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Maps for mountain bike orienteering are based on the specifications for foot-orienteering maps. However in order to meet the specific requirements put on the map by the nature of mountain bike orienteering, certain deviations and additions to the foot-orienteering map specification are needed. These special rules and symbols are described in this chapter .
Mountain bike orienteering is a sport in which the bike-orienteer uses the map to navigate a track and path network in order to visit a number of control points. The competitor must always stay on the track and paths and is not allowed to cycle freely in the terrain. This rule is important for the requirements of the map. Mountain bike orienteering takes place on the track and path network and involves as a basic element complex route choice problems, including the estimating of height differences. It is obvious that the map must concentrate on clearly depicting these features. The map must also be legible when cycling at high speed. This means that the map should omit a large number of details in "free" terrain in order to exaggerate the track and path network and to simplify the presentation of the shape of the ground. Only details that impact a) route choice and b) navigation and positioning, need be shown on the map. In order to accomplish fairness in route choice, additional symbols need to be introduced. These symbols describe the quality and width of the tracks and paths.
The scale for mountain bike orienteering maps range from 1:10 000 to 1:30 000. Maps at 1:10 000 may be produced for the shorter distances while 1:30 000 is suitable for the long distances. The size of the map sheet must not exceed 300 mm by 300 mm. Independent of scale, maps should be drawn with lines, line screens and symbol sizes as specified for the 1:15 000 maps. This is especially important since the line widths for tracks and paths present information about the classification.
The contour interval for mountain bike orienteering maps is 5m. In very hilly terrain an interval of 10m may be used. Note: The same interval must be used all over the map!
Even though new printing methods, like digital offset, colour copying etc. is developing rapidly, traditional offset is still superior in quality when printing detailed maps. For IOF events such as World Championships and World Cup this is the recommended method. However, if alternative methods produces maps with the same quality as traditional spot colour offset printing, they will be accepted. For smaller competitions, maps are likely to be reproduced in relatively small quantities and for this the new and cheaper printing methods are well suited.
Please refer also to section 3.4 Printing, in this
publication.