Results for the 2008 TCBC 300k Brevet Ride, Saturday, June 28th
Congratulations to the TCBC 300k Brevet riders from the Saturday, June 28th event. Despite the ride leader's assurances of a nice day and a reasonable route, the brevet turned out to be a real test of preparation and perseverence. Rain and thunder kept the riders cool and cautious for the first five hours of the brevet, then after the turnaround, a brisk head wind dried them off and had them working hard for a good part of the way back. Throw in a plethora of rolling hills, a few tough grunts and a couple of real challengers and it was a great day to learn and utilize key randonneur survival skills.
12 riders started, 8 completed the brevet.
Congratulations to J Richard Soderberg and Bill Bennett on completing their first 300k brevets.
A special congratulations to Brett Thunstrom and Al Voigt for completing their first brevet. Brett and Al were models of experience with great bikes set up for randonneuring, good rain gear, quality lighting, reflective gear, and terrific attitudes. Their goal was to get back before last call at Old Chicago - they made it with 1/2 hour to spare. Sorry I couldn't be there to help you celebrate guys.
Those that were completing their first brevets had good company. The other four finishers and one other rider (Don McCall) are Paris-Brest-Paris finishers.
PBP 2011 is only 3 years away! Keep riding to be ready for the TCBC Fall Brevet season, with another round of brevets - 200k on September 6th, 300k on Sept 20. No promises, but Minnesota fall weather is generally more moderate and less breezy. :-)
Ride Results
Completed
| Name |
Time |
Comment |
| Charles Breer |
12:18 |
|
| Mark Aeling |
13:55 |
|
| Mike Aeling |
13:55 |
|
| Bill Bennett |
13:55 |
** First 300k Brevet** |
| J RIchard Soderberg |
13:55 |
** First 300k Brevet** |
| Lara Sullivan |
13:55 |
|
| Brett Thunstrom |
17:30 |
** First Brevet Completion** |
| Al Voight |
17:30 |
** First Brevet Completion** |
| |
|
|
| Richard Miller |
DNF |
166 miles completed - reached Randolph control but had to abandon due to darkness and no headlight/reflective gear |
| Don McCall |
DNF |
110 miles completed - turned around at Goodhue |
| Vincent Dominguez |
DNF |
60 miles completed - turned around at Cannon Falls |
| Ron Kenning |
DNF |
60 miles completed - turned around at Cannon Falls |
Riders completing the brevet will get 189 TCBC miles credit. Other riders will get TCBC credit for the mileage completed as shown above.
Special thanks to Mike Aeling, Charles Breer and my wife Nancy for getting the ride started after I was stranded in Chicago with a cancelled flight.
Rob Welsh
Results for the 2008 TCBC 200k Brevet Ride, Saturday, May 17th
Congratulations to all 18 participants in the TCBC 200k Brevet (125 miles) held Saturday, May 17th. In spite of a 20-30 mph headwind challenge on the last half of the ride, 16 riders completed the brevet and 2 newer riders made it to the 100 mile control in Randolph. Coach Rob says, "while it was difficult, the riders will see the benefits of the tough work to complete the ride in other rides and future brevets".
All of you will get the TCBC mileage credit of 126 miles. Those of you with RUSA #s will have your brevet submitted - you should see the results on line in a few weeks. If you want to order a medal commemorating your accomplishment, check out the new RUSA online medal ordering facility.
Here is the official list of riders for the event.

First Brevets
Bill Bennet (new RUSA Member)
Jim Bergman
Michael Derner new RUSA Member)
Lisa Dust (new RUSA Member)
Joe Hays
Jeffery Lengmagic
Richard Miller
Doug Sams (new RUSA Member)
J Richard Soderberg (new RUSA Member)
Current Randonneurs - RUSA Members
Mark Aeling
Mike Aeling
Greg Barkley
Doug Dyer
Jim Joy
Don McCall
Rob Welsh
100 miles completers
Ahi Bennuri
Meg Brady
4-26-08 To register for the TCBC 200k Brevet ride on Saturday, May 17th, 7 AM, please follow these instructions:
1) If you are a TCBC Member there is no cost for the ride. If you are not, you need to be. To join, go to the TCBC web site at http://biketcbc.org/ and select the 'Join Us' tab on the top right corner of the page. You can sign up online, using Active.com, or can print off and mail the form in. Cost is $25/year - note that this covers registration costs for the other TCBC brevets and other TCBC rides for the year.
2) Are you a RUSA member? You don't have to be, but if you want your brevet to be recorded by Randonneurs USA and be eligible for a medal, you will need to join them. The registration process takes a couple of weeks. Cost is $25/year. www.RUSA.org
3) Send an email to me (brevets@biketcbc.org) confirming your attendance, with the following information:
Name
Address
Phone (for emergency purposes)
RUSA number - if a member
Is this your first brevet ride?
Sending the email helps me prepare brevet cards, etc ahead of time and saves you time at registration. Day of ride registrations are allowed, but will be subject to rider leader time and availability - you may have to start late If I don't have time to get the paperwork done.
On the Day of the Ride - May 17th
6:15a Be at the start (AmericInn/Old Chicago parking lot, NE corner of Cty 42 and Cedar Ave (23), in Apple Valley
Sign in and pick up your brevet card and cue sheet
6:45a Mandatory rider meeting
7:00a Ride will start promptly
8:30p Time limit for those looking for RUSA completion qualification and the medal.
Rob
612-801-4196
Brevet Training Ride #1 Report - Sunday, April 6th
Congrats to the dozen riders that made it out today for the first TCBC Brevet Training Ride. We covered 61 miles (100km - 1/2 of the official brevet ride on May 17th). The weather was as predicted, not particularly friendly, with some head winds and a period of cold rain, but 9.75 of the riders completed the distance. Two mechanicals early on and one rider had a flat, broke the spare and got a ride in for the last 15 miles.
Listed are the participants for the ride. I'm mentioning them by name because the conditions were cold, windy and wet - good randonneuring training weather! Way to go!
Marriner Smith
Charles Breer
Michael Derner
Mark Pruka
Meg Brady
Lisa Dust
Jim Joy
Craig Futterer
Steve Redelsperger
Vincent Dominguez
Ron Kevining
2-25-08 Hello Eager Randonneurs
This winter has been a little colder than we’re used to in the last few years, but I’m hoping it warms up soon so we can get in some solid training miles for the inaugural TCBC 200K Brevet on Saturday, May 17th.
RUSA Membership Note
If you are planning to ride the TCBC 200k Brevet and want to get the RUSA medal and have your miles recorded by Randonneurs USA, you need to join RUSA. Cost is $20/year, which also gets you a very nice handbook and a quarterly newsletter.
Attached here is a pdf of the RUSA membership application form. Check out their web site at www.RUSA.org for more details.
Note that this form is mailed in and can take 2 weeks for processing. Note that you do not have to be a member of RUSA to do the TCBC brevet rides, but you must be a TCBC member. You cannot do the TCBC brevet rides as a guest. This rule is necessary because of the extra insurance TCBC carries for these events. You do get TCBC ride miles credit – 125 miles for the 200k, 188 miles for the 300k.
Brevet Training Rides
We planned to do some brevet training rides to prep riders for the 200k brevet. Because there are longer winter rides already on the TCBC calendar for Jan-March, we decided to hold off on specific brevet training rides until April. We encourage you to get out when you can to build a good base of miles – and it beats sitting around on the couch watching old Tour d’France reruns.
Here’s the schedule of brevet rides – which will be showing up on the TCBC ride calendar soon. The purpose of the brevet training rides is to get new and experienced Randonneurs together to spin some miles and talk about Randonneuring and how we can make Randonneuring a success with TCBC.
All training rides will start from the AmericInn/Old Chicago parking lot on the NE corner of County 42 and Cedar Ave in Apple Valley. We’ll be using some of the official brevet routes for part of the training rides to familiarize you with the typical start/finish miles.
The official TCBC brevets will go on regardless of weather. The training rides will go on unless there is a severe weather problem (very cold or very wet). Expect some wind this time of year. We’ll try to plan for a tailwind on the home leg, but no guarantees.
Sunday, April 6th 10 am. 50 miles – B ride pace. This will be an easy spin, relatively flat. We’ll try to stick together to give newbies a chance to ask questions while we’re riding. Plan on at least one rest stop, about half way through the ride. We’ll convene at Old Chicago after to discuss Randonneuring over pizza. Bring your questions. If you are an experienced Randonneur, come along for the ride and share your knowledge and experience.
Sunday April 20th 10a. 75 miles – B ride pace. A little longer ride, pick your pace. Maps will be available at the start. There will be a couple of convenience store/rest stops along the way. You should be bringing some of your own food/nutrition to consume while you are riding to keep your energy levels high. We’ll still meet at Old Chicago after to compare notes.
Sunday, April 27th – Minnesota Ironman. This is not a brevet specific ride but is an excellent opportunity to click off some great training miles on one of the most popular rides in Minnesota. For Randonneurs, plan on riding at least the metric century. If the weather is reasonable, reach for the full century.
Sunday, May 11th 8am. 100 miles – B ride pace. Last prep ride before the big event. Maps and brevet type cue sheets will be handed out before the ride. Set your own pace. You should be able to complete this comfortably in less than 10 hours. There will be 3-4 convenience stores/rest stops along the way, but bring your own food/nutrition along to keep you energized. If you have done the previous training miles and can handle this, you are definitely ready for the 200k.
Saturday, May 17th 7a. TCBC 200k Brevet ride. This is the medal ride. Be well prepared and it will be a fun cruise. You have up to 12 hours to complete the event.

Saturday, June 28th 6a. TCBC 300k Brevet ride. Keep the training miles going and this ride will be a natural. Lots of sunlight, you have up to 20 hours to complete the event.