Keeping with my goal to increase mileage and my time in the saddle, this winter, I registered for a 200k Brevet. Largely European, Brevet, Audax or Rando are terms for a discipline of cycling, where you ride a predetermined route of 200, 300, 400, 600 or 1200 kilometers. There are numerous controls along the course, where you get your Brevet card stamped or you take a photo of the location.
Last Sunday, the Pennsylvania Randonneurs put on the Tscheschter Kaundi (Dutch for Chester County) 200K, with a start and finish in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. The loop went through Chester County and up into Lancaster County, before circling back to Philly.
We pulled out of the Chamounix Mansion in Fairmount park and navigated the city, through the suburbs and into the country. The climbing was pretty moderate. About 7,000 total feet of elevation seemed to amass over rolling hills with no exceptionally big climbs. However, the scenery was quite beautiful.
What makes Brevets different from Gran Fondos, gravel races and every other form of cycling is the non competitive nature of the events. Riders pass through several controls and finish, hopefully before the cutoff time. Results are listed alphabetically instead of by time. While the rides are completely unsupported, riders help each other along the course with mechanical tasks as well as emotional support when the going gets tough.
Many riders were completing a 600K, doing 400K to Jim Thorpe, PA and back the previous day, finishing early in the morning hours and climbing back on their bikes to do the final 200K.
The return to Philadelphia brought us on the Schuylkill River Trail, a very nicely paved cycle path, before winding back into Fairmount Park. My less than stellar navigating skills had me doing an extra 20K. It was a learning experience. I should have printed a cue sheet and used it along with my Garmin.
I really enjoyed my ride with the PA Randonneurs. I will certainly be back for more. I look forward to a 300, 400 and 600K. Who knows, maybe further. Until then, I’m just going to take in all I can. Pace, food consumption for a longer ride and getting my bottom used to 20+ hours on the saddle are at the top of my list.
If you haven’t done a Brevet, give it a try. It’s a great way to break into long distance cycling.
ridingmilford.com 