DC Randonneurs

Dear present and past DC Randonneurs members, As many of you probably know by now, Matt Settle has disaffiliated himself from DC Randonneurs and has started a new randonneuring organization, ROMA. He continues to serve as an RBA and will organize the scheduled ACP brevets under his new organization.

I spent most of yesterday talking/emailing with DCR Board members and concerned DCR members, as well as emailing and talking with Mark Thomas, president of RUSA.

While the DCR Board has not yet had time to discuss the details of our ultimate plan, we did want to give some indication of where we are going.

As consistent with our charter, we intend to continue to promote randonneuring in a club organized along democratic principles. The recent election clearly indicated that this form of organization is the member’s preference.

While it is obvious that in the short term we cannot organize and sponsor brevets, we hope to be able to do so later in the year and to offer a full schedule of ACP brevets next year. This will require RUSA approval of the person that we nominate as a new RBA, as well as strong volunteer support. Of course, approval of another RBA is not a foregone conclusion. But at the same time, it seems to be a possibility, since Northern California has multiple RBA’s in fairly close proximity. RUSA requires them to coordinate schedules, and their brevets may cross over into each other’s regions.

Of course there are many more details to be worked out later, and we will be communicating with you as those are worked out. This letter has benefitted from comments by all DCR Board members, except that I couldn’t reach Paul Donaldson. But because it seems essential to communicate quickly I felt it appropriate not to wait.

We hope that you will continue to support DC Randonneurs now and in the future.

Nick Bull,
President, DC Randonneurs

The next Brevet will be the third annual Ride Around Massanutten Mountain beginning @7:00a.m. on February 23rd from 67 Cullers Lane Strasburg, Va. This is a no fee brevet. The course is a loop design that circumnavigates Massasnutten Mountain. There is an early control (mile 22.6) so please try not to be late and not make the first control on time. The RBA will not be riding the course, but will be doing a shorter fun ride. Anyone not participating in the brevet is welcome to ride along. Weather permitting there will be a bonfire at dusk for those who are interested and have the time to hang around. This would also be a good time to voice your suggestions and opinions on what you think are good ideas to improve the brevets. It is also a great time to learn all there is to know about the Shenandoah 1200K.

On March 8th, Paul Donaldson will once again host “The Richmond Roundabout” this is not an official brevet ride but it has been a spring tradition for many years with the local randonneurs. This ride begins from the Ashland Tea and Coffee House in Ashland, Va @ 5:00a.m. and circumnavigates the city of Richmond. A very pleasant ride with way less climbing than a typical brevet course. ~176 miles with a few not recommended short cuts.

Beginning March 15th, the ACP Super Randonneur Series begins with the Urbana 200K which will start from the Waffle House located at 8904 Fingerboard Rd. Starting time 7:00a.m. Brevet fee is $10. The 2nd 200K ACP ride will be on March 29th beginning from the Super 8 Motel in Middletown, Va. Start time is also 7:00a.m. and the course will be the Lost River 200K. The Brevet fee will be $10. The rest of the ACP schedule will be finalized in the next week.

In between the the ACP 200K’s is the Fleche’. The Fleche’ is different from the other brevets in that all riders are part of a team. It is also different as the ride lasts 24hrs as opposed to a certain distance. There are many other rules and differences involved in riding the Fleches-USA. If you are planning on participating in the fleche’. Please submit the necessary documents to the RBA as soon as possible so that all the procedures can be accurately and timely completed. You may want to consult the RUSA team events section on the RUSA website. If you have additional questions contact the RBA. There is no entry fee for the Mid-Atlantic Fleche’ this year. We hope to have a Sunday Morning Buffet celebration at the Key Bridge Marriott, but at this time the Marriott is not positive that their renovations will be completed in time.

There is much work involved in organizing brevets and promoting randonneuring. Volunteerism is the key to keeping costs low while at the same time providing the essentials that keeps riders coming back. I once again wish to thank all the volunteers that have helped in the past year. I would also like to appeal to these and other potential volunteers to continue their support of randonneuring by giving back to the sport that gives us so much. Volunteers are always welcomed and appreciated.

Sincerely,
Matt Settle, RBA

INTRODUCING THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

CAROL BELL, MARY CRAWLEY, LINDA GAUDETTE, NANCY GUTH, LYNN HO, MAILE NEEL, and CLARE ZECHER these tenacious women persevered through one of the most challenging PBP’s ever. They overcame many personal challenges that would have stopped many of us. Because of the great fortitude of these randonuses DC Randonneurs was honored to receive the award for the non-french club with the most female finishers. CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU.

I’m in the process of sorting the 571 brevet certificates that were earned by RUSA members. This is an increase from 393 in 2006 when the Brevet of the Month was introduced. Which was a big increase from the 229 certificates that were RUSA members earned in 2005. There are also brevet cards from non- RUSA members that are not counted in these totals. Participation in randonneuring is increasing greatly in the Mid-Atlantic Region. 2007 was a very successful year.

We started 2008 with the Mason-Dixon 200K a brand new brevet route designed by Mark Vinette. 47 riders started the brevet setting a record for Brevet of the Month participation. (This in January) Mark designed this route as a permanent route and served as the event coordinator. The route was very different from most of the other brevets in that it started from very close in and presented some different challenges in navigation and traffic in the suburban environment. After a few miles of suburbia, the route was in the countryside and hills and the wind presented the customary obstacles. I thought the route was very nice except the last few miles of traffic and trying to navigate all the cues in the dark.

I must once again remind the riders that following the RULES FOR RIDERS is a necessary part of brevet completion. Riders must have their cards verified with a time and initials or receipt at every control. Riders need to follow the rules of the road (stop at stop signs and red lights). Also receiving assistance on the course from non participants is prohibited (NO DRAFTING others cyclists.) Please be aware of these and the other rules for riders so that I will not have to disqualify you on the next brevet.

The next brevet will be Ride Around Massanutten Mountain on Feb 23rd @ 7:00a.m. . This will be a Fee Free Brevet.

The general meeting of DC Randonneurs will be held at Glen Echo Town Hall this Sunday. Please try to make it to the meeting as we have not been able to achieve quorum in the last two attempts. This is your opportunity to show your support and voice your concerns.

Thanks,

Matt Settle, RBA

The Middletown-Harrisonburg 200K a.k.a. Polar Express on Dec. 1st completed the DC Randonneurs 2007 brevet season. Once again randonneurs from six different states participated making it a truly a Mid-Atlantic randonneuring event. Fully 50 % of the riders of the last two brevets have came from more than 50 miles from DC. This is very encouraging for one of my major goals of developing a truly regional and more diverse group of randonneurs.

The first few miles of the brevet were basically flat and because I was able to leave “on time” it was fun that the peloton allowed me to set a very moderate pace until we hit the first hill at Cedar Creek. Jim Levitt, Russell Morris and I formed a small group near the back of the pack and rode together until near Harrisonburg. Jim had intended to ride the entire brevet with me, but was way out of his comfort zone riding at my pace and had to move on. I had the pleasure of Russell’s company until the finish when we brought home the lantern rouge at 12:00 hrs. Carol Bell, Chris Gaughan, Bill Olsen, Walter Pettigrew, and Michael Rowny all completed their R-12 requirements with successful finishes. Congratulations to all of them for the discipline and dedication that this achievement entails.

The Mason-Dixon 200K is the next event on Jan. 12th. Mark Vinette designed this route and will serve as Event Coordinator. This Brevet will begin from the Starbucks at 10250 Old Georgetown Rd in Bethesda, Md. This is a new route that hasn’t been used as an official brevet before, although several local randonneurs have rode it as a permanent. I’ve been informed that it is deceptively difficult with more climbing than most of our brevets. So come prepared. The brevet fee will be $10 and be sure that you have renewed your membership or be prepared to do so at the start.

I’ve had several inquiries concerning the Flèche. The Flèche will once again finish at the Marriot Key Bridge. Teams will be allowed to start as early as noon on Thursday, March 20th and as late as 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 22th. More details coming soon. If you would like to form or join a team or let me know and I will try to help.

We are still in search of the Shenandoah 1200K logo. Please spread the word so that we may have the most input possible. There is a $300 cash prize for the winning entry. Submissions should be sent to Steve Ashurst at 4240 Tazewell Terrace Burtonsville, Md 20866 or submitted via e-mail to DCRLogoContest @ dcrand . org. Electronic submissions preferred. Deadline for entry is January 15th.

I would like to thank all the Volunteers that have contributed hundreds of hours, food and travel this past year. We could not provide these brevets at such a minimal cost without them. Please consider volunteering in the coming year. Volunteers are needed for many duties including Event Coordinators, and Control Chiefs and workers for the Shenandoah 1200K.

Happy Holidays and a joyous New Year to everyone.

Matt Settle, RBA

Fellow DC Randonneurs,

It has been a busy year for DC Randonneurs, including at least one brevet every month, a fleche, a full menu of ACP qualifying rides in the spring, and of course PBP! Membership in DC Randonneurs runs from January 1 through December 31. So this is your friendly reminder to renew your membership before the end of the year. Where else can you have so much fun for only $10 per year? To renew, just fill out the online renewal page at http://www.dcrand.org/dcr/clubinfo.php?page=membership-renewal, and then follow the instructions for sending your payment.

Bill Beck
Treasurer