Matopos Heritage MTB Challenge

You can only enter the challenge as part of a team. Team composition can be either two people or three people, although three is preferred in the event of an emergency

The organizing committee has agreed to cap the entries at 100 riders, to protect the integrity of the ride, maintain that special esprit de corps and protect the environment

 The entry process is as follows:

 Each team member should go into the on-line registration form (link given below) and enter all details, ensuring that the team name is identical for all members of the team. Note that incomplete forms will not be recorded.  The on-line registration is a critical step as the cut will be done on the on-line database

1. The maximum number of riders permitted is 100 (in teams). Registrations after this, or incomplete team/solo-rider registrations, will automatically go onto the waiting list
2. Each of the first 100 on-line registrations (in teams) will receive an email containing the bank details and payment instructions

Heritage Ride Race Secretary

matoboheritageride@gmail.com

 INFORMATION THAT WILL BE REQUIRED IN THE ON-LINE ENTRY

Each team member should go into the on-line registration form and enter all details

• Email Address
• Acceptance of Indemnity Agreement & Waiver
• Team Name (Must be identical for all team members including seconds/drivers)
• Team Role                    LEADER / MEMBER / SECOND / DRIVER
• First Name
• Surname
• Date of Birth
• Identity Number
• Gender
• Chest Measurement
• Cycle Jersey Size (Only for riders)
• Cycle Jersey Sleeve Length (Only for riders)       LONG / SHORT
• Medical Aid Society
• Medical Aid Number
• Dietary Restrictions
• Allergies
• National Flag Country
• Telephone No (with Dialling Code)
• Residential Address 1 (House Number, Street, Suburb)
• Residential Address 2 (City/Town, Country)
• Next of Kin Name
• Next of Kin Phone No (with Dialling Code)
• Next of Kin Residential Address 1 (House Number, Street, Suburb)
• Next of Kin Residential Address 2 (City/Town, Country)
• Need Vehicle Relocated from Western to Eastern Matopos
• Registration Number of Vehicle to be Relocated
• Resident of Zimbabwe?
• Next questions only for non-residents (to assist with border formalities if required
• Mountainbike Make
• Mountainbike Serial Number
• Passport Country
• Passport Number
• Passport Expiry Date
• Planned Mode of Travel
• Planned Entry Borderpost
• Expected Date of Entry
• Approximate Time of Entry
• You will be required to sign an indemnity at check-in
• The maximum number of riders permitted is 100 (in teams). Registrations after this will automatically go onto the waiting list and will be advised in due course if places become available due to cancellations
• ALL participants, including volunteer race officials and invited sweepers MUST register on-line, as the on-line database is used for accommodation and catering planning, and for medical aid and next-of-kin information

ENTRY FEE PAYMENT

The payment process is as follows:

• Each of the first 100 on-line registrations (in teams) will receive an email containing the bank details. Please deposit accordingly at any Stanbic branch in Zimbabwe, OR organise delivery of cash to the organising committee.  In order that we can confirm the payment has reached us, payments for full teams should include the team name as reference and payments for individuals should include individual names as reference
• Please email proof of payment to matoboheritageride@gmail.com
• Confirmation of your valid entry will be emailed to you, after the signed entry form has been received and after payments have been received for all members of your team
• The OC committee have tried to lock in all costs as far as possible, but reserve the right to request a top-up payment if necessary (depending on National Parks accommodation rates)

RACE VILLAGE ACCOMMODATION ALLOCATIONS

As before, allocations will be done for whole teams, in order to keep team members together.  The allocation will be based on points earned for event service (including sponsorship), event loyalty (number of previous Heritage Rides entered) and team payment date.  If payments are done individually, the team payment date used will be the date that the team payment is completed, that is the last date of payment by a team member

 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Please advise the organisers of any special dietary restrictions (e.g. vegetarian) on the on-line registration
• Please advise the organisers of any other special entry requirements on the on-line registration

TEE-SHIRTS

The entry fee includes a tee-shirt for riders and seconds.  These are ordered according to standard population size profiles, and allocated on a first come first served basis

CYCLE JERSEY SIZING

As in the past, each rider will be provided with an event Cycle Jersey.  Please complete the “Cycle Jersey Size” on the entry form correctly.  The shirts are a very snug fit (slightly smaller than normal), and are produced in unisex size and design.  Once ordered as per your entry form we are not responsible for fitting!  Please specify sleeve length; long sleeves are recommended as protection from sunburn and thorns unless you specifically prefer short sleeves.  Riders who have completed at least two days of any four previous Heritage rides will receive special BLUE shirts (subject to regulations).  Riders who have completed at least two days of any nine previous Heritage rides will receive special GOLD shirts (subject to regulations)  Please take the time to measure your chest and check the size chart below

REGULATIONS / CONDITIONS

• Solo riders are not accepted
• Riders under 16 years are not accepted
• Teams must comprise 2 or 3 riders. Larger groups may ride together but groups must be split up for registration
• Teams have to stay together and members ride within 1 minute of each other. Checkpoints will be enforced
• The last person to cross the finish line in each team will determine the overall time of that team
• To obtain an event placing, at least two members of that team must complete the whole event
• All competitors must attend daily briefings
• All competitors must follow the route on their GPS. No deviations allowed
• The entry/indemnity form must be signed and handed in to the organisers upon registration
• There will be no medical team following up. Please note that any medical costs, including evacuations, are for the competitors account and not the organisers
• Helmets are compulsory
• Competitors must carry extra water & snacks on the ride
• All teams will conduct themselves in a sportsmanship like manner throughout the event
• The organisers reserve the right at their discretion to disqualify, bar or refuse participation of any competitor

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS

• Towel and Bedding (e.g. pillow and sleeping bag). Tents and Mattresses will be provided
• Torch or Headlight
• Mosquito Repellent
• Optional: Folding chair

COMPULSORY KIT FOR EACH RIDER

The Event Director reserves the right to conduct spot checks and to disallow any rider from starting, or continuing, without the required essential kit items, which are:

1. Mountain Bike in roadworthy condition
2. No helmet no ride
3. GPS (Garmin preferred) with route loaded. There are NO markings along the route, a GPS is essential
4. Spare batteries or power-bank for GPS to last the entire challenge as charging facilities are limited
5. Whistle
6. Cell phone, fully charged and with air time. Please note there is limited cell phone network coverage in the Matobo Hills.  Ask local people for information about the nearest cell phone signal
7. Water, minimum of a litre per hour, subject to water points. Recommend camel-back or two 750ml bottles of energy drink or water
8. ID card, Medical Aid card and some cash, US$10 in small denomination notes (for emergency transport)
9. First Aid Kit consisting of foil survival blanket, three (3) wound dressings, plasters, anti-inflammatory tablets, pain relief tablets, tweezers. “Smart bandages” are recommended

RECOMMENDED KIT FOR EACH RIDER

10. Eye protection (goggles or sunglasses)
11. Repair Kit to include: tyre pump, tubes, puncture repair kit, chain break, quick links, spare hanger, multi-tool, tyre levers. Tubeless tyres are highly recommended
12. Sufficient specialised food on the ride. There will be some food at the main water points
13. Sun block
14. Optional kit: Camera or helmet-cam

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

• There will be no medical team following up, as many parts of the route are inaccessible to vehicles
• There will be stretchers at water points, to enable uninjured riders to carry injured colleagues to the nearest road
• Any medical costs, including evacuations, are for the competitor’s account and not the organisers

CATERING

• All meals are included in the entry fee. Meals covered are – Wednesday dinner, Thursday full board, Friday full board, Saturday full board including the final dinner and prize giving on Saturday evening, Sunday breakfast
• There can be no refund for meals missed
• Water points are included in the entry fee
• Limited drinks will be available at the finish line. Cash bar will available in race villages
• Entrants are responsible for their own recovery drinks and any specialised training foods

TEAM SECOND / TEAM DRIVER

1. The route has been changed so that Day 1 and Day 2 start at Maleme, so it is not mandatory for teams to have seconds or drivers to take riders to the start
2. Teams are however welcome to bring seconds or drivers. The registration fee for seconds includes race village accommodation with the team and all meals, but EXCLUDES the cycle jersey and water points.  The registration fee for drivers EXCLUDES accommodation (they should bring their own tents) but includes staff meals
3. Responsibilities of the seconds / drivers include:
   1. Attending briefings, to hear about the road routes to the support points
   2. Going to support points and waiting there until their teams are through
   3. Collection of riders and bikes who cannot complete any section
   4. Relocation of vehicles and personal belongings of riders from Maleme to Camp Dwala on Friday
4. Seconds will only be able to support teams on the parts of the event accessible to vehicles, but will be able to enjoy some great scenery as they drive to the support points
5. Vehicles need to have really good clearance as the roads to Camp Dwala and to the support points are very rural and may be eroded
6. Seconds and drivers MUST be included on the team’s on-line registration. We cannot make late catering and accommodation arrangements so please ensure that your full team is correctly entered

VEHICLE RE-LOCATION

1. For teams without seconds or drivers, the organising committee will hire temporary drivers to take vehicles and personal belongings from Maleme to Camp Dwala on Friday
2. There is an extra fee of $50 per vehicle for this service, which must be booked IN ADVANCE
3. Please ensure that your vehicle insurance provides for third party drivers
4. Please remove your possessions from the vehicle and hand in your keys at the Maleme check-in desk on Wednesday

FINAL DAY & PRIZE-GIVING

The last day will start and end at Camp Dwala.  Families are most welcome to join in, and are asked to ensure that they park only in designated areas, and not on the event route.  Please advise the organisers 14 days in advance about extra meal requirements for family members

River swimming pools are available for competitors and families alike – but obviously priority for camping etc. must be given to the competitors

The prize giving will take place at approximately 16:30 hours on the kopjie above Camp Dwala on the Saturday evening, followed by a special celebration dinner.  We know some competitors may be tempted to leave early so as to travel home, but for those from out of Bulawayo we strongly urge you to stay the extra evening at Camp Dwala and leave early on the Sunday morning.  It is approximately one hour to Bulawayo from Camp Dwala, and the road may not be in good shape.  Anyone thinking of traveling after the prize-giving should consider that any travel will be in the dark, which is not safe in Zimbabwe.  We don’t want to end this event with any road accidents, please

EVENT VILLAGE ACCOMODATION

Each participant is asked to supply their own bedding.  Tents will include mattresses

• MALEME REST CAMP on Wednesday & Thursday August

National Parks accommodation shall be allocated based on payment date and event loyalty, with tented accommodation for the overflow.  There will be no refund for variances in type of allotted accommodation

• CAMP DWALA on Friday & Saturday August

There is limited accommodation which is reserved for sponsor representatives.  All other competitors will be accommodated in the tented village.  There will be no refunds for variances in the type of allotted accommodation