Organizer: Peter McKay
Date: Friday, April 18 through Sunday, April 20,2003
Finish by: 9:00 a.m. Sunday
Destination: Resort Semiahmoo
Phone: 800.770.7992
Address: 9565 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine, Washington 98230-9326
If you plan to spend Saturday night at the resort, please make your reservations soon. This will be Easter weekend and rooms are filling quickly. Room rates are between $209 (water view) and $159 (courtyard view).
It is not necessary to finish your flèche route at Semiahmoo. You may finish your route elsewhere and arrive at Semiahmoo for the banquet.
Background: The premise of the flèche, as devised by the French, is that on Easter weekend the randonneuring clubs from around the country ride in teams from their respective towns to a common destination (in southern France) for a banquet dinner. The rules are minimal: each team comprises of 3 to 5 bicycles, they must cover a minimum of 360 km in exactly 24 hours, they must have on course controls to insure integrity of the route and travel unsupported (except at designated controls) on a unique route from the other teams. Rumors are the word "Flèche" translates as "arrows to a target" or "spokes of a hub." The destination is usually a resort community providing a festive surrounding for waiting family and friends. Completing a Flèche is also required for attaining a Randonneur 5000 standing with Audax Club Parisien.
See the Flèche Northwest Rules for more information.
Reminder: All riders are reminded that any failure to conduct the ride in accordance with SIR Brevet Rider Expectations, RUSA rules, applicable laws, or any special instructions or equipment requirements for this ride may result in a time penalty or disqualification.
Banquet brunch: We will hold our banquet celebrating this year's flèche Northwest on Sunday morning at 9am. The banquet will cost $25 per adult and $13 per child.
Awards: Team Award - The team award is offered to the team that completes the Flèche with a distance closest to the minimum distance.
Individual award - New this year, we will award a pin to every rider who successfully completes the Flèche. The pins are similar in desigh to the 100 km pins. Thanks to Duane Wright for arranging for the pins!
Entry Fee: $30 per team, payable with your registration.
Registration: Flèche Northwest Registration Form, proposed route (map & directions) and team entry fee are due by April 4th. Early registration is encouraged since the organizer will review route descriptions for adherenceto the Flèche rules. The organizer greatly appreciates receiving your proposed route in Microsoft Streets & Trips 2001 format. However, this is not mandatory. They should be sent to:
Peter McKay
8837 32nd Avenue SW,
Seattle, Washington 98126-3722
(telephone 206 932 6702).
Please download and fill out this Registration Form:
Last Updated 02.23.03