Randonneuring uses controls to validate that riders ride the entire route (without shortcutting) and do so within the minimum and maximum times allowed. Designing a route that includes control points is easier with experience. Local conditions, time of day, and club size or traditions often dictate the types of controls and the distances. The ideal control is located in towns that are spaced such that most riders would likely take a break, whether or not there was a control. The control would have restrooms, food and water available for purchase, or other provisions to get the rider serviced and back on the road. The following sections provide guidelines for determining the location and type of controls to use for your routes.
Controlling for Route Integrity
Place controls primarily to assure route integrity (so as to prevent material shortcutting of the route), as described above. Within that framework, spacing controls at regular, useful distances for refreshment, as described below, is the next priority.
Control Distances
You should space controls at regular intervals between the brevet start and finish. The optimum distance is 50-100km with a maximum of 150km. Hillier route sections might require more closely spaced controls; flatter sections might require further spaced controls. According to the distance, there would ideally be:
Start/Finish Controls
Brevets may have only one start location, and one finish location. For most brevets, these are the same; point-to-point routes are logistically harder to ride and support. You should choose a location that provides sufficient parking and easy access for the riders. The start location should have restrooms if possible. If not, the organizer should know locations of nearby facilities.
One or more volunteers selected by the organizer should staff the start and finish controls between their official opening and closing times. You might want to keep this in mind when selecting a finish control. Sitting in a parking lot, far from services is a sure way to discourage volunteers.
For shorter events, starting at or near a restaurant will encourage riders to gather post-ride, enjoy a meal and share experiences. For longer events, particularly a 400km, you might want to consider starting and finishing at a motel. This allows riders to arrive the night before a brevet that typically starts very early. It also encourages riders to sleep after completing the event. Some RBAs have a motel room available for riders to use for showers and naps following longer events. This also provides a comfortable location for the volunteers working the finish control.
Some RBAs run their events completely self-supported such that there is no volunteer to staff the finish. In such situations, the RBA often designates a drop box for brevet cards. A drop box might be the front desk of a hotel, or a business that has agreed to stamp or sign, date and collect the cards. Another idea is the have riders collect their final control verification, such as a receipt, at a local business and then drop their card packet (plastic bag, card and receipts) through the slightly open window of the RBA vehicle.
In all cases, however, start and finish controls must be timed. (They may not be information or postcard controls.)
[11/2013]
Intermediate Controls
Intermediate Controls can be of the following types:
- Event-Staffed
- Local Establishment
- Information (no opening/closing times)
- Postcard (no opening/closing times)
- … and of course the Secret Control (Event-Staffed)
Intermediate controls are preferrably staffed by event volunteers or located where one or more establishments are open for business during the control times. You might also want to check if the businesses have restrooms available and indicate this on the cue sheet.
Most controls will specify a particular business. Other controls, called open controls, allow the riders to choose any establishment in the town or area. This allows the rider to eat at a choice of restaurants, to grab a quick snack at the local mini market, or to move quickly through the control town using their ATM card to collect a printed bank receipt. When you use open controls, you should also suggest a few establishments.
Another intermediate control type is the information control. You can use these controls in locations where there are no services and the route requires a control to prevent shortcutting the route. Alternatively, you can use them at times when businesses are closed. For an information control, you ask a question that the rider can only answer if he or she is at that location. Ideally, you should locate information controls at prominent locations: road intersections, hard to miss buildings such as churches or fire stations. The question should be obvious if one is there, for example, the distance to a town indicated on the road intersection sign, the color of a particular church, or the price of regular gas at a specific gas station. NOTE: An information control is generally not admissible if the route passes through the control more than once during the event (e.g., as on an out-and-back route).
Another control type is the postcard control. You can use a postcard control when a suitable business is not available. The ride organizer usually supplies a stamped and addressed postcard. At the specific location indicated as a control, the rider signs, dates and mails the postcard. NOTE: A postcard control is generally not admissible if the route passes through the control more than once during the event (e.g., as on an out-and-back route).
Secret controls can be located anywhere along the route. They do not have the time constraints of a timed control, because riders are not required to maintain at least the minimum average pace (or stay under the maximum pace) at every moment of the event, only through (published) controls. Example: rider takes a sleep break at a control and leaves it after it closes, with the aim of making up the time en route: a secret control right after that might be outside the closing window, if the control were timed.
[11/2013]
When to Use an Event-Staffed Control
[2/2011]
Many regions primarily use local establishments as intermediate controls: they provide a timed validation and rider support without the need for event staff. When might you consider an event-staffed control?
- Large Ridership (especially early in the route) – Local establishments may welcome the extra trade that randonneurs bring, but not if there are so many they overwhelm the staff or impede other customers. An event-staffed control relieves that burden – but take care to avoid giving the impression that you are robbing local stores of business (e.g., by setting up in their parking lot without some prior arrangement).
- Support Needed in Sparse Region – Your route may go through an extended stretch without services – and often the most scenic areas are the most sparsely served by stores, etc. While you might be able to find some good information control questions or an isolated post office, the riders may need support which event staff could provide.
- Culture – You or your sponsoring club may just prefer to offer a more staff supported event.