There are main 6 trail sections. Each main section has a known start and known finish. Each section is broken down into several sub-sections of different length/speed combinations.

The columns are:

• Known checkpoints
• Sub-section name (not important to you)
• Mileage at the start of the section
• Keytime at the start of the section
• Length
• Speed

Free time and gas locations are shown.

The short course consists of the first 4 main sections. The short course finish is at 64.9 miles at 1:54

All B class, A Masters & Women ride the short course.

Tip

“Keytime” which is shown on the schedule, cheat sheet and all the checkpoint boards is the time when the fictitious rider number 0 is due. Your due time is your number added to the keytime.

This means that if you are rider number 10A and the start keytime is 8:00 you will actually start at 8:10. If your clock is set to time of day you will constantly have to add your number to the keytime to know what your time is.

To make it easy you create your own “time zone” by setting your clock early by your rider number. This way when your clock reads the same as keytime that is your due time.

See the illustration to the right.

It is not necessary to know this because it has already been incorporated in the cheat sheet below.

There may be “secret” checkpoints located on any mile/keytime (except the light gray ones) on this sheet. Once you find a secret checkpoint on the course there can not be another one until at least 3 miles from that point.

There are also notes indicated scheduled breaks and gas stops. You will notice that the gas at the end of section 2 says “truck” whereas the others say “park”.  The gas can you put on the truck only has to top you off after riding 20 miles. The can at the park covers you for the rest of the day.

The columns are:

• Known checkpoints
• Mileage
• Keytime
• Speed

Important points:

• no warning lines (should be obvious)
• has a flip-card board
• do not leave early! You will be DQ (disqualified)
• 0 points for leaving on time
• 1 point for each minute you are late in leaving
• DQ for leaving more than 1 hour and 59 seconds late
• the next timed check point must be at least 3 miles after this checkpoint
• these checkpoints are used at the start and re-starts of each section

Important points:

• will have warning lines
• no flip card board
• 0 points for arriving early at this type of checkpoint unless the rider is more than 15 minutes early in which case the rider is DQ at that point.
• 1 point for each minute you are late
• DQ for arriving more than 1 hour and 59 seconds late
• there can be no timed checkpoint less than 3 miles before a known control
• these checkpoints are used at the end of every section

Key points:

• will have warning lines
• no flip card boards
• 2 points for the first minute early and 5 points for each additional minute early
• 1 point for each minute late
• DQ for more that 1 hour and 59 seconds late
• there can be no timed checkpoint less than 3 miles after this checkpoint
• you will not know were these are until you get there

Key point:

• will have warning lines
• no flip card boards
• 2 points for the first minute early and 5 points for each additional minute early
• 1 point for each minute late
• DQ for more that 1 hour and 59 seconds late
• there can be no timed checkpoint less than 3 miles after this checkpoint
• you will not know were these are until you get there
• tie breaker points are used only in the event of a tie

Check Point Warning Lines

White ribbons at 100′ from the CP personnel

(warning line)

Yellow ribbons at 25′ from the CP personnel

(scoring line)

The keytime is 8:00 but the actual time of your start is your rider number added to the keytime. If you have set your clock early by your rider number your clock will say keytime when it is time for you to start.

The flag drops and you follow the pink and blue ribbons on the right side of the trail. Ribbons will be sparse on straight-a-ways, at corner you should see 3 sets of ribbons before and after the turn.

Remember, you are now looking for checkpoint #2.

On the other side of the road you see these signs. As you can see you are riding this trail 4 times. Don’t be distracted by signs that don’t apply. You are looking for CP 2, so go straight ahead.

Remember, you are looking for checkpoint 2. This is a mileage adjustment to set you up for CP12. Ignore it.

The signs are on two separate posts; the one to the right and the next one below are at the same spot. Since you are looking for checkpoint 2, only pay attention to the sign on the right.

It says to go straight to checkpoint 2 and that the trail tags will be on the left until the next checkpoint.

This is also a good time to check your cheat sheet or roll chart. Remember the rule of at least 3 miles between timed check points. The next mileage showing on the cheat sheet is a possible secret checkpoint.

The cheat sheet says the next possible is at 3.2 at 8:12. You ride like hell until just before 3.2 miles while keeping your eye out for the warning ribbons indicating a checkpoint.

Nah, not there, so you ride to the next possible 3.5 miles at 8:13. Check your clock also to see how you are doing speed wise. If you are running late you might just want to ride and pray you don’t miss the warning markers and arrive early. Every so often you should check your progress.

Once you are less than 3 miles from the known checkpoint at the end of the section there can be no more secret checks. Just go, but make sure you are not more than 15 minutes early or suffer a DQ.

You are approaching the finish of the section 1. You see the white ribbons. Your odo says 7.37 mile. You know this must be the the finish so you can be early. You check your time-corrected clock; it says 8:23. That is less than 15 minutes early so you can just proceed forward to be recorded.

Congratulations! You just zeroed the first section. You have a perfect score so far.

On the other hand if your clock says 8:30 when you get here you had better hurry so you only get 4 points you think you got.

You may see the gas truck here but gas is not on the cheat sheet until the end of section 2 at 19.7 miles. Don’t bother with the gas now. If you need gas after 7.5 miles you are in trouble.

You need to worry about starting the next section on time. It is a Start Control so there is a flip card board. If you are early, wait for you number to come up before approaching the starter official. If your number has past, get up there, get recorded and started. Make sure your card is filled in by the official or you don’t have a legal start.

There is also a reminder here that tags are now on your right from here on.

You have been pretty good about checking your progress on the cheat sheet and you are more or less on time. You expected this checkpoint and saw the white warning ribbons, rode up to the yellow ribbon line, but did not cross. From here you can see the checkpoint sign which shows that this is an emergency checkpoint. You know that the seconds will be used in case you tie with someone. You cross the yellow ribbon line at exactly 30 seconds into “your minute.” You got zero penalty points and the 30 seconds puts you in the advantage in case you tie with someone else.

Scenario 2:

You started this section late and have been riding BTTW totally ignoring any time-keeping. You were going so fast you missed all the warning markers and crossed the yellow line before checking. The time is 9:14. You just picked up 2 points. You were lucky though. Another minute early and you would have 7 points.