Newsletter No 66 - December 2023
Posted 31 January 2024
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M2M – Saturday 6 April & Sunday 7 April (End Daylight Savings) In this edition:
Team Managers: Important Changes for the 2024 M2M: The M2M has been able to negotiate the use of the HILAC Table Tennis facility for use by teams who normally stay in the Sheep Judging Pavilion at the Hamilton Show Grounds. Note Camping at the Show Grounds is still available as usual. The HILAC Table Tennis Facility Accommodation option is opposite Top Gate (Northern End) of the Hamilton Show Grounds. Each Team member will be required to pay a $2:00 coin donation upon entry to HILAC. Please note: Team Managers will be asked on the Team Registration Page to indicate if they intend to find their own Accommodation in Hamilton or wish to use the Accommodation available at the HILAC Centre Table Tennis Facility (Opposite the Hamilton Show Grounds). Hamilton Indoor Leisure and Aquatic Centre (HILAC) is located, 83 - 93 Shakespeare Street, Hamilton. Camping is still available for teams at the Show Grounds, and teams can access showers at HILAC ($2:00 coin donation). 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. Important Frequently Asked Questions: How many Riders can we have in a team? There is no limit, but an average of 8 to 16 Riders works well. Just remember, the more Riders you have, the more bikes you’ll have, and the more vehicles and trailers you’ll need to carry them all. What distance should each relay be? It depends on the rider's ability and weather conditions at the time, but most teams ride between 20 and 30kms per interval. Your stronger and more experienced riders might double up and do 2 or 3 intervals - eg 40 or 60 or 90 kms per ride. Do we have to CHECK IN at Hamilton on Saturday night? Yes it is very important to CHECK IN at the Hamilton Showgrounds as the officials need to know that you have arrived safely in Hamilton. Check in can be completed in two ways: In person at the Hamilton Show Grounds (Top End opposite HILAC) or by phone / text. (see Your Official Ride Guide for the phone in Nos). What size vehicles and trailers can we use? You can use a car, 4x4 or a small mini-bus up to 22 seats and trailers no more then 5' x 10'. Vehicles and trailers larger than this block the view for other vehicles and riders and are difficult to over take. How many Support Crew should we have on our team? While your Support Crew are very important, the number should be kept to a minimum. A team of 8 to 16 Riders should only require 3 versatile, (i.e. driver, cook and coach!) Support Crew. Your "Cook" is more likely to organise your food for the team - not necessarily actually "Cook" ! How can we organise our Food and Drink provisions - Efficiently ! We recommend you organise - sandwiches / rolls and cakes and fruit + drinks for your daytime food intake. These should be pre-prepared or can be purchased and kept cold for the day time ride. Saturday night Dinner can be purchased on route at Stawell (Echuca Route) and at Beulah or Warracknabeel (Mildura Route). More details in the next newsletter. Note: Many teams purchase their daytime food/drink provisions from local bakery’s / cafes located in Mildura or Echuca - pickup early Sat morning. Sunday Breakfast needs to be organised at your Hamilton lodgings (Motel or other accommodation) or if you are staying at HILAC or Hamilton Show Grounds - You can purchase breakfast rolls from the Hamilton Lions and the Java Jive Coffee Vans x2. If you are staying elseware, you can still come to the Lions Breakfast BBQ located at the Northern end of the Hamilton Show Grounds - you need to allow time to eat and be ready a the Start Time of 7:00 am. Sunday Morning tea: Available from the Macarthur Lions Club - Pancakes, Egg and Bacon Rolls + Tea Coffee (Macarthur Route) or at Hawkesdale - Homemade Cakes and Slices + Drinks (Penshurst Route). What time do I need to check in at the start? The briefings commence just after 8:30 am at the event start location in Mildura and Echuca. Your specific team’s start times will be e-mailed to the Team Captain the week before the event. It is compulsory that all Riders and Support Crew will attend the Ride Briefing on the Saturday morning before the start. All Riders and Support Crew can collect their Team Event Pack on the Friday Night 6:00 pm before the event or early on the Saturday morning ie 8:00 am. Event Packs for a whole team will be given out to the Team Captain upon checkin to disperse to team members. This includes "Official Team Nos" "Official Ride Guide" Booklet plus sponsors gifts etc. Can I use a Tri-Bar on my bike? Can I use an E-bike ? Tri-bars are not suitable for bunch riding. You cannot use them in the M2M. Riders can use a E-bike if they are experienced and used to riding in a bunch. Battery recharging is the responsibility of the user. Most e-bikes will only travel up to 100kms without a charge ! What is the 'Grahram Woodrup Medal'? It is an award presented at the finish in Port Fairy, which recognizes a person involved with the Murray to Moyne who has made a major contribution to their chosen Team or Health Service. This person may be a Rider, Support Crew or a major fundraiser. Any team can nominate someone they feel worthy of the Graham Woodrup Award. Please make sure you read the Award Criteria and follow the application instructions. The above and other important information can be found on the M2M Website: https://murraytomoyne.com.au/particpant_faqs.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. 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. M2M Joy Ride Video - Updated (Link) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mJ0CPtpZrQ
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