Getting Your Route Approved by RUSA

RUSA requires all RBAs to submit copies of routes for approval when:

  • a new route is designed
  • major revisions occur
  • upon RUSA request

You should submit your routes to the Route Committee at least two months before it’s used in an event so that any issues can be resolved well in advance.  Submit a route by filling out this Route Application Form. Send inquiries to the Route Coordinator at Routes@RUSA.org.  The Route Committee will examine routes and make comments if necessary. Once the Route Committee approves the routes, they will be certified and placed in the route database.

Route Items to Submit

Submit all of the following to the Route Committee:

  • Brevet Route Application Form (to be filled out online)
  • Cue sheet including controls
  • Map materials that show (1) the route as a whole, (2) the controls, and (2) the road network through which the route passes.  Depending on format, this can be one and the same map - for example, a highlighted paper map, or a zoomable electronic map (see below).  Or you can supply separate overview and detail images.
  • Note substantive or apparent route integrity issues (helpful if highlighted on map) - just explain why additional controls aren’t called for; for example:
    • difficult passage due to road surface (e.g., dirt washboard, debris-filled)
    • significant climbing, traffic congestion, or other factors impeding progress
    • prohibited to or unsafe for cyclists

or, in the absence of the above,

    • candidate for a secret checkpoint (event staff may be present to help riders stay on course).

Acceptable Formats - You may submit your materials in hardcopy or electronic form (e-mailed or posted on the Web).  The following electronic formats are accepted: Word (.doc, docx), Excel (.xls, .xlsx), PDF, or picture formats (.jpg, .bmp, .gif, .tiff) and Microsoft Streets & Trips or DeLorme Topo source files.  Some online mapping tools such as Google Maps (maps.google.com) or RideWithGPS (www.ridewithgps.com) are also acceptable, but you need to check first: not all online mapping tools are created equal.  If you wish to use other formats or online tools, contact the Route Coordinator at Routes@RUSA.org in advance to see if they’re acceptable.

Also: if you use an online mapping tool, you will still need to construct your own cue sheet.  It can be derived from the cues generated by the mapping tool, but you will need to verify and adapt the cues as described below, and produce your own sheet.

[11/2013]

Once your route is approved, the Route Coordinator will send you a route certification number.

Communicating with the Routes Committee

[3/2010]

  • Your initial contact should be with the Route Coordinator at Routes@RUSA.org .
  • Your route will be assigned to one of the committee members, who will contact you directly with any questions, issues, etc.
  • You may have a delegate submit a route for your region.  The committee will then communicate with that person.  However, the responsibility for submitting a route in time and for responsive communications rests with you.  If the committee encounters difficulties dealing with your delegate, it will revert to dealing with you instead.

Minor Route Changes

Once approved, you may make minor changes to the route without the need for further approvals. Minor changes include:

  • Moving a starting point or intermediate control point to a nearby alternate location (5 miles away from the original point is reasonable; a new location more than 5 miles away from the original point should be checked by the Route Coordinator)
  • Adding a control point
  • Re-routing for new traffic patterns or avoidance of heavy traffic, so long as route integrity is not affected
  • Re-routing to avoid construction or poor road surfaces, so long as route integrity is not affected

Obviously, minor changes may add up to significant changes over the course of several years. RUSA recommends you re-submit your current routes if enough changes have accumulated since their last approval.

Route Approval Guidelines

The Route Committee examines routes to ensure that they adhere to the rules and are of suitable quality as follows:

  • Are the routes of a suitable design (i.e., not repeated passes over a single loop)?
  • Are the routes of sufficient length, but not too much over the nominal distance?
  • Are there an adequate number of controls?
  • Are controls situated to insure route integrity?
  • Are the materials submitted of generally good quality or are there obvious errors?

The Route Committee does not certify that the route:

  • is within acceptable norms of safety,
  • does not have excessive climbing or too little,
  • is actually passable for cyclists - vs., for example, an unpaved jeep road, “primitive” pass road, bridge prohibited to cyclists, etc.
  • is reasonably pleasant - vs., for example, a high-traffic road, or a badly-maintained road with potholes.

These are unfeasible to evaluate without local knowledge or detailed information beyond the scope of the Route Committee.  When any of these issues are apparent from the submitted materials, the Route Committee may raise them with the submitter, but they are the responsibility of the RBA in constructing a safe, passable, appropriate route.

[3/2010]