San Francisco Randonneurs : FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions people frequently ask. (Please note most answers are also found elsewere in this website.) Got an idea for a question that should make it to this FAQ? Please contact us!

How do I register for your events?

Download, complete, SIGN and mail the Entry Form along with a CHECK payable to "Todd Teachout" to:

Todd Teachout, Regional Brevet Administrator
San Francisco Randonneurs
172 Tanager Way
Hercules, CA 94547-1517

Your application will be returned unprocessed without a SIGNED release form!
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What is the refund policy?

The will be no refunds made for entrants who withdraw or fail to show up. Other situations will be evaluated on a case be case basis. Refunds shall be subject to the following conditions: [1] A $3.00 deduction will be made from your prepaid entry fees. [2] Each registered rider MUST SUBMIT A WRITTEN OR E-MAILED REQUEST for a refund before December 31, 2007. No written request, no refund! Refund requests are to be sent to: Todd Teachout, c/o San Francisco Randonneurs, 172 Tanager Way, Hercules, CA 94547-1517, or thteach@community.net. A SASE return envelope MUST accompany each refund request.
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How many riders can register for an event?

There is a 100 Rider limit for each event
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Where is the startting point for SF Randonneurs brevets?

Most of our events start at the Straus statue located off the vistor center at the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge.

You can view a Google map here (Opens in new window)
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What is Permanent?

From the RUSA website...

What is a Permanent?
A Permanent is like a brevet but you can ride it any time, not just on one specific date. Like brevets, routes can start and finish in the same location, but they can also run point-to-point, and can be any distance of 200km+ (100-199km for a Permanent Populaire). Permanent rides in the US are validated by RUSA.
Who can ride a Permanent?
Permanents are open to any RUSA member.
Who can organize one?
Any RUSA member can organize a Permanent - you do not need to be an RBA. For more information on how to set up a Permanent, refer to the Rules for Permanent Route Owners document.
How do I enter a Permanent?
First check the listing of available routes. Contact the organizer well in advance of your planned riding date - at least four weeks is recommended. The organizer will provide you with an entry form and further information about the ride, including the entry fee. Submit the completed form and fee to receive your control card and cue sheet. At the agreed date and time, obtain a stamp on your card at the start location and you can begin riding.
How do the rules differ between a Permanent and a BRM event?
The rules for riding either are the same. The BRM rules are listed on this web site.
Does a Permanent have to be a solo ride?
No, you may ride a Permanent in a group with others. The rule regarding drafting requires that everyone in the group be entered in the ride. Also, if you have a support crew, the rules allow them to meet you only at the control points.
Can I ride a Permanent on any day of the year?
In theory, yes. However, the date you ride is by agreement between you and the organizer. An organizer may choose to make his/her route available only during certain months, and he/she may need to restrict certain dates due to other personal commitments. Remember, all organizers are unpaid volunteers working for your benefit.
Can I use a Permanent ride towards qualification for Paris-Brest-Paris or other foreign brevets?
No. Permanents are not ACP registered events. ACP will not recognize them for PBP qualification, neither will other organizers outside the US.
Can I use a Permanent to qualify for BRM, or other long distance US events?
This will be at the discretion of the organizer requiring qualification. A rider who wishes to use a Permanent towards qualification for one of these rides should contact the organizer well ahead of time. The Permanent must be as long or longer than the qualifying distance it represents.
More on this topic >
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Do you offer any Permanents?

Thanks to Willy Nevin there is a 200k Permanent that starts and ends in San Francisco.

This ride starts at Ft Mason where there is a Safeway to check in. (Control 1) ride to Nicassio then out to Petaluma for control 2 from Petaluma to Valley Ford for control 3 Valley Ford back along Hwy 1 thru Tomales and Pt Reyes Station for control 4 then back to Ft Mason thru Samual P Taylor Park for a total of about 203k.

You should be able to get good receipts at all controls but a postcard may be included for Valley Ford just in case as there is only one store there.

This Permanent is available year-round and the fee in $15.

You can see the RUSA page for this Permanent here.
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Can I see sample routes form past events?

Check our Forms & Downloads page. We keep recent cue sheets (and sometimes maps) on the site.
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Got any San Francisco hotel/places to stay recommendations?

We have some links to online resources in our Links page. You can also try posting a message on the SFRandon mailing list to request recommendations form fellow San Francisco Randonneurs.

In general most of the Motels located on Lombard Street between Van Ness and Divisadero are decent places to stay. They are about 2-3 miles from the starting point of most SFR brevets, The Golden Gate Bridge. Most if not all of those motels have parking lots.

Here are some of the places riders have used in the past:
Travelodge at the Presidio San Francisco $89 AAA rate (Jan, 2008)

To ride from Lombard St. to the start of most SFR events:

Enter the Presidio at the Lyon@Lombard gate

Right on Letterman

Right on Lincoln. After a while ~1-1.5 miles you'll see a dirt parking lot on the right, stop here and search for the volunteers doing the pre-event signup and brevet card delivery. Once you are done continue climbing on Lincoln.

Right on Vista Acc, the first right after the dirt parking lot, and ride to the Strauss Statue. Most events start here.

Want more detailed instructions? View a Google map with turn by turn directions from Lombard St @ Lyon to the start of most SFR events, the Strauss Statue at the South end of the GGB.

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Got any carpool recommendations?

You can try posting a message on the SFRandon mailing list to request /offer a ride.

For riders coming from the East Bay to San Francisco, AC Transit has the Transbay service Route: 800 All Nighter. Richmond BART to Market St. and Van Ness Ave., S.F., via Macdonald Ave., San Pablo Ave., University Ave., Telegraph Ave. and downtown Oakland. Returns via Market St., West Oakland BART to downtown Oakland and then to Richmond BART.

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Are support vehicles allowed?

Personal Support vehicles are strongly discouraged as they are not in keeping with the spirit the event. Nevertheless Personal Support vehicles will be allowed at designated controls as approved by the Regional Brevet Administrator. Riders receiving assistance from a Personal Support vehicle along the route will be disqualified. Riders choosing to use a Personal Support Vehicles must register with the Regional Brevet Administrator when you enter the event.
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Is mechanical support available at the controls?

No.
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Do you offer a RSS Feeds on your site?

Sure we do. We offer two separate RSS 2.0 (Really Simple Syndication) feeds:

The News RSS feed. Keep up to date with stuff directly related to our brevets like changes, announcement of results posted to website, cancellations...
The Calendar RSS feed. Members may request to post a ride on the calendar so others can join them. The Calendar also may be used to post remainders of important date/deadline for events.

How do I conctact the webmaster?

Send email to .
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