#rat1000

Solo, Self Supported

 

The RAT was originally conceived as a tribute and rolling memorial to the Texas cycling legend and hero to many, Ray Porter. We lost Ray to illness very unexpectedly which caused many in our circle to realize that waiting to go on a grand adventure means you may never get the chance.

 

Ray was a veteran of the Tour Divide and his passing has been an impetus for many to set that as a personal goal of their own. As initially conceived, The RAT was intended to be a stepping stone for people to gain the skills and confidence needed to attempt the Tour Divide so the basic Solo, Self Supported "rules" are inspired by the TD guidelines.

 

While The RAT has gone on to become its own event with its own distinct personality, we feel that it would be inappropriate to essentially copy and paste the TD rules into a different event.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the TD guidelines by visiting their site and clicking this link.

The RAT does operate in the spirit of the TD, but our event offers a number of different aspects to it which do require some RAT specific guidelines. These are as follows:

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Record keeping: Solo, self supported participants are required to use a "real time" satellite tracking service and make their RAT data available to the general public during and after their attempt. All completed attempts will be reviewed to verify that routes were properly adhered to. It is highly recommended that each attempt have a gps recorded backup data source in case their is a need for clarification/confirmation.

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Route adherence in cities/towns: Riders are allowed the flexibility to navigate as needed to access the amenities they prefer in the towns along the route. Once a rider enters a City Limit there is no official route in that town. Howerver, riders must enter and exit at the City LImit points as dictated by the course.

Additional/outside support during RAT week: Self supported riders may utilize some additional resources provided by organzers and sponsors without penalty. Neutral resources will be specified prior to RAT week departure.

No trespassing or littering: The route is entirely on public roads and/or publicly accessible trail. Trespassing or littering will result in immediate disqualificcation. Please do not make things difficult for the riders who follow you.

Road closures and reroutes: You will come across the unexpected. All riders should have the capability to navigate for themselves if reroutes are required because of road closures and the like. Riders should make a point to reroute in a manner which does not create a significant mileage/terrain advantage over the official course. Please note that road conditions (mud, excess sand, etc.) alone will not justify an approved reroute. Please be prepared to provide a detailed explanation for any course deviations.

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