Rules
Any riding on these routes is done as a self-challenge; there are no officiated races on this route; I am not a race director. If you want to do a timed attempt of either COTC circuit, you're doing it on your own. This could be done as an ITT, as part of a Grand Depart, or a similar self-supported endurance event.
The rules can be boiled down to (1) respect people, (2) respect the land, and (3) be honest. You do these three things, you're solid. Here are more details on what this looks like.
I'm a teacher. If you break a law and hurt the future perception of bikepackers on this route, I will not just disqualify your FKT, you will be required to a have a stern teacher-calling-your-parents type of phone conversation with me. And if you break the law in the National Park, I will document and report you to the Rangers.
If you follow the law but I find out you were a jerk to other visitors or disrespectful to the local Tribes or the Cultural Landscape, I will disqualify your FKT and the same teacher-phone-call conversation happens.
The rules can be boiled down to (1) respect people, (2) respect the land, and (3) be honest. You do these three things, you're solid. Here are more details on what this looks like.
- Meet and follow Leave No Trace guidelines.
- Adhere to the route. No trespassing on neighboring Tribal Nation lands.
- Must follow all Grand Canyon National Park laws, regulations, and rules.
- Absolutely NO dispersed camping of any form within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park or on private land the route crosses.
- Respect the Cultural Landscape. Ride with care through these culturally significant lands.
- Be courteous to other people, always. Your FKT attempt does not exempt you from being considerate, respectful, civil, and kind.
- Stick to the route. Any deviation from the route must involve returning to the point you left it.
- Honestly state the nature and type of your FKT attempt when reporting it.
- Respect yourself. Come prepared, healthy, and self-reliant to not get yourself into a situation that you can't get yourself out of.
I'm a teacher. If you break a law and hurt the future perception of bikepackers on this route, I will not just disqualify your FKT, you will be required to a have a stern teacher-calling-your-parents type of phone conversation with me. And if you break the law in the National Park, I will document and report you to the Rangers.
If you follow the law but I find out you were a jerk to other visitors or disrespectful to the local Tribes or the Cultural Landscape, I will disqualify your FKT and the same teacher-phone-call conversation happens.
Tasks
- Record your track and elapsed time using a GPS device. Submit the file to: TheForrestBiome@gmail.com
- Submit a link to your activity on whatever platform/app you record it on (Strava, etc.).
- Be absolutely honest about the nature and type of your FKT.
- Take and submit one photo from each of the numbered Capes on the route. Each photo needs to include (a) you and (b) the background view of the Cape (even if it's dark!). You must ride (where allowed), walk, or hike out to the actual Capes for the photo. Go all the way - I believe in you! Keep it safe - the railing or natural end-point is all I'm looking for. Don't climb down, stand someplace dangerous, or bushwhack to anything. Be safe.
Photo Criteria
- Do it as a selfie or have someone take it.
- Include your bike (optional) if it's a Cape where it's legal and possible. It makes for a cooler pic.
- Silly and posed photos are 100% encouraged.
- Better yet, send those photos to me in a photo collage. It'll be freaking awesome. I'll post your collage in a Capes Collage gallery on the site.
- Make sure to title each photo with the Cape # and its name.
- If your GPS indicates you didn't go all the way to the actual Cape, or it looks like you took a photo not out at the Cape, then I won't recognize the FKT. However, you will still have had an amazing time and seen views of the Grand Canyon (the most important part!).
Types
I think it's nearly impossible to have a true FKT attempt captured in a replicable sense. Weather changes, the path has reroutes, the wind blows, extreme heat warnings occur, wildfires happen, businesses close early, and time as ever, marches on. I know the FKT community likes to treat FKTs like little controlled experiments, but every FKT trial will be a unique attempt with its own challenges. Plus, people can sometimes get way too serious about them.
Thus, many FKT types for this route will be recognized, verified, and posted. These include but are not limited to:
To that last point, I'm sure there will be some submittals that just aren't interesting or so nuanced that it doesn't distinguish from what's already been posted - it's my call. I won't get upset if you claim it online in your own way. I just won't post them here.
When these FKTs get posted, they'll be titled and described as detailed by the submitter and adjusted for length and clarity by me.
What I really don't care about: Controversy over the parsing of nearly indiscriminate details of whether an FKT is supported or not. My real priority is my job being a teacher to my students at my school. I won't lose sleep over fickle arguments and long-form internet monologues on the purity of the sport for FKTs. If you're being mean or behaving in a way I wouldn't allow a student to do in my classroom, I'll disqualify your FKT and/or delete your comments.
Ride your bike with respect and honesty. That's what I really care about.
Thus, many FKT types for this route will be recognized, verified, and posted. These include but are not limited to:
- Supported by Friends/Family, Unsupported, Self-Supported, and everything in-between. Just report the level of support you received and be honest about it.
- South Rim Capes FKT. North Rim Capes FKT. Both Rim Capes in one continuous attempt using the Inner Canyon Connector. Or the Paved Connector. But NOT the Western Wildlands Connector as it crosses the Navajo Nation.
- Female, Nonbinary, Male, Trans, Other, Agender, Ungendered, Human, etc. Report the category how you want it. Or don't. Up to you.
- Clean and Doping (but not illegal drugs!) - I really don't care if you take performance-enhancing legal drugs or absolutely refuse even taking caffeine; just be honest about your style.
- Riding in the best conditions. Riding in the worst conditions. Just be prepared to fully describe and document why your conditions qualify.
- Wearing a superhero costume the duration of the route while setting the FKT.
- Heaviest known bikepacking rig.
- Longest time to complete the route in one continuous go.
- Anything else creative you think of. Just. Be. Honest. And make it legitly interesting.
To that last point, I'm sure there will be some submittals that just aren't interesting or so nuanced that it doesn't distinguish from what's already been posted - it's my call. I won't get upset if you claim it online in your own way. I just won't post them here.
When these FKTs get posted, they'll be titled and described as detailed by the submitter and adjusted for length and clarity by me.
What I really don't care about: Controversy over the parsing of nearly indiscriminate details of whether an FKT is supported or not. My real priority is my job being a teacher to my students at my school. I won't lose sleep over fickle arguments and long-form internet monologues on the purity of the sport for FKTs. If you're being mean or behaving in a way I wouldn't allow a student to do in my classroom, I'll disqualify your FKT and/or delete your comments.
Ride your bike with respect and honesty. That's what I really care about.