Randonnée Testimony
Nick Evans
Age: 43
Location: London
Randonnée: Appennini
Year / Month: Sept'10
The highs of your trip: Finishing! A journey in every way - mental, physical. Descending with Eros, climbing on Pantani's territory (not like Pantani) the randonneurs - and the chat. The scenery - Piano Grande on day 6 and Monte Catria ravines.
The lows of your trip: None to write home about. Saddle sore-ish and not recalling some of the stages - a blur of road/smells/sweat/rhythm/pain. Turn 15 on Monte Nerone - figuring we were counting down, not up, 14 to go…
Your level of cycling experience before the Randonnée: Sportif riding. Some European climbs.
Your tip for a future randonneur:
Don’t undertake it lightly - and when you are there, clear your mind to just ride all day. Nothing more, nothing less. Worth it - every minute.
Read Cronin
Age: 32
Location: Italy
Randonnée: Appennini
Year / Month: April 27, 2010
The highs of your trip: Being with my father and brother. The best time of my life. We did it as a team and I am so proud of my father and brother. One of the best days was the fourth day in a group cranking our way to the hotel room. I so enjoyed being with all the other people in the group. I remember riding with my father and how we just kept going, no matter how hard and long the climb was. We pulled each other along. I have hundreds of memories that will last a lifetime. As a random note, I decided to go out for a spin the day I returned from my trip up my favourite mountain, Gibraltar (in my back yard). I ended up riding with Lance Armstrong for about 8 miles (on the flats, he dropped me on the mountain). I can say I have never had an adventure like the Appennini and it was a life-changing event. When you don’t think you can go any further, just keep going.
The lows of your trip: The first day was so hard. It about killed me (mentally). Every day was hard as it rained just about non-stop. We had it all, rain, snow, sleet and sun.
Has the Randonnée inspired to take on any other cycling challenges?
Yes, we want to do the Pyrenees next year.
Your tip for a future randonneur: Bring lots of Assos!
Murray Hardie
Age: 47
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Randonnée: Pyrenees
Year / Month: September 2010
The highs of your trip: There were so many highs - reaching every summit was a real thrill and by day three I'd say the climbing became enjoyable too. Standing on top of Col du Tourmalet was a fantastic experience but of course each descent was an unexpected thrill for me as I'd ridden so few before this. I also have to say that riding at high speed in a peloton was pretty fantastic so all in all the whole week was a high. The level of service was also superb. There's nothing quite like a hard day in the saddle and then having someone collect your bike, give it a really good wash, and then tune it so it’s humming like new for the next morning. Finally I would also have to say that being in the mountains on a bike was pretty special - your really experience this spectacular scenery in a unique and very personal way. Definitely a life changing experience for me.
The lows of your trip: End of day five the fatigue really set in for me after a really tough ride but a few of the guys circled back to escort me home so even that was a good experience and they had a very welcome beer waiting for me. Gotta love that!
Your level of cycling experience before the Randonnée: 4 Months - but this experience added a good few years.
Has the Randonnée inspired to take on any other cycling challenges? This experience changed everything for me. My legs are different, my passion and enthusiasm for road cycling is out of control and as a consequence I've signed up for year round cycling training with La Fuga Performance and will definitely be back for more riding like this in 2011.
Your tip for a future randonneur: Prepare properly. A decent training plan goes a really long way and makes the experience that much more enjoyable.
Matt Sweet
Age: 34
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Randonnée: Appennini
Year / Month: May 2010
The highs of your trip: A few hours into Day #4, after having a tough time the day before (see below), I realized I was getting stronger. I continued to improve during the final 3 days and felt very strong on the climbs of the final day. That felt pretty good. The weather made for an epic trip.
The lows of your trip: The last few hours of Day #3 when I felt that I might not be able to finish.
Your level of cycling experience before the Randonnée: I've been riding for 20 years, a little racing, a lot of all day rides on and off road.
Has the Randonnée inspired you to take on other challenges? Yes, I'm very much looking forward to doing the other Randonnées in upcoming years. I've also become interested in my local/regional brevet series.
Your tip for a future randonneur: Be prepared. Relax and remember it's a long ride. Enjoy the scenery; it's not a race.
Bruce Rychlik
Age: 43
Location: Acton, Massachusetts.
Randonnée: Alpine
Year / Month: September 2010
The highs of your trip: Being back in Europe after eight years away. The French Alps – what an incredibly beautiful part of the world! Our guides Anton, Claire, Darren and Ross truly made it special – our job as riders was easy compared to theirs. Designer Graeme Raeburn from Rapha joined us for two days – what a treat and what a rider. The euphoria on day three of reaching the top of Alpe d’Huez after 85 miles, nine hours in the saddle and having climbed the Madeleine and Col du Glandon - I embraced the fact that I was physically crushed. After a while 6% grade felt like we were going downhill. 7% was always welcomed. An hour long massage in Nice after the trip was over – the masseur said I could have used three. Having the support van close by was a life saver - for both food and wardrobe changes. The topography really changed beginning with the backside of Col d'Izoard – I think one could only appreciate and witness that on a (long) point-to-point Randonnée. Having started on the shore of Lake Geneva, by the Col de la Bonnette-Restefond on day five – one could tell the Mediterranean was near, you could almost feel it. Seeing the Mediterranean below Menton for the first time while descending Col de Turini was incredible – they must add something to the water to make it so blue. Seeing it up close was even better. Picking a pace for each climb – sticking to it – and making it!
The lows of your trip: Not having enough time to enjoy my room in Megève and Jausiers – they were stunning. I could not have been more wet or cold on the final descent on day four from the top of Col St. Martin into Saint Martin Vésubie. A flat tire while descending Glandon.
Your level of cycling experience before the Randonnée: This is my fifth year on a bike after a 16-year break. I had been training for the previous 17 months with a coach by the time of the trip. I put the hard work in before hand so I knew I was ready. Almost all of my riding has been done in my home state of Massachusetts and this was my first organized trip of any kind. Needless to say, this was unlike anything I had previously seen or imagined. We climbed between two and four cols each day – most took between 1.5 and 2.5 hours to ascend. How can one truly prepare for that?
Has the Randonnée inspired to take on any other cycling challenges? In a perfect world, I would do this every year. Six to nine hours on the bike for six days straight really clears the mind – and strengthens the legs.
Your tip for a future randonneur: I think the trip is like anything in life. If you are well prepared, you will be well rewarded!
Andrew Borda
Age: 29
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Randonnée: Alpine
Year / Month: 2010 / September
The highs of your trip: Too many to list - going up the Madeleine in the rain, racing Graeme up the Col St. Martin, the view from the top of the Col de la Madone, eating as much as possible with no regret, the jokes that were repeated for 6 straight days, being so tired at the end that I could barely walk to the restaurant that evening.
The lows of your trip: None really, except getting dropped by Anton on the Col de Vars.
Your level of cycling experience before the Randonnée: Pretty good. I'm a frequent Sportive rider, but not a racer.
Has the Randonnée inspired to take on any other cycling challenges? Absolutely I'm doing the Rapha Cent Cols Challenge in 2011 and will probably do some other trips as well.
Your tip for a future randonneur: Ride as much as possible in the hills/mountains before you go. Ride with the guides on the climbs - they're great guys and you'll learn a lot.
Simon Mottram
Age: 44
Location: London
Randonnée: Appennini
Year / Month: Sept '10
The highs of your trip: The graffiti and memorials on Carpegna, where my head was full of memories of Pantani. "Carpegna mi basta!"
Drafting on the wheel of Eros Poli at 50kmh while he casually cleaned his hand by brushing it on political posters on the roadside wall!
The final 20km into Urbino. Sublime.
Riding the climb before Stia in a thunderstorm with Arne and Carrick.
The final descent from the Piano Grande to Ascoli. Seemed to go on for hours.
Watching my legs go deep brown.
Hammering into Gubbio with the fast boys.
The lows of your trip: Losing the will to live on Monte Nerone. The final 2km of the Pellegrino. I almost had to stop. Riding into a head wind on the last morning and watching the average speed drop steadily.
Your level of cycling experience before the randonnee: 20 years of riding, but never too fast. 5 x Etape du Tours. An annual week's pilgrimage to Italy or France to ride the famous roads.
Has the Randonnée inspired to take on any other cycling challenges?: I want to do more randonnées.
Your tip for a future randonneur: Savour every hour and every aspect of the journey. Scenery, companionship, architecture, food. Relax into the experience and ride as a group. You'll all get more out of it.
