What is Randonneuring?
These are some things you'll need to know if you want to ride with the
Santa Cruz Randonneurs. Please read this information before you send in
your entry.
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The rides of the Santa Cruz Randonneurs are sanctioned by the
Randonneurs USA (RUSA)
and
Audax Club Parisien
(ACP) in France. These rides, or brevets, are challenging
long-distance cycling events with time limits. The overall minimum pace on
brevets is about 15 kph (9.25 mph); the maximum is 33 kph (20.5 mph).
Riders must stop at checkpoints, or controls, to prove they have covered
the official route in the specified time window. Upon successfully
completing the ride, each rider earns a numbered brevet from the
ACP that
certifies he or she finished the course in the allotted time. Every
finisher's result is recorded in Paris, along with all the others going
back to the very first
ACP
allure libre brevet in 1921.
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The brevets of the Santa Cruz Randonneurs are fine long-distance events in
their own right, and they can also serve as qualifiers for 1200-kilometer
events like
Paris-Brest-Paris
(PBP). For further information on
PBP, other
events, and anything else related to randonneuring, please see the
RUSA web site.
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Brevets are non-competitive recreational cycling events. Results are
published alphabetically, not by arrival time. Being first is meaningless
since anyone who finishes within the official time period is considered a
winner. One "races" only with oneself to improve one's own time from the
previous year. On the other hand, slowing down to help a struggling rider
is seen as a very fine thing to do. Friendly camaraderie, not competition,
is the hallmark of randonneuring. The long distances and self-sufficient
style of cycling found in brevets allow participants the opportunity to
explore their own strengths and weaknesses. According to T. S. Elliot,
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly know how far one can
go."
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Randonneurs are expected to be self-sufficient and tenacious. They should
be able to repair their bike, read a map, or deal with bad weather. Riders
who quit during the ride may have a long wait until help arrives. No
personal sag support is allowed to follow the riders at any time, per
standard randonneuring regulations.
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There are no organized rest stops as you might find on other club
centuries and double-centuries. Riders should bring some money to buy
their own food and fluids at stores and cafés. Be ready to ride some long
distances (45-60 miles) between stores on the events greater than 200k,
especially late at night when some businesses are closed.
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The rides are held rain or shine. Bring adequate clothing for variable
weather conditions. Brevets are long events and the weather might change a
great deal before reaching the finish; you don't want to be caught
unprepared.
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Participation in our events is by pre-registration only. We do not accept
any "day of" entries. Materials must be produced in advance for each
entrant and this takes time. Registration and payment for each event must
be received by the Wednesday at 8 P.M. preceding the event. Entrants will
also need a little time prior to each ride familiarizing themselves with
each route by looking at a map. We provide electronic information and cue
sheets to all registered participants the weekend before the event and
then again after registration closes.
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No entry fee refunds are issued. If you notify us at least 7 days before
the event that you are unable to attend, we will happily apply your entry
fee toward a future Santa Cruz Randonneurs event. Otherwise, absolutely no
refunds for "no shows", bad luck, or late cancellations.
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All Santa Cruz brevets use 24-hour military time.
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The brevet routes are not marked with directional arrows to show the way;
riders will need to use their route sheet.
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Join Randonneurs USA.
You need to be a
RUSA member to enter our
brevets. For modest yearly dues you will get, along with being able to
ride US randonnneuring brevets and permanents, an informative quarterly
journal dedicated to randonneuring. Members' brevet results are
automatically posted to the
RUSA website as soon as
they are received from Paris, a valuable service if you are trying to
enter 1200-kilometer events like
PBP.
- RUSA members are entitled to buy a handsome brevet medal at the end of each event if they finish successfully. The cost is $10 each. The medal design changes every four years after each PBP, but you can see some older examples in the RUSA medal gallery.
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