RUSA Rules for Riders - All riders should be familiar with the rules for our sport. Some of the rules may seem strange at first, so please take a look at them before your first brevet and periodically when you'd like a refresh.

Here is the link: http://www.rusa.org/brvreg.html

There are two basic rules to brevet riding:

• Ride the route precisely as it is listed on the cue sheet.
• Get to the checkpoints on time.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? Here are a couple more obvious ones:

• Obey all traffic laws. You can be ticketed for blowing through a red light or stop sign.
• Helmets are mandatory. One crash and you could be relearning the alphabet.

• You must return to the spot where you left the brevet route. In my experience, this is usually not the nearest, most convenient point.

What if I can't follow the route precisely? What if the road is flooded or police has the road blocked off?

• You may leave the route when the road is impassable due to emergency conditions or when instructed to do so by fire and law enforcement. If there are no official detour signs, it is left to your discretion to find your way back to the route.

What if I lose my brevet card?

• Press on regardless. There is a chance another brevet rider will pick it up. If you can find witnesses that saw you at the check points, you may be able to plead your case with the RBA.