Randonneurs USA

Les Randonneurs Mondiaux
Rèal Prèfontaine, President
#4 - 35035 Morgan Way
Abbotsford, BC, Canada
V2S5T7
Tele: (604)853 9594
Fax: (604)853 4466

President's Letter #2
March, 2000

You should all have received the results of the 14th PBP. A hearty THANK YOU to Robert and Suzanne Lepertel and all the ACP team for an excellent report. The reading brings back fond memories.

As we look forward to 2000, you will remember the challenge of a 2000 km brevet in 2000. To date three clubs have accepted the challenge. Rules for this brevet are the same as the Brevet de Randonneurs Mondiaux of the ACP. The minimum global time is 166.5 hours for an average speed of 12 km per hour. Any other club planning a 2K in Y2K should send me their coordinates to ensure validation.

The General Assembly of les RM in 1999 unanimously approved that the registration fee for all events to be validated by les RM include the cost of the RM medal (50FF) or pin (35FF). These may be purchased from the President using Canadian or US currency equivalent. In addition to the medal or pin, successful participants will be awarded a special Diploma. As your President I invite a competition to design a special Diploma. I ask all recipient of this Letter to convey this information to all randonneurs in their country. The design should be in color, camera ready, and sent to Robert Lepertel; 7, avenue de Normadie; 93220 GAGNY, France, who will have the Diploma printed. (The winner of the competition will be duly recognized by les RM.)

In my Letter #1, I made reference to the need to consolidate our "modus operandi" or "modus vivendi". This is not an undertaking that can be accomplished by one person. Consultation with all members is required and several drafts will no doubt be necessary before a final document can be presented to our General Meeting in 2003 for approval. The age of electronics (E-mail) provides us with a rapid and inexpensive means of communication. All members of les RM, founding members, elected members and associate members are ask to provide me with the name and E-mail address of a member from their country with E-mail to act as a corresponding member towards this task. I will form a small work group to prepare a preliminary draft, then all members, through their corresponding member will be asked for input. I realize this endeavor will require many hours of volunteer work, but I am confident with the spirit of cooperation that exist amongst randonneurs we will accomplish this project.

Remember the rush to purchase a T-shirt and/or other souvenirs on Registration Day at the 1999 PBP? Well Don Briggs, Vice President will be exploring the feasibility of a unique and representative Randonneurs Mondiaux Jersey, and maybe even a T-shirt. This is his project and we will hear further from Don in the future.

Italy: Italy was represented at the PBP for the first time with over 100 participants from one Club. Three additional clubs have now been organized. BRM of 200, 300 & 400 are planned for 2000 as well as a 1000 km September 7-10 along the coast of Sicily.

South Africa: For the first time since 1987, S.A. was represented by sixteen participants at the 1999 PBP. Audax Randonneurs S.A. has two full series of brevets in 2000. T.E. Thomlinson is the S.A. representative to les RM and editor of their Newsletter.

Australia: Members of Audax Australia have revised their organization structure and consolidated the activities of all of their States and Territories. They use "teleconferencing" as a means of communicating. Interesting approach that could be considered by other geographically large countries. One 1200 km events is planned for 2000: Perth-Albany-Perth, Oct.14-17.

United Kingdom: Audax UK with over 3000 members is possibly the Club in les RM with the largest membership. The list of their BRM and many other brevets is accessible via http:/www.audax.uk.com. AUK also administers the International Super Randonneurs award. The challenging London-Edinburgh-London is schedule for 2001.

United States: The consolidation of several individual clubs has resulted in a new randonneurs organization: Randonneurs USA formed in 1998. With over 950 members registered in the first year of operation, RUSA is now the largest Randonneur club in the USA and has been recognized as the representative of USA to les Randonneurs Mondiaux. Over 130 BRM events are schedule for 2000 including the now world renowned Boston-Montréal-Boston.

Canada: In addition to over 38 BRM scheduled,Canada will be hosting two 2K in Y2K **. The British Columbia Randonneurs Cycling Club will be hosting the bi-annual Rocky Mountain 1200 km July 26-30. This is an outstanding scenic circuit from Kamloops through Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, Lake Louise and the north Okanagan valley. This 1200 km brevet is the first phase of the Canada-America (Can-Am) Challenge, (sometime referred as the "Real Challenge"). The second phase is the BMB. Both events must be completed the same year.