# Randonneurs Ontario

> Randonneurs Ontario is the provincial organization for non-competitive long-distance cycling (randonneuring) in Ontario, Canada. Affiliated with Audax Club Parisien and Randonneurs Mondiaux.

Randonneuring is long-distance cycling where riders follow a prescribed course and must complete it within a time limit. Events range from 200 km brevets to 1200 km grand randonnées. Riders are self-sufficient and must check in at controls along the route. The organization has four regional chapters: Toronto, Ottawa, Huron, and Simcoe.

## About Randonneurs Ontario

Source: https://www.randonneursontario.ca/about

Randonneurs Ontario is the provincial organization for randonneuring in Ontario. We organize brevets across the province and are affiliated with [Audax Club Parisien](https://www.audax-club-parisien.com), the international governing body for randonneuring, and [Randonneurs Mondiaux](https://www.randonneursmondiaux.org), which sanctions brevets of 1200 km and longer.

## What is Randonneuring?

Randonneuring is long-distance cycling where riders follow a prescribed course and must complete it within a time limit. Unlike racing, randonneuring is non-competitive—riders aim to complete the course, not to beat others.

Events range from 200km brevets to 1200km grand randonnées, with the famous Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) being the most prestigious event in the randonneuring calendar.

## Our Mission

We organize and support long-distance cycling events across Ontario, providing riders with:

- A calendar of brevets and populaires throughout the riding season
- Certified routes with cue sheets and GPS tracks
- Official results and recognition through Randonneurs Mondiaux
- A community of like-minded endurance cyclists

## Chapters

Randonneurs Ontario is organized into regional chapters:

- **Toronto** - Serving the Greater Toronto Area
- **Ottawa** - Serving Eastern Ontario
- **Huron** - Serving Southwestern Ontario
- **Simcoe** - Serving Central Ontario

Each chapter organizes its own events while following the rules and standards of Randonneurs Mondiaux.

## Contact

For general inquiries, please contact us at info@randonneursontario.ca

## Your First Brevet

Source: https://www.randonneursontario.ca/your-first-brevet

You've been riding for a while. Maybe you did a century last summer, or you've been stringing together longer weekend rides and wondering what's next. Someone mentioned randonneuring, you looked it up, and now you're staring at a 200 km brevet on [the calendar](/calendar) thinking "can I actually do this?"

For most riders who are comfortable riding 100–140 km, yes. And you'll be in good company. Here's what you need to know.

## How a brevet works

In practical terms, a brevet is a long-distance ride on a prescribed route, with designated controls along the way and a fixed time limit for finishing. A brevet sits in a sweet spot between solo adventure and organized event. You get the satisfaction of a big day out on the bike, but with a route chosen for you, a start line to commit to, and other riders sharing the experience. It’s challenging, but in a steady, human-scaled way.

Along the way, you’ll stop at designated controls to collect proof that you followed the route. In practice, that usually means getting your brevet card signed or keeping a receipt from a café, store, or other control location. You have a maximum time to finish the whole route. For a 200 km brevet, the overall time limit is 13.5 hours.

You ride at your own pace, and you're responsible for your own mechanical issues and route navigation (most riders use a GPS bike computer or a phone app). That said, "self-supported" doesn't mean "alone." If you get a flat on the side of the road, there's a good chance another rider will stop and ask if you need a hand. People lend tubes, share tools, and ride together for moral support all the time. You're expected to carry what you need, but if something goes sideways, you won't be left on your own.

## Are you ready?

If you can ride 120–140 km at a steady, conversational pace, you're ready. You don't need to have ridden 200 km before. You just need a base of endurance and a willingness to eat, drink, and pace yourself intelligently for the parts you haven't done before. The gap between your longest training ride and 200 km is smaller than it sounds.

## Before the ride

**Your bike matters less than you think.** You do not need a special “randonneuring bike,” fancy luggage, or deep experience with ultra-distance events. A reliable bike you already ride comfortably is usually the right bike for your first brevet. Road bike, gravel bike, touring bike, whatever. If it fits you well, shifts reliably, and has two working brakes, it's fine. Comfort over speed, every time.

**Required gear:** Helmet at all times, and if you'll be riding near sunrise or sunset: a front white light, rear red light, and a reflective vest. These are firm requirements. Even for a fast, summer 200 with lots of daylight, it’s wise to bring front and rear lights. Also carry spare tubes, tire levers, a pump, and a multi-tool. There's no sag wagon, so practice changing a tube at home if you haven't done it recently.

**The night before:** Charge everything. Lights, GPS, phone, powerbank. Load the route on your device. Pack more food than you think you need (energy bars, gels, a couple of bananas). Inflate your tires. Lay out your kit. Go to bed early, knowing you won't sleep well because you're nervous. That's fine. It's the sleep two nights before that actually matters.

## During the ride

**Start easy.** This is the single most important piece of advice, and almost everyone ignores it the first time. The first 50 km should feel easy. If you're working hard, you're going too fast. You'll feel great at the start, and might be tempted to ride with a group of people who all seem faster than you. Let them go. On most brevets, the field spreads out quickly and everyone settles into their own day. Randonneuring has riders of all speeds, so chances are good that you'll find others riding at a similar pace.

**Eat before you're hungry.** Start eating within the first hour and keep eating something small every 30–45 minutes. Most riders do best taking in small amounts consistently rather than trying to catch up later. A bonk at km 140 is miserable and almost entirely preventable.

**At controls,** keep things purposeful. Get your card signed, refill bottles, eat something, use the washroom, and get rolling before a short stop turns into a long one.

**Expect the low point.** Somewhere around km 120–150, you'll probably feel terrible. This happens to nearly everyone, including experienced riders, and it passes. Eat something, keep moving, and think about getting to the next control rather than the full distance. Most riders get a second wind in the final 50 km.

## After the finish

Submit your brevet card at the finish, eat the largest meal you've been fantasizing about for the last three hours, and take a moment to appreciate what you just did. Two hundred kilometers is a long way. You are officially a *randonneur* now.

Post a ride report if you feel like it. The club loves hearing from first-timers, and your experience will help the next person who's staring at the calendar wondering if they can do it. Don’t be shy about asking questions online or at the start line. Randonneurs are generous with advice and genuinely happy to see new people show up.

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If this sounds a little daunting, that’s normal. If it sounds a little exciting too, that’s probably your answer. [Pick a 200](/calendar) and join us, or [contact your local chapter VP](/contact) to learn more.

## Rules and Regulations

Source: https://www.randonneursontario.ca/rules

All Randonneurs Ontario events follow the rules established by Randonneurs Mondiaux, with additional guidelines specific to our organization. Refer to the [Club Policies](/policies) page for all regulations and policies governing Randonneurs Ontario.

## General Rules

1. **Self-sufficiency**: Riders must be self-sufficient. Outside assistance is not permitted except at designated controls.

2. **Time limits**: Each event has a maximum time limit based on distance:
   - 200km: 13.5 hours
   - 300km: 20 hours
   - 400km: 27 hours
   - 600km: 40 hours
   - 1000km: 75 hours
   - 1200km: 90 hours

3. **Controls**: Riders must check in at all controls along the route. Controls have opening and closing times based on the overall time limit.

4. **Equipment**: Bicycles must be human-powered only. No electric assist is permitted.

## Required Equipment

All riders must carry:

- Front and rear lights (required for all events, even daytime starts)
- Reflective gear (vest or ankle bands)
- Helmet
- Brevet card

## Registration

- Pre-registration is required for all events
- Registration fees are non-refundable
- Day-of registration may be available at the organizer's discretion

## Results

Results are submitted to Randonneurs Mondiaux for homologation. Successfully completed brevets count toward:

- Super Randonneur award (200, 300, 400, 600km in one season)
- Randonneur 5000 (5000km of brevets in a calendar year)
- Paris-Brest-Paris qualification

## Code of Conduct

Riders are expected to:

- Follow all traffic laws
- Treat other riders, volunteers, and the public with respect
- Represent the randonneuring community positively

## Origins

Source: https://www.randonneursontario.ca/origins

*This article by Martin Heath first appeared in the club newsletter in 1997.*

Amongst the "cognoscenti" who frequented Bicyclesport, the word was that the "two Mikes" had some thing "in the works." During the early summer of 1982 they had constructed two touring bikes the like of which most us had never seen - just heard rumours. They were built of lightweight racing tube-sets, yet had longer wheelbases, more relaxed angles and wider clearances than a racing bike. They also had custom-made front and rear narrow lightweight racks, narrow mudguards, two or three bottle mounts and a generator that, whilst riding, could be activated via a lever near the seat cluster.

We scratched our heads. What kind of ride would require the generator to be turned on in motion? Answer - Alpine tunnels. It transpired that the two were planning to cross the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean by a prescribed route with time limits. Accompanied by Bob Zeller as their support vehicle driver/photographer/motel proprietor (this was early September, and all the hotels were closed), they were given a stern lecture by the organiser in Paris regarding the futility of their endeavour. Nobody had attempted the ride that late in the season. What with the mountains, cold, snow, and Mike Barry getting the flu, things got tough. But, of course, the tough got going, and they finished the ride many hours inside the time limit.

When Mike Barry gave their presentation and slide show of their exploits (very much in the vein of Don Quixote/Sancho Panza) at Bicyclesport, it transpired that he (taciturn fellow sometimes) was a friend of that famous cycling journalist Jock Wadley. Jock used to cover the TDF riding his Holdsworth bicycle to two or three points in the same stage by taking short cuts. His articles about the Tour would segue from the race to his own imagined participation whilst riding from one viewing point to another (aided also by the locals who will cheer anybody on a sports bike during the Tour).

In 1971 his enthusiasm and ability at long-distance riding had been noticed by some cyclo-sportif "randonneur" types and he was invited to participate in that year's "Paris-Brest-Paris". No doubt they turned a blind eye to his preference for "hushpuppies" over cycling shoes - the cleats hurt his feet and he couldn't leap off the bike and become a journalist with the required degree of agility. Hence the "Hush Puppies" - "Got to jump through this throng to get those succinct phrases out of "Pou-Pou", Graezyk, or Anquitel."

His experiences were recorded in "Old Roads and New", published in the north of England, read by thousands of club riders and led to the eventual formation of Audax UK, and a successful participation in PBP 1975 by (I guess) 75 Brits. We sat there listening spellbound to Mike Barry, because here was somebody that knew somebody that had actually participated in that mythical dream-event -the "Holy Grail" of cycling achievement, Paris Brest Paris. Yes, we had heard of it but it was regarded as unassailable - you couldn't just show up at the start and hope to ride!

This "Raid Pyrennes" that he and Mike Brown had just so spectacularly completed was, of course, organised by an affiliate organisation to the one that ran PBP. Like Svengali, Mike Barry was controlling our minds (and I am sure anticipating orders for some of those desirable Mariposa long-distance steeds). But he wouldn't commit himself, other than to say (to quote current popular or otherwise remarks) "Just watch me".

November and December passed and thoughts of cycling extended towards Rideau Lakes and great Canadian Bike Rally in Paris, Ont. - ideas of PBP were remote. In January, Bicyclesport announced that a presentation on PBP would take place the following week! About 25 eager-beaver starry-eyed wannabees heard Jerry Pareja from Vancouver relate his exploits in PBP 1979 and show the French language video. The enthusiastic response galvanized Mike Barry and Mike Brown into forming a new cycling club - the Toronto Randonneurs. Little did they realise at that time that future participation by the shop staff would curtail their own rides in the event.

While I was contemplating a choice of steeds for this pursuit of the Holy Grail, Mike Barry, Mike Brown, and Bob Zeller were plotting behind closed doors and open roads. Unbeknownst to us future randonneurs, they were concocting a challenging series of brevet rides to qualify us for PBP (assuming we made the mandatory and secret checkpoints). Randonneur riding is best described to noncycling people as a car rally on bicycles - you have to reach a certain point by a certain tune, have your card stamped, and proceed to the next control. At some time on the journey you come across an undisclosed secret check point. If this occurs on a gravel road in the middle of a miserable downpour, turning the surface into a quagmire, so be it.

They had designed some great routes - I forget the title of the 200K, but the 300 was the Tour of Lake Simcoe and the 400 was the tour (circumnavigation) of Lake Simcoe and Lake Scugog. They hadn't figured out (no time maybe) a unique 600K course, so it was a combo of the other routes, unfortunately returning to Yonge/Finch after the first leg (tempting to drop out here!). Anyway the route sheets they provided were impressive. Start here, proceed to there, turn left, proceed to there, turn right, and then you were on a gravel road. Go straight on this gravel road for 8 km, never mind the flat tires and wipe-outs.

Torture, we said! Mike and Mike said, Boy-Scout-like, "Be prepared - the worst may yet be to come!" Of course, there is minimal gravel in PBP. Some Audax Parisienne types who had admired the 2 Mike's "Raid Pyrenees" had probably asked them if there were any other riders of their calibre in Canada and I'm sure that Mike B. said "of course". In order to cover his ass/save face he put in these gravel roads - "to build character".

I missed the 200K, but by fall-back went with Florent D'Arras, Kasimir Sadek, and Hans Brucker to the 200K in Syracuse. This was a very wobbly event. The turns were marked by double painted arrows on the road. If you had made the correct turn, straight arrows were your confirmation. I was riding with (behind) Kas and Florent and I became quite agitated when I realised that we had passed a turn that was noted on the scheme-sheet (the large starting group had taken three different directions before this point!). I rode on cogitating, made my mind up and wheeled around on the road and retraced my cadence to Dotaxeur Road to rejoin the official route. Emerging from the checkpoint, I was delighted to meet James Konski, chief bigwig of Randonneurs USA (*Editor's note: Jim Kronski was, in fact, the chief of the International Randonneurs, which ceased to exist in 2000, and was replaced by Randonneurs USA as the American randonneuring organization.*) He wrote the route, so I decided to ride with him and not get lost. He was very friendly and chatty, and we got along great, but at such a slow pace I was worried about making checkpoints. Not to worry - he had done this before. We concluded the ride - the others had finished hours before. It was a happy experience to have qualified for the first brevet for PBP 1983!

Despite Syracuse being in a very hilly area, James Konski had cunningly engineered the route to be entirely flat and that really handicapped Americans in 83 and 87 at PBP (which is not flat - ever!)

Our 300K route started at Yonge and Sheppard, and saw a motley crew of ahout 30 riders including Kas Sadek on 50" fixed gear with one crank removed, his foot resting on the BB shell. He had done the Syracuse 200 in under 9 hours, but it had cost him an Achilles tendon - expensive!

The route went straight up Dufferin St. then over a roller-coaster of gravel and through Kettleby. On the climb out of Kettleby, I remarked to my companion Chris, "What a big gear he was using." By the time we dropped to the Marsh, he had blown up and the group was out of sight. Chris couldn't hold my wheel and told me to go ahead.

I caught glimpses of the group in the distance, which was good because I hadn't a clue where I was going, my route sheet was stashed away and I couldn't really make sense of it anyhow. So I had no choice - did I want to go to Paris? Yes! Engage large chainwheel and small sprocket and pretend to be Martin Merckx. I caught them on Canal Road cruising at 30 km/h. Connecting with the back of that bunch brought an overwhelming feeling of relief. Operating in a double pace line, I soon found myself halfway up the group, with Mike Barry making cracks about my hand made left hand crank. After Orillia it got harder and the weather deteriorated! Riders were going off the back at an alarming rate. At one point I remember sheltering behind Mike Miller (he's 6' 5") when a substantial gap opened between him and the other Mikes in front. I waited and waited for him to close it, but no, I had to do it myself and Mike Miller didn't follow. He was shattered! I stuck behind the two Mikes like tubular cement and wasn't going to let go - I still had absolutely no idea where I was or where I was going except in the general direction of Paris-Brest. Sometime after Uxbridge, the rain increased, fogging my glasses. I remember Mike Barry and Mike Brown stylishly peeling around the perimeter of a rain filled pothole whilst dummy here in the back slammed straight through. denting both rims. But I kept going!

Bob Zeller had fiendishly devised a secret control on a gravel road, which, with the additional liquid precipitation caused some riders to detour. This was unfortunate, as no secret control stamp meant no brevet! At the finish. angry words were muttered but no quarter was given. How I survived I don't know - it was the hardest ride I have ever done and I think it was just the motivation of PBP participation that got me through it. Also I had done a ride of the same distance 22 years previously- a club run on 66" fixed (six riders) from Leeds over the North Yorkshire Moors to Whitby and back. I think that once you have done something extraordinary like that, you never forget it.

Because the Bicyclesport staff worked Saturday (very busy) and Monday, it was decided that the 400K would start at midnight Saturday, allowing some sleep before the staff had to report for duty on Monday morning.

What with one thing and another I was 30 min. late at Yonge and Steeles. The group had left but Mrs. Barry and Mrs. Brown were there and duly marked my control card with a start time of 12:30- sending me into the night. On the gravelly roller coaster of Dufferin, I found Dan Herbert with a flat tire. Being on tubulars, I couldn't help him, so he sent me on and I soon found the entire group waiting for him. For some reason Dan couldn't continue, so we proceeded in double pace line to dawn in Barrie. As conditions were fast - little wind, we got to Orillia it 60 mins.! By the time we hit the restaurant in Kinmount, it was apparent that we were in for a scorcher in terms of temperature (if not speed). Going into Kinmount, as I dropped back from the front to the rear of the group with Dave Phillips (Bicyclesport frame-building apprentice), I was chastised by Florent D'Arras "What are you trying to do - kill us, you were doing 42 KM!!" Behind the Kinvale restaurant I found an abandoned washing-sponge, which I sliced in two with my Swiss Army knife, offering a piece to Dave Phillips. "Soak it in water and put it inside your hat - it cools the head." An old TDF trick. We soldiered on, and at Bobcaygeon. I screamingly insisted we make a water-stop at a corner store. Sometime after Blackstock and before Uxbridge. we made a left turn and dismounted to regroup. Looking back, we saw Mike Brown and Mike Miller, both glassy-eyed, coming around the corner. Having made the turn they were unable to straighten out or undo their toestraps, consequently tumbling into the ditch. Heat prostration, lack of fluid etc. was to blame. Remember, this was "before Cytomax".

Magically a nursing angel in the bodily form of Mrs Brown appeared in a very terrestrial VW van and carted off the afflicted. I like hot conditions, partly because I know how to deal with them (water, water water) and we finished the ride in 20 hours, but of course I had the fastest time of all - 19h30m!

I don't really want to describe the 600K - not enough nasty epithets exist. As I previously mentioned it was a combo of 200K and 300K routes with extra mileage but involving a return to Yonge and Steeles after the first leg. I was so tired that I declined Mrs. Brown's hospitality and "slept" in my van with no change of clothes, shower or anything including sleep - for the traffic noise was relentless and amplified by the thin walls of the van. Consequently I had a miserable conclusion to the 600 and the others had to drag me along and feed me Mars Bars to the finish.

Now I felt that I could relax, having qualified for PBP, but I overdid it. You should really refer to my article in the newsletter of 1984 "How NOT to train and ride PBP!"

## Additional Pages

- [What is Randonneuring?](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/intro): Comprehensive guide to the sport — brevets, myths vs reality, distance ladder, history
- [Membership](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/membership): Membership tiers (Trial, Individual, Family) and how to join
- [Contact](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/contact): Board members, chapter contacts, and mailing address
- [Event Calendar](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/calendar): Upcoming brevets and populaires across all chapters
- [Results](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/results): Season results by chapter, rider completions
- [Rider Directory](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/riders): Directory of registered randonneurs
- [News](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/news): Club announcements and updates
- [Routes](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/routes/toronto): Chapter route directories with GPS tracks and cue sheets

## Optional

- [Policies](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/policies): Official club documents — bylaws, BRM rules, code of conduct, privacy policy
- [Newsletter Archive](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/newsletters): "The Long Road" newsletters from 2004–2012
- [Records](https://www.randonneursontario.ca/records): Club distance and speed records