FAQ 
When and where is registration?
Our Taree check-in centre will operate between 6pm and 8pm on Friday 16 March and from 10am on Saturday 17 March 2007. The registration venue is the Manning River Rowing Club on William Wynter Drive, Taree.
What time will we begin riding on the first day?
The official start is 1pm from Victoria St, Taree.
What time will the ride finish on the last day?
We will be finishing just before lunchtime in Taree on Sunday 25 March.
Is the Big Ride open to all age groups? The NSW Big Ride is suitable for riders all ages. Please see
terms and conditions relating to children coming on the Big Ride who are aged under 18 years of age.
How can I get to Taree from Sydney?
Currently you have two options for transport - you can
drive or catch a
Where can I leave my car during the week in Taree?
Parking with 24-hour security will be available at Taree Showground during the ride, enabling you to find your car safe and sound when you return to Taree on the last day of the ride. There will be a charge of $25 payable at the gates for the week’s parking. If you are coming on the half-ride, the charge will be $15.
Can I pay a deposit to reserve my Big Ride ticket and pay the balance later?
Yes, it is possible to book a deposit for the Big Ride if you book online before 20 December 2006. If you use this deposit option, then the balance is due by Friday 16 February 2007.
If I paid a deposit, how do I pay the balance?
Just log onto the orders website by clicking on the "Book Now" button above and put a full event ticket into your shopping cart. The system will recognise that you have previously paid a deposit and charge you the balance due.
Is the deposit + balance option more expensive than paying for my ticket in full to begin with?
No, it works out the same.
When do I have to pay my balance?
By the 17th February.
How do I vote in the NSW Election on 24 March if I will be on the Big Ride?
If you are required to vote in the NSW election, visit the
State Electoral Office website to see how to lodge a postal vote prior to the election. Click
here to download an application for apostal vote.
Alternatively, you may receive a pre-poll envelope in your welcome pack. Pre-poll locations are;
* 178 Victoria Street, Taree (parking at Butterworth car park entry through Albert Street) - contact Noel Donnelly 6551 5890
* 143a Horton Street, Port Macquarie - contact Kerry Crawford 6853 2711
What sort of bike should I bring? The NSW Big Ride is a road ride for everyone. However, to take advantage of the best routes through spectacular landscapes, there are three short stretches of unsealed road - one just outside Port Macquarie on day 7 (1 km) and two through Coopernook State Forest on day 8 (5km + 8 km). These unsealed sections include patches of loose gravel, with small and big stones (up to around 30mm diameter). These sections are definitely unsuitable for road bikes with narrow tyres. We recommend wider touring tyres for road bikes and hybrids, or slick tyres (minimum tread, as opposed to knobblies) for mountain bikes. Check out the tyre options at your local bike store.
Most of the NSW Big Ride uses sealed roads, but while much of these are in good condition with generous shoulders, there are narrow sections featuring multiple repair patches and potholes! You'll be riding across numerous wooden bridges too. These can feel pretty bumpy, so again wider tyres are best.
One of the NSW Big Ride event team -a veteran of several Big Rides-reckons she will bring her mountain bike with slicks. In all cases, you should choose the bike and tyres you feel confident about riding on various surfaces, and be able to quickly and safely pull off the road (onto dirt or gravel) if you need to. You might even consider
hiring one of the limited number of mountain bikes and tandems for some parts of the ride.
Equally important is the general state of repair of your bike. Is your bike as fit as you are? You want to be confident your bike is up to it when you climb the hills and descend the fantastic sweeping downhills along the route, so check those brakes and gears, as well as every other component. Get your bike serviced by a bike mechanic if you're not able to. And don't forget to pack a puncture repair kit, pump and spare tubes, as well as any special bits and pieces which may not necessarily be carried by the mechanical support crew.
A final word of advice about your choice of bike. Nine days in the saddle is a long time, so you need to be very comfortable with your bike. Once you've made your choice, and especially if you're purchasing a new one - or even a new component such as a saddle - give yourself plenty of time to train with it. Arriving on day one of the NSW Big Ride with a brand new bike out of the box, or a new saddle that looked good in the store, may not seem like such a great idea 40km, 100km or 400km down the track when your body starts to rebel against this unfamiliar machine. Your bike should be like a familiar friend, perfect company for a tour around the mid-north coast
Can I rent a bicycle and helmet for the ride?
All About Mountain Bike Tours are providing;
- Mountain Bikes with Town and Country tyres on them so they are suitable for on road and off road but they will have to ride them from the start to the finish and we will carry their bike.
- The cost will be $40.00 per day but numbers will be limited and they must be booked and paid for before 13th of March as we are leaving on the 14th and will only take the bikes that are paid for with us.
Please contact Amanda and Albi Steffen at allabout@ncable.net.au.
Are meals included in my ticket price?
All main meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 9 are included in your ticket price, except lunch on the rest day, when you’ll be free to select from a wide range of eateries in the local area. Opportunities to stop for morning and afternoon teas are provided along the route each day. Often these are provided by friendly local community groups at reasonable prices and you will be able to stop at shops we pass to pick up any extra refreshments.
I have special dietary requirements. What can you offer me?
Our chefs can accommodate your needs, however there is a surcharge of $75.
Click here to read guidelines.
Can I bring all my own camping gear?
Yes, you can bring your own camping gear (i.e. tent, sleeping bag, camping mattress). The cost of your campsite is included in your ticket price if you do this. Although we will transport your camping gear from one location to another during the day, you will need to erect your tent each afternoon or evening.
Can I hire camping gear?
Yes, you can choose our deluxe camping accommodation package (a two-person tent, includes 2 single mattresses).
If I bring my own camping equipment, is this part of the 25kg baggage limit? Yes, it is. However, your bike is not part of the 25kg baggage limit.
Does the fee cover insurance? All participants of the NSW Big Ride are covered by our free travel insurance. Click here to view
schedule of benefits. For further information contact CycleCover on 1300 733 055. Bicycle NSW members receive further benefits which you can check out on the
Bicycle NSW website.
How do I wash my clothes while on the ride?
There will be a laundry service available during the ride. Please drop off your laundry in a labeled bag ($5 per pillow case size) at Wingham Laundry located on the corner of Isabella and Primrose Sts, Wingham. All care but no responsibility will be taken. This service will be available from the afternoon of Tuesday 20 March and on the rest day. It will have approximately 1 hour turnaround which will give you time to check out the local area before being handed back your lovely clean clothes for the second half. Alternatively, you can wash your cycling gear either when you wash your dishes up of an evening or take them in the shower with you. Either way should do the trick.
What can I do in and around Wingham on the rest day?
Click
here to see all the fabulous things you will be able to do in and around Wingham on the rest day.
I still have questions. Where can I get more help?
