Ride reports and photos from the Flèche NW:
Skip, Jump” width=”240″ height=”180″ />Hop, Skip, Jump (Photos)
Type 2 Fun
Ride Report by Jason K: Addicted to Flèche
Ride Report by Lynne F: Flèche Flop
Photos by Keith M (some visibility restrictions): on Facebook
Take the Longview
Photos by Norm C:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nextsibling/17146904795
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nextsibling/16524469764
Plus photos from several teams are on Instagram: #flechenw2015
Six intrepid Seattle randonneurs will set out on tomorrow, on the first ever SIR PBP Permanent. They will ride 1230 km, unsupported, mostly along the PBP route, but with 130 km of gravel roads added in keeping with the spirit of the early randonneurs. When asked whether SIR could create an SIR permanent in France, a close look at all of our enabling documentation revealed that an SIR permanent does not necessarily have to start in, finish in, or ever be in the US. “We are the Seattle INTERNATIONAL Randonneurs after all.”
SIR’s First Paris-Brest
As one of our sources said; “It took some talking to get permission to hold this permanent. We tried explaining that this was our way of honoring the French cycling traditions, of supporting the idea of truly unsupported riding, but what clenched the deal was when the PBP permanent riders agreed not to ride PBP in the same year, thus freeing up spots for other riders. ”
While the identities of the riders is still secret, unverified rumors suggest that the list of riders might include:
It is also suspected, but not confirmed, that technical and bike support will be provided en-route by Andy and Cory of the SIR Skunkworks Bike Division.
Stay tuned for details of the teams progress and consider registering for the next running of the SIR PBP Permanent. More details, including registration information on the SIR Website.
Filed under Uncategorized
Hood Canal
Riding into Port Townsend
Dramatic Sky on the Easter 200K route
Pre-ride reports, final maps and cue sheets for these rides will be posted shortly. As usual, we recommend that you pre-register and pre-pay for the ride.
Check the ferry schedules here:
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Filed under SIR Rides
Rando season is in full effect for SIR starting with the 100K Spring Populaire on March 7th.
Carol and Ralph Nussbaum’s 45th Anniversary at the Spring Populaire
130 riders finished the Spring Populaire under sunny skies. Zeek’s pizza was packed as riders poured in over a three hour period and the room was filled with laughter and conversation. We had new riders (hope to see y’all again soon!) and many familiar faces. Ralph and Carol Nussbaum celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary at the finish, bringing a beautiful (and delicious) cake to share.
“Garage sale. Used randos.” Photo by Mark Thomas
The “Escape From Seattle” 200K on March 14th started a bit more ominously, under stormy skies. Fortunately, the rain ended fairly early in the ride. Gray skies persisted most of the day, with a break in the clouds revealing the Olympic Range to many riders on the inbound leg. Jan Heine’s writeup is a great account of the ride. Geoff Hazel shares his perspective with valuable Lessons Learned. The finish at Mark and Jan Roberts’s house was delightful, with Jan’s home cooked chili and beer from the Llama’s Brewing Company, their son Sean’s tasty venture into craft brewing.
Climbers. Photo by Fred Blasdel
“The SIR 300 yesterday was perfect. All the reasons we ride=great friends, spectacular scenery, challenging hills and more hills ^^^, and outstanding volunteers.” – Jan Acuff
The Bahn Mi 300K was an excellent and challenging course out to anything-but-flat Camano Island. The sunny weather of the populaire returned for the afternoon along with the headwinds of the 200K. Best of both worlds? I think so. Big thanks to the volunteers staffing this one: Gary Prince for organizing, Charlie and Kathy White for running the lunch control out of their house, Wayne Methner for staffing the Camano Island State Park stop (at the bottom of a steep hill), and Vinny Muoneke at the finish. There were others and I apologize for leaving you off the list! Let me know and I’ll update with names. It takes a lot of volunteers to pull off a big ride like this (80+ riders) and we appreciate all of your work.
by Mark Thomas, SIR President/RBA
It’s a PBP Year!
The Paris-Brest-Paris 1200km grand randonnée is the premier event in the world of randonneuring. The challenge is to ride your bicycle from Paris to Brest on the English Channel coast and back again in 90 hours or less. It was first run in 1891, and is now held every four years. This year’s edition starts in Paris on August 16, and it’s time to start planning! Seattle International Randonneurs has been well represented at PBP since 1995, and we hope to have great participation again this year. It’s a riding and cultural experience you’ll remember forever.
SIR in Paris 2011
We will be holding a Paris-Brest-Paris informational meeting on January 25, 2015 at the new offices of Cascade Bicycle Club in northeast Seattle in Magnuson Park. The meeting will be of interest to anciens / anciennes, as well as to those who have never ridden this event but are interested in learning more. In addition to reviewing qualification, registration and logistics, we will also offer insights from PBP veterans on training and equipment, and what to expect on the ride itself.
We also hope to have information on our new SIR club jerseys and reflective vests, including a special PBP edition, which can be ordered online.
There will be light refreshments, so you will have the opportunity to share stories about past cycling exploits with new and old friends, and to discuss riding plans for the year ahead. Even if you are not planning on going to Paris this summer, it should be a good get-together.
Where: Cascade Bicycle Club Offices, 7787 62nd Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98815. The offices are located in the Magnuson Park complex off Sand Point Way in northeast Seattle. Turn off Sand Point Way into Magnuson Park at NE 74th Street/NOAA Blvd.; then take your first left; and then take your first slight left onto 62nd Avenue NE. The offices are down the street on your left.
When: Sunday, January 25, 2015, 3 pm until 4 or 4:30 pm.
Bonne route et à bientôt!
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Filed under Other Rides, Paris Brest Paris
UPDATE 1/14/15: Ordering information is on the main SIR site. The ordering deadline is February 22, 2015. We will have sample jersey, vest, and wind jacket sizes and styles to try on at the PBP information meeting on January 25 at about 4-4:30 PM.
In a world where no road is too long, no alplet too tall, and no café too far, they are the Seattle Randonneurs…
[Cut to a string of blue shirts up the road, pedaling towards the horizon, Rainier clear in the golden light of the setting sun.]
From Robert Higdon, PBP ancien and designer extraordinaire, your brevet season is about to get a whole lot better looking:
Filed under SIR Swag
New reflective gear is coming soon to SIR. Here is a preview of the wind jacket and vest:
These meet the PBP reflectivity requirements as well as RUSA guidelines for permanent and brevet riders. Will also be available in pink or yellow. Jacket has no pocket. Vest has one big pocket. Pony not included.
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Filed under SIR Swag
In 2014, four SIR members completed an unofficial challenge that they’d started twelve months earlier to honor SIR rider Donald Boothby, who passed away in 2012. The four finishers are Keith Moore, Mick Walsh, Hugh Kimball, and Joe Llona. Along with Don’s wife Mimi and challenge-instigator Narayan Krishnamoorthy, the finishers discussed the challenge with George Thomas on his excellent podcast Over the Top Cycling. You should go listen to it, I’ll wait right here. OK, welcome back. Now scroll on down to read some Q&A with Keith, Mick, and Hugh who were kind enough to talk to me about the challenge.
Keith Moore, Mimi Torchia, Joe Llona, Mick Walsh (L to R, back row), Narayan Krishnamoorthy, and Hugh Kimball (L to R, front row)
What is the Boothby Challenge and why did you decide to attempt it?
Keith Moore: Don had the crazy (crazy!!) idea to do a 300K R-12; he started his own personal challenge in 2011. About half way through the year, he was diagnosed with cancer. Treatment and surgery didn’t completely keep him off the bike, but it prevented him from riding long distances. Don died the following year. I guess you could say that we finished what Don started. We weren’t trying to raise money or awareness, we just rode to honor the memory of a friend.
Don died before I became active in SIR. That said, given the stories I’ve heard from other riders about his sense of humor, his love of riding (and his love of pie!), I know he & I would have been friends.
As to the “why” part, that’s more complicated, and I’m not sure I have a definitive answer. I like a good challenge, and even though I had not yet completed a “normal” R-12, this seemed like it would be “fun” (for some definition of the word).
Mick Walsh: It’s an R-12 with 300k or greater ride every month instead of 200k. Why? Because it sounded like a great way to honor the memory of a wonderful man.
I don’t think I ever rode with Don, I’m a newbie to Randonneuring, just hearing all the support he was getting during his illness showed me how well liked he was.
Hugh Kimball: The Boothby Challenge (BC) is a 300k ride every month of a year. It’s like the R-12. Maybe we should call it the B-12. It was proposed at the end of 2013. So I looked at my record and I had done it in that year (2013) except for November and December. So I decided to do it in 2014.
A number of my 300’s are for riding Seattle to Portland or the reverse. I have a new grandson in Portland (Dec 1, 2013). So it’s an excuse to ride there and back. For example to get October and November done I rode to Portland on 29 October and returned on 1 November.
Unfortunately, I did not know Don. But my son Todd and his son Josiah played in the Garfield High School Orchestra. Todd played a trombone and Josiah the French horn. It was not until Don’s memorial party that I connected the dots. It was really sad that I had not done so earlier when I could have ridden with Don.
Donald Boothby
December 3, 1950 — July 18, 2012
What is the best moment you remember from the challenge? The worst?
Keith: Maybe it’s the randonesia, but I can think of mostly great moments. The only bad moment I can think of is missing the ferry for the November 300K [on 11/8, which Mick and company finished in 11hours].
As far as great moments, there are many, including:
By far the “strangest” moment occurred 02/15 when a few of us rode the MI-3 300K. The weather was horrible — windy, rainy, cold, dark. Everything you don’t want in a 300K. We rolled into Carnation just after 7pm and stopped at the IGA grocery store for hot food and a little rest for the final 28 mile push back to Mercer Island. Inside the store we were accosted by a very drunk woman. She tried to warn us to stay off the roads, mostly because of drunk drivers (people such as herself). I’ll never forget her words: “If you guys were my kids, I’d kick your asses!”
Mick: I think the Race to the Border 400k preride was the best memory, we had a great group and went so fast! Though the November 300 in 11 hrs was special too 🙂
Feburary and October rides ended up in vicious wind storms and torrential rain, they were ugly.
Hugh: One of my best moments was when Ken Ward accompanied me to Portland. And one of the worst was riding by myself toward Portland along highway 30 when it was 38 degrees and raining.
Keith: One more anecdote, then I’ll stop:
Before the December ride, six of us met for breakfast at the Twin Eagles Cafe in Snohomish. As I was paying my bill the waitress asked about our ride. I told her a little about Don, and explained the Don Boothby Challenge. I told her we were riding for Don. She told me that the cafe’s owner, Sue, had died from cancer only two days earlier. She asked if we could ride for Sue as well. Of course we could.
Would you do it again and would you do anything differently?
Keith: “Never” is a long time, but I have no plans of attempting this next year. For one thing, I want to focus on PBP. Ask me again in 2016. 🙂
I’d do more research on downtown Seattle parking before trying to catch an early AM ferry.
Other than missing the ferry for the [11/8] November 300K, everything else went as smoothly as one could hope for. My bike performed flawlessly (modulo the occasional flat), I kept on top of my nutrition (no bonking), etc.
Mick: Yes, I might. Never say never.
Um, I would do the first 2 and the last 3 in warmer climates. No, riding in the miserable NW weather is what makes this a worthy challenge.
Hugh: I would do it again but it would be nice to do more riding with others- not so much solo. That being said I am retired and can often ride depending on the weather. Not many riders have that flexibility. I admire riders with full time jobs that did the BC.
“There are some crazy bicyclists who like riding long distances who decided to try my father’s bike challenge: at least one 300 kilometer ride (186.4 miles!) per month for a year. Here’s some pie to celebrate the people who took this challenge on!” — Josiah Boothby
Photos from the Challenge:
Keith: This is a self portrait I took when you and I were at the Shell station in Sumner, WA — our last control before the finish of the November 300K [11/15]. I think my face exactly expresses my feelings at that point in the ride:
“Woof” – Keith Moore
Mick: [At the Barlow Pass control on the Spring 400K] with Adam Morley, who, like me just completed his first R-12
Adam Morley and Mick Walsh (L to R)
Hugh: “Everyone is getting older, but just because you’ve gotten older doesn’t mean you can’t do things.” — Derek Jeter
Hugh on the Volcanic Arc 1000K – Photo by the editor
Filed under SIR Members
If you’ve been hearing howling, that’s our record-setting pack of 13 K-Hounds!
The K-Hound award represents 10,000K of randonneuring in one year. A few of our beloved overachievers rode 1.5x or 2x that distance. In total, they rode 149,880K+ (some results still pending) — that’s enough for a Galaxy and a Mondial award, or to wrap around the equator 3.75 times.
Last year, SIR took the lead for most K-Hounds in any one club with 10 members riding the required distance. This year we bested ourselves with 13, thanks to several repeats and a few first time K-Hounds.
Here are the K-Hounds and their distances as of (12/28/2014 at 23:24). And a hearty congratulations to all!
Jan Acuff (#2163) 11,134K
Rick Blacker (#2806) 10,094K
Jason Hansen (#6652) 10,026K (first)
Hugh Kimball (#4914) 22,651K
Joe Llona (#3439) 10,128K (first)
Audunn Ludviksson (#7563) 10,840K
Keith Moore (#5355) 10,391K (first)
Vinny Muoneke (#5004) 15,086K
John Pearch (#5290) 10,358K
Theo Roffe (#5988) 10,006K (first)
Andy Speier (#3911) 10,202K
Geoff Swarts (#4089) 13,953K
Mark Thomas (#64) 15341K
Filed under Club Info, Other Rides, SIR Members
On Sunday, November 2nd, several SIR members cleaned up a stretch of road officially near Lake Sammamish adopted by our club. After coffee and a safety briefing, they were assigned safety vests (Mark brought his own), hard hats, and arm extenders for picking up litter.
Narayan Krishnamoorthy, Hugh Kimball, Wayne Methner, Bill Dussler, Douglas Gemin and Jan Acuff at Lake Sammamish. Photo by Mark Thomas
SIR has been cleaning this stretch of road since 2007. Amy Pieper “proposed getting involved with the Adopt-A-Road program as a way to give back to a community through which [SIR] often cycled” [1] She told the paper, “We chose East Lake Sammamish Parkway for our Adopt-A-Road project because of its popularity amongst cyclists, its visibility to motorists, and its fairly central location for our membership.”
In 2008, Mark Thomas noted on his blog[2] that “although most of the roadside trash appeared to have originated from passing cars, we did find empty gel packets and energy bar wrappers suggesting that we cyclists aren’t always the best of citizens either.” He suggested a simple solution: “Let’s put the empties back in our jersey pockets, ok?” This is an important point. While it’s great that some of our members head out to clean up our adopted road each October, all of us need to do our part throughout the year by keeping litter off the road in the first place.
Let’s thank our fellow club members for their work this weekend and, if we can, join them in the effort next year.
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Filed under Club Info