Events: Kermesse Sport Randonnee Series 2021
(2020) If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that stubborn business models will struggle. In a twist of fate, businesses - and events - have had to adapt. Much of cycling has been imbalanced: more people want to ride but fewer new bikes are available. Grand Tours are wrapping up while the local race scene has barely happened. Cycling events have been the hardest hit, but with a little thinking outside of the box, a product can be successful, appealing, and exciting.
It is possible to execute an event that captures the spirit of cycling camaraderie while maintaining social distancing. Kermesse Sport, the organizers who present the Hell of Hunterdon and Fools Classic - among others - cleared their schedule for the majority of 2020. The Sourland Semi-Classic, of which we were invited, went off under beautiful skies. Shortly afterward, events were canceled one by one. The Hell of Hunterdon was deleted from our office calendar, followed by the Fools Classic. Fleche Buffoon was eventually erased. Oktoberfest Ride succumbed to the difficult scene, certifying the fondo year as a write-off. With the 2021 schedule threatened by uncertainty, Kermesse Sport has thought outside the box to bring motivation through the forever offseason.
Starting next year Kermesse Sport is offering the Randonnee Series. All of the favorite courses will be available with some alterations to allow for business support. The routes have been given a fresh look for self-supported riding. Route packages include parking information, public restrooms, bike shops, food and beverage stops, and of course, turn-by-turn navigation. Participants will also be given access to the Ride with GPS app for the event.
Kermesse provides the route and information; when you ride is up to you. Should a beautiful spring day appear in the forecast, load up the bike and head unit, point the car and bike to the starting location, and head out on your spring classic course. There are many among us who pledge authenticity to spring classics and would roll out in god awful weather. There are also those who are stubborn and will execute each ride on the date originally scheduled, regardless of weather.
The routes are more accessible this year. Three events have more than one distance; the Fools Classic remains the beast of the Randonnee Series (as it should) at 85 miles. The returning Bastille Day Randonnee offers two distances, 39 and 76 miles. The ode to the Ardennes, Fleche Buffoon, offers two distances as well, 62 and 76 miles. Ever-popular, the Hell of Hunterdon has three distances: 30, 56, and 84. Each event’s cue sheet broadcasts the climbing, the total available stops, and, if applicable, the amount of unpaved sectors.
There are some who question the reconsideration of the Series, asking the legitimacy of riding already available roads, which is a fair question. Kermesse has found a niche. These events, though completed at a rider’s choosing, can be certifiably added to the 2021 calendar. Barring the closures of local counties, the courses are spread out to follow suit. Kermesse has done intensive legwork working with helpful locations throughout each ride for food, drink, and other necessities, structuring the Randonnee experience. The businesses listed on the cue sheets want to see you as much as you want to see them. This format is not seeking to replace the events; it is a solution to an uncertain situation. Should things return to normal (whatever that looks like) the standard events will return in earnest. But what is perceived as a simple randonnee ride takes immense planning from organizers to bring a product to the consumer. For a fraction of the regular event fee, riders can experience a robust list of information and interaction. This is no phoned-in effort. It is hardly a grab at mirroring. The experience will be different and the sooner it is viewed as such, the better the Randonnee Series events will be.
The Kermesse Sport Randonnee Series can be the bellows to your flickering fitness, and even get the winter riding primed, focused, and purposed. This is not another attempt at making an event but removing a mass start; this is a throwback to the randonnee rides of the old cycling school. The cycling culture of our area has the capability to support these events, but they can further support the rest stops, shops, and stores along the route and calendar. With traditional models being redesigned, Kermesse Sport has captured the quick-thinking to innovate and adapt. With a unique product available at a fraction of the price, we could keep our Hell of Hunterdon streak alive in 2021.
