GRAVEL GROVEL

Rules

The Gravel Grovel is a non-stop, self-supported, solo competition along the rural roads of southern Indiana.  This is not your typical road race, mountain bike race, or cyclocross race.  It is a combination of all three!  Who will take home the custom Brown County Stone Trophies... will it be a cyclocrosser?, a roadie?, or MTB’er? 

Consider this... an un-level, level playing field!

~ THE GOLDEN RULE. The sponsors, organizers, and anyone having anything to do with this event are NOT responsible for your safety.  We can’t say this enough…..  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU!

~ 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.  Participants must carry with them ALL necessary equipment.  Riders can help other riders with mechanical support.  We are not doing this event to leave someone out in the boonies of Indiana.

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

~ A cell phone is also a good/great idea. Although you might not have service on all parts of the course, a whistle will be your next best option.

~ The primary ride route must be followed at all times. NO SHORT CUTS OR ALTERNATE ROUTES ARE PERMITTED.  The route will be marked, but don't rely completely on route markings (they have been vandalized in the past). Course maps and cue sheets will be available at registration. Riders may take their own maps or GPS system for navigational assistance.  If you exit the course for food, supplies, or any other reason, you must re-enter in the same spot in which you left. 

~There is a strict cutoff at 5:30 pm. No support or finish times will be available after 5:30!

~ Participants may not advance on the route by any means other than bicycling or in the case of a mechanical, by foot. Participants who, in the case of emergency, mechanical or other unforeseeable problem, are assisted by motorized transport, will automatically become disqualified from results.  We recommend having at least one person available to help if you have problems and cannot complete the ride.  THE PEOPLE AND SPONSORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS EVENT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME GET YOU OR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU!

~ Bike choice is up to you.  Mountain bikes, cyclocross bikes, 29ers, and hybrids have all been used successfully (and road bikes, if you really want to suffer).  The course has been ridden in its entirety on a cross bike with 700×28 tires with the occasional dismount due only to natural barriers.  The entire ride must be done on the same bike and wheels.  Singlespeed/fixie category riders must start and finish on the same gear.  You CAN run a flip-flop hub, but both gears (freewheel & cog) must have the same number of teeth.  

~ Your bike must definitively fit into one of the listed categories of MTB, SS, or tandem. Any other bike, including cyclo-cross, is in the Open division. All MTB category bikes must have flat handlebars and tires 1.8" (45mm) or wider. Any questionable bike will be entered into the Open category at the race officials' discretion.

~ Horses may be on the route, especially trails 20, 21, NEBO and Elkinsville Rd/ “D Trail”. Horses are “flighty” of fast moving objects, and are prone to spook.  Please remember the safety of the humans on the horses and/or bikes is more important than any race. Slow down and ask the horse rider how best to pass. Failure to yield to horses or behave in a disrespectful manner could cause disqualification.

~ YOU ARE COMPLETELY ON YOUR OWN. Use your head. Look and yield for traffic. There will be no course marshals to hold up traffic.  

~ The intent of these rules is to establish an equal and fair opportunity for all riders.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULE…  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU!!!