Tino's 600

[Bob Koen]

Hi All,

I am new to the Alberta Randonneurs but not new to randonneuring.  I have been a BC randonneur for 20 years.  Now that I have moved to the BC interior I am halfway between the lower mainland and Alberta.  This makes riding in Alberta more sensible for me.  Now it's a long commute to ride wherever I go!

I have signed up for the Tino's 600 out of Lethbridge on July 6. Just posting this to see if I can entice anyone else to join me for the ride.  It looks like an interesting ride.  Quite a bit of gravel and a chance for some prime prairie weather.

[Jeff Shmoorkoff]

Welcome Bob.

Where in the Interior are you located? I grew up in Castlegar, but have been in AB since 1982! I live in Edmonton. Yes, the AB weather can make the events very challenging - spring rain and wind!

When I founded the club in 1987, I was inspired by many stories and rode initially with the Prairie Randonneurs. Gerry Pareja in BC helped me understand Randonneuring better and how to prepare, etc. I did ride a few brevets in the Nakusp, BC area.

Unfortunately, I have not ridden many longer rides for years (last in 2019 for my last (5th) PBP) - my only DNF brevet since 1987, due to a disc herniation, making it to Brest. I now ride mostly 200s and the odd 300. I spend more time racing tri and Duathlons - a bit easier recovery, unless I do the odd Ironman.

Most of our brevets (Edmonton and Calgary) are on asphalt. The Lethbridge rides are unique and have a lot of gravel. I hope someone can ride at least part with you. Very few here are riding long. Some are planning the Van Isle 1200 mid June. I’m unfamiliar with the Lethbridge routes and locations of services. Gravel can be remote and certainly requires a different preparation and bike maintenance. 

All the best!

Jeff Shmoorkoff 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 5, 2024, at 4:31 PM, Bob Koen <bob...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi All,

I am new to the Alberta Randonneurs but not new to randonneuring.  I have been a BC randonneur for 20 years.  Now that I have moved to the BC interior I am halfway between the lower mainland and Alberta.  This makes riding in Alberta more sensible for me.  Now it's a long commute to ride wherever I go!

I have signed up for the Tino's 600 out of Lethbridge on July 6. Just posting this to see if I can entice anyone else to join me for the ride.  It looks like an interesting ride.  Quite a bit of gravel and a chance for some prime prairie weather.

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[Mack Penner]

Hi all,

As Bob knows, I can't join for the 600, since my brother is getting married the day of the brevet (incidentally, getting married at a farm not far at all off the route!). 

Fwiw, though, I can make a quick pitch for the route in case it might influence others from Calgary or Edmonton. 

Indeed, it is gravelly, but not remotely as much as some of the other Lethbridge rides that head off in the opposite direction toward the foothills. Here, while there is a brief gravel stretch shortly after leaving Lethbridge (a stretch that is almost always quite smooth and tame), the first ~200km to Manyberries take place overwhelmingly along highway 61, one of the smoothest and quietest highways in the region, with a nice, big shoulder at least until Foremost. In early July, there should be endless fields of yellow canola on either side of the road. 

From there, the hard part, as the route goes into the hills around Elkwater, country roads that are too far away for me to be super familiar with them, but which almost certainly promise the high beauty mark of the ride. Med Hat, the probable rest point, will be in mental "sight" by then, and with a relatively easy first 200 there should be enough gas in the tank.

The ride is called "Tino's" because in the Hat it goes right by the local-legendary Tino's drive-in, which offers all kinds of tasty junk food and, I think, literally hundreds of flavours of milkshakes. There are a couple of (shitty, last I stayed there) hotels right across the street from Tino's, and some better options within just a few blocks. 

On the way back to Lethbridge from the Hat, there is a pretty decent stretch of gravel until Bow Island, but from there to Lethbridge most of the riding is on quiet, flat secondary highways. Like the first 200, the last 200 should be pretty simple, so long as there is no howling west wind...

As for equipment, I said to Bob that 32mm tires would be fine, while a slick in the range of 38-42mm would be ~perfect. 

Good options to stop for snacks etc: Stirling (40kms), Foremost (125kms), Elkwater (250kms; you'd have to go just off-route into the village, I believe), Med Hat (330kms; by far best lodging options), Bow Island (400kms), Taber (490kms), Turin (540kms; little country store like a block off the route). 

Cheers,

Mack 

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From: abr...@googlegroups.com <abr...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Jeff Shmoorkoff <jfs...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2024 7:23 AM
To: abr...@googlegroups.com <abr...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [AB Rando] Tino's 600

 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/abrando/199CB975-3A9D-49EE-BA06-C3F7C6004021%40gmail.com.

[Renee Anseeuw]

I might be able to make July 6 work, however this my first year Randonneuring and I've only completed a 200 Brevet.

I remember seeing some rules about having to complete other Brevet distances before the longer ones. Am I allowed to still ride with other Randonneurs even if my ride is not registered?

[Jeff Shmoorkoff]

Renee/Bob:

The series as 2, 3, 4, 600km just helps in progress and kinda train for each successive brevet. Each distance has its own unique challenge. The 600 (and Toni’s with lots of gravel and km distances between support), is really unique. I don’t have a question if you plan to ride the 600 - but I highly recommend that the two of you stick together for the whole ride, so no one has to be alone. 

I’m unsure about cell coverage for the entire route - so have a back up plan as best you can. Have your bike in excellent working order. Have good lights, but there will likely be little darkness at that time of the year. Have 2 large bottles and possibly a third for hydration. Stick to a good nutrition/hydration plan for the ride.

Have a chain tool and links, spare tubes - maybe a spare tire, or ensure good rubber in your current ones. Have a small pump too and don’t rely on CO2 cartridges alone. A patch kit is helpful in case. If you have deep rims, have good tools to get the tire off.

My recommendation is to sleep during the coldest time of the night (2-5am), depending where you can book accommodation. Book ahead. Even have some food (pasta) preordered and delivered to your room so it’s waiting for you. Have a dry kit to sleep in (after a shower and removal of your first day’s kit) - otherwise you’ll shiver all night. 

Have some Tylenol and NSAID (ibuprofen or naproxen) to take when going to bed. You’ll awaken refreshed and with less pain. 

Start once the sun is up - your circadian rhythm will kick in to make you feel better.

 Sometimes one can’t sleep near 400km of a longer brevet - like myself in my 5th PBP in 2019 - it became tougher. But I had a prolapsed disc in my back with continuous leg pain - so having to sit and spin the 5,500m of climbing.

Get the best sleep two nights before. You may not sleep the best the night before. 

Don’t hesitate to ask Qs and some of the club members can help out.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 18, 2024, at 8:55 PM, Renee Anseeuw <rans...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Bob Koen]

Sorry that it took so long to respond to this thread.  I was on a kayaking and cycle touring trip to Vancouver Island with only my cell phone for connectivity.  Then I promptly lost my cell phone.  I did run into a couple of the Alberta Randonneurs who were there doing the VanIsle 1200 which was pretty cool.

I live in Kaslo Jeff.  Not that far from your old stomping grounds in Castlegar.

Renee, It's a huge jump to ride a 200 and then attempt a 600 without experience at the intermediate distances.  There are a whole range of new things to deal with like proper lighting, sleep deprivation, butt maintenance, other aches and pains, etc.  That said though I like that the Alberta club doesn't say absolutely not to such a bold plan.  So if you want to join me (us) that's fine but you need to understand that you are responsible for yourself.  We will ride together as long as it makes sense to do so.  If you are much faster you are free to go ahead and if you are much slower then don't expect to be waited for.  If you get injured you can expect me to abandon my ride and do whatever I can to help you.  But if you DNF for any reason other than injury then you are on your own.

Given the way that the Alberta registration process works (no registration fee once you have paid your yearly dues) it makes sense to register for the ride even if you don't intend to complete it.  That gets around any potential conflict with the rule about not taking assistance (like drafting) with someone who is not on the ride.

It would be good to talk in person.  Can you please call me at 604-700-08794?

It looks like Gary Baker from BC will also sign up for the ride.

[Renee Anseeuw]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the information and hope you had a great trip!  Also thanks to Jeff for the information, I wasn't aware this was also a gravel route.  

I'm currently on a camper van trip with my husband, so I'll look at more details and give you a call or send you a text with my number if I'm looking to join you.

It sounds like you found some company to ride with and so far the weather is looking good!

Best Regards,

Renee