The true permanent follows a set route as with the calendar events. The other form of permanent, the diagonal, joins two coastal towns and the rider nominates their own route and control points which are then agreed with the organiser. There is also the Southern Triangle.
PROFS are Permanent Randonnées on Foreign Soil.
Riders may not be able to ride all the calendar events in order to complete the Wessex Super Randonneur Series of the Dorset Coast, , the Porkers and the Brimstone, due to other commitments or may of course fail to complete on the day.
In order to assist riders whose aim is the Wessex Series the permanent versions (at randonneur level) of the Dorset Coast, The Porkers 400 and the Brimstone (called the Hellfire 600) may be substituted for their calendar counterpart. (Riding three Hellfires and a Dorset Coast will not count). The Hard Boiled 300 permanent may be sustituted for the 3D300 calendar event.
* Dorset Coast
Permanent *
Hard boiled 300 * Porkers
400 * Hellfire 600
Two diagonals have been in place from the earliest of AUK times and were originally overseen by past champion Ray Haswell. These are the Poole >< Aberystwyth (300km) and the Poole >< Great Yarmouth (400km) rides.
The diagonals may be ridden as separate rides in both directions and, to make it that much more interesting, by two differing routes.
The Southern Triangle links the two diagonals with a Aberystwyth >< Great Yarmouth (500Km) ride creating a 1200km Randonnée. The Southern Triangle is not a diagonal; it's three all together and to all intent is a Relay. There is a variation to the definition here however as, for ease of use, six start/finish points will be allowed;
Bristol because of its geographic position as gateway to Wales. Stretton (Burton upon Trent) a mid point between Aberystwyth and Great Yarmouth. Oxford as the marker to get that diagonal to be 400km
AUK regulations apply; lights and mudguards are compulsory; a signature, arrival time and a stamp on the brevet card to be obtained for all controls. Someone will be hard pressed to find a control at 00:44 with a stamp or a till receipt. In such a case a parking meter ticket or a bank cashpoint slip would suffice. Alternatively it is permissable to write in the time of arrival on the brevet card, and then on a post card which you then post from the control town to the organisor.
Please enter on the standard AUK form. The closing date for entries is three weeks before the date of departure and should include route details, a rough schedule, two stamped adressed envelopes and an entry fee which is five pounds sterling(£5). Your Brevet booklet will be posted to you about a week before you start. Upon completion the brevet booklet should be posted back to the organisor (Regulation 107) within 15 days.
Wessex goes to France, and to the 'Frogs' we are Rosbif. The Rosbif Series consists of one 200km circular ride based on Cherbourg, three circular rides based on St Malo and two linear rides, one Cherbourg >< Orbeq and one Orbeq >< St Malo. Enter on the usual AUK form for the fee of £2.50 and two sae.
The French have a permanent of their own between Mont St Michel and Cherbourg.
Riders may wish to just take a day trip and complete one event or do it as a part of a longer holiday. Alternatively, the series of rides may be viewed as THE holiday. It's up to you.
Le Transmanche (the Cherbourg based ride) is used for the Wessex Super Randonneurs Annual Reunion often as a day trip but occasionaly we combine our reunion with a local event the next day. In those years when we have not joined the French we have returned overnight and been able to ride Wessex DA CTC's New Forest based Gridiron event or indulge ourselves in the Dorset Delight or Dorset Coast permanents. Whichever way, it is a wheely good week-end.