Three States of Fleche Ride Report - Jeff Bauer

Three States of Flèche Ride Report
April 30, 2005
By Jeff Bauer

Last weekend, I rode a 24-hour ride known as a flèche. This was my fourth flèche ride, and my third in middle Tennessee.

A flèche is team ride of 24-hours' duration, subject to specific rules determined by the Randonneurs Mondiaux. A team may consist of three to five machines (a tandem counts as a single machine) and at least three machines must finish together to receive official credit. Each team must choose its own route and may not ride with any other cyclists. A minimum of 360 kilometers must be covered inside 24 hours, with no less than 25 kilometers to be ridden in the final two hours. Flèche routes are point-to-point or a large circuit since any particular stretch of road may be used only once during the event by the team. In French, flèche means "arrow", so the traditional method is to ride from one point to another, like an arrow flying into the bullseye.

Our team consisted of the following members:
Bill Glass (captain)
Alan Gosart
Jeff Sammons
Jeff Bauer
Vida Greer

A flèche is not a race. The point is to keep everyone on the team together in pursuit of a common destination. This year the destination for the Georgia flèche was the Chattanooga Aquarium -- the same as it has been in years past. In addition to our team, three other teams would be participating.

As the weekend approached, we were all watching the weather for signs of rain. The temperatures were already somewhat cool, but the probability of rain appeared to recede just before we started our ride.

We were missing one rider at the start, but had to begin at the designated 7:30 time. Our first 70 miles would take us past Garrison Creek where we stopped to use the restroom facilities (mile 17). It wasthere that Lynn and Vida showed up. They had showedup at Bill's old house. We started the ride from his new house, just a mile or so up the road. At this point Vida was officially disqualified from the ride, but resolutely decided to continue riding the remaining 235 miles with us anyway.

The morning was damp and misty. Overcast skies and 55F temperatures aren't bad for riding. The NatchezTrace Parkway is a nice cycling section, since there is no commercial traffic and no turns to miss. Along the route we would periodically regroup at the historic landmarks (Gordon House, Meriwether Lewis) which had restroom facilities.

After riding down the Natchez Trace for 60 miles, we exited at marker 381 and rode a few miles toward Summertown. At the Phillips 66 store, our first control, we had the clerk sign our brevet cards and filled up on food and beverages. I had a microwaved ham and cheese sandwich just for something hot to eat.

From this point onward we stayed closer together, so we wouldn't miss any turns. I had the cuesheet on my handlebars, but some of the roads were unmarked. We used the same course that Alan designed last year, though it would be the first time Bill, Jeff or Vida had rode this route.

Our next control was a Wendy's in Lewisburg (mile114). Some of us ordered baked potatoes, always a safe food for randonneuring. The weather was looking pretty reasonable. Slightly windy and chilly, but nothing too bad. We had the usual fare of dogs chasing us. Light traffic and no major incidents.

We arrived in Tullahoma (mile 152), just around sunset, around 8 pm. We joked about having less than 12 hours to complete the final 100 miles. Our third control was another Wendy's. We were joined for dinner by Sametta and Susan (Bill and Alan's spouses). This was the point last year that Tom Cayton was forced to bail due to illness. Sametta gave us a progress report on the other flèche team from Tennessee (which included Tom). It appeared that they were ahead of schedule. Just before we left the third control, captain Bill gave us each a light to attach to our wheels. As we rode into the night, you could see red, while, and blue flashes strobing from our rear wheels. Surprisingly, I didnot find this distracting.

For the next 30 miles we wound through country roads towards Sewanee. The last section becomes a 2.5 mile climb with a steep grade. I rode up it last year on my fixed-gear bike and it wasn't much fun. This year, even with gears it was still no breeze. We regrouped at the top of the climb then made our way to a University. It closed at midnight (we were now on the Eastern timezone, I believe), so we had 30 minutes to stop. I added another base layer to prepare for the chilly evening.

For the next 24 miles we followed up and down rollers along the ridge, then a 3 mile descent into South Pittsburg. Upon reaching the Conoco Station there, we found that it had been closed up, locked from the outside. A local cop stopped by and mentioned that this market was no longer open 24/7. We were all pretty well set with food and water, and the next control was only 23 miles away. Jeff Sammons' rear wheel had gone out of true. Bill fixed this by tweaking one of the spokes and loosening the rear brake.

Vida's light went dead, so I attempted to install my backup light, a Cateye LED. The light wouldn't hold, however, and eventually broke off the mount when she hit a bump. She rode to the next control within the beam of our bike lights.

The next section took us across the Tennessee River into Alabama, then up a 3 mile climb with multiple false summits, a 10 mile ride along the ridge, then a winding descent into Trenton.

In Trenton, we first stopped at the Huddle House. Being the only occupants at 4:30 am, we took over half the tables with our gear. After dining, some of us took quick power naps or just lay down with our eyes closed. About 6:30 eastern time, we departed the Huddle House and had our cards signed at the last control, a Golden Gallon/Citgo just down the road.

As the dawn approached, I started taking off my night gear. Even before the day starts to warm, the sun coming up over the mountains promised a pleasant, though somewhat windy ride into Chattanooga. We had one brief climb and descent into the city, then wound our way to the Aquarium. On the way back to the Hampton Inn, we spotted the other Tennessee team led by Cary Way, ahead of schedule. They met us back at the motel to swap ride accounts and share breakfast in the lobby.

Overall, a pleasant 24 hour ride. Congratulations to Jeff Sammons for completing his first flèche and his longest ride. Also kudos to Vida Greer for completing her longest ride, despite missing the start. I enjoy the flèche format and hope to ride on a team again next year.

Jeff Bauer
Nashville, Tennessee