Water Cycle Challenge – 01/07/2017 – Rider Info Pack

Water Cycle Challenge – Rider Info Pack Thank you for entering the Water Cycle Challenge, a non-competitive cycle sportive in support of WaterAid. We hope you’re looking forward to riding the event and thank you for your support. Please read the final event information in this pack to help make it a safe and enjoyable event for everyone.

Headline event info When – Saturday 1st July 2017

Where – Sailing Club, Grimwith Reservoir, off the B6265 nr Grassington, BD23 5ED

Timings - Registration open 08:00 – 09:15, routes open 08:30 – 18:00

Routes – 40, 80 & 111 mile routes - please advise on the day if you intend to change from your online entry

The Charity WaterAid is working to ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. With teams working in 38 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific region and Europe, WaterAid works with local partners to reach the poorest and most marginalised people, and calls on governments to provide these solutions for everyone everywhere.

Since WaterAid was founded by the water industry in 1981, has supported their mission to transform lives with access to clean water and sanitation. In 2013 Yorkshire Water were delighted to launch a new 5-year partnership with WaterAid, aiming to raise £1 million for projects in Ethiopia. Yorkshire Water’s ‘Big Wish’ for Ethiopia is to reach 130,000 people across 20 towns with clean water, sanitation and hygiene. All of the money raised through fundraising events such as the Sportive will go towards achieving this goal.

Ethiopia has made significant progress in access to clean water since 1990. However, temperatures are predicted to rise, threatening dire consequences for the country’s mainly rural population, which is highly dependent on agriculture.

In Action Access to water helps make communities more resilient to drought. After decades of failed attempts to find water, for 71-year-old Bayu Muluneh, the installation of six water points in his home village of Alefa, was a long-awaited lifeline.

“In winter, the rivers would flow and the springs would spit out water again, but during the dry summer we would go back to hand-dug wells, where we found dead rats and snakes. We had to pick those things out and purify the water painstakingly” Bayu recalls.

But two years ago, and after months of consultations with elders, a team of experts from WaterAid and partner organisation, Water Action, found a reliable underground water source. WaterAid/ Behailu Shiferaw

Charity registration numbers 288701 ( and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland) Water Cycle Challenge – 01/07/2017 – Rider Info Pack

“The whole time the rigging machine was working I didn’t leave the area. I kept thinking, is this going to fail again?” remembers Bayu, “Finally the machine struck water. It was a very joyous moment. We couldn’t believe it”

“The first day the water points were opened, I walked from one to another to see with my own eyes the water flowing out. I cannot describe how I felt that day. Water everywhere. I could die the next day and would not regret it; what more could I wish for, really?”

To find out more: https://www.yorkshirewater.com/wateraid

Support the cause Access to water and sanitation is something we often take for granted. All donations help those without these basic rights so please, please fundraise. Just go to Water Cycle Challenge JustGiving: http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/wateraid/thewatercyclechallenge

And to thank you, if you raise £100 or more, we’ll give you a free cycling jersey! Alternatively any jersey purchased from us on event day or via our online shop raises £10 for WaterAid. http://www.watercyclechallenge.com/water-cycle-challenge-jersey-purchase/

Social Media Links Spread the word and help us reach more people! Please follow and tweet us @YWEthiopia and if you’re posting on the day or in the run up to the event use the hash tag #WaterCycleChallenge or for facebook tag us in @WaterCycleChallenge. Keep an eye out for our Insta frame on the route too!!

Event Sponsors None of this would be possible without our sponsors so huge thanks for all their support. Pay them a visit and help us reach more people like Bayu with clean water, sanitation and hope.

Charity registration numbers 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland) Water Cycle Challenge – 01/07/2017 – Rider Info Pack

Event details Parking We advise car sharing where possible on event day to ease congestion and help the environment. There is plenty of parking at event base, please follow the marshals to the main car park at the club house. The public car park is for overspill parking only. Follow the marshals and please drive carefully on the singletrack road to event base.

Registration If you have entered online in advance, on the day, head into the clubhouse to collect your rider pack inc. your number board, bib number and route map. Limited on the day registration will also be available at a cost of £30. Rider pack collection & on the day registration between 08:00 – 09:15

Your number board includes a timing chip and must be affixed to the handlebars of your bike with the cable ties provided. The number board must be visible and straight to ensure the timing chip functions. Please fill out emergency medical details on your bib number and affix to the rear of your jersey with the safety pins provided.

Routes All routes open 08:30 to 09:30, all routes close 18:00. This is based on the minimum pace expected for the longest route. Gold, Silver and Bronze target times are set for your own personal challenge; these are based on your timing chip so are total time not moving time.

All routes are signed and marshalled but we strongly advise carrying the route map and familiarising yourself with the route and terrain. Links to online route mapping and .gpx files are provided below.

Please note, all routes take place on public roads so ride polite and remember, this is not a race!

Rush (40m) A perfect slice of the action, check out and download .gpx files of the route via Strava or RideWithGPS

Standards: Gold <02:45 (14.5 mph), Silver <03:20 (12 mph), Bronze <04:00 (10 mph)

Feed station at Malham Visitor Centre at 24 miles. This feed station will close at 17:00. Additional public conveniences at Grassington, Kettlewell & Malham Visitor Centre. Route open to riders 12+

Key climbs en-route:

 Brootes Lane at 15 miles – 1.7 km at 9.5% average (20% max)  Raikes at 37 miles – 1.9km at 5.9% average (16% max)

Cut off points (support vehicle available)

 Malham Feed station at 17:00

Romp (80m) A ruddy good romp out in the Dales, check out and download .gpx files via Strava or RideWithGPS

Standards: Gold <04:45 (17 mph), Silver <05:30 (14.5 mph), Bronze <06:30 (12.5 mph)

Feed station at Stainforth car park at 27 miles (closing 12:15) and Malham Visitor Centre at 63 miles (closing 17:00). Public conveniences at Grassington, Kettlewell, Horton in Ribblesdale, Ingleton, Settle & Malham Visitor Centre. Route open to riders 16+

Charity registration numbers 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland) Water Cycle Challenge – 01/07/2017 – Rider Info Pack

Please note route diversion at Ingleton to avoid road closures for the Vintage Festival

Key climbs en-route:

 Halton Gill at 19.5 miles – 1.6km at 7% average (14% max)  Langcliffe Scar (100 greatest) at 56 miles – 2km at 8.3% (20% max)  Hartlington Raikes at 76.5 miles – 1.9km at 5.9% average (16% max)

Cut off points (support vehicle available)

 Stainforth Feed Station at 12:15  Malham Feed Station at 17:00

Rogue (111m) For the rogue elements. A juicy 111 miles with 3,700m climbing (or 10,600 ft), this is a very big day out. Smile, gurn, enjoy! Check out the pain that awaits at Strava or RideWithGPS

Standards: Gold <06:30 (17 mph+ ooft), Silver <07:00 (16 mph), Bronze <08:00 (14 mph)

Minimum pace expected is 12.5 mph (20 kmph) including stops. If you are in doubt, set off early!

Feed stations at Reeth Village Green at 34 miles (closes 12:15), at Dent public car park at 64 miles (closes 14:35) and Malham Visitor centre at 95 miles (closes 17:00). Public conveniences at Grassington, Kettlewell, Reeth, Dent, Ingleton, Settle & Malham Visitor Centre. Route open to riders 18+

Please note route diversion at Ingleton to avoid road closures for the Vintage Festival

Key climbs en-route:

 Park Rash (100 greatest) at 11 miles – 2.2km at 10.6% average (25% max)  Hargill Bank at 28 miles – 3.8km at 7.8% average (13% max)  Buttertubs (100 greatest) at 44 miles – 3.9km at 6% average (16% max)  Garsdale Head (100 greatest) at 56 miles – 2.8km at 7.9% average (20% max)  White Shaw Moss at 66 miles – 2.2km at 10.3% average (20% max)  Langcliffe Scar (100 greatest) at 88 miles – 2km at 8.3% (20% max)  Hartlington Raikes at 108 miles – 1.9km at 5.9% average (16% max)

Cut off points (support vehicle available)

 Reeth Feed Station at 12:15  Start of Garsdale Head at 14:00  Dent Feed Station at 14:40  Malham Feed Station at 17:00

Feed Stations Feed stations will stock a variety of sweet (e.g. flapjacks, malt loaf, jelly babies) and savoury foods (e.g. sausage rolls, pasta, potatoes), water, juice and electrolyte powder. Gels and specialist energy bars will not be available just your old school cycling fodder but plenty to get you round.

Event Base Event Base at the Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club has excellent facilities including male and female changing rooms, hot showers, indoor and outdoor seating and a café onsite. All entrants will receive a hot meal after the event which is included in the entry fee. Vegan, Gluten Free, Halal and other dietary options will be

Charity registration numbers 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland) Water Cycle Challenge – 01/07/2017 – Rider Info Pack available. A café is also available on-site and will be selling tea, coffee, soft drinks as well as bacon rolls and biscuits and cakes

Please park considerably at event base and use the bike racking provided

Accommodation Camping will be available at Event Base free of charge Friday and Saturday night courtesy of the Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club. Basic access to the club house will be available for toilets, showers, water etc. There is no electric hook up

Safety & Etiquette As you roll through the pretty lanes and quaint villages full of the buzz of event day, just take a minute to think of the communities and the environment you are passing through. With thousands taking to the roads every weekend, we don’t want to become a nuisance or reflect badly on the cycling community. It is only through the good will and positive support of those living in these communities that events can pass without incident. Let’s keep it that way. Remember:

 This is not a race - respect other road users and the rules of the road  Ride polite  Respect communities & the environment  Do not litter - it's beautiful here, let’s keep it that way  Use the facilities - all feed stations have a WC

And remember, enjoy your ride, have fun and smile 

Post event After the event, all rider times and photographs (free to download) will be available via our website http://www.watercyclechallenge.com/sportive-2017/

Partner clubs A final special thanks to our partner clubs for hosting and helping facilitate and promote the event. It is through their efforts that everyone can enjoy easy access to sport so go get involved!

Charity registration numbers 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland) Water Cycle Challenge – 01/07/2017 – Rider Info Pack

The Important Stuff

Please read and adhere to the below. It’s in red, therefore it’s very important.

RULES: The wearing of a cycling HELMET is mandatory. Riders are reminded that the event is not a race. TRI- BARS are not allowed, nor is the use of a following support car or any pacing vehicles. Riders are expected to use the road in compliance with the Highway Code and within the law and always show respect to other road users, participants and members of the public.

DO NOT LITTER, respect the environment 

ABILITY: All routes have challenge in them through distance and height gain. You should familiarise yourself with the distances and amount of climbing required in each route and compare it to what you are currently able to manage. If they don’t match up then you should consider dropping down a distance! Please let us know on the day if this is your intention. If you’re relatively inexperienced with distance cycling then it’s also worth noting the effect that weather conditions can have on the day – wind, rain and heat can influence performance significantly.

There are some great tips on preparation at http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/sportivetips.

NUTRITION: Again, if you’re relatively new to sportives then it’s worth giving some thought to your nutrition and hydration during the event. There are lots of energy products out there and different ones suit some more than others. We will provide some sweet and savoury food staples, flapjacks, bananas, sweets and the like at the feed stations but you should always have a stash in your back pocket for that jelly leg moment!

HYDRATION: Don’t underestimate your need for fluid intake. You are strongly advised to have 2 bottles with you if possible if the forecast is to be warm. If your frame only has one cage, consider a hip or seat carrier.

YOUR GEAR: Please make sure your bike is in good working order before the event. So if you have a shifter that’s been playing up for a while or a tyre that’s nearly through – now’s the time to get it sorted. Basic ‘broom wagon’ support will be available however it is a riders responsibility to repair punctures, minor mechanicals etc. so bring the tools you need to do this!

EVENT CANCELATION: The organisers reserve the right to cancel the event. A contingency route may also be implemented depending on weather conditions on the day.

Charity registration numbers 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland)