Randonneurs USA's Grand Randonnée Rules for Riders are adapted from the Audax Club Parisien's (“ACP”) Réglement de Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux (“BRM”) and Les Randonneurs Mondiaux (“LRM”) Event Regulations. These rules apply to RUSA’s Grand Randonnée (1200km+) events sanctioned by Les Randonneurs Mondiaux.

Organizers of these events also follow the RUSA's Rules for Organizers and RBA Procedures.

Article 1

Only Randonneurs USA is authorized to organize LRM-sanctioned events in the United States.

Article 2

These events are open to any amateur cyclist regardless of cycling affiliations, or lack thereof, outside of Randonneurs USA and the organizing club, so long as the event's rider limit, if any, has not been reached. Any rider under the age of 18 must have consent of his or her parent or legal guardian. Any form of human-powered vehicle is acceptable. The only stipulation is that the vehicle must be powered solely by the rider.

Article 3

To participate in these events a rider must complete a registration form, sign a waiver of liability, and pay the registration fee, if any, set by the event organizer. The rider must also be a member of Randonneurs USA, and of the organizing club if required. The rider must satisfy the event's qualifying requirements, if any, imposed by the organizer.

Article 4

When taking part in these events, riders accept and consent to the possible publication of their name, time result, and photograph by the organizer.

Article 5

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. When riding, all riders must wear an approved helmet. The LRM, RUSA, and other organizers cannot and do not accept responsibility for any accidents that may occur during the course of a brevet.

Article 6

Each rider must be self-sufficient. Personal support is only allowed at checkpoints. Riding with others who are not on the event or on another RUSA ride is considered receiving unpermitted support.

Riders must conduct themselves in a civil manner and abide by all applicable vehicle codes, laws, and regulations. Riders must respect local customs with regards to decorum. Riders must also respect officials and other event staff and follow their directions so long as it is safe to do so.

Article 7

A brevet card and a cue sheet indicating the route and the location of the checkpoints will be made available to each rider before the start of the event, in paper or electronic form. Organizers may also include unannounced checkpoints along the route.

Detours are permitted when a road is closed, or is not safely or legally passable by cyclists (e.g., in some construction zones). In such situations the rider should first attempt to contact the ride organizer to obtain permission to take a detour. If the rider detours without permission, the rider must report the route deviation to the organizer at the rider's first opportunity. If a detour is taken, the rider(s) and organizer are responsible for ensuring that the rider(s) have completed the required event distance. In all other cases, if a rider leaves the route, he or she must return to the route at the same point prior to continuing, i. e., no shortcuts or detours from the route.

Article 8

For each intermediate checkpoint, the organizer specifies whether it is timed or untimed. The final checkpoint is timed.

For proof of passage at checkpoints, brevet cards may be inscribed by event staff if present or, in the absence of event staff, any of these proofs of passage which the organizer has allowed can be used:

• clerk or other staff annotation at establishments, or store receipts, including time and date of passage; (t)
• a postcard mailed from the checkpoint, inscribed with the rider name and checkpoint information (location, time, and date);
• the answer to a question posed on the brevet card, discoverable at the checkpoint location;
• a receipt from an ATM or other automated device that includes time, date, and location; (t)
• a photo incorporating date and time taken and including the rider and an identifying artifact from the location; (t)
• data from a GPS or other location device that includes location and time of passage. (t)

(t)  May be used for timed checkpoints, so long as the proof of passage contains date and time. (May be used for untimed checkpoints as well.)

For each checkpoint, the organizer determines which types of proof of passage are allowed, with the restriction that proof of passage for the final checkpoint must be timed. For example, a checkpoint might allow for clerks at an establishment to fill in the card during business hours, while a question or photo could be allowed for use at other times. For photo and automated checkpoints, the organizer will make accommodation for riders who are not carrying a camera, ATM card, GPS tracking device, etc.

A brevet card will always be made available to riders, even though the organizer may elect types of proof of passage that do not require a brevet card for any of the checkpoints.  When a brevet card is used, it should be inscribed with the time of passage for every checkpoint, and, for events extending beyond the starting day, the date of passage.

Missing checkpoint verification, missing checkpoint times (for checkpoints that have opening and closing times), or loss of the brevet card (regardless of how far into the ride a rider is) are grounds for possible penalty or disqualification. Each rider is responsible for seeing that proof of passage allowed by the organizer is obtained for each reachable checkpoint (unless precluded by detours), even if the rider arrives at a timed checkpoint after its closing time.

Article 9

Overall time limits are based on the distance of the event. For a 1200 km event, the nominal time limit is 90 hours (a 13.33 kph minimum average pace). Minimum average pace for events from 1200 to 1299 km: 13.33 kph. For events from 1300 to 1899 km: 12 kph. For events from 1900 to 2499 km: 10 kph. For events of 2500 km and above: 200 km per day. 

The organizer may provide riding options with lower time limits (and thus higher minimum average pace), either with the same start time or different. The rider is always allowed to choose the normal start time and time limit. Whichever option the rider chooses, he or she is committed to that start and time limit over the course of the ride. The brevet card and other materials provided to the rider will reflect the closing times and overall time limit for the option the rider selects.

If the event has a lot of climbing, the organizer can arrange for extra time, generally 5% extra time for each m/km above 11 m/km. For example, for a 1200 km event with 13 m/km rate of climbing, the time limit would be 99 hours (90 hours + 10% extra time).

The minimum required pace to reach each timed intermediate checkpoint may vary based on the formula chosen by the organizer. For example, the minimum required pace for the first 600 km may be 15 kph (40-hour time limit), for the next 400 km 13.3 kph, etc. These calculations are reflected in the checkpoint closing times provided on the brevet card.

The maximum allowed pace for events (earliest time to finish and to reach checkpoints) varies according to event distance, and again, can be set by the organizer. This can affect when volunteers will be available at a staffed checkpoint.

A rider’s total elapsed time is calculated from the opening time of the start checkpoint (regardless of the rider’s actual start time) to the rider’s arrival time at the finish checkpoint. The rider's official time is elapsed time plus any time penalties.

Even for intermediate checkpoints that are officially untimed, organizers can post the calculated opening and closing times, to guide the rider as to overall progress.  Whether or not the checkpoint is timed, any support offered by the organizer at event-staffed checkpoints may only be available between those calculated opening and closing times, or a subset of that time range, as conveyed by the organizer.

Riders must arrive at each timed checkpoint between the opening and closing time for the checkpoint, subject to the exceptions below. These times are noted on the brevet card and ride materials. If a rider arrives at a checkpoint after its closing time and the ride organizer is satisfied that the rider's lateness is due to the occurrence of something unforeseen and beyond the control of the rider (such as a road closure or stopping to help at a traffic accident), then the ride organizer may waive the fact that the rider arrived at the checkpoint late. Poor bicycle or equipment maintenance, fatigue, lack of fitness, hunger, etc. are not unforeseen and beyond the control of the rider and therefore will not serve as a valid reason for being late.

Article 10

While riding between sunset and sunrise and during other low-light conditions (rain, fog, etc.), a set of working front and rear lights must be firmly mounted on the vehicle and turned on.  At least one of the rear lights must be in a steady (rather than flashing) mode. The lights must meet the requirements of local laws. Backup lighting systems and/or spare bulbs are strongly recommended in case the primary system fails and cannot be repaired on the roadside.

Between sunset and sunrise and during other low-light conditions, riders must wear a reflective vest or some other device that clearly places significant reflective material on the front and back of the rider. During these times riders will also wear a reflective ankle band around each ankle. (Due to their seating position, recumbent riders may modify their reflective torso devices to show better from front and rear.) Other reflective devices on clothing, shoes, helmets, and machines are encouraged for increased safety - but they are extra and may not take the place of the minimum items listed above. Riders must review the RUSA Reflectivity Guide and are strongly encouraged to meet the recommended minimum standards for torso reflectivity described in that document.

Riders must know the requirements, and have and use required reflective gear and lighting whether or not the organizer has conducted an inspection or orientation at the ride start.

Article 11

At the finish, if the rider is using a brevet card, the rider must sign the brevet card and return it to the event organizer. The brevet card will be returned to the rider after the ride has been verified and a homologation number issued. (If the organizer loses a brevet card, no replacement to the rider will be made.)

Article 12

These brevets are not competitive events, so no rider classifications are made. Results are published alphabetically, not by arrival time.

Article 13

These events cannot be counted as participation in, or as credit for, another event held in conjunction with the event.

Article 14

For violating any of these rules, or engaging in fraud or cheating, a rider may be assessed time penalties or disqualified, and possibly barred from future events. Time penalties and disqualification may be imposed during the ride or afterwards. Time penalties are applied to the final checkpoint, regardless of when issued. This could put the rider's total time beyond the time limit for the event and thus result in a DQ. The rider will be informed as soon as possible that a penalty has been assessed.

Article 15

If a penalty, disqualification, or other action is taken against or affecting a rider (an "appealable action"), then the rider may appeal in writing (including an e-mail) within 72 hours from being notified of the appealable action. The appeal will be to the Regional Brevet Administrator ("RBA"). If the RBA denies the appeal or if the rider does not receive a response from the RBA within 10 calendar days after submitting the appeal, or sooner if time is of the essence, the rider may appeal the appealable action to the Board of Directors of Randonneurs USA for a final decision. Upon receipt of the appeal, the Board of Directors will promptly contact the rider and the RBA and, if it deems necessary, will ask for any additional information. The Board of Directors will then render a decision in a timely fashion. A rider may directly submit any other question or complaint (other than an appealable action) to the Board of Directors.

Article 16

Randonneurs USA will be the final arbiter of any questions that arise which may not be covered explicitly in these rules.

Version 2/2024, RUSA Board of Directors

Note - Rider Rules for Grand Randonnées vs, Brevets and Populaires

The main differences between these rules and the rules for riding brevets shorter than 1200 km and populaires are:

• Intermediate checkpoints may be timed.
• Extra time may be allowed for routes with a lot of climbing (>11 m/km).
• The organizer may choose among various “minimum pace profiles” for different segments of the event.
• The organizer may provide riding options with lower time limits (and different starting times), as Paris-Brest-Paris does.
• Time penalties may be assessed.