Yeah, there's a few of them. Yeah, some of them are harsh and unforgiving. To some extent, they're intended to discourage people from racing in this event - people who might not be totally serious about making the ride, who decide to do this kind of thing on a whim, things like that.
Don't start sending me $ until I've finalized the date!!! (TBA - most likely October 2006)
All fees are nonrefundable, and go entirely to the prize list, rider souvenirs, or covering the costs of the event.
Don't send me $ unless you're serious about racing.
Registration will close, with no exceptions made, one month before the date of the event.
I do this for a couple reasons: first, because I need that time to be able to print the t-shirts and all the event materials for the exact number of riders starting; and also (and perhaps most importantly), to discourage last-minute entries - this is not a event you should decide to ride the week before the event. I'm expecting riders to want to do some serious planning and maybe even some training in preparation for this event. Unless I have your registration fee by the due date, you are not considered registered. That means no t-shirt, no manifest, no nothing. Period. Do not attempt to argue this point, as it has been announced well over a year in advance, and I will stick to it.
No sag wagons will be provided or permitted. riders using vehicular support of any kind, or working with other riders will be "disqualified".
The point of this event is to make your loop around ONP and back to Portland, as quickly as you can, using your bike, under your own power. This is a time trial of sorts, and as such, a test of each individual's routing and riding efforts and skills. Is that so much to ask?
If you choose to abandon, for whatever reason, at any point in the event, getting back to Portland (or whereever else) is your own problem.
Event organization cannot be expected come out and pick you up. "I don't have a spare tube" doesn't count, nor does "My wheel is trashed.". Carry spares, make sure your bike is in excellent working order, and prepare for the worst case scenario. For your own sake, carry enough money to pay for a bus or train ride to wherever you need to go if things fall apart and you can't jury-rig and limp it in. It sounds harsh, and well, it is. Tough. Remember, the guy who made these rules up will be out on the course too, and it could happen to him just as easily as it could happen to you.
All bikes will be examined before departing to confirm the presence of these two items, and manifests will not be issued without them.
Both forward-facing white headlights and rear-facing red taillights are required, because night riding will almost surely be involved in everyone's ride at some point in time. We suggest generator power over batteries, but it's up to you. If you're using battery-powered lights, please carry spare batteries, for your own safety.
Cyclometers are required as a basic method of keeping things honest. Your cyclometer witll have its total mileage reading (miles or kilometers, either one is fine) noted on your manifest at check-in. Should your cyclometer happen to die, or you accidentally reset it during the ride, you should note the location and last known mileage on your manifest, and inform an official at finish check-in.
There will be no delays of the start time. All riders must check in prior to departure to receive their manifest and have their starting cyclometer reading logged.
Check-in will open 2 hours prior to start time, and will continue after riders have departed, in order to accommodate stragglers, until the check-in volunteers decide it's too late for your sorry ass to start.
Late starters will have their actual start time noted on their manifest, but this will not affect their actual clock time, nor will penalties beyond those incurred by simple tardiness be applied. Check-in workers will remain in the start area for at least an hour to check-in late starters. If you miss the start, maybe you'll get lucky and find the check-in crew around town somewhere, maybe you'll just be SOL. Moral of the story? Don't be late.
Event organization will not be providing any routing aids beyond a basic map and list of checkpoints
Riders are expected to research and plan their routing themselves, and should depart with whatever maps they deem appropriate to find their way. Do not seek routing advice from the organizers - you won't get it. After all, I'll be "racing" too, and it's not in my best interest to tell you what I think will be the fastest route!
Checkpoints will be fixed stops at which you have to answer questions about the location, or procure some other form of proof. There will be between 8-12 of them, and riders may hit them in any order. Note that most, if not all, checkpoints will be within the boundaries of Olympic National Park, for which there is an entry fee of $5 (valid for 7 days).
Check-in will be available 24 hours, and a schedule of locations and availability will be printed on your manifest.
Check-in in Portland will be open 24 hours, most likely for 6-7 days after the start.
Upon arrival, you will be expected to turn in your manifest and submit your cyclometer for a mileage check. Riders with reset or dead cyclometers should inform the check-in official immediately.
For late-night check-in, phone numbers will be provided on your manifest - please take the time to call ahead so that the check-in people can at least be awake when you come knocking. The finish location may possibly provide rudimentary crash space for finishing riders, but you shouldn't count on it.
Well, you deserve something for attempting something like this. Not many people are this kind of stupid, and you should have something that lets the world know you're one of them. Riders who actually finish the ride will receive, in addition, a special finisher's patch. I promise they'll be cool.
If you're expecting prizes, change your expectations. I will have them if I can, but as finishing times may be quite widely spaced, and I can't expect riders to hang out until everyone's come in, an awards ceremony may be difficult. In the event that I manage to come up with prizes, they will be distrubuted after the event and associated storytelling, and each rider (in finishing order) will have the opportunity to make up an award category and choose the winner from amongst the other riders, until all prizes are dispersed.