2018 Event Information Guide Stage 1 participants - Virgin Strive ...

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2018 Event Information Guide
Stage 1 participants

Welcome to your comprehensive Event Info Guide! Any STRIVE Challenge is a major
undertaking, both in terms of the challenge itself but also the training and preparation. This
document is intended to provide you with all the logistical information you should need to make the
next 9 months as seamless as possible. Please refer to this document any time you have a
question, if the information isn’t there please get in touch with our Participant Managers at
(StriveSupport@big-change.org).

Looking forward to getting started with you all!

EVENT SPONSORS                                              EVENT PARTNERS
CONTENTS

1.   Challenge overview                    3
2.   Flights, ground transport and bikes   4
3.   Accommodation                         5
4.   Stages overview                       6
5.   Training                              7
6.   Our support team                      8
7.   Medical support                       9
8.   Mechanical support                    10
9.   On the route                          11

10. At the hotel                           12
11. Packing list                           13
12. Insurance                              15
13. Fundraising & next steps               16

                                     2
Section 1: Challenge overview

 Stage                         Day     Date     Detail
 Arrival day                   Thurs   30-Aug   Stage 1 participants arrive in Sardinia
                               Fri     31-Aug   Cycle
                               Sat     01-Sep   Cycle
 Stage 1: Sardinia cycle       Sun     02-Sep   Cycle
 & sea kayaking                Mon     03-Sep   Cycle
                               Tue     04-Sep   Sea kayak
                               Wed     05-Sep   Sea kayak
 Departure day                 Thurs   06-Sep   Stage 1 participants depart from Sardinia
*Itinerary subject to change

                                                3
Section 2: Flights, ground transport and bikes

Flights
It is your responsibility to organise and book your own flights from your local country to/from the
start/finish airports.

Ground transport
We will provide you with coach services from Cagliari and Alghero airports to the event start and
from the event finish to Cagliari and Alghero airport. Please ensure your book your flight to arrive
in time for the scheduled coach times otherwise you will need to organise your own transfers.

The coaches will depart at the below times:

Inbound
   - Cagliari airport – Start hotel: Thursday 30th August, 13:00 (20 minutes transfer)
   - Alghero airport – Start hotel: Thursday 30th August, 13:45 (3 hour transfer)

Outbound
  - Finish hotel – Cagliari airport: Thursday 6th September, 08:00 (3 hour transfer)
  - Finish hotel – Alghero airport: Thursday 6th September, 10:45 (20 minute transfer)

We will provide all in-country ground transport that you require for the event, apart from for
personal needs.

Bike transport
Return ground bike transport from London is included within your entry fee. You will have five
days before/after the event to drop-off and collect your bike from our central location.

Address: On Your Bike, The Vaults, Montague Close, London SE1 9DA
Drop off between: Monday 20th August – Saturday 25th August
Pick up from: Thursday 6th September – Tuesday 11th September
NB: please check the opening/closing times before you go to drop off your bike as these vary.

Your bike does not need to wrapped or put in a bike box / bike bag. On Your Bike will provide
suitable protection for the transfer. Please make sure you remove all of your accessories such as
GPS, helmet, cleats from the bike.

Bikes will be insured whilst onsite at On Your Bike and whilst in transit with the transportation
service. You will be reunited with your bike in Cagliari before the first cycle stage.

If non-UK participants wish to use this service you will need to arrange the shipment of
your bike to/from London in time for the drop off date of the ground bike transportation
slot(s).

                                                  4
Section 3: Accommodation

Accommodation is included in your entry fee and you will be allocated based on twin occupancy
where it’s available. Below is a list of the nearest town that hotels will be located in. We will
confirm the hotels with you closer to the time.

 Stage                       Day      Date        Nearest Town
 Arrival day                 Thurs    30-Aug      Cagliari
                             Fri      31-Aug      Sant Antioco
                             Sat      01-Sep      Guspini
 Stage 1: Sardinia cycle     Sun      02-Sep      Fordongianus
 & sea kayaking              Mon      03-Sep      Alghero
                             Tue      04-Sep      Fertilia
                             Wed      05-Sep      Porto Conte
 Departure day               Thurs    06-Sep      NA

                                                 5
Section 4: Stages overview

Stage 1: Sardinia duathlon
The challenge kicks off with a picturesque four-day ride from Pula to Porte Conte. The cycling is
relatively gentle in STRIVE terms with the route taking in the stunning Sardinian countryside. This
stage will be perfect for less experienced cyclists. We are cycling an average of 100km, with an
average daily altitude gain of 1000m a day.

The sea kayaking is a totally new discipline to STRIVE. From Alghero to Porte Conte, we are
kayaking along the North-West Coast, taking in Sardinia’s most pristine waters and beautiful
coastline. We are kayaking roughly 10km a day, which will take about 6 hours with a break for
lunch.

Accommodation
The accommodation for the cycling and kayaking will be in hotels located along the route.

Finding your way
The entire route will be signed with arrows. We sign every junction before the turn, at the turn and
even add a confirmation arrow afterwards.

There will also be a couple of expert chaperones on hand to help you out if you get lost. Their
main role will to be on hand to ensure the safety of all riders, but will be able to offer advice and
support throughout the event.

Kit
You will be able to access a day bag throughout this stage. You will just need to drop your
rucksack off at the appropriate point at the hotel in the morning before you leave. This bag will
then be available at the lunch pit stop.

The rest of your luggage will then be waiting for you at the hotel when you arrive.

                                                   6
Section 5: Training

Training
The successful completion of the Virgin STRIVE Challenge 2018 will depend almost entirely on
your preparation and having the right mindset. Everyone lives a busy life but it is essential you get
as much (smart) training under your belt before the challenge kicks off.

A recommended training plan is available on the participant hub. Specific advice about training for
the sea kayaking will be communicated in the monthly newsletters.

There are also few training days throughout the year available to stage participants. The dates for
these can be found below but the sports are still to be confirmed. We encourage you to come to as
many of these sessions relevant to you as possible - not only will they be good practice they will
also be essential for getting to know your fellow team members and some of the support crew too.

   •   12th May 2018
   •   30th June 2018
   •   7th July 2018

More information on the training days will be shared in due course.

                                                  7
Section 6: Our support team
The event team (all stages)
Our event team (led by Threshold Sports) is responsible for making sure you have a fantastic and
safe experience during the challenge. Threshold will look after the following elements:

   •   Training events                                  •   Ground transportation
   •   Event logistics                                  •   Daily luggage transfers (from hotel to
   •   Participant wellbeing and queries                    hotel)
   •   Accommodation                                    •   Lunch stops
   •   Hospitality                                      •   Supplier and partner management
   •   Bike transport

Medical support
The medical team provided by Jigsaw Medical will be made up of the following team members.

Cycle stages:
  • 1 x doctor                                          •   Massage therapist
  • 2 x paramedics                                      •   Physio team

Cycle Support
Mediterras will manage the Sardinia bike stage. Their team will be made up of the following:

   •   A specialist route manager                       •   Mechanical team
   •   3 x chaperones                                   •   Signage team
   •   1 x broomwagon                                   •   Mobile catering team

Support Stage 1 (Kayaking support)
For the kayaking stage more details will be coming soon.

                                                8
Section 7: Medical Support

We will have a dedicated medical team on the event who will be available on the road, at the
lunch stop and at the hotel, with a morning and then an afternoon/evening clinic.

There will be emergency medical care available at all times.

Personal First Aid
No matter how fit you are, the Virgin STRIVE Challenge will hurt at times. Please be prepared.
You will be responsible for your own first aid. Use your experience from training to learn where
your weaknesses are and predict what problems may arise. Address any possible niggles now
before they become injuries on the event.

As much as there will be emergency medical care available at all times on the event, the team is
not there to provide very basic first aid.

Our medical team has collated a list of recommended items you should include in your main
packing list for the event in addition to your regular medical prescription(s):

   •   Paracetamol                                      •   Second Skin (alternative to Compeed
   •   Spare set of your usual medication:                  for saddle sores)
       keep this in a separate place                    •   Loperamide (Immodium)/ rehydration
   •   Ibuprofen                                            sachets
   •   Fabric plasters (assorted)                       •   Alcohol hand gel (for clean hands as
   •   Vaseline (or similar, for chafing)                   well as cleaning small wounds)
   •   Compeed (large)

Important info: keeping yourself hydrated and protected with sunscreen is also going to be
important to your success – in September the weather will still be hot and sunny.

                                                 9
Section 8: Mechanical support during cycling stages

During the cycle stages we will have mechanical support provided by Mediterras in Sardinia who
will be available on the road and at the hotels each evening and morning.

Bike Repairs
As well as offering this service at the hotels and pit stops, mechanics will be on call for roadside
repairs – but please remember you’ll need to fix your own punctures.

If your problem is something they can’t fix at the roadside, they’ll loan you a bike to finish the
stage (subject to availability). If you’d rather adjust your own bike, you’re more than welcome to
use a stand and tools.

Our bike mechanics are a very knowledgeable team, so feel free to ask for any advice. Please
ensure that if your bike needs attention, you seek advice as soon as possible.

Parts Stock
Our mechanical specialists will carry a good stock of the basic consumables such as tubes,
tyres, chains, brake pads etc. In addition to this, they’ll carry a range of parts that will allow them to
fix most problems that you may encounter during the cycling stages of the event. This will include
wheels, bearings, shifters etc.

At all times they will have a REPLACE NOT REPAIR approach as this is the most efficient way of
supporting all people on the event effectively.

Loan Bikes
If you have a serious problem with your bike, our mechanics will be carrying a number of loan
bikes in a range of sizes to ensure that you are able to finish each stage.

                                                   10
Section 9: On the route

Food and drink
Powering you during the day is our aim and there will be a selection of calorie packed foods for
you to eat. If you have any specific dietary requirements, we will ensure these are catered for
throughout the event. Sports nutrition will also be provided by our partners at Tribe.

During the cycle, there will be a lunch stop and ‘splash and dash’ stops in-between to fill up your
water bottle. PLEASE NOTE: There will not be toilets at the lunch stops, so please stop when you
see the opportunity when going through local towns.

The Broomwagon
The route will be open for just under a 10-hour period each day and all participants are required to
complete the daily stage within this time period.

The Broomwagon (a minibus at the back of rider field) will be travelling at an average speed of
around 10mph. You are required to stay in front of this at all times.

                                                 11
Section 10: At the hotel

We will be staying in a number of hotels during this epic challenge and listed below is what you
can typically expect during your stay.

Finish Line Recovery area
There will be a recovery area at each hotel, which you will be able to head to once you’ve crossed
the finish line. There will be various stations available for you include access to physios, sports
therapists and ice baths!

Food and Drink
Breakfast will be provided at your accommodation each day. Your evening meal will be provided at
the main overnight hotel each day or a local restaurant.

The food will be varied and plentiful, and we will cater for specific dietary requirements, which
you should state on your registration form.

Food is included in your entry fee, however you will be required to purchase your own alcoholic
drinks.

NB: when purchasing alcoholic drinks, please pay for these at the time and do not charge these to
your rooms.

Lost Property
If anything is found, and handed in, you’ll be able to pick this up at the Info desk, which will be
stationed at the main hotel each evening.

                                                  12
Section 11: Packing List

This is a suggested list of kit to bring with you to ensure that you are comfortable and prepared.

As part of your entry fee, you will be provided with the following kit, which will be given to you on
the live event:

                           Cycle                    General
                           Jersey x 4               Cap x 1
                           Gilet x 1                Beanie x 1
                           Bib shorts x 3           Water bottles x 2
                           Cycling cap x 2
                           Gloves x 2
                           Socks x 4
                           Rain jacket gilet x 1

In addition to the above, we therefore recommend bringing the following:

                                Cycle                            General

                  Helmet                            Underwear

                  Bike lights                       Casual clothing

                  Water/ wind jacket                Swimwear

                  Cycling socks x 4                 Flip flops

                  Long sleeved base layer (to
                                                    Trainers
                  cycle in) x 2

                  Cleats                            Travel towel

                  GPS device and charger (if        Water bottles (that can carry
                  you have one)                     2/3L) / camelbak

                  Cycle glasses/ sunglasses         Sunglasses

                                                    Sunscreen/ lip protector and
                  Buff/ skullcap/ headband
                                                    insect repellent

                  Chamois cream/ vaseline           Ear plugs

                                                   13
2 Bottle cages attached to         Personal medication/ mini first
                your bike                          aid kit
                Multi Tool – correct allen keys
                                                   Toiletries
                for your bike

                Puncture repair kit                Mobile phone and charger

                Mini bike pump                     European plug adapters

                Spare inner tubes

We appreciate that STRIVERS will have other commitments alongside the daily challenge but ask
you (where possible) to keep ‘techie’ provision down to phones and tablets only, and avoid
bringing laptops.

                                                  14
Section 12: Insurance

It is your responsibility to have taken out insurance cover suitable for your participation in the
event, which protects yourself, your personal belongings, and your bike.

 Stage              Requirements

 Cycling            -   Personal (incl. travel) and equipment

                                                  15
Section 13: Fundraising & next steps

Fundraising
As a Stage 1 participant you have a fundraising target of £3,000. Big Change will send you plenty
of content, information and tips on how to maximise your fundraising.

It is important to start your campaign as early as possible if you are to smash your target! Please
get in touch with the Participant Managers if you have any questions.

Next steps
Please ensure that you have read this document thoroughly. If you have any questions please
contact: StriveSupport@big-change.org.

The next things for you to do are:
   • Check the kit list and purchase any additional items
   • Purchase the right travel insurance
   • Look out for the monthly newsletters which will give you important updates about the
      challenge and Big Change
   • Start training!
          o The training programme can be found https://www.strivechallenge.org/documents-
             training-guides/. Please download this and build it into your schedule to ensure you
             are fully prepared

We will be sending more detailed information about each stage, including overview itineraries, 2
months prior to the event. We will also need to collate further information from you such as
booking onto airport ground transfers and bike transfers etc.

                                                 16
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