1. What are the differences between Racer-Omiesauras and Touring-Bare Bones?
    Racers are competing, Bare Bones are touring with a deadline.  Touring have no support crew and are responsible for their own supplies, they have no ranking and may take a more relaxed approach to the event.  Racers compete against each other, have support crews to keep them on their bikes and are ranked according to finishing times.  Racers may apply 3 points, awarded by the UMCA, toward an UltraCup ranking of riders by distance and difficulty of race.

2. Is this a RUSA sanctioned Randonee?
    No.  The "Bare Bones" category allows people to participate in the event at a touring pace and with no competition.  Tourers may place supplies ahead of the ride to be picked up later.  They could get a hotel room and stop for a brief night's rest, usually being up to ride as soon as it is light.  At this writing the race organizers do not have enough people to transport or safeguard supplies.  There is no SAG.

3. What does a support crew actually do?
    The crew does everything but ride the bike.  Their job is to keep the racer physically and mentally capable of finishing the race.  A racer typically needs 300-400 calories per hour to keep riding.  The crew hands off food and water so the racer does not need to stop.  As a safety measure, at night the crew drives the chase vehicle so the racer is always in the headlights.  Twenty four hours a day the crew carries the privacy tarp and the toilet paper.  SPOILER ALERT: the race is just as exhausting for the crew as for the racer.  No one gets much sleep no matter how you schedule things.   Check out www.ultracycling.com/events/crew_tips.html

4. When and where does the rider sleep?
    In ultramarathon racing the rider sleeps very little.  Rider and crew get enough sleep to be safe and not  much more.  The racer can sleep in the chase vehicle, support vehicle (with teams), a tent, a hotel room...but not for long anywhere!  A racer who leaves the course for any reason must notify race headquarters when the leave and when they return to exactly the same spot.  NOTE:  Racers can fall asleep on the bike and may crash or drift into oncoming traffic.  Any race official may require a racer to take a sleep break at any time.  Ride SAFELY!

5. Who makes the best crew members?
   Family can make the best and the worst crew members.   Flexibility under pressure and the ability to be pleasant with little sleep definitely help.

6. What is the best approach to supporting a rider?
   Always tell the truth about distances and time.  A rider will deeply resent riding longer than planned.  This is most often true with teams when circumstances delay a rider exchange.  Feed the racer according to a schedule and track calories and water.  Do not ask a tired rider what he wants to eat or if he is hungry.  At most give him a choice of two foods and make sure one of them is eaten.  Get gas for the car and food and coffee for the crew before dark.  At night, when the crew stops the rider stops.

7. How do teams make rider exchanges?
   The old rider's front wheel must overlap the new rider's rear wheel.  DOING THIS AT NIGHT TAKES SOME PRACTICE.  Both riders must be in headlight beams at all time, of the chase or support vehicle.  Do not change riders while going downhill.   Teams may change riders as often as they want, according to time or distance or obstacles.