Shorter checkpoint races?

[the_polka_dot]

Checkpoint races like Transcontinental Race are cool and fun. But ultra cycling is a bit too extreme for some of us. I wouldn't find it fun to sleep for just a few hours and face risks of theft or decreased trafic safety as a result of lack of sleep...

Are there any checkpoint race with normal day stages? maybe 200-300 km per day? This could be run as a normal time trial with no drafting allowed.

If nothing like this exists, is this something you would like to participate in?

 

[King Boonen]

Randonneuring.

 

[the_polka_dot]

Re:

Randonneuring.

But no competition on any of those "races"? That's boring...

 

[avanti]

If you live in the UK you could ride 100-mile and 12-hour time trials.

You could also rent time at a Velodrome to ride the distance you desire.

 

[King Boonen]

Re: Re:

Randonneuring.

But no competition on any of those "races"? That's boring...

Transscotland was a two day event. There was a similar one in Wales. Check out The Racing Collective.

 

[the_polka_dot]

Transscotland looks cool, but not exactly what I wanted. I want more to go on "vacation" for 2-3-4 weeks with daily stages of 200 - 300 km, maybe some rest days in between.

So then I have to set it up myself. It should be easy to arrange checkpoint races? Does it require police allowance if it's just a checkpoint race and all trafic rules are followed?

 

[King Boonen]

That's basically how most people ride the transcontinental. Other options would be Haute Route events. Do you want a fixed route or do you want something where you plan your own route?

As for logistics I would think that massively depends on where you decide to do it.

 

[the_polka_dot]

I would like 2-300km stages with 2 to 3 checkpoints in between - good to have some checkpoints to see the exact time difference between the riders. There could also be a 30 mins break on each checkpoint where the organazier could sell drinks and food. At night the riders could camp with tent on rest places. The organizer could take all the tents and valuable stuff from one camp place to the next.

 

[King Boonen]

That sounds pretty niche. Drop the checkpoints and 30 minute breaks, which is really weird (does everyone have to take a 30 minute break? How are you going to time it for every rider?) and you might find people interested in it, but it basically sounds like a glamping version of a short Indian-Pacific Wheel Race.

 

[the_polka_dot]

Re:

That sounds pretty niche. Drop the checkpoints and 30 minute breaks, which is really weird (does everyone have to take a 30 minute break? How are you going to time it for every rider?) and you might find people interested in it, but it basically sounds like a glamping version of a short Indian-Pacific Wheel Race.

Those 30 mins break are not important.

What I was thinking was to have "sub stages" within a "day stage" and then the time is stopped on each checkpoint. Each rider can take up to 30 minutes break. I tried this with some friends, just as a 1-day race, and I think it was a cool format. If someone wants to try it out for training, I recommend using churches as checkpoints. There you have access to toilet and water

An advantage of having these breaks is that you get some time to buy food instead of having to visit shops beside the road. Also you don't get the "peeing in public" issue since the breaks give time to go to toilet.