Do we really need them?
Think of these as guidelines to make your adventure safer and more enjoyable. Previous Brevet rules were loosely interpreted by many and that seems to be the Kiwi way. Strict adherence to Rules 5, 10, 11 and 12 is needed though for your safety and that of land owners.
First up: this is not a race. The intention is for a long distance self-supported bikepacking adventure.
Speed of travel is up to the rider but there is real danger of sleep deprived efforts putting some at risk. The rules are for your own safety and for others. Sections of the route share the road with vehicles so there is a real risk of a tired rider wandering into the path of a vehicle :-(
Taking a leaf from the Tour Divide and the Colorado Trail Ride, the following is a starting point:
1- Do it all yourself, under your own steam.
2- Riders must carry all their own gear (i.e. no domestiques).
3- No outside support, deliveries only to business addresses, no support from friends along the way, other than generous encouragement!
4- Riders should follow 100% of the course. If a rider leaves the course, they should return to the course where they left it, under their own steam. Riders that drop a section of the course should return to the original course as soon as practical.
5- Riders must carry a SPOT Tracker, and agree to cover the cost of rescue in the event they need to be evacuated. This is a requirement to identify riders on private land and also a safety requirement as you will be traveling in remote areas.
6 - Times under 4 days and 12 hours will be recorded as 4 days, 12 hours.
7 - Between noon one day and noon the next, every rider must spend at one block of at least four hours not traveling. That is, the maximum time any rider may spend traveling along the course will be 20 hours (between each noon-to-noon period)
8 - Riders should finish in under 8 days.
9 - Drafting is OK, and that makes traveling together OK!
10 - Follow the Road Code at all times. Many roads appear only as tracks but traffic may be encountered at any time (4WDs, farm bikes, other cyclists, etc.). There are no road closures anywhere or anytime!
11- Txt-ins must be made from designated towns to the designated mobile number. This is a safety confirmation foremost. Tracking may be intermittent and land owners need to know if anyone may be in the way of planned farm operations.
12- Riders must observe all requirements laid down by land managers along the route. Riders must not camp or light fires anywhere along the Knobbly Range section.
13- No entry fee; no prizes (but an adventure is guaranteed!)
14 - Road tactics are strongly discouraged. If you catch up to someone, don't blow past and leave them eating your dust (you know who you are), slow down and say hello. Remember it is not a race and some may need a bit of encouragement to keep their spirits up.
Comments:
Non-traveling time is an issue for a few riders but the risk is very real for a sleep deprived rider becoming involved in an accident. Please take the travel time guideline seriously and get some sleep!
