Olympia Cycle & Ski

RED ASSiniboine '08 Endurance Bike Race

June 7th & 8th, 2008

Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA

Message Board - comments, questions, updates

(hosted by TheTrainingCoop.com, will open in separate window)

Map :: General Info :: Requirements :: Rules :: Route :: Volunteers :: Registration

Another successful race!

Read about how everything unfolded by clicking on the Message Board link above.

We'll keep the live updates of race progress online for a bit so everyone can reflect on a hard-fought event..

Check out the short slideshow below to see some pics from last year's event

Map

This is a purposefully vague map of the tentative routes. A part of the race day fun is receiving cue sheets with directions that you use to navigate thru the course, so we don't want to let the cat out of the bag with a detailed map here, but we want you to have a general sense of the region you'll be riding thru.

Although the route, and its checkpoints, may be altered slightly as we continue to scout the course prior to race day we've noted here the 3 tentative checkpoints (the blue beacons) and the start/finish in Portage La Prairie. Note that much of the northwest section of the course follows the Assiniboine River banks and much of the southeast section goes through the Pembina Valley.

General Info

The RED ASSiniboine '08 Endurance Bike Race is coming June 7th & 8th, 2008.

This is the 2nd annual RED ASSiniboine event, and similar to last year we're planning on an approximate distance of 450 kms taking a maximum of 36 hours to complete, with a half distance (215 kms) event as well.

This year the race will begin and end in Portage La Prairie (a 45 minute drive west of Winnipeg), but will cover similar terrain as last year - the gravel roads and potential mud pits along southern and western Manitoba's backroads and light trails.

This is a self-supported, solo bike race, where you are responsible for carrying your supplies, repair kits, food and water, etc. However there will be a few check points along the route, a couple of which will also serve as drop points where someone from your support crew can drop off food and supplies for you to pick up as you pass thru.

Participants will be given maps at the race start with step by step instructions that will lead them thru the course (e.g. ride 2.3 km then turn right at the big red barn, ride 7.2 km and just after crossing the bridge turn left...). This is a non-stop event with a cut-off of 36 hours. You can ride straight thru or you can take naps along the way (if you can find a cow who will share its field with you). Some enter to win, others enter to finish - either way it's a day and night of crazy fun.

You can click on the links above or continue to scroll down for more info. Please check back as more info is added in the coming weeks. Also, new this year is a Message Board where we will post updates and where you can post comments and questions about anything related to the race (or maybe even the occasional off-topic comment, should your mind wander a bit).

Lindsay Gauld, race director extraordinaire, former Olympic cyclist and local bike store owner, and current bike courier promises to put on another excellent event for everyone to enjoy. On his behalf we invite you to take part in this great, second annual event - we're looking forward to having at least as much fun as last year. Feel free to post any questions or comments on the message board. We hope to see you in June!

Requirements

We like to think we're a reasonably laid back bunch, but we do have a few requirements. These are the things you MUST have before you begin the event:

:: Um, well first of all you need a bike. We don't really care what kind of bike, but it does have to be in good (heck, we recommend 'great') working condition because you'll be asking a lot of it over the ensuing 36 hours. If you need some last minute tuning come by the shop on Friday afternoon before the race (or earlier in the week) and we'll make sure you're ready to roll.

:: You need a bike computer with basic functions like distance. You'll use this to follow the cue sheets you receive from us to guide you through the course; without a basic computer you won't make it beyond the first turn.

:: Headlight. We know there are a lot of different headlight choices out there, and the performance and prices are staggeringly different. We won't be that picky as to what kind of system you have, but you do need to have some kind of white bike headlight illuminating your way at night. Consider your battery needs as you won't likely have any opportunity to recharge on the ride. Fortunately the ride is taking place pretty close to the summer solstice, so there aren't many hours of total darkness.

:: Taillight. You need some kind of red, blinky taillight.

Rules

Many of these rules were shamelessly lifted from the TransIowa blogsite (actually, much of the concept of this race was shamelessly lifted from them as well, so if you were a part of that race and this looks familiar now you know why).

Rule #1 (The Rule to rule over all other rules!): The sponsors, organizers, and anyone having anything to do with this race are NOT responsible for your safety. Think of this race as a 400+ km hard training ride with prizes (if we find any prizes). Please repeat to yourself daily: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF!

This is a non-stop, self-supported, solo competition.. Competitors must carry with them ALL necessary equipment aside from the gear and fuel drop off / pick up check points.

Each rider is considered to be on a private excursion and remains solely responsible for any accidents in which he or she may be involved. No responsibility can be accepted for riders becoming lost or stranded.

Other than the two gear and fuel drop off / pick up check points outside support is not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to assistance with navigation, delivery of supplies, lighting, or lodging.

Competitors may stock up on food and other items at stores and businesses along the route.

Competitors may not advance on the route by any means other than bicycling or in the case of a mechanical, by foot.

Competitors may, in the case of emergency, mechanical or other unforeseeable problems, be assisted by motorized transport. By accepting motorized transport you will be disqualified from the race (but may survive to race another day, so we figure it's a fair trade-off).

The primary race route must be followed at all times. No short cuts or alternate routes are permitted. Why would you want to cut corners when the whole idea is to ride 300 miles anyway? Sheesh.

Bike choice is up to you! Well, if you show up with 19 mm tires and tri bars we might need to talk, but generally speaking you're allowed to choose your weapon, including mountain bikes, cyclocross bikes, 29ers, single speeds, etc. You should choose something that can get you through up to 36 hours of gravel and dirt backroads in ALL weather conditions.

You are completely on your own. Use your head. Look and yield for traffic. There will be no course marshalls to hold up traffic. When you decide to go tete a tete with a semi trailer guess who wins. MmmHmm, that's right, it's not the bike, so please keep your head up at all times.

Riders must wear an ANSI or Snell approved helmet, must obey city and provincial laws and Rules of the Road, and conduct themselves in a manner that will not bring discredit to the event.

All racers must use and carry with them a flashing red taillight and front light, and a back-up light source, e.g. headlamp.

Barring the flood of the century (we are in a different century since the last one) this event will take place regardless of weather.

Have at least a pit crew of 1 to help you if you have problems. The people and sponsors associated with this event cannot be counted on to come get you or be responsible for you!

A cell phone is highly recommended.

Racers may help other racers with mechanical support.

If you exit the course for food, supplies, or any other reason, you must re-enter in the same spot in which you left.

Drafting off of other participants is allowed. Please don't be dumb about it though :)

The intent of these rules is to establish an equal and fair opportunity for all racers, to help you by giving you some good pointers, and to absolve ourselves of liability should no one ever see you again after the race begins (heaven forbid).

Route

Last year the full distance race began at Olympia Cycle & Ski in western Winnipeg. This year we plan to start and finish the full distance race and the half distance race in Portage La Prairie, a 45 minute drive west of Winnipeg along the Trans Canada (#1) Hwy.

We're doing this primarily to allow for some more varied terrain than last year (the first hour or two of riding west of Winnipeg is pretty dull). This means we may be able to incorporate a few more hills, more scenic views, etc., but don't expect the Trans Rockies - this is still the prairies folks.

The race route will take participants thru western and southern Manitoba, mainly along gravel backroads. We try to avoid main highways where possible but you may have to ride along a few busy road sections as well. You should also be prepared for dirt / mud sections, possible creek crossings, and more. This is not however a highly technical course - the challenge is mainly in the distance.

Volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of any event like this, so in anticipation of the invaluable help we count on receiving from our selfless volunteers we'd like to start off by saying THANK YOU in anticipation of all their hard work.

Now that we've said thanks we should actually ask for the help. We need a number of volunteers to help with the tasks listed below.

1. Volunteers to transport the participants extra rations to the checkpoints out on the course (exact checkpoint location info is forthcoming).

2. Volunteers to man the checkpoints as well as the start / finish..

We'd like to find enough check-point volunteers that each volunteer will be responsible to man their station for a relatively short period of time (read: it's still a significant commitment but hopefully not all night and day)

If you are able to help out for any portion of time between Saturday, June 7th in the early morning and Sunday evening please email us or post a note on the Message Board anytime. We'd LOVE to hear from you, and would be happy to work out more details with you directly.

Registration Click here for online and mail in Registration Forms

Cost per participant is $50.00, for either the full or half distance event.

All participants must be at least 16 years of age, and those below 18 require consent from their parent or guardian.