I’ve never been much good at rock climbing; unfortunately I’m deathly afraid of heights. But I’ve always admired climbers for their grace, sense of adventure, and simple lifestyle. The reason I’m bringing this up now is that I see a lot of similarities between the ITT vs. group bikepacking ethos and the free vs. aid climbing ethos. One group feels compelled to complete the climb as simply as possible, with protective gear placed only in case of emergency. The other group feels compelled to complete the task by any means available, hammering pitons and hoisting themselves up with stirrups. Both types of climbing enjoy healthy followings. And while I relate more with the free climbing ethos, I also admire the accomplishments of aid climbers. My point? There is no one right way.

The same goes for bikepacking. We all have a passion for what we do, but we don’t necessarily need to agree on how it SHOULD be done. A central set of guiding rules/principles would be nice (especially as the "sport" evolves), but not everybody will agree with them. Sorry to have entered this conversation with an honest hope for consensus only to have further muddied the waters.

Ultimately, if I want to compete in the CTR instead of just riding the Colorado Trail, or the AZT300 instead of just riding the Arizona Trail, or the Tour Divide instead of just riding the Continental Divide, then I’ll need to abide by the rules of the race organizers. And that’s perfectly fine! It will not affect the way I ride. Thank you for even extending the invitation to join you.

I guess I just don't see where the slippery slope is for either of these examples.

Hmmm... I'm pretty sure that cell phone use on the trail unarguably altered the outcome of this year's AZT race. And sharing supplies among racers certainly affected the finishing order of the CTR. With this mindset racers could also conceivably share shelter, call ahead to reserve the last hotel room or order dinner before the next restaurant closes, trade Clif Bloks for sunscreen, and split water filtering and cooking tasks (thereby saving time). In my opinion, if you need to do any of that you weren't prepared and certainly not self-sufficient. But that's just my opinion. As someone wisely mentioned earlier in this thread, "if you are content with the way in which you rode and made it to the finish then I am content to recognize your finish". It ultimately it will not affect the way I ride.

Matt: "well, you'd be surprised how slippery the slopes can be for some racers on a duressed-out day 14 of a 20day ride. As matt chester once described attachment [to one's race], "it can be a bitch". this is probably no truer than when we group-start, race alongside others."


-- Sorry, I meant it IS indeed a slippery slope (bad proof-reading on my part). Hence the need for some well defined rules...

[But ultimately it will not affect the way I ride.]

Well said, Majcolo.

The objective here is not to "legislate" racers' experiences, but to maintain as pure and raw a trail experience as possible. It's really not that slippery a slope between trading candy bars and trading electrolyte pills, water filters, chain tools, tubes, etc. Or using cell phones to check in with work/spouses from the trail and ordering ahead for pizza or reserving a hotel room in the next town. If you need any of that stuff, you weren't prepared, and I dare say didn't maintain as pure an experience as those who were better prepared and self-sufficient.

With regards to Chris's earlier email, the proposed rules limiting physical collusion amongst racers would in NO WAY prevent you from helping a fellow racer in dire need (severe bonk, mechanical, medical emergency, etc.). The asterisk would instead go next to the receiving rider's name.

I agree with Matt: "progress is hard to stop; it's how you address it that matters". Just because something IS doesn't mean it should be. I'm definitely in favor of a purer, rawer trail experience (I'm even opposed to GPS devices, but that's a whole other 20-page post!). Obviously not everybody feels the same way as I do. But ultimately it will not affect the way I ride.

Whatever the group decides upon, so be it... Looking forward to seeing you on the trail (bluetooth chip in ear or not)!

Jeff, very nice post. You're not an ass!

Dave, nice post as well. It is HARD to find resolution, thank you for continuing to try. While I don't personally agree with some of the principles your propose (sharing items between racers and unlimited cell phone use), I ultimately don't think that what anyone else does will affect MY ride. "Nothing required, nothing banned" IS nice and short and sweet isn't it? And if it allows us to amicably go on our merry ways (and do more riding than writing), then so be it. Compromise is not necessarily a bad thing.

Thanks to everybody for keeping an open mind.

"Does my taking a non-race-relayed business call truly diminish your ride and the CTR to such a degree that it should earn me a relegated status?".

Toby. I'm a "yes" guy, meaning my first inclination is to empathize with everybody and everything. Which is why I defended the use of cell phones for special circumstances like your own (i.e., business calls on the trail). However, after reading Dave's response and thinking about the WHOLE picture, I realized that making an exception for you doesn't best serve the remaining 99% of racers on the trail. Again, if this rule (okay, I've said it!) can prevent mis-use of cell phones for everybody but you, then I have to support it.

No, I'm truly not threatened by your cell phone use. As I mentioned earlier, I actually admire you for being able to juggle work with play. But this post and these events are not just about you. This post is about satisfying the needs and concerns of the larger bikepacking community. Again, if one rule can clarify an issue for 99% of racers, then it should stand. It just took me a while to find my feet on this. It's called a compromise. Perhaps you could, for a moment, understand the alternative point of view: that a business call to a client may provide you with an "unfair" emotional/competitive boost. By unfair I mean that if everybody else confines their two way communication to towns and outposts (because they don't own or carry a cell phone), then your mostly business interaction with that happens to end with words of encouragement or some weather insight from your client is NOT equally available to all racers. Principle #1.

"Does my taking a non-race-relayed business call truly diminish your ride and the CTR to such a degree that it should earn me a relegated status?". On the flip side, does breaking a rule that's set in place for the majority of racers really diminish YOUR ride and CTR experience? Your an independent business person, you've obviously got a fire and passion. Why does it matter so much what others think? Ultimately the CTR is YOUR experience and nobody can take that from you. But the attempt here is to keep it as pure as possible for as many racers as possible.

Ummm... after a bit of reflection on the bus ride home, I think I need to amend or even retract my previous post. Sorry, my fingers typed faster than I could pull my thoughts together (and I type really s l o w).

Did I really question Dave who was supporting a principle that I actually proposed earlier (limited cell phone use), then fall back on the INTENT clause, and close with a plea for all of us to get along?... I'm afraid I did. If you haven't chimed in on this post yet and wonder how hard it could possibly be to hash out a solution, I strongly suggest you jump in the ring (if only to make me look a little less like an ass).

Dave is absolutely right: rules are rules. And if one carefully written rule can clarify an issue for 99% of the bikepacking community and save us all a bit of grief, then I think it should stand even if it offends or inconveniences the remaining 1%. It's called compromise, and it's often used in situations like this. Limited cell phone use (within "town" limits) is a compromise, unlimited cell phone use is not.

Sorry to have digressed. It's late and I'm tired. Good night.

Dave H: Um...doesn't that take us back to post #1 in this thread?

Personally I think that INTENT is everything in a situation like this. Some might construe cell phone use as a performance aid, but Toby just needs to keep tabs on work. No questionable intent or unfair gain... Similarly, some people might construe the use of bronchial dilators as a performance aid (especially at altitude), but you just used it to survive during the CTR. (I know how this works -- I've had a strange recurrence of asthma for the past month and use my inhaler nearly daily right now). But if a healthy person uses an inhaler, or an asthmatic uses it above and beyond their needs, then in my mind that constitutes questionable intent.

Rather than bringing us entirely back to post #1, I think this brings to the last and over-riding principle that I suggested above "...racers are responsible for maintaining the high standards, morals, and ethics of bikepacking that inspire and motivate us all. There are bound to be issues on and off the trail." When in doubt, use good judgement and INTENT.

We all realize by now (15 pages later) that there will never be total agreement among us. But I think that a basic set of guiding principles is possible.

Hi Toby. I don't think any less of you for having a cell phone. Got one myself. I was just trying to find a guideline that would satisfy all parties involved (from those that abhor cell phones to those with cell phone implants). Of all the events that I'm aware of in the lower 48 states, you should be able to hit a "town" or "outpost" nearly every day to make a call. But if you really need to make a business call more often than that, no one's really going to stop you. Please just don't do it within my earshot!... And that's where principle #6 comes into play. Be respectful of others on the trail and be honest about any outside aid you might receive. That's my take.

Also, if you can run a business on your own AND race the CTR, more power to you. I could learn a thing or two from you!

So the key concept to keep this post moving forward and save the world is to provide constructive feedback. If you see an issue differently, don't hesitate to offer up an alternative solution. To me, #2 is fairly clear -- no PHYSICAL collusion or support. That includes anything you can touch, or would touch if your riding partner didn't touch it first: food, parts, batteries, tools, chain lube, tires, tubes, patches, glue, water bottles, water filters, stove, maps, compasses, band aids, tourniquets, back scratching (you know that part between your shoulder blades that you can't really reach on your own?), shelter, plastic baggies to wrap your cold feet in, rubber bands or zip ties to hold your helmet light in place, clothing, etc. However, discussion or shared meditations about any of the above items, strategy, saddle sores, medical advice, weather, or anything else is totally permissible. I acknowledge that emotional support and companionship are potentially huge factors with regards to surviving vs. thriving in an event like the CTR, but we're all friendly folk and we like to talk. When you toe the starting line with other people, you should expect to share the experience along the way. Like Dave mentioned above, an event with 40 other riders is by default a different animal than a true ITT... The hard part is nailing down a set of guiding principles that keep the group aspect from taking over the solo aspect. Or not -- that's just my opinion.

I know this post has been quiet lately and I don’t mean to disturb the peace, but I’d like to add my two cents… To be honest, I want nothing to do with rules or regulations, but after sharing breakfast with Stefan the other day I realize that NOBODY wants much to do with these issues. Stefan organized the CTR out of the goodness of his heart and a passion for all things outdoors, and in doing so inspired so many others to have a go at the CTR. But now he (and other race organizers) are left holding the hangman’s noose so to speak, responsible for racer disqualifications, grumblings, route clarifications, etc. To be perfectly clear Stefan didn’t bitch, moan, or complain in the slightest about this responsibility, but it just ain’t right in my opinion. Seems like a reasonable, rationale group such as ourselves could determine a standard set of guiding principles that apply to all (or most) ultra- endurance cycling events. As has been mentioned earlier in this post, the real work has already been done by folks like Mike C, Matt Lee, and Stefan. But there obviously still remain some grey areas, which is natural as these events evolve and progress. What do you say to a community-wide bikepacking effort to develop a universal set of principles (I’m trying hard to avoid the word “rules”) that would apply to events from the Tour Divide to the CTR to the Cococino Loop? No offense intended to ANYONE. Building on past events and stealing freely from their websites, here’s my best shot. I'm sure I've missed a few items, and perhaps I'm way off base on others. Please feel free to add your own constructive thoughts…

1) Solo. The guiding principle is "Do. It. Yourself." And “equal opportunity” for all racers.
2) Support. See principle #1. These events are meant to be SOLO. Physical collusion of any sort among racers is taboo. Racers may not draft each other or share any supplies. Companionship, and likely some additional emotional support and competitive motivation, are the only things racers traveling together may provide each other. “Trail magic” in the form of unplanned, spontaneous support from backpackers, horsebackers, trail angels, etc. unrelated to the race event or effort are permitted.
3) Supplies and shelter. Pre-arranged and/or outside assistance with navigation, food, shelter, or supplies is forbidden. [[[Longer events like the Tour Divide may allow racers, in advance of the event, to mail items to post offices or public establishments along the route. Since I’ve never competed in such an event, I don’t know how necessary this provision is.]]]
4) Outside (two-way) communication. See principle #1. Cell phones and other two-way communication devices exist, but not everybody has one, wants one, or feels that they are appropriate on the trail. In order to provide equal opportunity to racers who choose pay phones (or no phones) over cell phones, two-way communication devices may only be used within town limits. “Town” is defined as any public establishment that could legitimately provide the use of telephone or internet communication. In the absence of a bona fide pay phone, racers may ask the proprietor of said public establishment to make use of their personal land line or internet connection.
5) Navigation devices. GPS and SPOT devices are permitted, but not necessary. SPOT devices are designed to provide racers and significant others with a sense of security should an emergency arise on trail. They may also be used for entertainment value and, when necessary, validation of course compliance. If you are opposed to other racers receiving information about your SPOT data via outside communications, simply turn off your SPOT device or do not post your data to a public website.
6) Responsibility. Racers are responsible for their own safety. Racers are also responsible for knowing and following all of the principles or rules that pertain to their chosen event/route. Lastly, racers are responsible for maintaining the high standards, morals, and ethics of bikepacking that inspire and motivate us all. There are bound to be issues on and off the trail. When in doubt, do as Stamstad would do.

Hi everybody. Thanks so much for all the love and support. What an experience!... Natalie and I took our time getting home from Durango, just arrived this afternoon. We  camped out (actually sleeping in a tent with a stove and hot meals!) for the past few days... I am so impressed by everybody who lined up this year, thank you for the inspiration. I'll try to put some words on paper in the next couple of weeks when I get my head screwed back on straight. After so many days in a haze, it's funny how "trail moments" keep popping up now.

Hope everybody is home safe and sound (or will be soon). Ethan, Jason, Doug, and Jefe, it was great to meet and ride with you! And Stefan, thanks for everything!

Take care,
Owen

Thanks for the beta, Jefe! I'm praying for good weather on those segments. See y'all real soon!

-Owen