Welcome to the PPA funride information section, and a special welcome if you are new to cycling ;-) We hope the following will help you to really enjoy your event:
PPA oversees a full annual calendar, with over 70 road and mountain bike events. When you enter a PPA-approved event, you know that the event conforms to certain minimum safety and organizational standards!
Please be aware that events sometimes do get cancelled, while routes may on occasion change due to, for example, road works in the week before an event.
1) Before you leave home
Check that you have everything you need: Your bicycle (remember to pack both wheels!), a puncture repair kit, your helmet (no helmet, no ride), your timing chip/transponder, your PPA seeded funride number, securely pinned to the back of your cycling jersey, your water bottle (we recommend that you take two bottles with you - one filled with plain water and the other with your energy drink of choice), an energy bar or gel sachet (or two, depending on the length of the ride), and some clean clothes to wear afterwards.
Although security is provided at most events, we recommend that you do not leave any valuables (including your wallet) in the car.
2) Entries and entry fees
You can enter PPA funrides either by Pre- (online), Late (on the day) or Easy Entries (pre-paid entries bought at the PPA Office).
While most events charge the recommended PPA entry fees, some events do charge different fees (either higher or lower) – these are indicated as such in the calendar section of our web site, in the printed calendar and on the entry forms.
What are Easy Entry tickets?
While we strongly recommend that you use the online entry system to enter PPA funrides, as a PPA member you can also buy books of “Easy Entry” tickets from our office, or from our Mobile Office after an event (note: while you can buy EE tickets from the PPA Office during the week, we may only start selling EE tickets at events after the event has started). In short, an "Easy Entry" is a pre-paid entry ticket, which you buy in booklets of 5, and which lets you pay the pre-entry rate, on the day of the event. Easy Entry tickets expire 18 months after being bought, or as notified by the Executive Committee. However, EE tickets are not accepted at some events where the entry fee is significantly more than the recommended PPA entry fee - please check with the event organiser or PPA staff.
Note that the online entry fee is generally the cheapest way of entering an event. Online entries usually close at noon on the Thursday before an event, although some events have an earlier cut-off date. These will usually be indicated as such.
3) Entering an event
Please note that you need to enter or complete your entry at the Registration tables at the funrides, for the route/distance you wish to ride.If you entered the event online, there will be a special table where your name will be marked off .
You’ll then receive a helmet sticker as confirmation of payment, even for online entries. These helmet stickers change from event to event. Please place this helmet sticker in a prominent position on your helmet (where our start marshals can see it easily) as proof of payment/entry.
* * * Please make sure that you do receive your helmet sticker, as the start line marshals will ask you to go back to the registration tables if you do not have it with you, and you could then miss the start.
4) Check your funride number
Before heading off to the start chutes, make sure that you have your PPA funride number securely pinned to your cycling jersey (do this at home; not all events have spare pins at the registration tables!) When you join PPA, you'll receive a PPA funride number and membership card, valid to end-June when the membership year ends, within two weeks. (If you dont - pse contact the PPA Office, although lately the Post Office has delivered all numbers and membership cards safely).
If you forget your number at home, you need to get another number at the registration tables before you leave for the start chutes. This can either be a temp unseeded number (R5) or a temp seeded number (R30, provided that a seeded number has already been allocated to you and has been saved on the database). We cannot seed / reseed members at events; if you join PPA at an event as a new member, you'll receive a Z seeded number. Please see below for more information on seeding and seeded groups.
5) Going to the start chutes
Once you’ve entered the event and received your helmet sticker, please make your way to your designated start group (as per your PPA seeded number which you must pin securely to your back, without folding the number in any way), which will be indicated by the alphabetical start category boards. These boards will be placed in alphabetical order with “A” being nearest the start line.
The first group will leave at the time advertised for the ride and the rest of the field will follow at staggered 1-3 minute intervals. You have to line up with your seeded group, or with a “lower“ seeded group.
While you may start with a “lower” group, you will be disqualified if you start with a faster group. For example, if you have a “V” seeding, then you can ride with a friend in “X”, but not with a friend in “S”. Our PPA marshals will be on hand to assist with this process – please do ask them should you have a query in this regard.
6) Go over the timing mats
Transponders are electronic timing devices used to record your funride results, which are then displayed on the PPA web site. You will need to purchase one from PPA if you wish to receive an official finish time for a PPA event. Only the results of paid-up members wearing a transponder will be recorded on our web site, as timed results is a direct benefit of PPA membership. To this effect, PPA subsidises the electronic timing system annually.
Please fasten your transponder around your right ankle with the Velcro strap provided (not on your shoe or bicycle, unless you use the special bike mount) and make sure that you ride over both the start and finish mats. If you do not hear your transponder ‘beep’ as you cross the timing mats, please speak to the crew at the mats and/or cross the timing mat a second time.
No transponder – no time!
7 Receiving water at water points
Cyclists must STOP and get off their bikes at water points, should they wish to get a drink or refill a water bottle. Cyclists can be disqualified for receiving water 'on the go', as inthe past this practise has caused terrible falls. In road rides, there is generally a water table every 30km, but we recommend that you always carry two water bottles with you and fill up as you pass a water point so that you always have enough water with you.
8) During the ride: Funride rules and general behaviour
Certain funride rules have been compiled to assist in keeping cyclists safe on the road, while others govern general behaviour on the day. In particular, you may not cross the middle (median) of the road (the centre white line), you may not ride with an ipod or cell phone earpiece (we have seen cyclists nearly get hit by cars or bunches coming from behind because they did not hear them over the music), you may not 'draft' or receive any assistance from vehicles other than official vehicles during an event, you may not litter, and any children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Cyclists will also be disqualified for contravening municipal bylaws like urinating at the start chutes - please visit the toilets closer to registration on your way to the start line.
Please note that you can be disqualified without a prior warning, should you be reported by a marshal for transgressing any of the funride rules. Read more in the PPA Funride rules section of the site.
9) When you finish
You need to cross the timing mats again at the finish in order for your time to be recorded. If you did not complete the full route for whatever reason, then please do NOT CROSS the timing mats, or you could be disqualified for more than one event. Then proceed to the Coke and medal tables, and enjoy 're-riding' the event with your friends!
GENERAL QUESTIONS
SEEDING/SEEDED NUMBERS
All PPA members who live in and around the Western Cape will receive a seeded number to wear at PPA events when they join/renew. If you do not live in this region, but intend to participate in Cape-based PPA events; simply request a number to be sent to you.
As a new member, if you have not yet completed the Cycle Tour or a Cycle Tour seeding series event in the last year, then you will automatically receive an open seeded number (Z-category).
We reseed on a monthly basis, with seeding runs taking place usually at midnight on the first Tuesday of the month. In general, you can apply to be reseeded after you’ve completed enough PPA events that conform to the various seeding requirements.
Please note that NOT ALL EVENTS are used for seeding. For instance, "listed MTB events" are mostly not used; while the medium and short routes of funrides often do not conform to all the required checks and balances to be used for seeding. You'll find more info in the "SEEDING" section on our website.
You can check out your seeding on the PPA web site at any time – just follow the prompts from the “SEEDING” link and contact the PPA office when you see that you qualify for a new number. Please note that you will be required to return your existing number in order to get a new one, and that there is a cost associated to reseeding.
Please do not fold, cut or modify your seeded number in any way, but simply pin it securely onto the back of your cycling jersey.
If you have not received your seeded number and membership card within two weeks of joining/renewing, or if you join during the week and wish to participate in a PPA funride that very same weekend, then please contact the PPA office to make alternate arrangements to receive your seeded number.
FORGOTTEN SEEDED NUMBERS
Forgotten your seeded number at home? If you do not have a seeded number or if you have left yours at home, then you will need to pay R5.00 for a temporary number. However, please note you will not be allowed to start in your usual seeded start group, but you will have to start in the temporary category at the back of the field. Some temp seeded numbers are available at events, at an additional cost of R50.
WATER POINTS AND ENERGY DRINKS
On average, there will be a water point every 25 -30 km on a road event, or every hour on a MTB event. We recommend that you ride with at least one big (750 ml) water bottle, which should last you for just over an hour, although it would be preferable to ride with two full water bottles, or one bottle and a “Camelbak”. Fill one water bottle with an energy drink with a 10% carbohydrate solution (no more, or it could cause stomach cramps), and one with plain water or more energy drink.
Do not experiment with new energy drinks on race day; try the different solutions out during training as some drinks may not agree with your stomach. If you run out of energy drink solution on the morning of an event and do not want to ride with plain water, try a solution of half fruit juice (eg Apple or Grape) and half water. This will also give you a roughly 10% carbohydrate solution.
It is often recommended that an event where the total duration is less than two hours, can be done on plain water. For an event longer than two hours, it is recommeded that some for of energy supplement is taken - either with your drink or through a gel.
If you are running low on water and/or it is a hot day, rather stop at a water point and refill your water bottle to make sure you have enough to drink right up to the finish line.
After the finish, keep on drinking water until your urine runs clear.
ENERGY BARS & GELS
Check how long it takes for your chosen energy supplement to be absorbed - it does not make sense that you start eating energy bars during the latter part of your race, but the absorption rate is longer than the remainder of the event. Then rather go for a quick-acting gel. On average, bananas and fruit take a while to digest.
CLOTHES
What should you wear at a funride? The padded cycling shorts will do wonders to protect your bum - these are designed to be worn without underpants. A tightfitting cycling top is far more aerodynamic than a flapping t-shirt, and if you can get hold of a cycling top made from a fabric that will wick moisture away from your body, you'll find that much cooler than a cotton shirt. Top cyclists usually wear two tops - an undershirt (made from cycling fabric) as well as an outer shirt. In the unhappy instance of a fall, the two shirt rub over each other and provide your skin with a little more protection from the tar.
Take your arm warmers with you as a matter of principle - you may even want to wear them to protect you from the sun. If the weather looks dicey, than a rain/wind jacket can be rolled up in your back pocket - rather be safe than cold!
Make sure that you have a pair of comfortable gloves to help protect your hands from road shock, and in the case of a fall.
EMERGENCY NUMBER AT EVENTS
The PPA event co-ordinator always carries the following cell phone: 083 414 1442. In case of any emergency en route, please phone this number (save it in your cell phone!). If the number is busy, please try again. If the funride takes place in the City of Cape Town Metropole, than the City can also be contacted in case of an emergency: From a cell phone, call 021 480 7700.
SWEEP VEHICLES
Please note that the official event sweep vehicles will carry the appropriate PPA signage, and will mostly be open bakkies or bakkies with trailers. If you are in doubt as to whether a sweep vehicle is part of the funride, please phone the PPA emergency phone on 083 414 1442 to check.
CUT-OFF TIMES
Please note that the starting times indicated on the calendar are a guide only, and that a start may at times be delayed for safety reasons. The cut-off time for a road event is calculated at 20 km/h from the estimated starting time of the last group to leave in the long route, while the cut-off time for MTB events are calculated based on the degree of difficulty of the route. If you are uncertain as to whether you’ll complete the long route within the cut-off time, we recommend that you participate in the medium route instead.
VISITING RIDERS (NON-MEMBERS)
Seeding and seeded starts are a benefit and priviledge of PPA membership, which means that non-members start behind the PPA members. However, visitors are welcome to join the Association on a short-term basis, and receive a seeded number to use in one or two events. Please contact the PPA office no later than the Thursday preceding an event for which you would like short-term seeding (this cannot be organised only on the morning of the event!).
VISITING RIDERS: LEAGUES/RACING
Please note that there are various requirements in order to enter the PPA leagues, including seeding and licensing criteria. Visiting riders are welcome to contact Tracy at the PPA office to enquire about short-term PPA and league membership. Please note that special league numbers are required to ride league, which need to be organised with the PPA office before noon on the Thursday preceding the event. No league registrations take place on the morning of the event.
CLUB 1000/2000/3000
PPA members who complete 1000 km during a funride season (1 July – 30 June), get a mention on our website, while members who complete 2000 km or even 3000 km during a season, get a special certificate and cap! Read more on our web site at www.pedalpower.org.za.