Comstock Epic Bikepacking Race Rules and Guidelines

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Description:  The Comstock Epic Bikepacking Race is an Underground Self-Support Individual Time Trial.  The Race follows the Comstock Epic Bikepacking Route established in 2011.  Starting at the Utah/Nevada Borderline and finishing at the Nevada/California Borderline. The Comstock Epic is an Underground Race.  The Comstock Epic is not organized, sanctioned, supported or permitted by anyone.  There are no entry fees, no awards and no prize money.  The mixed surface Comstock Epic Bikepacking Route consists of long punishing hike-a-bike sections, relentless steep climbs, high-speed-traffic-filled highways, and seemingly endless sand, dirt, gravel two-track roads.  The Comstock Bikepacking Route has EXTREMELY LIMITED RESUPPLY!  STUDY THE ROUTE AND HAVE A RESUPPLY STRATEGY!  The Comstock Epic Bikepacking Race does not have any route signs or markers.   Navigation and self-preservation are completely up to you.

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The Comstock Epic is Not an Organized Race--if several riders want to race at the same time--the riders collectively are responsible for organizing web-based group-race-tracking (i.e. MAProgress, Trackleaders, etc.).  June 3rd is only a suggested start date.  If racing individually, prove your race time via an individual tracking page from a Garmin inReach or SPOT and send link to NevadaBikepackingRoutes@gmx.com.

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Support Rules:  The Comstock Epic is a Self-support Race.  Use only resupply services available to all racers.  No cache drops.  No prearranged outside support, supplies, services or assistance.  No bicycle changes.  No electric or gas motor assistance.  No drafting.  If you leave the route, you must return to the same location to continue the race.   You must follow the entire route from start to finish with no shortcuts.  The Comstock Epic is not only an endurance race, but a strategic resupply puzzle.  Do you carry extra water & food to avoid detours to resupply towns?  Or do you travel light and take the energy & time penalty to ride off route to resupply towns?

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Comstock Epic Bikepacking Race Rules & Principles

Underground  -  Self-Supported  -  Individual Time Trial

Suggested start: June 3rd, 5:00am

This race follows rules outlined in Toby Gadd’s Ultra-racing rules

Underground

• Not sanctioned by any government agency

• No sign-up is necessary, just show up at the start

• No entry fees – No awards

• No aid stations

• No stand-by emergency response

• No route signs or markings – No intersection or vehicle traffic controls

 

Self-Supported

“Self supported racing is just that—self supported. Do. It. Yourself.”

“There is no difference between inside and outside support. All support is support.”

“There is no difference between unplanned and planned support. All support is support.”

• Complete the entire route yourself on the same bicycle

• Move under your own power

• No drafting

• No pacers

• No short-cuts or long-cuts

• No motor assistance

• No pre-placed supply caching

• No pre-arranged re-supply

• No reservations

• No commercial deliveries

• No planned or unplanned support

• Don’t accept trail magic or supplies from trail angels

• Commercial services are okay as long as they are available to all racers (i.e. hotels, restaurants, stores, bike shop repairs and supplies)

• Fix your own bike (unless at a bike shop available to all racers)

• Don’t beg, trade or buy (water, food, supplies or money) from other racers

• Don’t beg from people outside the race

• Don’t ride a motor vehicle at anytime during the race from start to finish (including when off route)

• If you leave the route for any reason you must return to that exact point to continue your race

• No communication with anyone regarding race information or advice (i.e. calling friends to find out other racers’ locations)

 

Individual Time Trial

ITT “racing is a personal commitment to yourself and to every other rider out there that you will act honorably and with integrity.”

“If you find yourself unable to adhere to a rule, then quit honorably (or self-relegate from the race and start touring).”

 

• The clock starts at the start-line and clock stops at the finish-line

• No specific start date or time (you can race anytime throughout the year that you decide is safe)

• Race tracking via gps transponder (i.e. Garmin inReach, SPOT, etc.)

• If racing individually, prove your race time via an individual tracking page from a Garmin inReach or SPOT and send link to NevadaBikepackingRoutes@gmx.com.

• If racing at the same time, the racers collectively are responsible for organizing web-based group-race-tracking (i.e. MAProgress, trackleaders, etc.)

• If route changes mid-race (fire, road construction, washout closures, etc.) take a legal detour that gets you back on the route as soon as possible

 

Principles

“It’s not a closed course. This isn’t 24-hours” of your “awesomeness. You are not better than any other trail user, so respect the trail and other users.” 

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• Respect livestock and wildlife (Don’t chase or harass, give them space and time to move, especially around barbwire fences and obstacles.)

• Practice leave-no-trace

• Don’t endanger your life or anyone else’s life

• Don’t be a liability to someone else

• Plan ahead and study the route

• Plan for all weather conditions and route challenges (It’s bad for everyone if you don’t carry proper weather gear and end up hitting the SOS button when caught by a storm)

• Plan for self-rescue when possible

• Leave rural gates as you fine them

• No littering or abandoning  gear

• Don’t break the law

• Yield to hikers and horseback riders

• Pick up trash, others dropped, along the route and earn Gnar Points