Audax & Randonneuring Glossary

The original term for long-distance, timed cycling events where riders follow a set route within time limits. Now more commonly called “randonneuring” internationally.

Example: “The Audax Club Parisien oversees the world’s premier 1200km event, Paris-Brest-Paris.”

History: The first Audax event was a 200km ride from Rome to Naples in 1897.

The governing body for randonneuring worldwide that validates and maintains records for brevets and other randonneuring events.

Example: “All ACP-sanctioned brevets count toward qualification for Paris-Brest-Paris.”

Founded: 1904 in Paris, France by Henri Desgrange.

French term meaning “free pace,” referring to events where riders can choose their own speed rather than maintaining a group pace.

Example: “Most modern brevets are allure libre, unlike the original Audax events which required group riding.”

Contrast: “Allure Imposée” (imposed pace) events are rare today.

Fluorescent markings placed on roads or signs to indicate the brevet route, typically applied by volunteers before the event.

Example: “The pink arrows were easy to spot except where vandals had removed them.”

Practice: Some events use secret controls to verify riders followed the arrows.

A timed long-distance ride where cyclists must reach checkpoints within specified time limits. Standard distances are 200km, 300km, 400km, 600km, and 1200km.

Example: “To qualify for PBP, you must complete the brevet series in the qualifying year.”

Time limits: 200km (13.5 hrs), 300km (20 hrs), 400km (27 hrs), 600km (40 hrs), 1200km (90 hrs)

The official document carried by riders during a brevet that gets stamped or signed at checkpoints to verify passage.

Example: “I nearly lost my brevet card in the rain but managed to dry it at the next control.”

Modern version: Some events now use electronic tracking with QR codes instead.

A support vehicle that follows the last riders in an event, providing assistance and collecting riders who abandon.

Example: “After my third flat, I had to take the broom wagon back to the start.”

Origin: From the Tour de France’s “voiture balai” that literally sweeps up stragglers.

French term for a water bottle, specifically the cycling type that fits in frame cages.

Example: “At French controls, volunteers will often refill your bidons without asking.”

Capacity: Typically 500ml or 750ml, with insulated versions for extreme weather.

When a cyclist completely runs out of energy due to glycogen depletion, also called “hitting the wall.”

Example: “I bonked hard at kilometer 350 and had to rest for an hour before continuing.”

Recovery: Consume simple carbs quickly (glucose tablets, soda, fruit).

A checkpoint in a brevet where riders must stop to verify their passage, either by getting their card stamped or answering an information question.

Example: “The secret contrôle caught several riders who had taken shortcuts.”

Types: Secret contrôle (unannounced), information contrôle (answer a route question)

A 100-mile (160km) ride, often used as a milestone for endurance cyclists.

Example: “Many randonneurs start with a century before attempting a 200km brevet.”

Metric century: 100km (62 miles), a common introductory distance.

The number of pedal revolutions per minute (RPM), crucial for efficient long-distance cycling.

Example: “Maintaining 90 rpm cadence helps prevent muscle fatigue on long climbs.”

Ideal range: 80-100 RPM for endurance riding.

British manufacturer known for durable canvas saddlebags popular with traditional randonneurs.

Example: “My Carradice Nelson Longflap holds all my gear for a 600km brevet.”

Heritage: Used by British cyclists since the 1930s.

Anti-chafing cream applied to cycling shorts or skin to prevent saddle sores during long rides.

Example: “For 1200km events, I pack a small tube of chamois cream in my saddlebag.”

Application: Reapply every 4-6 hours during ultra-distance events.

Used to indicate a rider who started but did not complete a brevet or other cycling event.

Example: “After 400km, I had to DNF due to severe knee pain.”

Common causes: Mechanical failure, exhaustion, missing time cutoffs.

Used to indicate a registered rider who did not begin the event.

Example: “I had to DNS the 600km after coming down with flu.”

Etiquette: Inform organizers if possible to help with logistics.

Generator systems that produce electricity from wheel rotation to power lights and USB devices.

Example: “My SON dynamo hub powers my lights for overnight brevets.”

Modern tech: USB chargers can keep devices powered during multi-day events.

The lower curved portion of traditional road handlebars, offering multiple hand positions for long rides.

Example: “I ride in the drops during headwinds for better aerodynamics.”

Randonneuring use: Many riders prefer ergonomic variations like compact or shallow drops.

A 200-mile (320km) ride, often used as preparation for longer brevets.

Example: “Our club organizes a supported double century every June as a PBP qualifier.”

Equivalent: Roughly equal to a 200km brevet but with imperial distance.

Minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium) lost through sweat that must be replaced during long rides.

Example: “I add electrolyte tablets to my water on hot 400km rides.”

Sources: Sports drinks, tablets, bananas, pickle juice.

Bike frame design with relaxed angles for comfort over long distances.

Example: “My randonneuring bike has endurance geometry with a taller head tube.”

Features: Higher stack, shorter reach, slacker angles than race bikes.

Vintage cycling events that inspired modern randonneuring’s appreciation for classic equipment.

Example: “Some randonneurs ride Eroica events with vintage bikes and wool jerseys.”

Connection: Shares randonneuring’s emphasis on tradition and endurance.

A 24-hour team event where groups of 3-5 cyclists ride together to cover maximum distance (minimum 360km).

Example: “Our fleche team rode 420km in 24 hours with just two short rest stops.”

Rule: Teams must finish with at least 3 original members.

Essential equipment for randonneuring that keeps riders dry and clean in wet conditions.

Example: “Full-coverage fenders with mudflaps are required on many European brevets.”

Benefit: Keep both rider and bike cleaner on long rainy rides.

A storage bag that fits within the main triangle of the bicycle frame.

Example: “My frame bag holds tools, spare parts, and snacks for 600km rides.”

Advantage: Keeps weight centered and low on the bike.

The series of brevets (200-300-400-600km) completed in one season to qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris.

Example: “Completing the grand randonnée series was my biggest cycling achievement.”

Also called: Super Randonneur series.

A versatile bicycle capable of handling both pavement and dirt roads, increasingly popular for mixed-surface brevets.

Example: “My gravel bike with 38mm tires handles everything from tarmac to forest tracks.”

Features: Wider tires (35-50mm), disc brakes, stable geometry.

A measurement of bicycle gearing important for selecting appropriate ratios for hilly brevets.

Example: “For PBP’s hills, many riders use a low gear around 20 gear inches.”

Calculation: (Chainring teeth / Cog teeth) × wheel diameter in inches.

A front-mounted bag providing easy access to food, maps, and essentials during rides.

Example: “My handlebar bag holds my brevet card, snacks, and rain jacket.”

Advantage: Keeps weight off back and balanced on bike.

A British term for a challenging ride with significant elevation gain.

Example: “The Dartmoor 600 is a proper hills and mills brevet with 8,000m climbing.”

Equivalent: French “parcours vallonné”.

A brevet completed without outside support beyond commercial services available to all riders.

Example: “I rode the 400km homer, stopping only at gas stations and cafes.”

Rule: No personal support crews or pre-arranged assistance.

A checkpoint where riders must answer a question about the route to prove they followed it.

Example: “The info contrôle asked for the color of the church door in the last village.”

Purpose: Verifies route adherence without staffed controls.

A gear setup where the smallest chainring is larger than the largest cog, favored by some traditional randonneurs.

Example: “My IR setup uses a 42T chainring with a 15-34T cassette.”

Philosophy: Encourages spinning over grinding on climbs.

High-energy, portable snacks carried in cycling jersey pockets for easy access during rides.

Example: “My standard jersey pocket food is bananas, energy bars, and boiled potatoes.”

Tip: Use ziplock bags to keep food clean and dry.

A popular mounting system for handlebar bags and other randonneuring accessories.

Example: “My Klickfix bag mount makes it easy to remove my handlebar bag at controls.”

Advantage: Secure attachment with quick release functionality.

A brand of bicycle chains known for durability, important for long-distance reliability.

Example: “I use a KMC X10 chain for its 10,000km+ lifespan on my randonneuring bike.”

Maintenance: Regular cleaning and lubrication extends chain life significantly.

French for “red lantern,” referring to the last rider to finish an event honorably (before time cutoff).

Example: “Finishing as lanterne rouge is an achievement – you made it within the limit!”

Origin: From the red lantern hung on the caboose of trains.

High-quality front and rear lighting systems required for night riding, often dynamo-powered.

Example: “My Supernova E3 dynamo light provides excellent illumination for night riding.”

Minimum standard: 40 lux front light, 10+ hour runtime.

A traditional frame construction method using lugs (sleeves) to join tubes, prized by some randonneurs.

Example: “My custom lugged steel frame provides a smooth ride for long distances.”

Advantage: Easier to repair than welded frames during multi-day events.

The finisher’s medal awarded for completing certain randonneuring events like PBP.

Example: “My 2019 PBP médaille hangs proudly above my workbench.”

Tradition: Each PBP edition features a unique medal design.

Essential equipment for randonneuring that keeps riders dry and clean in wet conditions.

Example: “Full-coverage mudguards with mudflaps are required on many European brevets.”

Benefit: Keep both rider and bike cleaner on long rainy rides.

An essential skill for randonneuring, requiring proper lights, reflective gear, and adjusted pace.

Example: “We practiced night riding before our 600km to test our lighting systems.”

Safety: Use multiple redundant light sources and high-visibility clothing.

The planned approach to eating and drinking during long rides to maintain energy.

Example: “My nutrition strategy is 60g carbs/hour from real food when possible.”

Key: Consistent calorie intake, not waiting until hungry.

The volunteer who plans and oversees a brevet or randonneuring event.

Example: “The organizer spent months designing the 600km route and arranging controls.”

Duties: Route planning, permits, volunteer coordination, results submission.

Essential items carried for sleep stops during longer brevets (600km+).

Example: “My overnight kit includes a lightweight bivvy, sleeping bag liner, and ear plugs.”

Minimalist approach: Many riders sleep in clothes they rode in.

The world’s oldest and most prestigious 1200km randonnée, held every four years since 1891.

Example: “Over 6,000 riders from 70 countries participated in PBP 2019.”

Qualification: Requires completing a full brevet series (200-400-600km) in the qualifying year.

A brevet route available year-round that riders can complete by arrangement with the route owner.

Example: “I rode the ‘Coastal 300’ permanent last month to prepare for the official series.”

Benefit: Allows riders to complete qualifiers on their own schedule.

The strategy of managing effort over a long ride to maintain energy until the finish.

Example: “Good pacing means riding the first 200km of a 600km at a conversational pace.”

Key principle: Start slower than you think you should.

A device that measures a cyclist’s power output in watts, useful for maintaining consistent effort.

Example: “I use my power meter to keep my effort steady on long climbs during brevets.”

Types: Pedal-based, crank-based, hub-based.

The series of brevets (200-300-400-600km) required to participate in Paris-Brest-Paris.

Example: “I completed my qualifying rides between March and June this year.”

Timeframe: Must be completed in the calendar year before PBP.

A mechanism for fast tool-free removal of wheels, important for efficient repairs during brevets.

Example: “My randonneuring bike uses QR skewers for easy wheel changes.”

Alternative: Thru-axles are becoming more common but require tools.

A long-distance cyclist who participates in randonnées or brevets, emphasizing endurance over speed.

Example: “As a randonneur, I value self-sufficiency and persistence over racing.”

Etymology: From French “randonner” (to hike/travel).

A long-distance, organized bicycle ride, typically a brevet or similar event.

Example: “The Cascade 1200 is a challenging randonnée through the Pacific Northwest.”

Literal meaning: “Ramble” or “long walk”.

An honor awarded by ACP to riders who complete a full series of brevets plus a 1200km event in one season.

Example: “After finishing LEL, I earned my RM designation for the year.”

Translation: “World Randonneur”.

A bicycle designed for long-distance comfort and reliability, typically with mounts for racks/fenders.

Example: “My randonneuring bike has 650B tires, dynamo lighting, and a comfortable upright position.”

Key brands: Rivendell, Tout Terrain, Rodriguez, Co-Motion.

A title awarded to riders who complete a full series of brevets (200-300-400-600km) in a single season.

Example: “Earning my Super Randonneur pin was one of my proudest cycling achievements.”

Qualification: Required for Paris-Brest-Paris registration.

Skin irritation or lesions caused by friction between cyclist and saddle during long rides.

Example: “Proper bike fit and quality shorts help prevent saddle sores on 600km rides.”

Prevention: Chamois cream, standing periodically, good hygiene.

An unannounced checkpoint to verify riders followed the official route.

Example: “The secret contrôle at km 280 caught several riders who had taken shortcuts.”

Purpose: Ensures route adherence without staffed controls at every turn.

The overwhelming fatigue that affects riders during overnight portions of long brevets.

Example: “The sleep monster hit me hard around 3am during the 600km.”

Countermeasures: Caffeine, short naps, riding with others.

Long-distance cycling on a two-person bicycle, with special rules allowing slightly longer time limits.

Example: “We ride tandem brevets, which requires perfect teamwork over long distances.”

Advantage: Shared workload and camaraderie.

The selection of tires balancing speed, comfort, and puncture resistance for long-distance riding.

Example: “For mixed-surface brevets, I use 38mm tires with light tread.”

Popular models: Schwalbe Marathon, Panaracer GravelKing, Continental Gatorskin.

The maximum allowed time to complete a brevet, calculated from the start time.

Example: “The 400km brevet has a 27-hour time limit including all stops.”

Calculation: 200km (13.5h), 300km (20h), 400km (27h), 600km (40h), 1200km (90h).

Cycling events longer than standard randonneuring distances, typically 1000km+.

Example: “After PBP, I got into ultra-distance events like the Transcontinental Race.”

Difference: Often unsupported with more flexible routing than brevets.

The actual time spent moving during a brevet, as opposed to stopped time.

Example: “My 400km brevet took 24 hours total with 18 hours underway time.”

Importance: Helps evaluate true riding pace separate from stop efficiency.

Individuals who staff controls, mark routes, or provide other support for randonneuring events.

Example: “The volunteers at the overnight contrôle made us hot soup at 2am.”

Importance: Brevets couldn’t happen without volunteer support.

French for “bicycle,” often used in randonneuring event names and terminology.

Example: “Vélo Mag has covered Paris-Brest-Paris since the 1950s.”

Usage: Appears in terms like vélo routier (road bike), vélo de randonnée (randonneuring bike).

Traditional cycling tops made from wool, still favored by some randonneurs for their comfort.

Example: “My merino wool jersey stays comfortable through temperature changes on long rides.”

Benefits: Temperature regulation, odor resistance, durability.

The craft of constructing bicycle wheels, important for durable randonneuring wheelsets.

Example: “I built my own 36-spoke wheels for loaded randonneuring.”

Considerations: Spoke count, rim choice, hub quality for long-distance reliability.

The additional effort volunteers often provide beyond basic event requirements.

Example: “The contrôle volunteers went the xtra mile with homemade cakes and coffee.”

Culture: Part of randonneuring’s emphasis on camaraderie.

A rider who participates in events throughout all seasons, regardless of weather.

Example: “As a year-round randonneur, I’ve learned to dress for all conditions.”

Preparation: Proper clothing, lighting, and bike maintenance for seasonal challenges.

The strategy for balancing rest and riding during multi-day events.

Example: “My PBP zzz plan was two 90-minute sleeps over the 90-hour event.”

Approaches: Some riders prefer micro-naps, others schedule longer sleep stops.