Minnesota Randonneurs Board Challenge Week 5

Another fun week for the Minnesota Randonneurs Board Challenge series for June 8-14.

Our Minnesota Randonneurs Strava Club membership added a few more members, we’re now at 103

65 riders completed at least one 50 km ride or longer in the past week

In all 116 rides of 50km or longer were recorded – a nice step up from last week. 

83 riders uploaded at least one ride to the Minnesota Randonneurs Strava Club site last week.

Statistics for the week
Distance. # Rides
50km+   67
100km+ 26
150km+ 10
200km+   6
250km+   7

This Past Week’s Challenge (June 8-14): Ride a 250k (150+ miles) or longer ride.
Remarkably 9 riders achieved this challenge. 2 riders (Rob and Tom) rode 335 miles on a Mpls to Duluth and back in a day challenge ride

 Several riders completed at least 4 qualifying rides (50k or longer) during the week:

The Board Challenge for June 15-21

We’re getting more rides done and some riders are really stretching their distance legs.  RUSA will be opening come July with rides up to 200k. Hopefully August will see longer rides offered.  If permitted, Minnesota Randonneurs is planning on offering a full Super Randonneur series (200,300,400,600k) this season. 

To get ready for the official season opener coming in just a few weeks, we need to focus on getting ready for it.  Since this is the Solstice weekend (June 20-21) let’s use this as an opportunity for a stretch ride of 200k or more to prep for the coming rando season. 

Note: Minnesota Randonneurs is planning their first 2020 official RUSA ride for July 11, with the venerable Northern Pancake 200k ride, along with the ½ Pancake 100k Populaire both starting in Brooklyn Center.  We are also dedicating our first ride of the season to the memory of Jerry Hofmann, our long time rando friend and great rider who passed away earlier this year.

The following weekend in Apple Valley, we will hold the Classic 200k and fun Dakota County Frolic 100k Populaire.  Check out the Mn Rando website (www.MnRando.org) for the details and to sign up.  More rides will soon be added to the schedule.

You need to be a RUSA member to ride our events (www.RUSA.org).  Joining Minnesota Randonneurs saves you the per ride cost.  We’ve got a shorter season this year but expect to see ride opportunities nearly every weekend once we get going, including some fun gravel experiences.  Along with randonneur events we are promoting a few longer distance classic gravel/road riding events in Minnesota.  Information on these events is also on the Mn Rando Calendar (see Other Cool Rides on the Schedule page)

Rides longer than 100k come with additional challenges as it warms up and we continue to practice responsible safe solo and group riding and minimizing our contacts others with while we are on our ride. Carrying a mask with you is a very good idea for c-stores, restrooms or other public places.  RUSA will be releasing their official guidelines for riding in the Covid Era soon.

Riders with at least one 50km ride June 8-14

Rob