Phase 1-

ENTER

First: Watch this Film

Then: Click this Link to Enter and pay for The B.O.U.N.C.E

Each rider must fill out their own application form, regardless of whether they’re riding solo or in a team.

Once we have received your payment we will contact you to confirm your place on The B.O.U.N.C.E

**Special Earlybird Discounts:

Pay before 31 Dec 21 - £190

From then until 31 Mar 22 - £230

£250 thereafter.

(see FAQ’s for payment & refund details)

Phase 2 -

PLAN

Exactly 8 weeks before the start date all teams will be sent a Course Notes Pack.

This will include:

• 1 A3 paper map of the area & trails

• 1 vinyl checkpoint booklet

• 1 Digital set of Course notes

(Each rider will be sent a digital copy of the checkpoint booklet and course notes which they can print.)

Checkpoint booklet - Contains 1 page for each of the 84 physical checkpoints and includes: Checkpoint number; Map detail; Points score; Control plate number record; Local name; Grid ref; Location photo; Description. Riders will have to print the pages for their edition of The B.O.U.N.C.E and insert into the vinyl booklet to have a record of the checkpoints they’ve collected.

Course Notes - Contains 40+ pages of any and all map amendments that our planners have picked up on whilst scouting the trails. Including - missing roads, impassable trails, uncrossable fences, etc,etc. By paying careful attention to the course notes you will ensure that your planned route won’t waste any time or effort in following any dead ends.

(Please note: ‘Hero Class’ riders will not be able to use any electronic PDF docs during the event. Paper only!)

It is then up to you to plan your route in order to collect as many controls (and points) as possible whilst considering terrain, resupply, water and bailout options.

Maps - Please note: The A3 ‘trail map’ provided is not suitable for detailed navigation. Non-’Hero-class’ may use whatever GPS and electronic mapping they choose. However, anyone wishing to purchase detailed paper map sheets for the event should do so from the 'Mapa Topografico de Espana' series. They are only 4 euros each, take 3 days to arrive from Madrid and are available here:

https://www.cnig.es/buscarArtsMenu?categoria=MTN50

For the 2022 edition of The B.O.U.N.C.E. the relevant map sheets are:

495 Castelseras

496 Horta de Sant Joan

520 Penarroya de Tastavins

521 Beceite

Phase 3-

PREPARE

INSURANCE - The B.O.U.N.C.E has NO insurance for riders. In choosing to partake in The B.O.U.N.C.E, you are choosing to undertake your own, personal, unsupported cycle tour and should get appropriate personal insurance to cover you for this.

All The B.O.U.N.C.E provides you with is a framework for your adventure (and some extensively researched route suggestions). Beyond this you are ON YOUR OWN! We strongly recommend that you do your own research into resupply, bailout options and emergency procedures (as you should for any cycle expedition). (If you are travelling from the UK, do your research into what medical care you will (or won’t) be entitled to AFTER Brexit)

There will be no pick-up service provided by The B.O.U.N.C.E.

ACCOMODATION - In 2022 we will be starting and finishing The B.O.U.N.C.E in the region of Valderrobres, Spain.

Start: Participants assemble at 1800hrs on Sun 11th Sept at 'Camping els Ports', Arnes, Catalunya. Their fee includes this campsite, a communal evening meal and breakfast. A ‘mass start will then set off at 0900 on the Monday morning.

During The B.O.U.N.C.E accomodation will be up to you!

Return to the town of Valderrobres by 2000hrs on Friday 16th Sept 2022. Accommodation and ‘Finishers supper’ will be available that night in a hotel in this town however the cost of this hotel/food is NOT included in the fee.

Phase 4-

TRAVEL

We want to encourage all riders to travel to The B.O.U.N.C.E in as sustainable way as possible. Flying is certainly not the only option but if you do choose to fly, please consider using a trusted carbon offsetting scheme.

The closest Airports to Valderrobres are Barcelona (217km) and Zaragoza (160km).

Phase 5-

RIDE

After assembling at the specified campsite for a pre-ride briefing at1800 on the Sunday night, there will be a ‘mass start’ where riders will set off at 0900 on Monday morning.

You’ll then be on your own. If you’re riding as a team, the team should stay together throughout the duration of the event.

The B.O.U.N.C.E is completely ‘self-supported’ meaning that there will be absolutely no support provided by the event organisers for participants. If you choose to pull out, ‘scratch’ or go home early it’s up to you to notify the organisers using the phone number provided.

In an emergency you should contact the local emergency services as you would on any independent cycle tour.

You are allowed to re-supply or use accommodation provided that it’s a service which is available to all participants. No support crews are allowed.

If you’d like to stay in the same location for each night of the event and head out on day-trips to collect controls you absolutely can however you will not score very highly. The B.O.U.N.C.E favours the most self-sufficient bikepackers.

The checkpoints are scattered over a vast area. It’s our reckoning that it will be near impossible for any one team to collect all of the checkpoints (even if you’re traveling >160km per day there’s a lot you’ll miss…). As such, it’s important you plan your route carefully to make sure you make it back to the start point on Friday.

All of the checkpoints are located off tarmac roads and so your route will likely be on off-road tracks for >90% of the time. The vast majority of these tracks are suitable for vehicle access and so should be suitable for gravel bikes with min 35mm+ tyres however some tracks will be rough going and much more suitable for a MTB.

You may well meet other teams out on the trails, if so, there are no rules against riding together so long as each team continues to be entirely self-supported.

Everyone is due back by no later than 2000 on Friday. At this point all riders/teams will hand in their physical checkpoint booklet in order to submit and corroborate their scores.

Note: Any riders (not in analogue ‘hero-class’) wishing to ‘digitise’ their checkpoint booklet may do so. However the scores of ALL riders/teams must still be submitted in physical form in a ‘completed’ checkpoint booklet. Therefore, if you choose not to take it with you on the ride you must still fill out the relevant pages when you return on Friday.

Phase 6-

PARTY!

An afterparty location will be booked for the Friday night so that all riders are welcome and to come and share stories, beers, food, laughter and revel in all of the comforts of civilisation together.

We’ll provide the location however your entry fee does not include food, drink or accomodation for the after-party.