


THE RACE

Rules: January 23, 2001

BEER-BIKE RULES AND REGULATIONS

The following rules were voted on and approved by a unanimous vote of the Beer Bike Co-Chairs, the Coordinators from each College and the GSA on 21 January 2001. These rules shall govern Beer Bike 2001. After they have been decided on, a list of unjackable items, fines, and other information called for in the rules will be available from links on this page. Please check back for those updates. If you have any questions or concerns about the rules, please contact the Rules -Chairs, Daniel Attaway and Merritt McAlister

I. ADMINISTRATION

The Rice Program Council is the administrative body of the Beer-Bike Race. The Council's designated Beer-Bike Co-Chairs have final authority in matters of rules and policy. The Beer-Bike Co-Chairs will head the Beer-Bike Committee, which deals with the specific subject matter of the race. The Committee is composed of the Co-Chairs and the coordinators from each team. Each college, each Beer-Bike Co-Chair, and the GSA will receive one vote when a vote is necessary.

II. PARTICIPANTS

Each team will be composed of ten bike riders, ten chuggers, and two alternate riders and chuggers. Also included will be eight pit crew persons and up to three coordinators. Each team will also designate a bike captain and a chug captain from its roster.

A mechanic and photographer may be included among the participants at the discretion of the individual coordinators. The maximum number of people on each team is 35.

Each team must submit a complete team roster to the Beer-Bike Co-Chairs at least 7 days prior to the scheduled day of the race. No substitution of team members will be allowedduring the team race except in the event of injury. Faked injury will result in disqualification.

Exceptions to these regulations may be granted by the Co-Chairs or voted upon by the Beer-Bike Committee.

III. ELIGIBILITY FOR RACE PARTICIPANTS

Undergraduates currently pursuing a degree at Rice University may participate for their college only. College membership will be determined by the payment of college dues.

Degree Candidates (December graduates) are eligible to compete in the men's and women's races for their college.

Faculty and University Associates may participate only for the college with which they are associated. Up to two Associates may compete on both the chug, bike, and pit teams for each college.

Graduate students may participate only for the Graduate Student Association (GSA) team in the men's and women's races. This rule does not prohibit them from participating in the Alumni race for a college from which they graduated.

Anyone not meeting the above requirements must petition the Beer-Bike Co-Chairs to be allowed to participate. Any question regarding eligibility must be brought before the Beer Bike Co-chairs at least 7 days prior to the scheduled race day, or the matter will not be considered.

IV. RACE OFFICIALS

Rules Co-Chairs: The Rules Co- Chairs are the final authority on any decision of rules concerning the Beer-Bike races. The Beer-Bike Co-Chairs, appointed by the Rice Program Council, are the Rules Co-Chairs.
Track Coordinator : The Track Coordinator is responsible for any track maintenance necessary for bike practice and the races themselves. The Track Coordinator locates all necessary equipment for the running of the races, sets up and hands out that equipment the day of the races, and collects all equipment once the races are finished. He or she will also be responsible for the operation of the timing device at the finish line.
Chugging Expert: The Chugging Expert, usually the Judges Coordinator, sets the standard of acceptable chugging. He or she must meet with every chug judge at a practice to demonstrate that standard.
Head Judge : The Head Judge determines that the race is ready to begin, provides an appropriate countdown informing the teams that the race is about to start, and starts the race.
Chug Judges (9) - faculty/staff:
1. Determine and enforce penalties for wet chugs, chugs starting early, and riders leaving the pit early.
2. Enforce all penalties reported by the Tower Officials except for those penalties determined after the ninth rider has completed the course. (Any penalties incurred after the ninth rider will be added onto the final time for that team after the last team has finished the race.)
3. Determine that proper clothing as outlined in the restrictions is worn by each chugger.
6. Track Judges (4) - faculty/staff:
1. Determine penalties for riders crossing the inner white line and for riders weaving and thus obstructing the other riders.
2. Report these penalties to the Tower Officials via a set of colored flags. The proper flag (or flags) are raised as a signal and remain raised until the Tower Officials acknowledge the penalty with a flag (or flags) of the same color (or colors).
Start Line Judges (9) - faculty/staff: Indicate to the appropriate beer judge when a rider of the appropriate team first crosses the start line and whether the pushers have crossed the start line, thereby invoking a penalty.
Pit Interference Judge: Determine any interference penalties occurring in the restricted beer area, pit area, or pit lanes. Interference may occur in one of the following two ways:
1. Any team member or other support member not actively involved in the race is inside one of the restricted areas mentioned above or is creating a hazard.
2. Any set of pushers and riders obstructs the race or causes another rider to fall while being pushed.
In each case the Pit Interference Judge reports a penalty for the responsible team to the Tower Officials. No penalties are enforced by the Pit Interference Judge. The Pit Interference Judge also approves all crash bikes and places them around the track.
Tower Officials (3): The Tower Officials do not determine or enforce any penalties. Two Tower Officials are responsible for receiving and acknowledging any penalties reported by the Track Judges or the Pit Interference Judge and informing the appropriate Chug Judge via radio link. The third Tower Official monitors the Start Line Judges to acknowledge indication of pushers crossing the start line.
Finish Line Judges (9) - faculty/staff: The Finish Line Judge for each team will time the entire race for that team. This time will be used to check the official time kept at the finish line by the Track Keeper. Each timer indicates to the Beer Judge when that team's rider has crossed the finish line.

V. ELIGIBILITY FOR JUDGES

Each judgemust be a member of the Rice University faculty or staff or a Community Associate to a college and must have judged a previous race or fulfill the following qualifications where applicable:

Each Chug Judge must attend a beer practice and meet with the Chugging Expert who will describe the standard legal chug.
Each judge must meet with the Rules Co-Chairs in order that the rules and race procedures may be explained in detail.
Masters and Resident Associates cannot be Beer Judges for their own college.
Associates may not judge for the college with which they are associated.
No judge will be allowed to judge the races unless these specified criteria have been met.

VI. PIT AREA

The pit area is composed of the on-deck circles, beer tables, individual college areas, crosswalk, and the pit lanes. During the race all of the pit area is restricted to participants and race officials. The on-deck circles, beer tables, individual college areas, crosswalk, the pit lanes, and the race lane are all essential components of the entire pit area and are shown on the accompanying diagram. Each college must furnish a table for its pit area, and the table should arrive at the track by 10:00 a.m. the day of the race.

Only participants identified by a Beer-Bike shirt, judges, and other officials authorized by the Rules Co-Chairs will be allowed in the restricted pit areas.

VII. RACE PROCEDURES

Parades must be completed at least 1/2 hour before the start of the race so that alumni can begin to warm up. All of a college's team should be inside of the track before the start of the first race. However, only that part of the team competing in each race should be in the on deck or chugging areas. There will be time between races for team members to cross from the stand area to the track area.

No one may cross the race lane during the race. Anyone crossing the race lane during the course of the race, except in an emergency, who is identified as a member of one of the colleges will cause their college∂s team to be disqualified.

The race proceeds as follows: When the starting gun is fired, a chugger begins consuming12 ounces (24 ounces for the men's race) of beer or water from a chug can defined in VIII.1.c. The beer captain tells the pushers to push. The Start Line Judge raises a flag when the bike rider crosses the start line. The Chug Judge looks to the Pit Judge and determines if the bike rider left the pit area too early. The bike rider completes two laps (three for the men's race) of the course. The beer captain tells the next beer chugger to begin chugging unless any penalties were determined by the Chug Judge or reported to the Chug Judge and need to be enforced. This procedure continues until ten chuggers and ten riders have finished. When the 10th rider has crossed the finish line, the race is finished for that team. The Final Rider must finish the race in the Race Lane.

In the event of any type of false start or misfire of the starting gun (to be determined at that time by the Rules Co-Chairs), the race will be promptly stopped and not restarted before the passing of at least ten minutes.

Once the last rider has finished the race any penalties not yet enforced are added to the times for the respective teams to obtain the official times for each team. The team having the lowest official time, barring any disqualification, will be the winner of the race.

In the event of an accident, a rider may procure a crash bike from the side of the loop if the rider determines that her or his bike is no longer "ride-able". If the rider is unable to complete his leg after a crash, the team should send an alternate rider. If the rider chooses to complete the lap on a crash bike, he or she must complete his entire leg, though he or she may exchange the crash bike for another if he stops in her or his team's pit area.

VIII. RACE REGULATIONS

Chugging Restrictions:
1. Chuggers should wear no more than one shirt above the waist. Bulky or wet clothing articles designed to absorb beer/water or prevent spilled beer/water from being seen may not be worn. The Chug Judge's decision in these matters is final.
2. Chuggers of legal drinking age may chug beer or water, while chuggers who are underage must chug non-alcoholic beer or water. The legal drinking age in Texas is 2
3. All chug cans must consist of at least one of the following requisites:
  1. All chug cans must be commercially available as beverage cans. All alumni and women's cans must hold at least 12 ounces as purchased. All men's cans must hold at least 24 ounces as purchased or be composed of two cans holding 12 as purchased. The can must serve as the principal container for the beer/water. Over 50% of the original container must remain intact. The containing portion of the can must retain original shape and capacity. The can must be filled to the top of the original container.
  2. If the can is not commercially available, it must be constructed of a rigid material, be cylindrical, and have dimensions similar to that of a commercially available beverage can (for reference -- Foster's: 5 15/16 in. long, 3 1/4 in. diameter;standard 12 oz.: 4 9/16 in. long, 2 9/16 in. diameter). The container must have a minimum volume of 12 fluid ounces for the alumni and women and 24 fluidounces for the men, and it must contain at least that volume of liquid for chugging purposes.
4. All cans are subject to inspection at any time on or before the exact time of the appropriate race.
5. No "beerbongs." Mouthpieces are permissible, but they cannot extend into the throat or beyond.
6. Biking Restrictions:
  1. Protective bicycling head gear must be worn by all riders when they are riding.
  2. No wheels of solid construction. Wheels must be spoked, 16 spokes minimum. The wheels may be of different diameters, between 700 millimeters maximum and 550millimeters minimum.
  3. Any device such as a protective screen, fuselage, or other addition to the bicycle for the purpose of decreasing forward air resistance or to artificially increase acceleration or propulsion is prohibited.
  4. Handlebars of design referred to as "triathlete bars" or "aero-bars" are not allowed. No additional clip-on bars are allowed. Bars must be of a conventional shape (allowing Scott Drop-InUs) or "bullhorn" shape. No handlebars allowing support of any part of the arm or forearm (except the hands) are allowed.
  5. All riders must wear numbers indicating the participation order for that team (1for the first rider and 10 for the last rider).
7. Crash Bikes:
  1. Each college will appropriate one crash bike to be placed on the inside of the course as a substitute bicycle for any rider from any team in case of an accident during the race. This bike must be 23" or smaller. It must be able to be ridden to and from the track. Each crash bike must be approved by the Pit Interference Judge who will place the bikes around the track. If this bicycle is harmed in any way, the team whose rider used it will make any necessary repairs later. Any bicycle so used must be replaced by this team within two laps after the bicycle has entered the pit.
  2. A rider may change to a crash bike at any time, provided that he or she stays on the course and procures the bicycle herself or himself.
  3. A second party may help the rider onto the crash bike, but may not bring it to the rider.
  4. A rider may return to the pit on foot to obtain a bike.
  5. A rider may finish a lap on foot provided the rider stays on the course.
  6. A team must file a complaint with the Beer-Bike Co-Chairs if it feels that a crash was illegitimate or "faked" to get a fresh rider out. This will be handled as in Article X.
8. Procedural Regulations:
  1. The course, Hackerman Field, consists of the official circuit laid out on the west stadium parking lot. The length of the course is approximately 0.33miles.
  2. No participant will compete twice in either chugging or riding but may chug and then ride or vice-versa. Teams with special problems may petition the Beer-Bike Committee for an exemption from this restriction.
  3. The race will consist of 10 2-lap "legs" for alumni and women and 10 3-lap "legs" for men. Only one rider can complete each leg. If a crash should occur, a rider may be sent out immediately and must complete only the number of laps notyet completed by the crashed rider.
  4. Men may only compete on the men's teams and women may only compete on the women's teams.
  5. All race participants (including alumni) must wear attire that distinctly reveals the team for which they are competing.
  6. No chugger, rider, or member of a pit crew may commit any act that could be deemed grossly unfair or unsportsmanlike as determined by a majority decision of the Chug Judges together with the Rules Co-Chairs.

IX. PENALTIES

The following will result in five second penalties:

Any chugger beginning to chug too early as determined by the Chug Judge.
Any intentional or excessive spillage by a chugger as determined by the Chug Judge.
Any chug not completed by pulling the can in front of the body or directly over the head(in view of the judge).
Any rider crossing the start line before the respective chugger has finished as determined by the Chug Judge.
Any crew pit persons who cross the start line when aiding a rider to start her or his leg of the race (stepping on the line is permissible).
Excessive weaving which obstructs other riders and/or riders crossing the inner line as determined by the track judges.
Interference of one team with another as determined by the Pit Interference Judge.

Penalties will be administered in the following manner:

The first beer chugger to compete after the penalty is determined will not be allowed to begin chugging until five seconds times the number of penalties after the rider has entered the pit area as counted by the Beer Judge's stop watch.
Any penalty involving the last drinker or rider for a given team will result in five seconds being added to their time.
A $10 fine will be assessed for each unauthorized person in the pit area during each race. See Article II. PARTICIPANTS for a list of participants allowed in the pit area.

X. DISQUALIFICATION

Any violation of the Race Regulations listed in Article VIII by any team will result in a penalty (see Article IX) or the disqualification of that team. Any disqualifications will be announced after the race is over.

Any individual that defaces, steals, or destroys a piece of another team's essential race equipment (i.e. bikes, chug cans, etc.) will be automatically disqualified. The responsible party will also be subject to any measures deemed appropriate by the Beer Bike Co-chairs. If another college jacks something from a college such that it results in permanent damage or a financial burden on the jacked college, then the responsible party will be referred to the Beer Bike Co-chairs and/or University Court and dealt with appropriately.

If a team wishes to contest their disqualification or petition for the disqualification of another team, the team must file a verbal complaint with the Beer-Bike Co-Chairs within an hour after the finish of the race in question. Written petitions must be submitted to the Beer-Bike Co-Chairs before 5:00 p.m. the day after the event.

XI. LANE ASSIGNMENTS

Lanes for the individual teams are listed below with the first lane being closest to the track. The lane assignments rotate each year with the team in the last lane getting lane one, the other teams subsequently moving in one lane. The lane assignments for 2001 are:

Sid Richardson
Hanszen
Baker
Wiess
Jones
Will Rice
GSA
Lovett
Brown

XII. SAFETY ONTRACK DURING PRACTICES

The College Beer-Bike Coordinators and Bike and Chug Captains are responsible for letting all of the riders know about the track rules.

Ride in a counter-clockwise direction.
Slow riders stay at least 5 feet outside of track line.
Faster riders pass between track line and slower riders and inside track line when necessary.
Look over your shoulders to check traffic before moving towards inside of track, especially when nearing entrance to pit area.
No Walkman radios are allowed to be worn while riding on or near the track.

XIII. PARADE RULES

The following rules are general guidelines and will be further defined by the Parade Coordinators.

The parade will be held the same day of Beer-Bike, except in the event of rain, and must be completed at least a half-hour before the start of the first race. Each college shall be allowed one covered tractor towing a single flatbed vehicle of no more than 18 feet long. A covered tractor shall be defined as a tractor that has a glass encasement for the driver and the purpose of this is to ensure driver safety during the water balloon fight. In addition, orange fencing shall be installed between the end of the tractor and the beginning of the flatbed to limit the risk of people running between the two vehicles. Each college shall also be allowed one decorative vehicle. A decorative vehicle may not carry water balloons and must be a car, light truck or van. All decorative vehicles MUST be approved by a vote of the Beer Bike Committee prior to the parade. Only a driver and a single passenger are allowed to be on or inside the decorative vehicle. The parade line-up will be proposed by the parade coordinators and modified by the colleges coordinators where agreements can be reached.

Parade rules are punishable by fines and/or referral to University Court (to be determined in advance by the Beer-Bike Co-Chairs and Parade Coordinators) And include but are not restricted to the following :

No alcohol is EVER permitted on any parade vehicle or on the parade route.
Fights are not allowed and are punishable by severe fine as well as Campus Police and potentially University Court intervention. Security personnel at the parade should try to prevent serious fights and are authorized and encouraged to ask for Campus Police assistance whenever necessary.
Only balloons filled with water are allowed during the parade, and such balloons must be thrown by hand, never by a slingshot or similar device including lacrosse sticks.
Water balloons should never be thrown at Beer-Bike personnel (including the Parade Coordinators, Beer-Bike Co-Chairs, and Security Staff), Campus Police, or Emergency Medical Staff.
Parade vehicles MUST be loaded with people AFTER lining up on the Inner Loop, with NO EXCEPTION. No more than ten people may be on the flatbed during the course of the race. The names of these people must be submitted to the Beer Bike co-Chairs seven (7) days before the parade.)
Teams are not allowed to in any way damage other teams' parade vehicles or to attempt to steal water balloons not their own.

Each college coordinator is responsible for organizing a group of six to ten (6-10) people to help enforce the parade rules during the parade. This college security committee is asked to attend a brief informational meeting with the Parade Coordinators and Beer-Bike Co-Chairs at least one week prior to the event to ensure that all rules and procedures are made clear and that all persons are aware of the potential fines. Furthermore, a strategy to address problems as they occur at the event must be discussed in advance.

THE RACE