Super Randonneur

[juliet]

So, last May I tried to ride 600k and packed at 470k; this weekend I had another go.

And got in last night with 5 min to spare!

Ride report to follow, but I am feeling very pleased with myself (& also rather like I've been beated up - everything aches, & I'm exhausted). I rode much stronger than I expected myself to, which is always nice. Also I didn't cry once, which is rare :)

So that's my SR (Super Randonneur) series (200k, 300k, 400k, 600k) in my first year of audaxing.

Everyone else finished too: Liz got her first SR, as well (with a knee injury that would have undoubtedly caused me to pack - I am v impressed!) & Charlotte finished on fixed. Rich finished his first 600k, Matt (who was riding 2 200s rather than a 600) finished fine, & obv Steve A got in to continue his epic stab at the points record :-)

Comments

[skibbley.livejournal.com]

Well done! *impressed*

[lnr]

Oh very very well done! I look forward to reading the report.

[damerell.livejournal.com]

Oh, well done. I see I have some catching up to do. :-)

[tla]

Wow, well done!

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

Well done, you freakin' mentalist! :) :) :)

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Super is the word! I like to think that my dream (about you winning the race by cleverly working out that cycling downhill all the way would be faster than everyone else's uphill plan) came partially true :)

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Hooray! Also blimey, some of your friends are even crazier! Also Hooray!

[babysimon]

I... wow. I am Impressed.

Does the series stop at 600k, or does it just keep going up forever?

[juliet]

SR series stops at 600k. There are a bunch of other awards/series of various sorts as well. The SR is kind of the classic one. (Looking at that, I've actually got a Randonneur 1000 this season as well, sort of by accident, if I wanted to claim it). I'm not intending to do any more seriously long-distance (i.e. overnight) rides for a Very Long Time, if ever; I'll carry on riding 200s though[0] so I guess eventually I'll get the Brevet 2000.

There's also a thing called Randonneur Round The Year, which is one ride per month of 200k+ (within time limits) for 12 months. I might do that, because it's a way of getting myself out on the bike. I *like* riding, but it's sometimes difficult to make the time to get out there. I've kind of started it twice already but always missed a month for various reasons.

[0] Basically: I don't like the time-limit-chasing aspect of the longer rides, because if you're my speed i.e. slow, you spend the first day trying to get enough time in hand for sleep - 2 hrs this time, which is v good for me! - & the second day being knackered & chasing the time due to that. 200s is OK because I know I can fairly comfortably get round a 200k within time & with enough time for food stops etc.

[lnr]

Oooh, I hadn't realised you even got a shiny medal for it! Brilliant!

[juliet]

You do have to pay for it! Other than in blood, sweat, tears, etc.

(I am going to pay for it. I want shiny medal!)

[damerell.livejournal.com]

Heck, you can get a medal for a 50k if you're that way inclined.

[juliet]

For an SR series I feel damn well entitled :-)

[damerell.livejournal.com]

I'm not disagreeing with that.

I have 126 spokes!

[juliet]

That's - a lot of spokes!

[damerell.livejournal.com]

It's 36+36+48 plus 2 spare per wheel.

[sbp.livejournal.com]

Way to go! Hurrah!

Now do the Fibonacci series....

[mr-tom.livejournal.com]

vg. PBP in 2011?

[juliet]

NO. Overnight rides Bad. 3 x overnight rides Even Worse.

(for which read: I intend to do nothing more than 200k for 3 yrs, & then will reconsider the matter.)

[mr-tom.livejournal.com]

heh. That's 3 whole years in which to change your mind at least twice! ;-)

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

well done mental lady :)

shall miss the twitters ;)

[juliet]

I don't think I sent any twitters this time - ah well :-) I did think of your comment about 100k before breakfast as I got to, er, about the 100k point and stopped for (2nd) breakfast...

Fear not, I shall still be doing shorter mentalist rides - e.g. 200k next weekend!

[scat0324.livejournal.com]

Well done Juliet!

[mrs-leroy-brown.livejournal.com]

wow! You're SuperJuliet! :)

[kake]

Yay!

[i-ludicrous.livejournal.com]

Excellent! I'm not sure I believe you about not doing more overnights though...

I keep intending to do a 200, but they are all at the weekend, and weekends are never free :-(

[damerell.livejournal.com]

Permanent with some friends?

[i-ludicrous.livejournal.com]

I have been thinking about that, yes. I need to think of some likely other people.

[hazyjayne.livejournal.com]

Rah! Well done! :)

[lnr]

Oh dear, I have been looking at possible 100ks near me now. 28th October starting from Stevenage is almost tempting. I think I need to resist until next year and start when it's a bit warmer.

[ceb.livejournal.com]

Next year I will have a shiny bike! and then I can join in too.

[lnr]

Well, I was proposing giving it a go just on the hybrid, and I thought you had something similar. I'll save buying a faster bike til I know I want to ride fast :-)

[ceb.livejournal.com]

I've got a three-speed heavy dutch town bike, perfect for Cambridge but not really suited to going any significant distance on.

[lnr]

Ah yes, I see what you mean :-)

[juliet]

I did the spring version of that (the Start of Summertime) 6 months ago, & it's a really nice ride IMO. V popular, as well. Give it a go, I reckon!

[lnr]

Damn, you very very nearly had me convinced there.

Then I remembered the trains. Or more importantly the lack of trains, and the fact they don't take bikes on rail replacement buses. I don't think another 30 miles round trip on top is the best thing to add to a first 100k.

Apparently it's not just September and October either, there are no trains into Cambridge at weekends until *Christmas*. *sigh*

[lovelybug.livejournal.com]

Go girl!!!

[catsgomiaow.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! Well done :D

[ceb.livejournal.com]

Cor :-)

[lovingboth]

Coo. Huge congratulations, especially at this time of year.

everything aches, & I'm exhausted

No, really? :))