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The DBC is announcing a two-year training program to prepare riders
for the 2007 Paris-Brest-Paris event.
Our reputation for successful preparation of riders is legendary as are
our brevets. Our brevets are designed for cyclists
experienced in riding 100+ mile events and looking for longer distance
challenges, something new or joining the ranks of those Americans who've
completed PBP one or more times. The brevet series is a sequence
of four, increasingly longer cycling distances of 200, 300, 400, and
600 km in length. However, the Davis Bike Club (DBC) series consists
of only two brevets this year, the 200 and 300 brevets in the Fall and
a full series for 2007.
For more information about the many brevets
being run throughout Northern and Central California, simply browse to www.rusa.org and
look under “Rides” to find dates and locations for other brevet series
in the region.
The DBC brevets can be used as qualifiers for 1200 km brevets in 2006-07.
The brevets can also be used towards qualifying for the 2006-07 Super
Randonneur award and the Randonneur 5000 award.
Rider control/time stations (similar to century ride rest stops) are 30-65
miles apart and will be stocked with basic foods and beverages as part of the
entry fee for all the events. Lee Mitchell and other well-known DBC volunteers
will provide course monitoring during all brevets. In keeping with the randonneur
spirit of self-sufficiency, sag support for DNF'ers may be minimal, so come
prepared to finish and don't plan on giving up easily!
2007 is a PBP year. The DBC has a reputation for successfully preparing
riders who plan to ride Paris-Brest-Paris in France. We've chosen our
2007 brevets routes from those we feel have been the best, in the past,
for ensuring a rider's successful preparation.
Additionally, DBC will present a PBP Training Seminar on Martin Luther
King Weekend, January 13-14th , 2007. The Saturday seminar will cover everything
you ever wanted to know on how to plan, train and participate successfully
in the 2007 PBP. The presenter, Bill Bryant, will furnish you with a wealth
of information. The following day, Sunday, January 14 th will be an informal
Brevet Populaire. More announcements will follow.
Travel Seminar
As an aid to those riders who are considering travel to PBP on 2007,
DBC in cooperation with SF, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa cycling clubs are hosting a travel
seminar presented by Claus Claussen of Des
Peres Travel.
This three-hour
seminar will provide lots of useful information about travel arrangements
to and from Paris for Paris-Brest-Paris in
August 2007. The seminar will be presented by Claus Claussen of Des Peres
Travel. Claus has made the bulk of travel arrangements
for American randonneurs for many PBPs. He is very experienced, and arranges
the details for getting you and your bicycle to a hotel near the start
of the event. Generally the flights are charters, and the flight-hotel
combination is typically less expensive than you can do as an individual.
This is not an advertisement for Claus' services, and even if you choose
to make your own arrangements, it is valuable to hear what he has to
say about the travel part of the event.
The seminar will be held in the Bay Area, as this is
more-or-less the geographical center of gravity for most Northern California
brevet riders.
Location and time of travel seminar...
El
Cerrito Community Center Council Chambers.
7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito , CA 94530.
Sunday, March 11th, 9:00am-12:00pm.
Pre-registration for the event is not necessary. Sign-ups are at the door
and there is no fee.
200km Route
The 200k will be a tamer version of the “infamous” Atlas
Peak 200k with a slightly flatter lead-up to S.R.121, over Mount George,
and no climb up Atlas Peak.
Route
map (1Mb jpg) and que sheets (Excel)
are here.
300km Route
The 300k will be the same as the Fall 2006 300k, an out and back to
Cobb Mountain Elementary School via Pope Valley.
Route
map (1Mb jpg) and que sheets (Excel)
are here.
400km Route
The 400k to Geyserville via Calistoga and JimTown Road
will be a new route that uses old and familar roads. Route
map Part1 and Part2 (PDF) and que
sheets (Excel)
are here.
600km Route
Welcome to the Davis Bike Club 600K brevet. If you are a pre-registered
rider, on the day of the event all you need to do is to pick up your
brevet card, have it initialed by a control worker, and then sign-in
on the start sheet.
Be aware of the following.
1. This is basically a night time start so have lights and reflective gear on
at the start. Be prepared to ride through or into two nights.
2. You may bring one small drop bag which will go to the control at Ukiah. Bring
your bag to the start. Be sure to label your bag with your name, address, and
telephone number. Your bag may not make it back to the finish before you finish.
We will not ship the bag to you, so you will need to wait at or return to the
finish for it to arrive.
3. Ride safely, observe California traffic laws, and do not obstruct traffic.
4. Check-in begins at 7:00pm. The route will leave from the Davis Park&Ride,
Friday May 4th at 8:00pm (20:00) and go directly out via Putah Creek road to
Hwy128, north on the Silverado Trail to Calistoga, north on Hwy128 to Jimtown,
west on the Alexander Vy Rd to Geyserville Ave that parallels Hwy101, north through
Geyserville on Geyserville Ave which becomes Asti Rd. You will enter Cloverdale
via Hwy128, through Cloverdale and continue west on Hwy128. The route turns north
with a right turn on Mountain House Rd into Hopland. From Hopland, you will take
Eastside Rd, which continues as Old River Rd, north into Talmage, then west on
Hwy222 into Ukiah. From Ukiah the route will head briefly south on State St,
then southwest on Hwy 253 (Boonville-Ukiah Rd. The route on Hwy253 includes a
large climb and descent, then you make a right on Hwy128 and head west to the
Paul Dimmick campground, which will the turn around. It is largely an out back-course.
Route que sheets (Excel)
are here. Route map part1 and part2 are here and here.
This information will also
be available at the Start/Finish of all rides. Additional last minute
course information will be announced at the rider meeting held 5 minutes
before the start of each brevet. Course marshals will be present to look
after the riders on all brevets.
Davis Fleche Velo-California
The DBC will NOT be hosting the popular Flèche cycling
event for 2007.
Yes, we need volunteers to run control points!
The DBC brevet committee is very interested if you have a friend or spouse
that would be willing to participate on the support team while you are
riding. Volunteers are usually in short supply, particularly for the
longer brevets, and some of the control points need several shifts filled.
We will pay expenses for those willing to help us.
Want to be part of that special crew?
Please contact Bob Brouhard at 530-758-5646 or
bobbrouhard@sbcglobal.net.
Brevets stress rider self-sufficiency. So cyclists should carry a small assortment
of tools and spare parts to make minor repairs on the road. All clock references
will use the 24-hour international clock. Personal support vehicles are prohibited
without prior authorization from the Regional Brevet Administrator (RBA), and
then only under special circumstances. Helmets are required at all times while
riding during the brevet events. Front and rear lights, affixed securely to
your bicycle, are required any time you are riding before sunrise or after sunset
during the brevets. A back-up system is highly recommended. Only solid rear
lights are allowed while riding. Flashing rear and front
lights are to be used only as an emergency signal to course monitors that you
are in need of assistance. A good source for bike lighting is Peter White Cycles.
For your safety, a reflective vest or sash on the torso and reflective leg bands
on both legs are also required for night riding. Don't risk being disqualified
from an event by not following the requirements. Aero-bars are allowed for all
2006-07 Davis brevets. However, please limit your use of aero-bars when riding
within groups of cyclists. The full regulations for riding brevets can be found
under “Rules” at the RUSA website: www.rusa.org
A new twist for our future brevets is the
Start/Finish. Each Davis brevet will begin at the Park & Ride on the
North side of I-80 at Mace Blvd Exit.
To get there, take I-80 to Davis and exit at Mace Blvd. Turn north on
Covell Blvd and turn right at the first intersection onto County Road 32A. You'll see an IKEDA'S
market on your right. The entrance to the Park & Ride parking lot is on your right, about 400 ft after
the turn. Weather permitting; check-in will also be in the parking lot.
In case of pouring rain we may seek shelter under the awnings at the
AM/PM ARCO station.
Day-of registrations are accepted. Please allow at least 30 minutes for
the registration process alone. Brevets start exactly at the designated
time. The finish check-in location for the brevets will also be in the
Park & Ride parking lot.
The French strongly support the idea that all
randonneurs belong to a bike club, particularly those involved in the
premiere 1200 km brevets. With this in mind, the Davis Bike Club
reduces the brevet fees to all current or joining DBC members.
A DBC membership application is downloadable with the application
for those wishing to join or renew their membership.
Randonneurs USA (RUSA) acts as a liaison between American randonneurs and the
French organizations controlling brevets and PBP. RUSA publishes a quarterly
newsletter for all members, as well as a yearly randonneuring handbook full
of useful information and tips. No requirements, other than a $20 membership
fee, are necessary to be a member of RUSA. RUSA membership is not required
to participate in the 2006-07 Davis Brevet Series, but it is required if you
want your results processed, posted and accepted as qualification for PBP. Immediately
following each brevet, we will send the results to RUSA, and these are then
sent on to France for processing. When all results become official, your brevet
cards will be returned to you through the mail with a certification stamp and
individual brevet number on each card. We will attempt to publish the ‘unofficial'
finish results on the DBC website soon after each brevet. For more information
on randonneuring and to join RUSA, go to www.rusa.org under “Join RUSA”.
RUSA membership is also necessary for the opportunity to purchase souvenir brevet
medals following successful completion of each brevet. Medals will be available
immediately upon completion of the brevet at the finish for $7.00 each, while
supplies last. The medal design will be the same as in 2004. If we run out,
we can order more for $9.00 each (includes postage and handling) and eventually
mail them to you later in the year.
Applications by normal surface mail can be requested
by e-mailing a request to Jim
Sharp
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