RACE REGISTRATION

Deferral Policy

No deferrals allowed

Refund/Transfer Policy

No Refunds from the race promoters unless the race is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances such as wildfire, flooding, severe snow storms, or other severe weather. If this occurs, racers will have the option to defer their spot to the next year’s race, or receive a 50% refund. 

Transfer Policy

Participants may get a transfer-refund if their spot is filled by someone off the waitlist, or if they find someone to transfer to on their own. ($15 fee, by 5/23/26) See registration website/refund page for details on how to do this. No exceptions.

Pregnancy Policy
We understand that pregnancy can affect people differently— if you are pregnant and experiencing symptoms that would make racing feel unhealthy or uncomfortable, please reach out to the Race Director for a deferral to the next year, refund + $15 transfer fee for a transfer of your spot, or 50% refund.

Downgrading/Upgrading

If you’re downgrading, there are no refunds. If you’re upgrading, you will need to pay the difference. You have until May 30, 2026 11pm to do so through your RunSignUp sign in page.

NO LITTERING. Put garbage in your pocket, bag, or in a garbage bin. If you are found blatantly littering, you will be disqualified from the race and asked to leave the premises. 

Follow the rules of the road - All roads are OPEN to car, truck, 4-wheeler traffic. 

• Stay to the right at all times. 

• Stay to the right of the yellow line (or invisible yellow line on gravel) at all times. 

• Stop at all stop signs and red lights  (FOOT DOWN) or when a traffic cop or volunteer tells you stop. 

• Yield to animals. Always. 

• When you hear a car coming, pull as far right as you can

Highly advise carrying bear spray on you during the race - in your pocket or bear spray holster. Do not attach to your bike frame as this can cause it to explode.

PARKING

ABSOLUTELY NO PARKING in downtown Ovando.

ALL bike race vehicles (racers, spectators, etc), are REQUIRED to park in the designated parking area. No Exceptions. This is a courtesy for the town of Ovando who have graciously allowed us to take over their town for the day - they require the downtown area to remain open and easily accessible for normal town and tourist traffic so their business can continue to thrive.

Please be courteous to all volunteers. Smile, wave and say HI to volunteers, local traffic, and anyone you encounter. 

The Dusty Bandita's Paracycling Guidelines and Policies

Commitment

The Dusty Bandita’s organizing team is committed to providing life enriching experiences to all participants, volunteers and partners. 

The needs of Dusty Bandita participants are ever evolving. If you have questions, concerns, or recommendations, we are here. Please email our athlete services team at thedustybandita@mtalphacycling.org

Definition of a Para Athlete  

Para athletes are individuals with physical impairments including permanently impaired muscle power, athetosis, impaired passive range of motion, hypertonia, limb deficiency, ataxia, leg length difference, and vision impairment.

To be eligible for participation in these Programs, para athletes must:

• Possess a permanent physical, intellectual or vision impairment that aligns with the eligible impairment types as defined by World Para Athletics.

• Athletes must be able to self-propel themselves the entire event course distance by their own volition within the course time limit.

• Provide medical proof from physician

Please review the eligible impairment, please review the below information:

PARA CYCLING GUIDELINES

************************* this is a separate page linked as noted above***************************

There are 10 eligible impairment types recognized by World Para Athletics:

8 Physical Impairment Types:

1. Impaired Muscle Power: The muscles in the limbs or trunk are completely or partially paralyzed as a consequence of conditions such as spinal cord injury, polio, or spina bifida.

2. Impaired Passive Range of Movement: Range of movement in one or more joints is permanently reduced due to trauma, illness or congenital deficiency (e.g. conditions such as arthrogryposis or joint contracture resulting from trauma).

3. Limb Deficiency: A total or partial absence of bones or joints from birth, as a consequence of trauma (e.g. traumatic amputation) or illness (e.g. amputation due to cancer).

4. Ataxia: Lack of muscle coordination due to problems with the parts of the central nervous system that control movement and balance, typical of conditions such as traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy.

5. Athetosis: Repetitive and more or less continual involuntary movements caused by fluctuating muscle tone arising from problems in the central nervous system, typical of conditions such as cerebral palsy.

6. Hypertonia: Abnormal increase in muscle tension with reduced ability of muscles to stretch, and joint stiffness, slowness of movement and poor postural adaptation and balance, due to problems in the central nervous system, typical of conditions such as cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and stroke.

7. Short Stature: Standing height and limb length are reduced due to conditions such as achondroplasia and osteogenesis imperfecta.

8. Leg Length Difference: Minimum of 7 cm length difference due to trauma, illness, or congenital conditions. 

Vision Impairment:

Vision is impacted by either an impairment of the eye structure, optical nerve/pathways or the part of the brain controlling vision (visual cortex).

Intellectual Impairment:

Limited intellectual functions and adaptive behavior which must be diagnosed before the age of 18 (e.g. autism).

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Category name - 

"Paracycling Category" (female/male/non-binary)

*If an athlete believes participation in the paracycling category is appropriate, though the athlete does not possess an eligible impairment type listed above, please email HELP@dustybandita.com

Equipment - 

Cycling equipment must be approved. A high resolution image of the bike equipment must be sent to the race director at least thirty (30) days prior to the eligible race. Recumbent bikes are required to have a flag and a draft bar for safety.  

Here is an example of a draft bar. https://howirollsports.com/shop/top-end-handcycle-force-rx-tow-bar/

The purpose of a draft bar is to prevent the dangerous situation of a following bike’s wheel getting between the rear wheels of a hand cycling or trike.  

E-Bike Policy:  At this time The Dusty Bandita does not have a category for e-bike participants.  The organizing team recognizes the value and empowering qualities of e-bikes, especially for paracyclists. E-bikes, as upright bikes or recumbent, are allowed for paracyclists to use, however they will not be scored in the competitive results.  At this time, it is impossible to fairly compare results from e-bikes and human-powered bikes with accounting to differing levels fo physical impairments.  

Entry Fees - 

The Dusty Bandita organizers have set aside two free entries for the paracycling category.  At this time, no other free entries are available.  

Tandem Team: Please contact the organizers for entry.  The team need only pay one entry fee, however please contact the organizers so both riders can be registered appropriately. 

Ghost Rider:  If a paracyclist needs assistance on the course, it is encouraged that they bring as “Ghost Rider” - someone who is knowledgeable and available at all times to help.  The Dusty Bandita’s volunteers are eager to help all riders and the organizing team wants to ensure paracyclists receive any specific help they need.  Therefore Ghost Riders will receive a free entry.  Note: Ghost Riders are not to provide a draft or other unfair advantage for their paracyclist.  

As much as we want to include riders at every pace, our top priority is the safety of both riders and volunteers. We're learning about how to manage this part of a race, and not require volunteers to stay out for an extended and unsafe amount of time. To prevent this and ensure a positive experience for everyone, we will be enforcing two time cutoffs this year.

Time Cutoffs:

We are planning for a minimum average speed of 9 mph for the entire long course race.
There will be two enforced time cutoffs:
One before the climb
One after the climb, TBD, but around 9 mph average.
Riders who miss the post-climb cutoff will have the option of a ride back into town from the follow vehicle.

Aid Stations & Course Support:

For riders averaging between 9-11 mph, please be aware that due to the length of time volunteers are stationed on course, aid stations volunteers may be pulled before all riders have passed. We will ask, if this is the case, for aid stations to leave full water coolers for the follow car to pick up. 

A follow vehicle will carry ample food and water to support riders once aid station volunteers are removed. At approximately the 7-hour mark, we will be pulling most, if not all, volunteers from the Highway 200 crossing. After this time, riders are expected to use caution and responsibly make their way across the highway to Ovando.

We understand that time cutoffs can be disappointing, and this was not an easy decision. However, these measures are necessary to protect the well-being of everyone involved while still offering support options for riders who need them.

Thank you for your understanding and for being part of this community. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or want to discuss whether this race is the right fit for you this year.