The Cambrian Super Randonnee 600 is high on my wish list. I might have entered it last year if I hadn’t already entered the Super Randonnee around the Dolomites and made all my travel plans. I rode that last August and it was by far the hardest ride I’ve ever done with 15500m of ascent according to my Garmin and 16800m according to Strava. The organiser asked me to set up WhatsApp on my phone so I could send him my control photos on the way round so he could track my progress. I downloaded the free app and set a group up with him and my family so they could all see where I was up to. This worked very well and the organiser also messaged me back with welcome words of encouragement. Like Wales the Dolomites has areas with no internet access but photos get sent automatically when you next get a connection.
I didn’t stop for food or accommodation on the ride and filled my bidons from fountains along the route so didn’t actually spend any money. I had hoped to get round in about 42 hours as the ride was “only” advertised as 13000m but the relentless and extra climbing slowed me down and I unexpectedly had to go through the whole of the second night. This meant I had to sleep out twice on the second night with no bivvi kit and eventually finished early the next morning, still over 10 hours inside the Randonneur limit.
Regarding the points, I claimed it as an Overseas 600 and sent in my gps track for AAA points. Before 2018 marcusjb was the only Audax UK rider to complete a Super Randonnee 600 and that was another very tough one around the Pyrenees back in 2013. He had received 6 distance points and 15 AAA points so I expected similar. Why not when it is a permanent ride considered, at least by ACP, to be at Randonneur level? I was initially given 6 distance points and 16 AAA points but the AAA points were on the right day and the distance points were on the last day of the 2018 season. When I asked for this to be corrected and my ACP brevet number added, I was told that the Audax UK board had decided that Super Randonnees would not be awarded distance points and my points were taken away! Luckily I didn’t particularly need them as I was still over 100 points and hyper anyway, but it was still annoying as it took the edge off my achievement a bit, especially as it was the last ride I needed for my ACP Randonneur 10000.
My personal view is that Audax UK should respect what ACP consider to be Randonneur level rides and award the points accordingly which would mean that anyone completing the Cambrian Super Randonnee in under 60 hours would get the distance and AAA points that they deserve. This would also encourage Audax UK riders to participate in Super Randonnees and work towards the ACP Randonneur 10000.
The super randonee rules expressly prohibit it being done in conjunction with another event/award.
Below is the full current English version of the rules for Super Randonnées.
The only lines I can see that relate to what you are saying are at the top of the "Notes" section.
"A Super Randonnée cannot be counted as participation in, or as credit for another event held in conjuntion with the Super Randonnée."
"A Super Randonnée cannot be held both at the same time and on the same course as a BRM of 600 km."
In relation to the Cambrian Super Randonnée this would mean that you could not ride the "normal" Audax UK permanent version at the same time. Also if the route was ever made into a BRM 600km you couldn't do your Super Randonnée version whilst that was on.
Awards don't seem to be mentioned.
Super Randonnées are simply hilly permanent events and if they are completed in 60 hours or less they are at Randonneur level. As they are clearly over 200km surely they should attract distance points at the usual rate of 1 point per 100km.
As far as I can see, it's just the minimum average speed that might seem a bit generous at 10km/h, especially for Super Randonnées that are not much over the 10,000m climbing limit, but Super Randonnées are still not an easy option for any rider wanting to ride 600km. I think a Super Randonnée in 60 hours is still harder than riding a flat BRM 600km in 40 hours.
RULES OF THE SUPER RANDONNÉES
Introduction
The Super Randonnée is a permanent route, ridden at the initiative of the participant. Riders choose their start date and time, how they get organized, what they put in their bags, how they manage their time, if they sleep at the hotel or in a sleeping bag or not at all. Regarding their own organization, they have no other obligation than to make the overall time limit according to the option chosen (Randonneur or Tourist) and to do the ride without the support of a vehicle. Each of them is responsible for validating his/her passage at the controls. In short, they can and have to handle things all by themselves. The spirit of the Super Randonnée is based on freedom and maturity of the riders.
What are Super Randonnées ?
Super Randonnées are permanents which are organized, verified and validated by Audax Club Parisien. They are located in mountainous areas.
The length is about 600 km (373 miles) and the total amount of climbing is over 10.000 m (32.800 feet).
At registration, each rider selects to ride a Super Randonnée either as a Tourist or as a Randonneur.
- Tourists have to complete the SR at a minimum average of 75 km per day.
- The time limit for Randonneurs is 60 hours.
Being permanents, Super Randonnées can be ridden at any time of the year, provided the roads are open. Please make sure that they are before starting.
About the Riders
Super Randonnées are open to any amateur cyclist regardless of cycling affiliations. Each rider must be covered by liability insurance. Any rider under the age of 18 must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
Any form of human-powered vehicle is acceptable.
Riders are allowed to ride either alone or in a group.
After registration, riders will receive a personal SR card and a frame badge. Both need to be kept with them throughout the ride. On the card, the requested information (name, first name, address etc.) must be completed before the start.
Riders’ Duties
Each rider must be self-sufficient. Support vehicules, even occasionally, are totally forbidden, on the course and at the control places.
Each rider is considered to be on a personal ride. The ACP cannot and does not accept responsibility for any accidents that may occur during a Super Randonnée. The rider must ride in accordance with all applicable traffic regulations and obey all traffic signals.
Riders must follow the route of the Super Randonnée. The organizer provides a detailed cue sheet (road book) indicating the location of the control places, and GPS-files.
Those who have registered as Randonneurs must start from the official starting point. As Tourists, they can choose any other starting point on the cue sheet.
Bikes must be equipped with front and rear lights attached firmly to the bike. During hours of darkness or other low-light conditions (rain, fog, etc.), lights must be turned on and a high-visibility vest must be worn, as requested by the French traffic law. Backup lighting system and headlamp are strongly recommended.
It is recommended to wear an approved helmet, light-colored clothes, and to carry a survival blanket and a cell phone.
Registration
By registering for the Super Randonnée, the participants declare on their honor that they are in sufficient physical condition to complete the course chosen, and to have read the safety instructions.
Each rider must contact the organizer and send the registration fee at least 30 days before the intended ride. The riders can cancel their registration by sending back their SR card.
A card is valid until the participant has started. If he or she starts and abandons, the card is no longer valid for another attempt.
In the Randonneur option, riders must declare a starting date and time at registration. It is possible to change the date and time after registration by informing the organizer of the new date and time, but only up to at least a week before the start.
In the Tourist option, riders do not have to specify a start date. However, if they plan to start from another point than the official starting point, they must notify the organizer of their starting point.
Control and Homologation
Both Tourists and Randonneurs must note on their card the start and finish date and time (day, hour, minute), and the time of passage at all intermediate control places (hour, minute).
They must prove their passage at the control places by taking a picture of their bike at the place designated by the organizer. For each Super Randonnée, the organizer provides detailed information about the places where to take the control pictures. These information can also be sent by e-mail. The rider can appear on the picture, but not without his or her bike.
If circumstances permit, riders can have their card stamped at an establishment located at the control place, instead of taking a picture. The stamp must show the name of the control place, otherwise it is no valid.
Missing pictures (if no replaced by stamps), missing control times, or loss of the card (regardless of how far into the ride a rider is) will result in disqualification.
Each participant is required to personally complete his or her SR card. Each participant must personally provide the organizer with all the control pictures requested for his or her homologation.
Secret controls may occur at the start and during the ride.
Those riding as Randonneurs and finishing in more than the alloted time will be homologated as Tourists, provided they have validated all controls and observed the present rules.
After the ride, participants must return their SR card to the organizer, together with the required pictures. The pictures can be sent as electronic files.
The SR card will be returned to the rider after it has been verified and a homologation number has been assigned. Homologation numbers are issued in chronological order, including both Tourists and Randonneurs. The list of the homologated riders will be posted on the ACP Web site in chronological order. Super Randonnées are not competitive events. Riders are not classified by performance.
Notes
A Super Randonnée cannot be counted as participation in, or as credit for another event held in conjuntion with the Super Randonnée.
A Super Randonnée cannot be held both at the same time and on the same course as a BRM of 600 km.
Super Randonnées being permanents, the organizer has the obligation to offer them throughout the year (provided the roads are open to traffic). If the organizer wants to set a date for a Super Randonnée, he may do so, provided that the rules are respected. In particular, he is not allowed to offer motorized assistance, even occasionally, nor to perform control operations instead of the riders. He must offer the two options, Tourist and Randonneur, and he must not impose any time schedule to the riders.
It is expected that those riding a Super Randonnée agree that their name will be published by the ACP. In any case, their identities will not be used for commercial purposes and will not be transmitted to third parties.
It is also expected that those riding a Super Randonnée fully accept these rules. Any fraud, cheating, or deliberate violation of these rules will result in the exclusion of the rider from all ACP events. The rider may appeal or complain in writing (including by e-mail) to the Board of Directors of ACP, which will then render a final decision.
Contact
Sophie MATTER
3960 ancien chemin de Salernes, 83570 Cotignac - FRANCE
sophie.matter@audax-club-parisien.com
from France 06 650 44 200
from abroad (33) 6 650 44 200
Dernière révision de cette page: 11 Décembre 2018 (11h29mm)