Great Lakes Brevet Series

The Great Lakes Brevet Series is a series of long-distance bike rides through rural southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. If you are looking for more of a challenge than your local century and enjoy the company of others who are more interested in seeing you finish than dropping you on the next climb then please join us.

These rides are open to everyone and do not require membership in any organization. There are no rider limits. They are not suitable for beginners however, riders should have completed several long-distance rides before starting a brevet. Prospective and novice brevet riders are strongly encouraged to review our extensive frequently asked questions and brevet tips pages.

The registration form can be used for pre or ride-day registration. Ride-day registration opens an hour before and closes one hour after the scheduled start. The ride-day fee is an additional $5. Helmet use is required and riders under 18 require a parent or guardian's signature. Note that riders cannot change their declared distance if they want RUSA certification credit.

These rides start and finish at the Super 8 Motel, 518 Borg Road, Delavan, WI. To reduce congestion, riders not staying at the motel have been asked to park across the street in the shopping center lot on the east side of Borg Rd.

Travel

Delavan is about 70 miles northwest of Chicago. Google Maps shows driving directions via I-94.

METRA Bikes-on-Trains service is available on the UP-NW line to Harvard, IL. - 18 miles from Delavan via this route. A maximum of 20 bikes can usually be accommodated on friday trains leaving Chicago before 3:00 P.M. and after 7:00 P.M.

Lodging

Hotels in the area are often filled. Riders wishing to stay at our host motel, the Super 8, should make reservations well in advance @ 262-728-1700. A block of rooms has been reserved for discounted registration until thirty days before each brevet. You must indicate you are with GLR to receive the discount. It can not be combined with any others and is not available online. Reservations that are not cancelled at least 24 hours before check-in will be charged for one night.

The Comfort Suites hotel is within walking distance at 313 Bauer Parkway, Delavan, WI. 262-740-1000. Additional lodging is available in the Delevan Lake area and at nearby Lake Geneva.

Weather

Rides are held rain or shine. Riders should bring adequate clothing and be prepared for variable weather conditions. During periods of diminished visibility riders are encouraged to take appropriate measures to enhance their visibility - these include the use of reflective clothing and supplemental lighting.

Weather information for Janesville, WI is available at:

TWC hourly forecast NWS graphical forecast

SE Wisconsin Radar Image StormTrack Radar Futurecast

Rider Conduct

These events are not competitive, riders may strive to ride a personal best but not to defeat fellow riders. Friendly camaraderie, not competition, is the hallmark of randonneuring.

Riders are encouraged to ride at their own pace however riding in small groups is recommended for safety at night and during periods of decreased visibility. Drafting is allowed however extra space and caution are recommended.

Aerobars are allowed however for safety reasons we ask that you refrain from using them when drafting. They are not allowed on Paris-Brest-Paris so potential participants should avoid extended use.

Riders are responsible for their own navigation. Cue sheets are provided that show the distance at each turn.  In many cases, road names on the web do not match road signs, therefore the cue sheet may not match what is shown on Google Maps.

Riders are expected to be self-supporting between checkpoints. Riders should carry tools, clothing, and supplies as required to complete the ride. Riders are encouraged to assist one another with repairs and nutritional needs. Riders are not allowed to have support vehicles follow them on the route however they are allowed at checkpoints. Support vehicle drivers are asked to identify themselves to the brevet organizer before the start.

En route

Convenience stores serve as checkpoints where food and beverages can be purchased. We ask that you purchase some items if using their restrooms.

Our routes pass through small towns where limited services are generally available. Riders are allowed to depart from the route however they must return to the point of departure to resume the brevet.

Rider Recovery

Any rider abandoning the brevet should arrange for assistance and must notify the brevet organizer. Disabled riders will not be left stranded however it may take a substantial period of time until they are recovered. Please be patient and use common sense to communicate your situation.

Please call the RBA or Super 8 if you abandon for any reason:

• Give details to the RBA's voice mail or hotel operator. Voice mail is best. Email and text messages may not reach Jim in a timely manner in southwestern Wisconsin. Calls may be cued until after the dinner hour;
• Give your location, time, where you might be heading, and a way to contact you. If you can, to try to get to the nearest control. Many riders have been successful in hitching a ride to the nearest town. Use common sense and be safe when doing this;
• Inform your wife, friends, significant other or riding partner of your intentions. Place them on standby just in case. If you get picked up, call and leave the message that you have been taken care of;
• If you do not drop your brevet card at the hotel, call and leave a message with the RBA's VM. Otherwise, the ride organizer will be out looking for you and likely call you at home wondering if you are ok.

Administration

The brevet card lists the opening and closing times of each checkpoint. The minimum pace for ride credit is approximately 10 miles/hr. (15 kph), the maximum is approximately 22 miles/hr. (35 kph).

The final control is operated by the Super 8 front desk staff, your card should have your address and signature before it is submitted. They will stamp it and deposit it in a collection box for the brevet organizer. Brevet cards will be returned by mail in the fall after they are certified.

Medals can be purchased by RUSA members a few weeks after the event from the store at rusa.org/medalphotos.html.

Rules

Randonneurs USA rules are in effect throughout the brevets. The key points are:

1. Each rider is considered to be on a private excursion and remains solely responsible for any accidents in which he or she may be involved. All brevets will take place regardless of weather conditions, within reason. No responsibility can be accepted for riders becoming lost or stranded.
2. Riders must wear a CPSC or Snell approved helmet, must obey city, county and state laws and Rules of the Road, and conduct themselves in a manner which will not bring discredit to the event or its organizers.
3. The time allotted for arrival at each control is absolute and measured from the official start time. Riders leaving the route must re-enter from the location that they left.
4. Personal support vehicles are not permitted on the route however assistance from a support vehicle is allowed at controls. Riders are responsible for the actions of their support crew.
5. Riders are responsible for presenting their brevet card at each control.
   
6. Any type of human powered vehicle is permitted provided it is propelled solely by human muscular effort and is used throughout the event.
7. At any time between sunset and sunrise, each cycle must have two securely mounted non-blinking lights: a front light with clear lens and a rear light with red lens. Each light must be sufficiently bright to be seen by traffic approaching from the front or rear from a distance of at least 500' in accordance with applicable state law. Riders must wear a reflective vest, sash, Sam Browne belt, or some other device that clearly places reflective material on the front and back of the rider and a reflective ankle band around each ankle. Other reflective devices on clothing, shoes, helmets, and cycles are encouraged for increased safety. Riders without evidence of adequate lights and reflectors will not be permitted to begin and riding without adequate lights and reflectors between sunset and sunrise is cause for disqualification.
8. When requested, riders must submit their bikes for inspection.
   

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