Long Road 2006-01
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The Long Road The Long Road Newsletter for members of Randonneurs Ontario Volume 23 Issue 1 January/February 2007 This is the last newsletter with your 2005 membership A 2006 membership application is enclosed. Inside this issue: Message from the President Presidents Message 1 michael thomson As I sit and read through the Audax awards in 2005. Club Parisien Resultats des History Article 2 organisations 2005 booklet, I have to Beyond the club, but still in the Ken Dobb marvel at what an amazing year country, Canada finished 3rd overall Randonneurs Ontario had in 2005, in the World, with a total of 3368 Upcoming Rides 4 and what a great year we have to look points. What is really amazing is that forward to. Canada is so heavily weighted on the longer brevets. The United States, Pictures from the 14 Out of the 207 Club Organisateurs who came in first with almost 3 times Awards listed, Randonneur Ontario can hold the total points, only barely beat itself very proud, with the following Canada in the 1000km brevet results (based on a 1 point for every category (32 to our 28). France, who 100kms ridden on a brevet): beat us for 2nd overall, has its points Niagara finished the year with 44 heavily weighting on 200km brevets, points, placing it 13th in the class of with a rapid fall off of points for clubs that organized brevets of 3 longer brevets. different lengths, and 99th overall. Huron finished the year with 120 Looking through the booklet beyond points, placing it 71st overall our club, I am amazed at what some Simcoe finished the year with 151 others have achieved, such as U. S. points, placing it 60th overall Metro Transport Parisien Club, Ottawa finished the year with 277 whose members Michel Bailleul, points, placing it 39th overall Michel Ollivo and Jean-Pierre Ropert Toronto finished the year with 643 put together the fleche team points, placing it 7th overall. CHALLENGE ACP, and covered Wow. 678km in the 24 hour time limit. A truly awe-inspiring distance. If any Other Randonneur Ontario note- of you wish to challenge that, it must worthy happenings listed in the soon be time to start planning for the booklet are the Randonneur 5000 Randonneur Ontario fleche, which is award recipients. Congratulations are taking place on the weekend of May in order for Scott Chisholm, Robert 20-21st of this year. Choquette, Martie Du Plessis, David McCaw and Oliver Moore, who all Continuing with French rides, the obtained their Randonner 5000 dates for the 2007 Paris Brest Paris Page 2 The Long Road An Alternative Form Of Long Distance passed to the British who came to the forefront in manufacturing and techni- Cycling by Ken Dobbs cal innovation. Consequently, by the time of Bordeaux - Paris, cycling was more developed in Britain than in any I. Introduction: A Divergence Of Styles other nation in the world. In 1891, the Velo-Club Bordelaise - at that In no other country were the raw num- time the largest cycling club in France - bers of cyclists on the road larger organized a long distance cycling event on than in Britain. The cycling population the roads between Bordeaux and Paris. Con- of 60,000 in 1878 had grown to 400,000 scious that a road cycling event of the con- by 1885. While the price of bicycles templated distance was unprecedented in still made ownership largely a preroga- France, the event organizers invited the tive of the middle classes, the mass participation of cyclists from Britain, manufacture of bicycles towards the where a long distance road sport had already last decade of the nineteenth century developed. was beginning to open cycling to a wider swathe of the British populace. What the organizers of Bordeaux-Paris had in mind was a randonnee - a kind of tour, but This was the era of the dominance of one conducted at a rapid pace. The organiz- the "Ordinary" or "high-wheeled" bicy- ers had arranged sleeping accommodations and cle. The Ordinary was the machine of lavish meals for the riders along the route. choice of most cycling purists and club However, the lead riders - largely the con- racers. However, there were sizable tingent of riders from Britain - ignored the market segments devoted to the tricycle meals and rode through the night. In doing and, increasingly after 1878, to the so, the British riders were subscribing to "safety" bicycle. The tricycle drew the conventions of their own sport. substantial interest from the rela- tively affluent, those able to afford In its event structure, its competitive the hefty price that these machines ethic and, above all, its attitude to cy- commanded. Though racing and touring on cling in company, the British sport has come tricycles was not unknown, the bulk of to be markedly different from the long dis- tricyclists were largely interested in tance cycling sport that has evolved in the social opportunities that cycling France. Accounting for these differences provided. Tricyclists organized them- requires an understanding of the development selves into clubs, a structure parallel of cycling in Britain and, in particular, an to the club system being developed by understanding of the legal status of the their colleagues on two wheels. British road network and of the evolution of the organizations of British cyclists. British cyclists began to organize themselves nationally in 1878. The or- Though there is no more hotly contested ganizations of touring cyclists and question in cycling history, it is probably racing cyclists were in Britain, from fair to say that the first enduring applica- the outset, separate. Touring cyclists tion of a mechanical means of propulsion to founded the Bicycle Touring Club (soon a two-wheeled vehicle probably took place in to be the more encompassing Cyclists' France in the early 1860's. The resulting Touring Club), drawing subscriptions invention, named the "velocipede", became from individual members. In 1878 as the basis of a flourishing French industry well, the Bicycle Union, an umbrella that, by the end of the decade, had promoted grouping of local clubs devoted to so- the first inter-city road race (Paris - cial activities and to club racing, was Rouen) and sponsored the beginnings of a created. The Tricycle Association, fledgling cycle-sport press. This industry grouping clubs of tricyclists, came was converted to support the war effort into being a short time later, merging against the Prussians in 1870 with the re- with the Bicycle Union to form the Na- sult that, in the aftermath of the French tional Cyclists' Union in 1882. The N. debacle, these manufacturing firms were com- C.U. remained the predominant organiza- pletely wiped out. Leadership in cycling tion of sport cycling in Great Britain Page 3 The Long Road Message from the President Continued have been released, it will begin August 20th Bob will have the trophy in his possession. My 2007, and last for a bit over 1200 kms, or until the sincere apologies Bob. Bob not only rode a full 24th whichever comes first. In the vein of longer Super Randonneur series, but also the Boston- rides, there is only one Randonneurs Mondiaux Montreal-Boston (BMB), for a grand total of ride of longer than 1200km being held in the 3100km. Fantastic performance for a first year entire world in 2006, and that is the 2000KM member. Coureur des Bois/Hill Quest ride being run by John Maccio was awarded the Best Performance on a Randonneur Ontario’s Ottawa Chapter. Running Brevet award, for his overcoming the odds and from July 8th to July 15th, this is a ride I am very finishing the Creemore Classic 400km brevet, despite much looking forward to. the blistering heat, mechanical and personal Returning to Canada, the Clubs Awards Banquet hardships. have both been held, with Ottawa holding their Carey Chappelle was awarded the Dan Herbert banquet on the evening of February 25th with 20 Memorial award for his mentoring and nurturing of people attending, and Toronto holding theirs on the Huron Chapter, and his contagious enthusiasm for the evening of February 4th, with a great turnout Randonneuring, which has resulted in the rapid of members from the Simcoe, Huron and Toronto growth of the Huron Chapter. chapters with over 40 people in attendance. In Ottawa, Vytas Janusaukas was awarded the Jock Wadley Outstanding Rider award for being such a As the name might suggest the center piece of the driving force behind the start up and the continual evenings were the presentation of the clubs success of the Ottawa Chapter while still remaining a awards. hardworking rider always ready to help and support In Toronto, a belated 2004 Special Recognition other riders. Award was presented to Carey Chappelle, for his David McCaw was awarded the Half wheel award for unceasing efforts to start the Huron Chapter, and his ability to set the pace on the brevets. As one of make it as successful as it continues to be. his nominee’s said, “He is always pushing the pace. The 2005 awards started with Jim Griffin Even when he is the only rider.” Obviously a very receiving a Special Recognition Award, to worthy recipient of the award. commemorate his many years of service as the Patti Van Niessen was awarded the Beryl Burton treasurer of Randonneurs Ontario, and his Award for Best Female Rider, having ridden a longevity as a member. Jim has belonged to the successful BMB on her way to year total of 5284 km. club since its inception year, 1983. Henk Bill Pye was awarded the Mike Ritch award for his Bouhuyzen was awarded both the Coronation Cup perseverance in promoting the Ottawa mid-week (most improved rider) and the High Mileage brevet series.