Seattle has a fantastic diversity of cycling clubs and teams that can satisfy the cycling ambitions of any rider. When I settled in Seattle in 2007, I was particularly intrigued by the Seattle International Randonneurs. I like riding (relatively) long distances over challenging routes. I joined the randos, but soon found that my idea of “distance” (say, 300K in a day) was barely the lowest entry point for an outing with them.
In the randonneuring spirit, Seattle is now home to the Cyclos Montagnards. If the idea of pushing your physical and mental limits over long distances and challenging routes appeals to you, take a look at what these riders are up to:
What/who are the Cyclos Montagnards?
The Cyclos Montagnards promote unsupported long distance cycling inspired by the French pioneers of randonneuring (randonneuring is the sport of unsupported long-distance cycling). These early riders demonstrated accomplished cycling ability and self-sufficiency. They dreamt up serious cycling challenges and then strove to achieve them.
The Cyclos Montagnards seek to emulate this spirit by providing a series of challenges worthy of these early randonneurs. Becoming a Cyclo Montagnard is a matter of completing these challenges.
Ryan Hamilton climbing out of the crater of Mount St. Helens.
How do the Cyclos Montagnards differ from the Seattle International Randonneurs? What niche do the Cyclos Montagnards fill in the randonneuring world?
The Cyclos Montagnards are a virtual club. Any rider can become a member simply by completing one of the challenges. Riders can suggest their own challenges, too. The Cyclos Montagnards are intended to support and motivate riders who are seeking an ongoing series of challenges as they gain experience in long distance cycling.
How did the Cyclos Montagnards come about? What led to its formation?
The original idea for the Cyclos Montagnards Challenges came from reading about French bicycle builder Paul Charrel. Charrel lived in Lyon. In the 1930s, his goal was to ride from Lyon to the top of Mont Ventoux and back in 24 hours, a distance of 516 km, with the final climb being unpaved and on soft gravel. Charrel tried six times, but the powerful Mistral winds foiled every single one of his attempts. However, he completed other challenges, including riding from Lyon to the highest point at the foot of Mont Blanc.
We liked the idea of a similar challenge linking our home town with our favorite mountain destinations. Most cycling events seem to have full parking lots at the start line, aid stations, and sag wagons. We thought these challenges would be an appealing alternative for those cyclists looking for increased adventure and challenge. For more information, see www.cyclosmontagnards.org
Jan Heine enjoying the descent from Windy Ridge on Mount St. Helens.
Tell us about the founding members. Who are they and what led them to help found the Cyclos Montagnards?
There are three of us:
-Mark Vande Kamp
-Ryan Hamilton and
-Jan Heine
We like riding together, and we like seeking out challenging routes off the beaten path. Jan is the editor of Bicycle Quarterly magazine, so he always is researching rides and races from the past. It’s easy to get inspired when you see the old photos of riders in majestic mountain scenery.
This year, we did our first challenge: To ride from Seattle to Windy Ridge on Mount St. Helens, then to Sunrise on Mount Rainier, and back to Seattle, in 24 hours. We made it with 21 minutes to spare. Ride report.
Tell us more about the founding members. What are some of your cycling highlights?
Mark: I rode bicycles as a kid and was vaguely aware of long-distance cycling, but I really became a cyclist after I moved to Seattle for graduate school and went for a ride near Issaquah on a friend’s Miyata racing bike. Ever since then I’ve loved riding long distances, particularly in the mountains where every climb brings me a sense of achievement.
Ryan: I’ve been attached to cycling since first riding my Schwinn Typhoon. In early high school (in Bellingham) I started doing longer rides and a little bit of racing. I’ve continued riding ever since.
Jan: I’ve been riding since childhood. I raced for 10 years during the 1990s, both road and cyclocross, but I’ve always liked riding on small mountain roads far away from modern civilization. Today, I prefer long-distance cycling and touring, in addition to commuting around Seattle.
Tell us about your most memorable rides.
Mark: It’s hard to narrow it down because one of the primary reasons I ride is to make special memories. I guess I’ll pick the first time I rode RAMROD, back in 1990. A friend gave me his ticket a week before the ride and I had no idea what I was getting into. I had to stop halfway up Cayuse Pass and cool off in a waterfall, but I loved the whole experience.
Ryan: My greatest cycling adventure was a 6000-mile solo trip through Europe. I rode through 13 countries and made it all the way to the Nordkap in Norway.
Jan: Riding Paris-Brest-Paris on a 1946 René Herse tandem and setting the fastest time for mixed tandems. The spirit of that 120-year-old event is incredible, and to be part of the history both with a historic bike and a credible performance was special.
What’s your favorite Seattle-area ride?
Mark: In the last few years I’ve really enjoyed exploring some of the forest roads in the Cascade foothills. I particularly like some of the roads in the Markworth Forest near Duvall, and the challenging climb to Lake Moolock above the North Fork of the Snoqualmie River.
Ryan: I’ve grown to really enjoy the Mountain 100k. It is a challenging ride and provides excellent preparation for the season’s longer rides. I would like to create a 24-hour challenge in the North Cascades that has some significant stretches of dirt roads. It would be quite an accomplishment to ride from my doorstep to Harts Pass and back in perhaps 30 hours.
Jan: I agree with Ryan: The Seattle International Randonneurs “Mountain 100k”. It takes in as many of the hills in the Issaquah area as possible, including Cougar Mountain, Tiger Mountain, Tolt Hill, Duthie Hill and Mt. Olympus Drive. The course is challenging even on a good day, but it has a nice rhythm and beautiful roads.
As the 2009 road season winds down, have you started to think about objectives for 2010? Is Paris Brest Paris 2011 in the calendar for any of you?
Mark: I just started a new job and haven’t settled into a routine that lets me plan too far ahead. I definitely want to keep exploring more back roads, and I intend to do more overnight rides with minimalist camping gear.
Ryan: PBP is definitely a goal.
Jan: For 2010, a Fleche (24-hour team ride) is in the cards. Then there is an unpaved road from Independence Pass on Mt. St. Helens to Elk Pass that I want to explore… Beyond that, who knows? Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) always is a highlight, so I’ll probably attempt to go again in 2011.
After an all-night ride, Ryan Hamilton, Jan Heine, and Mark Vande Kamp enjoy the view on Windy Ridge on Mount St. Helens just before sunrise.
What advice do you have for folks getting into the style of cycling promoted by the Cyclos Montagnards?
Pack a few spare tubes, some food and water, and get out there. Look at a good map (we recommend the “Washington Recreational Atlas”) and see which roads look interesting, then go and explore them. We also recommend the Seattle Randonneurs’ route archives. The Seattle area has many wonderful backroads, yet we rarely meet another cyclists on them.
What is the best way for someone to join the Cyclos Montagnards?
It’s simple. Do one of our challenges, and if you succeed, you are inducted to the Cyclos Montagnards. Or simply come up with your own challenge. Even if the challenge doesn’t meet the standards for the Cyclo Montagnards, it’ll be great fun to develop, plan and ride your own challenge. You will find you can do much more than you thought.
The Velocity Blog’s “Profile” series highlights the accomplishments of some of our amazing local cycling athletes, and provides insight into their lives that may inspire us all.
