The Davis Bike Club 2008 Brevet Series
The DBC is announcing the 2008 brevet series as a training program to prepare riders for longer 1200Km events. 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.

The DBC brevets can be used as qualifiers for 1200 km brevets in 2008. The brevets can also be used towards qualifying for the 2008 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!

Brevet Route Descriptions for 2008
Remember, 2008 is not a PBP year, but the DBC is planning on hosting the Gold Rush 1200Km event in 2009. We've chosen our 2008 brevets routes from those we feel have been the best, in the past, for ensuring a rider's successful preparation.

200km Route

The 200 km brevet will take the traditional route out to Pope Valley and back for a total elevation gain of about 4000 ft. Route map and que sheets are here.

300km Route

The 300 km brevet will be an extension of the 200 km route out to a turn-around at Cobb Mountain Elementary School. Many of you will recognize this route as part of the 2006 Davis Double Century. The extra 100k also adds 1000 feet of climbing. The first and last 25 miles of these brevets are essentially flat and are good beginning cycling events with groups of riders at all levels of ability. As part of the entry fee, the 200k brevet will include food and drinks at the turn-around control at Pope Valley. The 300k brevet will have similar support at the turn-around control at Cobb Mountain Elementary School and at Pope Valley in both directions. The first (and last) 20-25 miles of the 200 and 300k courses will be marked with arrows on the pavement to help with navigation through the sections with the most turns. Route map and que sheet are here.
There will be no duffle bag drops on the 200 and 300k brevets.

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 Oroville. 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 and Ride, Friday May 30th at 8:00pm (20:00) and travel north on the first 300km for the Gold Rush Randonnee route. The 2008 600km route wanders a little in the beginning in order to avoid Friday night traffic and then follows along the Sacramento River after Knights Landing. There will be an outbound water and goodies stop(not a full control) at the intersection of Coles Rd and Reclamation Rd after leaving the river road. From there it is on to Gridley and then Oroville for the first major control at about mile 110. After riding through Oroville, the route takes Table Mountain Blvd to the Feather River Canyon along scenic SR70. At the junction of SR70 and SR89 riders turn left and continue on SR89 to the turnaround at Greenville.

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

Volunteers...
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 Dan Shadoan at 530-219-0177 or dj@shadoan.org

Rules and Requirements
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

Directions to the Davis Brevet’s Start/Finish
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.

Davis Bike Club Membership
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 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 2008 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”.

2008 Souvenir Brevet Medals
RUSA membership is also necessary for the opportunity to purchase souvenir brevet medals following successful completion of each brevet. Medals will be available from the RUSA site upon completion of the brevet and after our finishers list is transferred to RUSA.

Applications

Applications by normal surface mail can be requested by e-mailing a request to Jim Sharp