Randonneuring
Encyclopedia
Randonneuring is a long-distance cycling
sport with its origins in audax cycling
. In randonneuring, riders attempt courses of 200 km or more, passing through predetermined "controls" (checkpoints) every few tens of kilometers. Riders aim to complete the course within specified time limits, and receive equal recognition regardless of their finishing order. Riders may travel in groups or alone as they wish, and are expected to be self-sufficient between controls. A randonneuring event is called a randonée or brevet, and a rider who has completed a 200 km event is called a randonneur.
The international governing body for randonneuring is Audax Club Parisien (ACP)
, which works with other randonneuring organisations worldwide through Les Randonneurs Mondiaux (RM). Randonneuring is popular in France, and has a following in the Netherlands
, Belgium
, United Kingdom
, Australia
, USA and Canada
.
to Naples
, a distance of 230 km, during daylight hours. Similar events became popular elsewhere, and in 1904 French journalist Henri Desgrange
produced Audax regulations, which belonged to his Auto newspaper. Under the Audax regulations, riders rode as a group. Successful riders were awarded a certificate called a Brevet d'Audax. A group of successful audax cyclists formed the Audax Club Parisien (ACP), which took over the organisation of Audax events on Desgrange's behalf. In 1920, there was a disagreement between Desgrange and the ACP. Desgrange withdrew ACP's permission to organise events under his Audax regulations, and ACP created its own allure libre (free-paced) version of the sport, where successful riders were awarded certificates called Brevets des Randonneurs. This style is now popularly known as "randonneuring".
Desgrange continued to promote the original Audax rules, and on July 14, 1921 the Union of Parisian Audax Cyclistes (UACP) was formed, which became the Union of French Audax in January 1956, and later simply Union des Audax
. The original style is still popular in France and neighbouring countries. In Great Britain
, Australia
and Brazil
where the original audax style does not exist, the term audax is used interchangeably with randonneuring, reflecting the sport's origins with Audax Club Parisien
.
Randonneuring has much in common with cyclotouring, the founding-father of which is often said to be the journalist Velocio (Paul de Vive)
, also credited with making deraillieur gears popular.
In such events, riders follow a course through a series of predetermined "controls" (checkpoints); these are typically a few tens of kilometres apart. Each rider carries a "brevet card" which must be stamped at each control to prove completion. In some events, riders will be asked to supplement this by collecting till receipts in certain places and by answering questions about their surroundings at "information controls", e.g. recording a distance from a milepost. At the end of the event, the brevet card is handed in to the organisers who will then check and certify the results. Riders are expected to keep within minimum and maximum average speed limits. For a typical 200 km brevet, the minimum speed is around 15 km/h and the maximum is 30 km/h. Riders who arrive early at controls will be made to wait before they can carry on! It is permissible - and common - for riders to stop to eat and rest at controls, though no extra time is allowed for doing so. Riders are free to ride individually or in groups as they wish. A brevet is not a race, and no completion order is published. Riders are expected to be fully self-sufficient between controls and must carry food, water, spare clothing and tools to meet their requirements.
In addition to brevets appearing on a calendar date, there are "permanent" (or "raid") brevets which may be ridden on any date by prior arrangement with the organiser, and "DIY permanents" where a rider proposes a specific route. In these events, the "controls" are predesignated places where a rider will stop and collect evidence of passage such as a shop receipt. In some events, GPS tracklogs are accepted as evidence that a rider has completed a route.
In addition to 200 km events, there are brevets of 300 km, 400 km, 600 km and more. These will typically involve an element of night-riding. There are also shorter events: in a "brevet populaire" (or simply "populaire"), riders follow a course of 50 km, 100 km or 150 km. These brevets are seen as a good introduction to the full-blown "randonneur" events, and also as a managable distance for riders who want to maintain regular participation in the sport over a sustained period of time.
There are variations on the brevet theme including team events such as the "Flèche
" or "Arrow", which usually converge on a single end point from many starts, and 200 km per day "Dart" events.
Authors such as Simon Doughty describe a 'typical' randonneuring bike as being somewhere between a dedicated road-racing bike
and a touring bike. Such bicycles usually have lightweight steel frames, drop handlebars, relaxed (i.e. comfortable) frame geometry, medium-width tyres, triple chainsets, moderately low gearing, and the capacity to carry lightweight luggage. Mudguards and lighting systems are also common - these may be required for some events.
Randonneurs are expected to be self-sufficient between controls except in the event of real emergency. Riders are therefore expected to carry food, water, tools, etc. Some events specifically require riders to carry specific equipment (e.g. lights, spare bulbs, reflective clothing), though this varies depending on the organiser.
randonnée, Paris–Brest–Paris (PBP) is an approximately 1200 km event held on an out-and-back course between Paris
and Brest
every four years. Begun in 1891, it is the oldest bicycling event still regularly run. It began as a race for professional cyclists, but is now a non-competitive endurance challenge. To qualify, a cyclist must complete a series of brevets within the same year. The series can be completed in any order (200, 300, 400 and then 600 km is traditional), and any brevet may be replaced with a longer randonnée.
The PBP was the first popular long distance race, initiated in 1891. After 1931 the riders were separated into three groups - professional cyclists, and two non-professional groups known as the Allure libre club and the Audax
club. Allure Libre consisted of individuals riding alone in the spirit of self-sufficiency, while Audax riders rode as a group and maintained a steady pace. As interest in long distance cycling had waned in favour of stage events like the Tour de France
, the professional race part of the PBP was lost in 1951, leaving only the randonneuring part of the event.
The Randonneuring part of the PBP had been governed by Audax Club Parisien
(ACP) since the 1930s. In 1975 the Audax and Allure libre groups split up and formed two different PBP events. Now the ACP runs the event every four years in their Allure Libre format, and the Union des Audax
runs it every five years in their Audax format.
and Montreal
. BMB is sometimes regarded as the North American equivalent of PBP. It was held every year except when Paris–Brest–Paris was held.
A rider who has successfully completed a 200 km brevet is called a randonneur. This is a lifelong title.
Organisers are usually free to reduce the maximum speed. (This sometimes makes it easier to man controls at particularly hilly events.)
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
sport with its origins in audax cycling
Audax (cycling)
Audax is a cycling sport in which participants attempt to cycle long distances within a pre-defined time limit. Audax is a non-competitive sport: success in an event is measured by its completion. Audax has its origins in Italian endurance sports of the late nineteenth century, and the rules were...
. In randonneuring, riders attempt courses of 200 km or more, passing through predetermined "controls" (checkpoints) every few tens of kilometers. Riders aim to complete the course within specified time limits, and receive equal recognition regardless of their finishing order. Riders may travel in groups or alone as they wish, and are expected to be self-sufficient between controls. A randonneuring event is called a randonée or brevet, and a rider who has completed a 200 km event is called a randonneur.
The international governing body for randonneuring is Audax Club Parisien (ACP)
Audax Club Parisien
Audax Club Parisien is a cycling club founded in Paris in 1904. It organises long-distance challenge rides in France and administers a branch of cycling known as randonneuring around the world. A randonnée in cycling is a challenge to ride distances up to more than 1,000 km between a minimum...
, which works with other randonneuring organisations worldwide through Les Randonneurs Mondiaux (RM). Randonneuring is popular in France, and has a following in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, USA and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
History
In the late nineteenth century Italy, day-long "challenge" sports became popular. Participants aimed to cover as much distance as possible and prove themselves audax ("audacious"). The first recorded audax cycling event took place on June 12, 1897, twelve Italian cyclists attempted the challenge of cycling from RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, a distance of 230 km, during daylight hours. Similar events became popular elsewhere, and in 1904 French journalist Henri Desgrange
Henri Desgrange
Henri Desgrange was a French bicycle racer and sports journalist. He set 12 world track cycling records, including the hour record of 35.325 kilometres on 11 May 1893. He was the first organiser of the Tour de France.-Origins:Henri Desgrange was one of two brothers, twins...
produced Audax regulations, which belonged to his Auto newspaper. Under the Audax regulations, riders rode as a group. Successful riders were awarded a certificate called a Brevet d'Audax. A group of successful audax cyclists formed the Audax Club Parisien (ACP), which took over the organisation of Audax events on Desgrange's behalf. In 1920, there was a disagreement between Desgrange and the ACP. Desgrange withdrew ACP's permission to organise events under his Audax regulations, and ACP created its own allure libre (free-paced) version of the sport, where successful riders were awarded certificates called Brevets des Randonneurs. This style is now popularly known as "randonneuring".
Desgrange continued to promote the original Audax rules, and on July 14, 1921 the Union of Parisian Audax Cyclistes (UACP) was formed, which became the Union of French Audax in January 1956, and later simply Union des Audax
Union des Audax
The Union des Audax is the parent organization for the audax style of Randonneuring.The other form of randonneuring is the allure libre style.-External links:* Audax article on French Wikipedia*...
. The original style is still popular in France and neighbouring countries. In Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
where the original audax style does not exist, the term audax is used interchangeably with randonneuring, reflecting the sport's origins with Audax Club Parisien
Audax Club Parisien
Audax Club Parisien is a cycling club founded in Paris in 1904. It organises long-distance challenge rides in France and administers a branch of cycling known as randonneuring around the world. A randonnée in cycling is a challenge to ride distances up to more than 1,000 km between a minimum...
.
Randonneuring has much in common with cyclotouring, the founding-father of which is often said to be the journalist Velocio (Paul de Vive)
Paul de Vivie
Paul de Vivie, who wrote as Velocio , was publisher of Le Cycliste, an early champion of derailleur gears, and father of French bicycle touring and randonneuring.-Background:...
, also credited with making deraillieur gears popular.
Rules and Process
The majority of randonneuring events are classified as "brevets des randonneurs".In such events, riders follow a course through a series of predetermined "controls" (checkpoints); these are typically a few tens of kilometres apart. Each rider carries a "brevet card" which must be stamped at each control to prove completion. In some events, riders will be asked to supplement this by collecting till receipts in certain places and by answering questions about their surroundings at "information controls", e.g. recording a distance from a milepost. At the end of the event, the brevet card is handed in to the organisers who will then check and certify the results. Riders are expected to keep within minimum and maximum average speed limits. For a typical 200 km brevet, the minimum speed is around 15 km/h and the maximum is 30 km/h. Riders who arrive early at controls will be made to wait before they can carry on! It is permissible - and common - for riders to stop to eat and rest at controls, though no extra time is allowed for doing so. Riders are free to ride individually or in groups as they wish. A brevet is not a race, and no completion order is published. Riders are expected to be fully self-sufficient between controls and must carry food, water, spare clothing and tools to meet their requirements.
In addition to brevets appearing on a calendar date, there are "permanent" (or "raid") brevets which may be ridden on any date by prior arrangement with the organiser, and "DIY permanents" where a rider proposes a specific route. In these events, the "controls" are predesignated places where a rider will stop and collect evidence of passage such as a shop receipt. In some events, GPS tracklogs are accepted as evidence that a rider has completed a route.
In addition to 200 km events, there are brevets of 300 km, 400 km, 600 km and more. These will typically involve an element of night-riding. There are also shorter events: in a "brevet populaire" (or simply "populaire"), riders follow a course of 50 km, 100 km or 150 km. These brevets are seen as a good introduction to the full-blown "randonneur" events, and also as a managable distance for riders who want to maintain regular participation in the sport over a sustained period of time.
There are variations on the brevet theme including team events such as the "Flèche
Flèche (cycling)
A flèche is a team cycling competition, undertaken by randonneurs; the term is derived from "flèche velocio". It differs from the more common randonnees or brevets, which are individual events and not specifically competitive. As with other randonneuring events, flèches are governed by national...
" or "Arrow", which usually converge on a single end point from many starts, and 200 km per day "Dart" events.
Bicycles and Equipment
Randonneuring bicycles are not subject to the UCI regulations for road-racing: a cycle is acceptable for randonneuring if it is solely human powered, chain-driven, uses wheels, and is no more than a meter wide. (Tricycles and recumbent cycles are therefore allowed.)Authors such as Simon Doughty describe a 'typical' randonneuring bike as being somewhere between a dedicated road-racing bike
Racing bicycle
A racing bicycle, also known as a road bike, is a bicycle designed for competitive road cycling, a sport governed by according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale...
and a touring bike. Such bicycles usually have lightweight steel frames, drop handlebars, relaxed (i.e. comfortable) frame geometry, medium-width tyres, triple chainsets, moderately low gearing, and the capacity to carry lightweight luggage. Mudguards and lighting systems are also common - these may be required for some events.
Randonneurs are expected to be self-sufficient between controls except in the event of real emergency. Riders are therefore expected to carry food, water, tools, etc. Some events specifically require riders to carry specific equipment (e.g. lights, spare bulbs, reflective clothing), though this varies depending on the organiser.
Famous Brevets
The majority of brevets are relatively small and locally organised, making for a busy calendar of events for enthusiasts. However, there are also some particularly well-known and prestigious events which attract participants from all over the world.Paris–Brest–Paris
Sometimes regarded as the Blue RibandBlue Riband
The Blue Riband is an unofficial accolade given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest speed. The term was borrowed from horse racing and was not widely used until after 1910. Under the unwritten rules, the record is based on average speed...
randonnée, Paris–Brest–Paris (PBP) is an approximately 1200 km event held on an out-and-back course between Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
every four years. Begun in 1891, it is the oldest bicycling event still regularly run. It began as a race for professional cyclists, but is now a non-competitive endurance challenge. To qualify, a cyclist must complete a series of brevets within the same year. The series can be completed in any order (200, 300, 400 and then 600 km is traditional), and any brevet may be replaced with a longer randonnée.
The PBP was the first popular long distance race, initiated in 1891. After 1931 the riders were separated into three groups - professional cyclists, and two non-professional groups known as the Allure libre club and the Audax
Audax (cycling)
Audax is a cycling sport in which participants attempt to cycle long distances within a pre-defined time limit. Audax is a non-competitive sport: success in an event is measured by its completion. Audax has its origins in Italian endurance sports of the late nineteenth century, and the rules were...
club. Allure Libre consisted of individuals riding alone in the spirit of self-sufficiency, while Audax riders rode as a group and maintained a steady pace. As interest in long distance cycling had waned in favour of stage events like the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, the professional race part of the PBP was lost in 1951, leaving only the randonneuring part of the event.
The Randonneuring part of the PBP had been governed by Audax Club Parisien
Audax Club Parisien
Audax Club Parisien is a cycling club founded in Paris in 1904. It organises long-distance challenge rides in France and administers a branch of cycling known as randonneuring around the world. A randonnée in cycling is a challenge to ride distances up to more than 1,000 km between a minimum...
(ACP) since the 1930s. In 1975 the Audax and Allure libre groups split up and formed two different PBP events. Now the ACP runs the event every four years in their Allure Libre format, and the Union des Audax
Union des Audax
The Union des Audax is the parent organization for the audax style of Randonneuring.The other form of randonneuring is the allure libre style.-External links:* Audax article on French Wikipedia*...
runs it every five years in their Audax format.
Boston–Montreal–Boston
Boston–Montreal–Boston (BMB) is also a 1200 km out-and-back between BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. BMB is sometimes regarded as the North American equivalent of PBP. It was held every year except when Paris–Brest–Paris was held.
Other 1200 km and longer brevets
- 1001 Miglia 1630k (Italy)
- BMB Boston-Montreal-Boston 1200k (USA)
- Bonifay Cheaha Challenge 1200K (USA)
- Cascade 1200 (USA)
- Gold Rush Randonnée (USA)
- Great Southern Randonnée (Australia)
- Hamburg-Berlin-Cologne-Hamburg 1500 km (Germany)
- Last Chance 1200k Randonnée (USA)
- LEL: London-Edinburgh-London (United Kingdom)
- Madrid-Gijon-Madrid 1200km (Spain)
- PAP: Perth-Albany-Perth (Australia)
- Rocky Mountain 1200 (Canada)
- Sofia-Varna-Sofia 1200km (Bulgaria)
- Super Brevet Scandinavia 1200km (Denmark, Norway, Sweden)
- VanIsle 1200 (Canada)
- Big Tour of Bavaria 1200km (Germany)
- Big Wild Ride 1200 km (Alaska, USA)
Awards
Riders completing successful events receive awards, either from Audax Club Parisien or another randonneuring organisation. Examples of these are:- Brevet Medal - for completing any single brevet of 200, 300, 400, 600 or 1000 km.
- Super Randonneur - for completing a series of 200, 300, 400 and 600 km brevets.
- Randonneur 5000 - for completing the full series of 200, 300, 400, 600, and 1000 km brevets, the Paris–Brest–Paris and a Flèche Vélocio (in which at least three riders must start, and at least three must finish).
- Paris–Brest–Paris - for completion of the PBP within the 90 hour time.
- Many others - for example, BMB, RUSA specific Super Randonneur.
A rider who has successfully completed a 200 km brevet is called a randonneur. This is a lifelong title.
Time limits
Randonneuring events must be undertaken within set time limits. There is some regional variation in these, but the following list is typical:- 200 km - 13.5 hours (14 hours in the UK, as in the original events.)
- 300 km - 20 hours
- 400 km - 27 hours
- 600 km - 40 hours
- 1000 km - 75 hours
- 1200 km - 90 hours (or 80 or 84 hours by choice)
- 1400 km - 116:40 hours (optionally 105:16 or 93:20 hours)
Organisers are usually free to reduce the maximum speed. (This sometimes makes it easier to man controls at particularly hilly events.)
See also
- Audax (cycling)Audax (cycling)Audax is a cycling sport in which participants attempt to cycle long distances within a pre-defined time limit. Audax is a non-competitive sport: success in an event is measured by its completion. Audax has its origins in Italian endurance sports of the late nineteenth century, and the rules were...
- Challenge ridingChallenge ridingChallenge riding is a form of cycling where the riders challenge themselves rather than each other. Some challenge rides are charity events or pledge rides. Some are organised as pre- or early-season training events...
- CyclosportiveCyclosportiveA cyclosportive, or often simply sportive, is a short to long distance, organised, mass-participation cycling event, typically held annually....
- Race Across AmericaRace Across AmericaThe Race Across America, or RAAM, is an ultra marathon bicycle race across the United States that started in 1982 as the Great American Bike Race....
- Reliability trialReliability trialA reliability trial is an organised bicycle ride which challenges a cyclist to complete a course, passing through designated control points, within a preset time limit. In the United Kingdom, such events are often held in the wintry opening months of the year and are used by club cyclists as...