Event Rules

1. Riders must accept full responsibility for their own ride and route

Only the event HQ and the Dales Bike Centre control point will be staffed, so once you’re out on the road you’re on your own. As there’s no official route, there’s also no support crew or sag wagon. If you get lost you will have to figure out where you are. If you scratch you’ll need to inform the event director as soon as you can and you’ll be expected to make your own way back to event HQ or just get yourself home. Please keep your planned routes private prior to the event. Route planning preparation is an important part of All Points North and, unless riding as a pair, riders should not share routes or help other riders plan routes in advance.

 

2. Riders must visit all ten control points and record their visit

Riders must visit all ten control points (ten plus the start/finish control) and answer the associated question on their brevet card (further details will be given in the event manual). Your brevet card must be completed before arriving back at Event HQ. Riders will also be issued with a GPS tracker unit at registration which will record your arrival at each control. However, just in case there are any issues with tracker signal, it is recommended that you evidence your arrival at each checkpoint with a timestamped photograph as a backup. For the 2023 edition a stamp will be available at the Dales Bike Centre control point.

 

3. Riders must TAKE THE MANDATORY REST STOPS

All points North was designed as an ultra-cycling challenge, not an exercise in sleep deprivation. We want to ensure that riders take some rest after 24 hours of riding and beyond, and have therefore introduced mandatory rest stops.

Please read the full details of how this rule will work at ‘MANDATORY REST STOPS‘.

 

4. Riders must carry a mobile phone in case of emergencies

It is your responsibility to make sure that your phone has credit and battery life for the duration of the event.

 

5. Riders must be completely self-sufficient and not receive any third-party assistance

This includes private lodgings and meals enroute. In order to ensure equal opportunity for all riders, food, accommodation and spares should only be purchased at commercial outlets available to all entrants – you can’t pop round to your Aunty Mavis’s for a bacon buttie just because she happens to live along the route you’ve planned. If anyone tries to offer you unsolicited help, or something for free, please politely decline and explain the rules of the event to them.

If you have a serious mechanical issue that prevents you from riding your bike, you may accept a lift TO a bike shop in order to get it fixed. However, if you want to continue, once your bike is fixed you must RIDE BACK to the place where you had the mechanical and restart your ride from there (you’ll also need to notify event staff that you’re doing this).

Some events allow the help of ‘trail angels’ or the kindness of strangers – we don’t. Other than a one-way lift TO a bike shop, if you receive outside help of any kind that is not commercially avaialable to all other riders you must delcare it to the event staff and it will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Your failure to declare outside assistance will result in a DQ.

 

6. Riders must carry all of their own supplies and equipment

Riders must carry all of their own supplies and equipment and you must finish the event with the same equipment that you started with. That means no leaving kit at the bottom of the hills to pick up later. And no ditching the sleeping bag/kit in a bin on your final day to save a bit of weight!

 

7. Unless riding as part of a pair, no drafting is allowed

Solo riders should aim to try and ride alone for the duration of the event, even if you accidentally catch up with other riders along the way. We know that it can be a real morale boost to pedal along and chat to fellow riders for short while – and that’s fine – but please don’t buddy up for very long stretches of the ride. If you want to ride with your buddy then enter as a pair. You may find that friends and dotwatchers are looking out for you at control points so don’t be surprised if someone you’ve never met before suddenly turns up and says hi. Occasionally they may want to ride with you for a short while, this is also ok as long as you ride side by side and don’t draft at any point.

On the rare occasion that you and another solo rider decide enroute that you would prefer to ride the remainder of the event together please inform the event staff. In this instance both riders will be granted a finisher’s place but you will forfeit your standing on the leaderboard. Failure to inform event staff of your decision will result in a DQ.

 

8. Riders must have their own third-party liability insurance

Riders must have their own third-party liability insurance and provide documentation of this at registration. This type of insurance is provided as part of the standard membership offer of Cycling UK and British Cycling, so you will need to bring a current membership card along with you.

 

9. Riders’ bikes must be in a roadworthy condition with fully-functioning brakes and FRONT and REAR LIGHTS

Bikes will be safety-checked by our mechanics at registration to make sure that they are in roadworthy condition with fully-functioning brakes. We reserve the right to refuse a ride to any entrant whose bike is deemed unsafe to ride. We WON’T be carrying out repairs so please make sure your bike is all in good order before arriving in Sheffield.

Front and rear lights are compulsory and will be checked at registration. Lights on a bicycle are required by law in the UK if riding between dusk and dawn. Riders will be responsible for keeping their lights charged throughout the duration of the event. Main lights plus a spare front and rear light must be shown at registration / bike check.

 

10. Riders must follow public rights of way at all times (Road, Byway or Bridleway). While riding on road, riders must follow the Highway Code and observe all UK traffic laws

Footpath shortcuts can save time but they can also take you way off the beaten track, into environments and situations that are potentially life-threatening, all for the sake of saving an hour or two. Riders that don’t stick to public rights of way for bicycles will be disqualified – remember that you are being tracked! While you’re out on the road be nice to other road users and please do not take any risks with your own safety or the safety of others. Please don’t litter – find a bin for your rubbish or take it home with you.