Upcoming brevets

[Nicholas Bronson]

Hey randos!

Mike, I thought you sent it out but I can’t find it. Can you tell me where the”overnight” will be for the 600k? Or is this still TBD?

I’m mentally psyching myself up for the next three rides.

I’m also wondering if any of you have any advice from personal experience on the subject of frame (bikepacking) bags vs traditional rando handlebar bags on a front rack for a super duper long ride like 400-600k.

I’ve asked google and found lots of internet answers. But I was hoping to get some input from our club and what works for youse guys and gals.

I hope to see some of y’all at the 300 next weekend!

Thanks!

Nick

[Michael O'Connor]

Hi Nick, most likely the overnight stop will be in White Lake. When I last drove the course with Martin there were hotels available near the turnaround point too.

I posted the results from there 200k here, https://raleighrando.web.unc.edu/uncategorized/1119/ However they are still pending as of this morning.

For a while I used a large(ish) Carradice bag. https://carradice.co.uk/collections/saddlebags. Alan borrowed it a few times for his long brevet rides and Robert B used it for a bike trip to England. 

Best, Mike

[Lin Osborne]

While it's been a long hot minute since I rode a brevet, I want to go +1 for Carradice saddle bags as the go-to luggage option.

I bought a Carradice Super C SQR Tour (16L) from Gilbert in the early 00s (when he was still in Raleigh)...and really at his recommendation (I intended to get a transverse Carradice bag, which can sway...the SQR system eliminates "tail wag").

20 years on, I still use it for ~30 mile RT commutes to/from my workplace and for errands in all seasons and weather conditions.  Beyond a doubt, it's been one of the best pieces of cycling equipment I've ever bought.

Despite the Super C SQR Tour being available at SKS in UK (see previous link), it looks as if Carradice has retired this model and now sells a redesigned bag with the same 16L volume but different form factor: Super C SQR Slim (16l)

Regardless, I can't recommend their bags and their SQR system highly enough. Their bags aren't as light as modern bikepacking saddlebags, but they are incredibly well designed, well built, and durable.

One note: the SQR system is designed for aluminum seatposts.  If using a carbon post, I recommend wrapping the post with a "beer can collar" where the SQR block mates to protect the post from the SQR block's metal compression straps.

Hope this helps, and enjoy the adventure!

Lin

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[Ed Mulheren]

I did 600k long time ago. Since my last visit 10 years ago, White Lake has moved away from the "patchwork" of tiny independent motels toward a consolidated resort model. If I were doing it this year I would catch a short break in Wilmington.

The Big Change: Grand Regal Resort

Most of the classic spots you remember have been bought and unified under the Grand Regal Resort brand. This includes:

• Goldston’s Beach: Still the hub, but now part of the larger resort corporate structure.

• The Shoreliner & Regal Motels: These smaller, separate motels were consolidated into the resort’s unified room and efficiency inventory.

• Modernization: They’ve added a major event venue and modernized the docks to attract weddings and year-round business.

Other Shifts

• RV Dominance: There is a much larger focus on high-end, permanent RV sites (like Harry’s) rather than traditional overnight motel rooms.

• The Airbnb Effect: Many of the smallest independent cottages have been renovated and moved to private platforms like VRBO, making the "walk-up" motel office a thing of the past.

• Vibe: It feels a bit more "managed destination" and less "sleepy lakeside strip" than it did in 2016, though the clear water and the arcade remain the same.

In short: The smaller family-run motels didn't disappear—they just grew up and joined the same team.

regards,

mr-ed

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