And Now For Something Completely Different – A Flahute Enduro
Reefton – 1/2 day ride
A MicroAdventure – a dirty weekender, an overnighter, another opportunity to use your kit instead of letting it get dusty
This ride is aimed at introducing people to the “type2 fun” of self-supported multi-day navigation that are Brevets.
It’s a no-frills “you are on your own” self-supported type affair.
Details
There are two official rides – the Brevet and the Taster, but remember you can do as much as you want.
Yes really.
We kick off at 8am.
We don’t have minimum numbers, and we don’t cancel if it it’s raining and/or cold, so enter early!
Registration
You must register. Click on this link http://register.trackme.bike
Everyone must register but you can share one tracker between up to three team members, however you must ride together.
The Team Captain does a full registration and the other team members need to follow the team registration details carefully.
SPOTs (or InReachs) and tracking are compulsory – for your safety – and for friends, family and the flahute to stalk you!
There is a special deal through TrackMe for these rides if you need to hire a tracker, or you can bring your own.
An electronic map in a number of formats, cue sheets and a ride guide will be emailed out to you on receipt of your registration, no greater than 30 days prior to the event.
This will help the planners relax and if you register early, to get great rates on accommodation.
You will need to prepare everything else – your legs, your bike, your kit, food, maps, backup, transport, you name it.
It is highly recommended that you have a physical map as a backup. Your device will run out of batteries at some point.
Registration closes the Tuesday evening before the ride.
If you withdraw after the Wednesday or don’t turn up on the day, there will be no refunds. There is some room for movement at our discretion.
The Rules
Stolen largely from the Kiwi Brevet – www.kiwibrevet.blogspot.co.nz.
The main thing is to complete the course under your own steam, without a support crew or ANY outside assistance (other than what is commercially available to every participant).
Text-ins (via the SPOT/inReach) are to be made from designated locations along the route until you either finish or abandon the brevet.
1. Do it all yourself, under your own steam.
2. Riders must carry all their own gear.
3. You must carry a SPOT (or InReach) and agree to cover the cost of rescue in the event they need to be evacuated.
4. Riders must finish by 9pm on the last day.
5. When on public roads, follow the NZ Road Code.
6. Riders must observe all rules laid down by land managers along the route.
The Course
The Taster
Distance > 35.1km
Elevation > +1,229m
Categorised Climb/s > (4)
Surfaces (approx.):
Paved – 18%
Unpaved – 82%
The Brevet
Distance > 152.0km
Elevation > +4,227m
Categorised Climb/s > (12)
Surfaces (approx.):
Paved – 27%
Unpaved – 73%
Difficulty Rating
Ok so this is a outside category star ♦♦♦♦ (difficulty out of three) weekend brevet ride.
This is not really bikepacking and definitely not gravel riding, this is an amazeballs weekend of jungle mountain biking!
- moderate navigation skills required (some Flahute aka “tricky” loops in there)
- low resupply options
- magical terrain and views
- mostly singletrack, some un-rideable sections (depends on weather)
- it will be cold and/or wet
- definitely not for gravel bikes or laden bike-packing bikes – bring your mountain bike
- weather and conditions can change very quickly, especially rivers
- rivers can rise very rapidly, do NOT attempt to cross any river that is/or forecast to be swift, high or in flood, wait or re-route
- consider lighting options, you may run out of daylight
- DO NOT bring your brevet bike – this is grade 4/5 mountain biking, more so if it’s wet
Feel free to post up any questions that you may have.