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All your questions answered....
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When is it on?
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18th and 19th of June 2010. But you can write off Sunday the 20th aswell because you will be travelling back from Galway
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How do I register?
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Click on the Register Now Tab on the homepage and follow instructions
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Is there an age limit?
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Yes, you need to be 18 years or over. However there is no upper age limit!!
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How much do I need to raise?
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The vast majority of our cyclists raise �500 or more each year, however the minimum requirement to take part is �50 non refundable deposit when registering.A further �300 in sponsorship is the minimum that must be raised (total �350 inc the deposit) per cyclist.
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How much of the money that I raise actually goes to the charity?
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100% of what you raise goes to the "Chernobyl Children's Project International". The expenses for the cycle are covered by our corporate sponsors and by the sale of advertising on the official event cycle jersey. The vast majority of our services are donated free of charge from various businesses and organisations. Our entire organising team and support crew work on a voluntary basis. We have NO paid staff at all.
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How long is it?
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130 miles approx in total. Each Leg is approximately the same, approx, 65 miles to Limerick from Cork and 65 miles from Limerick to Galway. We stop at Mallow & Charleville on the first day to re-group and get refreshments & again in Ennis and Gort on the second day before arriving in Eyre Square Galway at approx 6pm.
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What training should I do?
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Firstly, if you've never done anything like this or do not take part in regular exercise we would reccommend you consult your GP.
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If you are already active i.e. play sport regularly; then you will automatically have a base level of fitness, the rest is just a matter of putting miles in the �bank�. You start of maybe doing 2-3 miles just to get used to the feel of the bike and cycling in general. Maybe 3 times a week for first week or two. Then try add about two or three miles a week to your journey total each week and my general rule of thumb is that if you can cycle 25 miles(as this is the longest single journey length we do) and not feel like you are needing to be admitted to hospital, then you are capable of completing the event- the amount of training you do after that will just help increase your fitness and also make the journey less grueling , and more enjoyable
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If you are inactive, then you need to put serious training together � you have to be realistic � if you don�t use your muscles or lungs regularly at then moment and you think you can just hop on a bike to Galway,.. You�ll be in the ambulance at Blackpool.- you should be thinking of visiting your GP to ensure you aren�t going to encounter any health issues when you start training. You will then need to start training again with something similar to above but again; you have to take it serious to some degree. Doing one 10k cycle on the Easter weekend doesn�t mean that you are ready. Also, remember that you are using totally different muscles to the ones you�d use for running / swimming etc. so don�t think that you can train for this without a bike-
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Should I buy any cycle clothing?
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You are required to wear a cycle helmet. It is compulsory. Other than that the rest is optional. It would be great if you had a cycle top or equivalent (soccer shirt is suitable) and a comfortable pair of shorts. As it�s over two days you may need a change of gear for the second day. Other things that could make the journey more comfortable would be: Shades � Gloves- Rain Jacket- ankle socks- cycle shoes (if your pedals require them)
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Do I need special Equipment?
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You should have a roadworthy bicycle. If it hasn�t been used for a while please get it serviced.Go to our friends at Kilgrews for help! Nothing worse than having a puncture or chain break outside city hall in Cork! Hybrids or Traditional Racing Bikes seem to be best but mountain bikes and others have also taken part but you will have to put in more of an effort! A Water Bottle and a puncture repair kit/ Maintenance bag would be good to have.
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What is the Race Pace?
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The group will always cycle together when leaving Cork,& Pit stops at Mallow,Charleville,& Limerick on day one and Ennis Gort and Galway on day two. However once we leave each town and are on the open road you are free to go for it!- We have an experienced lead car driver who will lead any cyclists who want to push themselves to the limit to the next pit stop, however because of the nature of this event you may be waiting at the pit stop for the remainder of the cyclist to arrive! We would encourage all participants to train as much as possible. While we never want to discourage anyone who wants to take part, we must advise you that if you do little or no training it will become quiet apparent very quickly.
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What if I feel unwell or need to stop on the road?
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There is a broom car at the rear of the pack for anyone feeling the pain and in need of some rest. We also will have an ambulance/medical support.This also helps ensure that we stay on schedule.
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What do I do if I have a problem with my bike or a puncture?
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It is good practice to have at least one spare tube and a small bike toolkit with you in case you need to do running repairs, however we do have a support vehicle and mechanic kindly provided by kilgrews cycles who will endeavour to get you back on the road. Please note you will be required to pay for any parts that may need to be fitted to your bike.
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Can I use my i-Pod or MP3 player whilst cycling?
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Short answer? NO. Using equipment like this when cycling in a group is very dangerous. You will not be able to hear cyclists or vehicles who might be overtaking you and you will also be easily distracted. - do not endanger others, obey all stewards and please act responsibly at all times.
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Is there water or food provided?
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Food and drinks are provided free of charge at the �pit stops� during the two days. There is no need for you to bring any food with you. You will need your own water bottle for your bike to re-fill at these stops. There are also mid-stage watering stations, you wont even have to stop !!
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How does my luggage get to Limerick and Galway?
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We have dedicated luggage vans to transport your luggage to Limerick and Galway. However, for logistical and security reasons once you put your bag in the van we cannot allow you to access it again until we arrive in Limerick (and also Galway). It is therefore advisable that all essential items such as mobile phones, inhalers, rain jackets, or other items should be kept on your person, preferably in the pockets of your cycle shirt.
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Where is the accommodation?
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Due to the large numbers we have a few different accommodation locations. These will be advised closer to the date.
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How do I get back from Galway?
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There are Buses provided to take you back to Cork
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How does my bike get back from Galway?
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An articulated truck will take all our bikes back to the City hall in Cork, right back where you started from! They will be waiting for you to collect on Sunday Afternoon when you get off the coach from Galway. If you are very protective of your bike (if it�s expensive) it might be an idea to bring some sort of protection for it while its being transported. We cannot accept responsibility for any scratches to bikes.
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Where are our bikes kept when we are not cycling?
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In Limerick they are kept securely locked up at Mary I college & in Galway they are already travelling home as you party the night away in Galway.
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Is there a party in Galway to celebrate?
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Absolutely, you have just cycled from Cork with 400 others! You deserve to celebrate. We will announce the venue for the 2010 cycle BBQ closer to the date. Keep checking back to this site.
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Where do I send my Sponsor Card and Money?
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We will take sponsor cards and money on the Friday morning of the cycle when you register. You can also send your cards and money to Niall Kennedy c/o Pfizer drug product plant, Loughbeg, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork. We would appeal to you to send in your money as soon as you can. We would ideally like to have all the money returned by the end of July. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated. If you are having difficulty in collecting your money, don�t hesitate, please contact us.
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Is there a contact mobile number?
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Yes its 083-371 5685. This can also be used for emergency contact with the support crew when we are on the road to Galway.
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