The Flèches-USA are 24-hour randonnées held in various regions of the
United States during the spring. The traditional event date is Easter
weekend, but it may be held from one week before Easter until seven weeks
after. The Flèches-USA are administered by Randonneurs USA (RUSA) and its
Regional Brevet Administrators (RBA). These rides are patterned after the
Flèche Vélocio held by the Audax Club Parisien (ACP) in France, and count
toward the ACP's Randonneur-5000 award. Each team is limited to a maximum of
five members and a minimum of three members. Tandems or other multi-rider
vehicles count as a single member. Members of the same team may assist one
another. However, teams are expressly forbidden to aid each other, even
teams from the same club. The one exception to this is in the event of a
medical emergency. During the event, riders may not draft anyone except
their flèche teammates. The Flèches-USA are team events; no individual
entries are allowed. Each team may start its ride between noon Thursday and
10:00 AM on Saturday. The minimum distance required for the 24-hour period
is 360 KM. No rest stop may exceed two hours in any one location.
Traditionally in the South Central Florida Region we usually start our
Fleches at 07:00 am on Easter Saturday and finish at our destination at
07:00 am Easter Sunday Morning. This year our destination is Clermont, Fl.
Each team is to design its own route that is at least 360 KM in length.
The traditional format for a flèche is point-to-point, like an archer's
arrow (flèche in French) flying toward its target. Though not a classic
flèche route, a large circuit or loop may also be used, such as to make a
scenic tour of a region. However, an out-and-back route is not consistent
with the traditions of the flèche. Out-and-back route segments are
permitted, such as to obtain food and supplies in remote regions, but no
control may be used more than once and no road segment may be used more than
once in the same direction. If an out-and-back route segment is utilized in
the overall route design, a control point must be located at its turnaround.
A team captain is either elected, or volunteers for the position and is
responsible to send in two complete copies of the route map and cue sheets
along with registration forms and entry fees ($25 each) for all team members
to the RBA at least four weeks in advance with a self addressed stamped
envelope for return of brevet cards and approved routes. Our dead line will
be Wednesday, March 15th, 2006. The Fleche will be held on Easter Week End
Saturday, April 15th, and Sunday April 16th, 2006. Complete details for
riders and team captains is located on the RUSA web site
www.rusa.org.org
under the “team events” link. Registration forms and other information found
on our web site:
www.bike4one.com/brevets/.
This year we hope to have three or four teams so if you are interested
please contact me individually or form a team and call me. I will maintain a
list of those wishing to participate on a team. Last year we had a team from
Ohio start in Madison, Fl. and one from our region start in West Palm Beach
with Clermont, Fl.as the final destination.
Please notify me asap if you would like to be on a team so we can get
teams formed for this really fun event.
At the current time we have two teams: Team "No Limits" and Team "Satan's
Helpers".
See pictures of the event:
Fleche_pictures.
Sincerely, Michael E. Grussemeyer, RBA, South Central Florida Region,
e:mail
web site:
www.bike4one.com/brevets/ Ph;
239-549-7459
