These rules attempt to embody the spirit of self-support and fairness for all riders.

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Ride the full route under your own power

1. Any deviation from the route not due to road or trail closures will automatically disqualify an athlete. No exceptions. Navigation is part of the challenge, the route MUST be followed. Plan accordingly. Proper bike, gear, tires, etc.

2. You are responsible to assess* and report time penalties for violations to the rules on course. (*Except Drafting - 15 for1 penalty meaning 1 min drafting= 15 min penalty)

3. You can go off course for emergency reasons (ie: mechanical or medical). Cyclists must return to the exact point of departure from the route to restart their ride.

4. Riders will be tracked through an online tracking service, using GPS tracking devices (SPOT). Final placings will be based on GPS tracking data and you will not be included in the final results if a tracker is not used. Cyclists with devices that are switched off or not active for long periods may be excluded from the final results.

5. Online GPS tracking is not intended to ensure safety.  It is for info-only, and validation of course compliance. Trackers shall remain on and active from start to finish. Turning it off could be seen as a way of hiding behavior inconsistent with the rules. If a tracker is not working properly or batteries go dead and you do not notice for a time, it is up to the participant to prove their location; through social media, photos of yourself on the route, and keeping your tracking files if needed.

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Services that aren’t commercially available to all racers are prohibited

1. There are no team cars, there is NO SAG.

2. Use local establishments  - restaurants, convenience stores and gas stations, microbreweries, motels, etc. Supporting local businesses is proper form.

3. You are responsible for finding food, water, lodging, bike services, and anything else you may need along the way. Any service utilized must be available to all. NO private resupply - NO private lodging.

4. Friends and family may visit on course to offer encouragement but they must not offer any material support of any kind. You are responsible for maintaining communication with them as well.

5. Trail angels are allowed, PLEASE try to "help" everyone on course. For example, if a cooler is left out, keep it stocked for everybody please!

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Pre-ride arrangements or booking lodging before June 18th is strictly prohibited

1. No mailing supplies or equipment ahead on the route. Shipping supplies or equipment ahead to Post Offices or other businesses is not permitted. No caches or mail drops.

2. Accommodation and other services may be booked once the race starts.

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Protect yourself and the ethos of unsupported adventure

1. Do not bring this ride, or unsupported racing, into disrepute. This jeopardizes these types of events and future racing.

2. Examples of Rules Violations: Breaking road rules, littering, voiding in public. Relieve yourself discretely, please!

3. Protecting yourself means being safe at all times and using the safety requirements below to their full capacity. It means not violating the laws of the road and it does mean engaging with other vehicles in a proper, kind manner. Remember, this is on an open course on public roads!

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No drafting - This race is not a team endeavor. If you find yourself with another cyclist, cool! Just ride side by side or keep 3 bike lengths between the lead rear wheel and the second cyclist’s front wheel. The exception is the obvious Pairs Category.

 

Additional Details Specific to Pairs Riders

Pairs are a closed unit allowed to share any and all resources. The rules are the same as for GC; including responsibility for the safety and bike requirements with the exception that support is allowed between pairs. The pair may share resources, navigation duties, as well as be allowed to draft. Pairs do not have to travel exclusively with each other, solo riding is allowed, but both participants must reach the end of the route before the pair is deemed finished.

 

Paired riders may not draft other pairs or interfere with solo riders in any way.

The persons who make up a pair must both carry a tracker. If one of the pairs drops out, the other is allowed to continue to the finish and maybe ranked in GC.  The final results will reflect this change in category.

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Enforcing the Rules​

These rules apply to ALL. Time penalties may be imposed and a cyclist may not appear in the results due to rule violations. Penalties for violations, if any, will be decided after course completion. It is proper to own up to any rule violations and suggest a fair time penalty.

 

With that being said; I don’t want to babysit anyone. If you chose to sign up for an ultra cycling, bikepacking adventure then one; you are a little bit crazy (nice to have you in the club!) and two, naivety aside why would you cheat yourself out of this type of experience? Let’s please just go ride bikes, do it fast, do it responsibly and have fun.