About Randonneuring

Randonneurs are long-distance unsupported endurance cyclists who cover distances between 200 km and 1200 km and beyond.

About

Randonneurs are long-distance unsupported endurance cyclists who cover distances between 200 km and 1200 km and beyond. Randonneuring has its roots in France and every four years in August Randonneurs from around the globe gather in this country to participate in the 1200 km event Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP).
Korea Randonneurs were established in 2009 and the first brevets were held in 2010. Now there are more than 10,000 active members. All Korea Randonneurs brevets have been sanctioned by Audax Club Parisien (ACP 603000) and can be used to qualify for PBP and other international events.

Distances

The rides (called 'brevet', a French word) have fixed distances that need to be completed in a maximum time. The distances and the time limits are :

200km

13h 30m

300km

20h

400km

27h (1d 3h)

600km

40h (1d 16h)

1,000km

75h (3d 3h)

These distances are a minimum, it is usual that the actual distance is 1 to 9 km more. However, the time limit is not altered regarding the actual distance and remains as listed above. A brevet is not a race; completion is a personal achievement and results are never listed in order of time of completion. Upon successful completion of a brevet, riders receive a certificate and can purchase an ACP issued medal documenting their achievement.

A brevet as listed above is called a BRM (Brevet Randonneurs Mondiaux); successful completion of such a brevet counts for awards like Super Randonneur and KR-5000. Each successful finisher accumulates points (1 point per 100 BRM kilometers) for the Korea Randonneurs organization and every year a list is published of all randonneuring organizations in the world, showing the ranking of each country with respect to the points accumulated. Apart from the BRM, there are LRM(Les Randonneurs Mondiaux), brevets of 1200 km and more.

Korea Randonneurs organizes each year 1200+km LRM brevet, LRM events have different time limits depending on distance. 1200km is 90h(13.33km/h), 1300km is 108h 20m(12km/h), and 2,000km is 200h(10km/h). Additional time may be granted for courses with very high elevation gain.

Controls

In order to obtain a proof that a rider has finished a brevet along the prescribed route, controls (checkpoints) are established, typically 60 to 100 km apart, but so that the most logical way between controls is via the prescribed route. Controls are needed to prove that the rider did not take a shortcut.

The rider has a brevet card, which must be take a photograph showing the rider and the control point at the start, finish and at each control. At these checkpoints riders must get their brevet card stamped at a local establishment that the organizer specifies as a checkpoint, such as a convenience store or gas station or validated by digital means. The photograph will be checked at the finish.

Rules

There are rules on the Audax Club Parisien (ACP) website and rules on the LRM (Les Randonneurs Mondiaux) website.

The most important rules are:

  • Any form of human powered vehicle is acceptable, but the vehicle must be powered solely by the rider.
  • Riders must comply with the Rules for Safety and Night Riding and obey Korean traffic rules.
  • Each rider must be self sufficient. No personal follow cars or support of any kind are permitted on the course, personal support is only allowed at checkpoints. It is also not allowed that riders are escorted by cyclists who do not take part in the event, because this can be regarded as support.
  • The prescribed route must be followed. If a rider deviates from the prescribed route (either purposely or accidently), he has to turn back to the point where he left the prescribed route and resume from there.
  • Missing proof of passage information or loss of the brevet card (regardless of how far into the ride a rider is) will result in disqualification.
  • Violation of any rule and not arriving within the time limit results in disqualification.