Common rules
The idea of the challenge
“Border Epic” challenge has one main goal for you: finish “Border Epic” following given track within the time limit and self-supported manner.
Every participant of the event must follow the rule of an unsupported race. By unsupported we mean that a participant has to compete without external help from others (family, team, friends, etc) that is not available to other participants of the challenge.
Participants can buy food, equipment, rent a room, wash their clothes, fix bicycles, etc. during the race but have to use only those services and resources that are publicly available to other race participants as well. Taking a rest in a private house or booking a hotel room not on the same day, dinner with the family and friends that is paid by others is not in the spirit of this event so it's forbidden.
If you want to withdraw from the race, you must stop live tracking system, contact organizers and tell about your situation. In case of emergency you can contact organizers by phone. Organizers will make everything within their possibilities to help the participant.
Obligatory to have
1. GPS device to be able to follow provided route track. (We do not recommend to use smartphones as a primary tracking device).
2. Location tracking device given by organizers before the start. (If lost or damaged there is 120eur fee)
3. Safety measures (helmet, safety vest or light reflecting clothes).
4. Passport or ID card.
5. Lightning system, including front and rear lights.( Extra headlamp is recommended)
6. Powerbank or batteries to charge location tracking device given by organizers
7. Sleeping bag or alternative for it.
Recommended to have
8. Tent, bivy or hammock that has protection from rain.
9. Rain jacket
10. At least two water bottles or similar capacity hydration system
11. Multitool to service your bicycle.
12. Spare derailleur hanger.
13. Extra inner tube or tools to fix your tubeless tire.
Friends and family
Friends or family can visit participants on the route, but can only give moral support. Any other form of help from friends and family will be considered as violation of the rules (no pacing, buying dinner, providing material help or service is allowed)
In case of major technical problems
Things happen on the road. Having that in mind we do strongly suggest to evaluate your abilities to take care of the issue if fixing on the spot is impossible. We are not in the Andes or the desert so there are towns with bike or repair shops. Evaluate time limits for the nearest CP and make decisions based on that. Remember that if you leave the track you have to go back to the point where you left it and continue your ride from there. Any violation of this rule will result in removing participant from the race. If you have a major problem and wish to get help from aside (family, friends, etc) call organisers and we will make decision based on the situation. You might be able continue the ride but not competing and will get “tech. problems” indication next to your finish time.
GPS navigation
GPS navigation is one of the most important participant’s items, with its help he\she can start, follow the route and have an evidence that the route has been completed fully and according to rules.
Using smartphones for navigation is permitted only if they have correct software and can work without battery save mode - to get a correct position. We do recommend to use smart phones for a back up only.
Tracking
All participants must use location tracking device given by organizers. It is used to monitor the position of the participant at any given time during the race. If you have any issues with the location tracker during the race please contact the race organizers since any discrepancies that will be noticed during or found later after the race between the race track and location tracking device might result in DNF.
The participants’ location tracking system is used to check on their routes, but not to ensure their safety. The maximum tolerance for not following the route is 30 meters, knowing that GPS signal can be inaccurate sometimes.
Rules for pairs
Pairs can share their resources. The rules are the same as for solo cyclists, but having one main difference: any support is allowed between those two riders. Pair can share resources, help navigate each other, etc.
Pairs can ride as solo participants, but the finish will be timed when the last person from the pair will cross the line.
Pairs still have to use two tracking devices and carry them separately. In case one of the pair riders withdraw from the challenge, other can continue to the finish line and his\her entry will be marked as *finished solo, but started in pair.
While pairs can be registered, they can also be formed while riding. Participants (both) should inform organizers about their agreement to form a pair while riding. If two solo participants are sleeping two or more times together, near each other, and haven't informed organizers about becoming a pair - organizers might consider their disqualification.
Participants
Persons 18 years and older are allowed to participate.
Help
Participants can receive help from other participants in case of:
Medical help
Technical help
Moral help
Food or water (in extreme cases)
PostPacking
Sending your prepared packages to different post/parcel machines and post offices and collecting them along the route is not allowed.
Finish
All the participants use the same track to reach the finish line. Once the length of the race is chosen during registration there is no other way to change the distance.
A participant, who reaches a designated finish is asked to return tracker, charging cable and present a checkpoint card for signing it. If a participant will not present a correctly filled checkpoint card, organisers leave the right to mark participant's status as DNF (Did not finish).
Technical and inventory check
On pre-race day an experienced bicycle mechanic will do a quick bicycle check, as well as "Must have" items will be checked, so participants need to make sure their bicycles are ok. The mechanic might have some time for a small fix of participant's bicycle if it's not OK but don't count on it. This check is done to lessen technical problems along the way, so more participants can finish the challenge.
We would like to remind
Any human powered bicycle in good condition is OK, even those that are not used in traditional events (we recommend gravel bike but the choice is yours).
The participants are responsible for their own safety.
Only participants are responsible for their actions during the challenge.
“Border Epic” organizers can exclude a participant from the challenge for not following the rules, including can disqualify participant publicly stating their misbehavior, inappropriate actions against the rules.
All the rules, recommendations and requirements will be discussed during pre-race day, a day before the race start - it is official meeting where participants are obliged to be.
"Border Epic" organizers strive to provide equal racing conditions to all the participants during the challenge so we ask you to be mindful and respect others. Follow the self-supported rule, ask your family and friends not to tempt you with getting that little extra help and a hot beverage when it's cold. Don't cut corners. We don't want you to have restless nights after all :)