Bedgebury Forest
is a busy area open to the public every day of the year. However the public will have left by 20:00hrs when the gates are
normally locked. Access after this time will only be granted by display of the special pass issued to registered riders.
Sign-on
is from 19:00hrs – 21:30hrs the day of the race although it will be possible to pre-ride the course from 16:00 hours. Please note car parking
may be limited earlier in the day because of public demand to use the area. Free access will be available on production of
the special pass issued to registered riders.
Event registration: The event is registered with British Cycling and their regulations apply.
Age restrictions: Minimum age for a solo rider is 18. Team members
can be 16+ as long as the team leader is over 18 and all the younger riders have obtained and proven parental/guardian permission.
Age is on the day of the race ie. 24 May 2008.
Team Changes and Rider Substitutions: Team changes that require a category change can be made for free up until 9 May 2008.
After 9 May, category changes will cost £5. Rider substitutions that don't affect the team's category
can be made free of charge up to 20:00hrs on race day.
Technical assistance:
Normal mountain bike racing rules apply once a rider is on the course ‘racing’.
No outside technical assistance is permitted - riders are expected to be self sufficient. Support from other racers is allowed
provided that they are ‘racing’ at the same time. This includes swapping spares, tools, and even bike parts.
Solo Pits: Only solo riders may enter or take assistance in the solo pit area. Any rider who experiences
a mechanical problem that is not repairable on the course, must continue around the course to the team change-over area before
they may take assistance.
Minimum Laps: Every rider must complete a minimum of 2 laps during the course of the event. If each
member does not race the minimum, then the team's score will not count. Exceptions to this rule may be agreed on a case by
case basis for teams with riders who suffer a legitimate injury.
Handover for teams:
While one rider (A) is out on the course, the next rider (B) needs
to go to the bike pen, a storage area for bikes next to the handover area, and wait on foot for his/her team member to arrive.
Rider A will come into the handover area after his/her lap and hand the ‘baton’ over to rider B. Rider B will
walk to his/her bike (parked in the bike pen), and walk onto the course before climbing aboard and riding off on the next
lap. ALL RIDERS MUST RIDE IN SINGLE FILE THROUGH THE SCORING AREA!!
Equipment: All riders must wear a helmet at all times while riding, including practice, warm-up
and riding around in the start/finish area. Lights are required on all bikes while on the course during hours of darkness
(most of the race). A back-up light source is STRONGLY recommended, but not mandatory.
Finishing: The winning team will be the one that completes the most laps in the shortest time.
Results will be based on the number of laps, plus time taken to finish after 6 am. As long as you finish your lap before 6
am you may head out for another lap. Waiting before the finish on course is not necessary and could cost you positions. You
are not at any time obligated to go out for another lap. Remember, most laps in the least time wins.
Cheating: Substituting unregistered riders, short cuts, cutting through the tapes, having outside
assistance, and any other clear attempts at cheating will result in instant disqualification for the whole team. Riders must
race within the course tape. Where it has not been possible or practical to erect course tape, riders must stick to the obvious
trail. Marshalls will be posted around the course.
Water
is available
on-site.
Mountain bikes only.
