Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Cycling and Shooting?

Has anyone ever heard of a cycling event like a biathalon, where you ride (instead of skiing), and then have to shoot a target, and then ride some more? You have to ride penalty laps for missing a target.

It seems like someone, somewhere, must have organized an event like this.

If not, I might have to.

I have never heard of such an event, allthough i've always fantasized about such an event involving paint ball guns unstead of the air rifles that would be presumably used to target shoot.

My brother and I have talked about staging our bikes at his sportsmans club, kayaking a few miles to the club, (on a river) shooting then riding.

Has anyone ever heard of a cycling event like a biathalon, where you ride (instead of skiing), and then have to shoot a target, and then ride some more? You have to ride penalty laps for missing a target.

It seems like someone, somewhere, must have organized an event like this.

If not, I might have to.


If the target silhouette is a motormouth broad yapping on her cellphone while driving, sign me up!

a cyclo biatholon would be very epensive. First of all you won't be using an air rifle outside. Just to suseptable to wind. Most likely the people who are serious will be using an Aunsuntz (sp) .22 LR, pretty much the gold standard in competition rifles. That will set you back about $6000. Add a bike on top of that lets say $3000-4000. You are going to have to have many events with prize money to make that up pushing the $10,000 mark that would make this an elitist sport. The other consideration is that you would have to be in prime shape. You have to get your heart rate down below 60% before you take that first shot. Anything higher and you will consistently miss.

Biatheletes wear special clothing for cross country skiing that includes some sort of stiffining on their off hand to help with shooting. You couldn't ride like that very easily.

Sounds great. Shooting is one of my hobbies. So is cross country skiing and biking. I would be in heaven, but I don't think a bikeiathalon is in the cards.

long distance shooting forum anyone?
wtf?

...You are going to have to have many events with prize money to make that up pushing the $10,000 mark that would make this an elitist sport.

And cycling isn't already elitist? I don't know anything about prize monies and all that, but if you have a Ruger 10/22 ($400), or maybe a 77/22 ($700), you have a plinker that can be used nicely out to 50yds or so. And if you drop it while you're cycling, no biggie.

It seems to me that most good outdoor shooting ranges are located in semi-rural areas anyway, and so you have some nice roads to ride by default. So you set up a loop around the range, and you stop to shoot. It doesn't have to be elitist at all, unless it becomes highly commercialized.

Now if I could only find a few cyclists that also shoot...

And cycling isn't already elitist? I don't know anything about prize monies and all that, but if you have a Ruger 10/22 ($400), or maybe a 77/22 ($700), you have a plinker that can be used nicely out to 50yds or so. And if you drop it while you're cycling, no biggie.

It seems to me that most good outdoor shooting ranges are located in semi-rural areas anyway, and so you have some nice roads to ride by default. So you set up a loop around the range, and you stop to shoot. It doesn't have to be elitist at all, unless it becomes highly commercialized.

Now if I could only find a few cyclists that also shoot...
Funny you shoud mention that, my other sport is combat shooting, with pistol, as well as Three gun( Pistol, Carbine, Shotgun). I also shoot for distance with big bore rifle (.308 cal and .50 Beowulf) at a KD range (1000 meter).

Mountain bikes w/AK's targeting Islamic extremist watermelons...........

+1 to mountain bikes, large bores, and reactive targets in the forest.

If nothing else I'd love to see the cager that messes with a bunch of cyclists that each have a rifle slung across their back :D

wait a few years, i'm working on it...

According the the USBA ( http://www.usbiathlon.org/ ) there are already running and mountain bike biathlons in the summer for training purposes. No road bike races though. For some reason, precision shooting and road biking seem like more of a marriage to me than shooting and mountain biking does.

Road biking and shooting sounds like a marriage to you? Dude, you must have seriously ticked your wife off after teaching her how to shoot!http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/dirtbox/pics/muttley.gif

Kidding of course!

As mentioned above, MTB biathlons have existed for well over ten years. Topeak is betting on future popularity with their new line of minipumps. The flash-supressor also doubles as a tyre-lever. A spare tube and patchkit is stowed in the buttstock.
http://www.neebu.net/%7Ekhuon/albums/visual_tao_of_cycling/gunpump.sized.jpg
They also say that these will become quite popular with the bike commuting crowd. A carbon fibre version is expected next year for the roadies.

Oh god, I've thought of this years ago but recently the thought came back to me. Dood.. To the parent of the thread, you'd be on MY TEAM. :D

My thought was with paintball guns or airguns myself. Having done some researching into airguns recently and reading up the past posts above some airguns do have some very flat trajectory with the smaller calibers. FYI, I'm not talking that old Daisy Red Ryder here as everyone thinks of when I mention airguns. I'm talking airguns that can shoot 1000-1600 FPS in .177/4.5mm, .22/5.5mm, or heck big bore it with .308/7.62mm and higher cal airguns.

Tho, I have been wondering how one mounts a airgun to the bike for moving shooting. I come from Canada so airguns might not fly over here. Paintball guns I think you can work with as they have a shorter range then airguns.

Sign me up! :)

Zero

Check out the "Field Target" link from this page. Could adapt to some type of bike thing http://www.airguns.net/

I love live rounds myself (another drain on my wallet) but have a couple of spring/air type of pellet rifles

Tho, I have been wondering how one mounts a airgun to the bike for moving shooting.

That problem was solved way back in the early days of the bicycle...

http://www.pedalinghistory.com/Images/PHMil01.jpg

Hey, me too! I want to play. This sister shoots trap and skeet. I own bird hunting dawgs too. I just saw a video for the Beretta Xtrema2. I so want one of those!

Where do we sign up and when's our first competition?

Jeni

I did the paintball thing too.



Oh god, I've thought of this years ago but recently the thought came back to me. Dood.. To the parent of the thread, you'd be on MY TEAM. :D

My thought was with paintball guns or airguns myself. Having done some researching into airguns recently and reading up the past posts above some airguns do have some very flat trajectory with the smaller calibers. FYI, I'm not talking that old Daisy Red Ryder here as everyone thinks of when I mention airguns. I'm talking airguns that can shoot 1000-1600 FPS in .177/4.5mm, .22/5.5mm, or heck big bore it with .308/7.62mm and higher cal airguns.

Zero

That problem was solved way back in the early days of the bicycle...

http://www.pedalinghistory.com/Images/PHMil01.jpg


What the.. Make and model please! :) I heart that bike setup.


Zero

.... First of all you won't be using an air rifle outside. Just to suseptable to wind. Most likely the people who are serious will be using an Aunsuntz (sp) .22 LR, pretty much the gold standard in competition rifles. That will set you back about $6000....

Dunno about that. We regularly hold outdoor airgun silhouette matches at our club. Lots of fun. Also, while a full-blown olympic-grade biathalon Anshutz might be uber-expensive, I have a nice .22RF Anshutz Silhouette Model 67 that I picked up used at a gun show for $500. I use it to compete out to 100 meters with great results.

But I have a pair of (much) lesser Remington target rifles (541X and 513T) that are tack driivers, as well. I use them for 3 and 4 position competition.

You know, something about bike people in lycra/spandex and guns is mildly arousing. *grin*

Anyways a follow up on the higher calber airguns I mentioned before. As most people when they think of airguns they think of the Daisy Red Ryder BB plink guns that only shoot around 200 FPS and won't shoot through a watermelon at 10 meters.

I'm not a hunter myself but I've seen many airgun sites of the big bore airguns take out 200lb thick skin deer, wild Russian boar, Elk (I think or was it a mountian ram? It had curling horns.), some large brown animal which I think was buffalo or bison if they still exsit, and various other small game. I've only done a little backyard pest control in my garden and that's all I've done. Any kills are returned to the local revine for the "circle" of life to feed the other animals around.

http://pyramidair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=307 - .355/9mm 6-shot, 1000 FPS
http://pyramidair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=516 - .45
http://pyramidair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=772 - .50
http://www.compasseco.com/index.php?action=item&id=953&prevaction=category&previd=1&prevstart=0 - .22 pellet and .22 shotgun combo gun.

Gamo also makes a model of airgun that sounds off at 1600 FPS now.


Anyways if there is something being planned on already in the works let us know. I'm interested in a bikeathon shooting match.


Zero

What the.. Make and model please! :) I heart that bike setup.

1890s military bicycle made by the Pope Bicycle Company and featuring a Colt model 1895 machinegun.

Oddly enough my Great Grandfather patented the bicycle mounted machine gun in the late 1800's.

I do not want to carry a heavy rifle on my bike (Like an M1 Garand). Perhaps we could use only pistolos?
A titanium revolver to match my litespeed perhaps?

OTH, mounting a machine gun would be LOADS of fun! :)

machinegunners need a Counterpoint tandem. It is the only way the gunner can use both hands to fire forward and not hit the captain.

What the.. Make and model please! :) I heart that bike setup.


Zero
Looks like the bikes the Germans used in Normandy for their "Schnell Battalions" circ. 1944

a cyclo biatholon would be very epensive. First of all you won't be using an air rifle outside. Just to suseptable to wind. Most likely the people who are serious will be using an Aunsuntz (sp) .22 LR, pretty much the gold standard in competition rifles. That will set you back about $6000. Add a bike on top of that lets say $3000-4000. You are going to have to have many events with prize money to make that up pushing the $10,000 mark that would make this an elitist sport. The other consideration is that you would have to be in prime shape. You have to get your heart rate down below 60% before you take that first shot. Anything higher and you will consistently miss.

Biatheletes wear special clothing for cross country skiing that includes some sort of stiffining on their off hand to help with shooting. You couldn't ride like that very easily.

Sounds great. Shooting is one of my hobbies. So is cross country skiing and biking. I would be in heaven, but I don't think a bikeiathalon is in the cards.

ROFLMAO... Do you buy gold plated rifles or something?!

.22 Anschutz Match 54 Rifle. I bought it for £60 (that would be around $120 in yankeedoodles), rifles go for the £400 - £800 mark usually, and even if you want the best of the best, involving Gemini stocks (that a friend of mine has, so nice to shoot with!!!) your looking at £1300 - £1500 ($2600 to $3000) tops.. not £3000 ($6000) like your estimate.

I currently shoot competitively in 25/50/100 yd and mtr ranges. And guess what... the 50's and the 100yds... they are done outdoors ;) So "affected by wind" yes they are, but my god man... thats what wind flags are for.

"stiffening on their off hand" That would be a shooting glove. You can get rather flexible canvas and lycra/elastic gloves now which I use for prone shooting, that would be very easy to ride a bike with, and perfectly fine for shooting in competitions. I've seen friends get 100's with the same equipment on all of the aforemention ranges. Only difference would be the cycling beforehand.

"Heart rate down below 60%" If I had a hammer I'd use it to knock some sense into you, where are you coming up with this bollocks. A person shooting a rifle from a perfect position will indeed have to worry about their pulse, that would be after their breathing however, and the wind. Biathletes shoot falling plate, a pulse related movement at 100yds or 50yds does not equate to a miss on falling plate!

The most annoying thing possibly would be the sling, and thats sorted using the same tech that biathletes currently use.

Prize money... that comes from the sources that other competitions get their prize money from.

1.) Entry fees
2.) Sponsors
3.) Tickets for the event

I hadn't checked this thread in a while. Nine-millimeter air guns? Machine gun mounts? Shooting while biking? You guys are nuts.

No, I was proposing shooting at falling plates, or maybe paper targets, with a 22LR target rifle, and then biking a quick loop, and then shooting again. Wash, rinse, repeat five times. Using the same rules the US Biathlon Association does, only modifying them as-needed for bicycles.

It would be very cool to have a sprint loop, like under 6 miles, with a quarter-mile penalty loop for missing a shot.

As for carrying the rifle while on the bike? I think the strap system used in biathlon would work just fine. You may want to wear it looser so you can get down on the aero bars.

It'll be funny to see what kinds of things people come up with to make their rifles more "aero" while riding.

For those with the itch for automatics. :)

http://pyramidair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=362

1-shot, 3-burst, and 6-burst shot all running off your standard 12gram co2. I've held and heard one of these guns go off at a show before. They do announce thier presence when in automatic mode. Black models are avalible for those that don't want a sun-tan. :o :D Made by the same company that makes the real Russian AK-47 in Russia. Can you say "schwheet"? :)

I think paintball and airguns would be ok for the idea. Probably get Crosman to sponsor and get some rifles or ammo packs as prizes or some paintball company thinking this is a wild idea (yah some paintballer people are pretty wild out there) and giving paintball gun and ammo packs for prizes. *shrugs* Just an idea.



Zero

lol I think paintball and airguns are okay if your just going to turn it into a "fun activity" sport, but if you want proper representation at sports events, such as commonwealth, or Olympic recognition, your going to have to make it a more serious sport than that.

22LR is the way to go, the gear already exists for it, and it'd make a real nice change to see it in something other than the winter olympics. :)

25 mile TT with targets to shoot every 5 miles sounds a nice setup.

As for carrying the rifle while on the bike? I think the strap system used in biathlon would work just fine. You may want to wear it looser so you can get down on the aero bars.


Currenlty, I use an ATV rifle rack, mounted on top of my mtb handlebars. I used to have a scabbard slung from the top of the seat tube angling down towards the forks, but it rubbed the inside of my leg a bit.

'sides, the handlebar mount is a lot handier. You just straddle the top tube, lift the rifle from the cradle, and you're good to engage..... :D

Currenlty, I use an ATV rifle rack, mounted on top of my mtb handlebars. I used to have a scabbard slung from the top of the seat tube angling down towards the forks, but it rubbed the inside of my leg a bit.

'sides, the handlebar mount is a lot handier. You just straddle the top tube, lift the rifle from the cradle, and you're good to engage..... :D


Bigbossman,

Do you have a photo of your setup? And/or also post the URL of the model/make of your ATV rifle rack. I am thinking of adding something like that to my bike form when I want to go out in the woods tho my thinking is to have some gun mount along the rear rack.


Zero_Enigma

bigbossman -- danville to chabot? 50yd with a 22lr?

I'm down for long-barreled large bore handguns and mountain biking, maybe something with an alleycat race/urban assault edge to it?


And Tannerite targets attached to iron silhouettes of H2's.

Just a thought...

how bout a bi-brevet? setup target courses at the control points so you don't cruise public roads with rifles strapped to your back. the sag vehicle takes your rifle to the next control point. or have a three gun, with pistol, rfile and shotgun control points. where can I get some camo lycra?

http://www.hossmtb.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=7

sk and ye shall recieve.....not tights, baggies instead! Sorry!http://foros.hqmm.cl/images/smili/smilie_66.gifhttp://img333.imageshack.us/img333/9771/badass7gb.gifhttp://www.smiley-channel.de/grafiken/smiley/gewalt/smiley-channel.de_gewalt061.gif

Bigbossman,

Do you have a photo of your setup? And/or also post the URL of the model/make of your ATV rifle rack. I am thinking of adding something like that to my bike form when I want to go out in the woods tho my thinking is to have some gun mount along the rear rack.


Zero_Enigma

Yeah - here you go. I call it my RAV - Rabbit Assault Vehicle. I also use it once in a while down at Ft Hunter Liggett for pig hunting. Apologies in advance to the squeamish for the dead bunnies in the photo, but they taste good...... :D

I bought the rack at Bass Pro in Oklahoma City about 2 years ago. You just need one that has a handlebar mount, and you're all set. Here's a link to something similar (http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=26677&hvarDept=400&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=9&hvarSubCode=4&hvarTarget=browse)


http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5041/rabbits065yv0.jpg

bigbossman -- danville to chabot? 50yd with a 22lr?

Riding up Redwood Road would really elevate the heart rate!! That aside, 50yds with a .22 would be child's play.....:D

Yeah - here you go. I call it my RAV - Rabbit Assault Vehicle. I also use it once in a while down at Ft Hunter Liggett for pig hunting. Apologies in advance to the squeamish for the dead bunnies in the photo, but they taste good...... :D


Have you sent that pic to the Gary Fisher people? They put some pretty unusual stuff in their catalog every year.

Yeah - here you go. I call it my RAV - Rabbit Assault Vehicle. I also use it once in a while down at Ft Hunter Liggett for pig hunting. Apologies in advance to the squeamish for the dead bunnies in the photo, but they taste good...... :D

I bought the rack at Bass Pro in Oklahoma City about 2 years ago. You just need one that has a handlebar mount, and you're all set. Here's a link to something similar (http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=26677&hvarDept=400&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=9&hvarSubCode=4&hvarTarget=browse)


http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5041/rabbits065yv0.jpg


Bossman,

Holy crap. That's one hardcore setup. If the aliens were invading you'd be on MY team. Damn.. ... damn again that is one hell of a setup. :D :beer:

For anyone looking for camo jerseys.

http://www.bikeworld.com/graphics/small/3/9/3928.jpg if you're in the rocky mountians I would think this would blend out well.

Can find it here but they have the short sleeve woodland camo jersey I wanted. My direct link does not work so it may have been relinked elsewhere. If someone finds it would you be so kind as to link it back for me? I think it was something like $25 for that jersey and it looked good. Would be a good under shirt under a suit so after a day in the office it's time to take the collar and suit off to reveal the camo in you. :D http://www.ecyclingstore.com/index.php

Any more camo bike outfits out there? I'm sure there are a lot of camo fans out there. Looking for a pair of BDU's but in shorts form built for biking to keep cool but has belt loops and durable as I like to keep my belt line kit on there or switch to a security double belt over lay setup for quick belt on/off mounting. Clean appearence would help. Basically looking for this but built more for cooling for a bike person.

This is the format of pant I'm looking for. http://tinyurl.com/evrwr Prefer in order black, OD green, or woodland camo.


Thanks in advance.


Zero_Enigma

Bossman,

Holy crap. That's one hardcore setup. If the aliens were invading you'd be on MY team. Damn.. ... damn again that is one hell of a setup. :D :beer:

You like that, eh? Here's my other one current one (the Gary Fisher "Y"), as well as the original version 1.0 (red Novara) and version 2.0 (grey Pugeot) RAVS. The dual suspension one is great for really crappy terrain. The Novara was solid but too heavy, the Peugeot was much better - but both were too small. The Gary Fishers are "just right".

Current:
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7490/rabbits0701051small11eo7.jpg

Version 1.0 - the first one:
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/6460/p8080001ul6.jpg

Version 2.0 - the second one:
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/4194/rabbithunt1copyxb7.jpg

lol I think paintball and airguns are okay if your just going to turn it into a "fun activity" sport, but if you want proper representation at sports events, such as commonwealth, or Olympic recognition, your going to have to make it a more serious sport than that.


Why do you thinki there is no Olympic recognition in airguns? There are Olympic events with air rifles (10 mts for example). Of course they use world-class airguns, but there are some really nice for say 200USD-600USD, that would fit perfectly with amateur events.

Why not a bicycling, archery competition?

Why not a bicycling, archery competition?

As a gun nut and an archer, my theory is racing a bicycle with a bow and arrows on your back would be at least awkward and probably dangerous.

Rabbits, yum. Remember now P.E.T.A. means People Eating Tasty Animals.

I vote for a special category for tandems. But then I have a tandem wher the gunner can ride in front and has a full 180 degree range to fire in.

Most likely the people who are serious will be using an Aunsuntz (sp) .22 LR, pretty much the gold standard in competition rifles. That will set you back about $6000.
Came upon this thread by accident... this is way off. A serviceable .22 rifle doesn't cost nearly that much, be it Anscütz (favourite of biathlonists), Walther, Feinwerkbau, whatever. You could get one of the old, simpler rifles for like $500 or a flashy one for $2000. Top-of-the range .22 rifles for regular shooting events that I compete with cost something like $2000-3000.

For a fun event like the OP had in mind, a couple of airguns would be just fine. Use an empty barn as your shooting range and you're done. It will block out the wind and provide safety. Cheap, simple, fun. I imagine participants would need to get a license to shoot with .22 live rounds anyway.

Came upon this thread by accident... this is way off. A serviceable .22 rifle doesn't cost nearly that much, be it Anscütz (favourite of biathlonists), Walther, Feinwerkbau, whatever. You could get one of the old, simpler rifles for like $500 or a flashy one for $2000. Top-of-the range .22 rifles for regular shooting events that I compete with cost something like $2000-3000.

For a fun event like the OP had in mind, a couple of airguns would be just fine. Use an empty barn as your shooting range and you're done. It will block out the wind and provide safety. Cheap, simple, fun. I imagine participants would need to get a license to shoot with .22 live rounds anyway.
Not most places in the US for long arms, only pistol. For rifle there is no licensing requirement, at least not here in Indiana, nor is there one for a shotgun. Only pistol and you would need to get a hunting/target permit to go on a closed range with pistol.

On the topic, some fairly stringent safety regs would have to be observed for an event with .22 cal due to the extremely long downrange safety problems and have good earthen backdrop berms behind the targets. I think though, that an event like this could be extremely fum and challenging!:D

CZ makes a really nice .22 or a .17 Hornady that would be fantastic for this type of event for less than $200.00!

Why not a bicycling, archery competition?
I presume you mean a crossbow?

It could be interesting though, even with Long or recurve bow. Have a requirement to come to a full stop and release the arrow wnd resling without dismounting! It would certainly require some good bike handling skills for example, to negotiate an offroad course with a 6' English Longbow and quiver of Longbow arrows!

Perhaps something like the Mongol cavalry bow?:D