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Can I use a mountain bike?  What is the advantage of a road bike? How do I know if my helmet is good enough?  What is drafting?  Where do I put my numbers for the bike?  Will there be a Sub 2:30 cycle route to central London?

Can I use a mountain bike?
Yes you can.

What is the advantage of a road bike?
It will cycle faster on the roads as the tyres are smoother and provide less resistance. The frame is also lighter, reducing the effort required, and the drop handlebars allow you a more aerodynamic position.

How do I know if my helmet is good enough?
Your helmet will pass the safety inspection as long as it has no cracks in it, has no damage to it and bears a CE & EU safety mark inside it. The strap must also be in good working order.

What is drafting?
Drafting is when cyclists race in a pack and one cyclist can shelter behind the other to save energy. This is what you may have seen in the Tour de France. Drafting is against the rules for all but the Elite Competitors. You must not take shelter cycling behind or cycle beside another competitor during the race. You can be disqualified from the race for drafting. The draft zone is a rectangle measuring five (5) metres long by two (2) metres wide.

A competitor may enter the draft zone of another competitor but must be seen to be progressing through that zone. A maximum of 15 seconds is allowed to progress though the draft zone of another competitor. If an overtaking manoeuvre is not completed within 15 seconds the overtaking cyclist must drop back.

Where do I put my numbers for the bike?
Your race number must be displayed to the rear on the bike, either by swiveling round your race belt so the number faces the rear or by pinning a number in four corners to the back of your t-shirt.

A bike number is also provided to face forward from your handle bars which can identify you to officials and also acts as security for your bike in transition. The number will be checked against the security band before a bike can be removed from transition.

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