What's Inside Those Big Rando Bags? 

Thanks Zipp! Randonneuring is insane! I used to think a century was tough feat, but these Randonneurs haven't even warmed up at hundred miles. It's just crazy to think they can keep their heads up on such a long ride.

Hi Zipp, what kind of Randonneuring rides have you done? Where are some of your favorite places you have ridden?

The shortest ones were 200k and the longest being 1200k. I also liked doing timed events and for several year raced up and down the east coast. The Carolina's are really beautiful but close by in upper state New York is really cool, the Adirondack's and Thousands Island region are fun to ride.

Thanks Nick! I figured you've been busy. I'm looking forward to an upload soon.

Thanks Will!

Thanks Dario!

Thank you!!! I've been meaning to ask her that myself and just keep forgetting. Therese, why don't you run a wire back to a rear light? Excellent question, Bicycleutopia:)

Thanks Joseph! There's many ways to go about it, but if you want a cheap entry ticket I would suggest a used bike. Many of the 80's and 90's bikes were steel and very well made. You could start there for a small investment, and upgrade to something newer/custom someday. The nice thing is the older steel bikes hold their value, so you can always resell it and get back most of what you put into it. Another possible option is to check out the Surly, Soma, Salsa, All City, etc. bike offerings. These are generally steel or aluminum and affordable. Many of the these bikes come fully equipped with rack and fender mounts so you can easily adapt them for touring or commuting to work. You could also check out Rivendell, they make beautiful bikes and since they are sought after they are easy to resell. In general, with bikes the more you spend the better the quality, and that can be anything from lighter weight, to smoother shifting, better bearings, and better brakes. Randonneuring can be done on pretty much any bike. The randonneurs I know all have different bikes, so I couldn't say there is one type of bike best suited to Randonneuring. Everyone has their own preferences. And definitely check out your local randonneuring club, they will point you in the right direction. Best of luck!

So right there, HW. Older steel hybrids (and mtbs) are awesome. Sweet steel ride, clearance for larger tyres and absolute bargains. What's better than up-cycling in today's consumer society? However beware of being unable to resist a bargain...... I now have seven bikes! D'oh!

I think she may have meant a tire boot? If you're not familiar with this it is basically a small piece of reinforcement. In the event of a side wall tear or a puncture through the tread, a tire boot can be placed inside the tire to reinforce the cut. Then a new tube can be used to get you back on the road. I just cut up old tires and bring a few pieces with me, but you can also buy these at a bike shop. The bike shop type often have an adhesive backing to stick to the inside of the tire where you need it. The multi tool is a bike specific set of tools. These generally come with allen wrenches, a spoke wrench, a chain pin tool, and a few other tools. It's a basic set of tools for simple road side repairs. Adding a few chain links probably won't effect the overall ride, and it's just a temporary fix to get you home or to a bike shop should you break your chain. Thanks for all the good questions!

Thank you! The stash is fun! I met Tom Ritchey at Levi's Gran Fondo. He's a super cool and down to earth guy.

Mike Foster Hello Mike! I'm just wearing cut-off shorts with no padding in this video. I'm sorry, I can't recall what brand they are.

Therese Cools thanks :) I’d love to hear more of your adventures Keep safe

Yes, many of the cyclists I have met and even Ms. Cools herself wear some type of padded cycling short. However, I have seen some wearing regular shorts or nickers. They could possibly have padded shorts on underneath?

@@Henrywildeberry Thanks Henry. My mind was on my butt wondering what 600k's would do to it without padding and some sort of creme. A lot of riders love their leather saddles and was thinking padded shorts aren't necessary. I've been enjoying your videos by the way. Makes me want to get out and ride more.

It's a park in Berkeley near the horse race track. It's called the Albany Bulb.