WARBY Tips - Helping Young Riders
About this page
The WARBY Team have some tips for joining the Ride with younger Riders
Rest Areas
We aim to have a Rest Area every 20km to 25km with water and radio communication.
You can have a break anywhere en route. Remember to pull well off the road. Break it into small chunks rather than talk about how long the whole day is, talk about riding to the next town or Rest Area. Also make sure someone is riding behind the young rider at all times. It can be very demoralising to be at the back and struggling to keep up.
Tackling the hills
Many Riders walk up the hills, but also teach them to select an easy gear before climbing and spin to the top. Biggest (but all too common) mistake is to save gears for later. If you have them, use them. Make sure they have slick (smooth) tyres and they are fully pumped up to reduce rolling resistance.
Also, best to have three chain rings (for easy hill climbing and to prevent knee soreness), a pair of padded cycling gloves to reduce pressure on hands, a comfy seat (gel seat or gel seat cover can be good) and cycling shorts with a padded crotch. Sorbolene or Chamois Creme are good for preventing or treating saddle sores.
SAG Wagon - back up
There is a SAG Wagon - a minibus with trailer that can pick up at the back of the Ride and ferry Rider and bike to the Campsite. You cannot start the day on the SAG wagon without a medical certificate from the Care Team.
There can be a wait for the SAG Wagon, so Riders waiting will need to find some shade and have a good book, sandwiches and fruit (load up at breakfast) munchies and water.
See the panel on the right for the Conditions of Entry regarding Riders who are 15 years or younger.
Check out the other Training and Preparation pages.