3 Survival Tips for Rookie Randonneurs

Longtime randonneur Steve Phillips was riding in a 1,200K brevet in Washington, a long ways away from his home in Alabama. And, well, Washington is a little wetter than Phillips was anticipating.

"I didn't carry as much winter clothing as I should have," Phillips admits. "I didn't expect to be subjected to cold and rainy conditions for a long period of time."

More: An Introduction to Randonneuring

Randonneuring requires self-sustainment, so no aid stations or SAG vehicles at this brevet were going to help him through this. While shivering, he dashed inside a Subway to eat a sandwich. And that stop gave him an epiphany.

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"Those Subway bags work really nicely on your feet," said Phillips, the founder of the Alabama Randonneurs. "When I got (to Subway) I took my normal socks off and put dry wool socks on, and then I put the plastic Subway bags over them and then put my shoes back on."

More: 10 Tips for Riding in the Rain

This is the type of creativity that randonneuring sometimes requires. With long distances ahead of you—randonneuring rides, or brevets, typically range from 200K to 1,200K--preparation is key, and if that fails, a brainstorming session is the only thing to keep you from being miserable.

To make sure you're ready for the long journey ahead, here are some tips for new randonneurs to keep in mind:

More: 12 Training Tips for an Ultra-Distance Ride

The Right Bike

Because brevets are a minimum of 200K (124 miles), making sure you have an appropriate bike is crucial. It's just too long of a ride to be "getting by" with a bike that's not built for a long haul.

"You want to have the correct equipment," Phillips said. "We do have a lot of people that do these rides on low spoke-count wheels--wheels that would be better suited for racing."

The book Distance Cycling: Your Complete Guide to Long-Distance Rides extensively covers preparations for brevets. It recommends a bike with a stronger frame that promotes upright positioning, and has lower gears and wider tires.

More: What Is the Most Comfortable Frame Material?

Mechanical Knowledge

In the same breath, with no SAG vehicles to assist you, it's often up to you to fix any repairs your bike may need. While other riders are typically happy to help cyclists in need, going into a brevet without knowledge of how to fix common bike breakdowns isn't smart.

"Be prepared for a broken spoke, be prepared for a slash in a tire, and be prepared for multiple flats," Phillips said.

This depends on the distance you're covering, of course. Phillips has done every distance in randonneuring and packs significantly more for the longer brevets.

"In a 1,200K, I have everything but the kitchen sink," he quips.

Phillips always carries an extra shifter cable, and he obviously has knowledge to deal with flat tires and other common issues. You should too.

"I think it's kind of neat to know your machinery enough to know that if this breaks, you're going to be able to fix it," Phillips said.

More: Video: How to Change a Flat Tire

Don't Forget Your Wallet

Randonneuring allows—and even celebrates—purchasing items along the route. Cash might be the most important thing to pack.

Phillips said brevets he rides in typically have the checkpoints at gas stations, which is a perfect opportunity to run in and get food or drink. Randonneurs are known for dashing into a retail store like Wal Mart and buying a sweatshirt to stay comfortable. And, of course, Subway bags are a great cure for wet feet--and you get a sandwich to go with it.

"As far as buying stuff on the road, that happens all the time," Phillips said. "A lot of it is because you need to."

More: How to Prepare for an Ultra-Distance Event

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