The Vintage Rides of D2R2: Forging Ahead

An implausible tale about dropping out ...  because, well, you simply exhausted all other options.

As much as we talk about randonneurs being self-reliant, understand that we're very lax compared to the true-blue tradition.  In old-school rando', you literally could not accept ANY outside assistance.  Like you would be welcome to climb a fence and milk your own cow for a drink, but if someone leaned out their window and offered you a swig of water or a baby wipe, this would result in disqualification.  One such legend goes back to Eugene Christophe, who was leading the 1913 Tour de France by 18 minutes over the Tourmalet (at that time, every bit a cow path as our own Hawk's Road) when his forks broke.  Unable to accept a replacement bike or outside help, he spent over two hours hiking ten kilometers into town, eventually finding a welder.  Race officials insisted that Christophe do the welding himself!  Having no such skill, he accomplished this nonetheless thanks to the welder instructing him through the entire 3-hour process.  And then officials penalized him an additional ten minutes because a young kid pumped the bellows for him.  He ended up seventh in the Tour because of this.  Can you imagine the social media outburst if ever I did anything anywhere close to this to one of you guys?  LOL.  We'd go from 1600 riders to 16 masochists in one year!

Our approach at D2R2 is to encourage the highest level of self-reliance without requiring it.  Obviously, our "retro randonnée" is intended to celebrate the history of cycling 100 years ago.  But honestly, once all of you pump out into our capillary-bed network of 'roads,' the bottom line is that we would never be able to give everyone full mechanical support...  So we limit your expectations and do the best we can.  If I get word that you're stranded somewhere with cramps or a mechanical, I am going to drop patches and drift getting there to help you with a truckload of supplies - but, since you or I could be miles outside of cell service, please pack your tools and spares, lest it become a long afternoon of hiking in cleats.

In our 2006 edition, our man Kirk had his own Christophe catastrophe.  I alluded to this story in my original solicitation for pictures.  Thanks to Ray for coming through with some of his own pictures and details proving that this story was, in fact, dead-serious for real.  The rumor circulating was that somebody's rear dropout had broken, but he went door-to-door until he found a helpful farmer who welded the bike back together.  To this day, I've had no better than the rumor, and when I mentioned it in that email a few weeks ago, I wasn't holding out hope.  But now here it is, in three pics!!!  In fact it was the rear skewer that snapped, so the repair involved adding stubby bolts to the dropouts in addition to welding some cut washers to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

Gnarly!

To think that, in the old school, this level of persistence would have garnered a DQ instead of a trophy!  The raw nature of the welding repair, the gameful generosity of the farmer, and the fact that it occurred during a live event, are each highly inspiring.  Like how did Kirk even find this level of aid whilst walking around with a broken bike?  Since 1913, who else has carried a bike door-to-door asking to borrow a MIG welder?!  LOL.

I also have to give Kirk props for climbing Old Albany, Cooper, and Franklin Hill on a Suntour Pro-Compe 5-speed cluster!

Sadly, Kirk's ride did not end successfully.  A puncture (or maybe multiple flats) led to riding 12 miles on a flat to lunch in Green River, and that yielded 14 holes to repair - he ran out of patches in his patch kit, and he couldn't replace the tube because the hub was now welded into the dropouts!  Thus he had to DNF!!  After all that!!!

So, my dear Kirk, while this ride ended in such disappointment for you, I would share Ray's words on this the other day,

"I LOVED-LOVED-LOVED Kirk's persistence and randonneur rules adherence to self-sufficiency."

Indeed!  Kirk, your ride is now enshrined in D2R2 legend, and proud indeed you should feel, as we all are of you.  If you're out there reading this, get back to us and we will comp your entry this year.  Come back and FINISH IT on us!  Chapeau!!

[Editor wishes to acknowledge Jan Heine for details on the broken-fork history.]