Easter -- A Classic Cycling Ultradistance Holiday!

While riding with the NJ Randonneurs a decade ago, I learned about Flèche rides. They are an old ultra-distance cycling challenge that's always held at Easter. They involve a 24-hour point-to-point ride of at least 360 km (224 miles) done by teams. Each team proposes their own route with all teams planning to converge on the same location at the same time. There are many formal rules, but it's not a race, just an endurance challenge. Some teams do claim bragging rights by planning and riding longer than the minimum distance in the same time period.

This history lesson is from the San Francisco Randonneurs sign-up page for their Flèche rides this past week:

Flèche California is modeled on the Flèche Vélocio. First held in 1947, Flèche Vélocio originated as a celebration and memorial to Paul De Vivie and the end of the Christian period of Lent. DeVivie, published the very influential French cyclng magazine “Le Cycliste.” De Vivie used the pseudonym “Vélocio” in his writings.

Vélocio resided in St. Etienne during the most influential period of his life. The distance between these two French cities is approximately 360 km. ACP specified that the Flèche Vélocio be a team ride from Paris to St. Etienne to be completed in 24 hours. Teams develop routes that converge on St. Etienne in the south of France, timing their arrival so that they can enjoy some rest and relaxation before a group meal and social gathering on Easter Sunday. After the event, some immediately return home by train or other means; others may spend a few days on holiday before bicycling home. 

Vélocio also experimented with the use of the derailleur and multiple ratio gearing. This experimentation occurred decades before the mechanism became widely used.

If you're deeply disappointed at having missed the 2015 Flèche rides in San Francisco and Paris, you still have time to join the Ohio Randonneurs for theirs. It doesn't take place until May 22nd.

Our family's Easter cycling tradition goes back nearly 20 years. We get up before dawn, pull on lots of warm clothing, straddle our bikes equipped with headlights and taillights, and pedal just a few miles to Rosedale Park, arriving in time for the 6:30 AM Easter sunrise service. After worshiping, we pedal home for a hearty breakfast.

Clearly, cycling on Easter is a Divinely inspired idea the world over!