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!
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, 2009. No written request, no refund! Refund requests are to be sent to: Rob Hawks, c/o San Francisco Randonneurs, 5630 Santa Cruz Ave., Richmond, CA 94804, or rba@sfrandonneurs.org. A SASE return envelope MUST accompany each refund request.
The only events with a rider limit are the events that travel to Point Reyes Lighthouse which have a limit of 100 riders. At this time only two events travel to the Lighthouse both Point Reyes 200k's, one in Januray and one in the Fall. This limit is imposed by the National park Service not SFR.
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.
SFR and the RBA do not administer or 'own' permanents. However fellow SFR club member Willy Nevin owns a 200k Permanent that starts and ends in San Francisco. You can search for other Northern California Permanents at the RUSA.org website
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 Samuel 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.
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.
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.
Probably the best way to get into San Francisco from the SFO airport is by taking BART and then ride from any of the San Francisco stations to your final destination.
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.
Parking
Here are some maps for helping you find parking near or at the different starting points of most of our events. Please note you are responsable for verifiying you are allowed to park in these locations.
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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