Dart/Dart Populaire
Dart/Dart Populaire
About the Dart/Dart Populaire:
  • The Dart is a team event, similar to the Flèche, where multiple teams of 3 to 5 members* will ride a one-way route of at least 200 km during a period of 13.5 hours, with all teams converging on a common finish location.
  • The Dart Populaire is a shorter version of the Dart, where teams must ride at least 120 km in 8 hours converging on a common finish location.
  • As with the Fleche, the goal is to use the entire time limit to cover the distance. Teams may plan a challenging route or a relaxed one as they wish.

(* a member is a bicycle with one or more riders, so a tandem or triple counts as one team member.)

Dart teams will start between 5:00 am and 7:00 am (finishing between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm). 
Dart Populaire teams will start between 9:00 am and 11:00 am, finishing between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm.
If you're planning to take Capitol Corridor back to the Davis/Sacramento area please check the train schedules so you can choose a start time which will allow you to relax at the finish instead of rushing off to the train station.
Start times may be assigned by the organizer based on how many teams are registered. If your team requires a start time outside of the limits given above contact the SFR Team Events Coordinator to see if you can be accommodated.

You do not need to be a RUSA member to ride in a Dart or Dart Populaire. If you are a RUSA member, successfully completing a Dart counts towards the R-12 award, and counts for 200 km of distance for distance-related awards. The Dart Populaire counts towards the P-12 award and counts for 120 km of distance for distance-related awards. Both the Dart and Dart Populaire are accepted as Team Events for RUSA awards which require a Team Event, such as the RUSA cup.

Useful links:
General team event information from RUSA
Dart rules
Dart Populaire rules