I haven’t usually written a separate story about Ruskas as I mostly share them in social media as they happen and publish a chronological photo album that has the key points of the story. Here are links to this year’s photos of the ride and photos of other participants.
For those who accidentally end up to this post, here is some key information. Ruska is a approximately 2000 km bicycle ride across Finland in maximum of 8 days in September through the autumn colors. Route is different every year. I’m the organizer and I’ve also made the event’s rules. Rules mostly follow those in other solo(/pair) self supported bicycle events and brevets. There are however some limitations further you progress. Also after 10 finishes you may need to find other hobbies as you may only finish the event 10 times. Though I expect such riders will find their way to finish on their own and maybe help scouting next year’s controls on the way and so on. As this was the 9th event none’s got that far yet.
Restrictions are that for 7th and 8th finish you may not use gps or any other locating tools. For 9th finish also maps and any other notes about route are forbidden except within 5 kms from the event’s mandatory points such as control or parkours. For 10th you will also at start and at each of the controls get a via point you need to use before next control and you won’t know it until you’ve reach the previous control.
There are now 2 participants with 6 finishes, one with 7 and me with 9. So the story you are about to read is about how the ride went and especially notes about practicalities for future discussion.
