Dart Start Time & Date: 06:30 on Saturday, May 17th.
Dart Finish Time: 20:00
Start Location: Dart Teams Choose
Finish Location: Providence, RI
Event Time: 24 Hours
Boston Fleche Organizer: Jake Kassen (me at jkassen dot org)
Cost: $20 per team.
New for 2014, NER is offering a Dart to coincide with the Fleche. A Dart is similar to a Flèche except is has a shorter minimum distance of 200km and a time limit being 13.5 hours. There is also a fixed start/end time for the event but teams may pick their start location.
Like a Fleche, Darts consist of teams of 3 to 5 bikes and teams choose their own route to Providence, RI. Teams must plan on riding at least 200km with at least 25km completed in the last two hours. There is no maximum distance so teams may cover more ground if they wish.
Download the 2014 Dart Application. (Editable PDF — Please fill it out on a computer if possible.) Applications are due by April 19th. Please email RBA Jake Kassen when you are preparing your Dart application so he knows expect it. The application form, route, and cue can be submitted electronically. Only the check and waivers need to be physically mailed.
Dart General Info:
For the uninitiated, a Dart is team Randonneuring event where three to five riders (more if by tandem) plan their own route to a common finish location. The route selected must be at least 200 kilometers with no maximum. The start and end time and date are selected by the RBA. The entire route must be ridden in exactly 13.5 hours with the final 25k completed in the last two hours of the event. While you don’t need to ride in tight formation, at least three members of the team must complete the Dart together in order to receive credit for the event. Like normal Brevets, controls must be located at the outer edges of the route and each team member has their own control card.
More information is listed in the Q & A below or by reading the Dart Rules on the RUSA website.
- How to plan a Dart Route?
- May different teams use the same route?
- May we alter the route once submitted?
- What makes for a Control?
- How do we deal with unmanned controls?
- How do we need to submit the route?
- How do we know we’re registered?
- What do we need to submit to register?
- Why do we need to register more then a month before the event?
- What defines a team?
- Does the team have to ride together?
- What support is possible along the ride?
- What must the team do 22 hours into the ride?
- Do you need to complete the ride in 24 hours? Can you go faster or slower?
- Can we ride fast and sleep at night?
- Are there other Fleche’s in New England?
- Who should I contract with additional questions?
A: Dart routes may be point-to-point or circular. No road may count towards the 200km distance twice and out and back segments are not allowed. Dart teams may use parts of Brevet routes if desired.
Dart routes are similar to Brevet routes in that they must have control locations at the outer edges of the route. This is to say that the shortest distance between control points using public roads and paths must add up to at least 200km for the route to be validated. RUSA requires us to be strict so add additional control points if you’re unsure.
Good Dart routes are those which can be successfully navigated by the team. Some teams will prefer to keep things simple and use only numbered state roads while others teams will try to pick little-used dirt roads and bike paths. Being able to select the roads which are best for the team is part of the fun of a Fleche.
Q: May different teams use the same route?
A: Maybe. As teams must all start at 06:30 but teams are prohibited from riding together so this would prohibit using the exact same route. However, if two teams wanted to use similar routes or share a majority of the route this would be OK provided that teams do not attempting to ride together.
Q: How is the distance Calculated?
A: Riders are credited for the shortest distance between controls even if the actual route they use is longer. For example, if the shortest distance between two control locations in which bicycles can legally pass is 30 miles but teams prefers to use a more scenic backroad route which takes them 35 miles, they can only count the shorter 30 miles towards their distance.
Q: May we alter the route once submitted?
A: Once validated, the route is final and may not be changed. You are welcome to tweak the route and add milage between controls if you find a better route but the approved distance may not be shortened nor may you switch control locations.
A: Control points can be anywhere within a small geographic region in a town — we don’t need exact store names. You can be creative with control locations — Park ranger stations, landmarks, police stations, and ATMs all make fine controls. Many teams will try to select stores which will be open so they have a place to refuel however a maned control is not required.
We highly recommend teams do some scouting before submitting a route to verify there will be something in town that can act as a control location. Not all towns have stores of businesses which will be open on the day of the Dart or at the time the team will be in the town.
Q: How do we deal with unmanned controls?
A: Try to get a timestamp if at all possible. For example, visit an ATM and save the receipt or keep the paper from paper-based parking meter. The postcard control used in the isn’t valid during the times in which this Dart is held.
Q: How do we need to submit the route?
A: When you send in your registration you’ll need to include a map with your general route highlighted and control locations indicated. (A RideWithGPS link is OK provided the control towns are indicated.) You’ll also need to include a rough cue sheet which lists control locations and distances. Remember, we’ll only consider the shortest possible milage between controls even if your team decides to take long way around.
Q: How do we know we’re registered?
A: You’ll first be contacted via email or phone upon receipt of your registation packet and again if your route needs modification. About a week before the event you’ll receive pre-printed Brevet cards for each member of the team. If you need to change team members after submitting your registation forms, you may do so at least two weeks prior to the event by sending the organizer a signed waiver and a note of the change.
Q: What do we need to submit to register?
A: Read the registration form! You’ll need to include the route statement, signed waivers for all team members, and payment for event plus brunch if you’re planning on joining us on Sunday.
Q: Why do we need to register more then a month before the event?
A: it will take us time to verify your route and give you time to tweak your route if it doesn’t meet our requirements.
A: Teams consist of three to five vehicles with a vehicle defined as an entirely human powered device. A tandem (or larger) counts as a single vehicle.
Q: Does the team have to ride together?
A: The team doesn’t need to ride close to one another but at least three vehicles must finish the last 20k within the last 2 hours together in order for the team’s ride to be certified. Team members not completing the ride with the group will not be considered to have finished the fleche. While teams don’t need to ride in a paceline formation, the spirt of the Dart is to ride together and not split up between controls.
Q: What support is possible along the ride?
A: The team members may help one another but no outside help nor help from other Fleche teams is allowed.
Q: What must the team do 10 hours into the ride?
A: In order for the Dart to be certified the team MUST get their control cards signed 11.5 hours after the start of the event. Furthermore, this 11.5 hour location must be at least 25k from the end point of ride as listed on the verified route. Keep in mind the time, not location, is what dictates the 11.5 control. Even if your team is running behind or ahead of schedule, you must stop at 11.5 and get your card signed.
Q: Do you need to complete the ride in 13.5 hours? Can you go faster or slower?
A: You need to attempt to finish the ride exactly 13.5 hours after starting. Early finishes are not acceptable so pace yourselves accordingly. Teams finishing considerably outside the 13.5 hour window will not be certified.
Q: Can we ride fast and sleep at night?
A: There is no stop limit on Darts so teams could ride fast and have a 3 hour lunch, full body massage, compete in a fun run, etc. You do need to respect the other route and time limits.
Q: Are there other Darts in New England?
A: periodically the Berkshire Brevet Series runs a Dart.
Q: Who should I contract with additional questions?
A: Contact the Boston RBA listed at the top of this page.