Thailand Rides What you need to know to get on a bike in January

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1 Thailand Rides 2017 What you need to know to get on a bike in January The aim of this document is to answer those questions that you have now that you have been selected to join us on the ride. Your decision to join us is one will change lives; yours, the rest of the team and the kids you will be riding to support. There will be many questions and some will border on doubts even rising to fears. But all of this is achievable. The fundraising. The training. And the ride. If you put the work in you will reach your goals and you will return as a changed person.

2 The basics What have others had to say? Visit the Hands Facebook page for photos and daily accounts of previous rides. There are two rides, what is the difference? The Northern Ride leaves Nong Khai on the 4 January 2016 and arrives in Yasothon, at our Baan Home Hug home, on the 12 January 2017 The Southern Ride will leave Bangkok on 15 January 2016 and arrive in Khao Lak, at our Baan Tharn Namchai home, on the 23 January 2017 Completing both rides is our 1600km Combined Ride starting 4 January 2017 and finishing 23 January There are a number of differences between the rides. The Northern Ride is easier in that it is flatter and we are riding in cooler conditions but the roads can be a little more challenging as some of them aren t maintained to the same standard as the Southern Ride. The hotels and the food are similar for both rides. What is the cost per rider? The Northern Ride is AUD$1,950 and the Southern Ride is AUD$2,695. The difference between the rides is the cost of the accommodation along the route, but the main difference is where we finish in Khao Lak on the last night. The cost of the Combined Ride is AUD$3,950 and this includes accommodation for the break nights in between the two rides. This cost basically includes everything except your flights, your alcohol, incidental expenses and private travel insurance. You have ten nights accommodation (21 for the Combined Ride), all meals, your bike hire, support vehicles and a rider kit included. You will need to make a non-refundable deposit of AUD$500 (AUD$750 for the Combined Ride) to secure your spot and we don t count you as a confirmed rider until that payment is made. If you withdraw from the ride, your deposit is nonrefundable. Payment plans Please note monthly payment plans are available for the balance payment. Jenny at finance@handsacrossthewater.org.au to arrange.

3 The basics Can my personal costs be sponsored? Only if someone is very clear that they are paying for you to attend and not making a donation to Hands. If you raise more than your fundraising goal that doesn t mean your costs are covered. If you do have someone who is willing to chip into your travel costs, they need to be made aware that that contribution is not tax deductible in any way. How fit do I need to be? The key to your training will be stamina rather than speed training. There s a great mix of people on the ride some who are keen cyclists, and others who haven t been on a bike in years. As such the pace will vary greatly, so don t panic about keeping up. This is a FUN ride and we want you to enjoy the experience not just rush from point A to point B! If you are a keen rider, there will be plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs and ride hard, but you will find the real pleasure is in riding with the group and sharing the journey. The one thing most riders will not be used to is the heat and humidity so any training you can do in the middle of the day will help. Spin classes are good, but once again, it s the backing up day after day. A high level of general fitness will make the ride much more enjoyable. There s no substitute for time in the saddle. What about the training? That s another document in your Rider portal. It is a four month training program which has been put together by a specialist. It s your choice to follow it or not. If you don t just make sure you are doing something and spending plenty of time getting to know your bike seat. One of the things we see is riders who feel that they have a good level of fitness and don t spend a lot of time on the bike. They pay for their lack of bike riding with a sore butt for the duration of the ride. Regardless of how fit you are; make sure you re spending plenty of time on the bike. It will make a world of difference to your experience come January. Can I take my own bike? No, you are not able to take your own bike. Hybrid bikes are supplied for all riders.

4 Frequently asked questions What are the road conditions? Many think it is safer and more enjoyable riding in Thailand than in Australia. We ride as much as we can on country roads to avoid the traffic. You are riding on roads though so you do need to respect that fact. Helmets are compulsory whenever you are on the bike and for hygiene purposes and good fit, we ask you to bring yours from home. There will be sections of the ride which are on dirt and they lead to beautiful parts of the country you wouldn t see otherwise. The ride is on roads with the large part minimal traffic (except when on the highway) and you will find the Thai people are thrilled to see you there exploring their country. How far do we ride each day? The total distance is approximately 800kms over 9 days with a rest day in the middle. The distances vary each day depending upon which ride you are doing. We only ride about an hour at a time then stop for a drink break or meal break. This is not a great distance in between stops and ensures we don t spread too far out from one another. What about our accommodation? Accommodation will be comfortable and basic (3 star). Hot showers and good meals will be available each night. Each of hotels has air conditioning and for the Southern Ride there is a swimming pool. For the Northern Ride, you may find the water too cold to swim in. We share accommodation and we will look at partnering people as best we can. You will find that you will partner with someone and they will be your room mate for the duration of the ride. There is an option to request a single room should you feel that is important to you. We can t guarantee that for the duration of the ride given the size of the group and the size of some of the hotels. Should you choose this option, there will be an additional cost. What about riding kit? You will be provided with bike riding kit and we will get your sizes closer to the date. We will give you one jersey, a pair of knicks and a pair of gloves. Simply pack some clothes powder and give them a wash in the shower. They dry in no time. Additional kit will be available for purchase and we will you the link to purchase. Part of the recognition of our sponsors is that only the official jersey can be worn during the ride. If you would like to have one of your sponsors logos on the shirts get in touch with us. In saying that, each of the sponsors have given a substantial amount to Hands to be on the shirts so please understand if we say no. How hot will it be? January is the coolest and driest month in Thailand, however, temperatures will still be in the mid to high 20s and humidity high. A good level of fitness will be necessary to cope with the hotter conditions and the long rides. We certainly notice the increased temperatures as the ride moves south towards Khao Lak with daily temperatures pushing into the mid 30s. What if I can t complete a day riding? While the intent of every rider will be to ride the complete distance, support vehicles will be available for emergency transport situations. There is no pressure to ride if you are unwell for any reason. Some may suffer from minor injuries, a touch of the sun or a general feeling of unwell. Even just one leg in the back of the van can make all the difference and give that break that enables you to get back on the bike.

5 Travel details / supporters Can I bring my family or partner as a support person? The ride is fully supported by our tour guides, so there is no room for extra people to come along. The pace is also rather slow and boring for spectators and not really set up for non-riders. We encourage you to bring your supporters to meet you when you at the end of the ride. We will organise accommodation for your supporters and ensure they are transferred from the hotel to meet your ride. When do I need to arrive in Thailand? We assemble the afternoon before the ride starts in the foyer of the nominated hotel and head out for a team dinner. You will be advised of the hotel closer to the time of departure. You may choose to fly in a couple of days early to explore Thailand if you haven t been there before. Often riders fly into Bangkok two days before the ride just to have time to relax and get ready. When should I fly home? That is up to you of course, and which ride you are doing. Yasothon, where we finish the Northern Ride is not a tourist destination which means the hotels are really not set up to spend a couple of days unwinding. Most of the riders leave the following day and either head to one of the many Thai resorts prior to heading home. After the Southern Ride most riders will stay on for a number of days at the hotel to unwind and reflect. What about internal flights? Check the web for flight information; we leave this totally up to you. The sooner you book your flights, the better choices you are going to have. For the Northern Riders, you will need to fly into Udon Thani to start the ride and then out of Ubon Ratchathani. We will let you know the recommended flights closer to the date. For Southern Riders, you will fly into Bangkok and finish about an hour s drive from Phuket airport. You may wish to fly directly home or back via Bangkok or Singapore. Lots of options exist.

6 What s next? What are our expectations of you? There is no big events team pulling all of this together from back here in Australia. We do it because we are committed to the kids, to the ride and in ensuring you have one hell of good time. You can assist us by: Responding to all s where there is something asked of you and within the time frame requested; Support the events that are organised to assist you in raising the money; Keep in contact with us to let us know if things change and you can no longer do the ride. For some, their circumstances will change between now and January and you will need to withdraw from the ride. Let us know as soon as that happens so that we can get someone else onto the ride; Work hard to raise your AUD$10,000 (or AUD$20,000) and develop a plan. If you are struggling, get in touch and we can work out a strategy together. There will be a couple of riders who will be doing the ride for their fourth, fifth or sixth time and have raised the $10,000 each year. It is achievable; Get in contact if you have questions. They might not be covered in this document but there is a good chance we have dealt with them already, so don t sit on anything and worry, we are here to support you. What happens next? I can t stress strongly enough what an amazing experience you have signed up for. Many of our riders had ridden with us before. They do it because of the amazing experience it is and I want you to experience that as well. Please don t hesitate to contact us in the lead up to the ride to chat about the things that are worrying you. A quick chat can so often address concerns. You will receive regular communication from us, increasing over the coming months and this will detail payment details and other information. KEY DATES Northern Riders 3/01/2017 Fly into Udon Thani airport by this date Welcome dinner for Northern Riders 4/01/2017 Northern Ride commences in Nong Khai 11/01/2017 Supporters fly into Ubon Ratchathani airport 12/01/2017 Ride concludes Celebration dinner 13/01/2017 Riders and supporters fly from Ubon Ratchathani to Bangkok (or to other destination) Southern Riders 14/01/2017 Fly into Bangkok by this date Welcome drinks in Bangkok 15/01/2017 Southern Ride commences from Bangkok 22/01/2017 Supporters fly into Phuket by this date 23/01/2017 Ride concludes Celebration dinner Contact details Any questions, don t hesitate to contact Airene at airene.bongon@handsacrossthewater.org.au and we will be happy to help!