Randonnées & Brevets

Even before I hopped onto my bicycle and commenced riding, I could tell this brevet through the Badlands of South Dakota would be unlike any other randonnée I had done.

First off, within the half hour before the start, us cyclists were shaking each and every others’ hands like a delegation of international diplomats. Imagine! Granted, there were only eight of us representing the states of South Dakota, Montana, and Colorado, but such amity and cordialness among every participant before an organized ride is something I have not witnessed before. Continue reading »

These are the most challenging events I’ve ever done, listed in order of difficulty. Most are in California, since that’s where I lived until I moved to Colorado in October 2005. The difficulty is completely subjective (and my humble opinion only), but it gives you an idea of what I think are harder: e.g., double centuries vs. marathons! Continue reading »

Paris-Brest-Paris is the granddaddy of all ultra-cycling rides, being the oldest, most prestigious amateur cycling race in the world. It was a major dream of mine, one that was fulfilled in August 2003. One day I will write a full report (perhaps August 2007), but here is the original data in the meantime. Continue reading »

Late last year, my friend Mike had moved to Portland from the SF Bay Area, having found a new job there. Fortunately, the move didn’t quell his enthusiasm for cycling, which he started doing in early 2002, and soon he sent out an email asking his ol’ friends, “Anyone want to do the Seattle-to-Portland Bicycle Classic with me in 2003?” Needless to say, this was something I could not turn down. Neither could Kevin, Mike’s friend and former coworker, also from the Bay Area. Continue reading »

I knew it would be a stretch, and yet it had come down to this. The final test, the final stepping stone — heck, the final requirement — for entry into the Paris-Brest-Paris race in August, with all the history and dreams that came with it. Continue reading »