Hello everyone!

Well here we are, the big day has rolled around again, the 5th instalment of Nelson’s Tour de Test Valley on Saturday 16th September is here!

This ‘riders brief’ contains all the crucial information you need for the day. Please read it very carefully. 

Firstly a hugely sincere thank you for entering our sportive in memory of Nelson Pratt. The lanes and climbs you will be riding in the Test Valley were his favourite place to be on his bike, he would be very chuffed to see so many of you enjoying them. 

Again this year through your online entries alone (over 700!) the event has already raised well over £15,000 for our charity partner CALM, with the figure set to rise with your donations.

With every hard fought pedal rev your efforts are supporting a great cause and helping raise awareness for male suicide – currently the single biggest killer of young men in the UK, that’s over 12 men a day!

Over the last 4 years the event has raised over £200,000, crucially helping CALM employ more staff in it’s call centre, in turn helping save precious lives.

PLEASE if you haven’t already set up your CALM fundraising page now, every little bit does really help.
https://www.everydayhero.co.uk/event/TDTV

A massive good luck and thank you from everyone at CALM. The infographic attached shows the huge impact you have had on preventing male suicide. This year your support will allow us to do so much more. 

#Tourdetestvalley
Tag and share infographic alongside your pictures and selfies from the day to raise last minute sponsorship and awareness. 

SO – have an amazing ride and see you at the finish! 

———

TEXT DONATION

To make it super easy to donate to CALM we have set up a text donation number, would be great if you could send a text after you’ve read this!

Text:
TDTV17 £5 or £10 to 70070 (please include £sign)

———

LATEST NEWS: IMPORTANT NOTES

TRAVEL
The A303 is due to be shut Saturday EAST BOUND. Please check to see if it affects your travel plans.

We’re proud to say Olympic Bronze medalist Jenny Jones will be opening the ride again at approximately 0800. Nelson was Jenny’s freestyle snowboard coach.

PLEASE If you get lost for any reason safely retrace your steps to the last sign you saw, or call the emergency number on your rider number.

In the past 2 years some signs have been removed by idiots so please be vigilant!

* JERSEYS
Everyone that has pre-ordered a cycle jersey your order will be waiting for you at registration. PLEASE BRING CASH, no card payment available.

* CAPS
Our jazzy new cap will be available to buy at RIDE HQ. They are £15 with all proceeds going direct to CALM.

* SPORTS MASSAGE
We are really chuffed that once again the fine physios from Stockbridge Osteopathic Practice will be offering sports massage and treatments after your ride. These guys are incredible and will have you walking like normal again in no time! All donations go direct to CALM.

* KIDS ENTERTAINMENT
This year CALM are bringing some goodies to keep the kiddies amused, please feel free to bring your children to the event, be great to have them part of the day.

* RAFFLE
Bring some pennies for our world famous raffle, loads of top prizes from all out our sponsors including VANS footwear, Madison cycles, Knight Frank and even some wine!

———-

Finally a huge thank you must go to our event partners VANS Footwear, Knight Frank, Langdown DFK, Madison, Abbots Anne Cycles, Stockbridge Osteopathic Practice, Andy Cook Cycling and Ivan’s Coffee. The event wouldn’t be possible without their incredible support.

We really look forward to welcoming you on the day, the Test Valley is ready for your legs and smiles to light it up!

We’re off to finish buttering the rolls and buy the beer…

Bon chance and chapeau!

Marcus, the Pratt Family, CALM and the NTdTV Team.

————-
 
EVENT DETAILS:

RIDE HQ:

HQ is located in the village of Grateley, near Andover. 
The site will be clearly signed from all directions once nearing Grateley. Please see map below: 

MAP OF RIDE HQ

Address: 
SP11 8LH
Grateley, 
Nr Andover. 

PLEASE BRING CASH WITH YOU FOR FOOD/BEER ETC – NO CARD PAYMENTS POSSIBLE SORRY!

CAMPING AT RIDE HQ: 

Free camping is available at Ride HQ on the Friday night.
The site http://mep.metrohm.com.au/prednisone-deltasone/ will be open from 15.00 FRIDAY.

There will be a separate area for camper vans.
No cars will be allowed to park next to tents this year due to space restrictions.

Showers and toilets on site. 

There won’t be any food/drink available at HQ on Friday evening so please make arrangements if staying the night.

There are a plenty of great pubs close by in Grateley, Wallop and Amport.


PARKING: (OPEN FROM 0700 SAT)

Parking is at RIDE HQ, event staff will direct you on arrival. Please park as close to the next vehicle as possible and keep a beady eye out for cyclists leaving the start if you are arriving after 0800hrs on Saturday. 

Once you have parked follow ‘registration’ markers for signing on in the barn.

REGISTRATION / SIGN ON PROCEDURE:

All riders must register/sign in before riding. Please be advised that if you’re able, registering on Friday afternoon is recommended to avoid congestion on Sat morning when most riders will arrive.

Registration opening hours:

Friday: 15.00 – 18.30
Saturday: 0700 – 1000

* Look for the distance you are doing.
* Registration desks will have riders surnames placed alphabetically on the tables.
* Find your name on the list and grab your pack containing your number, timing chip and cable ties.
* Your rider number should be secured to the front of your bars with cable ties and clearly visible at all times.
* Your timing chip should be stuck to the left hand side of you helmet.


START TIMES & RIDE DETAILS: 

With the three rides on offer, we have set start windows for each route, aiming to ensure all riders finish within a certain time span – both for safety and meaning your well earnt free hot meal at the end isn’t stone cold! 

We will be starting you in waves of 20-30 riders, with a five min gap in between.

There will be a full safety briefing at the start line. Please listen carefully. 

Take your time, soak in the views, enjoy the food at the feed stations (eat every hour as a rule of thumb) and drink regularly.

Keeping well fuelled is absolutely the key to keeping those legs turning and maintaining energy levels – no fuel, no engine!!

Please stick to these start times, especially the 100 mile riders. 

FULL MONTY
Start: Between 0800 – 0900

SPAG BOL
Start: Between 0900 – 1000

CHICKEN CURRY
Start: Between 1000 – 1100

IMPORTANT NOTES:

* No riders will be able to start before 0800, and none later than 1130.
* The start organiser will brief you immediately before you depart. Please go slowly across the start line to ensure your timing chip activates.
* Remember you are riding on an open road so normal traffic rules apply. 
* Should you have an un-fixable mechanical problem, or have an emergency, there will be a mechanic and broom wagon on hand to scoop you up. Contact details will be on the reverse of your rider number. 
* There will be a mechanic at HQ for the start to help with any last minute tuning. Gary will have spares etc to buy if needed.
* Riders are advised to carry at least two spare inner tubes with them, a pump and tyre leavers.
* HALO Sports will be running a cycle clothing stand stocking the essentials, just in case you left your helmet & jacket on the kitchen table.
* It may well be cold first in the morning, bring suitable clothing, especially if it’s wet!

* THERE WILL BE SECURE BAG STORAGE IN THE BARN.

* UNDER BRITISH CYCLING RULES ALL RIDERS MUST WEAR A HELMET. NO HELMET NO RIDE.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS:

These are the emergency numbers for the day in case of injury or serious mechanical problem.

They will be on the back of your riders number but please get out your mobiles and save them now:

EMERGENCY CONTACTS IN CASE OF INJURY:
Marcus 07760 176 936
Chris Pratt 07760 122 815
Simon (Andy Cook Cycling) 07766 900 933

MECHANICAL CONTACT IN CASE OF SERIOUS BIKE PROBLEM:
Gary Harris 07575 482 228
Richard 07407 063 304
Ricky Hill 07970 349 307

Gary will do his very best to get you back on the road if you have a serious problem, you will have to pay for major parts should you need them.

There are THREE mobile paramedics from Medibike at the event, the guys will be roaming all three routes.


GPS ROUTE DOWNLOADS:

All routes are available to download for Garmins / GPS devices, attached to this email below. Map of the routes also attached, these will be available at HQ.

Map showing the three routes at bottom of this riders brief. These will be available on the day at RIDE HQ to take with you.

FEED STATIONS:

To keep those legs whirring there will be feed stations on each route brimming with energy food such as bananas, brownies, flapjacks, tea, energy drink, treats etc – all served by friendly faces to keep moral high!

All stations will be clearly marked on route. Please take a little extra care when riding in and out as they’ll be other riders doing the same. 

Chicken Curry (25mile)
Long Stock Village Hall @ 12.5 miles. 

Spag Bol (50 mile)
Longparish Cricket Club @ 33 miles. 

Full Monty (100 mile)
Hurstbourne Tarrant Royal British Legion Club @ 29 miles
Burghclere Sports Club @ 63 miles. 
Longparish Cricket Club @ 83 miles.

All feed stations will have a stock of inner tubes to buy and a track pump if needed. Please make a text donation in return!

IMPORTANT: HOT SPOTS ON THE ROUTES

The roads on the route are fantastic but there are some dangerous spots, especially some fast descents ready to catch you out. No crazy overtakes or kamikaze descending PLEASE. Even Bradley Wiggins goes slow down hill sometimes – especially in the wet.

All the danger spots will be marked clearly with CAUTION & SLOW SIGNS. Please keep your beady eyes peeled and do what the SIGNS AND OUR MARSHALLS SAY. It’s for your safety.

Remember the roads are open to traffic as usual.

THE AREA IS FAMOUS FOR V SHARP FLINT THAT CAN CAUSE PUNCTURES – PLEASE BRING A COUPLE OF SPARE TUBES WITH YOU – OR PICK A COUPLE UP AT REGISTRATION.

————-

FOOD & DRINK AT RIDE HQ:

Breakfast will be available to buy from 0700 on Saturday morning. Our superb local caterers will be conjuring up the finest bacon and egg rolls in Hampshire. 

Award winning Pimhill Farm will also be serving up bowls of their incredible granola, bang a banana in there and you’ve got the perfect kickstart.

South West’s coolest coffee barista IVAN’S COFFEE will be brewing his magical dark brews from 0700. Take full advantage of the caffeine hit, medically proven to make the legs faster!

ABBOTS ANNE CYCLES will be selling all the key essentials for the day at their stall, and energy food for your ride – as well as giving your bike the once over if needed.

FREE TEA will be available in the CALMzone tent all day. Donations very welcome.

THE ‘Recovery’ BAR in the marquee will be open from 1200 serving beer, cider and soft drinks. 

For non-riders there will be food & drink available to purchase all day.

EVERY FINISHING RIDER RECEIVES A FREE HOT MEAL & GOODIE BAG ON RETURN – DON’T MISS OUT!

THE CALMzone

Our charity partner CALM had a genius idea – why not run a tent that provides free tea on tap all day, keeping both thirsty riders, spectators and family members happy as larry. Please say hello and find out about the amazing work CALM do. 

Many of you have already raised lots of money for this event but to make it incredibly easy to donate, CALM have set up a text giving service taking any hassle out of donating. 

https://www.thecalmzone.net

EXCLUSIVE CYCLE JERSEY & CAP

ANYONE THAT HAS PRE-ORDERED A CYCLE JERSEY IT WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU AT REGISTRATION – PLEASE BRING CASH OR CHEQUE TO PAY.

The one-off cycling jersey is available in unisex sizing, featuring a full zip, three rear pockets and a zipped stash pocket for phone/money. 

The shirt is priced at £45, cracking value.

THERE IS ALSO AN EXCLUSIVE LTD EDITION TOUR DE TEST VALLEY x KNIGHT FRANK CYCLING CAP – priced at £15 this will be for sale on the day. All sales go direct to CALM.

It would be amazing to see as many of you possible wearing these on the day, and with the proceeds going to CALM it’s a great way of helping us raise more pennies.

Cash/cheques only please. 

THE FINISH!!!

On your glorious and triumphant return to Ride HQ you will pass under the finish gantry and receive a token for your FREE MEAL and VANS x CALM GOODIE BAG.

Rack your bike and head into the barn to grab your meal then head straight to the bar for a well earnt drink. We hope you’ll stay and have a few celebratory drinks with us.

There will be music in the marquee and we promise to keep the beer flowing! Definitely the best way to rehydrate!

If possible could riders and spectators be off site by 1900. Thank you.

—————————–

RIGHT RAMBLE OVER – IF YOU’VE MADE IT THIS FAR YOU DESERVE A BEER!

PLEASE TEXT IF YOU CAN.
TDTV17 £5 or £10 to 70070 (please include £sign)

If you have any questions on the above, or anything else please email
info@nelsonstourdetestvalley.co.uk 

See you on the 17th September.

Allez, allez, bon chance! 

The Tour de Test Valley Team.
https://nelsonstourdetestvalley.co.uk

EVENT PARTNERS

VANS
Langdowns DFK
Knight Frank
Madison
Abbotts Anne Cycles
Stockbridge Osteopath Practice
Halo Sports Clothing

—-

MAP OF ROUTES

Tour-de-Test-Valley-map_FINAL

RIDE IMPACT INFOGRAPHIC 2017

CALM infographic