The Bounty - A Self-Supported North Shore Navigation Adventure

About The Bounty is not a race against a course. It's a race against everyone else's decisions. Starting and finishing at Munroe Velo in Topsfield, Massachusetts, riders will have 24 hours to study four hidden bounty locations scattered throughout the North Shore trail network. There is no prescribed route, no cue sheet, and no aid stations. Your objective is simple: Find all four bounty checkpoints, collect proof of passage, and return to Munroe Velo before anyone else. At each checkpoint, riders must locate a hidden Bounty Book and remove the page matching their rider number. Riders will also record a unique checkpoint password. Return with all four pages and all four passwords to claim a successful hunt. The fastest rider, or team, to collect every bounty and return to base wins. The route is entirely up to you. Choose pavement. Choose gravel. Choose singletrack. Choose forest roads. Choose suffering. But the best route is rarely the obvious one. EVENT FORMAT Start / Finish: Munroe Velo, Topsfield, MA Self-supported & self-navigated Four hidden checkpoints Coordinates released 24 hours before the start No prescribed route GPS navigation permitted Proof of passage required at every checkpoint Fastest complete time wins THE HUNT Step 1: Study the Map 24 hours before the start, riders will receive GPS coordinates for all four bounty checkpoints. Build your route. Analyze your options. Decide how much risk you're willing to take. Step 2: Claim the Bounties At each checkpoint riders must locate the Bounty Book, remove the page matching their rider number, and record the checkpoint password. Removing the wrong page may result in penalties or disqualification. Step 3: Return to Base Return to Munroe Velo with all four rider-number pages and all four checkpoint passwords. The fastest complete hunt wins. RULES Complete the Hunt — All four checkpoints must be visited. Missing a checkpoint results in a DNF. Self-Supported — Riders may use public roads, public trails, public water sources, stores, restaurants, and convenience stores. Riders may not use personal support crews, friends or family providing assistance, cached food/water/supplies, pre-positioned equipment, or private aid stations. Ride Legal — Riders must obey local traffic laws, trail-use regulations, and land-access restrictions. No trespassing. No riding closed trails. No cutting through private property. Leave No Trace principles apply at all times. Safety — Helmets are mandatory. Riders participate at their own risk. The event takes place on open roads and public trails that remain open to other users. RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT Approved cycling helmet GPS device or smartphone capable of navigation Flat repair kit Spare tube or tubeless repair supplies Water carrying capacity of at least 1 liter Fully charged phone RECOMMENDED BIKE Checkpoint locations are intentionally chosen to require a mix of gravel roads, forest roads, doubletrack, singletrack, and occasional hike-a-bike sections. A gravel bike or mountain bike is strongly recommended. Road bikes are not recommended. COURSE PHILOSOPHY The shortest route is not always the fastest route. The fastest route is not always the smartest route. The Bounty rewards navigation, decision-making, fitness, creativity, and a willingness to explore.