What's Included?

When you come on a Red Heart Ride, we take care of all the details - you just concentrate on the riding. There are many fantastic cyle tour operators in Australia, but what sets the Red Heart Ride team apart is that we are committed to providing an all inclusive package with no hidden costs.  We believe that that last thing people want from a cycle adventure is to arrive ready to begin and find out there are further expenses and other unknown additions that are impossible to avoid.  We believe that the quality of your experience is directly related to the quality of support provided, and the professionalism of the support and logistics crew. 

 

Our comprehensive participant's information pack, sent out to you upon receipt of your registration, answers all points of logistics, travel, accommodation, nutrition, safety and more.  You may have further concerns and questions and we encourage you to voice these, and talk to us in person.  You can call or text +61 417 623 616, or email us at go@redheartride.com.  Each Red Heart Ride is an extreme, endurance event and you need to be well-prepared.

 

Here is a basic look at what we provide....

 

STANDARD INCLUSIONS 

 

Airport transfer to international airports

In Rock to the Reef, transfer from Uluru to the start line and from Port Douglas to Cairns to meet domestic and international flights

In Crossroads to Lifestyle Capital, transfer from Adelaide international airport to Port Augusta

 

Arrive/depart within certain dates of the start/finish and one of our support/logistics crew will be waiting for you upon arrival at the airport.  We will assist with luggage and your bike box.  The many options for getting to/from our start and finish points will be covered in detail in the information pack.  We know how difficult it is travelling solo with a bike box!

 

Support vehicle

Bus for crew, luggage, bike transport

Truck for rest and food stops

 

Two types of support vehicle will be utilised in the Rock to the Reef Challenge.  The first will be responsible for accommodation preparation and dismantling.  This vehicle will also be the base for all internet-related activities, including media, blogging and contact with the outside world. 

The other vehicle will be directly involved with servicing the riding bunch.  The Red Heart Ride is not strictly a race, however, riders will potentially be coming into and leaving checkpoints and refreshment stations at different times.  This vehicle and crew will be assisting riders with repairs and punctures, refuelling and watering.

 

Support crew

Accommodation set up and breakdown each day

All meals and snacks

Laundering of all ride clothing

Camp fire where possible (and legal)

Ensure safety of participants

 

The support and logistics crew will provide world class support to all of our riders.  The support crew will be working as hard, if not harder, than riders to ensure that everyone gets through to the finish point.  Entrants in each Red Heart Ride are encouraged to have a friend or family member as part of the volunteer support crew.  This will add meaning to the ride through a shared experience with a loved one.  You can register as a volunteer here.

 

Athlete's Diet

Tasty breakfast, lunch and dinner each day - all our chef-designed meals are vetted by nutritionists and sports coaches to make sure they provide the right fuel for your ride

Great snacks each 30km every day

Gala dinner on the final night

 

The Red Heart Ride team have enlisted the expertise of food service professionals to develop a menu which aims to balance nutrition with taste and texture.  When you are eating so much food to maintain the high energy levels, the same foods and supplements can get very boring.  Variety is a big feature.  We also understand that different people like and need certain foods at various times of the day.  We attempt to be as flexible as possible while delivering a high quality product.  A hungry and tired cyclist is a grumpy cyclist! 

 

Fluids

Basic drinks like Water, Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Milo etc are provided

Please note: we recommend riders bring their own supply of sports drink to suit personal taste. Please bring in powder form (marked with your name so the support crew can assist with preparation for you).

 

Every person has different requirements in their sports drinks.  We highly recommend the sole use of water, as many of the commercial sports drinks can upset your stomach, and are basically glorified sugar.  If you have a preferred sports drink, we recommend you bring it with you and our support crew will mix it for you throughout the day.  Drinkable water will be available in great quantity.  While it is important to be well hydrated, it is not good to have a full bladder on the bike.  Our information pack has some information about hydration; however, we suggest you work out what works best for you prior to the Red Heart Ride. 

Hot Beverages in the form of tea, coffee and hot chocolate will be available throughout the day.  Alcoholic beverages will not be provided on any Red Heart Ride.  Participants are encouraged to keep alcoholic consumption to a minimum.

 

Entry to Uluru National Park

Entry to the Uluru/Kata Tjuta National Park is normally $25pp for 3 days access.  As part of your Red Heart Ride you will have access to the park and scheduled trips to various landmarks in the days leading up to the event.  You will also start the Red Heart Ride within the park, right beside the rock, and ride within the National park for roughly 15km.

 

Accommodation

Tents or cabins each night

Luxury hotel on the final night

 

While every effort will be made to ensure participant comfort and security, there will be a great deal of camping involved with every Red Heart Ride.  This is largely due to the remote nature of the setting, and also to add to the experience.  Camping out is often less comfortable than a hotel, however, costs would increase greatly for participants if hotel accommodation was the norm.  Should an extreme hazard or environmental disaster prevent the support crew from setting camp, or hinder the participants ability to rest, then the Red Heart Ride team will provide an alternative, in the form of hotel/motel accommodation. 

Participants are well within their rights to make alternative accommodation arrangements .  Riders are encouraged to stay together in our official accommodation to minimise this separation and foster a team spirit.

 

Permits

Road and event permits

 

We will be in constant contact with Police and Governmental authorities to maintain safe riding conditions, and every effort will be made to ensure that the ride stays on track.  Alterations to the route will only be considered in case of natural disaster, or other unforseen health and safety reasons. 

 

Media Support

Internet access available in media tent, participants must pay for data

Blog storage on Red Heart Ride site

 

Each night you will have scheduled time with access to the internet.  During this time you will be free to blog, email, read news etc.  As this is not something that everyone will want to do, this will be charged at a set rate.    

 

Fundraising Support

If you would like to raise funds for a given charity, we will assist with Press Releases and set up a personal fundraising site for you.  We can also help with an online payment system for collecting donations.

Click here for more details.

 

 

Bike Maintenance

Mechanic available

Simple repairs

Assistance with sourcing new parts

Tyre changing

 

Everyone needs the occasional replacement tube, so the support crew will have a store of some spare tubes and other commonly used bike maintenance items.  If you have a need for a specific item we will help you order it from the nearest store, collect it and assist you with your repair work.  We will not be providing riders with limitless maintenance items.  We require each rider to have a functional bike, with quality group set, and have had a recent full service.  Our recommended groupset is the Shimano 105 as a minimum.  It is reliable, most regional bike shops stock spares, and it is not overly expensive.  An alternative is the SRAM Apex or Campagnolo Veloce.  10 Speed group sets are the minimum we recommend for any Red Heart Ride, sorry to all those fixies!

 

Safety

Mandatory safety video and demonstration for safe road cycling in the trying outback conditions, including dealing with road trains, weather, dehydration and fatigue 

 

Medical

Medical team

Health and injury advice

General treatment

 

 

Course marking and design

Course clearly marked with all turns

Course designed to maximise beauty and minimise traffic

 

 

Gala dinner

Final dinner with all riders, so you can cement your friendships, discuss your experiences and present your charity funds 

 

Good times and lifelong friends

With everyone working hard towards a single goal, the feeling of community is palpable.  People from all around the world come to work as a single instrument as you learn how to cope with the physical and mental challenges of the environment and each other.

 

 

Please note: these inclusions are subject to change depending on event conditions, see full terms and conditions.

 

Optional Extras

 

A qualified remedial massage therapist will be part of the Rock to the Reef Challenge crew.  It is probable you will need some massage therapy while on your ride.  Our massage therapist will be available to help you through some self massage techniques to maintain a healthy body, however, should you require a massage from our therapist you will be required to pay for this.  This will be invoiced along with any data charges you accrue.