Essay: On the Rouleur Side of Cycling
All photos courtesy Eric Ness. Special thanks for his help in this article.
(2020) The idea of a weekend-long bike experience involving hours in the saddle, bike packs, and other plannings have knicked me at least twice in my career. In some back page of a bike magazine it explained the history of bikepacking. A determined fundraising cyclist kept me in awe for my miniscule effort during his long day. A few years ago a fellow rider, a hammer really, described an envious weekend. The concept has never left me.
According to a forgotten source, a rouleur’s definition started long before it described an all-round cyclist in the peloton. As Spain was getting back on its feet after Civil War, residents spent money. Bicycles were the central feature to spending: First residents would buy a bike, then they would plan, then they would camp. A rouleur was a middle class resident who came home from work Friday, mounted the steed and rode to a campground somewhere near the time of sunset. Saturday was for riding farther to another campground or riding in a big circle. Sunday was the return trip.
Johnny Hazel riding along the C&O Canal Path during a recent bike packing ride. Photo courtesy Eric Ness.
Early in the road riding career a feat of remarkable completion was relayed by a rider in a fundraiser. He had departed from his home in Hazleton, PA, in the late summer darkness and rode the remarkable distance to the starting line in Smyrna, DE. But he did not stop there. He rode the seventy-five miles to Rehoboth Beach, DE, to round out a distance of some 200 miles in one day. There he lodged overnight with complete strangers also completing the fundraiser ride. Early the next morning he departed for the return trip north to the finish line, again seventy-five miles was the distance. He stated he never saw his roommates. He went to sleep before they returned and left before they awoke. A family member had left his car in Smyrna, DE, the finish line.
A lizard spotted along the route. Photo courtesy Eric Ness.
Further weekend riding exhibitions were relayed when I rode with a former New York City bike messenger who described a similar scenario. His friends and he would mail clothing to a hotel in upstate New York. They would set out after work on Friday to reach the hotel before sunset. Saturday was a long ride. Sunday morning was a short ride. They would all catch the train back to the city, parcels and all. Every cyclist is due a remarkable ride at least once in his/her career. It is a necessity for many cyclists to cover great distance in one weekend at least once in his/ her lifetime.
A couple of years ago a couple ridekicks - Eric from the Adirondack adventure and some of his teammates - went bikepacking along portions of the C&O trail, which extends from Cumberland, MD, to Washington, DC. The route is a rails-to-trail pathway on reclaimed portions of the C&O Canal Towpath. Bikepacking continues to lap ever closer to the creakybottombracket.com office.
Bike packing with a tent is as simple as it gets. Photo courtesy Eric Ness.
Recently Mike (yes, that Mike) has been eager to plan something similar. I have as well, with varying approaches. Recently Mike rode from his house to the Jersey Shore, an impressive ride of around 100 miles. He has postulated a new route this summer of 120 miles to the Jersey Shore, proof the spirit of the Spanish rouleur still exists. My route idea has been to pack all the necessities and ride to the Catskills in upstate New York, stopping wherever and riding wherever. The only request would be to have a room where the bikepacking gear can be dropped off for a proper ride in new settings. The goal would be to return before the required time and clear of stress. A firepit would be the final touch.
Every couple of years the riding partners suggest and execute a trip to new roads. Our Strava Heatmap is blazing away for miles around the office, a hot hint that we have worn out the local roads. There are so many unexplored throughways it would be ludicrous to continue to do laps around the office. It is time to break up the monotony, to reach out farther, beyond the back fence, beyond the farthest ride, beyond the comforts of modern amenities. To return with grandiose stories of a simple concept would be the things of memories.
Eric’s Trek loaded with camping gear.
Years ago Mike and I circled the Catskills in an ambitious experience to roll over new roads. We still talk about the experience regularly. At one point I suggested leaving the ride in the past because it was so perfect. Maybe that is not the approach, because we discovered the stimulating thrill of being unplugged we now know what we are looking for in a ride. Passing campers waking up early in the morning, riding miles without seeing a single car, riding along the floor of a mountain range, those are all tangible moments provided by a long day out on unexplored roads.
Should we put this idea in play we will post about it. Don’t let that stop you from planning your own. If you happen to pass through Bucks County feel free to reach out for a lead out. Local color can be good for a lot of things like places to stop or roads to avoid. We would love to be a part of the adventure. As you can tell one unique feature about residing in Bucks County are the options. We could ride to the Atlantic Ocean, to the nation’s capital, to New York City, or head north into wilderness. It takes a little bit longer to do that.
We propose trying a proper rouleur style weekend this summer. Knock off work early and come home to a loaded bike, head to the campsite/ hotel, ride all day Saturday, then come home just in time for dinner on Sunday. It will be obvious to the coworkers on Monday you have been enlightened. When approached with weekend stories, the answer could be, “I went for a little ride.”
