Cyclists celebrate 100 years of randonneuring

MANGALURU: As many as 41 cyclists participated in a 200km centenary BRM event recently. The Audax event, popularly known as Brevet de Randonneurs (BRMs) was first held by Audax Club Parisien on September 11, 1921. To celebrate this centenary brevet, a special 200km BRM ride was organised across the world, by Audax affiliated clubs. Team WE R Cycling, organised a 200km ride on Kankanady-Kundapura-Kankanady route.
Sarvesha Samaga, president, WE R Cycling, said, “There was a lot of uncertainty until late Thursday evening due to the weekend curfews, and once that was lifted everyone came together to be part of a BRM after a gap of nearly six months. Some of the finest riders from Mangaluru including Joseph, Shyam, Navin, Dheeraj, Ashok, Harivijay, Dr Ramraj, Anees, Muqthar, Dr Gururaj, Sreekanth, Shivananda, Gautham and riders from Kasaragod and Bengaluru participated. It was the first BRM for 16-year-olds Arnav and Tejas, who accompanied their parents. Meanwhile, Bhargav, Rajat and Sandeep kick-started their BRM journey, with a centenary BRM.”
The ride was flagged off by senior rider Joseph Pereira and the star of ultra-races Dhanraj Karkera. The challenges were many. The riders said that they had to handle the harsh weather conditions including scorching heat, humidity, headwind and rains and unusual traffic from Kulur to Kankanady, demanded that extra effort to manoeuvre.
To commemorate this event, specially designed medals from Audax Club Parisien France would be distributed to all those riders who have finished the ride in time.
BRMs are rides of fixed distances that are to be completed within specified time limits, having successfully passed through pre-determined time controls. Each rider, who finishes the event within the cut-off time is awarded a certificate and a medal. Moreover, the rider will get a step closer to becoming a Super Randonneur and an opportunity to take part in one of the oldest and most coveted cycling events in the world, the Paris Brest Paris event, held in France once every four years.