Conference noted::bicycle

Well.....
  The event is definitely on!!  The 1st Mountain Bike biathlon will be on Saturday 
September 28th at 10am.  The event will take place at Harvard Sportmen's Club in
Harvard, MA (see directions below).

There will be a $5 entry fee ($2 of which goes back to the club and the rest
will go towards drinks and prizes)

The race will consist of several circuits.  At the end of each circuit, 
the rider will dismount and shoot
six steel plates (about 6" in diameter).  Rather then the traditional
.22 cal. rifle, riders will use any pistol of .22 cal or larger (.22 shooters will have 
a slightly longer distance to shoot then centerfire shooters).The pistol
will be left at the firing position rather then be carried (for obvious reasons, including
safety and no risk of damaging your firearm in the event of a crash....).

We are going to try two formats.  
A sprint race and a longer circuit race.
The sprint race will consist of 3 loops of about .5 miles each with a 10 second 
penalty for each plate missed.  The rider will start by shooting then riding for
a total of 3 groups of plates and three 1/2 mile loops.

The circuit race will be longer with more difficult terrain.  Each rider will 
complete 5 laps, and a penalty loop (about 200 yards) will be assessed for each shot
missed.  The course will consist of a 1 - 1.5 mile loop that included some obstacles (log piles,
loose sand, planks etc).  

During both races, two riders will be on the course at one one time, and we will run several heats.
You can elect to do one or both courses.

These are the basic rule:
 
 - All riders must supply their own firearm (pistol) and ammunition and be proficient
   in its use.  Any had gun .22 cal or larger may be used but please no magnum loads.
   A revolver or a pistol of larger capacity is desirable however, only six bullets can
   be loaded in the gun..

 - There will be two shooting positions, each seperated by sand walls.  There will be someone
   at each position to reload magazines or speed loaders.  The rider will simply dismount
   his/her bike proceed to the shooting box, load and shoot.  Each shooter will have 6 shots
   to drop six plates.  After shooting, the rider will show a clear gun and then continue riding.

 - Glasses and hearing protection must be worn while shooting.  NO EXCEPTIONS!  You
   are not required to wear glasses while riding but you must put them on before picking up
   the gun.

 - All firearm safety rules must be obeyed!!

 - All riders must supply their own bike. Mountains bikes are suggested due to loose sand
   and other obstacles.  However, you could get by with a cyclocross bike.

 - ANSI or Snell helmet is required

If you are new to either biking or shooting (or both) you are welcome to participate.
However, we ask the you arrive no later then 9:00am so that we can help you become
more familiar with riding bikes over obstacles or shooting.  If there are a couple
of people out there who would like to try this but do not own a pistol, call me or
send me mail, I might be able to help.....

Also, if any one would like to stop by the club on Friday night  (Sept 27, 5:00pm) to pratice
shooting the plates (or would like some shooting instruction) let me know.

I am sure I left infomation out, and everything is subject to change....

Hope to see you there

Quinn

PS.  If you just want to come and watch or help out, send me mail.  Everyone is
     welcome.

     Hi Quinn, just an FYI... The Hollis Road Race is the same day. I
    really wanted to do the Bi but my first passion is cycling and
    I have submitted my application for Hollis. Maybe next time.
    
      Good luck,
    
                 Chip

    
    	re: .1 (Quinn Canfield)
    
    	Will a .22 really be a sufficient caliber to knock over the 
    	steel plates?  The steel plates used at a match I sent to 
    	at Nashua Fish&Game last Wednesday night were hardly moved
    	sideways by my 9mm !!  They must have been very thick.
    
    	This should be such fun!  I'm much more familiar with shooting
    	than biking, though this summer I've put 30-60 miles per
    	week on my mountain bike, which I've used mostly as a touring bike!
    	
    	I am a certified firearms safety instructor, but the next course
    	(Sept 14) is full :-(.  The one after that (Nov 16) still has 
    	openings, but it wouldn't be in time for the biathlon.  
    
    						nancy b.
    

    Everything is a go.  The long course is exactly 1.0 miles per loop (you
    will be riding 3 loops) and the short course is about 1/4 mile.  The
    short course has 3 "log" barriers, a tire zigzag and a sand pit
    followed by a cross country (read bumpy) sprint back to the shooting
    position.  The plate will be 6" in diameter and 30' away.  This will
    seen too close until you are tired!
    
    The event will start at 10:00am sharp but I will be there at 8:00am and
    you are welcome to come by early to ride the course or do some shooting
    to warm up.
    
    Hope to see you there,
    Quinn
    
    PS.  This will be rain or shine (unless there is a heavey downpour)
    
    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          It's Happening Again!!
    
    Mountain Bike Biathlon at the Harvard Sportsmen's club in on again
    this fall.  It is better organized then last year with a much better
    biking course.  The next race is October 4th at 9:00am in Harvard MA.
    There is a small race fee and this year the event if RIM FIRE only!
    We an extra pistol or two if you need one.  
    
    Equipment needed:
    
     - Helmet (REQUIRED)
     - Eye protection (REQUIRED)
     - Hearing protection (REQUIRED)
     - Mountain bike
     - .22 cal pistol (at least 6 shot)
     - 50 rounds of ammo (will use less)
    
    You can read earlier replies to this note to get the flavor of the
    event.  We are only running one course and it is about 5 miles of
    total riding.
    
    
    Quinn Canfield
    
    PS   Tell all your friends!

    
    	How will the pistols be handled when left at the station?
    
    	Roger