unterhausen

Anyone thinking about riding the fleche this year? Just starting my planning now. Looks like I might have 6 riders, so I can captain a team without riding

rhm

I am! I have been finalizing a route and trying to get team members to commit, good times. Also actively trying to recruit one of your team so I'm glad to hear you have a surplus.

I thought we might hit four states. Or maybe just three.

Machka 

We're planning a fleche. It is a bit of a process here, but I think we're closing in on finalising it all.

Anyone want to come down to Tasmania to do a fleche on the weekend of March 24/25?

rhm

Want to? Yes.

Gonna? No, I've given up flying. Just can't face the ethics of it.

unterhausen

I assume you mean Greg, which would be bad because he's the one that keeps us on schedule. I'm curious about his neighbor Jeff, who wasn't riding due to injury, but seems to be back now. At least, he ripped my legs off on a 100k last year.

rhm

Yes, that is correct. I will make sure he knows he's needed on your team.

(Anyone on this forum, reading this... please feel free to contact me if you might want to join my team for the PA Randonneurs fleche, April 20-22. You would need to get yourself to either Quakertown PA or Yonkers, NY on Friday April 20.)

seajaye

Just sent out a call-to-arms email yesterday to 10 people for a two-team combo. Also, I sourced a tandem to borrow to ride with my partner!!

unterhausen

rhm: if Greg wants a change of route, he can just send me his spreadsheet and I'll take it from there. Then again, 225 miles of tailwind can't be beat

iTrod

You can captain two teams if you have seven riders!

clasher

The flèche in Ontario doesn’t happen until May since the weather is supposedly worse. They sound like a good time so I’m gonna have to get in on one.

unterhausen

one year, I thought I was going to have to do that. I even reviewed the rules on two teams on the same route. Kept having people drop out. In the end, I think we had 4 riders that year. I forget how many #5's I had that dropped out. All of them, I guess.

rhm

I submitted my new route to the RBA this morning. Looking forward to his thoughts! The route was mostly cooked up by other members of my team so it will be mostly new to me, which will be fun. But it also means I don't really know what I'm getting myself into.

rhm

The DC Randonneurs Fleche starts today, with most riders presumably starting Saturday morning. The weather promises to be memorable.

unterhausen

remember, 'epic' and 'stupid' are not synonyms. Weather looks horrible, I'm not sure I would bank on no accumulation.

Are you riding with Bill F. and Gavin B.? Where do you start? If you go past my house, you can stop in to warm up.

rhm

Yes, that's who I'm with. Won't be dropping in on you, though, thanks for the offer! Starting in York, passing through Dillsburg, Thurmont, Williamsport, Hancock, Brunswick, Leesburg. Looks like a fun route, only one big climb, Catoctin Mountain just after Thurmont. We'll be riding a lot of roads I used to ride in the 80's.

On my first fleche, a couple years ago, our route passed right by my house, and we spent a half hour sitting around my kitchen table drinking coffee an hour before dawn; there was no conversation, unless you count "where's the bathroom" and "more coffee, please" and "time to go." With this in mind, I think I won't be visiting my parents when we pass within a quarter mile of their house Sunday morning, though I'm sure their dog would be happy to see us.

Over the course of the last day or two, the weather forecast has become increasingly encouraging.