RULES
Event Rules
1. The EVENT SPONSORS, ORGANIZERS, PROMOTERS, STAFF and anyone having anything to do with this event ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY OR WELL BEING. We cannot stress this strongly enough... YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU!
2. Bighorn Gravel is a neutral-supported, endurance bicycle event along the gravel and dirt roads of rural Colorado. For the purpose of this event, “bicycle” is defined as “a vehicle consisting of a frame mounted on two wheels one behind the other, and having a seat, handlebars for steering, two hand-operated brakes, and propelled solely by the operator via two pedals connected to the rear wheel by a chain or belt. “E-Bikes” and pedal-assist bikes will ONLY be allowed in the Gravel Curious distance.
3. All roads are open to public traffic. For your safety, it is imperative that you be constantly aware of your surroundings. Therefore, headphones / earbuds are strictly forbidden.
4. If you find yourself needing to drop from the race, please notify the nearest Aid Station. Bighorn Gravel race directors reserve the right to make any last minute course/timing changes as deemed necessary for a safe and successful race day.
5. Listen to race officials. If a course marshal or moto marshal gives you a specific direction, you must follow it. If they tell you to stop, it is for a good reason! More than likely, your safety.
6. Do NOT Litter in our Backcountry! Cycling jerseys have pockets. Not only do they store food, but they can store trash. Please make sure to keep our beautiful backcountry litter-free. We would be happy to take your trash at the Aid Stations and the Finish Line. If riders are seen littering during the event they will be disqualified and not invited back to the event.
7. Packet pickup will take place Saturday, June 28th between 11:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. at the Lundgren Amphitheater, 789 Gypsum Creek Rd, Gypsum, CO 81637 to receive their event packet. A government-issued photo I.D. will be required to sign in. Event packets will be given out to registered participants only. No one else can receive your pack for you. Sign-In will ONLY be available on Sunday if it is pre-arranged. So plan accordingly.
ALL participants MUST attend a Mandatory Rider Meeting on Saturday, June 28th at 3 PM at the Lundgren Amphitheater, 789 Gypsum Creek Rd, Gypsum, CO 81637,
The Town of Gypsum has a No Dog policy for all town parks. Please respect this policy and leave your four legged friends at home.
8. Participants will be responsible for printing their own set of course maps and/or cue sheets, or downloading the course GPS file prior to the event. These assets will be the rider’s primary means of navigation. In addition, the course may have a limited number of course markings to reassure participants they are on route. DO NOT RELY ON COURSE MARKINGS FOR NAVIGATION. USE THE MAP, CUE SHEETS AND/OR GPS FILE!!!
9. There will be several AID Stations along the route where all participants may receive nutritional support. NOTE…NO OUTSIDE SUPPORT IS ALLOWED! All participants must rely on the same Bighorn Gravel provided support.
BAG DROP ALERT!!!
We are offering a bag drop transport for the Ram’s Horn Escape riders only. Each rider is allowed one bag and it needs to be dropped off at the Info Tent by 5:00 PM on Saturday the 28th. NO EXCEPTIONS!
These bags will be transported to AID Station 2 (Yeoman Park Campground). Riders will be responsible for finding their own bag at the aid station.
This is intended to give riders an opportunity to have extra layers of clothing if stormy weather rolls in or if the temps drop.
No Liquids in drop bags please.
Bags will be returned to the Info Tent around 2:00 PM and need to be picked up by 5:00 PM on Sunday. Any non-claimed items will be donated or can be shipped at riders expense.
10. Cut-off times will be for departing an intermediate cut-off at Yeoman Park Campground AID Station (Ram’s Horn only) Sylvan Lake AID Station and final cut-off at Cottonwood Pass (outbound) AID Station. Any participant not departing Yeoman Park Campground AID Station before 11:00 AM, Sylvan Lake AID Station before 1:00 PM or Cottonwood Pass (outbound) AID Station before 3:30 PM MST will be pulled from the event. Any participant still at Yeoman Park Campground AID Station, Sylvan Lake AID Station or at Cottonwood Pass (Outboud) AID Station after the departure cut-off time will not be allowed to continue past that point. Departure cut-off times are based on a minimum average speed and are established for the purpose of rider safety. Therefore, these times will be strictly enforced.
11. Outside support is not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to assistance with nutrition, navigation, and supplies. The only exceptions to this are outlined in Rules 12 and 14 below.
12. Participants may help other participants with mechanical support, navigational assistance, or by any other means.
13. Official AID Stations along the route will serve as neutral areas where Ram’s Horn Escape & Little Bighorn participants may receive neutral support to restock supplies. These AID Stations will be the only locations along the entire course where participants may receive assistance. RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM A SUPPORT CREW AT ANY POINT ALONG THE ROUTE WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION.
14. Participants may receive “neutral” assistance from residents along the route. “Neutral” is defined as support that is freely offered equally to ALL event participants, and is done so from a stationary, non-moveable location. In other words, it is OK to stop at a farmhouse and fill up a water bottle from a garden hose. It is OK to receive a can of soda from a resident sitting in a lawn chair in their front yard or tent with a cooler full of cold drinks. It is NOT OK to receive a hand-up from a vehicle that “just happens” to be at the side of the road unless it is available for ALL riders.
Folks, this rule is really quite simple. Please don’t make it something it is not.
15. Support Crews, friends, and family members are NOT allowed on or near the course. IF A SUPPORT CREW VEHICLE IS SPOTTED ON COURSE, THEIR RIDER WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. Providing support to a rider while on or near the course goes against the self-sufficiency spirit of this event. It is unfair to other participants, and therefore will not be allowed.
16. Participants may not advance along the route by any means other than a bicycle, or by foot. There will be no hitching rides unless it is in the official sweep vehicle.
17. The primary route must be followed at all times. No short cuts or alternate routes are permitted. The course may be altered by the promoters in the event of inclement weather, or other unforeseeable circumstances. Should this occur, participants will be sufficiently advised.
18. Riders must remain within the primary boundaries of the roadway at all times. If the roadway is bordered by fences, stay between them. If the roadway is in open range (no fences), stay out of the ditch and on the road. Leaving the roadway is cutting the course. Hopping the fence is trespassing on private property, and as such is punishable by law. We will fully cooperate with local law enforcement to see that violators are dealt with appropriately.
19. If you intentionally exit the course for food, supplies, or any other reason, you must re-enter the course at the same spot at which you left. If you get lost, you shall make every reasonable attempt to backtrack to the point where you left the course; or to re-enter the course as soon as possible and without gaining an advantage. Note: “Advantage” is not defined by race position.
20. 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 SingleSpeed class shall have only one gearing combination installed on their bike and must complete the entire event using the same gearing combination.
21. Bicycles must be equipped with two (front and rear) fully-functional hand-operated brakes. Coaster style brakes do not satisfy this requirement. “Fixed-Gear” bikes are not exempt from this requirement
22. Participants must wear a properly approved helmet while operating their bicycle.
23. Participants must obey all city, county, and state laws, and “Rules of the Road”.
24. Drafting on another event participant is allowed. Drafting on a non-participant cyclist, or on a motorized vehicle will result in disqualification.
25.You are completely on your own. Use your head. Watch for and yield to traffic. All roads are open to public traffic.
26. Challenges to event results must come from a registered participant, must be made either in-person, or via email to info@bighorngravel.com, and must be received no later than 11:59 PM MST on Monday, June 24, 2024.
27. Bighorn Gravel does not offer entry refunds. However, you can defer your entry to next year, change categories, or transfer your entry to another rider.
All entry transfers and deferrals must be submitted no later than Wednesday 6/19/2024 at 11:59 PM MST. You WILL NOT be able to pick up a race packet if your entry is deferred to the next year.