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.

Road Trip: Tarheels in Gainesville

Check out the brand new randonneuring poster and poster child.

Without a doubt, Lin had way too much fun in Gainesville this past weekend. When Laura turned him over to us for safe keeping, we were obviously guilty of being way too permissive. Sridhar and I apparently forgot whose turn it was to watch him.

Thing is, we’re still at a loss as to what really transpired. Did Lin take a BMX side excursion (Sridhar’s hypothesis)? Or did he and Sridhar just get into it some where along the way (my hypothesis)? For Lin’s part, he’s not talking. Could he have really gone after that gator that caught him in a stare down? If that’s the case, then not only did Lin live to not talk about it, but the understanding—What happens in Gainesville stays in Gainesville—remains intact.

Five wet NC Randonneurs at the finish of this year’s Gainesville 200km (l.- r., Alan, Dean, Mike O, Lin, Sridhar).

Owing to well-lubricated roads, triangle tarheels’ elapsed time of under 9:30 wasn’t too shabby, considering we’d taken time out for a catered lunch; lollygagged at a couple of controls; stood around “helping” change a flat and adjust a derailleur. Not to mention sundry other antics which were nothing more than veiled time-killing activities in last ditch hopes of maintaining some sort of face-saving pretension of early-season fitness.

In anticipation of what has now become almost an annual event for a few Triangle-area randonneurs, e-mails danced back and forth last week with subject lines about potential eateries, weather forecasts, and riding clothes. The same was probably true in other randonneuring enclaves sealed off by winter’s cold.

Upon awakening the morning of our ride, we brushed the sleep from our eyes, turned on the coffee pot in our room, and began munching calorie-dense scones we’d procured the previous evening from Panera Bread.

Note the really clean bikes already prepped, lining the hallway, dutifully and eagerly awaiting their riders.

All we had to do was pull on our cycling clothes and head out the door to the parking garage less than a hundred yards away where we’d join some 60 other randonneurs under bright fluorescent lights reflecting off yellow and orange rain gear in anticipation of a rainy day.

I should have suspected something when I glanced at my controle card and saw a leaping frog!

RBA Jim provided pre-ride instructions. He delivered part pep talk, part etiquette rules, part safety instructions.

I imagined hearing him say that the rain probably wouldn’t be as bad as the forecasters had predicted, not to pilfer oranges, feed the panthers, or pet the alligators. But I could be wrong. Admittedly, I should be more attentive at crucial moments like these. I get distracted by the bright lights, the vivid colors, the cool bikes, the crowd of people, my pounding heart . . .

At any rate, I distinctively heard Jim say, “It’s 7:30. Go!”

He must have said it because both Lin and Sridhar jumped out with me ahead of everyone.

We headed out of the parking garage onto SW 16 St. Our lead group of five or so was able to catch the green light at the first turn—hmm, SW 16 Ave—then two blocks later, the green light crossing over US 441. The second light pinched off the rest of the pack, which we were able to hold at bay all the way into the first control at mile 34.

Sridhar, Lin, and me heading toward the water park in Gainesville.

Membership of our small group remained in flux the first four or five miles. Three strong riders, including Lin’s friend, the affable “grand randonnée” Judith, went off the front and disappeared for good.

Our group dropped one, reeled another in, while three caught us from behind. Eventually, seven of us—Lin, Sridhar, Cory, Roger, Van, Terry and me—settled into a rotating paceline for the next 50 miles.

Here is Sridhar (yellow) and Roger, who is down from Georgia and glad to be riding in Florida. Roger said they’d been gripped by a cold spell since before January and that he was tired of ice freezing in his beard. At least the cool rain today was not freezing. Incidentally, Roger is excited about serving as a 2010 volunteer for the support crew for fellow Georgian randonneur and last-year RAAM notable, Kevin K. Go Kevin!

Our group finally pulled into the first en-route control (mile 34), where I grabbed a bottle of water and got my card signed before the horde that was chasing us descended.

Here come Phil and Woody from South Carolina; our Alan and Mike; Andy and the Georgia crowd; as well as a dozen or more folks down from Ohio; with many more to come.

Phil from South Carolina.

Alan and Mike at the first en-route contrôle.

Our original group left together, quickly forming another paceline.

Cory, Roger, Sridhar, Van, Terry . . .

Lin and cyclotourist me taking the picture.

Cory is a Floridian. Awaiting her RUSA number, this was her first-ever brevet. A strong rider, she regularly rides with a group of “tough” riders who have a habit of riding 70 miles before taking a break. Terry and Van are also from Florida.

Roger springs a flat and the paceline pulls over to “help,” or, as Sridhar says, “take a bio-break.” We learn that it’s a very tiny red-glass shard poking through his front Michelin that’s causing the problem.

Having knowingly relinquished our position, we wave to the pacelines now overtaking us, who ask if we need help.

We regroup under hazy drizzle.

Just before the lunch control, Lin needs to make a mechanical adjustment. Although Lin insists that we go ahead with the group, Sridhar and I won’t give him the satisfaction. Instead, we wish to make him suffer as a direct result of our company.

At the lunch control (mile 73), Meegan outdoes herself again this year. Cold drinks, pasta salad, and desserts await riders. Meegan personally serves each rider, constructing special-order sandwiches on the spot. Not only that, we dine on china using real silver ware, socializing with friends.

Finally with full tummies and Camelbaks, we hit the road again. Everything was mellow until we turned right onto NW 32 Ave at mile 94. What happened next I’m not exactly sure, but by the time we made a left just a mile and a half later, it was all over, and Lin looked like he’d just been crowned BMX champion.

A little later, Sridhar, Lin, and I were joined by a group of five-or-so cyclists at an intersection who were awaiting some “wheels.” We gathered they meant us, when they fell in right behind us.
Just before entering the last en-route control at mile 106, we heard the clap of thunder. That meant that in addition to donning reflective gear and riding with lights for the last 20 miles due to the darkening sky, we’d also don rain gear. Alan and Mike pulled in after us, so we decided to wait for them and ride together as a group the last leg of the journey, Team Tarheel.

No more pictures. It was time to seal the camera inside a plastic baggie and place the baggie inside my pannier out of the rain for the remainder of the ride.

A shame, since for me at least, the last leg was the most memorable—five buddies riding through the countryside in the rain, through the puddles: kids on bicycles in the spring rain.

After arriving back at the hotel, signing and relinquishing our contrôle cards and showering, we set about the business of deciding what and where we were going to eat. Having had Mexican the night before, we settle on Thai over animated conversation of the day’s events and past rides.

The name, Yo A, is mentioned more than once across the weekend. Highly fitting since Adrian “pioneered” the Gainesville trek for Triangle folks.

Eight hours in a car to Gainesville. Ten hours on a bike. Eight hours in a car to Raleigh. Eight hours is too long to spend in a car. —Adrian Hands, 2008


Securing bikes the next morning for the return trip in the squinty sun, the locals had witnessed a little taste of legendary Alan’s rain-making prowess on the previous day.

Here’s hoping for a return trip! Thanks to Jim and Meegan for hosting another spectacular event and for making us out-of-towners feel special!

Congratulations to Mike O, who with this ride is now within a couple of months of his R-12. For me, the ride represents R-36.

Let’s ride!

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!

A Spectator's View of the Morrisville 300km, April 25, 2009

Having volunteered to work the turnaround control at Seagrove, I’d planned on arriving well ahead of the lead group of riders. But as it turned out, I was running a little late that morning. It didn’t matter, though, since opportunity knocks when least expected.

After navigating both the detour to Alan’s home and the aisles of the Siler City Food Lion—filling my cart with randonneuring munchies, drinks, and fruit—my morning journey led me for the first time onto the brevet route just beyond Siler City.

I hadn’t planned on meeting the riders on the course. But there they were. Due to lax security, I was able to command several different vantage points and witness brightly clad randonneurs wheeling past.

Here comes Wes at the front in the stylish, yellow, Swedish P-B-P jersey.

Mike, JD, Joel, John, Lynn, Glenn, and Joe Ray rush past me a few miles after Siler City.

For the first time in my randonneuring “career,” I was able to witness the front runners at the 100km mark. Soon the small group of lead riders would tackle the hills near Coleridge, NC. I would be there, too, this time. It was exciting to watch!

Joe Ray, who had been near the back of the lead pack coming out of Siler City, was the first to scale the summit on Coleridge Rd.

One minute Joe Ray, Justin, Lynn, and Wes are in “downtown” Coleridge.

And the next minute they’re gone.

I wasn’t the only one caught up in the excitement. On his blog, Chuck reported an occasional friendly wave from a porch-sitter and farm-vehicle operator. The contagion spread as the mercury climbed. A few dogs got wind of the event and wanted to join. Even the cattle, known for elevating the nonchalant to an art form, could not completely ignore the events unfolding before them.

Since I wasn’t riding, I signed brevet cards and had the luxury of meeting each of the 22 riders reaching the Seagrove control. I’d learn some successful habits from not only the first riders to arrive at the control but the last. I’d also share in the disappointment of a few riders who abandoned on a sweltering day when temperatures were 20 degrees above normal, peaking somewhere in the low 90s. There had been little time this spring to acclimate.

I’d like to give a special mention to the handful of Virginia randonneurs visiting our state. I know the weather could have been better. Usually, it is—normally, it rains on Alan’s brevets!

How hot was it on the Morrisville 300km?

Look, Keith’s head is on fire!

Just off the collegiate race season, Justin relaxes before the return.

What do the frontrunners do? They relax, hydrate, and eat.

Mike refueling and planning a strategy for the return. You’ll not want to miss his entertaining account of the ride (blog entry below) along with his sage advice about riding your own ride.

Chuck is one of those experienced riders who rides his own ride. A great conversationalist, yet Chuck has an uncanny ability when riding alone to note and appreciate different aspects of the journey: history, nature, and scenery.

Mike is first to leave the control.

Justin and Lynn leave the control next.

New RUSA member Lynn has already amassed 700km in April!

Smiling Joe Ray off to find some more hills to climb!

Keith, another Tidewater rider and coast-to-coast PAC Tour finisher.

On her first-ever brevet, Kim from Virginia blew out a tire before Seagrove. According to Byron, she quickly fixed the flat, booted the tire, and was on her way again. By the time she reached Seagrove, the threadbare tire looked suspect. Time for a new tire.

Kim changes a tire quicker than a mongoose knots a cobra. After watching her, I wanted to find a flat tire to fix. Maybe we can coax her into putting on a clinic next time she’s in town.

Dueling cameras. Gary and Sara have done a lot for cycling with the North Carolina Bicycle Club.

Don’t be fooled by Sara’s pretty pink bicycle and innocent-looking—if not stylish—black fenders. It hasn’t rained on one of Alan’s brevets since the fenders arrived last season. On the other hand, word is—people at the Almanac have begun paying close attention to “rain maker” Alan’s brevet schedule. Something has to give! Stay tuned.

I enjoyed hearing Glenn’s account of a long-distance ride he took that ultimately inspired him to join RUSA.

JD, Joel, and Glenn. Joel’s dad, Richard, raced again in Sebring this year.

Don’t mess with recumbents. You really don’t know what they might be packing.

Monsieur Byron, le plus photogénique randonneur dans le monde.

John M, our first Super Randonneur of 2009 leaving the pits.

Tidewater randonneurs John H and Ron enjoying themselves. Look them up if you’re interested in doing the historic Nottoway Ramble Permanent in Virginia’s Tidewater Region.

Tidewater randonneur, Bob, readying for the return.

Geof at the turnaround. Check out the handle-bar tape and bags. I can’t wait to see some of Geof’s pictures of the ride, especially the long horns. Riding his bike to the 300 start, Geof had to detour along with the four-wheel vehicles!

The dapper Bee Team at the turnaround outfitted like the A-Team.

Very little afternoon shade.

Congratulations to all the participants! Although I missed a couple of spots with the sunscreen, I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with you at the randonneuring Hoboville in Seagrove, and especially being entertained by your quips and stories. Thanks!