Randonneurs USA's Rules for Permanent Riders is based on its Rules for Riders, which apply to brevets. Because a permanent is a closely related style of ride to a brevet, this document lists only the differences between the two sets of rules. To fully understand the rules that apply to riders on a permanent, this document should be read together with the Rules for Riders document. These rules apply to all permanents, including permanent populaires, sanctioned by Randonneurs USA ("RUSA").
RUSA created its own program for permanents in 2004, to mirror those already available from Randonneurs Mondiaux ("RM") affiliated clubs in other countries. Unlike for brevets, there was no pre-existing, internationally agreed, set of regulations for permanents. RUSA's rules for permanents were therefore initially based those of Audax UK, with minor changes that reflect the differences in policies and culture between the two clubs.
Anyone who wishes to become a permanent route owner must comply with the rules set out in RUSA's Rules for Permanent Route Owners document. Permanent route owners must enforce the rules listed herein for all individuals who ride their routes.
Randonneurs USA
Rules for Permanent Riders
RUSA's Rules for Riders document is explicitly referenced and incorporated herein. All Rules for Permanent Riders should be considered the same as the Rules for Riders, substituting the word "permanent" for the word "brevet" wherever it occurs, except for the following differences:Article 1
Only Randonneurs USA has sanctioning authority for RUSA permanents.
Article 2
RUSA Permanents may be ridden only by current RUSA members.
Article 3
To participate in a permanent, a rider proposes a date and time to start the ride and it must be agreed upon by the route owner. This will be the official start time. Riders need to make arrangements with route owners far enough in advance to allow route owners to prepare and send ride materials to riders. Riders should not expect an instantaneous response from route owners.
Once the route owner has accepted the rider's notice of entry, the rider may publicize the date and time of the intended ride, unless the route owner requests that the rider refrain from doing so.
As with brevets, a rider can start up to one hour past the official start time; however, a late start does not change the timing of the intermediate and final controls.
If there exist unsafe/hazardous conditions at the start of the ride, e.g., icy roads or dense fog, the official start time may be delayed with no time penalty. The rider should attempt to contact the route owner to advise him/her of the necessary delay. Once conditions improve, a new official start time is chosen and written on the control card. All intermediate and final control open/close times are adjusted by the difference between the original and new official start times.
Article 7
The rider will receive a brevet card and cue sheet from the route owner. This may arrive before the ride by surface mail, or by email if the rider agrees to this, or it may be handed to the rider at the start of the ride.
Article 9
The overall time limit varies for each permanent according to its exact distance (rounded down to the nearest km). The master schedule used to calculate time limits and control opening and closing times is detailed in the Rules for Permanent Route Owners document, in the paragraph headed "Calculation of Opening and Closing Times".
Article 11
At the finish, after the brevet card is verified and the rider has signed it, it must be returned to the route owner within 10 days of completing the ride. As with a brevet, the rider should inform the route owner promptly if he or she DNF.
Article 13
No medals are available for permanents.