According to Randonneurs USA, a “randonneé” is a long ramble in the countryside. The Verde Valley Randonneé (VVR) takes riders on a roughly 250-mile magnificent ramble of Northern Arizona. The route is a mixture of gravel and pavement. The challenge is to ride the route in one go. The published version starts in Flagstaff, AZ and follows the loop in the counterclockwise direction. However, riders may go in either direction and may start anywhere on the loop. The route was designed so that it can be completed on a gravel bike, but without a doubt, there are some rough sections.
In April of 2024, Dylan Turner interviewed Dana Ernst about all things VVR on the Endurance Studio Podcast. Check it out: Verde Valley Randonneé Q&A.
The route is now a RUSA permanent! See permanent #04926.
As with any published cycling route, riders may choose to ride the route in whatever style they choose. Below are the guidelines for the intended style of this challenge.
- Complete the entire route on the date of your choosing, under your own power.
- Follow the GPX track as best you can. Small deviations and side trips are fine. Intentionally skipping part of the route is not okay.
- Take a picture of yourself and/or your bike at each of the locations marked with a "Viewpoint" POI (point of interest) on the map posted below. Locations for photos: Flagstaff Bicycle Revolution, Parks General Store, bridge over Verde River, Jerome, Camp Verde, Stoneman Lake Overlook, Mormon Lake Village.
- Support crews and prearranged support (including cached water, food, and gear) is not allowed.
- However, visitation by friends, family is okay provided the visit is short and no support is provided.
- Completing the route with a small group of riders is allowed and encouraged.
- Drafting among a group of riders is allowed.
- Sharing food, water, supplies, etc. among a group of riders is allowed.
- Taking breaks, naps, and getting a full night's sleep is up to you.
- Gas stations, restaurants, hotels, campgrounds, and any other commercial services along the route are fair game as long as they are not pre-arranged.
- There is no time limit.
- Practice “leave no trace”. In particular, do not litter!
- Follow all traffic laws. You must use lights when riding at night on any public roads.
Important! This is an unsanctioned event. There are no fees. There are no prizes. Riders have full responsibility for their navigation and well being. The goal is to finish the entire route while setting your own pace.
If you would like your name listed as a finisher, shoot me (Dana Ernst) an email with the following information:
- Your name.
- City and state of residence.
- Start location and direction (clockwise vs counterclockwise).
- Proof of completion of route (e.g., link to Strava or RideWithGPS, GPX file for your ride, tracking on Follow My Challenge).
- Pictures of yourself and/or your bike at each of the locations marked with a “viewpoint” POI (point of interest) on the map posted below.
- Any noteworthy comments about your experience.
- Optional: Post about your experience on social media. Feel free to tag @VerdeValleyRandonnee on Instagram and use the hashtag #VerdeValleyRandonnee.
- Optional: sign up for live tracking with Follow My Challenge ($30 fee to FMC). Live tracking here.
Every finisher is eligible for a free Verde Valley Randonneé patch (see image above), which was designed by Wyatt Spalding. If you would like a patch mailed to you, please include your mailing address in your email.
Here is the route for the Verde Valley Randonneé. The published version starts in Flagstaff and follows the loop in the counterclockwise direction. Riders may go in either direction and may start anywhere on the loop. The route was designed so that it can be completed on a gravel bike, but keep in mind that this is Arizona and there are rocks everywhere. The roughest section is probably miles 131-145.
You can find a clockwise version (with some minor adjustments to account for one-way streets in Flagstaff) of the route here.