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Why Ride a Randonnée?

Por Simon Mottram • 8th February 2010 12:40pm • Publicado en Events

Every season, the keen road rider can choose from numerous exciting riding holidays. Training camps, cycling tours, the Etape and Gran Fondos, all offer the chance to ride on smooth european tarmac, in great scenery. So why choose a Rapha Randonnée?

The unique appeal of Randonnées is all down to the structure that gives them their name. Unlike most training camps or cycling holidays, the Randonnées are point-to-point adventures where each day presents a new goal, eighty to a hundred miles away. Reaching that goal takes endurance, teamwork and application and each day takes you on new roads, often along the routes of racing history.

Reaching your destination each day is certainly satisfying. But, it's the rhythm of the Randonnée that makes it most fulfilling.

I have planned and led trips like these for my friends every year for ten years and the thing I look forward to most is the constant rhythm of the ride, day after day for a week. Each day follows a similar pattern of fuelling, riding, fuelling, arriving, celebrating, sleeping and fuelling again. Following this routine, all you focus on is the effort of riding and the company of your fellow riders. The stresses and pressures of normal life fade away after a couple of days. Email is forgotten and priorities are changed for the better. It's a simple existence and a powerful counterpoint to our sedentary lives. And, with the excellent service and support offered on the Rapha Randonnées, you can enjoy this cleansing and uplifting adventure to the full, without worrying about food, accommodation or mechanical assistance.

The Etape and Gran Fondos are great challenge rides, but the roads are busy and the ride is over in a day. Training camps are great for fitness, but not for the soul. Conventional cycle tours provide escape and culture, but don't test the spirit or give the satisfaction of reaching journey's end. For me, a Randonnée is the best week of every year and I'm already looking forward to joining one of the Rapha Randonnées this year.

Comentarios

Ben Houldsworth

8th February 2010 03:11pm

Why not a randonnee? 6 words- two and a half thousand pounds

Ben Brown

8th February 2010 03:45pm

Hi Ben

well, you can't judge value on price alone - the Randonnées are fully supported, luxury cycling trips of a lifetime, a unique experience. For the level of accommodation and assistance we are providing, I'd say it represents great value.

Matthew Randall

8th February 2010 04:33pm

I like the idea and would love to go but for me also in these cases it's just too much money and I can't affford it. I do however understand why they are the price they are.
One question though, do you think you will arrange any shorter perhaps cheaper routes in the future if these are a success? Like a 3 day break kind of thing?

Mark Drayton

8th February 2010 05:12pm

Matthew: it's entirely possible to ride these routes unsupported and independently. This may or may not appeal to you (I'm sure there's a lot to be said for the support and the Rapha/La Fuga trips look comprehensive and slick) but the essence of the trip is the same: days of nothing but covering huge distances over great roads. We rode the Raid Pyrenean last year, unsupported, with minimal luggage and had a great time. There's a windy write-up here: http://sites.google.com/site/markdraytoninfo/rides/raid-pyrenean-2009

However, even riding independently will be costly -- hotel and food costs quickly rack up. With a supported trip at least you know what your costs are up-front.

David Christenson

8th February 2010 06:32pm

The value in these rides is not having to worry about any of the logistics of a trip like these…the only thing that you have to worry about is riding your bike and enjoying yourself…hope I can get out to ride one this year…got my eyes on the Appenini in September…spero che posso andare…

Charles Pearch

9th February 2010 12:03am

Mathew, Rapha's Partner La Fuga do do shorter 3 day trips often around an italian Gran Fondo. They are stunning. Mark Drayton is on the button about the cost of an independent trip, but not only that other good quality week long rides are just as much (Thomson Tours etc), Yes there are cheaper alternatives, for example I just returned from a week in Lanzarote and the cost was circa £1500, but as you know its not the same. Think of the people that will go on these trips, you will network with some really classy people, some that you will be thankful to meet. Meeting Ben Brown is worth a grand in itself. His stories of his courier days, his teach in on how to really change a punctured tyre, his hand in the small of your back when you need it most are hard to come by. Dave I hope to meet you in September, I am signed up, being there may even cost me a job, but you know what, I will ride wearing the biggest smile - something that Rapha dont sell - yet!

Matthew Randall

9th February 2010 08:08am

Thanks Mark, Charlie and Dave for your feedback, I appreciate it. Hopefully next year I'll be able to consider one of these rides. I have ridden in the French Alps just last year for a week but I think I need another year of riding under my belt before I consider tackling something like this.

Ben Brown

9th February 2010 10:13am

Haha …and meeting the one and only Charlie Pearch is a priceless experience!

David Christenson

9th February 2010 06:26pm

Charlie,

you're a brave man to quit your job…but I know it will be worth it…hope I can be there.

Matthew,

I've logged thousands of miles filming the Rapha Continental and I know first hand how amazing these types of rides are…It's amazing to see the drama unfold in front of your camera but I want to swap places and push the pedals on a great trip like these and I know the partnership with La Fuga is going to make all of these trips amazing…hopefully you can get out on one…

steven marsh

21st February 2010 09:28am

Once again the wealthy are catered for , while the working class family man only wishes he could….I personally sleep under the stars once a year ,The Alps of course.

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