Advice for Record Attempts
CODE of PRACTICE FOR RECORD ATTEMPTS
This Code of Practice is designed to assist Record Breakers with preparing the Notice & Schedule and Disclaimer Form. All the Rules (4.09 & 6.01 to 14) covering Record Attempts are on the website. Please read through all these Rules carefully. You are strongly advised to send all relevant paperwork at the same time, as a word .docx or .doc file, along with the Attempt Fee. For how to pay please contact the Record Secretary.
Should your require any help with completing your Notice & Schedule Form or any advice on attempting a record or if you are unsure about any of the Rules please contact the Record Secretary as early as possible.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If you use a schedule from another rider it is your responsibility to ensure that all the roads are still open and safe for cyclists to use. This is because some roads may now have been classified to ‘motorway’ standards or closed to cyclists for other reasons.
Please also note that if you are aware of any road closures in advance of your attempt, but after you have submitted a schedule, you should try to find an alternative route. It may also be useful to contact the Highways Agency for further information. Please inform the Record Secretary as soon as possible, unless any information has come from him.
If the Record Secretary has to reject the Notice & Schedule for any serious problems then the Notice period may start again once the new corrected version is received and accepted. The rider must ensure, by email and phone, that Notices and Schedules have been received and accepted by the Records Secretary.
Please use the RRA Notice & Schedule Form and do not add any additional information. It has been laid out in a standard format. Please supply one copy by email, please do not send as a .pdf file.
The first possible start date must be at least seven clear days after receipt and acceptance of the Notice & Schedule, with a clear day being from midnight on the day received to midnight the day before the attempt.
NO ATTEMPT FEE AND/OR DISCLAIMER FORM, NO ATTEMPT.
PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING
Please ensure that your entire chosen route is as safe as possible for the rider/s, all Observers, Timekeepers, and your following team. For riders attempting Land’s End to John o’Groats, please be aware that the ‘short cut’ from Okehampton to Wellington is considered very dangerous and undesirable. The distance saved is far out-weighed by using the faster A30 to Exeter.
RRA Timekeepers and Observers are always keen to support record attempts and to see them successfully concluded. However, it is important to remember that they are giving time from their personal lives and this needs to be respected.
Should the attempt be so far behind on schedule that there is NO chance of the record being broken, then the Timekeeper should confer first, with the Observers, then with the rider/s and organiser about leaving the attempt even if the rider/s wish to continue. The Timekeeper, can, if they so wish continue with the rider/s so as to give a time. If this happens then the Timekeeper shall be acting solely for the rider/s, not the RRA. In all cases the Record Secretary should be notified by email at any time or by phone at any reasonable time.
Should weather conditions become so poor during an attempt that RRA Timekeepers/Observers fear for their safety, the attempt organiser should take all reasonable steps to address their concerns. If a remedy cannot be found, RRA Timekeepers/Observers should confer with the organiser about temporarily or permanently leaving the attempt. If this happens, the attempt organiser should take the officials to a suitable place for them to either take shelter or return home. The attempt may continue if the aspirant wishes to continue riding. In all cases the rider or organiser should notify the Record Secretary by email at any time or by phone at any reasonable time. All Officials leaving the attempt should also notify the Records Secretary by email at any time or by phone at any reasonable time.
MOBILE PHONE/RADIO USE BY THE RIDER/S.
Section 10 This covers the use of mobile phones/radios. All riders, their organiser and all members of their support team are strongly urged to read these rules very carefully. You should also note the following:-
There is also the possibility that continued use of a mobile phone/radio whilst still cycling could be seen as illegal.
You are also strongly advised to carry a rear light at all times for your own safety should the weather conditions suddenly change. You are also advised to wear light coloured clothing at night. It is recommended that a flashing orange beacon should be fitted to the roof of the following vehicle immediately behind the rider/s. Please note this is not available from the RRA.
Contact with the Attempt.
It is suggested that a spare phone and contact number is also available should the following car with the initial contact number develop problems. In this case the Record Secretary should be notified of the change of number.
You are required to engage the services of all Observers and Timekeepers needed by using the address list provided in the RRA handbook. (Or in accordance with Rule 11.01b) You must have an Observer in each and every following car, or vehicle associated with the attempt. It is the sole responsibility of the rider/organiser to ensure that enough Timekeepers and Observers are available to cover the entire attempt, allowing them to have sufficient rest.
This is most important on the longer records.
Record Attempt numbers should not be asked for nor the Notice & Schedule be sent too early before the first possible start date. Timekeeper & Observer details should be listed on the Notice if known. If these details are not listed then Timekeeper & Observer details should be sent to the Record Secretary NO LATER than 7 days before the actual start date. Please note that the Record Secretary will not ask for these details.
Please note that some Timekeepers may also act as an Observer. In this case only ONE RRA Official in each vehicle is required.
PLEASE NOTE: You should be prepared to pay ALL out of pocket expenses of any Timekeeper/s and Observer/s.
All RRA Forms needed are available from the website or the Record Secretary, by post or e-mail. The RRA warning signs are available free of charge from Brian Edrupt 136 Beaconsfield Road, ENFIELD, EN3 6AY. If possible please try to return these signs when you have finished with them, unless you will require them for another attempt.
Please note: It is the riders’ responsibility to ask the Record Secretary for any RRA signs, unless they wish to make their own.
You must inform the Record Secretary, by telephone, at least two clear days before the start of any attempt. This applies whether the attempt is Active or Postponed. Email alone is not enough.
Note: Whilst an email notice of abandonment at any time is acceptable, a phone call must still be made during reasonable hours.