Pennsylvania Randonneurs

Pennsylvania Randonneurs

Organizing long distance, endurance bicycle events in the Eastern Pennsylvania region.

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Read These First

Randonnées of 200, 300, 400, 600 km length, and beyond, are offered at various locations in Eastern Pennsylvania by the PA Randonneurs. Each ride prepares the rider for the next longer distance. Please read the following articles before participating in one of our brevets.

What to expect on a PA Rando Brevet

Safety Instructions

General Resources

What is Randonneuring?

It's not racing, but it is more challenging than touring.

Randonneuring  is a long-distance cycling sport. In randonneuring, riders attempt courses of 200 km or more, passing through predetermined "controls" (checkpoints) every few tens of kilometres. 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 randonnée 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, Italy, Australia, United States, Canada, Brazil, Ireland, India and Japan. In the US, the governing body for randonneuring is Randonneurs USA (RUSA).

Randonneuring Wikipedia Entry
Randonneuring FAQ (Manitoba Rando)
Randonneuring FAQ (RUSA)

Randonneurs USA

You must be a RUSA member to ride randonneuring events in the USA. You will not be allowed to register in any rando event till you have a RUSA membersip. Sign up for RUSA Membership here.

Useful Links

Randonneuring Organizations

Randonneurs USA
DC Randonneurs
LI Randonneurs
NJ Randonneurs
Northern VA Randonneurs
Pittsburgh Randonneurs

Long-distance randonnées

Paris Brest Paris

Other Long-Distance rides

Catskill SR600
Crush the Commonwealth

About Pennsylvania Randonneurs

RUSA Membership is mandatory in order to ride events (info here). Joining PA Rando is optional.  Nevertheless, you should consider joining PA Randonneurs as well. With PA Rando membership, special PA events are free, and you receive a registration fee discount at our regular PA events all year. You can join PA Rando when you register for our event and receive an instant discount.


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Electronic Brevet Card

eBrevetThe electronic brevet card eBrevet cell phone app is now availible for all PA Rando brevets. More details in this blog post.  Riders who have used this app generally report that it's fast, easy to operate, doesn't drain the phone battery, and is simpler than getting merchant signatures and receipts.

You can find the app on both the Apple Store and the Google Play Store. Search for "eBrevet" by "CTNadovich".  Please make sure you are using the latest version of the app.  Control checkins or event downloads will not work if your app is outdated. A beta test version is available as an apk -- please use the Store versions unless you've been invited as a tester.

The eBrevet app is easy to use, but it's not automatic. It requires rider participation. You must stop near controls to "check in" with the app. At the finish, you need to write down your finish information on your paper card. If you are using the eBrevet app for brevet card proof of passage, at the finish of an event the following three things must be written on your paper brevet card:

If you used eBrevet and these three things are not on your brevet card, you can be disqualified.  Also, if you "forget" to check in at a control the app will always notice. You will NOT get a finish code. The app will give you a DNQ.  You must not skip any control. If you miss a control, you need to go back and check in (either with the app, or with traditional signature/receipt). If you skip controls you will be disqualified. Enjoy the blessings of technology in this app, but keep in mind that this is still randonneuring. Per our traditions, you as a rider must check-in at controls and must provide the required proof of passage for your ride.