"You can keep your nice, your leisurely and your convenience" Mike Hall 2016
The North Star Bicycle Race is a contest of endurance and sportsmanship. Racers must act in the spirit of self- sufficiency, equal opportunity for all racers and, to be done, with integrity and gratitude. The NSBR is an old fashion unsupported road race with no cause nor commercial angle. It is a battle! And whether riders wage that battle against time, mother nature, friend, foe, or innocent stranger... it's all good here. Celebrate yourself, keep it clean and let's all come out pedaling.
Etiquette
1. Act with class.
2. Check emotions before responding to bystanders and especially cars. Consider the next cyclist and how your behavior will affect how they are treated. This is a matter of life and death.
3. Take a moment to enjoy the unique out & back experience by cheering for your fellow savages and taunting your friends. Whether an across the road rolling high five or a trail side hangout it's cool to be out there both unsupported and all in it together.
Unsupported
1. Complete the full route, out & back, under your own power.
2. Riders must be fully self-supported and not receive any private assistance, intelligence, or coaching. No serendipitous support from "trail angels."
3. No caches. No arranging lodging, food or other services until after race start. No dropping off of anything while traveling North with the intent to be picked up again on the return South. No unloading of anything onto Dot watchers with the intent to be regained after the race.
4. No windshields or air sails.
5. Do not put other racers in an awkward position or encourage trail angels by begging in private conversations or social media.
Understandings
1. Each racer is on a private excursion and solely responsible for any accidents or situations in which they may become involved. Racers alone are responsible for their own insurance and potential extraction.
2. Racers alone are responsible for communicating with their people.
3. The level playing field is every racer following the NSBR Behavior. Racers are responsible to govern themselves. They should do it well and in the name of fair play. Governing oneself before, throughout and in reporting of one's finishing status is a big part of the NSBR yet isn't always reflected in the results. Those who play straight should hold their head high.
- Racers who find they can't finish should scratch.
- Racers who accepted support should report to be an Honorable Finisher.
- Racers who entered as Solo but participated or finished Not Solo should report so.
4. GPS trackers must always be on and tracking...this is how we race. Bring back up lithium ion batteries. Online GPS tracking is not intended to ensure rider safety. It is for racing, validation of course compliance and entertainment. If bad luck strikes and your tracker breaks or is lost... you are no longer competing fairly with the other racers and will not be a numerically ranked Finisher. However... keep photos, receipts and/ or data to verify course completion and finishing time. Providing this proof will guarantee that you and your time are included as a proper Finisher with an asterisk rather than a ranked number. Asterisked Finishers are not eligible for course records.
5. Support allowed from commercial businesses open to the general public. Do not ask businesses for special treatment like operating outside of advertised hours.
6. Support allowed from friends, family and dot watchers via encouragement and cheers.
7. Participate to protect yourself.
Minimum Racer Safety Requirements (Racers are encouraged to go above and beyond like wearing glasses.)
1. Helmet
2. 2 front white lights. 2 rear red lights. Both front lights must have separate power, both rear separate, one front and one rear may share a power source. At the minimum... 1 front & 1 rear should be on at night.
3. Upper body high visibility reflective vest or sash. Example: Amphipod Xinglet. Vest designed to be worn over any other garment. (Any pack/s that may cover a portion of the vest must have reflective features.)
4. High visibility reflective ankle bands at night.
5. Reflective tape on back of both sides seat stays, front of both sides fork, 3 pieces tape each side of rim or cranks in rim brake situations.
6. Sticker or marker writing on bike stating your name & state of residence AND name & phone # of your emergency contact. Emergency contact must read and understand entire NSBR website.
2023 Divisions
Solo Division
1. These racers understand that solo & self-supported are intertwined. Racing without assistance is ancient and the aim.
2. No drafting.
3. No riding with others for comfort or convenience.
4. Racers will, at times, find themselves riding alongside others. Racers cannot commit to riding with others. Racers must separate themselves either by attack or by agreement before the finish.
Not Solo Division
1. Each Not Solo racer must be self sufficient and have their own connected GPS tracker.
2. Not Solo racers can work with other Not Solo racers by drafting, riding together for comfort or convenience, committing to riding together and/or sharing hotel rooms.
3. They are allowed to finish not solo.
4. They can ride a tandem with one GPS tracker.
Finishing Categories
Solo Finisher
Full solo and completely unsupported. Through planning, perseverance and luck these racers did not accept support and raced in the spirit of solo.
Solo Honorable Finisher
Honorable Finishers are everything a Finisher is but accepted support.
Not Solo Finisher
Not Solo Finishers ordered the NSBR but held the solo.
Not Solo Honorable Finisher
Not Solo Honorable Finishers are everything a Not Solo Finisher is but accepted support.
Scratched
Racers who didn't finish.
Disqualified
Racers disqualified for severe unsportsmanlike conduct.
All may be amended as needed and without notice but let's try to keep it simple and with honor.
Above borrowed, adapted or otherwise inspired from; Transcontinental, Indian Pacific Wheel Race, Race to the Rock, Vendée Globe and #bemoremike.
QUESTIONS? NorthStarBicycleRace@gmail.com
