5 Questions with.. Raleigh RBA Alan Johnson

Everybody knows Alan. Locally, regionally, nationally- rarely will you meet someone that hasn't ridden with Al. In addition to being the Raleigh NC Regional Brevet Administrator for several years, he's been riding brevets and local centuries long before that. But how well do we know him, especially newer riders? Hopefully, this next installment of "5 Questions with.." will reveal something about this beer-brewing, Super Randonneur you didn't know before.

1- Let's begin with an easy one.. how did you get started riding brevets?

I started riding bicycles in 1980 to commute the five miles to work and then started riding 20 miles by myself on weekends. I joined NCBC in the fall and started doing the club rides. The first club ride turned out to be 75 miles. The next weekend I rode the fall century and met another rider with a patch from a triple century. I thought the century was a challenge and could not imagine doing 300 miles. Four years later I would do twice that distance and have fun doing it.

I rode my first 200K in 1983 and helped out with the other brevets that first year. Jim and Kathie Mulligan where the first RBAs for North Carolina and after PBP, they held a party for the riders and volunteers. I was intrigued by the rider's stories that first year and decided that randonneuring was for me. In 1984 I rode my first SR Series including a 1000K from Murphy to Manteo. Back then the brevets mostly followed North Carolina Bike Routes 1 and 2 with minor changes as needed. Jim and Kathie would make up route books with hand-drawn maps and typed cue sheets. There were no computers or internet to help out then.

We were still learning how to ride brevets and what to eat and carry to make it through. The available lighting systems were minimal so we often cobbled them together with Radio Shack parts, heavy six volt lantern batteries and bike lights. It wasn't uncommon for the lights to fail and we tried to stay together to share the light we did have.

There were six of us on the first 1000K leaving Murphy. Three riders had full support crews with them including one woman using it as a training ride for RAMM. We separated going through the mountains and one rider dropped out after the first 100 miles. I caught up with Gilbert Anderson, Steve Knight and another rider near Marion. Steve and I stopped in Hickory but found out that a convention had all the hotel rooms filled. We finally stopped at a Howard Johnson's where the night clerk offered us a roll away bed in the store room for a few hours sleep. We spent the second night at my house and left early for Manteo finally rolling in to the finish 65 hours after leaving Murphy. Four of us completed the 1000K and Steve and I were the only ones to finish unsupported.

After finishing the 1000K, I knew I could do PBP and it was only a matter of time until circumstances would allow me to do it.

2- Since you brought up PBP, when did you ride it, and what about it is drawing you back for 2011?

I rode PBP with about nine other local riders in 1991, which was also

the centennial year. That was the first year in which the financing,

training and time came together to allow me to go. I had two goals when I went.

The first was to finish and the other was to have fun doing it. I completed

both goals. The best thing for me was the people cheering us along the way.

Some people would have places set up to give us food and only want to know

where we came from in return. There were times when I would get depressed

during the ride but would then think about the next control coming up and the

people who would be there and I would perk back up. Coming into the

control at Villaines la Juhel, the street was packed with spectators cheering

the riders. As I approached the crowd parted and allowed me to ride through

like you see in the mountain stages of the Tour de France.

My goal is to go back next year if everything works out for me.

3- Long-time randonneurs from neighboring states have told me they remember coming to Raleigh to ride brevets in the 1980s, with riders numbering in the dozens. Do you think randonneuring in North Carolina is growing, or is it on a plateau?

I think randonneuring is growing in North Carolina. In the 80's we were one of the few places on the east coast to organize brevets and we drew randonneurs from New England to Florida. Often the majority of riders were from out of state. As the popularity of brevets increased, the number of RBA's in other states increased and there were fewer riders from out of state. In the 90's and early 2000's there would often be ten or less riders on our brevets but now we see 30 to 40 riders on all distances and have many more brevets listed. There are currently over 100 randonneurs in North Carolina belonging to RUSA. High Point RBA Tony Goodnight has been a big help with bringing in more riders with all of his rides in the western part of the state and has helped to complement the rides I put on here, as well as providing more variety to the rides available. There is a lot of enthusiasm shown by the randonneurs, involvement from RBA Tony and RUSA VP and newsletter editor Mike Dayton, all the North Carolina permanent owners and of course, the volunteers who help out on the brevets.

4- What did it feel like to complete another Super Randonneur series this year, your first since a car/bike accident several years ago.

It was great to finally do it after all this time. I have done the 200K and 300K brevets several times but had to quit on the 400K brevets the two or three times I've tried since the accident. This year I was finally able to finish the 400K but was ready to quit several times on the 600K pre-ride. Fortunately Mike, Jerry, Joel and Carol (from DC Randonneurs) kept encouraging me on and helped me finish. I was planning to buy the medals this year but Mike and Jerry surprised me with them at the 600K start the next weekend. This is what makes randonneuring great.

5- Last question: randonneur or not, famous or not, alive or not.. if there's just one cyclist you could ride a brevet with- who would it be and why?

Of course, Lance (Armstrong) is an obvious choice since his comeback from cancer is an inspiration to everyone. Reading his book helped encourage me in my recovery from the accident eight years ago. It would also be fun to ride with Charles Terront and compare the changes in cycling from the first PBP to now. It is hard though to beat the group I rode the 600K with this year and the encouragement they gave me to continue on and finish.

Old Roads

When Tony's 300K / 600K route brought us by this intersection last weekend, it made me smile. My mom was born and raised on Greens Bridge Road, and I spent many happy summers there on the farm as a boy. My sister, cousins and I would ride our bikes all the way from Grandma and Pa's to this signpost, and heeding the stern warnings from our grandparents about not getting out on "the Highway," we'd turn back, giddy with pushing the limits, exploring the world. It was nearly 2 miles round trip for us. This weekend, I giddily made the signpost at mile 130-something, with many more to go. Golden memories of my grandmother and grandfather, the farm, a simpler time, warmed me in the late-afternoon light.

Bittersweet.

Lumberton 200/300km Brevets, February 6, 2010

Owing to the weather this past week, we wondered whether there would even be any North Carolina brevets this weekend. Not only had training been affected, but so too was the ability to formulate a ride-day game plan ahead of time. On such short notice, if it went off, we’d be riding on and by the seat of our pants.

Further north our friends in the DC area have had it much worse, however. In reference to the heavy snow this weekend and the lousy riding weather so far this year, one DC Randonneur shared this bit of humor:

Chuck and I have accepted Punxsutawny Phil's gracious invitation to share his private suite in the climate-controlled Punxsutawny Library. See you after the thaw.

Closer to home, my home, which is located just an hour and a half from the start, I was pleasingly surprised upon rising and poking my head outside early Saturday morning and seeing that it wasn’t raining! Just cloudy skies that would last all day.

Weather wise, Tony has had good luck with his eastern North Carolina flatland experiment: the flèche two years ago, culminating at Ocean Isle Beach, and now with the Lumberton brevets this weekend, with riders having a choice of 200km or 300km, the latter with an even bigger helping of wind. Simply put, if this weekend’s brevets had been scheduled anywhere else, there may not have been any brevets. In fact, by the time Tony was ready to make his escape from the western Piedmont, it had already begun sleeting there.

It was an enthusiastic group that turned out for both rides. Among them was the band, “Beach Boys and Girl” (Mike D, Joel, Ed, and Lynn, was there anyone else?), riding 300km down to Sunset Beach and back.

There is Joel in blue, one of the Beach Boys. You know his group (with Mike D) was going to have fun. I wonder if they took a quick dip in the ocean?

Among the 200km aspirants was fast guy Steve (on the right) to whom we waved as he whizzed past us in the opposite direction having already cleared the first contrôle. Among several others, two new people completed their first 200km brevet: Lee Ann and Tim. A hearty congratulations to both! The winter months are not the easiest time of year to get this brevet-thing figured out.

After pre-ride instructions from RBA Tony, locals Tom and Mary were kind enough to escort us 21 miles out of town all the way to the Gum Springs Rd intersection before bidding us farewell and turning back. They’d have ridden with us all day were they not tapering for their upcoming race in Sebring.

Tom and Mary led us through Tar Heel over the Cape Fear River, where we turned right onto River Rd past Harmony Hall Plantation, which was barely visible on the right. You’d miss it if you didn’t know it was there. The only thing really noticeable from the road is the old general store, which doubles as a museum.

Besides a few interesting buildings, the site is home to one interesting tidbit of colonial North Carolina history. Check out this sign.

At Ammon (mile 31.3), everyone met for a brief time. The Beach Boys and Girl get high marks on contrôle efficiency. Although arriving behind us due to having to stop to make clothing adjustments, they were out of the contrôle ahead of us. With more miles to go before they could sleep, it was best to make good use of a great tailwind.

I spotted a Willie Nelson look-alike in Ammon. I was also able to study some randonneuring eating habits in the wild. Here’s Scott posing with a delicacy. Or, should I say, the reason he’s smiling is that he’s already consumed the delicacy?

No, that’s not SRAM the component maker.

A group of seven of us left Ammon for the southernmost tip of the route located 46 miles away, almost due south. We would leave Bike Route 5 and head into Elizabethtown (mile 43) where we would cross the Cape Fear River again and for the last time.

Now to take advantage of a tailwind for the next 34 miles (77 mile mark) before it would turn on us the last 50 miles homebound. But let’s not dwell on that right now.

At the far-end contrôle, I had another chance to observe the eating habits of randonneurs in the wild. Here, for example, is Lee Ann lustily consuming . . . I don’t know what.

All gone.

Knowing what lay ahead, none of us was eager to leave the contrôle. We took our time making sure that we had consumed enough calories and had properly hydrated.

Finally we left with the assurance that the next control was only 14 miles away. Scott literally pulled us through somehow managing a pace of 16 mph against the wind. Lee Ann also pulled. The only thing I can say is thanks and that I’m sorry that I posted the above pictures of your eating habits. I promise to take them down as soon as everyone has had a chance to see them.

This leg of the route took us up to downtown Whiteville where the contrôle was located just off the traffic circle with the court house plopped right down in the middle of the circle. We got our cards signed, flipped our cue sheets, and quickly calculated how many miles before the next store.

Now it was my turn to lead, primarily because I had studied the on-line map of this section of the route on how to get out of town. Next came Old Lumberton Rd, which seemed to go on forever, pedal stroke after pedal stroke. . .

The wind rushing past my ears sounded like I was listening to sea shells. It was almost impossible to have a conversation with Sridhar. We took turns pulling, our speed in the low teens.

Sridhar is not one to complain, but his wish was granted as soon as we entered Robeson County. The road became as smooth as glass, trees popped up on both sides of the road, and the road itself had a few interesting turns for a change. We hoped we could ride it all the way to Lumberton. But it was not to be.

We found our store at the corner of Old Allenton Rd where we were supposed to turn, now just 13 miles from the end. Lee Ann and Scott had arrived ahead of us and would leave ahead of us. Tom and Mary arrived offering encouragement.

The last part of the ride was broken up into several small turns keeping our minds occupied. Had the wind abated? The last couple of miles was like riding a victory lap.

The 200km is a nice route, flatter than advertised. The start/end staging area in Lumberton is conveniently located just off the interstate and surrounded by several eateries and motels. The course is beautiful, traversing a designated Scenic Byway in one section and through a couple of forests.

Congratulations to everyone. Thanks to RBA Tony for designing such a nice route and sponsoring the ride. Thanks to Tom and Mary for pre-riding the route and for being on hand to host the event and check on riders. The companionship of Scott, Lee Ann, and Sridhar more than offset the headwind. Thanks, guys!

Let’s ride!

Note from Mike D: Here's a picture of one-half of the 300K crew -- Joel and Lynn -- at the turnaround at Sunset Beach. They're still smiling, but from there, it was 80 miles back uphill and into the wind.

North Carolina Bicycle Club Randonneurs RUSA Anniversary Ride, 2009

Anniversaries mark important historical events. But they are also celebratory occasions. So, too, was the second consecutive locally celebrated RUSA Anniversary Brevet on Saturday, August 15, marking the 11th year of Randonneurs USA, or RUSA for short.

It was great seeing a number of newbies, but also the oldbies who’ve become a great support structure for NC randonneuring! Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to meet all of you. So you’ll have to come back again!

A special thanks to RBA, Alan Johnson, for organizing and hosting this NCBC event. By all accounts it was another successful anniversary brevet. Although Mike O quipped that Alan was losing his touch with the weather, since there was no rain!

Aside from the lack of rain, everything else was clicking today: the cool morning temperatures; the midmorning overcast skies; the great job done by the volunteers; the relaxing post-ride celebratory picnic at Morrisville Community Park; the upbeat enthusiastic riders . . . Just back from L-E-L, Mike D looked relaxed sporting a cool T-shirt with the L-E-L logo. RBA Tony Goodnight was there as well.

We can’t say enough about volunteerism and its importance to RUSA events. A number of volunteers pre-rode this event last Saturday on a sweltering day. Others took time out to help with the picnic and other duties. The water at the corner of Chicken Bridge and NC 87 in the white Styrofoam coolers, still cold on the return in the afternoon sun, was a nice touch, Jerry and company! Thanks to all the selfless volunteers for making this another successful anniversary ride.

Riders filing out on the 200km ride before sunrise at 6 AM.

It was nice to see a number of newbies tackling their first 200km brevet today. I’m disappointed that I didn’t have a chance to meet them all. But congratulations are in order, anyway!

Three riders at Snow Camp tackling their first 200km event, from left to right, Lynn, Scott, and John.

Although I finished with a time of 9:33, I got off to a sluggish start, probably due to the fact that I hadn’t ridden in a week. At any rate, I liked the pre-dawn start. Due to overcast morning skies, I wore reflective gear and burned my flashing taillight all the way to Snow Camp.

I teamed up with Mike O just past Snow Camp and we took turns pushing the pace to Siler City. We rode pretty much together for the remainder of the ride. His company made the miles go faster in more ways than one. Mike has ridden most of this area and can tell you where each road goes that we pass. He’s also good at spotting hawks, deer, and interesting items along the road.

Here is one interesting item we saw. Ever wished you’d had your camera when you saw that UFO no one believed you saw? Well today, I was prepared.

Here’s the picture that I’m forwarding to NASA and more importantly to Mulder and Scully.

Since I’m not an engineer or a physicist, I can’t offer an educated opinion about the technical sophistication of this contraption. But as a biologist, I’m thinking there may be the possibility that the Clampett gene pool may be “out there” somewhere.

Mike O on the return.

Watch out, Mike! My tandem riding buddy, Mt. Fuji, is about to pounce!

Note my bike listing to the left? Toting Mt. Fuji all across creation is no easy task. Maybe the reason for my slow start and struggle up Jack Bennett hill today. That’s my story, at any rate.

Congratulations to all for yet another successful anniversary ride! We hope to see you and everyone else sometime soon! Let’s ride!

Harrisburg 300K from a Fixed Perspective

"..And it's back where we started.
Here we go 'round again.
Back where we started.
Come on and do it again,
Do it again!"
- The Kinks

It was late when Ray Davies' song popped in my head. Gary and I were climbing into Locust around midnight, and we were tired. But the finish was closer, and we were going to make it with an hour or so to spare. It was a good feeling to be "back where we started."

For much of the day, I didn't know if I'd even make it back where we started. Instead of riding hard for a low time, I was attempting the 300K on my fixed-gear commuter. The whole idea seemed crazy even to me, but it also felt like an adventure. A new route, a new bike, a new way to ride..

I was scared to death.

Turned out it was one of my favorite brevets ever. It was great getting to know Gary and Jim better, riding the fixed-gear was incredibly fun, and the ever-changing landscapes were amazing. The backroads were smooth and lightly-travelled. The towns, quaint and historic. The scenery, a rural metamorphosis. Hardwoods to pines. Red clay to white sand. Rolling hills to low plains.

Chapeau, Tony! Chapeau.