Road Rules
Regardless of your cycling ability, there are basic road rules that must be adhered to at all times, for the safety of you and other road users.
- Wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions.
- Wear brightly coloured clothing.
- Obey the road rules, including traffic lights, give way and stop signs at all times.
- Helmets are compulsory.
- Keep to the left.
- Obey instructions by police and route marshals.
- Do not ride more than two abreast. It is not always safe to do so.
- Ride single file where there are double lines (i.e. no overtaking areas)
- Only pass in single file and to the right of others.
- Use clear hand signals when you want to turn.
- Call "passing" when overtaking or "stopping" when slowing down.
- Move over to allow motor vehicles to overtake.
- Never overlap wheels.
- Point and call out any road hazards.
- Maintain a consistent speed when climbing a hill.
- Be predictable with your actions. Maintain a steady straight line and avoid braking or changing directions suddenly.
- Do not rest on the right hand side of the road.
- When walking your bike, keep well off the road and in single file.
- Keep a safe distance between riders.
- Move off the road before you dismount.
- Don't wear headphones whilst riding.
- Keep alert - most accidents happen when concentration lapses.
- No towing of other cycles is allowed.
- Finally, cyclists to not have a right to ride two abreast in all circumstances. While the traffic regulations prohibit riding more than two abreast, they also require cyclists to ride in a careful and considerate manner. When their slow speed inpedes the normal and reasonable flow of traffic, they are required as soon as reasonably practicable to move as far left as is practicable when this is necessary to allow following traffic to pass.
Some other basic road safety tips to ensure an enjoyable and safe ride include, make sure you seat is at the right height, brakes should be within each reach of the hands, check that both rear and front brakes are working well.
Take adequate food and water and remember to eat, drink and rest.
If you require any assistance to check whether your bike is road friendly, take it to your local bike shop for a check and service.
Railway Lines
These were identified as a potential event hazard as some riders have fallen on tracks in other events. Over the years the railway tracks have been improved to the stage that we don't need to have boards or speed humps across the railway lines.
There are now only 2 sets of railway lines around the course now:
- Inchbonnie - 4km past Inchbonnie
- Kotuku - 4.5km from the start
