Bike-N-Shoot

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Billll

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I'm now coming up on my 4th Bike-N-Shoot event and it's becoming steadily more popular. This is modeled on the winter biathlon except:
1) The traveling part is done on mountain bikes.
2) The shooting part is done with pistols
3) It's done all year round in the same format.

The bike course is on 2-track, single track, or no-track, covering 2-1/2 to 3 miles, with a staggered start. The shooting is done with any pistol-caliber pistol, from a standing position, against reactive steel targets, 6 in dia at 20 yards. This is harder than you think after the riding. Format is one lap followed by 5 shots. Repeat for a total of 3 laps and 15 shots. 1 penalty lap of 200 yards for each miss. Weather is not a big thing. If I can get into the range in my 2WD pickup, than we're having an event.
For the next one, I'm having the adults split into 2 divisions, over and under 35 years old. If I get any kids under 18, they only do 1 lap and 5 shots.
This is still a bit of a work in progress, but it seems to be shaping up well.

If any of you out there want to try one of these, I have an XL spreadsheet that will do the timing and scoring on a laptop, and comes with detailed instruction on how to organize one of these. PM me, and I'll pass it on to you.
 
mmm, <drool> my two favorite sports combined. :D

Back in the day, I was a Sport Class racer...

These days, I'd get whupped by the Beginner Class folks...

Chris
 
Wow, great idea! I too have long been a mtn bike rider, tho I no longer race. Sounds like fun, don't know where we could do that around here though, range too small. I hope it catches on, maybe someone in Arizona will put on some events, that would be worth traveling to.:cool:
 
Range too small?
Hmmm. With a warped imagination, I suppose the event could even be held around an indoor range in an urban setting, with the bike riding done outdoors, on the street.

/F In Chicago, you get 7 rounds per lap. 5 for the targets, and 2 for the guy trying to steal your bike. /F*


* /F used to denote facetiousness mode toggle on/off.
 
I saw an add for the one in the Denver area last year. Looks like fun but I'd have to improve my skills on both fronts in order to participate.
 
The skill levels I'm seeing so far are so spread out, that I get some complaints about some people doing well without an even mix of skills. The big reason is that the 'shooters' don't get out enough, so the shooting deteriorates more quickly with exertion than the 'bikers'.
At this point, I can't create separate categories for every different skill level, so untill participation improves, say when the weather warms up a bit, we all do this for the challenge and entertainment (and the ribbons).
In the meantime, even a little bit of exercise will pay big dividends, since the riding affects the shooting more significantly if you're completely out of shape. For the 'bikers', a trip to the range will go a long ways too, since, in their case, the shooting (penalty laps) affects the riding.
 
Good idea. I know there are summer biathalon shoots where the shooter runs instead of skiing. The more types of competitive shooting the better. Suggest you contact the local cycling, biathalon and cross country skiing clubs. Just to let them know about your shoot if nothing else. I'd bet there are lots of cyclists, skiers and biathalon types that are looking for another challenge or training method.
 
I haven't found anything like that in N. Texas. I shoot and do triathlons for fun and like the idea of combining the sports. I know there are plenty of shooters who talk all about "tactical" this and that without thinking about the fact that basic fitness is probably the most important tactic besides having a gun.
 
If you've got a place to hold one, run it yourself. It's not difficult, and I have timing and scoreing software built on Windows XL spreadsheet that takes care of a lot of it. What you need is a 2-1/2 to 3 mile off road bike loop that starts at a pistol range. By off road, I mean double track, such as you'd find along a farmers fence. Better road = longer loop, but an average rider should take about 20 minutes to complete.
Surprisingly, most of the people I get come from the bike shops rather than the gun shops or clubs. It's a great way to reactivate the inactive.

Bill
 
They are most certainly public. PM me, and I'll send you a flier for the next one, Aug 7th. Or maybe this will work:


Wildlife Hunter’s Association of Colorado
BIKE-N-SHOOT
Test your skills at mountain bike riding and pistol shooting skills, Saturday, August 7th, 2004 at 11 AM.
This timed competition will involve 3 laps on a mountain bicycle, of approximately 3 miles each, on rolling prairie terrain. Each lap to be followed by five shots from a pistol at steel targets approximately
6†dia from a distance of 20 yards.
Each miss will accrue a short penalty lap.
This event is (very) loosely modeled on the winter biathlon.
Entry fee for contestants is $10, Spectators are $5/carload.

Notes:
· Very little in the way of facilities is available. Bring water. Dress appropriately for the weather.
· Any pistol may be used, as long as it fires PISTOL caliber ammunition, and is equipped with only open sights.
· After shooting, your support crew – if any – is permitted to reload for you.
· Pistols may be carried during the riding phase, or left in the shooting area. Carried guns must be unloaded.
· Eye and ear protection required while shooting. Helmet required while riding.
· All shots will be fired from a standing position.
· The prairie contains cactus. And goatheads. Prepare accordingly.
(insert map here)




W.H.A.C. range is approximately 9 miles east of I-76
I-76 to Bromley Lane (exit 22). 8 ½ miles east to Imboden Road.
½ mile south on Imboden to 144th. ½ mile east on 144th to gate on south side of road.



Entries accepted up to the start of the event. Awards for the winners, men’s and women’s classes.
Questions? Please e-mail BLLEW(at)RMI.NET
Call or e-mail anyway; I need a head count. Please arrive at least ½ hour before the scheduled start.
Assistance with timekeeping and scoring gratefully accepted.
 
"Surprisingly, most of the people I get come from the bike shops rather than the gun shops or clubs."

Maybe not that surprising. Cyclists tend to be independent and have some degree of intererst in technology. Not much different from being a pistol toter.
 
What kind of gear are people using?

Not so much the bike setup, I can imagine that part, but how are they integrating the belt/holster/gun in with their biking clothes?
 
It is not required (yet) that you carry your gun while riding. So far everybody leaves their gun at the firing line, on the table, in a shoe box, which I provide to keep the sun and dirt off.
In late-breaking news:

Michael Bane* has contacted me with the intention of turning the October Bike-N-Shoot into an episode for the TV show, Shooting Gallery, that he hosts. He will be at the August 7th Bike-N-Shoot to see what it looks like. Here's your chance to show how well you ride the bumps and hit all the gongs for national TV, and you even have a warm up date. Anyone need a flier, let me know, otherwise it's just like the last one.

Bill



*Host
SHOOTING GALLERY
Only on The Outdoor Channel!
Contributor
HANDGUNS, G&A, SHOOTING TIMES, AMERICAN HANDGUNNER, SHOTGUN NEWS, SHOT BUSINESS
Consultant
NSSF "Aiming for Accuracy" Media Program
USA Shooting
 
We had a rather low turnout, so we made it a tune-up for the October event. Of the four people who completed all 3 laps, and fired all 15 rounds, there were only 4 hits scored, so the targets came away the big winners. FWIW: all 4 hits were scored by the 2 women; 2 ea. Mayby someone got a pic of the other young lady, too.
 
Welcome to THR middlechainringguy. Consider introducing yourself to the forum in the general section.

I think I'd like to start something similar this fall up at Dartmouth.

atek3
 
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