La Société Adrian Hands

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Cap'n

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Dec 22, 2009, 9:11:46 AM12/22/09
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Announcement: A new randonneuring society is launched today. Happy
Birthday Adrian.

Name: La Société Adrian Hands

About Adrian Hands: La Société Adrian Hands recognizes those
randonneurs/randonneuses who believe that every ride is an adventure
that should be enjoyed to its fullest. Membership is not for the
fleetest of foot but for those that savor every moment of the journey
by using as much of the allotted time as possible. The society was
created in 2009 in order to honor Adrian Hands and like minded
cyclists. Adrian Hands is a tireless bicycle advocate and 2003 Ancien
who embodies the philosophy that every ride is an adventure. He has
traveled far and wide to pursue his love of randonneuring, including
brevets in China and Bulgaria. He successfully completed PBP in 2003
with a time of 88:55. His ride report of that adventure stands as one
of the best ever http://www.ahands.org/cycling/pbp2003/fini.html. In
2005, Adrian was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder later
determined to be ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). He was forced
to switch to recumbent riding due to limited upper extremity strength
but successfully qualified for PBP in 2007. Although he retired in
Tinteniac during the return trip from Brest in 2007 his courage,
determination and adventurous spirit should inspire us all.

Membership eligibility: Any cyclist who completes PBP in a time equal
to or greater than Hands' 2003 finish time of 88:55. Membership roll
will be kept at http://www.adrianhandssociety.com/

Fee: There is no membership fee although tax-deductible donations are
greatly welcomed. Each member will receive a certificate. Medals may
be available for purchase. Funds raised through the society will be
distributed to not for profit organizations as directed by La Société
Adrian Hands' Board. Organizations eligible for donations would
include those dedicated to cycling advocacy and neurodegerative
medical research.

Application requirements: An application form is provided at
http://www.adrianhandssociety.com/Application.html. Applicants must
supply PBP information (year & finish time).

Application deadline: Charter members now being accepted.


Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia. ~H.G. Wells

Steve Lange

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Dec 22, 2009, 12:07:37 PM12/22/09
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On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 6:11 AM, Cap'n <je...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
Announcement:  A new randonneuring society is launched today.  Happy
Birthday Adrian.

Name: La Société Adrian Hands

Membership eligibility: Any cyclist who completes PBP in a time equal
to or greater than Hands' 2003 finish time of 88:55. Membership roll
will be kept at http://www.adrianhandssociety.com/

May I respectfully suggest a lanterne rouge as the official symbol of the Société ?

I have much greater odds of joining this group than the Cyclos Montagnards! :-)

Steve Lange
Santa Barbara, CA
RUSA #5454 

WMdeR

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Dec 22, 2009, 12:22:35 PM12/22/09
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Dear All,

If we're all active in randonneuring long enough, some of us could
belong to both the Société Charly Miller and Société Adrian Hands!

I love the stories about the testers and vedettes who still ride, a
half-century later, and are still pushing themselves at the other end
of the time limits.

I'm grateful to participate in a sport that so gracefully encompasses
such a range of experience.

Thanks to all who organized the Adrian Hands Société. It is a good
addition to our sport.

Happy solstice!

Respectfully,

Will

William M. deRosset
RUSA 2401

On Dec 22, 10:07 am, Steve Lange <st...@stevelange.net> wrote:
> On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 6:11 AM, Cap'n <je...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> > Announcement:  A new randonneuring society is launched today.  Happy
> > Birthday Adrian.
>
> > Name: La Société Adrian Hands
>
> > Membership eligibility: Any cyclist who completes PBP in a time equal
> > to or greater than Hands' 2003 finish time of 88:55. Membership roll

> > will be kept athttp://www.adrianhandssociety.com/
>
> May I respectfully suggest a *lanterne rouge* as the official symbol of the

Ian Boehm

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Dec 22, 2009, 5:23:43 PM12/22/09
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Cap'n wrote:
> Announcement: A new randonneuring society is launched today. Happy
> Birthday Adrian.


Curses! I'm ineligible in that I beat him in by 14 minutes. Still,
there's always 2011...

I second the lanterne rouge symbol motion.


--


Cheers
__o
_`\<,
...(*)/(*)

Ian Boehm

pamela blalock

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Dec 22, 2009, 8:24:34 PM12/22/09
to Cap'n, randon
Darn 88:18 in 1991.

Could we go with the old standard where times was rounded to the hour!

pamela blalock
watertown, ma

Cap'n

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Dec 23, 2009, 3:20:29 PM12/23/09
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Steve,

The wisdom of crowds prevails again. The Lanterne Rouge is adopted as
our official symbol.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanterne_rouge

On Dec 22, 12:07 pm, Steve Lange <st...@stevelange.net> wrote:
> On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 6:11 AM, Cap'n <je...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> > Announcement:  A new randonneuring society is launched today.  Happy
> > Birthday Adrian.
>
> > Name: La Société Adrian Hands
>
> > Membership eligibility: Any cyclist who completes PBP in a time equal
> > to or greater than Hands' 2003 finish time of 88:55. Membership roll

> > will be kept athttp://www.adrianhandssociety.com/
>
> May I respectfully suggest a *lanterne rouge* as the official symbol of the

Cap'n

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Dec 23, 2009, 3:26:47 PM12/23/09
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Pamela,

Two more croissants and an Oringina or one more Baguette avec jambon
and your in.

pamela blalock

unread,
Dec 23, 2009, 6:55:38 PM12/23/09
to Cap'n, randon
If only I'd been able to predict what it would have meant 19 years later!

But maybe with 20 more years in my system, I could add a bit to my
time in 2011. The only problem is I have recently come to realize that
I really have likely graduated out of rando mode and into pure
adventure mode and it's far more likely I'll be off touring somewhere
and enjoying cafe's and croissants with no thought of time limits at
all.

Randon Nerd

unread,
Dec 23, 2009, 7:33:30 PM12/23/09
to Cap'n, randon
A nice touch, at least for adopting it as a "symbol" but in doing so
it implies that the those in the group are a bunch of last place
finishers.

I generally would qualify for the Society with all of my rides, and
I'm still looking to have the honor of the Lanterne Rouge bestown upon
me. I'd hate to diminish the efforts of those that truly attained
this honor.

Willie

DrCodfish

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Dec 27, 2009, 12:46:36 PM12/27/09
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Willie Said:

"I'd hate to diminish the efforts of those that truly attained this
honor."

Amen that Willie, the LR is not for wimps! I just missed on the Gold
Rush in 2005(?) but was bestowed an official Lanterne Rouge (Co-
winner...looser?) on the 2006 VanIsle 1200 by no less than Ken
Bonner! The award included a bottle of Red Bicycle wine, one of my
most treasured 'trophys'. You can see my finish line photo (podiums
are for skilinny little fast fish) on my blog. Mrs Codfish had this
photo enlarged to poster size and it hangs in our 'gallery' (the
bedroom) along side posters of two other cycling greats: Merckx and
Hampsten, on the Gavia.

Yr Pal , Dr Codfish

DrCodfish

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Dec 28, 2009, 10:07:29 PM12/28/09
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I was reading somewhere recently about all the things that have become
obsolete in the last decade. Obviously, it was a lot associated with
technology. It caused me to think of what new things have been
spawned and something related to our quirky little obsession came to
mind:

I signed up for a New Years Day perm. As often happens here in our
soggy neck of the woods, people have indicated an interest in riding
along so I noted that I'd be riding this at 'Adrian Hands' pace. I
think this is likely to stick for a good long time.

hope you are OK with that Adrian.

Yr Pal Dr C

Cap'n

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Dec 29, 2009, 9:00:42 PM12/29/09
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I don't know if Adrian is still monitoring Randon so I'll respond.
Adrian would be thrilled to find others riding "his" pace. Adrian's
pace was always adjusted to meet his particular requirements for each
segment of the ride. If you need something find it and stop. If
you're feeling good pedal hard. If your not feeling good slow down or
take a break. Don't worry about time. Enjoy.

I'm sure that Adrian will be pleased to know that one of La Societe
members is up in the Pacific Northwest riding his pace.

Around here to pull an Adrian meant that you lost something heading to
a ride or during a ride. I don't know if you have read his classic
write-up of PBP 2003 but he could have filled a small trailer with all
the things that were misplaced heading to and during PBP. So now
instead of pulling an Adrian we will be riding an Adrian. Nice. Here
is the link to the PBP write-up if anyone needs it:
http://www.ahands.org/cycling/pbp2003/fini.html

Bonne Route Dr. C,

Cap'n

Adrian Hands, Raleigh NC USA

unread,
Jan 1, 2010, 10:26:34 PM1/1/10
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On Dec 29 2009, 9:00 pm, "Cap'n" <je...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> I don't know if Adrian is still monitoring Randon so I'll respond.

Wow! I have not been on randon in a long time -- it's been over a year
since I last biked -- I am so thrilled and honored to read this
thread! As cyclists we clearly enjoy riding together, though it is not
so intimately together, physically, as a team sport or even as more
typical cycling. At times like this though I feel a more genuine
connection with like minded souls that I ever would with any other
group event.

I cannot wait to see who next adds their name to this list. Please
reserve space for Buzzee, Metz, Codfish, Al, Huston, Battu, Wilson,
Miesen, Keenan, etc.... I realize many others ride joyously and I
don't expect you to slow your pace but if I have underestimated your
capacity to dawdle please accept my apologies. And give my warmest
regards to Lazar, Balanski and the rest of the Bulgarians, and don't
miss Team Karavan -- that fun bunch from old St. Petersburg!

Extra points go to Ivo and Keenan for taking such stunning photographs
while riding!

Here is a randonneuring article on PBP Contrôles that I have been
"sitting on" until the time is right.
Hopefully of interest to PBP newcomers.
http://bit.ly/8n1yDm

My dear wife who has supported me through randonneuring and ALS
recently bought me a tandem trike! If we could find a way to harness
me to the seat on a warm day I just may be the weakest stoker ever!

Slo Joe Recumbo

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Jan 2, 2010, 2:09:30 PM1/2/10
to randon
Yo Adrian...

I plan on doing "an Adrian" on January 9th with the Central Florida
Randonneurs. Will be sure to stop a lot in your honor.....well...I
would anyways. :=)

On Jan 1, 10:26 pm, "Adrian Hands, Raleigh NC USA" <adr...@ahands.org>
wrote:


> On Dec 29 2009, 9:00 pm, "Cap'n" <je...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> > I don't know if Adrian is still monitoring Randon so I'll respond.
>
> Wow! I have not been on randon in a long time -- it's been over a year
> since I last biked -- I am so thrilled and honored to read this
> thread! As cyclists we clearly enjoy riding together, though it is not
> so intimately together, physically, as a team sport or even as more
> typical cycling. At times like this though I feel a more genuine
> connection with like minded souls that I ever would with any other
> group event.
>
> I cannot wait to see who next adds their name to this list. Please
> reserve space for Buzzee, Metz, Codfish, Al, Huston, Battu, Wilson,
> Miesen, Keenan, etc.... I realize many others ride joyously and I
> don't expect you to slow your pace but if I have underestimated your
> capacity to dawdle please accept my apologies. And give my warmest
> regards to Lazar, Balanski and the rest of the Bulgarians, and don't
> miss Team Karavan -- that fun bunch from old St. Petersburg!
>
> Extra points go to Ivo and Keenan for taking such stunning photographs
> while riding!
>
> Here is a randonneuring article on PBP Contrôles that I have been
> "sitting on" until the time is right.

> Hopefully of interest to PBP newcomers.http://bit.ly/8n1yDm

Don Bennett

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Jan 5, 2010, 6:09:48 PM1/5/10
to randon
Great! I'll know where to find a list of potential riding partners
next time round.

Don (2X Member of La Societe; Slogan: an extra hour means we can stop
at the next bakery/pub/coffeeshop)

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