Odyssey. You won't have ten years to complete this one though, and you have to use a bike, rather than a boat. RUSA regulations give you an ample 13.5 hours. It’s early in the season, but as my friend Bob says, “Any reasonably fit cyclist can ride 200KM in a day. The recovery the following day might be tough, but it’s certainly do-able.”…and worth it, I might add.

As far as global warming...all I want is just enough to insure the roads will be clear for riding the inaugural "End-of-the-Road" brevet.

You won’t want to miss this ride. Homer is Southcentral Alaska’s banana belt, so I’m counting on the temperatures to be about ten whole degrees warmer than Anchorage. I’m also counting on the weather to cooperate enough to keep the roads clear. However, the 7 inches of snow we got here in Anchorage yesterday was quite a reality check. We're still locked in winter, but the grip is loosening fast. Keep the faith, folks! We’ve got nearly four weeks for it to melt. That’s plenty of time.

Get a preview of the route HERE. It's going to be a beautiful ride, with sweeping views of Kachemak Bay. For those riders into geographic superlatives, this ride will not only hit the “End of the Road”, but it will also reach the western most point accessible via the continuous North American road system.

As March 28th approaches, preparations for the Homer ride are solidifying. So make sure your RUSA membership is current.

Two Sisters Bakery is on board to ‘host’ the start. I got an e-mail from them the other day assuring me that there will be enough biscuits and assorted victuals on hand so riders are well fed and caffeinated before Le Grand Départ. I’m still waiting to hear specifics about parking there at the bakery. Please check back here at the AK Rando blog for updates regarding parking. We don't want to jeopardize their hospitality by taking up spaces in their entire lot for the whole day.

I’m also working on some nice accommodations for non-Homer riders so you can be well rested before the ride, and for the long drive home. I’ll post an update to that here too.

RR41 - Hot Off The Press!

2009-02-13T22:04:00.005-09:00

The new Rivendell Reader, chock full of 48 pages of steel, leather, and wool goodness, is now available here.

Enjoy!

BTW, Peanut Farm tomorrow at 1:00PM Alaska Standard Time for the ATOC! See you there!

I Like to Watch

2009-02-10T20:03:00.006-09:00

I'm not a sports fan...conventional, American-type sports that is. Stuff like football, baseball, basketball, golf, etc. And bars? I've never done the bar thing either. I mean, there was college of course... So the 'sports bar' is something I really never got. Sports + bar = wrong. That was until today! Today I had a short e-mail correspondence w/ a cycling advocate here in town who asked if I knew of any place in Anchorage where a person could go to watch the Tour on television. Of course I was dumbfounded. How would I know any place like that?! TV?! Watch? I got rid of my TV back in 1982.

But the question reminded me of one of my favorite podcasts by Jack Thurston of The Bike Show. A couple of years ago one May, Jack recorded his weekly podcast whilst (d'ya like that?) watching the Giro from Bar Italia in London. They rode their bikes to the bar. It was a great show. They were really having a grand time, you could tell. Anyway, you can still download and listen to it.

So I reached for the phone book, flipped through the pages and immediately called the Peanut Farm. And you know what? The have Versus. AND...if you ask, they'll put it on for you! Right on! I'm heading to the Peanut Farm! Just like Chauncey Gardiner, "I like to watch."

Will they let you bring your trainer? It's a sports bar, isn't it?

(By-the-way, if you get a charge out of watching bicycle racing, check out this trailer for Road to Roubaix)

Here's the Versus schedule:

Tour of California

Feb 14 @ 5PM ET, Feb 15 @ 6PM ET

Feb 16 LIVE @ 12:30PM ET, Feb 17 LIVE @ 5PM ET

Feb 18-20 LIVE @ 4PM ET and Feb 21-22 @ 5PM ET

Paris Nice - Mar 8 and Mar 15 @ 5PM ET

Criterium International - Mar 29 @ 5PM ET

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 @ 5PM ET

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 @ 4PM ET

Liege Bastogne - Apr 26 @ 3PM ET

Fleche Wallone - Apr 26 @ 3:30PM ET

Tour de Romandie - May 3 @ 4PM ET

Dauphine Libere - Jun 7, 9, 14 and 15 @ 5PM ET

Tour de Suisse - Jun 14 and 15 @ 6PM ET and Jun 21 @ 5PM ET

Tour de France - July 4-26

Vuelta A Expana - Oct 11 @ 5PM ET

Paris Tours - Oct 11 @ 6PM ET

Tour du Faso - Nov 8 @ 6PM ET

Sheldon Brown

2009-02-04T15:05:00.004-09:00

Sheldon Brown: 1944 - 2008

Folks, in memory of Sheldon, do something nice to your bike today.

Renew, Renew...It's Time To Renew.

2009-02-03T18:43:00.004-09:00

Once again, your loyal RBA is making it easy for you. It's time to renew your RUSA membership. Click on the link, download the form, fill it out, mail it off, everything is good. Next thing you know, you'll be road-trippin' down to Homer w/ your friends for the End-of-the-Road 200K season-opener.

20 clams for a year-full of benefits:

- Quarterly randonneuring journal.

- Member's handbook (of which I highlighted in a previous post).

- Fancy ACP commemorative finisher's medals.

- Eligibility for yearly rando awards.

- Groovy rando schwag from the RUSA store.

- Entry to RUSA permanents.

Go ahead, support randonneuring in the U.S. of A. Renew today!

Homer is Certifiable!

2009-02-01T11:10:00.007-09:00

We've heard the Sirens' call from the "cosmic hamlet by the sea!" Behold, Homer is certified!! ...The 200KM End-of-the-Road brevet course that is. The guy in the photo on the right with the red nose, however, looks like he's spent a little too much time at the Salty Dawg.

Anyway, I just got word this morning from the RUSA routes coordinator that the course is good to go. It's number 705. One down, a whole list of others to go.

Better hit the gym folks. Less than two months to go. We're starting early this year, and there are a few hills on the course. Bring the granny gear to this one.

What Are You Reading?

2009-01-31T16:47:00.008-09:00

I realize that many of the Alaska brevet rides are dedicated, serious athletes with their sights set on high-profile competitive events such as the Fireweed 400 or RAAM. That's great, and I'm delighted they ride the brevets. I believe they bring a lot to randonneuring that's important. As they say, randonneuring is a big tent, and there's plenty of room for all sorts of riders. To be sure though, I'm not ignoring the dedication and training necessary to finish the longer brevets or any of the big 1200s. It's just that there are a lot of other brevet riders up here who are just out for a personal challenge and a fine adventure. And they may find that challenge and adventure in the shorter rides, just as many others do in the longer ones.

For many of the latter type of riders, questions regarding training and preparation, especially when you're just starting out, can be pretty confusing. Where do you begin?! What's Chris Charmichael's phone number? Do I need that carbon fiber dog dish?

There's a whole sag wagon of information out there in the way of books, websites, forums, magazines, etc. And adopting any one of the sophisticated training and nutrition programs many of these sources offer can be, for many of us, more challenging than the rides themselves.

Listen...I'm going to make it simple for you; bordering on too simple. Maybe 'streamlined' is a better term. For the most part, you can ignore all of that stuff. Cancel that appointment to have your VO2Max tested. Stop worrying about what your composition of fast-twitch vs. low-twitch is. If you're looking for a solid place to start, something really digestible, get yourself the two booklets in the photo: Randonneurs USA Members' Handbook and the UMCA's Preparing for Long Rides. These two will get you as far as you wish to go in randonneuring. They'll provide you with an excellent base of realistic, distilled training principles, nutrition advice, and equipment choices. Read 'em. Then...if you find you still need more, or you want to put yourself on one of those programs, then you'll know just that much more when you go out and collect all those other books.

Looking Forward to Brevet Season

2009-01-29T19:46:00.005-09:00

Our new website hasn't had it's official debut yet, but it's picking up a little traffic, guessing from the feedback I'm getting from some of you. I'll make the formal launch soon. Just working on the finishing touches.

From the sounds of it, the schedule is going to work. I think it's a good one; lots of variety, some new stuff, some familiar gems... I'll keep it as tentative for a few more weeks, make some changes if necessary, then lock it in.

My aim for this season is to pack as many rides in as possible, while not conflicting with any of the other major events going on. My fear, however, is for a spring snow that will eliminate the Homer ride. Last year's snow was really a drag. But, that happens sometimes. At least it wasn't a volcano erupting! Anyway, I'm hoping the warmer average temperatures down in the Banana Belt (Homer) will work in our favor. Personally, I'm really excited about the Homer ride. I think it'll be one of the most beautiful 200Ks around.

Happy New Year! & 2009 Brevet Schedule

2009-01-23T20:06:00.007-09:00

Happy New Year Alaska Randonneurs!

How are those garage spin sessions going?

Here's a suggestion...between workouts, do some active resting in front of your computer and upload your photos of your Alaska brevets to our Flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/alaskarandonneurs/

Well, I've been working on a zillion new brevets and permanents all around the state (Kodiak 200KM, Cordova 200KM, Glennallen...). I've got loads of exciting, scenic, and challenging new routes submitted, and I'm just waiting for final approval from RUSA.

Our calendar is shaping up nicely, but if we hope to actually put all of these events on, we're going to need more volunteers on event days. So, if you or someone you know is interested in spending a nice day out on the course this spring/summer, please pass their contact info on to me, or just have them get in touch with me directly.

Here's the tentative brevet schedule for 2009:

March 28 Homer 200KM
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ak/homer/349942891000

April 11 North Kenai Peninsula 200KM
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ak/kenai/131361979930

April 18 Matanuska Valley 200KM
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ak/palmer/495929327825

May 9 Anchorage/Palmer 300KM

May 23 Bread & Water 100KM populaire (Great Harvest to the Moose's Tooth)

May 30 Anchorage/Seward/Anchorage 400KM

June 20 Gakona/Delta Junction/Tok/Gakona 600KM

July 18 Denali Dirt Road Randonnee 300KM
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ak/-denali-park/465987705182

August 1 PBP (Potter-Birchwood-Potter or Palmer-Birchwood-Palmer) Populaire

September? (When the leaves change color) Chugiak/Talkeetna/Chugiak 300KM

Please stay in touch. Let me know if you have any ideas, suggestions, questions, etc.

Bonne Route!