Pre Event Rider Pack – DRAFT
Final version will be made available on
17/4/17
Welcome to Hemel Hillbuster II
Sunday 23 April 2017
We are delighted that you have chosen
to enter Hemel’s only cycling sportive,
organized in conjunction with British
Cycling. If you took part in the event last
year then welcome back and thanks for
your support. If you are new to the event
then we hope that you enjoy it and tell all
your friends! We hope you enjoy
whichever ride you have chosen to take
part in and feel proud that you are
raising funds for some of our area’s most vulnerable people at the same time.
Thank you, good luck & see you at the event,
If you have any questions please contact us:
[email protected] 01442 800268
[email protected] 07931 644618
[email protected] 07779 305166
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BEFORE THE EVENT
Getting There
Registration opens at 8.30am. You
need to get to Gadebridge Park,
Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AQ
The nearest railway station is Hemel
Hempstead which is just a short bike
ride away from the start.
Parking & Event HQ
300 parking spaces are available at
Gadebridge Park, access off Leighton
Buzzard Road. P l e a s e d o n o t p a r k
o n t h e g r a s s . There are also car
parks at the bottom of Queensway and
on the High Street of the Old Town in
Hemel. All of these car parks are very
close to the event HQ. There is also
street parking nearby.
From the Leighton Buzzard Road, look
out for the event HQ with a large
Dacorum Borough Council inflatable
gazebo on the hill near the Old High
Street. You’ll also see our brand new
yellow DENS kite flags.
Accommodation (if required)
There are plenty of options for an overnight stay
including the Travelodge within Hemel or many
pretty local villages with pubs offering
accommodation.
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What to bring
A safety helmet is compulsory and hi-vis, warm, safe clothing is
recommended.
Remember to bring a fully charged mobile phone and any medical equipment
you require eg inhalers, anti-histamines etc.
No tri-bars allowed under British Cycling terms & conditions.
A good range of snacks, gel and energy bars and water are provided
en-route at our Wigginton and Ballinger food stations although you may
have favourites you wish to bring. Bring plenty of water to keep yourself
hydrated.
Bring a bike tool kit, working bike pump, spare inner tubes and tyre levers.
If you use a Garmin then you may wish to preload our GPX files onto it
prior to the ride.
Registration
Registration takes place at our event HQ in the spider tent which is clearly
signed.
You will be registered as efficiently as possible and given your rider number
with emergency numbers on the reverse. Your rider number must be fitted
to you handlebars with the cable ties provided.
Registration opens from 8:30am for the 100km route, the first group will set
off from 9am.
For the 100k route, you will need to set off by latest 9:30am, and
finish the course and be back at the registration area by 3:30pm.
For the 60km route, please register from 9:15am. You will need
to set off by latest 10am although you can set off earlier. You
must finish the course and be back at the registration area by
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3:30pm.
For the 25km route, please register from 9:30am and you will
need to set off by latest 10:15am and the final cut off time to be
back at the registration area is 3.30pm (in case you decide to
stop for a picnic or pub lunch!)
Please be sure to set off early if you are a slower or novice
rider. Cut off time is 3.30pm.
Baggage
May be left at event HQ although we accept no responsibility
for loss or damage. Please do not leave any valuables.
Rider Briefing
All riders will be given a mandatory safety briefing by a representative
from British Cycling and set off in groups of up to 20 riders, no matter
which route they are following. Please assemble behind the start
line and wait for your turn to go.
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Do’s & Don'ts
This ride is a non-competitive sportive – therefore NOT a race. Please
ensure you act accordingly when participating:
Please Do:
✓ Enjoy the ride
✓ Challenge yourself
✓ Follow the Highway Code and be safe
✓ Wear a helmet
✓ Ride single file on narrow roads
✓ Allow vehicles to pass safely
✓ Watch out for horses, pedestrians, other cyclists, vehicles
and busy village centres
✓ Point out any bad pot holes or hazards to riders behind you
if you are safely able to
Please Don’t:
 Drop litter (including gel packets)
 Behave in a manner that may offend
others
 Impede traffic flow
 Ride in large groups in the middle of
the road
 Ride on the wrong side of the road
Ready to go!
Pre-Event Checks
✓ Bike, shoes, helmets (mandatory), emergency numbers, sports drink,
gels etc.
✓ Spare inner tubes, puncture kit and a pump.
✓ No tri-bars allowed under British Cycling terms & conditions.
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DURING THE EVENT
Medical Support/ Cover
In the event of a road traffic accident, call 999 first and the event
organisers second.
Hearts First Aid will be providing first aid cover at HQ and mobile
support on the course. Call Caroline 07931 644618 or Linda
07779 305166 if you need assistance.
Food Stations
At Wigginton for the 60km and 100km rides and at Ballinger for the
100km. Both are on the route and will be clearly signed with
FOOD STATION and large yellow DENS kite flags. Please note
that both food stations are at new locations this year.
Mechanical Support
Check your bike in advance of the big day and ensure that
it is in good working condition and safe to ride on the road,
with conventional handlebars and correct tyre pressure.
Bike mechanics from Halfords are providing their mobile
repair and maintenance service to all participants. This is
for minor repairs or adjustments before the ride starts. The
service is free but you will be required to pay for any parts.
If you require assistance during the ride then please call the
emergency contact numbers: Caroline Neill 07931 644618
or Linda Kirkland 07779 305166 to arrange this.
Toilets
There are toilets at Gadebridge Park and at the Wigginton and
Balinger food stations.
Photography
By participating you consent to DENS using photos/videos of the
event in our promotional materials
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Signage
Follow PINK for 100km
Follow GREEN for 60km
Follow ORANGE for 25km
YELLOW signs indicate hazards such as steep hills and sharp
bends
Examples of signs used:
Please note that we use a right or left turn approaching sign and then a
right or left turn sign at the actual turning. We also provide a reassurance
straight on sign after the turn so that you know you are on the right route.
As some of the 100km and 60km route is shared, you will also see dual
signs on the shared section like this one:
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Please look out for where the ride splits at Cholesbury which is clearly
signed:
Route maps
Maps of all three routes are available as GPX files, Strava and in PDF
format on our website: www.dens.org.uk/cycle
Printed maps for each route will be given to every rider at registration.
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AFTER THE EVENT
Finish line / HQ
Please hand in your rider number when you finish the event. If
you breakdown or decide to go home, please let us know. If we
don’t hear from you then we will contact your emergency contact
number.
Pick up your medal and finisher’s goody bag and then head over
to the refreshment area for BBQ or cakes, tea, coffee and
refreshments. All proceeds support DENS!
Thank you very much for taking part, we hope you had a great
day! We would love to hear your feedback after the day so that
we can improve future events.
We will be sending out a questionnaire to ask for detailed
feedback or please send any comments to
[email protected]
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I get a refund?
As this is a charity ride the entry fee is non-refundable.
My friend was due to do the ride but now they are
unavailable- can I take their place?
Yes, but you will need to fill in the form from the 'On The Day
Entry' table and then come back to the relevant queue
according to your friend's surname.
Can I switch routes?
Yes, cyclists can switch routes but please let us know so
that we can issue the correct coloured number.
If I start the 100km but get too tired, can I return on the
60km route?
Yes, the ride splits at Cholesbury so you can return via the
shorter route by following the green 6 0 k m r i d e signs at this
stage.
Where are the food stations?
Please note that both the food stations this year are in NEW
locations – based on rider feedback from last year.
At Wigginton (for the 60km and 100km) and Ballinger for the
100km
I have specific questions about the course, is there anyone
who can answer them?
Ask for Colin or Caroline (in yellow DENS fleeces) on the day.
How are the funds going to be used?
Funds will be used across all DENS services, we currently
have a need for funds for equipment for service users, Rent
Aid - gardening equipment for tenants' properties, Crash pad
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facility at Night Shelter for emergency sleepers, weighing
scales for the Foodbank. Day Centre - new cooker.
Was I supposed to be raising any sponsorship?
It is up to you. Some cyclists have also raised sponsorship
via JustGiving and obviously we would be delighted if you
would like to do that. If you would like advice, please email
[email protected].
Can my friends or family help by marshaling? Yes
please! We are always in need of additional marshals to
assist on the day. If you know of anyone who could help us
please do contact us at [email protected] or call
01442 800268, we would LOVE to hear from you!
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British Cycling Membership
Become a British Cycling Ride member and benefit from up to
£10million liability insurance, free legal advice and support
when riding in a non competitive environment like a sportive or
when commuting. Other benefits of being a member include
access to ride tips and training plans, a weekly member
newsletter, various discounts at cycling retailers, advance
warning of event ticket sales and discounts and much more. All
this for just over £2 a month!
For more information or to join today, click here.
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Sponsors / Event Partners
Thank you to all our kind partners for their help in
putting on The Hemel Hillbuster II event.
Thank you also to all our amazing volunteers. If
you would like to volunteer for us, please see
http://www.dens.org.uk/get-involved/jobs-andvolunteering
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