Training
Since 2002 it has been our practice to run a minimum of 4 Slow Control and Group sessions for all participants of the Temple Street Children’s University Hospital’s Route 66 Challenge. We have found this to be a key factor in our four successful completions of the Challenge.
The Road Captains and indeed many of the repeat riders have gained huge experience since 2002. This cumulative knowledge is absolutely key to our preparation for our return in 2010.
Slow control training is a serious part of our preparation prior to participation in Group travel.
All riders must undergo our training sessions, where the techniques best suited to group travel are practiced and assessed by our Instructional staff.
Away from the training sessions, participants should practice these techniques until they become natural and reflex.
The last road user we should have to worry about is one of our own.
Our knowledge base is always been tweaked and improved. This knowledge is available to all participants on the Challenge and we make no exceptions for those who have already completed the event in previous years.
It is most definitely ‘One for All and All for One’
In one day on the Route the cumulative mileage for the Challenge Team is in excess of 40,000 kilometres or 25,000 PER DAY.
This has to be managed and we do not believe in resting on past successes. Therefore, ALL participants, including pillion riders, MUST attend and partake in all the Group training sessions when scheduled.
We owe this to the others in our individual Groups, our own safety, our families back home and especially Temple Street Children’s University Hospital.
Route 66 Rider Safety Programme 2010
To ensure that the Route 66 Challenge 2010 is safe and successful we ask all participants to note the following:
- Stay within your designated Group. The placement of our Support Team within the daily movement of all the Groups will be to optimise their deployment should an emergency arise to which they have to respond.
- We must account for all participants at all times. In the event of a domestic emergency we have to be able to contact you through your Road Captain.
- Should you break away from your Group and be involved in an emergency we may not know about it until everyone checks into the overnight stop many hours later or YOUR HOME contacts us.
- Should we be able to respond, we may have to dispatch our Motorcycle Support Truck, our Medical Response Car, our Motorcycle Paramedic and the Mobile Secretariat out of the main catchment area for the other groups, thereby putting the majority at risk for the sake of the few.
- If you are feeling unwell you should inform your Road Captain prior to taking charge of your motorcycle. Should circumstances dictate, you may travel in the Support Car for a duration and resume when your circumstances change.
- Under no circumstances should you ride you motorcycle knowing you are unfit to do so.
- DO NOT undertake riding your motorcycle if you are feeling unwell. We have a Support Vehicle specifically for this purpose. Your motorcycle will be placed on the Motorcycle Support Truck and when you are cleared by our medical Staff you can resume with your Group.
- The Road Captain’s judgment call is final on whether a rider is fit to commence or complete any part of the day’s journey. (Same for where Doctor’s/Medic’s opinion is sought). The Road Captain’s judgement call on the day is final with regard to progress, seeking alternative accommodation due to weather or other emergency.
- The safety of individuals and Groups are paramount. On this our 5th journey down Route 66 there is no room for complacency. With up to 75 motorcycles and 10 Support Team vehicles undergoing the Challenge, we will cover approximately 212,500 miles, (340,000kms), cumulatively, all of which have to be managed safely. This can only be achieved by your co-operation.
- We all take on this Challenge under the banner of Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and not in our own right as individual motorcyclists. It is therefore incumbent on us to ensure that our efforts bring this Challenge and all subsequent Route 66 Challenges to a successful conclusion. This only comes about by teamwork with every participant honouring their reason for taking up the Challenge.
