On September 17th, 1871
29 convicts shot and killed their way out of the
Carson City State Prison with stolen Henry Rifles.
6 of those convicts headed South to presumed freedom.
Instead, their nightmare route led to murder, vengeance, and retribution.
This bikepacking race will follow their route.
Suggested Start: September 17, 2024.
Learn about the historical significance of this route
by reading The Fatal Affair in Convict Canyon, by Jim S. Reed.

CONVICTS' ESCAPE ROUTE Bikepacking Race Guidelines

The Convicts' Escape Route Bikepacking Race is an Underground Self-Support Individual Time Trial. The Race follows the Convicts' Escape Route established in 1871. Starting at the Historic Nevada State Prison in Carson City and finishing at the Historic Marker at Convict Lake. The Convicts' Escape Route is an Underground Race. The Convicts' Escape Route is not organized, sanctioned, supported or permitted by anyone. There are no entry fees, no awards and no prize money. The mixed surface Convicts' Escape Route consists of a difficult ford of the Carson River, seemingly endless sand hike-a-bike, relentless steep climbs, high-speed-traffic-filled highways, washboard gravel roads, and ruthless two-track dirt roads. The Convicts' Escape Route has EXTREMELY LIMITED RESUPPLY! STUDY THE ROUTE AND HAVE A RESUPPLY STRATEGY! The Convicts' Escape Route Bikepacking Race does not have any route signs or markers. Navigation and self-preservation are completely up to you.

The Convicts' Escape Route is Not an Organized Race--if several riders want to race at the same time--the riders collectively are responsible for organizing web-based group-race-tracking (i.e. MAProgress, Trackleaders, etc.). September 17th is only a suggested start date. If racing individually, prove your race time via an individual tracking page from a Garmin inReach or SPOT and send link to NevadaBikepackingRoutes@gmx.com.

Support Rules: The Convicts' Escape Route is a Self-support Race. Use only resupply services available to all racers. No cache drops. No prearranged outside support, supplies, services or assistance. No bicycle changes. No electric or gas motor assistance. No drafting. If you leave the route, you must return to the same location to continue the race. You must follow the entire route from start to finish with no shortcuts.

Convicts' Escape Route Bikepacking Race Rules & Principles

Underground - Self-Supported - Individual Time Trial

Suggested start: September 17th

This race follows rules outlined in Toby Gadd’s Ultra-racing rules

Underground

Not sanctioned by any government agency
No sign-up is necessary, just show up at the start
No entry fees – No awards
No aid stations
No stand-by emergency response
No route signs or markings – No intersection or vehicle traffic controls

Self-Supported

“Self supported racing is just that—self supported. Do. It. Yourself.”

“There is no difference between inside and outside support. All support is support.”

“There is no difference between unplanned and planned support. All support is support.”

Complete the entire route yourself on the same bicycle
Move under your own power
No drafting
No pacers
No short-cuts or long-cuts
No motor assistance
No pre-placed supply caching
No pre-arranged re-supply
No reservations
No commercial deliveries
No planned or unplanned support
Don’t accept trail magic or supplies from trail angels
Commercial services are okay as long as they are available to all racers (i.e. hotels, restaurants, stores, bike shop repairs and supplies)
Fix your own bike (unless at a bike shop available to all racers)
Don’t beg, trade or buy (water, food, supplies or money) from other racers
Don’t beg from people outside the race
Don’t ride a motor vehicle at anytime during the race from start to finish (including when off route)
If you leave the route for any reason you must return to that exact point to continue your race
No communication with anyone regarding race information or advice (i.e. calling friends to find out other racers’ locations)

Individual Time Trial

ITT “racing is a personal commitment to yourself and to every other rider out there that you will act honorably and with integrity.”

“If you find yourself unable to adhere to a rule, then quit honorably (or self-relegate from the race and start touring).”

The clock starts at the start-line and clock stops at the finish-line
No specific start date or time (you can race anytime throughout the year that you decide is safe)
Race tracking via gps transponder (i.e. Garmin inReach, SPOT, etc.)
If racing individually, prove your race time via an individual tracking page from a Garmin inReach or SPOT and send link to NevadaBikepackingRoutes@gmx.com.
If racing at the same time, the racers collectively are responsible for organizing web-based group-race-tracking (i.e. MAProgress, trackleaders, etc.)
If route changes mid-race (fire, road construction, washout closures, etc.) take a legal detour that gets you back on the route as soon as possible

Principles

“It’s not a closed course. This isn’t 24-hours” of your “awesomeness. You are not better than any other trail user, so respect the trail and other users.”

Respect livestock and wildlife (Don’t chase or harass, give them space and time to move, especially around barbwire fences and obstacles.)
Practice leave-no-trace
Don’t endanger your life or anyone else’s life
Don’t be a liability to someone else
Plan ahead and study the route
Plan for all weather conditions and route challenges (It’s bad for everyone if you don’t carry proper weather gear and end up hitting the SOS button when caught by a storm)
Plan for self-rescue when possible
Leave rural gates as you fine them
No littering or abandoning gear
Don’t break the law
Yield to hikers and horseback riders
Pick up trash, others dropped, along the route and earn Gnar Points