Information and Rules

Event Dates

September 29 - 30, 2012

Registration

Registration is now closed!

Eligibility

For 24-Hours of Colorado Springs - non-championship categories, volunteers, and media In order to race for USA Cycling 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championship categories, racers must have a current USA Cycling License. Racers registering for Nationals categories will be directed to the USAC website to purchase/update their license, or click the link here. USAC License All racers must be US citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America in order to compete in National Championship categories. Below is a list of 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championship racing categories: Male Solo*, Duo, open 4-person team, Junior 4-person team, Master 35+ 4-person team, 45+ 4-person team, solo single- speed Female Solo*, Duo, open 4-person team, Junior 4-person team, Master 35+ 4-person team, 45+ 4-person team, solo single speed MixedDuo Non-National Championship race categories, 24-Hours of Colorado Springs Challenge Series, are open 4-Person teams in the following classifications: Military Challenge(All members serve in a branch of the US Military) First Responder Challenge(All Police, Fire, Doctors, EMTs, etc) Bike Shop Challenge(All team members work at a bike shop) Family Challenge(All four related) Competitors in these non-Nationals categories may or may not be competing in Nationals. Non-Nationals competitors who just want to race within the race, may purchase a “One-Day License” during the registration process.

Pre-Riding

Palmer Park is open to the public and riders are encouraged to practice aspects of riding the terrain. For out of area participants, we recommend a healthy diet of burst climbs, small drops of 1’-2’, rocky terrain, roots, sandy trails, fire-roads, twisty cornering, and basically anything else that resembles a challenge of full heart, mind, and soul…then do it all again at night. Please avoid riding at Palmer Park when the trails are extremely wet as some sections of trails are easily damaged when saturated. Please respect hikers with gracious care and stop in the presence of horses for your safety and the safety of horse and rider. Finally, enjoy Rampart Reservoir trail or other area trails when possible and give Palmer Park a rest, we are working hard with the City to have the course in top shape for race day and we appreciate your courtesy.

Packet Pickup

September 28th :: Noon - 8pm ::Ascent Cycling

Pre-race Briefing

Saturday, 9.29.2012, 11:00am at home plate on the baseball field. All team/duo captains and solo riders must be present.

Camping

One of the best parts about a 24 Hour event is the camping. For those of you generating your own power, please choose camping areas closer to Academy Blvd. All camping areas directly adjacent to “Solo Alley” need to non-generator/quiet zones as much as possible. The camping areas DO NOT have RV/Camper hook-ups. The camping area at Palmer Park is a natural grassland field, therefore we request that you maximize space by car-pooling and using designated camping sites for your entire team when possible. Each solo rider will be assigned one 10’x20’ camping area and teams will be assigned one 20’x40’ camping area. If you require additional space, you may purchase camping sites for $50.00 at Packet Pick-up, or contact us with specific questions. The Colorado Springs natural landscape is considered semi-arid prairie grasslands, therefore fire danger is always high and even slight impact is slow to recover. Please note the possibility of regional fire-bans or additional restrictions that may be in place as you plan for this event. Please limit travel to and from your camping areas by parking any additionally vehicles in the various “Vehicle/Spectator Parking Areas” at the venue. Although the local high school kids may not abide by this rule, the park is intended to be alcohol free. During the event, there is to be NO alcohol in Palmer Park. Violations may result in confiscation, disqualification, fines, or arrest. We know alcohol is not illegal and part of the 24-Hour scene. Kindly know that no one is out to spoil fun, we just have a few rules to live by for this location and appreciate your cooperation.

Camping Rules

  • All state and federal laws must be closely followed. Alternative choices will ensure spending time with CSPD, which is not pleasant and does not produce good race results.
  • While camping, if a grill is used it must be closely supervised. No open fires of any kind, however, BBQ grills are allowed. Practice “Leave no trace” campsite behavior to keep our park exceptionally clean.
  • Low impact camping and participation in the event are absolutely critical. While on course, the Race Village, or in the camping areas; please keep our public lands clean!
  • There will be no alcohol vendors or alcohol provided, nor is alcohol allowed at Palmer Park. Gen. William J. Palmer’s estate actually included this stipulation in the deed of the park when it was donated to the city in 1907.
  • Quiet Hours - 10pm until 8am.

Race Rules

  1. Race Start is 12:00pm. The start will be a La Mans start. Racers who do not start with the field will not be allowed to enter the course until 30 minutes after Race Start.
  2. Race Cut-off is 12noon, 10.2. Which means at 12noon all laps must be completed, no laps completed after 12:00 will be counted.
  3. Results will be posted at 12:15pm. Awards will start at 12:45pm, with an After-Party TBD.
  4. Team Captains and Solo riders are responsible for attending the pre-race meeting, although the meeting is recommended for all racers.
  5. Non-mechanical support on or off the course can be provided by anyone, teammate or not. There will be multiple aid stations along the course. We strongly recommend being self sustaining.
  6. All race numbers provided must be displayed in the proper spots at all times. Primary number will be on the handlbars, with a secondary number for each racer’s lower back. This will be covered in the pre-race meeting.
  7. Racers pushing bikes must yield to those riding. When overtaking another racer please use good judgment and pass with care. Although a slower rider does not have to stop, please find a safe spot to yield as soon as possible. Please be polite and use common sense, there is a lot of room to pass and yield on the trails, so please use all of it.
  8. Grumpy riders are no fun, be a fun rider. Remember, many of the trails are 100+ years old, so while racing at Palmer Park a certain amount of courtesy and dignity is expected.
  9. Any racer found intentionally littering the course will be disqualified.
  10. Cutting of the trail will not be tolerated and is grounds for disqualification.
  11. Local city, county, state, federal, and any other laws we may include will be followed at all times. Govern yourselves accordingly while on City property.
  12. Protests shall be made by the captain of the team in writing any time during the race or within 30 minutes of the final results posting. There is no fee for protests.
  13. Each team shall provide adequate lighting with at least a 10 watt power and a back up. Taillights and one article of reflective clothing are mandatory.
  14. A helmet must be worn at all times while riding a bike, either on course on at the venue, per USA Cycling regulations.
  15. It is each team’s responsibility to keep track of their own times, and that they are recorded correctly. Updates on current team positions and times will be provided, so please check them!
  16. There are no individual lap requirements.
  17. Each team has the option to cancel a lap if their racer is M.I.A. The canceled lap does not count towards number of laps completed. Once canceled, the new racer will receive the log-in time of the racer whose lap was canceled.
  18. If your team wants to substitute a rider, race officials have the right to deny all requests. However, every reasonable effort to accommodate a team’s request will be made.
  19. USA Cycling competition rules, in addition to the above, apply.
  20. Be Fast, Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Green

We’d like to be invited back and the digestive systems of bears don’t really agree with gel packets and plastic. The Palmer Park race course will have locations for trash, please ride “green”.