Monday, October 19, 2009

Randonneurs India


Welcome to Randonneurs India !

Our passion cycling with our friends doing Long rides
Audax Randonneurs has been created in Nov 2009 aiming at sending some Indians to the Olympic of amateur endurance cycling : Paris Brest Paris 2011.

We have been authorized by the Audax Club Parisien to organise rides called brevets of 200, 300, 400 and 600km from Mumbai or any place in India.

The spirit of Audax is to ride in a non-competitive environment, and yet challenging rides because of the terrain, or distance and independence from the conducted tours.

We look forward to ride with YOU !

Randonneurs India is a volunteer, not-for-profit organization whose primary goals are to promote randonneuring in India and to serve Indias randonneuring community. Randonneurs India is sanctioned by the Audax Club Parisien and affiliated with the Randonneurs Mondiaux.

Randonneuring: Randonneuring is long-distance unsupported endurance cycling. This style of riding is non-competitive in nature, and self-sufficiency is paramount. When riders participate in randonneuring events, they are part of a long tradition that goes back to the beginning of the sport of cycling in France and Italy. Friendly camaraderie, not competition, is the hallmark of randonneuring.


The audacity to ride at one's own speed great distances on a bicycle,allure libre as the french call it.But why?It is just like a marathon where a select few run for the prize money but for the vast majority it is pitting oneself against the clock running for a personal best or may be for a personal record.With only ones wife or ones chidren or a solitary friend or two to applaud one at the finnish,but then there is the multitude the masses cheering for all.


The sheer exhileration of being a part of this vibrant mass of humanity united in one great show of strength more mental than physical.

We are bringing to you now in India the sport of Randonneuring (Cycling marathons).This is cycling long distances.the distances are fixed.200kms ,300kms , 400kms ,600kms.


The route is fixed and checkpoints are put up on the route.All participants have to check in at each Controle(checkpoint).This to confirm non deviation from the predesignated route.These controles have fixed timings when they open for check in and when they close.


A wide range of cyclists are covered.


eg.from the slowest cyclist riding at about 15kph to the fastest averaging 30kph.So for a 200Km


ride if there is a controle at 50kms it will open at 1.5hrs from start and close at 3.5hrs from start.


All participants will be issued a Card called the Brevet Card which is stamped and signed at the controle.This card on successfull completion will be sent to Paris for homologation with the world body,Audax Parisienne.After which it will be returned to the cyclists and he becomes a part of cycling history.


Every four years Audax Club Parisienne conducts the olympic of randonneuring a 1200kms ride,Paris-Brest-Paris,popularly known as PBP.