Hi Barb,

The way they run the series in Florida (there are three separate groups) the rides start and end at a host hotel- that way out of town riders all have a place to stay. Bike inspection is the Friday night before, at the host hotel. (Checking things like lights, good mechanical condition, etc.) Riders meet on Saturday morning. The ride starts get earlier and earlier as the distances increase. I think ours this year were 7AM, 6AM, 4AM, and 3AM. (The 3AM was supposed to be 2AM, but luckily it was discovered that the control wouldn't be open by the time the first riders reached it if they were to start at 2AM!!) Typically, no one sleeps on the 200k, 300k, or 400k, though when I did my 400k I had to stop at 10PM because of a knee injury. I iced it and slept until 5AM, when I got up and rode the last 15 miles- still within the time limit. Having the rides start/end at a host hotle also allows the RBA (person in charge of the ride) to sleep in his room while waiting for riders to check in. For the 600k, some people ride it straight through, and some sleep. The route is usually planned so the riders return to the host hotel at about 300k or 400k, so if they choose they can sleep, then finish the ride Sunday. (The time limit for the 600k is 40 hours- when I did mine, I was on the bike for 27 hours, and my total time was 37 hours, so I spent 10 hours doing things other than riding).

I would recommend joining your local (national?) randonneuring club, and I think you'd benefit from joining the US club, too. They have a _great_ handbook they send out, as well as really nice newsletters.

http://www.rusa.org

The website http://www.ultracycling.com/ has a ton of information on long distance cycling, too.

Good luck!

Nanci