Glossary
A quick-reference guide to the key terms you will encounter in Audax randonneuring and throughout this tracker. Terms are listed in alphabetical order. Click any cross-reference to jump to the relevant learn page for more detail.
ACP (Audax Club Parisien)
The international governing body for randonneuring, based in France. ACP sets the rules for BRM events worldwide, maintains the international calendar, administers homologation, and organises Paris-Brest-Paris. National organisations like Audax Ireland operate under ACP affiliation.
Audax Ireland
The national randonneuring organisation for Ireland, affiliated with ACP. Audax Ireland organises the Irish calendar of BRM events, maintains a network of Permanent routes, and handles award claims for Irish riders. It is a volunteer-run, non-profit body. See the Organisers page for more.
Audax
Short for Audax randonneuring. A form of long-distance, non-competitive cycling where riders follow a set route and must finish within a time limit. The word comes from the Latin for "bold". See the What is Audax? page for a full introduction.
Audax Season
The annual period within which season-based awards are calculated. Runs from 1 November to 31 October the following year, not the calendar year. See the Audax Season page for full details.
BP (Brevet Populaire)
A shorter Audax event under 200 km, designed as an accessible entry point for newcomers. BPs follow the same format as BRMs but with lower minimum speed requirements (10 to 12.5 kph) and shorter distances. They count toward RRTY 100 only; their sub-200 km distance makes them ineligible for Brevet 2000/5000.
Brevet
A long-distance cycling event organised under Audax rules. The term is French and is used interchangeably with "ride" or "event" in the Audax context. Brevets come in standard distances (200, 300, 400, 600, 1000 km) and must be completed within set time limits.
Brevet Card
A physical document issued to each rider before an event. The brevet card records the rider's details, the route, and the control points. At each control, the rider collects a stamp or signature as proof of passage. The completed card is submitted after the ride for homologation. Losing your brevet card means the ride cannot be officially validated.
BRM (Brevet de Randonneurs Mondiaux)
The standard format for Audax events worldwide. BRMs are organised calendar events with set dates, prescribed routes, and official control points. Standard distances are 200, 300, 400, 600, and 1000 km. BRM results are submitted to ACP for homologation and count toward most awards. See the Ride Types page.
Control (Controle)
A checkpoint along an Audax route where riders must prove they have passed through. Proof of passage can include a stamp on the brevet card, a shop receipt, a WhatsApp selfie, or an information control. Controls have opening and closing times based on the speed rules.
DNF (Did Not Finish)
A ride status indicating the rider started the event but did not complete it within the time limit or abandoned the route. DNF rides do not count toward any awards. In the tracker, rides can be marked as DNF and their visibility can be toggled in Settings.
Fleche
A team event traditionally held over the Easter weekend. Teams of 3 to 5 riders set off from different starting points and ride toward a common finish, covering a minimum of 360 km within 24 hours. See the Ride Types page.
Homologation
The official validation of a completed Audax ride by ACP. After finishing a BRM, the rider's brevet card is submitted to the organiser, who forwards it to ACP for verification. Homologation confirms that the rider completed the prescribed route within the time limit and followed all rules. Only homologated rides count toward ACP awards. Each homologated ride receives a unique number.
Homologation Number
A unique reference number issued by ACP that confirms a ride was officially validated. It typically looks like a six or seven digit number. You receive it from the event organiser once results have been processed, usually a few weeks after the event. The tracker treats a non-permanent ride as completed as soon as you confirm you finished it, and shows a small "Missing #" tag on the ride card until you add the homologation number. Adding the number drops the tag.
LRM (Les Randonneurs Mondiaux)
Long-distance events of 1200 km and above, sanctioned by Les Randonneurs Mondiaux. They follow the same principles as BRMs but over multiple days. PBP is a separate category and is not classified as an LRM. See the Ride Types page.
PBP (Paris-Brest-Paris)
The oldest and most prestigious event in randonneuring, first run in 1891. A 1200 km out-and-back ride from Rambouillet to Brest and back, held every four years. Qualification requires a complete Super Randonneur series. See the dedicated PBP guide.
Pending Homologation
A label applied to completed non-permanent rides whose official homologation number hasn't been issued by ACP yet. The tracker shows these rides as completed with a small "Missing #" tag, and they count toward awards normally. The only thing outstanding is the paperwork. Once you add the number, the tag drops off. Permanent rides skip this state entirely since they don't require ACP homologation.
Permanent
A self-organised ride on a pre-approved route that can be ridden on any date. Unlike calendar BRM events, there is no fixed start time or group start. Permanents count toward some awards but not ACP-administered ones. See the Permanents Guide.
Proof of Passage
Evidence that a rider passed through a control point. Methods include brevet card stamps, shop receipts, WhatsApp selfies, and information controls. See the Rules page for details on each method.
Randonneur / Randonnee
A randonneur is a person who participates in randonneuring. A randonnee is the event or ride itself. The terms come from French and are used interchangeably with "Audax rider" and "Audax event". See the What is Audax? page.
Rolling Window
A time period that moves forward with the current date, used by the ACP distance awards. ACP 5000 uses a 4-year rolling window and ACP 10000 uses a 6-year rolling window. As time moves forward, older rides fall outside the window and stop counting. See the Season page for how rolling windows interact with the Audax season.
RRTY (Randonneur Round the Year)
A consistency award requiring at least one qualifying ride of 200 km or more in each of 12 consecutive calendar months. RRTY 100 is a variant with a lower threshold of 100 km and wider ride type eligibility. See the Awards Guide.
SR600 (Super Randonnee 600)
A challenging 600 km route through mountainous terrain. The original format requires at least 10,000 m of climbing. The modern format is a BRM calendar event with at least 8,000 m of climbing. Completing one earns the SR600 award. See the Ride Types page.
Super Randonneur (SR)
The most well-known Audax award. Requires completing BRM rides of 200, 300, 400, and 600 km within a single season. Also the qualification requirement for PBP. See the Awards Guide.
Time Limit
The maximum time allowed to complete an Audax ride, calculated based on a minimum average speed of 15 kph. For standard BRM distances: 200 km = 13 h 30 m, 300 km = 20 h, 400 km = 27 h, 600 km = 40 h, 1000 km = 75 h. There is also a maximum average speed of 30 kph to discourage racing. See the Rules page for the full table.