Kenai 200K Brevet, April 17th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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