Medical support

The professional services of Event Medical Services Australia (EMSA) have been employed for the Rainforest Ride and will respond to any medical incident during the event with three mobile units and a medical base at Apollo Bay. If you are involved in an incident that requires medical assistance then please contact EMSA directly on 0448 897 658 and they will dispatch assistance as soon as possible.

EMSA will be driving around the ride routes and will respond to any incident as soon as alerted. There is fair mobile reception over the ride routes but if you are in patchy reception:

• Try sending a text message to EMSA with your location and brief explanation.
• Advise other riders to ‘carry the message forward’ to the next marshal, water point or next area of reception to get the message to EMSA. Please ensure that someone stays with the injured person at all times.
• Seek assistance from any passing motorists who can also carry the message forward to EMSA.

There will also be a medical base set up at Lavers Hill (on the 140km ride) that will be manned by the Lavers Hill volunteer ambulance crew who can provide medical support and assistance if required.

Mechanical support

The team from 3D Bike Support will be on hand to provide mechanical assistance before, during and after your ride and will be set up in the event expo on the Apollo Bay foreshore as well as being mobile around the course. They will have a range of bike products for sale including: tyres, tubes, lube, clothing, helmets, hydration packs, nutrition and will be conducting mechanical serving and repairs during the event.

Before the ride (from Friday mid morning onwards):
3D are available to work on your bike at the Apollo Bay foreshore from Friday mid-morning through Saturday and are accepting bookings for services and repairs done over these 2 days. Full services for Kids’ bikes will be $40, for Adults’ bikes $60 and a basic gear and brake adjustment will be charged at $35. Services can be pre-booked by calling 0419 419 701.

During the ride:
If your bike ‘has a mechanical’ during the ride and cannot be ridden any further then the team at 3D will be on call for urgent repairs to get you back on the road and may be called on 0419 419 701. As a sign of their support for the race any urgent or unforseen repairs will be repaired free of charge.
If you cannot get through to 3D then you may also call Event Management on 0408 035 261 or 0400 001786 and we will arrange assistance for you. There will be a "sag wagon" following the last rider on all rides should you require a lift back to Apollo Bay.

After the ride:
If you break something during the ride but still make it back to Apollo Bay, not only are you a hero but 3D Bike Support will be happy to fix your bike from their stand on the Apollo Bay foreshore (for a competitiove fee).

Rider support – ‘service stations’

It might be well and good that we can service your bike during the ride, but what about you – the rider?! Well, don’t worry, because we’ve got you covered as well, with a range of water points and ‘service stations’ for riders around the course.

Refer to the ‘service stations’ points listed under your ride below. Each ride will have a number of locations where you can stop for a drink and a bite to eat. Each service station will have (at least) some water for you to fill up your water bottles, some cake and / or lollies to give you a bit more energy, a toilet and some friendly marshals.

General Rules and Safety Information

The Rainforest Ride is a mass participation recreational ride - not a race! Yes, some riders will go fast and some will go slow, but the event is based around the fun and enjoyment of cycling in a very beautiful part of the world.

All riders must follow the road rules and event rules. Any participant found to be breaking these rules (and thus jeopardising the safety of other riders as well as the longevity of the event) will risk being escorted from the course and may not be permitted to participate in future rides.

Whether you are challenging yourself on the 140km Rainforest Circuit or the shorter rides, the Rainforest Ride takes place in some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable but it is still important that riders stay alert throughout the duration of the ride and are aware of the environment around them, especially since most roads on the course are still open to public traffic at all times.

Rapid Ascent has designed the format and layout of the event with your safety and enjoyment in mind, working closely with the police, the local council, Vic Roads and other governing bodies to ensure that the event is conducted safely. The onus is still on you to be sensible and follow these rules and guidelines:

Road Rules

It is essential that all cyclists follow all road rules as well as the direction of police and traffic management during the ride.
In addition, riders must :

• NOT ride more than two abreast on dual lane roads (if a vehicle needs to overtake on a single lane road cyclists are required to move into single file to permit the vehicle to pass safely on the left hand side of the road)
• Ride with a helmet, correctly fastened
• NOT ride dangerously or negligently
• NOT use MP3 Players, iPods, walkmans or mobile phones while riding (you are here to enjoy the environment around you!)
• Keep to the left hand side of the road at all times to allow faster cyclists and vehicles to pass
• Remain behind the lead vehicle and in front of the tail end charlie vehicle that will follow the last rider around the course. 

Additional Rules & Regulations

• Drafting of vehicles or motorbikes is strictly forbidden
• You may NOT ride under someone else’s name or number under any circumstances
• The event will take place regardless of bad weather and will only be cancelled, re-routed or stopped for safety reasons

Also Remember

• Adhere to speed limits and obey all traffic signals and signage and directions from Police, Traffic controllers, Event Staff and Marshals
• Ride in the same direction as traffic and on the left-hand side of the road
• Allow faster cyclists and vehicles to pass
• Riders must use hand signals if turning left or right, or stopping
• Riders should always look behind before pulling out to pass another rider
• It is the rider's responsibility to follow the sign-posted route
• Wear bright clothing that increases your visibility to other road users
• Do not ride in the gutter

The above rules will be enforced by event staff, marshals, traffic controllers and Police.  Any cyclist found to be breaking the law will risk receiving a substantial fine from the Police.

Medical Recommendations

There will be mobile maintenance and medical support provided on the course. You MUST wear your event number and wristband to receive support.

If you require assistance while on the course you should use your mobile phone to contact the Event Mobile at the Event Centre for mechanical support/tail end charlie wagon or the Medical Event Mobile Vehicle for a medical response. Event Mobile and Medical Event Mobile numbers will be noted on the event information sheet sent out in the pre ride information. Otherwise you may advise a course marshal, police officer, traffic management or event staff member, who will then call for assistance.

Note, mobile coverage is patchy over the event course and does NOT exist in some areas. Using SMS texting is often a more efficient way of communicating if you are in an area of poor reception. A number of key marshal points will have in car VHF radio which provide good coverage across most of the course between race officials, medical teams and mechanical support vehicles. Remember, you are out in a remote part of the Australian bush and communications and emergency response times are not the same as if you were riding your bike down Collins St and required assistance. Please, be patient.

Medical staff have the ultimate and final authority to remove a competitor from the ride if the competitor is judged to be physically incapable of continuing the ride without risk of serious injury. To prevent this from happening, Rapid Ascent recommends the following:

• Drink plenty of fluid before and during the event
• If you are over 35 years of age and/or have not done much regular exercise, it is strongly recommended you have a medical check-up prior to the event
• Undertake a proper training program to prepare for the event

From the Medical Director

It is recommended that participants have ambulance cover – ambulances may be at the event, however if you require transport by ambulance you will be charged for this service if you do not have ambulance cover.

The quality of medical service will remain high, but due to the location of the course, riders should not expect the same response rate and level of service as in metro Melbourne.

Safety Points

It is important for the safety of all cyclists that:

• All bikes are checked and serviced before the ride
• Cyclists only pass on the right side of other cyclists as well as call out the passing of fellow cyclists
• Riders start in their allocated group
• Riders are experienced in riding with a pack, especially over hills and around bends
• Carry mobile phones and be prepared to use SMS to communicate in areas of poor or no reception. Be prepared to travel to higher ground to gain phone reception

Insurance

The Rainforest Ride is covered by public liability insurance but this does not include personal accident insurance. It is therefore highly recommended that you take out the optional personal accident insurance offered by Cyclecover when you enter the event.

Cancellation of the event

In the event that the ride is cancelled due to extreme climatic conditons, no refund will be given.