Homer's Odyssey

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!

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

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!

Randonneurs for Global Warming!

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.