Colorado Brevet Series
2002 Rocky Mountain Cycling Club Randonneurs USA |
Colorado Brevet Series -- Rules and Info
Who Can Ride What - These brevets are open to any adult (18 years and older) amateur cyclist, except for certain restrictions regarding professional racers. Any form of human-powered vehicle is acceptable, as long as it is powered solely by the rider.
Registration - To participate in a brevet, a rider must submit a registration form, sign a waiver of liability, and pay a registration fee (if any) set by the event organizer.
Insurance - Each rider must be covered by liability insurance, either by a group policy or a personal policy -- in the case of the Colorado Brevets, this is achieved by being a member of the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club (REQUIRED).
Rules of the Road - During the event, each rider is considered to be on a personal ride. The rider must ride in accordance with all applicable traffic codes, obey all traffic signals, and use bike paths when required by law. The ACP, RUSA, Rocky Mountain Cycling Club, and other brevet organizers cannot and do not accept responsibility for any accidents that may occur during the course of the brevet.
Night Riding - For night riding, bicycles must be equipped with front and rear lights that conform to the local regulations (Colorado and, where applicable, other states) for bicycles. While riding, lights must be on from dusk to dawn and at any other times when poor visibility conditions exist (rain, fog, etc.). Each rider, whether riding in a group or alone, must use lights under these conditions. Any violation of these rules makes the rider subject to disqualification, whether en route or at inspection prior to departure.
NOTE: Light-colored clothing is also recommended for night riding; some combination of relective vest, arm and/or ankle bands, or reflective strips on the bike required.
Support - Each rider must be self-sufficient. No following vehicles or support of any kind, mobile or otherwise, are permitted on the course (except of course in an emergency situation). Personal support may be rendered only at checkpoints. Violation of the support rule subjects the rider to disqualification.
Equipment - Helmets are required.
Deportment - Riders are required to conduct themselves in a civil manner towards each other and towards the public, and respect local customs with regards to decorum.
Route, Brevet Cards and Checkpoints - At the start, each rider will receive a brevet card and a cue sheet indicating the route and the location of the checkpoints. Riders must ride the entire route, unless authorized by the organizer because of special circumstances (road closures, etc.). If a rider leaves the route, the rider must return to the route at the same point prior to continuing.
Riders must stop at each checkpoint -- published or secret -- to have their brevet card stamped. Organizers may also include unannounced (secret) checkpoints at any point along the route, to assure route integrity.
Unstaffed Checkpoints - Organizers may include unstaffed checkpoints [that is, unstaffed by brevet officials -- this is the norm for Colorado Brevets]. At these checkpoints, riders must have their brevet cards stamped at some local establishment, such as a grocery store or gas station, as noted on the brevet card. Information must include the time (and date, for brevets that extend beyond 24 hours).
For unstaffed checkpoints where no means of getting a stamp is available (arrival in the middle of the night, for example), the rider may mail in a postcard with the checkpoint information (time, date, rider's full name) to the brevet organizer. In this case, the rider should mark the brevet card in the space provided for the checkpoint "PC" for Personal Checkpoint. [For Colorado Brevets, this will not be the norm.]
Checkpoint Variances - Missing checkpoint stamps, missing checkpoint times, or loss of the brevet card subjects the rider to possible disqualification. Note that each rider is responsible to assure that the brevet card is properly completed at each checkpoint.
Time Limits -
Overall time limits vary for each brevet according to the nominal distance (that is, a "200km" brevet whose route comes out as 205km still has the 200km time limit). These are (in hours and minutes):
In addition, riders must arrive at each checkpoint between the opening and closing time for the checkpoint. These times are noted on the brevet card. Failure to make all checkpoints, even if the brevet is done within the overall time limit, subjects the rider to disqualification.
200km
13:30
300km
20:00
400km
27:00
600km
40:00
1000km
75:00
1200km
90:00
Fraud and Cheating - Any fraud, cheating, or deliberate violation of these rules subjects the rider to exclusion from all RUSA, Randonneurs Mondiaux, and ACP-sanctioned events.
Ride Finish - The rider must sign and return the brevet card to the event organizer. The brevet card will be returned to the rider after the brevet has been verified and a brevet number issued (by the ACP). In the event that the organizer loses a brevet card, no replacement to the rider will be made.
Not a Race - These brevets are not races or other kind of competitive event. Riders should feel free to compete - within the rules - for fastest time or other goal, but recognize that this is not the aim of these events, and that ungracious behavior against other riders can be grounds for disqualification.
Drafting - Drafting is permitted, and riding cooperatively and in groups is actually encouraged, as it suits the riders. Solo riding is equally encouraged. Above all, riders should keep their own goals and strenghts in mind, as well as the constraints of meeting checkpoint times and the overall time limit.
Medals - Brevet medals for successful completion of individual brevets are available for order: a bronze medal for the 200km, a silver-plate medal for the 300km, a vermilion medal for the 400km, a gold medal for the 600km, and a silver medal for the 1000km. Cost of the medals are set by the event organizer. Medals may be ordered at the successful completion of the brevet, and payment is due at that time.
-Super Randonneur status is earned by completing a series of brevets (200km, 300km, 400km, and 600km) in the same year. Qualified cyclists can order a ACP Super-Randonneur medal can from RUSA.
-1000km, 2000km and 5000km Medals - The ACP also offers a 5000km medal for riding a certain combination of events totalling 5000km within four years. RUSA offers a 1000km and 2000km medals - RUSA membership required. See Randonneurs USA.
RUSA Membership - - Membership in Randonneurs USA is not required for participating in Colorado or other RUSA-sanctioned brevets. However, RUSA membership is strongly encouraged - the organization does a very good job of providing randonneuring info to members, especially preparing riders for the 1200km randonnées such as Paris-Brest-Paris or Boston-Montréal-Boston, and certain benefits are available only to RUSA members.