Intro to Randonneuring: Verboort Populaire

100K / 100% Paved

by Lynn Blanchard, Ride Leader

The pinnacle of randonneuring is Paris‑Brest‑Paris, a legendary 1200‑kilometer ride held every four years in France. But you don’t start there – you build up through a series of long‑distance rides called brevets: 200 km, 300 km, 400 km, and a 600 km. For many riders, the goal is to qualify for PBP. For others, the rides are simply enjoyable. Brevets are genuinely fun! They add a playful challenge to your ride.

This next event on Saturday, November 7, is the shortest distance, a metric century, 100 kilometers (65 miles). It’s the perfect introduction. This will be my second one. Verboort Populaire is on the PBC calendar, and you know what that means: it’s eligible for club mileage.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you could do a brevet, you probably can – and you might surprise yourself like I did. In case you don’t already know what a brevet is, it’s a timed, self-supported cycling event. Riders complete a designated route, pass through predetermined checkpoints (called controls), and finish within a set time limit. If you enjoy car rallies or scavenger hunts, you’ll appreciate the extra flair that brevets add to a bicycle ride. To prove that you made it to a checkpoint, you are asked either to take a photo or to buy something and turn in the receipt at the end.

Dick Weber is our resident expert. He began randonneuring in 1999 and completed the full brevet series in 2002 and 2003, qualifying for the PBP, although he didn’t end up going to Paris. He continued to ride brevets for more than a decade. (Just for fun, ask him about Boston and Montreal.) I completed a 200 km last month, my first one. Feel free to ask me questions, but I might refer you to Dick if I don’t know the answer.  😉

Whether you’re trying to reach your mileage goal before the end of the year, looking to stay fit through the cold season, thinking about training for randonneuring in the future, or simply wanting a great day in the saddle, come join me and let’s work together to complete this very doable intro to randonneuring.

REGISTRATION: Advance registration is required and CLOSES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, at MIDNIGHT, because . . .

1. Riders must be RUSA members. It costs only $30, good through December 31, 2027, and the ride itself costs only $5. To join/renew: https://rusa.org/pages/memberservices
2. A registration form must be completed by midnight 11/4/2026: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEau4_2GTBytZEN_49e5uUIG3zaXI70KkIvNJ8fJDkua35vA/viewform
3. Riders will receive an email on 11/5/2026 with more info and a waiver, which must be signed and turned in on Event Day.

The timed event ends at the Verboort Sausage & Kraut Festival in Forest Grove, and then it’s just another 2 miles back to your car at McMenamins Grand Lodge. For more information about this event ride, including the RwGPS map, go to the PBC ride calendar: https://portlandbicyclingclub.com/scheduled_rides/oregon-randonneurs-verboort-populaire-100k/