Newsletter No 65 - November 2023
Posted 04 December 2023
M2M – Saturday 6 April & Sunday 7 April (End Daylight Savings)
In this edition:
- Important guidelines for your teams participation.
- Nominating someone for the Graham Woodrup Memorial Award.
- Important Changes for the 2024 M2M.
- Joy ride M2M Video updated.
- Dates for the 2024 Event.
Participant Information - Team Management: Team Make Up:
Teams usually consist of 8 - 16 riders from novice to experienced rider, who are willing tot rain up to the standard required for the ride itself. The team then needs to divide up into sub groups of generally 2-4 riders of similar ability who relay with the other sub-groups in the team for a distance of 20 to 30 kms at a time.
It is expected that teams follow the correct rules of relay - just like passing the baton, as one group arrives, the next group then leaves. This provides the challenge for the team to complete the event as close to 24 hours as possible.
In choosing your team, it is often good to enlist someone with a large community, work or social network, e.g. CEO, DON, Counsellor, school teacher, business person, etc. They may be an unlikely cyclist to begin with, but with some training, they can be a very good member and can help to raise the team's profile for publicity and fundraising purposes.
It is recommended that each team appoint someone for each of the following roles:
- Team Management
- Support Crew
- Fundraising.
Team Management:
Teams should develop a good rapport, and where possible consist of people who can train together at least once a week. They may have a common interest, eg sports club or work mates.
Above all, remember this ride is a challenge; do not leapfrog your team. This behaviour only cheats your sponsors and destroys your team morale.
Don't hesitate to contact the M2M Administrator, a competitive cyclist or someone who has done this ride before for help with your training, bike set-up, food, clothing, etc.
IMPORTANT: First Aid Units will be strategically placed throughout the ride, but it is advised fo rall teams to carry their own First Aid equipment.
Team Management On The Road:
Do not waste time on changeovers. Teams should not have too many riders on the road at the one time, to ensure riders get enough rest before they do their next stint. You need riders to pace with, but you can join into a bunch with other teams of similar ability, so, 2 to 3 riders at a time means that your team does not have to changeover as often, thereby conserving energy.
Riders usually ride in pairs, so that they are on the bike for example, 1 hour, followed by3 hours off, for a team of 8. A team of six would need to be a little stronger so that they can ride for 1 hour and have 2 hours off. A team off our would need to ride one at a time for an hour, resting for 3 hours, unless they were very fit, in which case they could ride in pairs, 1 hour on and 1 hour off.
Riding 1 hour on and 3 hours off would mean each rider would cover approximately 130kms out of the full 520km ride. If there are stronger riders in the team, they may elect to do longer relays, giving weaker riders a longer rest. No set distance is laid down for relaying, and change overs may be altered to suit the location of towns, wayside stops and riders' ability, but 20 to 30 kms is generally a comfortable distance for each riding stint.
For Riders, Team Managers & Support Crew:
The M2M is a team cycle relay. It is not designed to be an individual full distance ride and is certainly NOT A RACE.
The M2M provides riders of all abilities with the physical challenge to cover the full distance in not much more than 24 hours as a team in relay.
Riders looking for more of a challenge can increase the distance of their relay sections or try riding a double shift. In the interests of safety and a directive from the Police, teams found racing will be stopped. No full distance riders are permitted.
The Ride Director on each leg will have ultimate control of decisions to be made once the ride is in progress. He or she will have radio contact with Motorcycle Marshals, Lead and Rear Vehicles, First Aid Vehicles and can contact the Police if necessary.
Motorcycle Marshals will be moving through the ride to give reminders and assistance when necessary. Itis important to follow their instructions.
Official Event Volunteers and Police will be marshalling corners and danger spots, and also provide directions and assistance when needed.
First Aid units will be strategically placed throughout the ride, but it is advised for all teams to carry their own First Aid equipment. Each First Aid vehicle is equipped with an Emergency Heart Defibrillator.
The Rear Vehicle will ensure slower teams are aware of their time limit. The lead vehicle may need to stop the front of the ride if the spread is getting too far to ensure support services are not spread too thinly. (We are required to have a spread from the front to the rear of no more thank 60 kms). The Ride Director reserves the right to move slower teams by vehicle to catch up if they are not averaging a speed of approximately 22kms/hr in order to complete the event within 24 hours. This is in the interests of safety.
If you do not think your team can meet the following requirements, then we recommend you consider opting for the Daytime Ride Option - This enables your team to ride from the start until dusk - then you use your transport to the overnight Compulsory Stop at Hamilton.
RIDERS ARE TO STAY APPROXIMATELY 300 METRES BEHIND THE LEAD VEHICLE.
CYCLISTS AND SUPPORT VEHICLE DRIVERS MUST OBEY ALL ROAD RULES.
This includes obeying traffic signals and road signs. We do NOT have permission to close roads for the event and it is your responsibility to take care at intersections, etc. Riding helmets, reflective clothing and working lights on bikes at night are COMPULSORY.
TRIBARS ARE NOT PERMITTED ASTHEY JEOPARDISE THE SAFETY OF OTHER RIDERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN RIDING INBUNCHES.
Teams will be notified of their team number and starting time in the week before the event. It is the team's responsibility to clearly display their team number on the backs of all their riders, day and night. A patch of 20 cm x 25 cm is a good size.
All Riders and Support Crew MUST attend a pre-ride briefing near the starting area at 8:30 am. It is compulsory for all support drivers and crew to wear a reflective vest for the duration of the ride.
Groups of 15-24 riders will leave at 2 or 3 minute intervals, and starting times will be at the discretion of the event organisers. If you consider your team to be slow, please request an early start. Alternatively, if you consider your team to be experienced and fast, please request a late start to avoid the frustration of being stopped on the ride.
Teams may ride together as a bunch or on their own. If riders from other teams group into bunches of similar ability, it makes riding more pleasant, but make sure that you have practiced bunch riding in the weeks before.
On each route the M2M Ride Director will organise a compulsory stop which will be nominated at Saturday morning briefing. The stop is designed to avoid the ride spreading too far.
Saturday Night –Hamilton Stop Over:
Teams MUSTREGISTER at the Hamilton Showgrounds on arrival. This can be done in person at the Hamilton show grounds or by Phone / Text if you are staying at some other location. See your current Ride Guide for phone Nos.
The Hamilton Showgrounds will be available at no cost for teams to camp by pitching tents, or using team vehicles (buses, vans, etc).
Accommodation is also available at no cost for teams in the judging sheds (bring own swag, sleeping bag, lilo, etc). Shower facilities and breakfast for a gold coin, at the HILAC centre across the road.
If teams elect to stay elsewhere, they must book their own accommodation and must ensure that riders are punctual for the re-start and that vehicles not allocated to follow, go directly to Port Fairy before the Lead Vehicle.
Sunday Start –Hamilton Show Grounds:
The ride then re-starts from 7.00 a.m. from Hamilton. Each team is given a start time, leaving at 2 minute intervals.
Only one allocated vehicle is permitted for each team to follow cyclists from Hamilton to Port Fairy, a distance of 80 to 90 kms. Teams must be very organised for this final section, as there is only one support vehicle, and if they wish to make a change, it must be organised carefully to ensure their other vehicle does not get mixed up in the event, ie it must remain in front of the lead vehicle. Non-designated vehicles leaving after the Hamilton start time will be directed by Police and volunteers down a vehicle only alternative route via Mt. Napier Road to Port Fairy.
Sunday Finish – Port Fairy, Railway Place:
Riders must be into Port Fairy by 11:00am, as there are no officials on the course after this time. Ideally riders should finish by 11:00am to complete the event within 24 hours.
At the end of the ride, there will be a short presentation to recognise individual and team milestones, present prizes and to announce the award of the annual Graham Woodrup Memorial Medal. Team medals can be collected from the M2M tent located near the finish line.
The above and other important information can be found on the M2M Website: https://murraytomoyne.com.au/advice.php
Please make sure you read the Guidelines
If you wish to nominate a person for the Graham Woodrup Memorial Medal please get organised early. Read the nomination Guidelines and address each dot point located under “the Rides” tab on the M2M website.
The M2M Committee has set the Dates for the 37th M2M.
Please note that the M2M will take place after Easter and in the middle weekend of the Victorian School Holidays.
Dates for 2024
Easter – Good Friday – 29 March (Start of Vic School Holidays)
Easter – Easter Saturday – 30 March
Easter – Easter Sunday – 31 March
Easter – Easter Monday – 1 April
M2M – Saturday 6 April
M2M – Sunday 7 April (End Daylight Savings)
Sunday 14 April (End of Vic School Holidays)
Important Message: As the 2024 M2M will be conducted during the middle weekend of the school holidays, accommodation will be difficult if you do not book early.
Book your Accommodation NOW.
Changes for the 2024 Event:
The Committee has resolved to reduce the number of start locations to two. These will be Mildura and Echuca for 2024. This may alternate with Swan Hill in future years.
In addition the Registration fee will be increased for the first time in ten years to $120 (from $110). Sunday Striders increase (from $55) to $60.
M2M Joy Ride Video - Updated (Link)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mJ0CPtpZrQ
We wish thank all of our 2024 event sponsors for their support and generosity.
Sponsors: Westvic Staffing Solutions, KFC - Bird Group, Big 4 Port Fairy Caravan Park, Rebecca's Cafe & Ice Creamery, Port Fairy Electrics, Langley's Accommodation, Hearn's Port Fairy Accommodation.
Inkind Sponsors: Sunbeam Foods, Winners Sports Nutrition Bars & Gels - Team Prize Pack, Warrnambool Toyota, Norton Motor Group, Callaghan Motors, Warrnambool Auto Group, McLaren - Hunt Financial Group. Taits Legal, G & M Auto Electrics, Allens Freight, Kyabram Removals, Donehue’s Leisure - Hamilton, Warrnambool Sheet Metal. Steve Gray - Sign Writing.
M2M Supporters: Rapid Relief Team, Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, Beulah Primary School, Moyne Shire, Moyne Health Service, Stawell Primary Schools, TechInsight Web Services, Hamilton SES, Java Jive Coffee - Hamilton, Great Coffee Moments - Port Fairy, Port Fairy Folk Festival.
