If we agree that randoneur is a French term, the word derives from randonn ée which translates as "hike". Randonneur translates as "hiker". The d efinition for hike is "to go on an extended walk for pleasure or exercise", or "a long walk or march". Others will feel more qualified than I to point out the specifics of what has become accepted as a generic term for a bike which is light, is comfortable, is stable, has lights and ligtweight rack upfront, and is suited to paced riding over longish distances, and ab ove all has very low gearing available, the aim being to stay in the saddle , just as on a hike one just keeps on walking.
Cyclotouring is a generic term which covers just about anything under the s un which involves long distance riding at a more or less constant pace. Thu s there is no official "randonneur" federation, though the FFCT, "Féd ération Fraçaise de cyclotourisme" is a body with membership from randonneurs AND cyclotourists. Cyclotourists are much the same thing as ra ndonneurs, if not identical. Heaviliy loaded several day riders come under the "cyclocamping" term.
Conventional wisdom which emanates mostly from people who have an interest in conventional wisdom and categorizing things (bike dealers, whether ofici al businises or people making a living off being friendly in sourcing you s tuff is an example which springs to mind) will tell you that a randonn eur is made by Alex Singer, Rene Herse and maybe Jo Routens (depending on a vailability).
Nowadays the FFCT (correct me please if I am wrong), seems in very fast dec line, or to have declined to the point where further decline would entail o blivion. They appear to cater for a lot of MTB folk nowadays.
The randonneurs or cyclotourers I knew and know are generally lithe guys wh o will ride all day, eating in the saddle (eating the saddle is an option i f you get lost), who didn't and don't ride herses and stuff because they ei ther couldn't afford them or had beter to do with that amount of bread. The ir bicycles mostly had 650 wheels, but there are some guys out there on 700 c. All used triple front to 5 speed back, lowest gear often being around 1 :1. The frames were often not in any way specific, but the bikes wre fitted out with a bar mounted bag, guards, lights.
Nick March, Agen 47000, Lot et Garonne, France (about to take cover before the the stuff starts flying)
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