MSBH 2024 SPORTIVE

RIDER INFORMATION

The focus of this event is on enjoyment - and a little self-reliance, but here is some helpful information.

PLEASE COME AND REGISTER IF AT ALL POSSIBLE BEFORE THE MORNING OF THE EVENT. We are only a few and we don’t want any hold ups. Registration is open from 5.00pm - 8.30pm on Thursday and Friday.

NO CHIP TIMING, go on, ride your bike for fun, enjoy the countryside and friends; a good old fashioned day out. We want to encourage participation, fun and of course, a little beer drinking. If you are at all competitive (I know who you are) we have set up a STRAVA CLUB JUST FOR THE HAPPENING SPORTIVE. Want to see how you compared on the Cairn o’ Mount to your fellow riders? 

join here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/531203

Here are a few last minute instructions that will help everyone enjoy a great day out

DON'T LEAVE ANY LITTER BEHIND - take it all with you please.

ROUTE

We have updated the website with Strava routes and downloadable GPX files that can all be uploaded to your devices. PLEASE NOTE THESE MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEY WERE FIRST PUBLISHED. NOTE: ALL STRAVA ROUTES WILL HAVE 2023 AT THE END OF THE TITLE. 

There will be arrows, but you must be self reliant (know your route). You could be first round or at the tail and not see anyone for a while.

Link to website for Strava & GPX files can be found HERE

Routes will be marked by way of arrows, any marshals are there to indicate direction and help with any assistance required. Marshals have no authority to stop or direct traffic. The event is self led and directional arrows are provided to assist. Please familiarise yourself with the route.

There are 4 steeper descents and 2 you MUST walk down (these are short) and will be indicated with SLOW and CAUTION signs. The two walking sections / descents are next to each other and will have additional DISMOUNT and STEEP & ROCKY signs with hazard tape to block a direct route making it impossible to cycle, even if you have the skills!

Don’t put other riders at risk by trying to ride here, injuring yourself and taking our doctors and first-aiders away from other vital support areas is not very clever (thank you)

CAUTION - PLEASE

There are two very short sections that are unridable and require extreem caution. These descents are next to each other as you turn off the land rover track after Mid Hill and will have additional DISMOUNT / STEEP & ROCKY signs with hazard tape to block a direct route making it impossible to cycle, even if you have the skills!. We have Reccied this and the erosion is worse than ever, please, please don’t be a hero !!!

BIOSECURITY

Tree diseases and pests are posing an increasing threat to our forests and can be spread very quickly from forest to forest on muddy tyres, boots or paws. We believe everyone who loves spending time in the forest will want to help if they can to reduce the risk of spread of disease. For some simple ways everyone can help follow the link to find out more HERE

Lastly, please do not approach any turbines as these are operated automatically and can stop when approached.

REDO with YELLOW arrows all the way.

DINAEDO: We will be attaching over 300 route markers to trees poles and blades of grass…This means we did not want to add another 200. Thus you will need to think a little about your route, please see the aide-mémoire below. Routes can be accessed on Strava or from downloadable GPX files HERE

NOTE: DINAEDO ROUTE - You pass Strachan four times allowing better utilisation of the feed stop. DO NOT take the Feughside to AA box road at any point.

We will do the shooting greens and the monument 1st (anti-clockwise). 2nd time round after the Cairn o’Mount you will do the monument and then the shooting greens…clockwise.

DINAEDO Aide-mémoire

YELLOW signs from start for 15m until the 1st feed stop

RED for your 1st loop of shooting greens and monument back to 1st feed stop

YELLOW signs again from the 1st feed stop over and back over the Cairn O’ Mount to the 1st feed stop.

RED signs for your 2nd loop monument and shooting greens back to the feed 1st feed stop

YELLOW signs to finish back over the Garrol and the Slug.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

• 999 should be your first call incase of a true emergency

• Please also download and install the what3words app on your phone, this can be used to help us identify exactly where you are. (try using it before you ride, very easy and remember to let the app use your location)

BIKE SHED

This is where all things sportive are from registration to finishing… smaller this year, it won't rain will it !!, but it will mean a heap more cash for our charitable beneficiaries.

We have a whole bike shed just for you (well marquee really) containing all you need at the event, even your own small bar with our festival beer on tap. But do feel free to enjoy the food court and the other bars available at the festival.

Here you can register, mill around after the event and leave a bag at the bag-drop.

REGISTRATION

if you live nearby please help us and drop in past for your registration pack before Saturday - bring your ID in person only, we require you to sign the event disclaimer, so no 3rd party collections, thanks for your help.

You can collect your registration pack from the Beer Festival site at Baird Park, Stonehaven. Cycle tent is to the rear, walk round the main tent.

THURSDAY evening from the 5pm - 8.30pm

FRIDAY evening from the 5pm - 8.30pm

SATURDAY morning prior to the event start from 7.00am - 7.30am

START

We will start at the Cycle Sportive Marquee to the rear of the beer Marquee, be ready for a 7.45am briefing.

BAG DROP:

There will be space to leave a bag at registration on Saturday morning. Tag this yourself so you know your bag, there will be many similar bags!

TOILETS:

Toilets are provided at the start and finish feed as well as feed stations, please use these.

PARKING:

Free car parking can be found close by at Stonehaven Open Air Pool. Why not help by traveling with a friend as parking can be limited. Please do not park on the access road to the start.

WAVES / START:

Please register before Saturday if you can, if not arrive in plenty of time to be ready to start sharp at 7.45am

Note fastest riders off first, this reduces the amount of riders passing each other.

Waves will depart at: 

1Waves will depart at: (Each wave will be split into groups of approx 30 riders at two minute intervals.)

1st Wave 08:00 - 08:15 (18mph) (GRDO - 9mph)

2nd Wave 08:15 - 08:30 (16mph) (GRDO - 10mph)

3rd Wave 08:30 - 08:45 (14mph) (GRDO - 11mph)

4th Wave 08:45 - 09:00 (12mph) (GRDO - > 12mph)

If you have requested wave changes we will have adjusted this for you.

WATER

You WILL all start with TWO FULL bottles of water. There are 1,000 riders and 2,000, (yes 2,000L) of water on the course. The maths says that is just over 2 bottles each and yes, you do spill a little!

LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT

Please CONSIDER USING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES en route rather than a feed station, businesses affected are:

The Arch Cafe: great coffee, cake and lunch options

The Fettery Shoppe: Full of essential drinks to boost you just in time for the Cairn again

The Clattern Brig cafe: again lots of coffee, cake or lunch items.

Also please support our event sponsors.

FEED STATIONS

There will be plenty of food en route carefully prepared by volunteers, if you fancy bringing some cake or flapjacks along to contribute please do before close of registration on Friday.

Water, bars, bananas, oranges, yum-yums, pretzels, sandwiches, butteries and sausage rolls will be provided. Please take food of your own also and leave some 

at the stops for others. Toilets are available at feed stops 1. Strachan and 2. Clatterin Brig - please use these and not the grass.

Feed 1a). Strachan (UNDO / REDO / DINAEDO)
Feed 1b). Strachan (DINAEDO)
Feed 2a). Clatterin Brig (UNDO / REDO / DINAEDO)
Feed 2b). Clatterin Brig (REDO / DINAEDO)
Feed 3a). Strachan (UNDO / REDO / DINAEDO)
Feed 3b). Strachan (DINAEDO)

GRAVEL DO FEED STATION:

1 only, located at the exit to the Slug road at 25 miles.

Ensure you have enough food and water to get you this far (9mph = 3hrs approx)

FINISH:

The event will be deemed to have finished at 17:00 on Saturday 18th June 2022, if you have not completed the route by this time you will be offered assistance back to the finish. If this is declined you will be deemed to have left the event.

MECHANICAL SUPPORT

Bike Remedy will have a station for emergency repairs at the start. This is not a free get-my-bike-serviced-deal and it really is just for emergencies.

We will provide basic mechanical support during the event, two broom wagons following the rear, as well as a permanent station at Clatterin Brig. You should however come prepared for all eventualities and be self-sufficient.

There will be NO mechanical support on the GRDO gravel route, take at least 2 tubes and an appropriate tool-kit.

ROAD SAFETY

Safety and special considerations:

• Respect all road users

• The Cairn o’ Mount is closed from Strachan to the opposite side, we have also secured access only closure between Clatterin Brig through Drumtochty Glen, still respect road rules and look out for the road closed signs when descending the Cairn at the bottom and the Glen Dye hill. There may still be vehicles on the road, in error, our support vehicles or for home access, expect this at all times

• Keep your line – indicate changes in direction, holes and obstructions

• All right hand turns – there are a number

• All downhills, especially Cowton, Cairn O'Mount and the Shooting Greens in both directions where applicable. Sharp left hand turn at Clatterin Brig. 

• At the bottom of the Cairn O'Mount at Clatterin Brig there will be a feed stop. Riders NOT stopping should stay to the INSIDE/LEFT, allowing riders taking the chance to stop to turn right as you go left.

• Helmets must be worn at all times.

• Please ensure that you arrive at the event with your bike in good working order.  In particular ensuring both front and rear brakes are fully functional and all components are tightly in place. 

• Please wear clothing that is visible, most accidents occur when motorists say they never saw you.

• Please don't wear headphones, it is anti-social and you can't hear other road users.

• When cycling in groups, leave sensible gaps and don't overlap wheels, most accidents occur between cyclists in groups. Respect each other.

• Please attempt not to ride in groups of greater than 10.

• Be courteous to pedestrians and horses, remember they may not have heard you coming.

• Please ride safely, follow the rules of the road and respect other road users.

• Carry a mobile phone at all times.

• There will be many varied abilities on the road please be prepared to accommodate this.

• If in the case of a serious injury do not wait for backup, call 999 immediately, we have medical services on the route, but they may not be close to you.

• Please let us know if you abandon the event, this will save us looking all night for you.

• It's tempting to have your family out on the route, but many of the roads are small and there are many riders and other road users trying to co-exist, so please help us and welcome the riders back at the finish only.

Now get your glass, free entry to the festival and a free beer on us!

As part of the MSBH sportive you have entry to the beer festival afterwards.

Thank you!

MSBH, Bike Remedy and Stonehaven Cycling Club.

Remember this is a fun day out and you are part of an event organised for the community for the community, we will have raised over £250,000 for local projects and groups, this year alone we hope to raise over £50,000. Thank you for your participation.

SPORTS MASSAGE & THERAPY

KT Sports Massage Therapy, based in Stonehavenprovides Sports Massage Therapy including Soft Tissue Release, Muscle Energy Techniques and Kinesiology Taping.

KT Sports Massage has kindly offered to see any sportive participants with any issues prior or after participation, please don’t hesitate to go along and see her. Please support KT Sports Massage Therapy (face book)