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The May 'apprentice' V.I.N.C.E. is 5 days to introduce adventure riders to:

a) Trail-riding in Northern Spain

b) Navigating the above by map and compass

c) Basic trail-riding admin-in-the-field

d) The actual orienteering event that is the V.I.N.C.E.

YOUR WEEK WILL BE:

Mon -  slow-time skill-building exercises

Tues - more skill-building

Weds - Either: You start the event proper, 'guided', with your instructors still handy

Or: You start the event proper, flying 'solo' , WITH your team-mates but without your instructors

Thurs - Day 2 of the event proper, hopefully flying 'solo'

Fri - Day 2 of the event proper, hopefully flying 'solo'

The tuition covers riding skill AND map skill, but can easily be adjusted so that it is only ONE of these if the student so chooses. Also, there will be a classroom day of map tuition in the spring, in the UK, incl in the price.

In other words, if you are:

A novice trail-rider but an expert map-reader, this is the week for you.

or

A novice map-reader but an expert trail-rider, this is the week for you too!

or

A novice map-reader and a novice trail-rider, this is DEFINITELY the week for you!

And finally, if you are a competent trail-rider AND map-reader but just fancy doing the V.I.N.C.E. in May rather than September, then come along, but not until Tuesday night. You will pay £350 rather than £600.

26 to 31 May 2025 – remember, you must ‘report’ by 1900hrs on the 25th May

NOTE: this is 2 days of pure training followed by a 3-day V.I.N.C.E.

Quintanar de la Sierra, Burgos, Spain

Link to Google maps

2, 3 or 4 riders only – no solo.

EITHER: £680 per rider – 5 days

This includes: Full day of classroom tuition in UK 23rd March (Windsor), two/three days of tuition (Mon & Tues), entry to The V.I.N.C.E (Weds/Thurs/Fri), one map, set of notes and checkpoint booklet per team. Does not include food and accommodation.

OR: £350 per rider – 3 days – V.I.N.C.E event only ie Wed/Thurs/Fri, no tuition

This includes: entry to the V.I.N.C.E, one map, set of notes and checkpoint booklet per team. Does not include food and accommodation.

NB, when you attend the day of classroom tuition, you are given a £50 refund. Yes, you get PAID to learn!

a) You CAN cancel at anytime (before 26 Mar 2024) and get a full refund less £50 per rider. If you cancel after 26 Mar 24 you will not get any refund.

If I, Austin VINCE, cancel the event you get a full refund.

b) If a statutory authority (Govt, National Park etc)  makes the event impossible then it will be POSTPONED to a sensible date and this will be announced.

c) Get holiday insurance that covers you cancelling after 26th Mar 24.

Hostal Domingo   our delightful landlady, Marivi Domingo awaits!

44 Euros pppn half-board (ie. Supper, Bed, Breakfast). This price is insane!

Here’s how it works at the V.I.N.C.E: Austin has block-booked the entire hotel. We encourage everyone to stay there. However, if you prefer to go elsewhere you will have to organise this yourself. Your entry fee does NOT include your accommodation, you pay for that yourself when you are in Spain. All we do is ensure that we’ve got the place booked for the V.I.N.C.E. party.

There are 80 bed-spaces in the building. The room configuration is all multiple-occupancy. Some of the rooms have 4 or 5 beds. You are NOT even guaranteed a twin room with only your team-mate. You cannot get a single room in the Domingo. If you crave a single room, you need to find another hotel and book in there, yourself.

Do NOT attempt to book your own room at the hotel via booking.com or similar

Do NOT contact the hotel. Liaise directly with Austin.

We encourage everyone to stay in the hotel.

However,  but there is a campsite (Camping Arlanza) on the edge of Quintanar de la Sierra. We have no association or arrangement with this campsite and we have never used it or stayed there.

You need to book in with the campsite yourself,  but do not say you are taking part in an event:  Camping Arlanza

The 2024 V.I.N.C.E. covers four maps. They are the 1:50000 ICGN Spanish maps. Unlike in 2023 and 2022 you WILL be sent these 4 paper maps by Austin with your CPB and other guff.

You will be sent:

Sheet 277 Covarrubias

Sheet 278 Canales de la Sierra

Sheet 315 Huerta del Rey

Sheet 316 Quintanar de la Sierra

If you are impatient, buy more copies here, direct from Madrid at 4 euros a pop:

Link to online map store

There is one set of guff (maps, notes, booklet etc) issued per team, NOT per person. If you are a ‘lone rider’ and Austin creates an arranged marriage, there will be one set of guff BETWEEN YOU.

Low key and lo-fi. If you want to pop wheelies and show off your super noisy after-market exhaust then do NOT attend the V.I.N.C.E.

New in 2024 will be a noise test on your exhaust pipe. If it fails, you cannot use that bike in the event. Tech details coming soon.

If you are selfish and unpleasant, do NOT enter the V.I.N.C.E. If you are uncertain as to whether you are unpleasant, do NOT enter the V.I.N.C.E.

Motocross spaceman clothes are forbidden. Plain, muted colours only. Wear armour yes, but underneath your crocheted poncho.

The tuition will be in groups of no more than 6 people. The instructors are all seasoned riders who have many years of experience of the event, trail-riding and map-reading. However, this is a DIY vibe.  Your instructors may NOT be people who teach trail-riding 5 days a week as their main occupation.

It is NOT a university, an ‘academy’ or an institute. If you think you are getting the former, you will be disappointed. The instructors are hand-picked by Austin & Dai and they want you to blossom and build skill so that you can come back, year on year and enjoy the event in your own right.

This is not a competition. There is no prize save the joy of taking part.  If you are a super-competitive alpha-male then do an enduro, The V.I.N.C.E. is not for you. If you are found speeding (more than 20mph) around the trails, you will be banned from all future events. Don’t spit your dummy out when this happens, I told you this is NOT a rally, it’s a navigation challenge.

In 2024 there will be only one class in the V.I.N.C.E.  Map only.

Paper map only, no roadbooks, zero electronics, smartphone in a sealed bag – THIS is what we are all about…

The trophy awarded at the event is for this. The V.I.N.C.E. is a map-reading challenge, you can only be in the spirit of the event by spending three days actually map-reading. Expanded and enlarged maps are fine. Maps annotated with notes relating to Austin’s ‘notes’ are fine. Maps that are printed out then stuck together to make a rolling roadbook map are fine. Laminated map booklets are fine. Maps augmented by screenshots of Google earth are NOT allowed. You can use the internet to assist your planning but you cannot print it out and take it with you. Only the map and notes, as issued, can be used on the actual event. No roadbooks are allowed.

What is a ‘roadbook’?

In Austin’s opinion, a roadbook is any mechanism that reduces navigation to simply following a list of instructions that may or may not be connected to the bike’s odometer and trip meter. These instructions include:

a) ‘Tulip’ style pictograms as used in rallies

b) Lists of written instructions (turn left at river, go 1.2km, turn right onto trail, at abandoned farm take left fork, go 0.8km, take left fork etc)

There isn’t any. Ensure you have your own and that it covers you for an off-road event of this kind.

Take out holiday insurance that covers a refund scenario. 

These people have created a bespoke policy to cover you at an Austin Vince event: 

https://ss.globalrescue.com/partner/austinvince/

This event is NOT licensed by the ACU or any other statutory m/cycle body.  Remember- there is no ‘course’. YOU will decide where you go and how fast. The National Park speed limit on all trails is 12 mph. If you want to ride fast then this event is not for you. Ensure you have the NHS reciprocal cover card (EHIC). However – bear in mind that the EHIC often gets REFUSED in Spanish hospitals and they illegally charge you for medical treatment! This is an international dispute at the moment. Get travel insurance (see above) so you are covered come what may.

1. There is no recovery vehicle, rescue or first aid provision. Get a tow-rope.
2. You WILL be sent the maps and booklets 8 weeks in advance – do your homework
3. No unchivalrous behaviour and no cheating.
4. This event is for people who want to make friends, enjoy the challenge of map-reading and the self-reliance inherent in ‘Adventure Motorcycling’.
5. Let’s be serious, this is an orienteering event in a First World country. The V.I.N.C.E is NOT ‘adventure motorcycling’.
6. Your bike must have a number plate, a UK sticker and in Spain, at least ONE wing mirror.

You must ride in a team of 2, to a maximum of 4 people, (minimum two bikes) so be sure to put together your team before registering as we need the names of all team members. If you cannot find someone to team with, go ahead and register for the event, note that you do not have a team partner, and we will match you with someone with a similar bike and riding skill level as best we can.

Start / Finish Time: Each day, 8AM to 8PM (0800-1959). Official VINCE time is as per Austin’s mobile phone.

Penalties for late return:

Return at 2000-2009hrs 10 pts penalty

Return at 2010-2019hrs 20 pts penalty

Return at 2020-2029hrs 30 pts penalty

Return at 2030 hrs or later – disqualified from the event (however you may still ride day two but your CPB will not be ‘marked’).

Team mates must ride together at all times!

If you separate for any reason other than one bike is broken down and stopped or one rider is injured, and the other rider is going for help, you will be disqualified.

Obtaining checkpoint info from another team is grounds for disqualification.

In the event of a dispute or challenge, a digital photo of all team members at a checkpoint will be required to verify the team has been to the checkpoint.
The score sheets are collected after each day’s ride, and the scores of points collected thus far are published. On the second morning plenty of teams are more motivated than ever to have a fruitful day and get that map-reading spot on! On the second evening the booklets are collected for the final time, points totalled and the winners announced and applauded at the Dinner on the second night.

The Dai Jones Ruling:

A dispensation consistent with the ancient English traditions of clemency and mercy. Named in honour of Bristol’s legendary trail-riding child-reforming youth worker;

If the last member of a team gets back late on day one by x minutes where x is 29 or less then naturally, they incur a penalty. However, the Dai Jones ruling states that if they curtail their second day’s riding by x minutes or more then their penalty is revoked. Hence, the team will still only have had a max of 24 hrs riding over the two days.