| FAQs | |
| Safety | |
| Q. Do I have to wear a helmet? | A. The wearing of Hard Shell Style Helmets conforming to CE standards EN1078 is mandatory for riders under 18. Senior riders are encouraged to do the same. The hills are steep and serious head injuries may be avoided with a helmet. |
| Q. Who should I call if I'm injured or there is an accident? | A. Call 999 or 911 first. It is simply the fastest way of getting the emergency services to an accident. |
Q. Is there medical support? |
A. Yes, but this will be for minor assistance not for emergencies. This support will be at certain locations during the ride and at the HQ. |
| Q. Is there an emergency number to call the organisers? | A. Yes, it is located on your map/route instruction you receive at registration. |
| Q. When should I call the emergency number of the organisers? | A. If you are lost and want direction. If you wish to withdraw without returning to the HQ we would like to know. If you want directions to the nearest shop, pub, or services. If you have a serious mechanical and need assistance to fix. |
| Q. Can I use Tribars during the ride? | A. The use of triathlon handlebars or other bar extensions is discouraged for safety reasons. However where riders do have them fitted they must not be used when riding in a group and riders must allow for a gap to the rider in front that allows them time to reach for their brakes if necessary. The nature of the Gran and Medio Fondo courses with few flat sections make any benefit arising from the use of tribars extremely limited at best and more likely will disadvantage you on the many steep inclines. For this reason our tip is to remove them from your bike before you ride. |
| Basics | |
| Q. What do I have to do on the day, before the start of the event? | A. You must sign on at the HQ in the registration hall on Sunday from 07:00. You must do this for several vital reasons: 1) we want to know you are riding so that we expect you to return, 2) we want to give you a number board and this includes your transponder- no transponder no time!!, 3) we want to give you a map/route instructions with emergency phone number. |
| Q. Is this a race? | A. No, absolutely not. There are no prizes, no placings, no police marshals, riders start at different times, riders do different routes, and riders should refrain from referring to this as a race. It is a non competitive event and you accepted that you will ride within the highway code at all times. This means you will stop or give way at junctions when instructed by road signs or the police to do so. You ride at your own own risk. Any participant caught disobeying the highway code is likely to be disqualified, and in particular at the traffic lights in Berkhamsted. |
Q. How many people are doing the event? |
A. There are expected to be 1,300 entries this year and around 1,000 riders participating on the day. Most (650 entries) are doing the Gran Fondo. |
| Q. I am under 18, can I enter? | A. Yes, your parent or guardian will need to complete a consent form. The form can be downloaded from the British Cycling website or request the organsiser to send you the form. If you are under 16 your parent or guardian must accompany you on your ride. Failure to complete the consent form will invalidate your entry. The minimum age for participating is 14. |
| Q. I want to ride but the route is full. Is there a reserves system? | A. Yes but the reserves will be full by end of March. This year all entries will be online only. Any unfilled Team places will be made available for general sale on 2 April. |
| Q. Is there a broom wagon or a minimum pace required? | A. No. We expect all riders of all routes to finish before 17:00 when the HQ closes. If you think that you may finish after 16:00 please ensure you join the start queue for your route promptly so your departure is early. This is a consideration mainly for Gran Fondo riders. |
| Routes | |
| Q. How long is the route? | A. The Gran Fondo is 107 miles (171km), the Medio is 70 miles (112km), and the Corto is 54 miles (86km). |
| Q. Is the route fully marked or do I need to use a map? | A. All three courses are fully marked with signs, however it is the rider's responsibility to look for and follow the signs and to navigate the course by using the map provided if necessary. |
| Q. Are there marshals out on the route? | A. Only a small number, and more on the Corto Fondo route. All three courses are fully marked and maps have been provided so marshals are largely unnecessary. |
Q. I entered the Gran/Medio/Corto but now I would like to switch routes? |
A. You can do this now by returning to your entry on the Sportident website and selecting your preferred route, providing there are entries available in your chosen event. |
| Starting | |
| Q. What are the start times for my ride? | A. Gran Fondo riders start between 08.00 and 08.50; Medio Fondo riders start between 09.00 and 09.20; Corto Fondo riders start between 09.30 and 10.00 We ask you to respect these times for your intended route. If you leave earlier/later than stated you may find the refreshment stops are closed. |
| Q. I'm riding the Gran but it's now past 08.50 and I missed my slot. Can I still ride? | A. Yes, provided you are confident that you will get back to HQ before it closes at 17:00. But please be aware that we can not guarantee that Refreshment stops will still be open when you arrive. |
| Q. Will I be queued before starting? | A. Yes, this is to ensure your safe access onto the public highway. We will release riders in groups of 20 or less at a time, with 2 minute gaps between groups. |
| Refreshments En-Route | |
| Q. Where are the refreshments stops on the routes? | A. The Gran Fondo has two stops: Tom's Hill, Aldbury (36 miles), and at Kingston Wood, Stokenchurch, (72 miles). The Medio Fondo has one stop at Kingston Wood, Stokenchurch, (33 miles). The Corto Fondo has one stop at Brill (26 miles). |
| Q. What will be available at the refreshment stops? | A. A good choice of drinks (water and energy drinks) and a wide selection of foods. All refreshments are free to participants. Details will be posted on this website of what will be available at each refreshement stop so that you can plan your eating regime for the ride. See now what was available in 2009. |
| Q. Do you expect to run out of food and drink if I am at the back of most riders? | A. No, we deliberately plan to have some food/drink left over to ensure that everybody has something to eat and drink. However we cannot guarantee that all refreshment choices will still be available when you arrive. |
| Q. If it is hot will you open an additional water stop? | A. Yes, for the Gran and Medio Fondos we plan to do this at Piddington. Water will be available and for emergencies only we will have a small supply of gels. |
| Transponders | |
| Q. Where do I put the transponder? | A. The transponder is part of your number board which must be attached to your handle bars. You do not need to return it to us after the event as it is disposable. |
| Q. How will my transponder register my progress? | A. When you pass over special mats your transponder is identified and logged. |
| Q. Where will my transponder register my progress? | A. At the start and finish for all riders of all routes. All are signed. The Gran and Medio Fondo riders will be expected to ride over a mat just after the refreshment point at Kingston Wood. Additionally Gran Fondo riders will be expected to ride over a mat near the first refreshment point. |
| Q. Do I have to ride over the intermediate mats? | A. Yes you must ride over the mats. Riders that do not ride over a mat will be deemed to have not done the route you have riden. To avoid errors it will help us if you ride over the intermediate mats. |
| Q. Will I have my transponder registered at the refreshments stops? | A. No. |
| Q. What do I do with the transponder after the event? | A. We do not need the number board or the transponder back and both are disposable after the event. |
| Q. Do I have to wear a transponder? | A. Yes, without it you will not get a time and will be marked as "Does Not Start (DNS)". |
| Number Boards & Photography | |
| Q. What are the number boards for? | A. To identify riders for the event photographer. |
| Q. Where do I put the number board? | A. Use the cable ties provided to attach to the front of your handle bars - there is an illustration of this on the information board at HQ. |
| Q. Do I have to attach the number board? | A. Yes as without it you will not be timed. If you want photos secure it to your handlebars. |
Q. Who is the photographer and how can I get pictures after the event? |
A. SportivePhoto is the photographer. Information is on the back of your number board and will also be on our website after the event. Please refer to the news item on this website. |
| At the HQ | |
Q. What time does the HQ open? |
A. 07.00 |
Q. What time does the HQ close? |
A. 17.00 |
Q. Is there food available before the ride? |
A. Yes, at HQ there is coffee or tea and croissants sold to you by the Roald Dahl Foundation to raise funds for children, and their families, that suffer from neurology, haematology and literacy. Last year they provided the fantastic Saddlebag Café and we hope you will support them royally again this year. |
Q. Is there food available after the ride? |
A. Yes, at HQ there will be an excellent choice of food and drink on your return sold to you by the Roald Dahl Foundation to raise funds for children, and their families, that suffer from neurology, haematology and literacy. Last year they provided the fantastic Saddlebag Café and we hope you will support them royally again this year. |
Q. Where can I get the results afterwards? |
A. Individual times will be available by list in the HQ. The lists will be updated approximately every 60 minutes. Draft results will be published within 36 hours on this website. Final results will be published within the week on this website. |
| Standards | |
| Q. What are the finishing time standards? | A. All standards are posted on the information board at the HQ and on this website. |
Q. How have the standards been set? |
A. We will adjust the standards from last year so that we hope 20% will get a gold award, 30% a silver award, 30% a bronze award and 20% a certificate of completion. Those aiming for gold at L’Etape d’Tour should be aiming to get round in very close to 6 hours - under 6 hours would be better. |
| Other | |
Q. I have not entered, but I would like to ride. Can I enter on the day please? |
A. No, there is no entry on the day. |
Q. I’m unable to ride can I get my money back? |
A. Only if you contact the organiser within 7 days of entering. |
| Q. I’m unable to ride but I have a friend who wants to take my place. Will you accept a transfer? | A. Yes. This is how it works. You send an email to eddie (email address on Contacts page) confirming that you are unconditionally giving your place to your named friend and their postcode (please CC them too). Your friend should forward your email to me providing me with their details - name, address, postcode, date of birth, email address, phone number, next of kin phone number, Club and if relevant team name. We will not accept any changes after 27 May 10. |
Q. Is the event insured? |
A. Yes. |
| Last updated 2/5/10 | |