FAQs
What type of shoes, clothing and gear should I wear?
- Shoes: Here is what we see most. The racers that have lots of cycling experience and have bike shoes with cleats will typically switch shoes during the race for each event. Others choose to do the entire race in their running shoes and regular bike pedals. You will obviously have a quicker transition without switching shoes, but probably a slower bike leg if you are doing it in running shoes vs. cycling shoes (provided the bike leg is long enough and fast). What you choose on race day is up to you, as you consider a combination of your cycling ability, the terrain & trail conditions.
- Clothing: In the shorter races, no one takes time to change clothes. Most racers will wear what we call a triathlon short with a thin pad. Richardson Bike Mart carries them if you live in the Dallas area, and they’re surely happy to mail you a pair. That is not to say you can’t race in something else. Some racers compete in running shorts, or gym shorts, or cycling shorts. For a short race, you can do almost anything but the tri-shorts will leave you in the best condition after the race. I’ve even seen a superman and batgirl costume at a race. For the upper body, the women typically wear jog bras and a technical fabric shirt that breathes well, or a t-shirt. The guys will also wear either a technical fabric shirt or a t-shirt. If it is cooler temperatures, be prepared with either tights or knee warmers for your legs, full finger cycling gloves, and a long sleeve technical fabric shirt that breaths well for your upper body and that has sleeves that can easily be pushed up if you get hot. Also consider layers when it is cooler temperatures and light jackets for wind or rain. Remember, once you start racing you’ll warm up fast.
Note: You might want check out our Facebook page and look at the albums to get an idea of what the racers are wearing, how the race looks and just what all is going on. We hope you’re enjoying our races and feel free to contact us if you have a question.
How does the race work and what happens to all my gear while I am racing?
We have a transition area roped off that you will place all your belongings in. Some teams will bring blankets, or a mat to mark their territory (within reason) within the transition area. It is first come, first serve, the morning of the race as to where you pick your transition area within the boundaries of the roped off area. There is a specific entry and exit to the transition area with a lane down the middle. Bikes must be walked through transition at all times. You are responsible for having enough fluids and food for the length of the race. No outside support is allowed once the race starts. You will go through transition between each leg of the race.
Where does the exchange take place for relay teams?
The exchange will take place within the transition area between each event.
What type of bike must I use?
All racers must ride a mountain bike or mountain biased hybrid. You must also have a CPSC approved helmet.
Emergencies and Misc. Info:
We recommend you run with your phone in case of emergencies. The back of our race bibs have our phone number and QR codes for race maps. Hydration stations are located roughly every 2-3 miles. Bottles are recommended as we do not provide cups at hydration stations.
Please keep all waste with you as there are no trash cans on the course- Thank you for keeping the trails clean!
- Every racer should attend the Pre-Race Meeting.
- Once in the Start/Finish or the team’s pit area, racers may change, repair or replace any equipment or bike. In the Start/Finish or the team’s pit area, racers may accept support from anyone. Also, teams may bring as many support people as they would like, but their support is limited to the Start/Finish area and the team’s own pit area (not on the course). If you are racing in the single speed category, you may only use single speed equipment throughout the race. Switching to a geared bike will DQ you from this category.
- Support on the course may only be supplied by other registered racers. Supporting racers must access the course under their own power (i.e. foot travel or on bike) and that access can only be achieved by going in the correct direction of the course. Shortcutting the course is not allowed (except to cancel your lap). Supporting racers should stay clear of all competing racers. Supporting racers may take any equipment or tools with them; they may even swap bikes with their teammates. Cannibalizing bicycle parts is legal in this event. Support can be provided by any registered racer on any team to any registered racer on any team.
- Water and food may be supplied to any racer by anyone, anywhere on the course. However, racers must stay well clear of the course when taking food or water. Please do not litter. And please do not throw energy food wrappers on the ground. Remember: Leave No Trace. Thanks.
- Racers must display their race number on the bike handlebars, whenever on-course. Your number has RFID chip on the back which will be read when you cross the timing mat. Failure to display your number plate will result in no time for a lap, and you will be asked to leave the course if caught without a number. Only registered racers should be on course.
- Racers riding bicycles have the right of way over racers pushing bicycles. When practical, racers pushing or carrying their bikes should stay on the least ridable portion of the trail when being passed. Racers pushing or carrying their bikes can overtake a racer riding his bike provided that the riding racer is not interfered with.
- Lapped racers should yield to leaders. Leaders should be very vocal when preparing to pass any racer. “PASSING ON YOUR LEFT (Or Right, whichever is applicable)!” should be called out. It is the responsibility of the challenging racer to overtake safely. Racers being lapped should yield on the first command as soon as possible.
- When two racers are vying for position, the leading racer does not necessarily have to yield position to the challenging racer. However, a racer may not bodily interfere, intending to impede another racer’s progress: this is considered to be highly unsportsmanlike behavior.
- Short-cutting the course by any logged-in racer shall result in a disqualification of that racer’s team.
- Foul riding, use of profane or abusive language and other unsportsmanlike behavior will be taken very seriously. Such behavior by any racer shall subject that racer’s team to a warning or immediate disqualification. This will be strictly applied when such behavior is directed at course officials, volunteers, or spectators. The penalty imposed is at the discretion of the race director or co-director, should the race director be unavailable.
- Protests will be made in writing and delivered to the race director any time during the race or after the end of the race, up to 15 minutes after the posting of the final results. Protests should contain any information that supports the protest, including description of the incident, witnesses, names, addressed, phone numbers, and signature of protesting team captain.
- The race director may change the rules, and has the final say in any ruling.
- Quiet hours will be imposed from 11 PM till 6 AM. During this time we ask that noise be kept to a minimum.
- Lighting requirements: During the night ride, racers must have a primary light source with a minimum rated power of 10 watts. In addition, each racer must carry a secondary or backup light source in the form of a penlight, flashlight or other lighting system. Battery rechargers may be plugged in at the neutral charging station. Be sure to label your batteries and chargers with your team’s name.
Racers entering the course after 5 PM must show that both their primary and secondary light sources are in good working order. After sunset, racers are required to ride with lights burning. Riding with lights out to save batteries is dangerous and against the rules. - Canceling a Racer’s Lap. This is a difficult and costly decision, but if an on course racer is unable to complete their lap for any reason, it may be to the team’s advantage to cancel that racer’s lap. Any team member can cancel a racer’s lap by notifying the timing official. The new racer inherits the log-in time of the canceled racer’s lap and must start from the relay exchange area after telling the timing official. (Do Not Take your BIKE near the timing official, please walk up) Once a cancellation has been made it cannot be rescinded.
- A Racer may only race for one Team.
- The team member finishing a lap must drop their bike at the bike drop zone and hand their token to their teammate. Teammate will then start the next lap. The clock continues to run and even though the computer is recording the start and stop of each lap, your time in transition also adds to your overall time. If a racer is not on deck ready to tag their teammate, the clock is still rolling.
*In other words, the clock is ticking the entire time. A racer may ride consecutive laps. Solo riders just continue on across the timing lap for each lap ridden. - Minimum Lap Requirements
1 lap per person minimum. - You must wear a helmet at all times when on bike whether racing or not. (Butt on bike, helmet on head!). Riders not following these rules will be Disqualified.
- Earbuds – 1 ear only so you can hear other riders.
Right to Cancel or Reschedule: Terra Firma Racing LLC reserves the right in the event of any pandemic-related restrictions, inclement weather, emergency, or natural disaster to cancel the race or move to a later time that day or alternate date within the year—if available. In the event of a CANCELLATION with no ability to reschedule, there will be NO REFUND OF ENTRY FEES. Each athlete must accept any such risk for their entry paid.