The Direct Route
Teams on the Bike Whack section. Photo: Legendary Randy Ericksen
In adventure racing, it’s a common occurrence that during a “bike” stage, your team may not actually be biking. The terrain may simply be unrideable in spots, requiring racers to roll or even carry their bikes through thick vegetation, swamps and other obstacles. Such was the case at the 2025 Maine Summer Adventure Race. After leaving Transition Area 1, teams had the choice of either taking a long bike around, or a much more direct “bikewhack” route. Race organizers had made it clear that the bikewhack route was epic. Trails were virtually nonexistent for long distances and teams needed to navigate using compass bearings only in the dark of night while fighting through thick vegetation with their bikes. This route was not for the faint of heart. While it may have looked like a shortcut on the map, teams who found themselves in this stretch of course were faced with the toughest task of the race.
Photo Gallery: Stage 3 Bike Whack - Photos by Legendary Randy Ericksen
