Why Randonneuring? Accessible Nature short reel #1 of 5 from Randonneurs USA

[Dawn Piech]

Why Randonneuring?

If you follow our Randonneurs USA Instagram, Facebook page and/or YouTube, you may know that we collaborated with Mercator Films Production to put together 5 short reels (short segments of a larger video) and 1 longer video to showcase what randonneuring is all about.  We would like to take this opportunity to share them here.  

We hope you would consider following our new YouTube channel and sharing this video with your respective cycling regions/communities and those outside of randonneuring to showcase what we are all about.  We will be sharing these every Tuesday over the next 5 weeks.  

This first short reel #1 is titled Why Randonneuring? | Accessible Nature |

https://youtube.com/shorts/gjBCyuWsNWE?si=a57YltgJ6mmyhFUT 

Getting on your bike and unplugging from your routine is a way that you can experience the places around you in a new light. All of our permanents and brevets have gone through a long review process to make sure they are the best places to ride your bike. Riding your bike may bring awareness to areas that you may have not thought of before; nature that is in between the parks. Riding your bike long distances helps you to be able to see a vast amount of area in a way that you cannot do otherwise. 

So, how does this Accessible Nature short reel resonate with you?  

SUBSCRIBE to our NEW Randonneurs USA YouTube HERE:  https://www.youtube.com/@RandonneursUSA

NOTE:  There are some sections that contain mirrored images which make the crank appear on the wrong side of the bike and the cyclist appear on the wrong side of the road.  We are aware of this.  We hope you can appreciate the artistic liberty that the filmmaker used to bring us the story and feeling throughout each of these.  Art is subjective.  

Thank you for being a member of Randonneurs USA.  

Dawn Piech

Vice-President

Board of Directors

Randonneurs USA

[Greg Goebel]

I like the video, the scenery, the riders, the message, the production quality, and the effort of RUSA to bring other cyclists into the rando-fold!

HOWEVER...

While I understand the purpose of the new video series is to showcase randonneuring to non-randos, I cannot in good conscience invite my non-rando cycling buddies to watch this video.

Instead of this video sparking dialog about long distance riding, I will forever be embroiled in defending the apparent disregard for the most basic safety practices of cycling. As soon as anyone has to try and explain about "mirrored images" or even note "...no local rules of the road were actually harmed in the production of this video", then the opportunity to have meaningful dialog about randonerring is lost. I hope that RUSA limits the artistic liberty of videos in the future and even demads Mercator remove the mirroring and re-release the current video. 

Greg Goebel

RUSA 12470

P.S. Thanks for letting me vent; this video has really been bothering me!

[ken jessett]

I have always been extremely concerned with the need on long distance rando rides - 600K's + for example which by their very premise of completing within a given (and quite short) time frame requires having riders on the public roads suffer from extreme sleep deprivation - and often in written accounts glorifying such activity. A danger to everyone in my opinion.

Ken J. - My two pennies worth.

[Larry Parker]

I second this notion.  The mirroring was a stupid, careless move.

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[Kim Freitas]

Hello Randonneuring Friends,

I really liked this video. For me, it conveyed the deep connection to nature, the discovery of local but sometimes unknown landscapes, the self-reliance and good friendships that develop, and the inner peace and satisfaction that comes with randonneuring. I thought the images, music, and voice really worked together to create an authentic vibe. I loved that it featured a woman who is a good cyclist with a solid randonneur-style bike, gear and kit. I appreciate that RUSA is using social media thoughtfully to make randonneuring more accessible. I respect that the comments center around safety and risks, which are such important aspects of our sport.

Enjoy Fall riding. Be well!

Kim Freitas

RUSA#428

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[Bill Scanga]

I liked that it looked very much like a rando ride. Kim mentions style above.  I think these videos help define our style (hi-vis outfits etc.) as opposed to the lycra-clad roadies that most people think cyclists are supposed to look like.      

Non-rando people often ask us why would we want to ride these long distances.  The videos answer some of those questions pretty clearly. Certainly more clearly than I've been able to.   

I had to watch the video a few times and read the caption on IG to figure out what the issue being discussed even was. I didn't notice the mirroring I certainly didn't get any sense from the video that anything dangerous was going on. I suspect the casual viewer and the rando-curious would not get the sense that we are a lawless bunch from watching these videos.  (They may have a preconceived notion that we are a lawless bunch, but the video does not reinforce that) 

I'm a relatively new Randonneur, just 2 years now.  The reckless behavior I've seen has been from angry motorists. With our PA rando group, the bike checks are taken seriously, reflective gear is double checked and riders are looked out for.   Routes are planned with safety at the forefront and we are warned about areas that may lack a shoulder or have heavy traffic. We push ourselves to our limits and we make sure we are safe enough to do that.  We certainly don't gather around with our RBA and discuss our lawless road exploits and sleep deprivation and I suspect that very few Randonneurs are doing that.    

bill15090

  

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[Sean Keesler]

I'm considering these videos as very good marketing material to help grow this community and to get the word out. I certainly haven't been able to do it, so good for RUSA for putting some creative talent behind it.

I didn't consider them as tutorials on "how to ride a bike on the street" or "how to build your bike frames". ;)

I'd show them to my kids and not worry about them getting the wrong idea.

The reverse angle is more an easter egg than anything else. Once it was pointed out I thought it was funny. I hadn't noticed at all.

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-- Sean

[Ben Everett]

Greg and Larry, with all due respect, the notion that someone would see these videos and assume that randonnuering involves riding on the incorrect side of the road is pretty absurd. I also find it to be pretty immature to go online and publicly disparage the team involved making the series. If you don't like them, don't watch them.

Best,

Ben

[Emory Hancock]

Greg and Larry,

The video was great. Your vibe sucks. Rules lawyer belt and suspenders attitudes like this is part of why doing official RUSA events is a non-starter for so many riders. Have fun litigating the joy out of bikes. 

Best,

Emory (they/them)

[ken jessett]

I would hope members can voice their opinions without being subjected to insulting and negative attacks by other members on this forum. Disappointing to say the least.

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[Nick Dawe]

I think the videos are great and it is a wonderful way to explain our style of riding to others - attract a few more converts maybe.

We are a niche in cycling and always will be, but our style suits a growing 30-60+ demographic that want to stay active into our 70’s and then some. We experience a teamwork spirit helping each other to finish as we fight against the heat ( TX ), rain, wind, mechanicals and other hurdles that make each ride into a story. 

Our RBA’s, our leadership have been sued by riders and/or their representatives. Rules are few and far between, waivers necessary. 

Keep it up. Document our sport. We are audacious,

Nick

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 30, 2023, at 1:00 PM, ken jessett <kenje...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Iwan Barankay]

I think this discussion is a wonderful reflection of what happens often in rando, when experienced riders and organizers meet newer riders. I just checked and there are 3630 RUSA riders with an active membership!

Organizing brevets takes a lot of time on and off the bike and one can end up thinking too much about every detail in terms of how it is done best making it hard to let go. I know of many passionate discussions about where to put the hot cereal for a 600 breakfast station or whether to put soda cans into the fridge. All in view of organizing efficiently, effectively, and serving our riders so they can succeed in their goals.

Then there is the issue that when bad things happen at events you organize, like accidents resulting in death or lawsuits, they stay with you. It is absolutely the worst thing to organize an event during which someone has a bad or fatal accident. 

So organizers carve their way towards an ever more perfect brevet, each in their own way, in the hopes of pleasing current and attracting new riders.  At times both, organizers and (new) riders, need to pause and step back to recognize that they don't fully appreciate the experience and knowledge of the other yet find a way to communicate with each other.

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[Dave Thompson]

Our goal, when we decided to do videos, was to try another way of getting the word out.  We are a niche sport among niche sports and the average cyclist hasn’t even heard of us. They hear about centuries, racing, touring, but not about randonneuring. 

When I first heard about people riding 1000 or 1200k, I thought that it was just silly. When I did my first 400k and was behind someone at the 50 mile control who said “200 miles to go”, my thought was “what the heck am I getting myself into?”  (Substitute heck for whatever expletive you like most). 

The videos were designed to be short, easily consumed by the adhd among us, suitable for today's social media audience. 

Do whatever you can to get the word out.  All suggestions welcome to help build our niche community :). 

Dave. 

From my iwdt

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[Jonathan Howard]

I watched the videos and saw what folks are complaining about, but honestly it's not uncommon for cyclists to take up the entire road early in the morning at the start of a ride and it's not being a lawless bunch. Yeah, as a cyclist the mirroring by the videographer to make sure all his cuts go left to right to give the idea of "forward" motion messes with my brain, because gearing is never on the left side and she's not in England... Ha ha!

Still, to the casual person, they're not going to notice and they're going to be paying attention to the dialogue and the general aesthetic of the video, which is spot on to sharing our sport. It clearly defines us as not being weekend hammerheads. It shows Randonneuring as being about exploration and the challenge of going far on a bike. All and all, really good videos!

Cheers,

Jonathan

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[ken jessett]

I didn't watch the video, I don't do any kind of social media, but this: " Do whatever you can to get the word out"

Is there a plan, what is the target audience? Some one up stream said 70 year olds, do 70 year olds do UTube, isn't that a brainless teenbopper audience?

Where do the people who organised and presumably spent the money putting this thing together expect the next step to be - other than to be viewed by already members?

I keep seeing the noun 'niche' being dropped, and I also saw someone suggesting there are over 3,000 'active' members - although I suspect the actual numbers who actually ride at least one brevet or pop a year are a lot less than that, and honestly, I have to say with these numbers we are more an endangered species at risk of going extinct than a being mere 'niche' - but where now? 

From my experience and observation, cycling is on a downward spiral not least in ultra cycling events as well as randoneering. 

So, how do the boffins who got us this far plan to disseminate? - other than to 'get it out there'. 

Ken. J (spelling and grammar errors all my own work) 

[Dave Thompson]

I seem to recall - “ask not what my country can do for me … etc”.  

This is our club, your club - we have a mutual responsibility to promote our sport and our club.  

Careful with age remarks - A lot of us are over 70 … we are quite capable of clicking a link and watching a short video before we fall asleep, as old folk do, or head for the early bird special 😂

At the other end of the spectrum, we applaud Sally Rozelle who, at 14, completed PBP Jeunes. You can read about that in the next edition of American Randonneur. 

Dave. 

From my iwdt

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[Rebecca Clark]

Hello fellow randonneurs,

This whole thread definitely has me thinking a lot about my own experiences with randonneuring and with trying to share the sport with a wider audience (for example, giving a talk once about Paris-Brest-Paris at a bike shop in Lincoln Nebraska when I lived there; fun, but did it do much to actually encourage new riders? Hard to say.).  I am so appreciative of the effort that so many randonneurs have put into this endeavor.

It does also seem to me that creating and maintaining a RUSA YouTube channel creates some incredible opportunities for RUSA.  Rather than echo "is there a plan?" I am wondering what other individual members might be able to contribute towards the channel, and how they could do so.  For instance, given that there are a wide range of reasons why we love the sport, are there members among us who might be interested in putting together another short (or more!) on, "What got you into randonneuring?" or "What do you love about it?" that could interview a wide range and collection of us?  Or what about shorter films that showcase what makes riding in different parts of the US so amazing and unique?  If any of us wanted to do any of this, should we just get in touch with the RUSA Board with our idea?  (I say as someone with limited film/editing experience).

There are just so many wonderful opportunities in this realm.

Thank you,

Rebecca Clark

RUSA 6012

Albany, NY

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[Gardner Duvall]

Stay tuned, members will soon be able to contribute video content for RUSA's YouTube channel, which will be curated before posting there.

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[Pete Dusel]

I'll third that. all it does is make it look like the video was shot by a teenager on a cell phone in selfie mode.

[Pete Dusel]

=>do 70 year olds do UTube, isn't that a brainless teenbopper audience?

Easy there sonny. There's lots of us here in our 70's. Many still clipping in for PBP and other Grand Randonnees.

Heck, some of us even know how to create video on YouTube. Here's my channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@randopete3299

I have lots more raw video from earlier PBPs, and haven't even started cataloging 2023 PBP video. Way to busy working and riding!

Pete

[Greg Merritt]

On Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 2:15:29 PM UTC-7 ken jessett wrote:

 

 do 70 year olds do UTube, isn't that a brainless teenbopper audience? 

If you haven’t checked it out, the motion pictures on YouTube include serious talkies, many in Technicolor. 

Perhaps if you pen a letter and put it into the post to RUSA, they could ship a print of the film to your local cinema and it could be screened during presentation of the newsreels projected before the weekly serial?  

Maybe that way the message could reach brainful adults rather than just “brainless teenboppers” on the interwebs. Kids these days, amirite?

-Greg

 

[Elly Winer]

Good Lord. This endless thread should be retitled: 

Let No Good Deed Go Unpunished

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[Christian Ratliff]

As a relatively new participant to Randonneuring I am thankful that this discussion does not reflect the kind, helpful, encouraging and advising spirit I have met on the road these last three years. Randonneuring to me is the “you can do it” during that first 300k, it is the “morale food” at a stop, and it is the welcome at the finish.

Perhaps we should write nothing in email that we would not say to a Randonneur out on the road?

Let kindness prevail,

Christian

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 2, 2023, at 10:30, Elly Winer <elly...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Greg Merritt]

Le lun. 2 oct. 2023 à 07:30, Elly Winer <elly...@gmail.com> a écrit :

Good Lord. This endless thread should be retitled: 

Let No Good Deed Go Unpunished

I suspect that the polemics here on this topic have increased viewership of the video among RUSA members!

All press is good press, 15 minutes of fame, and all that… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

-Greg

[sha...@gmail.com]

I hope the video made by this dart populaire team makes the cut (I got it from Charlie Martin's Strava activity).  I haven't met any of them, and it makes ME want to be a randonneur.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wBu4R6GxAX2cup986

 

Seriously, though, even in Seattle, where randonneurs are super common, I think the best recruiting tool is smiling, waving and just being friendly, while wearing hi-viz gear with the word RANDONNEUR featured prominently.

 

I love cycling, and sometimes notice that cyclists are really tribal.  Maybe everyone is, but I really notice it among cyclists.  You never know who might develop an interest in your favorite variant of cycling, so just be a great ambassador, and don’t assume anything. 

 

Well, unless they are using blinking headlights on a multi-use trail.  We don't want those guys. (just kidding!)

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[Kevin J. Williams]

Hahahah Kitty's protip made my day! What "blow dryer" is she referring to at Safeway?? Now that I type this, I realize it is probably the one in the bathroom used to dry your hands.

--Kevin W.

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[Dan Driscoll]

Very nice post, thank you, Shaun

I could not agree more, more smiling, more waving, more friendly and even stoping to talk to others that are also riding…….AND Wear your RUSA Jerseys, Jackets, Caps….. in a little over a week the RUSA National Blue kit, Pink kit, PBP kit and K-Hound kits will be all be available, links will be in the next BC and posted here. 

DanD  

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[JinUk SHin]

Really loved the video!  Thought it was a great representation of the spirit of our sport and what it means for most when it comes to randonneuring.  Didn't even notice the mirroring nor did it make any difference even when it was so rudely pointed out as being the biggest detriment to the video.  Thank you for beginning to put effort into the social media and online presence for randonneuring - its important to keep our sport continuously alive and going!

JinUk

[Bill Gobie]

On Mon, Oct 2, 2023 at 7:40 AM 'Christian Ratliff' via Randonneurs USA <randonn...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

As a relatively new participant to Randonneuring I am thankful that this discussion does not reflect the kind, helpful, encouraging and advising spirit I have met on the road these last three years.

 

I'd say the thread does reflect the somewhat obdurate mindset it takes to finish longer events! :-)

Bill Gobie

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[ken jessett]

As a relatively new participant to Randonneuring I am thankful that this discussion does not reflect the kind, helpful, encouraging and advising spirit I have met on the road these last three years. Randonneuring to me is the “you can do it” during that first 300k, it is the “morale food” at a stop, and it is the welcome at the finish.

Perhaps we should write nothing in email that we would not say to a Randonneur out on the road?

Let kindness prevail,

Christian

I don't think anyone has suggested on this long and winding thread that randonneurs' are a bunch of misanthropes. It is a healthy discussion, pure and simple.

Ken. J

[Noah Swartz]

I just want to add my voice to the group of people thanking those who made this wonderful video, lest the board get the wrong idea about the general reception to it. I watch a lot of bike content on youtube, especially randonneuring videos, and I know how hard it can be to capture the essence of our sport and what makes it enticing for riders. Most youtube videos discussing randonneuring are long or boring or both - as many rides can be! - and fail to capture the je ne sais quoi of randonneuring. This video did an amazing job of capturing the personal growth, sense of accomplishment, and excitement that can come from riding brevets - all in a very short format!

I think it's also important to keep in mind that RUSA is a volunteer run organization. Much like our brevets are supported by (the often thankless efforts of) our RBAs and other members, so too are our efforts to entice others to join our sport. Given the likely constraints on this video production I think it did an incredible job showing what makes Randonneuring special, and looked far better than most bike videos I watch. 

If you want to consider why people don't put more time into making videos like this or other efforts promoting randonneuring in general I think you should reflect on how some of the negative comments in this thread might sound to those who spent their free time and effort trying to grow our sport. For those of you who have other ideas on how to promote randonneuring, I hope you decide to donate some of your time and energy to support these efforts!

I personally would like to applaud the team responsible for this series, and hope that the few negative opinions expressed in this thread doesn't put the RUSA board off from future efforts to promote randonneuring via videos like these.

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[Martin Cooper]

Noah, you hit the nail on the head. Keep up the great work on growing our niche sport that has actually been developing for over a century. The video captures the spirit of randonneuring which is a global enterprise that covers all sides of the road.

Martin Cooper

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[dberi...@gmail.com]

Back in my day, we didn't have a YouTube.  We had Windows Media Player and we'd use it to burn DVDs that we'd mail to our friends so that they could watch the same stuff we watched.  When we didn't like one of these DVDs, we'd go to the junk mail and get one of the AOL CD-Roms and put that in the computer.  15-20 minutes later we could go onto a Chat Room and talk a lot of shit about the DVD we had watched.  Except for when someone in the house was on the phone, then we'd have to wait until the next night or just let it go.  Boomers today have it so easy, they can just look at a link and know it's threatening to their existence and self-granted authority over the obscure French-rules cycling sport they're into and then, within seconds, go onto this mailing list and taking a big stinky shit on it.  

Anyways, I digress.  Thank you to the folks who put together the video.  It made my bathroom break at work far more interesting and will hopefully inspire others to share in our joy.  

On Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 2:15:29 PM UTC-7 ken jessett wrote:

[Josh Zielinski]

This is enough reason to have Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx3GTPiLbvW/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

In case you were holding out...

Coming from long distance trail running background (that sport took off... didn't see that coming--have you ever run through the woods for hrs on end?  There's no mechanicals, no gas station food... it's ok but after riding my bike longer and longer distances I have begun to wonder what was I thinking) I think randonneuring in my opinion is poised to blow up!

People may be "soft" these days but they don't want to be.  They are actively trying to find a good challenge without all the industrial park/indoor trainer vibes.  Bikepacking is cool rebrand of touring which is lovely if you have seasonal work or tons of vacation time... not your average American...

Cheers,

Josh

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[R Davis]

In the words of the great Lael Wilcox, I just want to ride. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 2, 2023, at 07:40, 'Christian Ratliff' via Randonneurs USA <randonn...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

As a relatively new participant to Randonneuring I am thankful that this discussion does not reflect the kind, helpful, encouraging and advising spirit I have met on the road these last three years. Randonneuring to me is the “you can do it” during that first 300k, it is the “morale food” at a stop, and it is the welcome at the finish.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/randonneurs-usa/D0D57CAC-370E-496D-809D-D39B56F3C2E7%40me.com.