CYCLIST BRIEFING FR – Full Riders (500km) ; LR – Lap Riders

DATE & TIME:

FR – Registration between 9H30 and 10H15 on Saturday 26 October at Lord Charles

LR – Registration 45 min prior to start of lap - be at the start line 15 minutes before the start of the lap for rules/ride

briefing.

Approximate start times of each lap:

Saturday 26 October

11:00 - Start of Lap 1 (Day route)

13:25 - Start of Lap 2 (Day route)

15:50 - Start of Lap 3 (Day route)

18:00 - Start of Lap 4 (Night Route)

20:40 - Start of Lap 5 (Night Route)

23:05 - Start of Lap 6 (Night Route)

Sunday 27 October

01:30 - Start of Lap 7 (Night Route)

03:55 - Start of Lap 8 (Night Route)

06:20 - Start of Lap 9 (Day route)

08:45 - Start of Lap 10 (Day route)

IMPORTANT

1) Traffic rules / lights must be adhered to at all times!

2) The Cyclist co-ordinator (Johannes Hattingh) and Safety officer (Stephan Durand) must be obeyed and their

word is final, ignoring them can lead to disqualification

3) In case of mechanical problem or puncture you are required to get into the ‘mechanical vehicle’ while the

group continues. Once the problem has been fixed you will be dropped off in front of the peloton and you

must wait for them to come past and then join the group again.

4) Cyclists will not be allowed to stop (for other than mechanical or medical reasons) during the course other

than at the designated half-way stop, Neethlingshof. This is to ensure that we maintain the required speed.

5) No cyclist will be allowed to participate unless the necessary medical questionnaire has been completed and

the rider approved fit to ride by our event medical team (please complete and send back yours if you have

not done so yet).

REGISTRATION:

Registration: Each cyclist must sign the “rules & indemnity” form (see attached) before he/she will receive their

‘wristbands’. The wristband is required to participate and will carry the name of the participant in case of

emergency. This wristband is also the cyclists ‘access card’ to the bike-storage. One wristband must be placed on

the rider’s right-hand arm and the other on his/her bicycle (around the seat-post).

BRING WITH:

- Road/MTB for day-laps

- MTB for night-laps (preferably with tubeless tyres)

- 4 water bottles or Camelbag (enough for 50km or 2 hours) – 2 waterbottels to be left at Lord Charles for fill-

up

- Front & Back light (if doing night section)

- Lights should be sufficient to last for the entire night for the full riders

- Spare batteries

- Helmet (No Helmet no Ride)

- Any other cycling gear required (Gloves, Socks, Shoes, Glasses, Sunscreen, Jacket)

- Bag to leave cycling gear and supplies at Lord Charles

- FR to wear the official 500 Challenge Cycling Shirt

- Towel to put over your chair at Lord Charles (important!)

- Small plastic bags to put food in for back-pocket

- Energy drink powder, energy bars and other supplies you usually take

- Lots of energy and excitement ☺

FOOD & SUPPLIES:

Spur will be supplying cyclists with basic food throughout the event. After every lap there will be fresh food

delivered to Lord Charles. Everyone will be given the same food – so no orders for Burgers or Ribs unfortunately ☺.

There will always be two type of food available. This will vary between baked potatoes, chicken sandwiches, pasta,

cheese sandwiches, peanut butter sandwiches, chicken strips and boiled potatoes. There should be adequate

quantities available. There will also be plenty of bananas (sponsored by Golden Harvest). On the lap there will be no

food provided but you can take with some of the food in a bag in your back pocket (please bring a small plastic bag).

There will be filter water available but each cyclist is required to bring his/her own energy drink mix.

CYCLING & SAFETY:

The organisers will try and ensure the safety of cyclists as far as possible. It is important to remember that this is a

team event and not a race. The group will stay together at all times and cyclists unable to keep up will be asked to

get into the support vehicle. Please carefully read the ‘rules’.

PACE-SETTING

The average cycling speed is just over 23km/h and the group will stay as close to this as possible. It is important for

us to stay within the timelines as set out, due to the fact that new “lap riders” will join us after every lap. During the

night we might not be able to complete the 50km’s before it is time to go back to Lord Charles and we will then be

guided by the time lapsed and not the distance. Any km’s “missed” we will make up at the end by going out for a

last “lap” after 11am on Sunday if necessary.

A few general principles:

- The support vehicles will ensure that the group does not spread out more than 150m at any time. The lead-

car will slow down when this happens to force the front riders to go slower (only if instructed by the pace-

setter in the group!).

- We will monitor the up-hill speed closely to ensure we don’t go too fast as this can cause riders to ‘burn-out’

quickly

- Lap Riders are there to support and it is important that they make sure they stick to the pace and not

unnecessarily increase or decrease the speed.

- On every lap there will be a dedicated 500 rider who is responsible for the pace-setting and this rider will be

visible in that he/she will be wearing a radio for contact with the support vehicles. This rider will determine

the pace and slow down the group if necessary. He/She will also liaise with the cyclist-co coordinator at Lord

Charles through radio contact. This rider will also help ensure that riders stay within the rules (e.g. keep to

left of yellow line) etc.

SUPPORTERS

We will not allow any form of support to the cyclists (food, drinks, other) by anyone other than the dedicated

support vehicles and volunteers while on the route. Also we encourage spectators to rather go to Lord Charles and

support there. Supporters will be able to follow the group via GPS tracking on the projectors inside Lord Charles.

SUPPORT VEHICLES (see diagram below):

Vehicle 1: Traffic police

Traffic officials might assist us on some sections and they are likely to be driving ahead of the group

Vehicle 2: Lead car (Securite Security vehicle)

This is the official’s eyes ahead of the Peleton to warn of any approaching vehicles or obstructions on the course. In

the event of the route being blocked this will allow the Peleton to be stopped. This vehicle will also assist in the pace

and slow down the group if necessary. No cyclist is allowed to ever pass this vehicle (unless authorised to do so).

Vehicle 3: Event car

The overall ‘manager’ of the event on the road. This person is in radio contact with all vehicles and is in charge of

their movements. They keep the timing and check points that are landmarks on the route. This is also the person

who has the authority to remove riders from event if any racing infringement. This vehicle (with their dedicated

radio operator) will be in constant contact with the VOC as well as the two dedicated cyclists whom will be wearing

radio’s.

Vehicle 4: Mechanic vehicle

This vehicle will pick-up any cyclists unable to continue because of mechanical failure or fatigue. A dedicated

Velolife Mechanic will be on board to assist with any bike problems. This vehicle may drop off cyclist ahead of the

Peleton for the specific cyclist to wait for the Peleton to come past and join again.

Vehicle 5: ER24 Paramedic support vehicles

In case of emergency these paramedics will assist. Should further outside assistance be required this will be

controlled through the VOC at Lord Charles.

ROUTE

The first 3 laps on Saturday will be on the “day-route” (see below) and we suggest this is done on a road-bike. There

are some roadworks on the Polkadraai road but we will be assisted by Provincial Traffic to ensure safety.

Lap 4 to 8 is our “night-route” and we will do 4 x 10km loops at Paardevlei before returning to Lord Charles for the

usual 15min break. There might be some minor changes to the ‘loops’ at Paardevlei depending on weather

conditions and time available before going back to Lord Charles. These loops will cover gravel roads as well as tar &

concrete sections and a Mountain bike is definitely needed. Tubeless tires are advised although the surface is quite

good and there are no single-tracks (unfortunately ☺).

The last two laps on Sunday will again be on the “day-route”. See below:

DAY-ROUTE

NIGHT-ROUTE

ACTIVITIES AT LORD CHARLES

While we are cycling there will also be a 24 Hour spinning event at Lord Charles and Virgin Active is bringing over 40

bikes. Numerous companies, schools and teams have already signed up to spin through the night so there will be a

fantastic atmosphere. Playball is hosting some activities for the kids and there will be a jumping castle and face paint

as well. Patch will have a cake and coffee bar, so please bring your friends & family along to come and support.

LAYOUT AT LORD CHARLES

LAST WORD

We are doing this event to raise awareness and funds for Patch. That is our goal! Please help us in achieving

the target of R500,000. Ask your friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you via this link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D4D-500-SS

Donations can be made into D4D’s account:

Account name: Distance 4 DIFF

Bank: ABSA

Branch: Somerset West

Branch code: 632005

Account no.: 9217741105

Account type: Savings

Swift code: ABSAZAJJ

For any other questions, please feel free to contact or visit www.groupspaces.com/THE500

Johannes Hattingh – 082 419 3003 (cycling coordinator)

Stephan Durand -072 234 3280 (safety officer)

Renee van Zyl – 082 781 0813 (venue coordinator)

Stephan Pieterse – 082 802 1080 (D4D)

Ada Buys – 021 491 3326 (Unit Manager Patch)

Reenen Barry – 084 515 4074 (general)

Alan Barnes – 079 505 6643 (general)

Regards,

THE 500 COMMITTEE

PS. Proof that some of us are actually training for this…