Rules and Safety

MEMBERSHIP

It is a requirement that all participants in events must be a member of the Alberta Randonneurs (AR). To this end, the annual membership fee is a nominal charge that participants will find to be reasonable.

Members of other clubs affiliated with Brevets Randonneurs Mondiaux and Audax Club Parisien are entitled to participate at regular registration fees.

See the Membership page for information on how to become a member.

BICYCLE CHECK

Your bicycle must be in good repair and shown to be so at the bike check before each ride (telephone the ride coordinator for the time and location of the bike check). If your bicycle is found to be unsafe, you will be denied participation in the ride until you repair your bike. Avoid disappointment by keeping your bicycle well maintained.

QUALIFYING

In a rider's first season of Randonneuring, she or he must complete each previous distance in order to qualify for the next longer distance. For example, a new rider qualifies for the 400 km ride only after completing successfully first a 200 km ride and then a 300 km ride. This qualification procedure applies only to the Standard Brevets (200, 300, 400, 600 km), and not to the Populaire Series (50, 100, 150 km).

Veteran Randonneurs need not qualify for brevet distances they have completed in the past, although this procedure is still encouraged.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

As most Alberta Randonneurs events are Non-Supported, you must plan to be self-sufficient on all rides. No sag wagons or guide vehicles are allowed on the route.

You may have someone meet you at controls (i.e., checkpoints) to cheer you on or give you supplies; however, you are not allowed to give supplies to that someone to lighten your load, for example. Whatever you start the ride with (with respect to supplies), it is expected that you will finish with the same.

It is permissible to ride in groups in order to draft. You may help another rider with bike or body repairs while on the course. Indeed, commiserate with fellow riders.

You may not accept aid from a non-registered rider. However, try to assist any bicyclist in trouble, if you can.

EQUIPMENT

ALL EVENTS

For ALL Alberta Randonneurs ride events, you must wear a protective helmet (ANSI, Snell and/or CSA approved) at all times while on the bicycle.

Your bicycle must have a red rear reflector or reflecting tape on the pedals and/or seat stays and/or fender, all of which must be visible from the rear.

Mirrors and first aid kits are recommended for all rides.

300 + km EVENTS

For rides of 300 km and up, your bicycle must be equipped with the following:

  1. A functioning, visible, reliable lighting system — white light in the front, attached below the handlebar level, and red light in the rear.
  2. Turn lights on 30 minutes before sunset and off 30 minutes after sunrise.
  3. Turn rear lights on when riding in a fog or rain.
  4. No strobe lights/beacons are permitted as a primary light source.
  5. Spare bulbs and batteries for your lighting system at all times (one set per light for every night of riding).
  6. Reflective safety material on some moving part of your body, e.g. ankle, foot, pedals. These are to be worn when your lights are on.
  7. A reflective safety vest, to be worn whenever your lights are on.
  8. If you carry a large battery or generator as a power system (for the primary light source), spares are not required. However, it is strongly recommended that you have a clamp-on lighting system for backup.

BREVET CARDS

  1. You must carry a brevet card throughout the ride in order to record the time you arrived at each control.
    1. You must stop at designated controls in order to have your card stamped.
    2. If the stamp, time, and official's signature is missing from the card, you will be disqualified.
    3. If you lose your card, you may be disqualified from the event (at the discretion of the ride coordinator).
    4. You may continue to ride and collect the appropriate documentation on a piece of paper, however.
  2. Controls are open only for specified time periods.
    1. If you arrive before the control opens, you must wait.
    2. If you arrive after the control has closed, you are disqualified.
    3. Your average speed over the entire course must be over 15 km/h. (Inquire with the AR office for official charts listing time based on ride distances).
    4. On some rides, there may be secret controls not indicated on your brevet card.

WRONG TURNS

  1. If you make a wrong turn during a ride, you must get back on course under your own power.
    1. You cannot hitchhike back to the point where you originally made the wrong turn.
    2. It is a good idea to carry a road map on all routes – the brevet map may not contain enough information to get you back on course.

BREAKDOWNS

  1. If you have a breakdown for which outside help is required, you may hitchhike to the next control or town, obtain the necessary parts, and hitchhike back to the point of breakdown.

TRAFFIC LAWS

  1. Alberta (and as applicable, neighbouring provincial) traffic laws must be followed at all times.
  2. Wear a helmet at all times when cycling.
  3. Ride to the extreme right of the road whenever possible; sometimes it is safer to ride in the middle of the lane, e.g. when on a fast descent on a narrow highway.
  4. When riding two abreast, always move into single file when being overtaken by motorists. Never ride two abreast on a road that has no shoulder. Never ride three or more abreast.
  5. Move off the road completely when stopped. Do not block the line of way for other cyclists or interfere with traffic flow.
  6. Always obey traffic signals and signs.

RIDING ETIQUETTE

  1. Warn the cyclist ahead of you when preparing to pass on the left.
  2. Warn those ahead of you when motorists approach from the rear.
  3. Wear bright clothing.
  4. Do a quick check of your bicycle at each control.
  5. When drafting, keep a safe distance to allow for reaction time.
  6. Dismount at Texas gates (cattle guards) and non-perpendicular railway tracks (especially in wet weather).

PENALTIES

  1. The Alberta Randonneurs executive will enforce the rules and safety standards outlined in this document.
  2. The following penalty scheme is used by ride officials to encourage compliance with items 4 through 10:
    1. First infraction: verbal warning
    2. Second infraction: 30-minute penalty added to official finishing time.
    3. Third infraction: Disqualification from ride event.

RANDONNEUR 3000/5000 RULES

The purpose of the Alberta Randonneur (AR) 3000/5000 award is to promote participation in Randonneuring throughout Alberta, Canada and the world. To qualify for the Randonneur 3000/5000, a Randonneur must ride 3000 or 5000 km respectively in a season. The rules are straightforward:

  1. Only official brevets count toward the Randonneur 3000/5000. An official brevet is one that is registered with Brevets Randonneurs Mondiaux (BRM) in France. Such brevets are listed in an international calendar published by BRM early in the season.
  2. Credit toward the Randonneur 3000/5000 for a particular ride is awarded only if the Randonneur completes the ride within the time limit. (If any penalty minutes are assessed, they will be added to the randonneur's finishing time).
  3. Only qualified finishers of a ride will receive credit for that ride toward the Randonneur 3000/5000 award. See the Qualifying section for details.
  4. For standard brevets, credit is awarded according to the official ride distance (200 km, 300 km, etc.). For Flèche rides, credit is awarded by rounding the actual distance traveled to the nearest 100 km.
  5. Only Alberta Randonneurs members may participate in the AB Randonneur 3000/5000. Credit is awarded to a member for rides completed while he or she is an Alberta Randonneurs member. For example, rides completed with another club before joining the Alberta Randonneurs will not be credited retroactively.
  6. Each season's Randonneur 3000/5000 officially begins with the beginning of the season (usually April, depending on the region) and ends at the end of the season.
  7. If a ride is completed with another club, it is up to the participant to ask that club's ride director to verify completion.
  8. Medals will be awarded to all participants who complete enough rides in any one season to total 3000 or 5000 in distance.
  9. Populaire rides (50, 100 and 150 km) do not count toward the Randonneur 3000/5000 award.
  10. The Audax Club Parisien (ACP) also has an international Randonneur 5000 award. To qualify for this award, a rider must complete the following rides within a four-year period:
    1. Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) = 1200 km;
    2. A Super Series (200, 300, 400 and 600 km brevets);
    3. One 1000 km brevet;
    4. One fleche;
    5. Other rides to a total of 5000 km or more.