Date: 6 February 2027
Distance: 400km
Start Time: 0400
Official Finish Cut-off: 0700 Sunday, Feb. 7 (27h00 time cut-off)
Location: Comfort Suites, Tavares, Florida
Climbing: 2506m (8200ft)
Cost: $40
Cue Sheet: coming!
GPS file?: None. Please make your own from the cue sheet! Using a GPS file you did not make yourself–or personally spend concentrated effort verifying the accuracy of–or, worse, one that was found on the internet and might be from a previous edition of this route is a recipe for a DNF. I don’t do this to be mean or because I am a technophobe, but to ensure that you’re taking personal responsibility for navigating the route correctly. Loading a file and following a magenta line isn’t sufficient preparation for success on a brevet.
Reflective vest & ankle bands: Required when riding before sunrise or after sunset and in low-light conditions. (Sunrise: 0712; Sunset 1809)
Check-in: Evening of 2/5 or starting 0330 on 2/6 in the lobby; details to follow
Registered Riders (2): Diehn, Rozelle P
Other Requirements: Current RUSA membership; sign the waiver at the ride start
Food & Drink: Plan on snacky things at the start and dinner at the finish. Bring your own coffee. Riders will be on their own for food/drink on route.
SAG: None. There is no event/volunteer SAG. Riders need to make their own arrangements for return to the start/finish in the event they abandon.
Brevet cards: Use is mandatory; this is not an electronic-proof-of-passage brevet.
Ride Description: This is the beloved–or hated–clover-leaf route that predates RUSA’s existence. We haven’t seen it since 2022. It’s time. All roads to Paris run through the hills west of Lake Apopka. Note a few things about it. First, it’s hilly, even by non-Florida standards. The elevation profile and number of feet of climbing do not accurately represent its difficulty. It’s harder than you think. Second, parts of it may have traffic, especially if it’s a nice day. It starts at 0400 to get most riders clear of The Villages before those people wake up and get on the road. But, all riders should expect traffic around the mid-point of the ride and, depending on your pace, coming into and leaving Apopka. Third, it can be challenging to navigate, especially for GPS users (which is everyone, these days). You’re going to see magenta lines all over the place and yes, … you’ve been here before. Those unfamiliar with their devices and how they work and those not following along with a cue sheet run a substantial risk of getting off-route and ultimately disqualified. Be attentive! Finally, there are some long stretches–especially if the weather is challenging–where there are no services. These will be indicated on the cue sheet and riders should plan more than for our usual routes for how they will ensure good hydration and nutrition depending on their pace. Hint: Passing up the stores in Centerville even though you just stopped in Wildwood is a mistake. All that said, especially for those planning on Paris-Brest-Paris, this route is a must-do. The kind of climbing you see is comparable to Western France. It’s a good test of your body, your bike, and your planning. And by the end of it, you’ll know your way around Central Florida pretty well.
Registration
You MUST pre-register for this event! No day-of registrations. Preregistration must be completed by no later than February 5 at noon.
There are two steps to completing your registration.
Step 1. Please fill in the information here.
Step 2. Send in your $40 payment using Zelle (most US banks support this) using my cell (614-565-3483) or email address (prozelle at gmail dot com). Contact me for instructions for check/money order or wire transfer instructions. Registration = completed form + payment.
Last revised: 2 November 2026