At dawn, several dozen cyclists gather at the start. There are no team support cars in sight, no prize money, and no winners' podium waiting at the finish.
Ahead of them lies a 200-kilometre ride.
A few hours later, some will be battling the blazing sun, others a strong headwind. Someone may have a mechanical problem; someone else will discover that spending eight or ten hours in the saddle is nothing like a casual bike ride.
And yet, after completing their first 200 kilometres, many riders are already thinking about the next brevet: 300 km, then 400 km, and eventually 600 km.
Why do people keep coming back to something so demanding? The answer goes far beyond the distance.
A Brevet Is Not a Race
A brevet is a non-competitive long-distance cycling event. The goal is not to finish ahead of other riders, but to complete a set route within the time limit.
There are no first, second, or third places, and no official ranking based on speed. If one rider completes 200 km in eight hours and another in twelve, both are successful, provided they follow the full route, validate their checkpoints, and finish within the time limit.
So the cyclist riding beside you is not your opponent. The real challenge is understanding your own limits and seeing the journey through to the end.
For more about the rules, distances, and history of randonneuring, read our article: What Is Brevet Randonneurs Mondiaux (BRM)?
At the Start, Everything Feels Easy
The first few hours often feel great. Riders have plenty of energy, chat, get to know each other, and form groups. With fresh legs and the kilometres passing quickly, a 200-kilometre ride may even seem easier than expected.
This is when beginners often make a common mistake: starting too fast. Keeping up with a quick group may feel easy at first, but maintaining that pace becomes much harder as the hours pass.
In a brevet, what matters is not how fast you ride the first 50 kilometres, but how much energy you have left for the rest of the journey.
When the Road Becomes a Real Challenge
The difficulty of a brevet is not measured by distance alone. The weather may change, the wind may pick up, the next place to refill your water bottles may be farther away than expected, or your bike may develop a mechanical problem.
As fatigue builds, small mistakes matter more. Skipping a meal, drinking too little, or taking an overly long break can create serious difficulties later in the ride.
That is why a brevet tests more than physical endurance. It also challenges your ability to plan ahead, manage your time, and make good decisions on the road.
Self-Reliance and Helping Each Other
Self-reliance is one of the central principles of randonneuring. Every rider is responsible for their bike, equipment, food, and navigation. If you get a flat tyre or face another mechanical problem, you should be prepared to find a solution yourself.
But self-reliance does not mean you cannot accept help. Riders share tools, help with repairs, encourage each other on difficult sections, and ride together. They can also use cafés, shops, and bike workshops that are open to everyone. What they cannot rely on is a personal support vehicle or dedicated assistance throughout the ride.
In a strong headwind, complete strangers may come together as a group and ride side by side for hours. In a race, the person next to you might be a rival. In a brevet, they are often a companion with whom you share the struggle, the journey, and sometimes the beginning of a new friendship.
The Challenge Within
On a long ride, there may come a point when mental fatigue joins physical exhaustion. The finish is still far away, your pace is dropping, and the road seems endless.
You might find yourself asking: “Why did I decide to ride this far?”
Experience teaches you that you do not have to think about the entire remaining distance at once. Sometimes it is enough to reach the next checkpoint, climb the next hill, or ride another ten kilometres. A huge goal becomes a series of smaller, achievable steps.
At the same time, it is important to recognise the difference between ordinary fatigue and a situation where continuing would put your health or safety at risk. Endurance does not mean ignoring your limits.
What Changes After the Finish?
At the finish, riders remember more than the kilometres they have covered. They remember the wind, the climbs, the difficult moments, and the people who shared the road with them. Often, the most important discovery is that they were capable of more than they had imagined at the start.
The tiredness fades, but the sense of achievement stays. That is why, after a first 200 km brevet, 300 km no longer seems impossible. Later, the desire to try 400 or 600 km may follow.
But it is not simply about riding farther. Every brevet brings a different experience: a new route, different conditions, and another chance to put what you have learned into practice. Riders do not just learn to go farther. They also get to know themselves better.
Who Can Become a Randonneur?
You do not have to be a professional athlete to take part in a brevet. At the start, you will meet people of different ages, professions, and levels of experience. Some train every day, while others ride mainly in their free time.
Fitness matters, but speed is not the only factor in finishing successfully. Choosing a sustainable pace, eating regularly, planning breaks wisely, and paying attention to how you feel can make all the difference. With proper preparation, a first brevet is achievable for many recreational cyclists.
How to Prepare for Your First 200 km Brevet
Build up gradually. You do not have to ride the full 200 km in training, but completing several longer rides, perhaps 100–150 km, can help you understand how your body responds to spending many hours on the bike.
Before the brevet, test everything you plan to use on the day:
- Bike and saddle: Make sure your bike is in good working order and comfortable over long distances.
- Clothing and shoes: Wear gear you have already tested on longer rides.
- Food and water: Plan when and where you will refuel and refill your bottles.
- Lights and navigation: Check your front and rear lights, the route, and whether you can navigate offline.
- Repair kit: Carry what you need to fix a flat tyre, along with a pump and multitool.
Knowing how to fix a flat tyre yourself is also valuable. Most importantly, do not try to keep up with the fastest riders right from the start. You still have 200 kilometres ahead of you.
Why Give a Brevet a Try?
Brevets are not for everyone. But if you enjoy discovering new roads, travelling long distances, and challenging yourself without the pressure of racing, your first 200 km brevet could be a memorable adventure.
It might remain a one-time personal achievement. Or you might reach the finish, exhausted but satisfied, and find yourself already looking up the date of the next brevet.
Because a brevet is about more than covering a long distance. It is about the experiences you share along the way and discovering that you may be capable of more than you once thought.
Ready for Your First Brevet?
In Georgia, brevets are organised by the Caucasus Cycling Network (CCN). Explore the events calendar, choose a distance that suits your experience, and start preparing.
Explore Brevets in Georgia and the Events Calendar
Your first 200 kilometres might be just the beginning of a much bigger adventure.
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