Two-Bits - Procedures

Procedures for entering and riding the 2010 Two-Bits Rally

This year's Two-Bits rally will be run quite a bit differently than the four previous rallies. It won't be held on a specific day with check-in, rider meeting, route planning, riding, and then announcing results and handing out door prizes at the finish location.

Instead, here are the steps to follow:

  • Register for the rally by mailing the registration form, as is normal with most rallies. (The cost for amateur event is $0.) Registration will get your name on the entrants' list so your LD riding friends will see what you're planning. Folks from your state or with your brand of bike will be able to brag. Using Steve Chalmers' terminology from the Utah 1088, "you might want to" register before your ride as there "might" be other benefits as well.


  • For route planning, the bonus listing can be downloaded from this web site. (The full bonus listing with all the bonii will be available by May 1st.)
        - It is your choice whether you have the bonus listing well in advance (similar to the 2010 Ten 'N Ten rally),
        - or print it the evening before your ride (similar to the 2009 LOE/1000),
        - or if you want to try or practice route planning on the clock (as was the case at Checkpoint 1 during the 2009 Utah 1088), print the bonus listing right before you ride the rally and don't look at it until you've started your rally in Morrison.
  • The map of the base route, along which many of the bonii are located, can also be used for route planning. Some 24-hour rallies, like the Utah 1088 and Thin Air TT have had base routes of about 1000 miles. In this 8-hour rally, the base route is about 1/3 of that. You can follow the base route if you wish, add to it, subtract from it, or disregard it entirely.

  • A SPOT satellite tracker (www.findmespot.com) won't be required as a method of verifying your route, but some bonus points will be given if you use one. If you don't have a SPOT, maybe this is the excuse you've needed to get one.


  • If you are using a SPOT:
        - On Jason Jonas' SPOT Trip Manager web site (spotwalla.com) (previously known as jasonjonas.org/spot) set up an account to display your trips.
        - Then set up a trip with:
          - name = 2010 Two-Bits Rally
          - description = Month day, 2010
          - password = (optional, your choice)
          - start date and end date = a time frame that includes at least the hours between your start and finish.
          - Do NOT check the box "Checking this box hides the time component of each location/message."
          - For an example of the set-up: http://spotwalla.com/, click on "Advanced Search", under "Users with public trips:", "ALL", scroll down and highlight "PassBagger", click on "GO", click on "2010 Two-Bits Rally"


  • On any day in June, July, or August, 2010 (your choice), ride the rally.
        - If using a SPOT, set it to "tracking" mode.
        - Starting point: Morrison, Colorado, at the Conoco gas station just west of C-470 on Morrison Road at S. Rooney Road.
        - Obtain a fuel receipt. THE COMPUTER TIME STAMP WILL BE YOUR OFFICIAL STARTING TIME.
        - Ride your route, updating your bonus listing along the way.
        - Ending point: The same gas station. Obtain a fuel receipt. THE COMPUTER TIME STAMP WILL BE YOUR OFFICIAL ENDING TIME.


  • After you've run the rally, mail me:
        - A copy of the bonus listing with your answers, etc.
        - Copies of fuel receipts, and any other receipts for bonus points.
        - Photos you have taken for bonus points. Can be printed on photo or plain paper, or burned onto a CD.
        - (Note: For the 2010 Two-Bits, to simplify life, no photos are required.)

        - All copies must be clear enough so answers can clearly be read.
        - All photos must be labeled with the bonus number and must be clear enough so bonii photo subjects can clearly be seen. "Lighthouse" photos will earn no points.
        - If photos are burned onto a CD, the file names must include the bonus number.


  • I will score your ride and provide feedback about points awarded or not, and will enter your name as a finisher on the results page.
  • I won't update the results page with points, miles, etc. until early in September so others can't "follow" you and possibly do better.


  • Early in September I'll update the results page with everyone's points, miles, etc., and will announce the results on the LD Rider list.


  • (Note: just like other rallies, you may ride your route only once. If you aren't satisfied with your results, turn them in anyway, and "shoulda, wouda" just like we all do after rallies. If you'd like to try again, print the bonus listing from the 6-hr 2004, '05, '06, or '08 rallies, ride your route, mail in the bonus listing and receipts as described above, we'll add up the points, and enter your name on the results pages from those years. For '04, start and end at the Conoco gas station in Morrison, checkpoint will be a gas receipt from a gas station in Fairplay. For '05 start and end in Morrison. For '06, start in Morrison, end at any gas station in Frisco. For '08, start and end at any gas station in Frisco.)


  • There will be two RTEs where you can ask questions or swap tall tales with other riders.
        You can join us whether you've registered for the Two-Bits or not.
        For details, check the RTE page.


  • If you see me at one of the RTEs, at the IBA National Meet, or at a Colorado Beemers monthly meeting and have already been listed as a finisher (or turn in your bonus listing, etc. right then), I might even have a Two-Bits pin for you.

    • Back to the Two-Bits page

    © 2010 Randy Bishop
    Last modified: May 19, 2010