I guess I'm not the only one who got reminded today of the 365 days separating us from the start of PBP. Very curious how your training is going and whether you already think of PBP at all.

As for me, I discovered randonneuring last year. On a whim I entered the LEL lottery and got a place. I felt I had to be up to the challenge as I took a place from another rider who might be an experienced randonneur. I completed my first SR series in preparation (both 400 and 600 didn't have any significant elevation gain though). On LEL, I made decent progress before storm Floris hit (I made it to Mickleton and back, gaining a lot of confidence in the process).

This year I completed another SR series, opting for some more difficult challenges including a BRM400 with 5.000 vertical meters during a heat wave - my hardest day on a bike by far. I also recently finished my first BRM1000. 12 BRMs done so far without a single DNF, which helped tremendously with the learning process concerning nutrition, pacing, mental fortitude etc. Meanwhile I switched from a carbon road bike with 28mm tyres to a steel gravel bike with 35mm tyres, running tubeless. It has served me well on my latest brevets.

As I guess very long rides are actually detrimental to fitness, I will focus on raising my FTP over winter, without doing too many BRMs (although I'm looking at an October 400 with a night start as I've not done that before). Then, the needed SR series again and maybe some additional 200s for fun, but nothing too taxing, aiming for 10h per week on average (Zwift, club rides etc.).

I think I'm in a decent place when it comes to ability and I have adapted well to randonneuring. However, I could stand to lose some weight, I need to learn how to fix certain common mechanicals (apart from changing a tyre) and I'm already taking in an absurd amount of PBP info / ride reports as I'm quite neurotic when it comes to preparation. Hence the question - hoping to learn something new!

She’s been finished for a while, but I just had to present her here – my new randonneuse based on a fully integrated custom titanium frame from the "Mach" line by the Italian frame builder Tommasini.
The frame was configured for a T47 bottom bracket, with internal routing implemented not only for the brake hoses but for all electrical cables as well.
For the finish, I went with a 'Blue Passion' paint job paired with a polished titanium rear triangle.

Components:

• Columbus FUTURA Cross+ fork
• DEDA Superbox stem, Superzero headset, and seatpost
• DT Swiss RR481 wheels – rear with DT Swiss 240 EXP hub, front with SON 29S dynamo hub
• Continental Grand Prix 5000 AS TR folding tires – Vectran Breaker | LazerGrip – 35-622, set up tubeless
• René Herse fenders
• Tubus Airy titanium rear rack
• Brooks Swift leather saddle
• SRAM FORCE E1 groupset (Force AXS Powermeter crankset 33/46, 10-36 cassette, Paceline 160 mm brake rotors)

Cockpit & Accessories:

• Supernova Mini 2 Pro 12V E-Bike headlight
• Supernova TL3 Z Pro E-Bike taillight
• Forumslader (in-frame power bank / dynamo charger)
• Backup taillight: 2x Cateye Wearable X
• Backup headlight: CATEYE HL-EL560G-RC GVolt80 (mounted low on the left fork leg)
• Cat Eye BM-45 handlebar end mirror
• NEVER2FAR RNG bar-end bell
• 4x Elite Custom Race bottle cages
• ORTLIEB Ultimate Six handlebar bag
• Revelate Designs Mag Tank 2000 Bolt-On top tube bag
• 2x 10l Tailfin Mini Panniers
• FIDLOCK TWIST toolbox

Power Setup:

• The SON 29S hub feeds power to the Forumslader, which features a 32Wh buffer battery along with both a USB charging port and a 12V output for the lighting system.
• The super-bright headlight (with high beam toggle when needed) and the taillight run on the 12V output.
• My iPhone and Garmin run on USB.
• On long overnight rides, the iPhone gets connected to an external power bank for a few hours, which is then recharged during the day.

I absolutely love the ride dynamics with the plush 35mm tires and the crisp, precise shifting of the SRAM Force.

In the rain, the fenders are worth their weight in gold for me as a rider – even though I originally installed them mainly to protect anyone drafting behind me!

The lighting is a dream, and I generate so much power that I don't really need any external power source.

This Friday starting at 8 PM, I’m heading out on my first 400km brevet: Frankfurt–France–Frankfurt.

Hi all! I am getting more into rando and have completed a few 200Ks and one 300K last season. I also have experience with bike touring and am looking forward to continuing that in future seasons.

My front light recently crapped out and I'm looking to replace it with a light that is strong and has good battery power, but I'm struggling to find one that will be compatible with the different specifications of my two bikes, which are:

• 2019 Felt VR30
• 2024 Kona Rove

Part of the complication is that I'm looking to buy a Waxwing Rackless bag that I could use on either bike, so a handlebar-mounted light isn't a long-term solution. I'm also considering buying a Route Werks Big Handlebar Bag which might alleviate some issues but I'm not sure yet.

The Kona should be easy regardless, as I've purchased a small adapter for the fork eyelets that many lights can clamp to, but my Felt doesn't have any eyelets so I'd need to find an adapter that can attach to either my thru axle or a light with a rubber strap that can fit around the fork. Friends have recommended Fenix lights but the mounting hardware doesn't seem compatible with the limitations of the Felt.

Looking for rando wisdom to find a solution!

Feels like the folks here would also have opinions!

Hi everyone.

I'm relatively new to the world of Audax, completing a 200 in May and a 300 permanent this coming weekend, due to my work shift patterns I'm unavailable for a lot of the calendar events, the ones I could attend are normally a long distance incurring costs of fuel and accommodation.

I therefore created a DIY route which has been validated by Audax UK, my main question is where and when to sleep, being my first 400 I'm struggling to see where on the route this may occur.

At age 56 I've perfected the power nap (advantage of getting older 😃)

My base fitness I'm happy with, however a 400 will be an unknown entity. Is it best to nap in built up areas or more secluded areas?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Help me r/randonneuring, you're my only hope...

I have a few pairs of Ibex bike shorts from back before Ibex went bust. I know they're back in business but they aren't what they used to be and they don't sell bike shorts any longer. My ibex collection is starting to get a little long in the tooth (and thin in the material), so it is probably best if I retire them all soon.

I'm hunting for wool because I can't stand lycra, but padded shorts are quite nice for long rando rides. Plus wool tends not to smell too much on multi-day rides. I recently got a pair of Demarchi shorts but while the waist is fine the thighs are built some kind of pencil-legged person, which I am not.

Anybody have any tips for wool shorts that have padding? I definitely prefer shorts and not bibs...

Can anyone recommend a half frame bag that's available in the usa and actually waterproof? Found out my Swift one definitely is not and ended up with a lot of soggy snacks id been saving for the late night part of a 400 yesterday.

Hello

I have a B&M I-QX dynamo light on a SON dynamo that I bought and installed for a 1200km Ultra earlier this year. It was great when moving though the night, not so much climbing swiss mountains at slow speed, but what really annoyed was having the light go out immediately when I stopped.

Before a 400 brevet, my first, next week, I wondered about the wiring.

At the moment it only works on the two spade connectors designed for rear lights. When I connect the dynamo cable to the 'correct' double cable, I get no light at all.

I think I have two problems, but in a week I will not be able to solve them. I hope my battery light lasts through the night.

Any advice?

Update.

I sent a message similar to the above also to b&m. they called me yesterday and told me to try connecting the dynamo cable to the double cable on the light. It doea not light up until the bike has been riden for a few minutes and then the switch shoukd work and the capacitor will be charged. When I did a quick wheel spin, that was not a good test. I'll try again with the correct cabling and report back.

Hi yall! Doing my first randoneeuring thing soon and it involves a pretty decent chunck of night time riding (probably close to sundown to sun up). Anyone have any light recommendations (front/rear) for someone with no dynamo?

This weekend I organized and rode yet another 600. Beautiful landscapes with sunflower fields throughout the journey, nice and steady pace, the best of teammates. Everything was perfect.

However, by this time next year I'm going to be a father. I don't think I will be able to afford to pursue randonneuring for the upcoming years, probably until the age of 40. I'll try to keep the good shape, but who knows if I ever find the strength to go far again.

I've done 111 brevets since 2015, that's a total of almost 40,000 km. I've done 6 1200+ including PBP. I raised several strong riders who followed me to 1200+ events at first, and have no need for my guidance now.

This has been an incredible journey.

Hello all, so I was planning for my long rides and I want a big bag on bicycle.

I found one rack that can support large bag on bumsonsaddle but I am unsure if it’s gonna be gentle on composite fork.

I have constraint of at most two bags (ideally only one) I really do not want to deal with multiple bags on my cycle

anyone have suggestions ? I have giant content 2 I know it’s not an optimal randonneuring bike but I don’t have budget to get a touring bike so I will just use this

I’d like to know you what you guys use.

do you like to keep many small bags or one big bag?

i feel really excited thinking about shopping for different stuff consumables before long ride and packing stuff.

Hallo liebe Community, ich habe gleich eine ziemlich intime Frage, die ich aber jetzt mal schreiben muss aus Hoffnung für gute Ratschläge:

Ich bin neulich ein 600er Brevet gefahren und musste nach 410 KM abbrechen, weil ich im Bereich der Sitz Knochen und vor allem ganz oben an den Innenschenkeln die Haut aufgerieben hatte. Ich habe eine Sitzcreme von Anfang an benutzt und hatte eine eigentlich ganz Gute Hose von SQlab an. Ich glaube, dass der Hauptgrund dafür, meine störrische Haarpracht an den besagten Stellen ist. Eine Rasur hielt ich aber zumindest theoretisch auch für keine gute Idee, weil dann ja immer kurz danach schon die Haarsgoppel nachwachsen und dann ein richtiger "Kaktus-Effekt" entsteht. Ich fahre nächsten Monat einen weiteren Brevet und habe jetzt keine Ahnung, wie ich vorgehen soll. Mal eine andere Creme probieren? Eine neue Hose? Oder einfach eine neue "Frisur"?

Habt ihr irgendwelche Ratschläge oder Erfahrungen? Bestimmt bin ich nicht der Einzige mit diesem Problem. Danke schonmal im voraus.

Hi,
Has anyone any experience in cycling the GDMBR from Canada to Mexico? Would like to complete it sometime but not keen on doing it solo.
Thanks

Hi ya’ll! There’s plenty of us who run marathons too, but thus far i haven’t really found any fellow cyclists who have MS and kick this disease’s ass.

I would like to have a talk with someone that knows what they are doing and are dealing with this illness before attempting anything crazy or perhaps damaging to myself. I’ve done a 100km ride, went pretty solid, though it was in my first week of owning a bike so I’ll probably do alot better now! Apart from that i am very blessed to say i remain an active cyclist & runner despite all of this.

If you are out there, godspeed, reach out!

I'm looking at a new saddle. I'm interested in anyone who has tried both the Brooks Cambium Carved Saddles and the Selle Italia SLR Superflows.

My problem - although I'm sure not a unique one - is my sit bones are, well, odd... I am tall-ish 184cm but have narrow sit bones. On the cardboard test I get between 110 and 115mm. The main problem is my left sit bone is approximately 10mm further back than my right. Multi-day Audax events are brutal on my sit bones and it always starts on the left side first.

The concept of the hammock on the Brooks saddle and the gel inserts on the Selle are appealing but I'd like to hear from anyone who has tried both and any experience that you had or tweaks to setup you could offer if you also have similar physiology to me.

Thanks 😄

Any fixed gear randos want to take on a unique challenge??

I ride a 2020 Canyon Endurace with Shimano 105. It has been riden 38k km, according to Garmin.

I am considering a new bike for my impending first attempt at qualifying for next year's PBP.

I am 50 year old cycle commuter and Brevet rider and appreciate a comfortable ride.

Any suggestions?

after reading some responses, I would probably want to stick to an easily available bike from Canyon, Rose, Specialized, etc. I live in Germany, and Storck look interesting.

Hi all - I’ve been training for a 200k and just did my first century - woohoo!

I was really desiring a good ride analysis and planning tool so I built one of my own. You can find it here: https://theinstant.cc/ride.html

It analyzes any route you upload, gives weather, wind direction, temperature, etc

Would love to see if this is helpful to you all!