Things to Remember

# 1). The same Rules for Riders applies to Permanent Brevets. These are available to review on the RUSA web site. If you are unsure of something please check it out. Personal support is not allowed with the exception of the controls. You may have someone meet you at a control and provide you with any type of support you wish. However, no vehicle may follow you, meet you, or interact with you in any way on the route.

#1a) Lighting and reflective gear are required if you will be riding before sunrise or after sunset. A reflective vest or sash and ankle bands are the minimum required reflective gear. A light on the front and on the rear of the bicycle are also required.

#2). Your passage through controls must be documented. A time stamped cash register receipt is the best way to do this. Please remember to look at the receipt to verify that it has the correct date/time printed on it. You may also ask a store clerk to initial your brevet card, after you have filled in the time. This should be a back-up to the receipt. Although, the controls selected should be open when you pass it is always possible that you may encounter a control that is closed for an unknown reason. Permanent routes are ridden only occasionally, therefore store hours can change, or a store can suddenly go out of business. I would suggest finding the closest possible business that is open and get whatever documentation you can. In a pinch a picture taken with a cell phone camera of your bike in front of the control or nearby landmark showing the date and time can serve as proof of passage.

#3) Information controls on the route are at strategic locations required by RUSA because of potential short cuts. It is important that you correctly answer the question on the brevet card. I suggest carrying a pen with you so you can write the answer in immediately. Trying to remember the answer until the next control, or the end of the ride is an ill advised plan.

#4) It is imperative to follow the prescribed route. If you accidentally go off the route you need to resume the route at the point where you went off course. You cannot resume riding at a point beyond the error point. It is always possible, and within the rules, that the permanent owner will have arranged a secret control somewhere on the route. Should the rider not pass the secret control it would be an automatic DNF.

#5) Please text or call the emergency phone number on your brevet card if you need to abandon the ride. Also, if you decide not to start the ride as planned contact the route owner as soon as you know you will not be going.

#6). At your earliest convenience please sign your brevet card and mail, or drop off, so results may be submitted to RUSA for validation and credit.

Enjoy the ride,
Joe Kratovil, RUSA #3416