Randonneuring !!!

Recently I came across this word ‘Randonneuring’ while browsing internet, initially puzzled to judge where do I put this word into my little known grammar. Failed to recognize which parts of the speech it falls into, I googled it and came to know more about it. In wiki, “Randonneuring is a long-distance cycling sport with its origins in audax cycling. In randonneuring, riders attempt courses of 200 km or more, passing through predetermined "controls" (checkpoints) every few tens of kilometres  Riders aim to complete the course within specified time limits, and receive equal recognition regardless of their finishing order. Riders may travel in groups or alone as they wish, and are expected to be self-sufficient between controls. A randonneuring event is called a randonée, brevet or sometimes by the more general term cyclosportive, and a rider who has completed a 200 km event is called a randonneur. The international governing body for randonneuring is Audax Club Parisien (ACP), which works with other randonneuring organisations worldwide through Les Randonneurs Mondiaux (RM). Randonneuring is popular in France, and has a following in the Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Australia, USA, Canada and India.” The explanation ended with India being one of the followers of this sport. No wonder, India has long standing history of embarrassing things which flow from western side. Due respect, this time it was for good.

With curiosity, I started looking for events that are conducted in India and in particular Bangalore. This time no wonder, I have bought new cycle and would like to try something like this, which off course stands me out in the crowd, why not?. Seriously, it’s not about standing out of crowd by cycling 100 kms, 200 kms etc but rather being the crowd, I felt even a thought of this would put you one step ahead, it will help you to understand yourself better may be in terms of your mental, physical strength and obviously the fun involved in attempting which is the best part of it.  I came across India version of randonneuring which comply to international standards framed by Audax. There are quite lot of groups which organize the events in India under the naming AUDAX INDIA RANDONNEURS spread across Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangaluru, Goa & Pune. They organize events under different categories 200km, 300km etc. 

There are few acronyms used are listed below

BRM : Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux - BRMs are rides called Brevets, of fixed distances that are to be completed within specified time limits. The rides of 200, 300, 400 and 600 kms are approved and governed  by the ACP.

SR : Super Randonneur - An SR is a Randonneur who completes a full Series of Brevets in one ACP Calendar Year. One needs to be an SR in the PBP year to qualify for PBP!

ACP : Audax Club Parisien - Is the club that administers and oversees the conduct of BRMs worldwide.

PBP : Paris-Brest-Paris - PBP is a 120 yr old cycling event, a 1200 km ride in France organised by ACP every 4 years.

AIR : Audax India Randonneurs - AIR is the all India Organisation of Randonneurs, which is recognised by ACP for conducting and overseeing all BRMs and Audax events in India.

Randonneuring events must be undertaken within set time limits. There is some regional variation in these, but the following list is typical:

• 200 km - 13.5 hours (14 hours in the UK, as in the original events.)
• 300 km - 20 hours
• 400 km - 27 hours
• 600 km - 40 hours
• 1000 km - 75 hours
• 1200 km - 90 hours (or 80 or 84 hours by choice)
• 1400 km - 116:40 hours (optionally 105:16 or 93:20 hours)

Organisers are usually free to reduce the maximum speed. Above details are listed in the site with other informations.

Few links -
https://sites.google.com/site/audaxindiarandonneurs/home
https://sites.google.com/site/iiscrando/

Well this seems challenging and exciting event to be part of. So how many are in??

Happy Randonneuring !!!