-
Bad practice to have questions which need context and have ambiguity in wording. I felt like this year in the TCR application there was a lot of that, which made it more difficult than it needed to be.
rj-
If you read the whole thing and not just one line, it's clear.
"With the introduction of the pairs category we can be firmer with what we regard as assistance, yet riders can still look out for the safety of one-another without having to drop out of the race altogether. 2015 Rules with regard to pairs and assistance between riders state that if one rider helps another rider then they can become joined as a pair and will get the same time when they finish.
On the whole riders should approach the race as if they were taking a completely solo trip across Europe, as if there were no race, as if there were no other riders and as if there were no contact with the people at home. In short they should do things for themselves.
So then, what did our applicants deem to be dedicated outside assistance, and does TCR HQ agree?
Another Rider Lending Me Their Pump.
Applicants answered: Yes: 48% // No: 52%
TCR Says: Perhaps the most even split of all the questions answered, the field is undecided on this one. However many bikepacking races are more sure when it comes to the sharing of equipment and it is generally forbidden. You may not of think it as assistance dedicated to one particular rider from outside of the race. Nevertheless sharing equipment is a no-no in self-supported races and it is in the Transcontinental too. Each rider must come equipped for their own race and not be reliant on others. They must prepare as if they were completing the task entirely on their own and no-one else were taking part in the ride, only then are they truly self supported. This applies to the sharing of information as it does the sharing of tools, clothing and food and this includes navigation."
hippy
Franks right. Rider means racer in the context.