Questions and Answers

Administrative Questions

Training & Preparation Questions

Ride/Navigation Questions


Administrative Questions

Q: Are NER Rides Safe?
Since NER/BBS’s inception, thousands of riders have successfully participated in events. Historically, injuries are uncommon and injuries requiring hospitalization are rare. Organizers are also riders and enjoy participating themselves.

That said, endurance cycling inherently carries risk including the potential for serious and possibly fatal injury. All NER events take place on open, shared public roadways. Other road users are not informed cyclists will be on the road. All manner of road conditions and hazards will be encountered, most without warning. Weather can change quickly and rides will be held even in sub-optimal riding conditions. Endurance cycling may involve riding when exhausted and after dark — hours cyclists are not frequently on the road. All these and other factors increase the risks faced by riders.

Participants should never make assumptions about what they will or will not encounter during an event. For example: They should not assume the organizers will alert them when weather, road, and other conditions change. They should not assume they will be stopped if their bicycle or reflective gear is not suitable to start or continue riding. They should not assume they be stopped if their mental or physical state has deteriorated. They should not assume a shorter distance ride is any less risky than a longer one.

Riders must understand there is always the possibility of serious injury due to circumstances beyond the rider’s control. It is solely the responsibility of the rider to stop riding, leave the road, and call for assistance if they feel uncomfortable with any aspect of the ride. Participants must accept these risks before starting the ride.

Q: Who can Participate?
All of our rides are open to the public. Starting in 2020 Membership with Randonneurs USA, the national Randonneuring sanctioning agency, is required. We welcome new riders on all of our events!

You will be required to sign a liability release waiver and pay the full event cost before starting. For insurance reasons, our events are open to only riders 18 years or older.

RUSA Membership is required for all events and purchased directly through RUSA.

Q: I’ve never ridden with NER/BBS before. Will I be welcome?
Definitely. We like meeting new riders. Our Brevets tend to be laid back events as no one is attempting to “win”. A good way of learning more is to register for a ride and latch onto someone who’s been randonneuring for years.

Q: Will I be accepted if I’m not within the “typical cycling demographic” of the Northeast US?
NER takes pride in welcoming all participants. We warmly encourage riders without any regards to gender identity, ethnicity, age (18+), body type, wealth, nationality, immigration status, etc. It is not uncommon to hear of riders who feel uncomfortable in most club and organized rides yet feel fully accepted on NER events. The only intrinsic attribute one must have is a good attitude without bias against others. Unlike other sporting events, there is no categorization or ranking of riders in any regard.

Q: Where do the rides start? How do I get there?
Specific start locations are located on each event information page. Many Boston area rides start in or around Concord, Massachusetts, about 20 miles West of Boston. Ride start locations can be a volunteer’s house, a coffee/bike shop, or a large parking lot. Restrooms are normally available.

Be sure to double check the start location and plan to be at the start early in case you have trouble finding a good place to park. In some cases the designated parking area may be a short riding distance from where the ride itself will begin.

Events start promptly on time. Riders will not be able to start once the volunteers have left the start location or an hour after the ride begins, whichever comes sooner.

Q: Are there places to stay near the event start locations?

There is often a hotel at or near the start point. As events are held in high tourist areas, riders are encouraged to book accommodates ASAP once they decide on which rides they will participate. Tip: Ask on the NER Group/Discussion board if you’re looking for lodging. You might be able to split a room with another rider and in some cases a volunteer will be able to put you up for the night.

Q: Do you need to qualify for events?
No qualification is needed for any of our rides, nor do you have to ride the shorter events before attempting the longer ones. That said, each ride is good training for the next so you’re encouraged to complete the series in order.

Q: How do I view my results?
You’ll be told your finishing time when you submit your Brevet card at the end of the ride. Preliminary results are posted to this website a few weeks after the ride. The RUSA website list member’s results.

Q: Must I have my name displayed on the websites?
By default, all entrants will have their full name listed on the NER Website and RUSA website under the event results. If a rider would like their name withheld, please contact the RBA for further information but understand we may not be able to accommodate the request. Riders must sign the waiver with their legal name. The waiver is a legal contract which is required for participation in our events. While the waiver, emergency contact sheets, and other documents are not specifically shown to other riders, they are also not hidden from view during the event. Event volunteers will have access to all information provided at the time of registration.

Q: What do I get if I finish?
Everyone gets our congratulations. RUSA members can buy a medal from the RUSA store. S

Q: I don’t know if I could ride the distance. Should I start?
Before considering an event keep in mind volunteers won’t be available to help you along. If you get tired or have a mechanical problem you’ll be personally responsible for contacting someone who can find you and pick you up. If you’re looking for a more supported event there are many long events run by local cycling clubs which are designed to offer help along the way. Most Randonneuring rides are fairly hilly but check the event notes for more details on the terrain. Adjacent RUSA regions (New Jersey in particular) are known for offering routes with very little climbing.

That said, most cyclists who can comfortably ride a century can complete a 200k. If you do OK on the 200k then you’re ready for a 300k. And if you do OK on the 300k then you try the 400k…

Q: How are Brevets different from club centuries, Grand Fondos, and charity rides?
Brevets are far more challenging and with far less support than most charity and club rides. On the difference between the two, local rider Cris Concepcion writes:

There is more climbing. There is a greater sense of individual accomplishment, because you are forced to rely only on yourself and your innate sense of resourcefulness. You have to be a better mechanic. There is more climbing. Brevets don’t have rain dates. You learn to forage. Brevet route planners do not pull their punches. There is more climbing.

Events tend to have 10-75 riders. NER events tend to be fairly inexpensive but with less support during and after the ride.

Q: Is this a race?
Randonneuring events are not races — You are only competing against yourself and the time limits, not other riders. Some people try to complete the ride as quickly as possible whereas others build up enough time to stop for coffee and ice cream.

Q: Are Helmets required?
Per RUSA rules, a helmet must always be worn while on the bike.

Q: Why should I join NER or RUSA?
New England Randonneurs, Inc. is a volunteer organization and depends on help from other riders to make events happen. If you enjoy the rides then please consider joining and volunteering for a ride or two. Volunteering is a great way for non-riders to become involved with the event. Volunteers for day-of-event duties can pre-ride the course and receive credit for the distance.

Starting in 2020, RUSA membership is required for all events. RUSA membership also has many perks such as a great magazine and the ability to ride with groups all across the US. NER is one of about 65 RUSA regions in the US.

Q: It’s raining hard. Is the ride canceled?
No. Rides are not canceled due to weather conditions except in extreme cases. (Icestorm, Terrorist Manhunts, Pandemics, etc) Make sure to check the NER website on the evening before the event for any last minute updates.

In the very rare case that a ride needs to be canceled, a notice will be posted to this site and you will be contacted if you had registered.

Q: What is BBS, NER, RUSA, ACP, RM, and RBA?

  • BBS: Boston Brevet Series. A brevet series is a collection of four rides in the following distances: 200k, 300k, 400k, 600k. Riders completing all four riders are considered ‘Super Randonneurs’ and are eligible for entry into longer events. NER was founded by the organizers of the original Boston Brevet Series.
  • NER: New England Randonneurs. We organize the Boston Brevet Series and other randonneuring events in eastern New England.
  • RUSA: Randonneurs USA. This is the domestic sanctioning organization for all US Randonneuring events.
  • ACP: Audux Club Parisian. This is the worldwide body sanctioning Brevets and Fleches. ACP hosts the Paris-Brest-Paris grand randonnee every four years. PBP and other international events require ACP certified results for qualification. All NER rides are official RUSA rides but only select 200k, 300k, 400k, and 600k are certified by ACP.
  • RM: Randonneurs Mondiaux. This is the international organization which sanctions 1200k+ events and establishes rules for the sport.
  • RBA: Regional Brevet Administrator. This is the person in a particular area who is responsible for adding events to the RUSA calendar and ensuring the events are run according to RUSA’s rules.

Q: How do I register for an event? Can I get a refund if I can’t make it?
Registration open a few weeks before each event and a link to the registration page is found on the ride detail page. Registration is often through Bikereg which adds a small processing fee of around $3.00 which they keep. Event registration ends a day or two before each event so please don’t wait until the last minute.

Day of event registration is no longer available for most rides. Some exceptions can be made if you miss the cut-off for online registration but the documents haven’t been printed yet. Email the RBA or event volunteer. We need to have pre-printed supplies available for riders so last minute registration is not always possible.

We do not offer refunds for any reason except in the rare case of a ride cancellation.

Q: Do I need to ride the events in order?
Nope. You can complete the rides in any order and skip events if you wish.

However, if you are going for an SR (Super Randonneur) medal you’ll need to complete a 200k, 300k, 400k, and 600k in one season. You can substitute a longer distance for a shorter one if necessary. (You can ride two 400k events instead of one 300k and one 400k.)

You can also mix and match rides from other Brevet series if you’d like.

Q: What’s the deal with the ~100k events?
The 100k is considered a Populaire (short brevet) and is sanctioned by RUSA but not ACP. These rides follow the same format as the ACP events. The 100k is a good way to get a taste of the series without committing yourself to a full 200k.
100k events count toward RUSA distance awards and the P-12 award.

Q: What is BMB? What is PBP?
BMB is the famous Boston-Montreal-Boston, the premiere American 1200k grand randonnee. It is the first 1200k to be held in the United States. It follows a hilly route from Newton, MA to the suburbs of Montreal, Canada with a 90 hour time limit. After being run continuously from 1988-2006, BMB is no longer being offered as formal randonnee. The ride lives on as a Permanent and riders can choose to ride this route whenever they wish in an unsupported fashion.

PBP is Paris-Brest-Paris, the premiere international 1200k. PBP is held every four years and is next scheduled for 2015. This ride has a long history going back more then 100 years. The BBS series was originally created to train and qualify riders for PBP.

Q: What are the time limits?
The time limits for events are determined by ACP and RM. They are:

  • 200k: < 13.5 Hours
  • 300k: < 20 Hours
  • 400k: < 27 Hours
  • 600k: < 40 Hours

Starting in 2024, the opening and closing times for intermediate controls (required stops between the start and finish) are advisory-only although the overall time limits remains. It is possible a rider may arrive at controls before or after a store has closed or once a volunteer has departed. We ask that riders call the organizer to let them know they are running behind schedule if they would arrive at the control outside of the advisory time limits for that stop.

Time limits are based on a formula established by RM. The formula is roughly based on a minimum speed of 10 miles per hour inclusive of stops.

RUSA-only rides have a time limit based on the actual distance of the event but are similar to the above.

Q: Can I have a personal support crew?
Brevets are about self sufficiency and thus no personal support (including follow support) is allowed outside of controls. While we discourage it, personal support is allowed at controls provided that it doesn’t interfere with the control’s operations. Take a look at UMCA events if you prefer help along your ride.

Q: Are there opportunities to buy food and water along the route?
Most routes pass convince stores approx. 40-50 miles during the day. At night services might be more limited. It is a good idea to carry more food and water than you think you’ll need.

Q: What are road conditions like? Do you go off-road?
Road conditions range from OK to bad to horrible. Expect large potholes, bumps, etc even on the state maintained roads. Some rides have short packed dirt sections, particularly in Vermont. (The dirt is sometimes preferable to the pavement.) Some riders find 28mm+ tires to be preferable for this reason. Riders should come prepared to handle a wide range of road conditions.

Do not assume the cue sheet or event documents will list possible road hazards! Road conditions can change rapidly. Be smart and ride with an eye for potential obstacles to avoid.

Q: Can I download a Cue Sheet & GPS Track in advance?
The cue sheets listed on the website should be considered preliminary unless otherwise stated. Ride organizer will normally announce at the start if they have modified the route beyond what was listed on the site a few days before the ride.

When registering online riders can choose if they want a pre-printed cue sheet provided at the start. To save paper, printed cue sheets will only be available to riders who ask for one. (But normally there will be some extras if your printer breaks just before the ride.)

Are there other rides nearby?
New Horizon Sports in Westfield, MA (near Springfield) hosts the scenic Berkshire Brevet series. These are highly recommended.

The RUSA website has a handy map showing ride start locations in other parts of the country. You can also search their ride database.

Where/When are results posted? What’s a certification number?
It generally takes anywhere from 24 hours to 2-3 weeks for results to be processed and posted online. After the event the DOE registrations are entered into a Database along with the results for all riders. Then this data is submitted to RUSA who in turn take a few days to process and approve the results.

RUSA provides certification numbers for RUSA-only rides — all events under 200k and any event added to the calendar after of September of the previous year. These RUSA certification numbers are provided when the results are submitted and every rider who completes the event within the time limit is provided with a certification. NER will still post the finishing times of riders who completed outside the time limit but as RUSA considers these to be DNFs and thus no certification is issued.

If you are a current RUSA member at the time of the event you’ll be able to see your results for all results completed as a RUSA member. If your RUSA membership has expired your results will still be logged with RUSA but they will not be displayed on RUSA’s website until you renew your membership. NER posts all results irrespective of RUSA membership.

For events sanctioned by ACP you’ll receive a holomagation (certification) number from ACP. ACP takes a few months to process the results whereupon they send a holomagation sticker to RUSA which in turn sends it to NER. We apply this sticker to the Brevet card and mail the card back to riders in January or February of the following year. Keep your cards as we don’t post the holomagation numbers on the NER website.

Holomgation/Certification numbers are needed to qualify for some 1200k events such as PBP but generally are not needed.

I have more questions! Where can I learn more?
If you have other questions about NER/BBS, use the contact page. Questions about the rides in general or NER should be sent to the RBA. If unsure who to address your question, send it to the webmaster and it will be forwarded to the right person.

The RUSA Website has more information about Randonneuring in general.


Training & Preparation Questions

Q: What mechanical skills do I need?
You should be comfortable enough with the mechanics of your bike to fix any common problem that might occur over several hundred miles. There is no mechanical support and you may be riding alone at times. You should be able to fix a flat. At night. In the rain. It is helpful to have a working knowledge of your bike’s drivetrain, brakes, etc.

Keep in mind some routes include areas with little or no cell phone service. Should you be unable to continue riding due to a mechanical failure or other reason, it may be some time before another rider passes who would be able to offer help or pass along your information once in an area with better cell coverage.

Tip: Brevets are not the best place to test new equipment or bikes that have been infrequently used. Ride the bike you plan to use a few days before the event so you have time to fix problems. Minor annoyances on short rides frequently become big problems on long rides.

Q: What should I do before my first Brevet?
Make sure your bike is in good working order. Shake or bounce the loaded bike. Did anything fall off? Ride-test any new components and accessories well before the brevet.

Download and look at one of the cue sheets. Do you understand how to read it? Do you have a way to attach it to the bike? Some riders like to enlarge the text or cut up the sheet to make it fit a holder. Note: Even if you plan to use a GPS, a cuesheet can be invaluable if/when electronics fail. Paper cue sheets are highly recommended. You might need to bring an extra battery pack for a GPS.

Try to go for a longer (60+ mile) ride a week or two before the Brevet. Is the bike comfortable? Do you need to adjust anything? Your bike isn’t going to get any more comfortable as the ride progresses. Do you feel comfortable with your speed?

Go for a night ride with your lights before the brevet. Are your lights good enough? Do you have enough batteries? Do you have a backup plan in case one of your lights fails?

Download the route to your GPS. It’s also helpful to download the route to a phone based GPS application as backup if using a separate GPS for navigation.

On the day before the ride, gather everything you plan to take so you aren’t scrambling to find things early in the morning before the start. If you live close to the start, riding from home is a good way to get warmed up.

Q: Do I even need to ride a bike?
Nope. Any human powered vehicle is allowed. Just make sure that you have a reasonable chance of finishing within the time limits.

Q: What is the right type of equipment for Randonneuring?
The rules for randonneuring are flexible but it must be a 100% human powered vehicle. (No ebikes.) Other than that, observation of randonneurs of all speeds and abilities shows only two consistent factors: good quality, reliable equipment and correct fit. Beyond that, it’s up to the individual.

We’ve had riders complete the series on fixed gears, tandems, recumbents, 3-speeds, old road bikes, and expensive lightweight racing bikes.

Q: How should the bike be equipped?
Here are some suggestions for bike accessories:

  • A method of holding your cue sheet. (Handlebar bag, clips on cables, etc.)
  • A basic cyclocomputer and/or GPS
  • A watch.
  • 2-3 water bottles and/or a hydration pack.
  • Some place to store tools, food, and clothes.
  • Fenders — it will rain on many rides.
  • Two battery taillights or one battery and one generator taillight. (night rides)
  • Headlight suitable for navigating in the dark, attached to the bike. (night rides)
  • Wider tires (28mm+) are preferred by many riders.

Q: What should I carry during the ride?
Here are some suggestions:

  • Your Brevet card. (Don’t Lose it!)
  • ID, insurance card, etc.
  • Cash and a Credit Card.
  • Water bottles + snacks to eat while riding.
  • Tampons, sanitary products (if applicable).
  • Spare batteries and parts for lights.
  • Rain jacket and/or additional clothing layers.
  • Ziptop bags for keeping brevet card and cue sheet dry.
  • Pump, tubes, patches, and tire levers.
  • Basic tools, a chain master-link, etc.

Q: What clothing to wear?
No specialized attire is needed. Some people will wear a matching cycling “kit” and others wear non-cycling specific clothing. Wool and synthetic jerseys are most common as are padded bib shorts/tights. We sometimes offers group purchasing on custom NER jerseys (particularity in PBP years) however riders should feel no obligation to wear these jerseys on events.

Given the distance of the events, the forecaster for the start location may not be the same as what riders will encounter during most of the event. It will almost always be cooler further west, north, and at higher elevations. Weather can change rapidly so plan on getting wet on longer events even if there’s little or no precipitation forecast. A rain jacket stored on the bike is cheap insurance.

For rides that continue past sundown, expect temperatures to drop quickly once it gets dark and prepare by carrying extra layer(s) an/or arm & leg warmers. Even if temperature stays the same, it will be humid overnight and this dampness coupled with the darkness can make it feel much cooler. Few riders complain about carrying extra clothing; many have wished they had something warmer at times.

When the weather is expected to be hot, some riders find thin, light colored, long sleeve jerseys or arm/leg “coolers” to be more comfortable than having their skin exposed to the sun. Most riders wear sunglasses or a cycling cap.

A majority of riders use clipless pedals, often ones that allow for ease of walking when off the bike. Toe clips are not uncommon and some riders prefer regular flat pedals.

Also see the requirements for reflective and safety gear which will need to be worn as the topmost layer.

Q: How much to eat on a long ride?
Note: Following four answers submitted by rider Tom Worster
While the advice from reputable sources is very consistent, polling experienced randonneurs suggests that it is a personal matter. So rather than making specific recommendations, we suggest one attempts to find an approach that works for the individual. Always attempt to eat enough to avoid bonking but don’t eat a great deal while riding as the digestion can’t keep up. And avoid water-electrolyte imbalances. If you bonk, stop and eat whatever you have available. Most riders recover from a bonk quickly if they get plenty of food.

Reading material for on nutrition and exercise physiology

Q: How much to drink?
Varies according to weather conditions, rider weight and individual physiology and effort level. Typical recommendations are at least 1 oz of water per hour per 10 pounds of body weight but considerably more is needed in warm conditions. Some riders sweat more than others and just need more water. The references provided with the previous answer will explain how you can estimate your individual sweat rate. Take the trouble to figure this out because dehydration is dangerous, can be debilitating and takes a long time to recover from. Know its signs but avoid it in the first place.

Q: How fast to ride?
This can be a complex problem. One first needs to state the objective of riding in the event since the question of riding speed depends on that. Consider the differences among the following goals: ‘have a safe, comfortable ride, enjoy the weather and scenery, and get some exercise’, ‘ride together with my buddies X, Y and Z’, ‘finish and get off the bike as soon as possible’. Clearly these lead to different approaches to riding speed. With the goal established, the answer to the original questions is: whatever achieves the goal for the individual. What that means in practice depends on the individual’s talent, fitness, equipment, etc. Experience can
help a rider put a number on it. A typical brevet series offers rides of increasing length through the riding season to allow one to gain this experience.

Q: How to train?
As with the previous question, it’s largely up to the individual and depends on his or her goals. But it’s clear that being well trained allows one to ride in greater comfort. For long distance cycling, endurance is the primary training focus followed by climbing ability. More training is good but overtraining is not. With those points in mind one can turn to the
advice of the professionals:

  • The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling: Build the Strength, Skills, and Confidence to Ride as Far as You Want by Edmund R. Burke and Ed Pavelka
  • The CTS Collection: Training Tips for Cyclists and Triathletes by Chris Carmichael, Lance Armstrong and Jim Rutberg
  • The Cyclist’s Training Bible (Paperback) by Joe Friel

Many long distance cyclists have noticed that the adaptations of long-distance training and brevet riding accumulate year-on-year. This is especially encouraging because it seems to apply even into later life. To get the most out of this one should keep doing long distance rides after the brevet season closes through the fall and early winter and maintain some kind of a reasonable fitness program over the winter.

Q: What are common reasons for DNFing (Not finishing)?
Digestion and physical ailments are the most frequent causes of not finishing. Experienced riders learn what food works for them and know the early warning signs of problems. Physical ailments can often be minimized by fixing anything that is uncomfortable as soon as possible. Minor annoyances can become ride-ending problems within a hundred miles.

Mechanical problems account for a smaller number of DNFs. Use quality parts and check the bike before the ride.


Ride/Navigation Questions

I want to abandon the ride. What should I do?
If you can’t continue, you MUST CALL the ride leader and tell them you are abandoning. Contact info is listed on the cue sheet distributed at the start of the ride. Then call a friend or a cab to pick you up.

Tip: Try to make it to the next control and rest for a few minutes before deciding to DNF. Sometimes a 15 minute break and some food can improve one’s sprits.

What are Bag Drops?
On some Brevets riders can bring a SMALL bag of supplies (cloths, food, batteries, etc) and the ride organizers bring this bag to a specified control so riders can retrieve or leave items. Bag drop locations will be listed on ride webpage and on the cue sheet. Note: fast riders might arrive at the finish before their bags make it back. Not all events have bag drops.

On the 600k riders are encouraged to leave a sleeping bag and toiletries in their drop bag if they plan to stay at the overnight control. Check the event page a few days before the event for specific information about the event.

How can I navigate from a cue sheet at night?
A helmet mounted light can be shone on the cue sheet and on road signage. Cheap LED helmet lights can be purchased form hardware and outdoor stores. Or you can use Bruce Ingle’s trick and solder an LED to a used battery and strap that to your helmet.

Note: Be careful with helmet lights — it’s inconsiderate to point your light in other rider’s eyes.

Can I leave the route or stop outside a control?
Sure. You’re welcome to leave the route so long as you return the same location before resuming the ride. Some riders find a good cup of coffee at a nearby cafe well worth a few extra miles. However, bypassing any part of the route (intentionally or not) is grounds for disqualification.

What is a control?
Controls are mandatory stops placed at the edges of the route to ensure riders keep a steady pace and do not shortcut portions of the course. Controls are typically found every 40-75 miles. At the control you’ll need to get your Brevet card signed by a brevet volunteer. In the event that a control is unstaffed, you’ll need to get your card signed by a local merchant, answer a question printed in your brevet card, take a photo of your bike, or follow other instructions as provided by the ride leader.

Rides will use a mix of controls with volunteers, local merchants (cafes, donut shops, etc), and “info” controls where riders answer a question in their brevet card based upon a specified landmark.

What’s at the Control? Got at Control Tips?
Riders typically want to get through the control as quickly as possible. 30 minutes on a bike might seem like a long time but 30 minutes at a control can go by in a heartbeat and the event timer continues when stopped.

Tip: Get you Brevet card signed ASAP once you arrive at the control as this is required to officially complete the event. Fill your bottles, flip your cue sheet, and/or load the next route. Get your bike ready for the next leg by turning on or off lights. Then it’s time to eat. Volunteer supported controls will often have PB&J fixings, potato chips, cookies, and fruit. On longer rides the controls might also have energy drink mix, summer sausage (600k), deli meats (300k), or baked beans (400k). Those with special dietary needs will want to bring their own food.

If a control is at a store it’s polite to buy something if you ask to use their restroom.

How do I read the Cue-sheet?
To read the cue-sheet:

The first column shows the distance until the cue listed on the same line.

The second column shows the total distance to that cue from the previous checkpoint.

If a cue is not indented then it indicates a turn. Don’t miss these.
If a cue is indented, then it is only a mile marker and not a turn. These let you know that you’re still on course. A few people find these distracting and create cue sheets with turns only.

All distances are in miles. Tip: The cue sheet only helps if you can read it. Put it in a ziptop bag and attach it to the bars. The cue sheet will also tell you the opening and closing times of controls and lists the emergency contact info for the ride leaders.

Should I carry maps?
Some riders like to carry state maps or the Rubel bike maps. Not all roads will be on state maps and the rubel maps won’t help outside of MA. If you’re prone to getting lost you might want to carry a GPS with loaded maps. Even if you don’t preprogram the route, GPSs can be preferable to paper maps. (Particularly at night when it’s raining.)

Should I use a GPS?
GPSs are now the predominate method of navigation however many still use cue sheets primarily or in addition to a GPS.

GPS Tips:

  • Only the final route is the official route.
  • Wait until 1-2 days before the ride to download the route and double check the website again the evening before the ride. We try to “lock” the route as early as possible but small last minute changes are sometimes needed. If you use an outdated route, you risk getting disqualified.
  • Make sure your GPS can be powered throughout the event. You may need to bring battery pack(s). Wheel dynamo to USB chargers are popular but many can not be used simultaneously with lighting at night.
  • Some riders find it helpful to break to route into smaller tracks, such as control to control or outbound/inbound.
  • Download the route onto a phone to use as a backup in case a standalone GPS fails. (Don’t depend on good cell connectivity to be able to download the route during the ride.)
  • Some riders prefer to follow a GPX “breadcrumb” track.

It’s recommended riders know how to use a paper cue sheet and carry one with them during the event. GPS failures are surprisingly common and being able to read a traditional cue sheet can save the ride.

What are the lighting & safety requirements?

NER follows RUSA’s reflectivity and lighting guidelines. Riders should review that page and ask question in advance of the event.

Lighting and reflectivity gear is required from sunset to sunrise and is encouraged during the day as well. We strongly recommend riders carry the required lighting and reflective gear even if you’re confident you’ll be back before it gets dark.

Requirements in brief:

  • reflective ankle bands, visible from at least 600 feet front and rear;
  • a reflective vest, sash, Sam Browne belt, or some other device that clearly places reflective 30 sq in of material on the front, back, and sides of the rider.
  • A white headlamp, firmly attached to the bike, visible from at least 500 feet to the front. Generator powered lighting is acceptable provided lights remained illuminated for a short time after stopping.
  • A rear steady (non-flashing) taillamp, firmly attached to the bike, visible from at least 600 feet to the rear;

Riders will not be allowed to continue the ride with inadequate or defective lighting — it is recommended that backup lights be carried.

Reflective material must not be blocked by hydration packs, backpacks, rain jackets, etc.

Recumbent riders may modify the reflective requirements such that they and their bike is equally visible while in a riding position. (See RUSA guidelines.)

Note: The orientation of your lights is import. Please ensure that taillights are pointing at the road and not up in other rider’s eyes. Headlights should be mounted to the frame and not to rider’s helmets.

Pamela Blalock has a helpful page with lighting tips.

Additional Lighting Tips and Suggestions

Beyond the minimums required by law and RUSA regulations, the amount of light you’ll need will depend greatly on riding conditions as well as your own riding speed, skill, night vision, risk tolerance and ability to ride with others. It should be noted that most brevets have some rough roads which are usually traversed at night, as well as the unpredictability of New England weather. If you suffer a crash from hitting a road hazard while trying to see by inadequate lighting, it’ll be nobody’s fault but your own. Hitting a road hazard is by far the most common cause of cycling crashes, and can easily result in serious injury or death in spite of protective measures.

Additional reflective material, lighting and backup lighting are both allowed and strongly encouraged. We want you to look like a christmas tree or UFO at night.

Many riders find helmet-mounted lamps useful for fixing flats, getting the attention of motorists and reading street signs, cue sheets and instrumentation. REI carries a wide variety of headlamps which can be mounted on or adapted to cycling helmets. If you mount a light to your helmet, make sure to use a breakaway mount (e.g. velcro, easily broken zipties, elastics/rubber bands, the original headband, etc.) so the helmet remains effective in a crash. Please use them with consideration when conversing with other riders (turn them off or point them elsewhere.)

Bar end plug lights can be a useful adjunct to your main rear lighting on bikes without bar-end shifters. These inexpensive plugs are available from many popular internet bike part retailers and at larger local bike shops.

Xenon Strobes are optional and can greatly aid your visibility to motorists in poor conditions, but they can also be a nuisance when riding in a group; please use them (as well as other flashing lights) with consideration for other riders immediately behind you. The Lightman is one of the better models available.

Use high quality batteries; Lithium AA & AAA disposable batteries are expensive but some riders find it’s worth the cost.

Generator Hubs (Dynamos) have improved in availability and decreased in price in the last few years. Ask the NER List/Group for recommendations if unsure which model to buy.

For those who like to tinker, homemade lights are frequently brighter and much less expensive then their commercial counterparts. The Candle Power Forums is a good resource. The NER Mailling list is another good place to ask questions about homemade lights.

Identi-Tape offers reflective tape for clothing and other surfaces in several different colors; most Wal-Marts carry red or white “200 MPH” brand reflective tape in the automotive section. White and yellow tapes are much more visible than other colors. Covering a sixth of the inner exterior surface of the rim with a solid block of white reflective tape is a great way to enhance the bike’s nighttime visibility; applying reflective tape to your helmet and the bike’s fork, seatstays, mudguards (if applicable), seatpost, cranks and pedals is helpful as well. You can even make your handlebars reflective using Cinelli Lux Ribbon.

Light-colored clothing can aid your visibility in nearly all conditions; a solid white or hi-viz (neon) yellow jersey appears to get the best response from motorists at night. Illuminite clothing also retroreflects about as much light as light-colored clothing, but the dark colors normally used mean it won’t show up as well as light-colored clothing under streetlights or during the daytime. It’s a good choice for tights, which are normally black anyway. Illuminite clothing will not meet the requirements for reflective equipment on the rider, since it isn’t reflective enough.