DRR Spring 400Km ACP Brevet 4/26/2014

This will be a repeat of last year's route - #895, the Extended Yakima River Tour - an out and back trip from Richland to Ellensburg.

Organizer: Paul Whitney

Ride date: Saturday 26th of April 2014

Sunrise: 05:51
Sunset: 19:59
Sunrise (4/27): 05:49

Sign in from: 04:30
Start at: 05:00 (4/26)
Finish by: 08:00 (4/27)

Fee: $15 (cash only, at the ride start)

Start/Finish location:
Albertsons parking lot, Leslie and Gage, Richland, WA 99352

There likely won't be a designated greater/card-signer at the finish. The Albertson's is 24hours, so get a signature or receipt there. At the ride start we will indicate the car into which to deposit the completed route cards. Don't forget to bring a pen to sign your card at the end of the ride.

Route cue sheet

Map / GPS download (draft but very likely)
Outbound  to Ellensburg.
Return to Richland.

There will be extended riding in the dark on rural roads. Lights and reflective gear must be used, as per RUSA rules. Consider your plans for backup lights and spare batteries. Use plenty of reflective items.

It can still be chilly in E WA this time of year, especially in the hours of darkness. It's reasonable to expect some wind and maybe a shower as well. So it's therefore a good idea to carry an extra layer or two.

Although the roads on the route are all surfaced, the pavement is quite beaten up in places, especially through the Yakima Canyon. There's sections of chipseal that can be rough. If you're undecided about tire choice, a little wider for comfort won't hurt.

Like all DRR brevets, this is a minimally supported ride. There are some longer stretches (~50 Km) without services. Please be ready to carry sufficient food and drink for your needs. There might be volunteers at some controls with snacks and water, but please don't depend on it.

DRR Spring 300Km ACP Brevet 4/5/2014

For this year's edition of the spring 300Km we're resurrecting the original DRR 300 loop route, #741, Richland - Waitsburg - Walla Walla - Pendleton - Richland. You can whet your appetite with Paul's route description and photos from previous years.

Organizer: Norm Carr

Ride date: Saturday 5th of April 2014

Sunrise: 06:29

Sunset: 19:31

Sign in from: 05:30
Start at: 06:00 (4/5/14)
Finish by: 02:00 (4/6/14)

Fee: $10 (cash only, at the ride start)

Start/Finish location:
Albertsons parking lot, Leslie and Gage, Richland, WA 99352

It will be dark at both the beginning and end of the ride. Lights and reflective gear must be used, as per RUSA rules.

There will be information controls - please bring a pen.

It can still be chilly in E WA this time of year, especially in the hours of darkness. It's reasonable to expect some wind and maybe a shower as well. It's therefore a good idea to carry an extra layer or two. The last dozen or so Kms of the route are a fast descent, most likely in the dark, and are very likely to be cold.

Although the roads on the route are all surfaced, the pavement is quite beaten up in places, especially through the canyon after Pendleton. There's also some sections of new chipseal that are still rough. If you're undecided about tire choice, a little wider won't hurt.

Like all DRR brevets, this is a minimally supported ride and there are a couple of long stretches (60-90 Kms) on this route without much in the way of services. Please be ready to carry sufficient food and drink for your needs.

The route has been slightly adjusted this time to avoid the traffic of downtown Walla Walla and to join WA-125 (can be busy, but a good shoulder) a little later. This means we won't reach obvious services without a detour until Milton-Freewater. Good idea to stock up on food and drink in Waitsburg.

There might be volunteers at some controls with snacks and water, but please don't depend on it.

Route cue sheet (final)

Map / GPS download (final)

You can always register on the day for DRR rides, but it makes the organizer's life easier if people signup in advance.

DRR Spring 200Km ACP Brevet 3/22/2014

Yep. It's Flat Yak. Again. Would be a shame to break with tradition.

This is a low-level course through the Yakima River valley out to a lunch stop in Toppenish and back. It follows generally quiet roads through eastern Washington farmland. Some pre-ride notes from a couple of years ago are still relevant.

There's a good chance it can be chilly or windy or both this time of year, so consider bringing extra layers. Like all our brevets, this is an unsupported ride but there are sufficient opportunities to find food and drink along the route.

Organizer: Norm Carr

Ride date: Saturday 22nd of March 2014

Sunrise: 06:56
Sunset: 17:12

Sign in from: 06:30
Start at: 07:00
Finish by: 20:30

Fee: $10 (cash only, at the ride start)

Start/Finish location:
Albertsons parking lot, Leslie and Gage, Richland, WA 99352

As an early season ride there's a possibility for riding in the dark so lights and reflective gear must be used, as per RUSA rules.

There will be information controls - bring a pen.

Route cue sheet (updated 3/11/14
- use the File menu item to get the download format of your choice)

Map / GPS download (updated 3/9/14)

DRR 104 Km Populaire 3/8/2014 (was 3/1)

The opening event for the DRR 2014 brevet season will be a 104 Km populaire using the "5 Cities, 3 Rivers" permanent route.

This ride was postponed from March 1st, due to cold and ice.

There's a good chance it can be chilly or windy or both this time of year, so consider bringing extra layers. Like all our brevets, this is an unsupported ride but there are sufficient opportunities to find food and drink along the route.

Organizer: Norm Carr

Ride date: Saturday 1st of March 2014

Sign in from: 07:30
Start at: 08:00
Finish by: 14:56

Fee: $0, nil, nothing, nowt, no charge, nada, zip, zilch, zero

Start/Finish location:
Starbucks, Columbia Point, off George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352

Route cue sheet (updated 2/24/14)
(use the File menu item to get the download format of your choice)

Map / GPS download (updated 2/24/14)

New Year Group Permanent - Sat, January 4th

The last few years it's become a DRR tradition to ride a perm early in the new year, usually in not entirely sensibly cold conditions. 2014 will be no different. Best to keep away from icy roads in the hills this time of year, so join me (maybe only me..?!) on January 4th for a Flat Yak?

Start: Starbucks, Leslie and Gage, Richland. 8 AM
Route: Flat Yak

See Norm for paperwork.

Le Grimpeur Results

Finishers of Le Grimpeur 200 Km brevet were

Norm Carr
Asta Chastain
Doug Hiebert
Susan Otcenas
Gary Smith

Mid-90s F temperatures and a stiff breeze up in the hills at times made for a challenging ride, especially on the return stages up the hill from Prosser and along County Well Road. Nonetheless, everyone seemed to have an enjoyable day.

Big thanks to Cathy for providing essential water and snacks at the not-very-secret secret control. Many thanks to Paul and family for hosting the post-brevet DRR end-of-season potluck. Marcie gets the cookies award.

2014 DRR Brevet Calendar

Likely dates for DRR brevets in 2014:

Sat 3/1 - Spring Populaire 100
Sat 3/22 - ACP Spring 200
Sat 4/5 - ACP Spring 300 - Organizer: Norm Carr
Sat 4/26 - ACP Spring 400 - Organizer: Paul Whitney
Sat 8/16 - ACP Summer 200 - Organizer: Susan Otcenas

Other RUSA brevets, populaires, group permanent rides or undocumented coffeenneuring experiences can be added as demand, volunteers, or whim allow. 

Anyone is welcome to organize any as yet unclaimed event, or something else of their own devising. All organizers will also always welcome anyone wishing to volunteer on any event.

Wishing all a fulfilling 2014 on the road.

-Norm