FAQ's

Q. Who is organising this event?

A. The event is being put on by The William Wates Memorial Trust, partly in memory of William who died in 1996 and partly to raise funds for the Trust. Details of the Trust’s activities can be found at www.wwmt.org.

Q. Who can take part?

A. Please note that this is a private event open only to family, friends, friends of friends and colleagues of WWMT trustees. If you do not fall into this category we are sorry to disappoint you. This both controls the size of the event and ensures a personal experience for all. If in doubt please feel free to call Rick Wates on 07721 411 329.

Q. What is the event format?

A. The event shadows the route of the 2010 Tour de France, starting and finishing 2 weeks before the professional riders.

Q. What is the best way to contact us?

A. You can call Bex at Classic Tours on 0207 609 8389 or email her on tourdeforce@classictours.co.uk. Alternatively contact Rick Wates on 07721 411 329 or email him at rickwates@btinternet.com.

Q: If I’m keen to take part as a rider what’s the first thing I need to do?

A: In the first instance you will need to register your interest by clicking the “Register your interest” button on the homepage. We will then send you out a full registration pack with all the information you need to secure your place on the Tour. At this point we will ask for a £120 voluntary contribution to the William Wates Memorial Trust to kick start your fundraising effort. You will also get regular newsletters updating you on all the activity surrounding the event.

Q. What happens next?

A. Once you have filled in your registration pack you will get a letter confirming your place and the details of your booking. (i.e stages and accommodation). You will also get your sponsorship pack, insurance forms and more information about the challenge.

Q: Then what?

A: On Friday April 9th (10 weeks before the event) we would like to have your minimum sponsorship money in place. Of course you can still carry on collecting further donations after that date!

Q: How will I know which stage(s) to ride?

A: You will be able to look at the website Map and our excellent description of each stage. You will want to check out the official Tour website www.letour.com as it will have further details on the 20 Stages, such as mountain profiles!

Q: What’s the deal?

A: We are hoping that each rider will be able to raise a minimum of £1200 in sponsorship. This is a guide and riders will always be welcome, but the more money we can raise the more we can donate to the very special charities that WWMT supports. In return for your funds raised we are offering you the chance to ride the route of one of the greatest sporting events on the planet. Starting our tour just 14 days before the professionals, we will stay ahead right up to the finish in Paris. There are 20 stages to choose from. You can do as many stages as you wish.

The William Wates Memorial Trust will provide you with daily briefings, clearly written directions, mechanical and medical support, as well as food, drink and moral support on route. You will need to cover the cost of travel, board and lodging. We will hand-pick well located, clean, comfortable accommodation from start to finish.

Q. What will happen to the money I raise?

A. The Trust donates up to £150,000 per annum to causes that help disadvantaged young people fulfil their potential and stay away from a life of crime, mainly through sport, arts and education. The trust needs a regular income to replace spent funds. The Tour de Force is the Trust’s main fundraising activity for 2010. The trustees are all members of William’s family and meet 3 times a year to consider applications for funding and to monitor existing projects. See www.wwmt.org for more information.

Q. Is there a deadline for applications?

A. Some stages will prove very popular and as some locations have limited accommodation it makes sense to apply early in order to secure your preferred Stage. No applications can be accepted after the end of April 2010.

Q: How shall I raise my £1200 Sponsorship money?

A: we have arranged an online fundraising similar to Justgiving.com (but without the heavy commission!) Go www.bmycharity.com/wwmt and set up your own page. You can then email the link to your contacts. It’s simple, fast and effective!

Alternatively you can organise your own fundraising event or use the Tour de Force Sponsorship Leaflet (we will have a downloadable PDF on website). We have printed 2,000 hard copies of the Sponsorship Leaflet – they are ideal for helping potential sponsors understand the purpose of The William Wates Memorial Trust as well as the type of challenge you are taking on.

You will also be able to download a table for recording sponsorship details from the website.

Q: Can you supply anything to help me raise Sponsorship?

A: Yes. The 2000 Sponsorship Leaflets will be printed specially to help you raise money from individuals or companies.

Q: How do I book travel and accommodation?

A: The team at Classic Tours have personally visited every hotel along the route and you will be able to book your accommodation through the pack that will be sent to you after the November 30th meeting. (if you have registered!).

Classic Tours will not be booking your transport and ultimately you will be responsible for getting yourself to and from your chosen destinations. However Classic Tours will have an excellent grasp of the best way to travel to each stage and will be very happy to help with that process. You can phone Bex for help on 0207 609 8389.

Q: What are the hotels like?

A: All the hotels have been personally visited by the Classic Tours team. They have been chosen for their location, cost and comfort (but please don’t expect bells & whistles!). Most are in either the 2 or 3 star category. You are of course free to make your own arrangements, but please let us know.

Q: Do riders have to pay for their own accommodation?

A: Yes. To give you an idea (except for the last night in Paris) the hotels range from approximately 60 Euros to 90 Euros per room, and any discounts achieved through block bookings will be passed on to riders.

Q: How fit should I be to take part?

A: Your fitness is your responsibility. The required fitness level depends on whether you are intending to ride the entire 2,600 miles (several people already are) or just one stage. Some days are far more challenging than others but on average riders will be cycling 9 hours a day. Some people will be capable of riding a 100+ mile stage with relatively modest preparation, but the purpose is to enjoy the experience. Adequate training helps! To put it in perspective Lance Armstrong described the Tour as “the toughest race on earth” and he’s quite fit! You should also bear in mind that it is widely acknowledged that the 2010 route is particularly tough. If you have not had one recently we recommend you have a medical check up before coming on the event. Check out the Fitness page on the website, or contact Steve Young at info@foreveryoungfitness.co.uk or on 07711 246651 for a fitness assessment.

Q: Are there any group training activities?

A: Yes. Every month on a Sunday morning a group ride will take place, normally in Surrey/Sussex. Everyone is welcome and all standards can be catered for. We will email you for the next Training Ride date and just respond to add your name to the list (with your mobile number so you can be contacted with any change of plan). We have announced plans for one or two Training Weekends, which are in Dorset and France. Check out the dates for your diary button for the dates of training rides/ weekends.

Q: What kit do I need to join a training ride?

A: Bike, spare inner tube, helmet, glasses, gloves, drink, snacks and mobile phone. If you are unsure please contact Steve Young on 07711 246 651 who will be able to help.

Q: How fit are the other riders?!

A: At the moment almost everyone’s level of fitness needs to be improved! The Training Rides are arranged to accommodate all levels of fitness, but this will gradually increase between January 2010 and the Tour, so don’t get left behind, join the next ride!

Q: What else can I do to get fit?

A: Ask Steve Young at info@foreveryoungfitness.co.uk for a personal training programme or communicate with other riders on the TDF Forum to create group training sessions in your area.

Q. How do I make contact with other riders?

A. If you would like to chat with other riders check out the Forum on the website – it’s there for riders to communicate with each other and for the professionals to offer helpful advice.

Q: Where can I buy a suitable bike?

A: Check out the “Equipment” page on the website with special offers from Evans Cycles for Tour de Force riders.

Q: How do I transport my bike to Europe and back?

A: We will be providing detailed information on this in your registration pack.

Q: Can my friends and family come out to watch and cheer me on?

A: Yes. We look forward to seeing as many supporters as wish to come. It would be greatly appreciated if you could book their accommodation through Bex at Classic Tours as early as possible in case it’s necessary to take over more hotels in that area (remembering that the Tour de France will be passing through shortly afterwards, so accommodation will get tricky if you leave it too late). Your family and friends will need to think about means of transport to keep up with you.

Q. Who will be available if I have a problem outside of the Cycling aspect of the event?

A: Sarah Perry from the Classic Tours team will be on hand at all times to ensure that the event runs as smoothly as possible for you. Sarah will be nearby at all times and you will have her mobile number. Her role is purely rider liaison. It is important that she deals with issues relating to the Tour itself and she will let you know if your request is outside of her remit!

Q. Who will run the Cycling aspect of the event?

A. Classic Tours are a specialist cycling operator and have been retained by The William Wates Memorial Trust to deliver the event on the ground. They will have at least 7 members of staff present on each stage. They are all French speakers and have plenty of experience in laying on events like ours, with a doctor or nurse and a mechanic on hand every day. They will carry mobile phones and you will have the numbers. Phil Deeker will be leading the cycling element of the Tour on behalf of Classic Tours.

Q. How will I know where to go?

A. Classic Tours will recce the entire route and will write up detailed directions that will be available in laminate form for riders on the day. There will be a riders’ briefing before the start of each stage to explain the route and the arrangements for the day. Support vehicles will run up and down the route through the course of the day checking in with riders.

Q: What’s the programme for each day?

A: Each stage will start at between 8.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. We have tried to select hotels that are convenient to the start locations. We will ride all morning with one refreshment stop before continuing to lunch, where there will be another refreshment point and a chance to gather breath. The afternoon will follow a similar pattern with one stop and then the finish. N.B. Some days will be extremely long and challenging. The greatest distance to ride in a day is 235 km but some shorter distances will be more challenging with up to 6 peaks in a day. Where necessary the riders will be transferred in our vehicles to another town at the beginning or end of the day. We will supply detailed instructions for transfers; you just have to go with the flow!

Q. How many riders will there be on each stage?

A. At a guess, the maximum number of riders on any stage will be about 100 and the minimum number 6 or 7.

Q. What will happen in the evenings?

A. Supper will be arranged every evening at 8.30 pm either in the hotel or at a nearby restaurant. Everyone is welcome. Burning up to 9,000 calories in a day requires serious refuelling and as far as we can we are liaising with our chosen hotels to ensure the right kind of food is available. This will be very well organised by Classic Tours who will ensure decent meals and venues along the route. More details to follow.

Q: How many days off are there?

A: 2 rest days in 3 weeks

Q: What will happen to my bike each evening?

A: It will be stored securely by our cycling team

Q: Can anyone help me with bike repairs?

A: Our bike mechanic is there to help before during and after stages. If you advise us in advance of your model, every effort will be made to stock suitable spare parts for it, but you are strongly advised to bring basic spare parts.

Q. What happens if my bicycle breaks down beyond repair?

A. We will have some spare bikes for such crises to enable riders to finish the event. Your saddle & pedals will be fitted to a spare bike. Having your bike checked by a trained mechanic before you leave for France is a very good idea!

Q. What are the medical arrangements?

A. Classic Tours will supply a paramedic and first aid trained staff on every stage. They will also have good knowledge of local medical facilities. We are also hoping to have a massage service available before and after each stage.

Q: Do I need Insurance?

A: Yes. This is entirely your own responsibility. Every rider should have a travel insurance policy that covers rider, bike, possessions, health, accident and loss on a cycling event in Europe. Please make sure that you are covered by insurance.