Basic Timekeeping 24 MPH Traditional Enduro Only Required items: Route card holder, Digital watch, Odometer |
Odometer will be best but if not it can be done without. Just keep an eye on your route card, advance it with
every turn marker you see on the trail. When you see a turn marker look at your watch and match your time to
the route card to see if you are early or late. Basically you want to ride from turn to turn and match your time. If
you learn to time keep the old way you will never forget it and you will never need an expensive computer.
Enduro A traditional timekeeping enduro is an event where you are trying to
maintain a predetermined speed average. You are scored by the number of minutes
you are late or early to secret checkpoints on the course. Low score will win the
race. In Ohio, the speed average is most always 24 mph, you are trying to keep 24
mph throughout the event. It is a lot more difficult than you think. The varied types of
terrain and weather will all work together to slow you down throughout the day. Once
you try an enduro you will be hooked, it is more a thinking mans event than fastest
man wins.
Route card This is an enduro essential, this paper displays every major turn on
the course as well as the mileage, turn direction and time you are supposed to be at
each and every turn on the course. You need to pay close attention to this, it will
make or break a good day for you.
Key time Key time is the actual start time of the chosen enduro. You need to
set your watch BACK the amount of minutes of your number you drew at sign-up.
Example: you drew row 12 so you need to set your watch back 12 minutes from the
actual key time clock posted at the sign up area. Lets assume the key time is
10:00am, you want your watch to say 10:00 when your row is up and you leave the
line. Everyone will have the same time when leaving the start (10:00am).
Gas Stop and Gas Available Gas stops are a period of time on the
course, to refuel and get fresh gear or a snack. Time is allotted for this essential
item, you may get 10 minutes all the way up to a half and hour. Treat this like a reset
you have a mileage marker going in and a mileage marker after your stop just reset
your mileage ahead to the posted new mileage and instantly you are ahead of time.
You may arrive at a gas stop early, it is free territory 2 miles before the gas stop.
Look at your route card figure out 2 miles before the gas stop and gas it for a little
more time to rest. Now a Gas Available is a true splash and go, NO time is provided
to get your gas. You stop on your own time. The free territory rule DOES NOT apply
to a gas available.
Free territory Free territory is a period of mileage during the event that a
checkpoint cannot be located. These free areas are as follows, from the start to the
3.2 mileage marker, 2 miles before and 3 miles after a gas stop, 3.2 miles after a
check. But always remember, reset mileage counts as ground miles for free
territory. So if you have a check then a 3.0 mile reset to get back on time you can
have another check in .2 of a mile. You have to keep thinking.
Resets These are designed to get the riders back on time after a trail section.
These are to stop racers from racing on the roads and to hopefully get you a little
break if you are not too far down on time. These are simple just look at your route
chart and the course marking and run your odometer up to match the new mileage.
Look at your watch and see what time it is if you are ahead of time on your route card
sit and rest if behind get back on the gas.
Checkpoints These are designed to score the riders in the race. Remember
it is your responsibility to make sure the “back up board” person gets your number.
You will be scored by the minutes late you are to the check. 10 minutes late 10
points. 1 point for each minute late. To break ties 2 emergency tie breaker checks
will score you to the exact second you pulled in to the check. The perfect score for E
checks will be your minute due at .30 seconds. You want to arrive at exactly halfway
into your minute. For scoring, the seconds are figured from this perfect score of your
minute. Both tiebreaker checks are used to break ties. Big point here, do not be
early, you will be scored 2 points for the first minute early and 5 points for each
minute after that. 15 minutes early is a disqualification. To identify the checks, flags
will be posted several feet prior to the checkpoint. Red & White will be a normal
secret check. Green & White will be the Tie breaker (E Check) seconds check.
Watch the route card and pay attention and you will have a good day.
Bob Scott
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