Randonneuring is a new cycling sport that has come to Middle Tennessee. The Ultra Cycling Group of the Harpeth Bicycle Club will be sponsoring several randonneuring events each year. Since most people don’t know what this is all about, hopefully this communication will give you a better understanding.

The basic format of a Randonneuring style ride is as follows: At the start of a ride, each participant is issued a Brevet Card and Map/Cue Sheet. The locations of the contrôles, and the times that they are open are indicated on the Brevet Card and Cue Sheet. Riders must arrive and sign in at all contrôles, while they are open; have their Brevet cards stamped and initialed; and sign and leave their Brevet cards with the ride leader at the last contrôle, (i.e. at the end of the Brevet). Riders must be able to read and interpret a map and/or cue sheet, and be able to navigate the route from one point to the next, as the routes are not marked. Riders must stay on the official Brevet route. If riders get off the route, they must return to the route at the point of departure from the route prior to continuing their ride. Determination and resourcefulness are key attributes of a successful Randonneur. Riders that abandon the Brevet must notify the ride leader, or a contrôle worker, that he/she is not finishing their ride and surrender their brevet card at that time. Riders who abandon are responsible for arranging their own transportation back to the starting location. These events are not sagged. If a rider requires assistance in returning to the start, he/she may have to wait for several hours before a ride can be arranged.

Some of the more commonly used terms in randonneuring are defined as follows:

Randonneuring: Randonneuring is long-distance, unsupported endurance cycling. This style of riding is non-competitive in nature, and self-sufficiency is paramount. When riders participate in randonneuring events, they are part of a long tradition that goes back to the beginning of the sport of cycling in France and Italy. Friendly camaraderie, not competition, is the hallmark of randonneuring. In comparison to other forms of competitive long-distance cycling, such as at the Race Across America (RAAM), where there are following cars with crews supporting the riders every inch of the way, randonneuring stresses self-sufficiency. Help can only be given at the checkpoints along the route, so support crews (if there are any) must leapfrog the rider. Any rider caught receiving assistance from a support crew in-between checkpoints (or, "contrôles" as they are commonly called) will be subject to a time penalty, or even disqualification. Riders are free to buy food, supplies, or bike repairs at any stores they encounter along the route.

Randonneur (rahn doe ner): A person who participates in randonneuring events is called a "Randonneur" (the correct French term for a female participant is "Randonneuse", but such distinctions are often lost in America, where we tend to lump everyone together). In cycling, it means a hard-riding enthusiast who is trying to complete a long randonneuring event inside a certain time allotment. Note that a randonneuring event is not a race. Overall, about the only thing being first earns is some bragging rights. It is not uncommon for the last finishers to get as much applause as anyone else. Indeed, there is much camaraderie in randonneuring. One does it to test oneself against the clock, the weather, and a challenging route - but not to beat the other riders. Once riders have successfully completed a 200-kilometer "Brevet", they are entitled to be called a "Randonneur" or "Randonneuse".

Brevet (bruh vay): Again, this is a French word for which we have no direct translation for its cycling usage. In general, it means a "patent", "certificate", or "diploma". For the Randonneur, the randonneuring event, which they have entered, is often called a "Brevet". This is typically a challenging 200-, 300-, 400-, 600-, 1000- or 1200- kilometer ride, each with a specific time limit. The Randonneur carries a Brevet card, which is signed and stamped at each checkpoint along the way to prove they have covered the distance successfully. Losing the card, or missing a required checkpoint is a very bad thing to do!

Populaire (pope u lair): A shorter randonneuring event usually run under the regulations and pace of a standard Brevet, but being less than 200 kilometers in length. Populaires are often 100 or 150 kilometers in length and frequently used by experienced Randonneurs for training and/or socializing, as well as introducing new riders to the ways of randonneuring.

Flèche (flesh): A team ride of 24-hours' duration, usually held over the Easter weekend. Very well attended in France, they are becoming increasingly popular among American Randonneurs. A team may consist of three to five machines (a tandem counts as a single machine) and at least three machines must finish together to receive official credit. Each team must choose its own route and may not ride with any other cyclists. A minimum of 360 kilometers must be covered inside 24 hours, with no less than 25 kilometers to be ridden in the final two hours. Flèche routes are point-to-point or a large circuit since any particular stretch of road may be used only once during the event by the team. In French, Flèche means "arrow", so the traditional method is to ride from one point to another, like an arrow flying into the bullseye.

Contrôle (cone trohll): A checkpoint where a Randonneur’s passport-like route card must be signed and stamped to show their passage. There may also be secret contrôles to keep riders honest. Missing any checkpoint (arriving outside its time window) is grounds for disqualification since earning one's Brevet is based on making all the contrôles in time.

Super Randonneur: A special medal awarded to those Randonneurs who successfully complete a challenging series of Brevets (200, 300, 400, and 600-kilometers) in a year. A hard-earned honor unto itself and worthy of being any Randonneur's goal for the cycling season, the Super Randonneur series of Brevets is usually needed to enter a 1200-kilometer event.

Regional Brevet Administrators (RBAs): are volunteers that organize and supervise Brevets, Flèches, and other randonneuring events in their area.

Randonneurs USA (RUSA): is our national organization whose goals are to promote randonneuring in the US and provides service to American Randonneurs and Randonneuses. Established in 1998, RUSA doesn't actually organize any rides, but rather, coordinates the Brevets of the Regional Brevet Administrators (RBAs) and clubs who do. RUSA also frequently acts as the interface between the Audax Club Parisien in France and American riders and RBAs, especially with regard to ensuring correct Brevet result processing. You should join RUSA to help us build a future for randonneuring in the US that encourages member participation. As a RUSA member, you will get a quarterly newsletter filled with articles about randonneuring activities, techniques, results, and history, a well maintained web site, efficient brevet administration, a "how to" randonneuring handbook, and the right to elect RUSA's leadership and thereby to influence RUSA's policies. RUSA officials strive to provide timely communication to members, organizers, and other interested parties, and will respond to your letters, calls, and e-mail messages.

If these types of rides are of interest to you, then you’ll want to subscribe to the Ultra e-Mail list to stay informed on these events and related topics.

To find out more information on Randonneuring, go to the RUSA Website

To find out more information on Ultra Cycling, go to the UMCA Website