This is the text of last year's rider briefing notes a new version for 2010 will be posted nearer the event and a final copy will be given at signing on.
Transport:
For those who have booked to use the bus and truck transport service, please arrive at the Lord Street, Bus Station car park (250m from the Sea Terminal) at 7:30 am. It will take some time to load the bikes onto the trucks, and they will be stacked herringbone style with cardboard spacers. Please pass your bikes up to the guys loading the trucks and help them where possible. It takes approx 55 minutes to get to the Point of Ayre start area. The Bus and Coach will drop you off a short distance from the start area to avoid congestion. When you have collected your bike, you should ride up to the start area.
Gear transport:If you want us to transport equipment and clothing to the finish (advisable if we have poor weather) please put it in a labelled pack and bring this to the starters who will put this in a van and take it to the finish for you. Note that gear will be taken to the Cregneash car park, not the field where the timekeepers are. In the event that you don’t make it to the finish, we will bring any unclaimed articles to the evening presentation at the Villa Marina. It is not possible for us to transport equipment to intermediate checkpoints. You should carry everything that you will need en-route.
Checkpoints:There are 3 manned checkpoints: One at Brandywell Road (30km), one at St John’s (42km) and the other at Eary Cushlin (51km).
The first will have only water and energy drink. The main checkpoint at St John’s will have free energy drink available to refill your bottles. They will also have some free Energy Bars. These are intended to supplement your rations and you should carry adequate supplies to meet your needs rather than relying on these. Checkpoint closing times are: CP1. Brandywell @ 12:30pm, CP2. St John’s @ 1.30pm, and CP3. Eary Cushlin @ 3:30pm
Should any of the marshals at these checkpoints pull you to one side stating that you are out of time, they are doing it for your safety.
Gates:There are no gates prior to checkpoint 1. We aim to marshal all critical gates this year. Volunteers will be helping to marshal the gates so please thank them for holding them open for you as you pass. Where we have permission to leave a gate open for the event, these will be tied open with red & white barrier tape. If gates are closed, please observe normal trail rules by either climbing over them or opening/closing them. If you find an open gate that is not tied open, please close it – this is important to retain good relationships with the many landowners whose property we pass over.
SOME JUNCTIONS AND TURNINGS WILL BE CONTROLLED BY MARSHALLS & POLICE OFFICERS: RIDERS MUST COMPLY WITH ANY DIRECTIONS OR INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO THEM.
The start area:
Please do not park cars on the narrow access road. Instead, park in the car park well away from the immediate start or at the headland as signed for the drop-off then walk or ride in. Space will be very tight this year with the increased entry. If it is wet at the start, please offer spare seats in your car to those who are out in the open.
Starting procedure:
There will be a large race clock showing the official time. At around 9:45 a lead car and Police Motorcycles will position themselves in the roadway and you should gather along the lane behind the lead car. Those riders expecting to be under 4 hours should position themselves behind the 3hr kite sign, those expecting to be under 5 hours should line up behind the 4hr kite sign and so on. It will be a mass start at 10:00 precisely. The lead car will pull out slowly and control the pace of the start along the initial narrow section of road. Please start rolling in a controlled manner without pushing or trying to overtake & keep left on public roads.
Railway Crossings:
Should you be delayed by a train at a railway crossing a time credit will be applied.
The finish area:
The timed finish is in a field on the left hand side at the top of the final road climb at Cregneash. There will be a “Finish” banner and a timekeeper’s trailer. There will be a taped funnel and we will be using a light-beam sensor to trigger the timing, so you need to ride through the light beam to get a time.
Official timekeeping will close at 17:00. If you finish after that you will be given 17.00 as a finish time.
Results will be on manxtimingsolutions.com. Provisional results will be posted by 5.30pm
IF SMALL GROUPS OF RIDERS WISH TO BE AWARDED THE SAME TIME, PLEASE WOULD THEY NOMINATE ONE OF THE GROUP TO RIDE THROUGH THE FINISH - THE OTHERS TO BYPASS THE FINISH GATE AS DIRECTED BY MARSHALS. ONLY RIDERS WHO ARE LEGITIMATELY FINISHING THE EVENT SHOULD RIDE THROUGH THE FINISH GATE.Spectators & Support Crews:
One of the best aspects of the event is the large number of spectators who turn out to support family & friends. However, if you are spectating, please make sure that you park your vehicles considerately. The road crossings have limited parking and your vehicle could cause an obstruction. Again, the increased numbers will exacerbate this.
To improve safety & alleviate traffic pressure around the course there are certain points that have been designated One Way. You will need to be aware that to get to these points you may have to use an alternative route.
Return transport:
The transport will depart from Cregneash car park at 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00 and return you to Douglas Bus Station. We will also have a minibus as well to help get any stragglers home. Please help us to load your bikes back onto the truck. It takes about 45 minutes to get back to Douglas. Make sure that if your bike is loaded onto the truck, you leave on the accompanying coach!
HAZARDS:There are many hazards on the course that need your careful attention and we have hazard signs out to remind you to be careful.
Our signs are either black or red downward facing arrows on white backgrounds.
When you see one arrow it means CAUTION
When you see two arrows it means CAUTION SLOW DOWN
When you see three or more arrows it means EXTREME CAUTION
In these situations it might be advisable to dismount and walk
Common sense prevails.
Safety and trail etiquette:
Please bear in mind that the trails you will be riding are not “prepared” and therefore have natural obstacles and hazards. Above all we want you to enjoy the ride. But you must exercise your own judgement when dealing with such hazards.
Call out when you need to overtake and ride considerately to other riders as well as pedestrians and motorists.
Railway track…We are using a section of the old railway track into St John’s this year. There may well be people out walking their dogs etc - please ride with caution along here.
Format for next year’s event:We hope that you will enjoy the challenge. Please remember that this is a club event run on a non-profit making basis – organised by Mountain Bikers for Mountain Bikers. It has grown steadily over the years and is now a mainstream event involving a large team of dedicated individuals and dozens of helpers. The logistics of running an end-to-end event make it particularly difficult to marshal and control. We are always looking for ways to improve the event and look forward to your feedback on the forum. Please go to www.manxe2e.org for details of this. Hope to see you next year!