Publication of Organized Events: Publication can take the form of flyers (distributed to bike shops, for example), announcement in club newsletters, advertisement in local papers, publication at the national level (e.g, in American Randonneur), etc., or — if the ride is part of a ride series — publication of the ride series (see below). The ride or ride series must be publicized at least 14 days in advance. The organizer can provide some ride details later or change them as circumstances require (for example, change of route, change of start time)... so long as the organizer provides a means for participants to learn of details and changes in a timely manner.

Electronic Ride Publication: Publicizing an organized ride or ride series on a website or by e-mail is sufficient provided:

• the existence of the web page or e-mail distribution list is publicized as above (e.g., club newsletter), and
• interested riders will be provided with a physical notice, if they request.

Publicizing a Ride Series: Individual rides in a ride series can be publicized electronically — so long as the ride series as a whole is publicized as above.

Ride Submission: You may submit your ride in any of these ways:

• Webform from the rider is preferred including event name, date, actual distance ridden, and results-page web link for the event;
• Single-ride printed form (for single-stage events) signed by an event official, plus the event's flyer or route sheet mailed to the address shown on the form,
• Multiple-stage printed form,(for multi-stage events) with info as above,

Ride Submission Deadline: Rides must be submitted within 14 days of the completion of event. (For multi-week tours, riders are encouraged to make weekly intermediate submissions if convenient.)

The Organizer: Remember that most events are not organized with the UMCA in mind, and most ride officials have a lot to take care of during and after an event. Remember also that it is your responsibility — not the UMCA's or the ride official's — to assure that the ride submission contains the proper info and is sent to the Y-R chair within the deadline.

Add-On Mileage: A ride organizer may provide add-on mileage options to allow the ride to qualify for Y-R credit.

An individual may also add mileage to an organized ride to make it a longer personal ride provided:

1. the rider documents the personal part(s) of the ride as per the rules,
2. the total distance puts the ride in another distance division from the organized event.

90-Mile Minimum: The 90-mile minimum for Century Division rides is meant to take into account organized rides billed as a century in concept, but which, because of routing constraints, etc., fall slightly short of 100 miles. It is not meant to suggest that 90 miles constitute a century per se.

Unusual events: The Y-R chair will consider giving credit for exceptional events which do not meet the rules. E.g., a) if an event is shorter than 90 miles and the terrain and cycling conditions are exceptionally difficult; or b) if the distance meets the rules but the event is so difficult that it doesn't meet the average speed requirements. Include an explanation of the details with event submission.

Multi-Day Rides: A ride extending beyond 24 hours or across day boundaries will count as a single, extended ride as long as an average speed of 200 miles per day (8.33 mph) is maintained. For example, Paris-Brest-Paris, with a 90-hour cut-off for its 1200km distance, requires essentially that average speed.

Multi-Stage Events: A multi-day series of stages (for example, a multi-day tour) counts as a series of individual rides which may be eligible for Century or Long Division credit, depending on the length of the stage.

Mileage Deviations: You are credited with your actual on-route mileage (no credit for riding to or from the event, or getting lost en route). The actual distance may differ from the published distance because of last minute route changes (including detours for safety reasons), inaccurate measurement of the route, add-on mileage options provided by the organizer, etc. If your actual mileage differs from the published, you can note the reason on your submission.

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V. Personal Rides
Time and Distance: Riders on Personal rides must average at least 8.33 mph including off-the-bike time. Personal Century rides must be between 90 and 149 miles at an elapsed average of at least 8.33 mph, i.e., 90 miles within 11 hours, etc. Personal Long rides must be at least 150 miles at an elapsed average of at least 8.33 mph, i.e., 150 miles within 18 hours, 200 miles within 24 hours, etc.

Personal Ride Documentation: Personal rides are documented via "verification points" using the Year-Rounder form. Verification points must indicate location, date, and time. Verification points must be made , and:

• within 10 miles of the start and 10 miles of the end of the ride, and
• approximately every 50 miles in between, except that:
• if the total mileage is less than 15 miles beyond a 50-mile mark, an additional verification point is not needed.

The preferred method of verification is by receipts (store, ATM, or other receipts) showing location, date, and time. If a receipt cannot be obtained at a given point, then a witness may sign the form and provide an e-mail address for electronic verification.

Alternatively, you may use an automated tracking device that provides a record of mileage ridden over time, such as certain integrated heartrate monitors or GPS-based systems. The submission must show a graph or map of distance over time, plus total distance (rather than, say, a list of GPS coordinates and times).

Ride Submission Deadline: Rides must be submitted within 14 days of their completion.

Ride Submission: Submit your personal ride as follows:

• Single-ride printed form plus your verification receipts (or tracking device log) mailed to the address shown on the form.

Mileage Measurement: Use your bike's odometer/computer to ascertain mileage, if it is accurately calibrated. Otherwise, or if your computer fails en route, you may use map mileage.

Record Attempts Time or distance-based UMCA-sanctioned individual record attempts count as Personal Division rides. Submit the official's log and results for verification. Examples would be a 24-hour record attempt or a border-to-border state crossing.

Permanent Randonnées: A "Permanent" is a randonnée run under brevet rules, etc., but ridden on a date agreed upon personally between rider and organizer. Therefore, riding a Permanent counts for Personal Division credit.

Support Crews: If you have a support crew for a Personal Division ride, your support crew may obtain or provide verification on your behalf.

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VI. Larry Schwartz award rides
Participation: Year-Rounder participants are automatically included in the Larry Schwartz award.

Ride Submission and Tracking: A Larry Schwartz participant simply submits Year-Rounder rides in the usual way. The rider does not need to denote that any particular ride counts toward a given month's Larry Schwartz credit or make-up.

Make-Up Rides: Larry Schwartz award aspirants are strongly encouraged to ride at least one Y-R event every month. However, since severe weather or injury may prevent that, a rider may make up at most two missed months per year, by riding extra one(s) earlier or later that same year. For example, if the rider completes no ride in February, riding two in March can make up for February.

Indoor Centuries: Indoor centuries that count as Y-R rides earn credit for the Larry Schwartz award.

Calendar Month Credit: A ride that span months is credited to the month in which the ride starts (for example, a 400k brevet which the rider starts on May 31 and finishes on June 1) - or, if a make-up, to the made-up month.

Sign me up! Registration Form

Questions?
Contact John Lee Ellis, Y-R chair, year-rounder @ ultracycling.com

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