Nov-24: NC-Rando-Year-End-Pop + Party

Two rides were on offer this day:

1. a 200k RUSAB, starting at 0700, based on the OakElmOak Permanent, and
2. a 100 / 111 / 106 km RUSAP, starting at 1000, based on the Bunn Warmer Perm-Pop. 

Four people did the Brevet (two likely for R-series purposes, two doing their first brevet).
All four finished, with times of around 9h00.
Too fast!  (For me, anyway.) 
[As TimL and I "discussed" at the party:  luckily for us they didn't officially do the OakElmOak Perm -- our joint record time with Ian remains intact.  We each got a chuckle from that.] 


Several cancelled out of the Populaire, so we had only 17 starters.
We lost one along the way -- Tom (?) doing his first RUSA ride gave in to cramps.
It is my impression that everyone pretty much enjoyed the cool temps and bright, warming sunshine.

However, none of us enjoyed the headwind on the false-flat incline on Fowler Rd on the return.
I had never noticed that Fowler has that long incline on the return, and
I've done that stretch of road quite a few times (including pre/non-rando).
 
Of the 16 finishers, I assert that the most notable finish was by Ricochet Robert.
Upon completion of the ride AND, hem-hem, signing his card (and Alan submitting the results),
Robert became the 4th North Carolinian to qualify and apply for his RUSA Cup.
Not bad given that Robert's first bike ride as an adult, coming at age 61, was exactly 31-months prior.
 
[I just re-read the key section in the above link. Here is a phrase that caught my attention:
"... asked Robert how he was feeling and he stated he was not sure if the legs were going make it."
Why did that catch my attention?  Because that is what Robert says most every ride. 
Including the Party-Populaire being described (sorta') here! ]

 
Here is a link to few photos pre-ride and during the party by BobB.
Bob's captions tell the story better than I would.

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Several hours after completion of our appointed cycling rounds,
We all met again, with some additional friends that couldn't make it to the rides,
For some rounds of another sort.

Photo courtesy of TimL.

There was also a presentation of some information about randonneurs / randonneuring in North Carolina.

Special mention of the three current or retired RBA's at the party (Richard, Alan, Tony).
2nd or 3rd oldest and consecutive SR series in the U.S. -- thanks, Alan!
[I forget which, 2nd or 3rd -- but the Raleigh series is about twice as old as RUSA.]
2nd oldest (?) and consecutive Fleche in the U.S.-- thanks Richard + Tony!

[Perhaps we need an historian to dig-out, write-up, and publish NC's pre-RUSA history.]

It is my opinion that the website of record for NC-rando is, or ought to be, "Branson's site".
(Branson hates it when someone refers to it as "his" -- so, of course, ... .)
[Hmmn -- domain name expired,]
It is my opinion that the blog of record for NC rando is Research Trailer Park.

 
However, at the party, after the food:

One international award was announced: 
2012-Adrian-Hands-Society-Spirit-Award:  Mark Thomas.
(I'll make an exception to my guideline regarding last names in this case; otherwise, who could possibly figure out who "MarkT of Seattle" was -- LOL.)
 
North Carolina Awards: 

• 2012-NC-Rookie-of-the-Year:  LukeH of Asheville. 
• 2012-NC-Volunteer-of-the-Year:  Raleigh RBA Fearless Leaduh' "Uncle" Alan. 
• 2012-NC-Comeback-Rando-of-the-Year:  Al P of Wendell, Zebulon, (?- one of those). 
• 2012-NC-Randonneur-of-the-Year:  Dean, aka, "Deaner", aka, the "Phun Physiologist". 

Congratulations to each!

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Thanks to the organizing committee for this year's rides and the party.  I know I had a good time.  I suspect everyone did. 

According to the announcement e-mail, the committee was: 

• Jerry
• MikeD
• Cap'n
• Branson
• Alan

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Nov-24:   

Bunn Warmer Pop (not the perm-pop); 66.4 m.; 4h26 in-motion; 14.9 mph; elapsed time:  5h07.  

Q-1 tot: _22 rides; 1,610.3 m; 108h42; 14.8 mph; _1947 RUSA kms. 

Q-2 tot: _29 rides; 2,711.5 m; 182h48; 14.8 mph; _2700 RUSA kms. 

Q-3 tot: _32 rides; 2,958.9 m; 197h17; 15.0 mph; _2983 RUSA kms. 

Oct tot: _10 rides; __868.8 m; _58h45; 14.8 mph; _1089 RUSA kms. 

Nov tot: __7 rides; __658.8 m; _43h07; 15.3 mph; __876 RUSA kms.

YTD tot: 100 rides; 8,808.3 m; 590h39; 14.9 mph; _9595 RUSA kms.