Below is information that applies to the entire event. Additionally, you will find and are required to read the information and rules for your specific distance. Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to change the rules, courses, routes, and guidelines or cancel the event before or during the event to keep you safe.

Emergency – In the case of any emergency for you or a fellow rider call 911. Each aid station will have a Search and Rescue medic for non-emergency help. Should you need their assistance just ask for help at any aid station. We will have a medical tent at the start-finish line also.

Our local ATV club will be stationed along and patrolling each section of the course (except the first and last 10 miles). They are there to provide sweep and notification services. They will have basic repair supplies. Patches, limited tubes, Co2, etc. They are not a “Mechanics service” to repair your bike for you but to offer support to broken down or stranded riders. If you are unable to continue, they will either provide a ride for you to the nearest aid station or request a vehicle to come and pick you up. Most of them will have radios and or cell phones to call for support should you need additional help.

The weather is almost always great here. Early May especially is generally ideal for riding. That said, when it isn’t great, it can be bad. Rain is a blessing here and always needed. A little rain makes riding incredible, with no dust, firm sand, and excellent traction. If it rains significantly, the roads are impassable. A lot of rain, and it is game over, the event will be canceled.

COVID-19.

Currently, no restrictions – We will update as necessary. As always, in our “new normal,” give space and respect for the health and safety of those around you.

Traffic. ALL DISTANCES, ALL ROUTES take place on 100% open, public roads! Road rules and laws must be followed—zero tolerance from us in this situation. If we find you running stop signs, crossing yellow lines, etc., you will be disqualified.

Once in the desert, it is remote, and you may feel all alone. STAY ON THE RIGHT ALWAYS! Trust us; a big Mac truck could be hauling ass right at you coming over that hill or around that corner.

Lights.

ALL riders are required to have an operational and turned-on rear red blinking light for the entire event.

Navigation/Signage.

ALL riders are required to carry and use GPS navigation for this event. Either a GPS-enabled computer or a smartphone. Our maps are created in Ride With GPS, and this app works very well on your phone if you choose not to use a computer.

Additionally, all riders are required to download and print Cue sheet turn by turn directions for your course and carry these with you as backup navigation. Final and official GPS files and downloadable map links will be sent to you on or around April 15th. We will place signage on courses. This signage is extensive, but we cannot guarantee that course markings will remain in place, as they could be interfered with by cows or desert dwellers. Please use GPS

Official course maps and cue sheets will be sent and posted on or before April 30th. Please, do not use previously published maps as changes could be made. We reserve the right to change, adjust, and amend any course due to weather, safety or environmental concerns at any point before or during the event.

All courses follow the same route for the first 15 miles. The 50, 75, 100, and 125 follow the same course to aid #2, mile 39. The 100 and 125 stay together until mile 45. The 125 continues until aid #3 (for them) at mile

62. Make a note of these divergent points for your course and don’t miss the turn or take the wrong turn.

All courses have the potential to experience some sections of 2-way bike traffic once headed “inbound” on your course. This is another reason to “stay right.” Don’t be overly concerned if you see cyclists come back at you (these would always be the leaders of one distance coming back on the slower riders farther back in the field or shorter distance).

Timing.

Our event is chip timed. Your chip is attached to your number plate. Each aid station has a timing strip that must be crossed for your trip and segment times to be captured.

Please pay attention to the timing area/strip/chute at each aid station and be sure you pass over it.

Semi live on course updates will be available at this link soon.

Neutral Start and Race Finish.

To help with the traffic concerns, to keep you safe, to get you warmed up and ready to race all distances have a 7-mile neutral start with sheriff escort. NO RACING OUT OF TOWN. Enjoy the warmup.

The timing stops when you hit the finish line at the park.

Aid stations.

Gravel is about adventure and self-reliance. In the spirit of this, many gravel events don’t provide aid stations. That’s cool, and we ride many of those events. But we want to add this support so you can focus less on what to carry and more on the views. Primary race nutrition and hydration electrolyte provided by Skratch Labs.

Crew(s) are allowed at most aid stations.

See Crew Document for details and directions

No aid is allowed on the course. Crews are not allowed on any section of the course other than the designated aid stations. Crewing outside of aid stations or on the course is grounds for disqualification. Aid station access for the 30 miler is not available.

75, 100 and 125 will have drop bag option at aid #2.

This means 100 will have a second shot and your bag, inbound mile 61. And, 125 a second time at mile 84.

You must CLEARLY LABEL the drop bag with your name and race number. Mark it well – you will be required to find your drop back on your own. The better you label it the more organized we’ll have it.

It needs to be a reasonable size (such as a race-tote, musette bag) or 6 pack cooler. Drop bags need to be dropped off prior to your start on Saturday morning at the start/finish area (this zone will be marked). Drop bags may not be retrievable after the race until Sunday morning at the finish area. We will do what we can to get them back late Saturday but no guarantees. If your crew supports you at aid #2 remind them to pick up your bag. Any items/bags not claimed by end of day on Monday, Mayl 15th will be donated

Sweep.

We will have several official sweep vehicles on the course. Due to the distances involved, these may be near or very far from you at any given point. They will have a limited supply of sealant, pump, tubes and basic tools. They are here for your safety, not as your ‘mechanic’. Taking assistance from the sweepers is legal for all riders. Sweep will also take you to an aid station should you need to be taken off the course.

Awards.

All distances will have age-group awards for women and men in each 10 yr age bracket, such as 20-29, 30-39, etc. All finishers will receive a course-specific finisher award (they are cool too).

You will receive a beer ticket (21+) and a food ticket with your packet. To be presented for after race catered meal.

1. The event organizers, promoters, staff, volunteers, and sponsors, including but not limited to anyone having anything to do with this event are not responsible for your safety or well-being, please commit to safe riding. You are responsible for you if you have an emergency call 911 from your cell phone.

2. This event is a non-stop, bicycling marathon event that will require participants to travel on paved, gravel, and dirt public roads. Participants must carry all necessary food, water, and equipment to make it from aid station to aid station.

3. Each participant MUST have at least one support crew person present at the event who is equipped to pick them up should he or she need to abandon the event. Multiple riders may share the same support crew. We will not come and rescue any riders—the support crew is responsible for their rider(s).

4. Each participant is solely responsible for himself/herself, including any accidents in which he or she may be involved. No responsibility can be accepted for participants becoming lost, stranded or injured.

5. Participants must obey all city, county, state & federal laws, and “Rules of the Road.” Participants must watch and yield to traffic as the roads used on this course are open to public traffic. Commit to safe riding and make wise decisions.

6. Participants must use the centerline rule. On the pavement there is a centerline, stay to the right of the centerline. On gravel there is no centerline, stay to the right as if there were a centerline. Do not ride in the opposite lane; this is especially dangerous on hills or around corners where you cannot be seen by oncoming traffic.

7. Participants must wear an ANSI-approved helmet while operating their bicycle. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

8. All participants must have a red taillight for the duration of the event. Riders will not be allowed to start the event without proper lighting mounted and ready for use. 125 riders should consider front lights. No rider will be allowed on the course past 8pm without rear AND front lights. Doing so will be grounds for disqualification.

• A “Cut-Off” time may be established for reaching each aid station (see your specific distance riders’ guide for details). Any participant not reaching a checkpoint before the established cut-off time will not be allowed to continue past that point. Cut-off times may be adjusted, as deemed necessary by event staff, to account for unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather, poor course conditions, etc. Cut-off times are established for the purpose of the rider’s safety and will be strictly enforced.

9. Race numbers must be placed on the front of the bicycle and must be clearly visible at ALL times.

10. The primary route must be followed at all times. No shortcuts or alternate routes are permitted. Failure to abide this, including accidental route deviation, will result in disqualification. (The course may be altered by the promoters in the event of Inclement Weather or other unforeseeable circumstance. Should this occur, participants will be sufficiently advised at a checkpoint).

11. Participants must remain within the primary boundaries of the roadway at all times. If the roadway is bordered by fences or ditches, riders must stay between them. If the roadway is in open range, stay on the roadway. Leaving the roadway or climbing over a fence is considered shortcutting the course and will result in disqualification.

12. If you exit the course for food, supplies, or any other reason, you must re-enter the course at the exact same spot which you left. If you get lost, you must backtrack to the point you left the course. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

13. Participants may not advance along the route by any means other than by bicycle or foot. All other means of advancement, including towing, tethering, or hitching rides, are prohibited and will result in disqualification.

14. Drafting on another event participant is allowed. Drafting in any other manner is prohibited, including but not limited to drafting a non-participant cyclist or a motorized vehicle and will result in disqualification.

15. Participants must start and complete the entire course on the same bicycle frame. All other components and equipment may be repaired or replaced during the event. Participants in the Single-Speed class shall have only one gearing combination installed on their bike and must complete the entire event using the same gearing combination. Failure to use the same frame will result in disqualification.

16. All bicycles, including fixed-gear bicycles, must be equipped with front & rear fully functioning hand-operated brakes. Coaster-style brakes do not satisfy this requirement. Failure to start the race with front & rear working hand brakes will result in disqualification.

17. Participants may help other participants with mechanical support, navigational assistance, and sharing food or water. Participants may not assist other participants with their forward propulsion.

18. Participants may purchase food, bike parts and other supplies at stores and businesses along the route. Always be aware of the distance to the next checkpoint and be prepared to travel that distance with the supplies you have.

19. Participants may receive assistance from any registered competitor in the race. Participants may receive assistance from any unplanned source that would be available to any other racer in the competition (for example, stores, bike shops, faucets on the side of a building). Participants may receive assistance from the general public, defined as unplanned assistance from people who have no connection or affiliation with the race or a competitor in the race and that is freely & equally offered to

all participants from a stationary, non-movable location (for example,, assistance in the form of mechanical help, food, water, bike parts would all be acceptable). Participants MAY NOT receive outside assistance from spectators, team managers or friends who are viewing the event, from event staff or from support persons on the course who have planned to assist teams. Any violation will result in disqualification.

20. Participants may, in the case of an emergency, mechanical failure or other unforeseeable problem, be assisted by motorized transport. By accepting such motorized transport, you will be automatically disqualified from the event.

21. There may be one or several checkpoints along the route where all participants must check-in. Failure to check-in will result in disqualification

22. Riders should call out obstacles, dogs, cracks in bridges, cars up or back to fellow riders.

23. Demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times. Foul, abusive language or unsportsmanlike conduct will result in immediate disqualification.

24. Respect the environment. Littering or any similar behavior will result in immediate disqualification.

25. No alcohol or illegal drugs shall be used by participants during the event. Athletes who are currently serving bans for doping will not be allowed to compete in this event.

26. Challenges to event results may only come from a participant registered in the category for which the challenge is being made.

27. Support Crews are NOT allowed on course or at aid stations this year, due to COVID restrictions, except to pick up a rider who is abandoning the event. If a support crew vehicle is spotted on course for any other reason, their rider will be disqualified from the event. Providing support to a rider while on course violates the self-sufficiency spirit of this event and is unfair to other participants.

1. Positive attitude

2. Fully charged cell phone

3. Red taillight flashing during the duration of the race, front lights for ANY rider on the course beyond 8pm

4. Cycling computer or GPS with route downloaded printed cue sheets and maps of the route

5. Minimum of two bottles of water or sports drink

6. ANSI approved biking helmet

7. Race numbers must be placed on the front of the bicycle and clearly visible at ALL times

SUGGESTED GEAR

1. Cash / credit card (for food, water, supplies)

2. Food (bars, gels, etc.)

3. Chamois Butt’r

4. Sunscreen

5. Chapstick

6. Eye protection

7. Maps

8. Handlebar map case

9. Cue sheet holder

10. Spare inner tubes

11. Bike pump or CO2

12. Chain repair tool

13. Thermal top

14. Arm warmers

15. Waterproof/windproof jacket

Last but not least. Whatever monster you’ve decided to face – This is going to be tough. That is the point – We want you to test yourself, to suffer, and ultimately overcome. When you find yourself in the pit of despair, try this…. Look up. Take a big breath of this fresh clean air. Relax those shoulders and then… Look around you, all around. Take it in. The blue in the big open sky. The purple hues tucked in the layers of the hills. The incredible colors one upon the other. The cliffs, stacked like books as far as you can see. Once that all settles in remind yourself of this. You are healthy, you are alive, you are on your bike riding through the desert, and you are strong enough to get it done. Repeat often and enjoy the journey.

Awards Presentation Schedule

30, 50, 75 – Overall and age group. 1:30 pm

100,125 Overall 1,2,3 awards 2:30pm, Age group 5pm

Food and Beer service will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 7p.m.

Photos.

FinisherPix will be our official photographer on the course. Register now and save.