This is a early ’27 brevet season offering for those who want to knock out one of the four qualifiers for Paris-Brest-Paris. It’s on a Wednesday, which is Veterans Day (or for much of the World, Remembrance Day, commemorating the end of the Great War). It’s also Polish Independence Day–Poland regained independence after generations of partition when the Great War came to a close. I’ve got it as a holiday and so do some other local PBP aspirants so let’s go ride bikes!

Date: 11 November 2026
Start Time: 5:00am
Distance: 300km
Location: The Rozelles, 1300 Friendly Way S, St. Petersburg, FL
Climbing: Flat. There are some pedestrian bridges on the Pinellas Trail and some lumpy bits on the Suncoast and on your way to/from Lake Lindsey, but it’s flat.
Cost: *free*. Happy Veterans Day
Cue Sheet: here (metric). Last updated 16 Oct 26.
GPS file: Here. Couple of notes about it: (1) Don’t get used to RBA-supplied GPS files on ACP brevets. This is unusual and it’s happening because the route is especially challenging to navigate. There are a lot of opportunities to get messed up and mixed up on these trails and especially between exiting the Suncoast and getting on the Howard Frankland. (2) The Excel cue sheet is the official route. Do NOT use the RWGPS cue sheet. It’s computer-generated garbage. Use the Excel sheet. If there’s a conflict between the GPS track and the Excel spreadsheet, use the spreadsheet. (3) At the end of the day, navigation is the rider’s responsibility–know where you are and where you’re going and stay on the route. You can greatly reduce navigational errors by reviewing the cue sheet with a map well before the ride and make sure you understand what’s up. It’s time well spent to maximize success and enjoyment on this route.
Check-in: Anytime after 4:15am at the start location. The ride starts at 5:00am SHARP. Please arrive in time to sign the waiver and receive your brevet card and preride instructions.
Food & Beverages: I’ll have water, Gatorade, coffee, and snacky-things at the start and snacks and beverages at the finish.
Lights and reflective stuff: Required.
Current RUSA membership required to ride! This is an insurance requirement; no exceptions.
Registered Riders: (as of 10/19): 3 (Hayess, Rozelle P, Szymanski)
Ride Description: This new route travels up the Pinellas Trail, through Starkey, up the Suncoast, and then gets off the trails and heads to the Lake Lindsey Deli on country roads. It then returns to the Suncoast and heads back down the Hillsborough River watershed, works its way into Tampa, crosses the new MUP on the Howard Frankland, and then returns through St. Petersburg to the start/finish. Despite being mostly on trail, expect this to be a very long day and a very challenging ride. There are a lot of stops/starts and road crossings. It’s just slow going. Some of the sections on roads will also be busy (or very busy, depending on the time of day you’re there), Van Dyke, Hutchison, and Fourth Street in particular. Remember that this is a work day for many people. The trails are also not easy: expect dog walkers, people with crap in the ears, and people zipping around on motorized vehicles. Be careful! This is not a fast route; if you’re looking for a PR or think you’re finishing in daylight, think again. All that said, this is truly an epic adventure: you’re seeing some great trails and working your way through one of the most populous urban areas in the country into some rural and beautiful spaces. Enjoy this unique experience.

Registration

You MUST pre-register for this event! No day-of registrations. Preregistration must be completed by no later than Tuesday at 1700, 10 November 2026.

Please fill in the information here.

If you register and change your mind and can’t come, please let me know. No-call/no-shows are a headache; please be cool.

Last revised: 16 October 2026