RACE RULES

The rules and regulations pertaining to The Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day 20121 may change slightly in the weeks leading up to the race. The final version will be communicated at the race briefing on 30 June 2012.
Mountain Bike racing is by nature self-reliant and often held in remote areas. All Nashua Mobile Ladies MTB Day competitors must participate with an understanding and acceptance of this ethos.

1. Riders
1.1. All riders must be at least 18 years or older on 31 December 2012 unless permission is granted by the Chief Commissaire prior to the event.
1.2. All riders must be healthy, and in a very fit state of training.
1.3. All riders must have good technical bike skills for off-road conditions.

2. Categories
2.1. Senior Women - Female riders of any age 18 years or older as at 31 December 2012
2.2. Vets Women - Female riders of any age 40 years or older as at 31 December 2012

3. Medical Condition
3.1. Participants may only start any stage of this race if they are in good physical and medical condition.
3.2. During the Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day the Senior Medical Officer reserves the right to withdraw any participant who he may deem physically or psychologically incapable of continuing with the race.

4. Registration
4.1. Registration for The Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day and the Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day Kiddies Race will take place at Cycle Lab, Fourways on Thursday, 28 June 2012 from 12h00 until 17h00.
4.2. It is NOT required that bikes be brought to registration. No rider will be allocated their race number until the race organisers are in possession of an indemnity form signed by the rider.
4.3. No late entries will be accepted.

5. Race Briefings
5.1. A full race briefing will take place at Van Gaalen’s Cheese Farm from 08h45 on Saturday, 30 June 2012. This briefing will cover the 40km and 25km routes.
Riders are expected to attend these as important information related to possible changes to the following day's stage and particular hazards could be announced. Riders who do not attend the race briefings and are not aware of changes made will not be accommodated if they miss their start time, or any similar issue related to their not attending the race briefing.

6. Prize Giving and Award Ceremonies
6.1. The prize giving takes place on Saturday, 30 June 2012, to present the riders with awards.
6.2. All riders receiving an award are required to attend.

7. Bicycles
7.1. Only mountain bikes in good, safe working order, at the discretion of the Chief Commissaire, will be allowed to start the race. Unprotected sharp bar ends, in-operative brakes, etc will not be permitted.
7.2. Maintenance of the bicycles used in the race is the responsibility of each participant and the Chief Commissaire reserves the right to insist that a participant repair or attend to a bicycle should the Commissaire be of the opinion that it is unsafe or dangerous.
7.3. The participants must start and finish the event with the same bike.
7.4. Riders may not change their bike or frame of their bicycle during the race without the permission of the Chief Commissaire. Change of a frame will only be allowed in the case of a warranty breakage.
7.5. Rims, spokes, tubes, tyres, wheels, gears, hangers, sprockets, cables, brakes, forks and shocks may be replaced.
7.6. Limited bike maintenance and spares will be provided by various local bike shops on registration day and after each of the stages.
7.7. No outside assistance for bicycle repairs will be allowed during the race. Participants may only accept assistance from their partner or another competitor in the same race.

8. Helmets and Riding Attire
8.1. Only recognised hard shell cycling helmets complying with recognised standards will be acceptable. The Chief Commissaire will rule on the permitted use of any questionable helmets.
8.2. Any riders not wearing their helmets, with the retention strap properly fastened, at any time during the race will be disqualified.
8.3. Generally accepted cycling clothing, including a shirt, must be worn at all times during the race.
8.4. Proper, fully enclosed cycling shoes, or at least running shoes must be worn.
8.5. It is strongly recommended that protective eyewear be worn.

9. Compulsory Equipment
9.1. Although paramedic and medical services will be provided during the race and for a period after the completion of each stage, the self-reliant and remote nature of a mountain bike race requires that each rider carries the following items to be prepared to deal with emergencies they may experience:
9.1.1. A multi-tool to effect repairs to bikes.
9.1.2. At least 1 spare tube per rider.
9.1.3. At least one good pump and a puncture repair kit
9.1.4. At least 1.5 litres of hydration liquid per rider at the beginning of the race. (2 x water bottles).
9.1.5. At least one cell phone.
9.2. Optional Recommended Equipment
9.2.1. Windbreaker or preferably a lightweight rain jacket.
9.2.2. Sterile First Aid dressings.
9.2.3. Adhesive plasters.
9.2.4. Sun block with a minimum factor of 15.
9.2.5. Foil survival blanket.
9.2.6. Lip Balm
9.2.7. Whistle

10. The Race and Stages
The race will consist of three distances, both distances on 30 June 2012.
10.1. ALL DISTANCES will start and finish in the grounds of Van Gaalen’s Cheese Farm, initially over arterial roads, then jeep track and single track, including some extended climbs, downhills and undulating terrain, ranging in distance from 25 to 40km. Surfaces range from good to rocky, rutted and slippery, especially if wet climatic conditions are encountered.
10.2. At least one feed station (water, energy drinks, and fruit) will be provided at appropriate points. Three feed stations will be provided for the 40km and two for the 25km.
10.3. The total race distance will be +-40km.
10.4. Riders must complete the full distance of the race to be a "Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day Official Finisher" and record an official result.

11. The Start
11.1. The start chute will open at 08h30
11.2. The start zone closes 10 minutes before the start.
11.3. Any riders not in the start zone 10 minutes before the start will be required to start at the back. It is also the riders' responsibility to ensure that they are at the start on time even if the start is delayed for whatever reason.
11.4. The start will remain open for 15 minutes after the start for any late starters. Late starters must advise the Chief Commissaire of the late start so that official sweep and other vehicles can be advised accordingly.

12. Individual Times
12.1. Timing will start with the start siren at the start of each distance.
12.2. Riders who start later than 15 minutes after the designated start time will not be included in the stage results and will be responsible to follow the route on their own and to catch up with the sweep vehicle.
12.3. Any rider not able to make the start deadline must report to the Chief Commissaire 45 minutes before the stage starts for permission to make a late start.
12.4. The cut-off time will not be adjusted for any rider permitted to make a late start.

13. Rider Identification and Timing
13.1. No timing chips (e.g. Racetec or Championchip) are required for the event.
13.2. All riders must display their Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day race number at all times during a stage. Riders not displaying official race numbers will be regarded as non-participants, and prevented from continuing on the route by marshals.
13.3. Race numbers must be properly attached to the handlebars of the bike with cable ties provided, and must be placed in front of cables etc so as not to be obscured in any way. Riders will be required to remove and reaffix numbers if they are found to be obscured.
13.4. Riders must not cut, modify or mutilate their race numbers in any way. No stickers may be added or removed.
13.5. It is each rider’s responsibility to keep their race numbers relatively clean and legible at all times, and no rider may start a stage with a dirty number. Loss of a race number will cost R25 to replace.

14. Nutrition and Hydration
14.1. The Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day will take place in the beginning of. It could be wind and rainy, and as it is still early autumn, temperatures may get quite hot. Ensure that you have appropriate clothing.
14.2. Riders must ensure that they keep themselves properly hydrated and carry sufficient nutrition for at least 45km of riding.
14.3. The Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day will provide water, limited volumes of energy drinks, coke and fruit (second water point only on Stage 2) at neutral feed stations at accessible and appropriate refreshment stations on the route.

15. Withdrawals
15.1. Any rider not able to continue the race, for whatever reason, must inform the Race Office immediately. This can be done at the start of any stage, the finish, at STP checkpoints, at a feed zone, or preferably by mobile phone (082-550-1628).
15.2. In the event of a search and rescue operation being launched for a rider who has withdrawn, but has not informed the Race Office, the cost of such an operation will be for the rider concerned. (aka the Ruinaard Clause)

16. Protests
16.1. Any protests must be submitted in writing, on official protest forms available from the Chief Commissaire, by the team/rider concerned within the allocated time period after crossing the finish line.
16.2. A deposit of R150 must accompany the protest, before the protest will be considered.
16.3. If the protest is upheld, the deposit will be refunded. If it is not upheld, it will be donated to the Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day Jose Cuervo Black Development Fund.
16.4. Race protests must be submitted within 15 minutes of the team crossing the line or within 30 minutes of the results being posted respectively. Race results will be posted no later than 16h00.

17. Ethical and Environmental Considerations
17.1. Littering on the routes, damage to property, lighting of fires or damage to the environment will not be tolerated.
17.2. Physical and/or abuse of Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day Crew and Officials, or fellow competitors will not be permitted.
17.3. Infringements of the above rules will result in disciplinary action and possible disqualification.
17.4. Littering by riders even at feed zones will not be allowed, and riders are requested to kindly use litter receptacles provided.
17.5. If a rider is reported for littering at any time on the route, it will lead to immediate disqualification of the rider.

18. Traffic Regulations
18.1. The Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day will not have exclusive use of any public or private roads during the race. Owing to the fact that we are guests of the various farmers in the region, we are to respect their wishes to allow them to continue operating their businesses with minimum interruption. For safety reasons, all riders are expected to stop or give way to machines, transport vehicles, until the road is clear and an official or marshal waves the riders on.
18.2. Riders must ride with due regard for other road users, and all traffic signs and regulations must be adhered to unless a traffic officer instructs him/her to do otherwise.
18.3. Riders are not permitted to ride on the opposite (right) side of the centreline on a public road.
18.4. Care must be taken when negotiating "blind corners" on farm and district roads where vehicles and machines may be operating.
18.5. Infringements of traffic regulations may result in disqualification.

19. Basic Race Rules and Etiquette
19.1. All riders must complete the entire distance of the race.
19.2. While utmost care will be taken to mark and marshal the route, the responsibility for following the official route lies with the rider.
19.3. No rider is permitted to take any shortcuts, or take advantage of any similar nature over other participants.
19.4. Riders who leave the route for any reason whatsoever must return into the route at the same place from where they exited it.
19.5. Any walking, running, or riding by any rider, with the intention of not directly rejoining the course, or any other activity in breach of the regulations, which takes place outside the demarcated stage area, can result in disqualification.
19.6. A rider may not receive any outside technical assistance from anybody, other than a fellow competitor.
19.7. Riders must act in a polite manner and permit any faster rider to pass unhindered as soon as conditions allow.
19.8. Riders must respect the environment, and ride only on the official demarcated route.
19.9. No pollution of any kind is permitted.
19.10. No glass containers are permitted.
19.11. Riders must not : use abusive language, act in an unsporting manner, and be disrespectful to The Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day officials, crew, marshals, medical attendants, supporters, the media or the traffic officials.
19.12. Riders are expected to administer basic first aid to injured team partners and other competitors, and if required, take necessary steps to summon assistance in the case of a serious injury.

20. Doping
20.1. The Nashua Mobile Ladies Mtb Day reserves the right, in terms of SA Mountain biking rules and regulations, to implement doping tests on any riders.
20.2. Positive results will result in immediate disqualification, and forfeiture of any result by the rider concerned.

21. Penalties and Disqualification
21.1. The penalties below serve as a guideline for transgressions of the rules, but where any additional rule interpretation is required, or where specific provision for any incident has not been made in these rules, the decision of the Chief Commissaire is final.