Even with minimally supported brevets there is a need for volunteers to staff the start/finish controls and on rare occasions the intermediate controls along the route. What follows is some information about volunteering and worker's rides.
If you are interested in volunteering contact Jeff Sammons, Regional Brevet Administrator (RBA) for information.
Volunteering
For each brevet there are a number of tasks that can be filled. Here are some brief descriptions about the most common jobs we have:
Start Control: We need people to check the riders in, perform a bike inspection, and distribute brevet cards. These volunteers will be free to ride the brevet as well after all the riders are checked in.
Finish Control: We need people to sign riders cards at the finish. Sometimes there will multiple shifts for this task, as more shifts are required as the brevets get longer.
Secret Controls: Some of our brevets have secret controls at some point out on the course. This will require a volunteer to sign cards as riders pass thru the control.
Intermediate Controls: Sometimes we have an intermediate control where there is no convenient store for riders to resupply with refreshments. For these controls, we need to volunteers to bring a supply of food and drinks for the riders, and to also sign cards as riders pass thru the control .
Overnight Control: For our longer 600K and 1000K Brevets, we need volunteers (2 or more) to set-up and staff an overnight control where riders can find a few hours to sleep. Generally this will be at either a hotel or cabin. Volunteers will also be expected to supply breakfast food and drinks before the riders depart the following morning.
Drop Bags: For our longer 600K and 1000K Brevets, we will need volunteers to pickup drop bags and/or sleeping bags and deliver them to the overnight control. Typically, a drop bag will contain a change of clothes and toiletries needed for the next day's ride.
Emergency SAG: This is a job you can do from the comfort of your home, with a phone nearby. In the event that riders have to abandon a ride, they will need transportation back to the start control. Volunteers will be expected to drive their vehicle out to where the rider has stopped riding, pick the rider up, and take them back to the start. The rider will be expected to reimburse the volunteer $50 for this service.
We will cover all reasonable expenses for registered volunteers incurred when performing volunteer duties. Examples would be purchase of food and drinks for a control and/or gasoline for travel to and from your post.
Worker's rides
In order to encourage volunteering, we will offer worker's rides so that volunteers can both support the ride on brevet day, and also ride and earn credit for completing the brevet. RUSA has rules and guidelines for holding these worker's rides. Here are some of those rules:
Worker's rides must be held within the 15 days prior to the date of the actual brevet. (No post-brevet worker's rides.)
Worker's rides are held for the benefit of brevet date volunteers. Worker's rides are not held simply because the actual brevet date is inconvenient for some riders.
To avoid any conflict with RUSA brevet rules regarding support outside of controls, all riders must be riding the worker's ride for credit.
Riders should register with the RBA to secure a volunteer assignment before the worker's ride date.
Results from the worker's ride will be submitted as if participants rode on the scheduled day of the brevet.
A rider can not do the worker's ride one day, and then ride a different brevet somewhere else on the day of the original brevet (no two ride credits for one day).
If you are interested in volunteering contact Jeff Sammons, RBA for information
