The Devon Coast-Coast Challenge

Newsletter Issue 5

22nd June 2007

Not long to go! Are you ready? Feel good? Great!

This issue includes-

• Ride Checklist
• The Route
• Scheduled Stops
• The Coach back again
• Mechanicals
• Ride Photo's

Let's go!

Ride Checklist

Here's some thoughts from previous years about what you should bring.

Please bring two bags : one that will be carried in the van accompanying your group (& will be accessible at stops) and a second bag that will be transported to the Mayflower for the end of  the ride.

We recommend that you keep valuables (cash, mobile) on your person.

The vans will carry limited supplies of water and snacks (bananas, flapjacks and doughnuts). We suggest you bring the following –

Day bag :             Spare water bottle
                           Energy drink
                           Energy bars / snacks
                           Extra clothing as required (eg fleece for lunch)
                           Spare inner tube
                           Lunch (unless you’re dining at Little Chef/ Burgerking)

Finish bag :         Towel & toiletries
                          Change of clothes
                          If your coming back on the coach- Bike bag (or dust sheet, old duvet cover etc) to protect your pride and joy on the return journey

Cash :                           £5 entry fee (collected on registration)
                           £8 for coach/minibus home (collected on bus)
                           Money for bar and BBQ at Mayflower

Bike & helmet !

Remember, at the end, there will be 100+ riders stood round, drinking and swimming; all very tired- ideal picking for a thief- so it may also be worth bringing a lock to ensure that you get home again.

The Route

As we have said, there is a detour to the route we all know and love this year. When coming down through Barnstaple from the Hospital, just pass the Fire Station turn RIGHT at the traffic lights, then continue and trunk RIGHT at the next traffic lights. This takes you out towards Braunton- when you turn LEFT at the next traffic lights to go across the New Downstream Bridge. At the other end, and the 'square about' (look for the builders yard on it!), go round, and up the NEW Sticklepath hill.

Listen folks, it is your responsibility that you stay on route. At the beginning we will give out a route planner when you register- make sure you know where you are going! There are more than enough riders who have been before- this is why we suggest you buddy up with them, so they can keep an eye on you, you can keep an eye on them, and more importantly, we get to Plymouth happy and together.

You can also approach anyone in either the Cost to Coast top or a Children's Hospice shirt for any help.

Scheduled Stops

The plan stops are this year-

Start- Ilfracombe

Roundswell Service Station, Barnstaple (Toilets)

Torrington School Lay bye (changed from the advertised BP garage Torrington- this is to enable regrouping after the hilly part from Barnstaple before the ride through Torrington)

Gribble Inn Lay bye

Hatherleigh Bypass

Little Chef, Okehampton Bypass (Toilets) (One hour stop)

Tavistock Square (Toilets)

Yelverton Roundabout (Toilets)

And of course, Plymouth Mayflower Boating Club (Toilets)

Each stop will enable the group to come back together again; once it has, it will set off roughly 5 minutes later. This will give enough time for Doughnuts, drink and conversation.

The Coach back again

Sean has done a great job this year organising the coach back,with provisions to get your bikes back as well.

However, this is ONLY for those who have registered. If you have not registered yet, I am sorry, it's too late- the spaces are all taken.

The time table will be

7pm Leave Plymouth

9pm Barnstaple Bus Station

9.20 Braunton Comprehensive

9.40 Ilfracombe pier.

These are obviously approximate.

Those who have registered- can you email Sean at seanross@f2s.com to let him know which drop off you require, to help with the planning of the loading. Thank you.

Mechanicals

A new rule of thumb this year. To help keep the ride going smoothly, we have a new procedure for any mechanicals.

Firstly, try to fix it. If you can't fix it by the time the support van reaches you, then you MUST enter the van and fix your bike inside as you go along. When it is fixed you can hop back out again and join in.

Obviously, if you have not fixed it by the next scheduled shop, then we will all pile in with helpful tips and a guiding hand to mend that bike.

Please don't EVER drop behind the support van. If you have punctured, and you do drop behind, another puncture will ensure that you don't see us again, and you end up with a long, lonely day- which is not the point of the day.

Ride Photo's

As always, I will be compiling a gallery of the great photo's of this year's ride. If you have any, please email them to me- simon@coast-coast.co.uk- and I will pop them up on the site.

Well, that's it.

All done.

All that is left now, is to ride.....

See you all Sunday!

Simon, Sean, Mark, Ian and Mike