Rando Richard

For many years, I have done my share of backcountry skiing. The thing that always concerns me while traveling near or above timberline is the constant threat of avalanches. I am a novice at forecasting avalanaches, yet, recently, an expert avalanche forecaster was tragically killed in a slide near Big Cottonwood Canyon, which is east [...]

  I love lists. It seems every time I read a magazine or online article about fitness myths, they seem to contradict each other. This one does make a lot of sense however. http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2013/04/02/fitness-myths/ Myth #1: Stretching before exercise reduces the risk of injury. False: The scientific literature of the past decade fails to support stretching before [...]

I’m finally catching up on some old news that I should have posted long ago…. When I first started cycling, one of longstanding goals (bucket list) was to ride a 200km (124.3 miles) brevet in under 8 hours. Most brevets I did were in small groups or solo, so drafting was not always possible. Finally, [...]

I have used many LED tail lights over the years since I do more than share of night riding on brevets or double-century rides. Here is quick review. Recently I purchased the 2-watt Cygolite Hotshot because it has a USB rechargeable battery, which I was wanted to use on my daily training rides (I put [...]

This post is for those struggling with swimming flip turns. (There are some great videos on how to improve your open turn at the bottom of this page. I have found that by doing this type of turn, instead of flip turns that my breathing issues have disappeared). During the 2012–2013 winter season (which when [...]

Ever since I started riding with other randonneurs, the mantra has been among many of them that “steel is real,” dismissing carbon fiber as inadequate for long distance cycling. Many of them prefer a steel or titanium frame because of the ride quality and most importantly, the durability. They claim that carbon fiber (and many [...]

I want to mention five things about these two devices: 1. Faulty Heart Rate Straps In May of 2012 I purchased the Garmin 310XT wristwatch style “triathlon,” multi-sport GPS. I got it primarily for use with SUP, but also starting using it for cycling (and uploading my rides to Strava). It was supplied with their [...]

Ever since I started road cycling in 2007 I have had the goal of doing a double century (200 mile) ride in under 12 hours. On Desperado Dual (central Utah ride) I have come close…12:20, 12:35, but with the winds and sparse drafting opportunities I never achieved my goal. This spring I went to Calif. [...]

On October 9th, 2012 I did a crossing of the width of the Great Salt Lake on a stand-up paddle board. It was my understanding that this was the first-ever crossing of the lake via SUP, but I have been told since then, that other groups have done it previously (although I have not seen [...]

  Amundson Design 14’0″ TR-X Carbon (distributed by Aquaglide, shaped by John Amundson of Hawaii) After purchasing a 12′ 6″ board, I knew that for any long distance stand-up I would need a fourteen footer. In August I rode several models at the Outdoor Retailer show and decided that the 27-inch wide boards were just [...]

Earlier this spring, I made the acquaintance of a local roadie, Brian Whipple. He and I are the same age and we ride very close to the same speed and intensity. He has complained about getting “out climbed” by many of his cycling partners, so this season he was making a concerted effort to work [...]

This month, Shimano announced a new 9000-series, eleven speed drive train for road bikes. At this point, it is only available in Dura-Ace, and not for their Di2 electronic shifting. The grouppo includes a new STI shifter set, cassette, crankarm (in both compact & regular), bottom bracket, chain and a front and rear derailleur. For [...]

Since I live close to Salt Lake City, I try to attend the indoor exhibitions at the Outdoor Retailer show, which occurs twice a year (Jan and Aug). This year, I also went to the so-called “open air demo” on a local reservoir (Jordanelle) to try out boards. My primary purpose was to try out [...]

Introduction As a relative newbie to the long distance cycling scene, I had the unbiased choice of which lighting system to use: battery operated or the venerable hub generate type system. The battery operated systems are less costly, and put no load or drag on your bicycle system. (A hub requires a custom-made wheel which [...]

As a professional photographer I frequently get asked about recommendations for cameras. Below is a summary of my thoughts. The links are subject to immediate change…so they may not be relevant a month from now! Factors Is the size of the camera an issue? There are three styles: – The smallest are “point & shoots” [...]

Only 700 miles to go… Above are the photos for my “long ride of the 2012 season.” It was the Colorado High Country Grand Randonnée (1200km or 750 miles in 3-1/2 days). I was little apprehensive as my carbon fiber bike has developed some hairline fractures which I was worried about. It held together fine [...]

I have been waiting for Shimano to introduce an Ultegra-level compact double “climbing” cassette and derailleur. They finally came out with a matched set. Just this week, my latest wholesale catalog lists the following 10-speed parts: Ultegra CS-6700 12-30t Cassette Ultegra RD-6700A 30 tooth (40 wrap) Derailleur Yahoo. I’m just in the process of building [...]

Recently I posted a question on a cycling forum. It was “how high should one’s heart rate be on a long extended climb?” Then general consensus was “try to keep it below your lactate threshold” or “don’t go into the red.” (Lactate threshold is also called anaerobic threshold or maximal steady heart rate.) I know [...]

A few years ago, a nephew of mine, who works at an outdoor wilderness program, indicated that this product called Areobic 07, (there are other similar products under other brands) was effective in treating water in the outdoor environment. They supposedly drank out of cow troughs, out of creeks, lakes, yet in several years of [...]

For the past year I have concluded nearly workout (both cardio and strength-training) with a protein fruit smoothie. I got the original recipe from Boys Life, the BSA magazine for youth. It was a simple recipe, which I have since modified slightly. Here it is: 1 to 1.5 fresh bananas 3/4s of a fresh orange [...]

The Salt Lake Randomneurs (long distance cycling) information used to be on this blog, but I have finally moved it to it’s own site at this link. Regretfully all the comments didn’t make the move, but are archived if. > Richard, RBA (Regional Brevet Adminstrator)

Here it is February and I have been consistently swimming since November of last year (2 – 3x a week). On my last post I reported problems with bi-laterial breathing. I have finally settling into breathing on one side, every other stroke (instead of every third stroke as with bi-lateral), BUT I switch sides every [...]

In September I purchased my first stan- up paddleboard. I found a deal on a used Wave Storm 10′ 6″ board. These were recently sold at Costco. I found one online review and it was pretty favorable, especially considering the price, which was about $800 for a new board. After purchasing it, I did more [...]

This fall, because it is too cold to cycle comfortable, and since there is not enough snow to ski, I have decided to try swimming for part of my cardio workout (I also hit the weight room while there). I have been going to the local college pool where I have been receiving lessons from [...]

This past season (2011), three of us finished 1200k’s Grand Randonnées: They include myself (Richard Stum), completing Colorado High Country in July with a time of 83:52. Robert Owen, from Saint George finished Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) in August with a time of 89:02. Conor Carroll, originally from Houston, but now lives in Kaysville, also completed PBP, [...]

When I was growing up, my mother and many of her sisters (she came from a family of 15 siblings), espoused a good diet to increase one’s health and/or to increase your lifespan (several of them published books on this topic). They had a slogan, which I’ll never forget, which is “The Whiter the Bread, [...]

During the spring of 2011 I made the decision to try out a tensioned, unpadded leather saddle again. My previous experience with a 100% leather saddle was using the Selle-An-Atomica, which doesn’t require any break in. But that saddle was heavy (no titanium model available) and the slit down the middle was a negative for [...]

In an effort to get a more balanced (upper) body, I purchased a used stand up paddleboard in August (SUP, also called stand up paddle surfing). After a half a dozen training trips at some local reservoirs and lakes, I decided to paddle out to a small landmark in Utah Lake, called Bird Island on [...]

On September the 24th I hosted the first brevet in the Moab area, called the Moab Double Whammy. It is also a 200K Permanent route that was featured in a 2011 issue of The American Randonneur magazine. The day started at 8:00 a.m. with six riders. Two of them had commitments later in the day, [...]