The Merlin Ride

Merlin Sportive 2012 Results

www.georgeburgessphotography.com

To view the photo gallery from the Merlin Ride you need to follow the above link to the Home Page of the photographer, when on the page select Galleries, then Sports and then Merlin 2012.

Photos are grouped by number where it is visible or otherwise in mixed file. There are also photos of the finish area in the mixed file.

For those fantastic marshals from Carmarthen & District Motor Cycle Club enter MOTOR into search engine.

Merlin Ride HQ

The event is hosted at the magnificent National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire.  With direct access off the A48 trunk road access could not be easier.  There is a large free car park and changing/ toilet facilities.  The garden also has a Café which will be open at 06.30 on the morning of the event for refreshments.

We feel very privileged to be working with the National Botanic Garden of Wales, it is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and riders will be impressed at the facilities available.  All we ask is that you respect the gardens and what they stand for.

The car park and start area are located at the main entrance for the Gardens, however the finish area is located at the rear, approximately half a mile away from your car park.  We have a designated cycle route to get you back to your vehicle.  This will ensure that we observe the No Cycling rules of the Garden.

Merlin Ride Objectives

The specific aims of the event are:

• Raise money for the three nominated charities
• Promote cycling as a physical exercise intended to enhance a healthy lifestyle, increasing health fitness and wellbeing
• Promote Carmarthenshire and the Gardens as a tourist attraction
• Promote safe and responsible cycling on the highway and raise the profile of cycling as a safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Event Time Management

The Merlin Ride has invested in the Race Timing Solutions time management system.  This system requires riders to attach a time chip onto their shoe (not bike).  The capacity of the system is such that we can manage a mass start for the event.  When you return into the finish area the time chip will be covered and your time is published

live on our web site.  Trumin also manage our financial registration system, this ensures that the whole event management is compatible with essential fail safe backup systems in place.  The Merlin Ride guarantees that your time will be recorded accurately using some of the most sophisticated equipment available.  We also guarantee that it will be published live and that your data will not be lost due to power failure or IT crash.  

Event Marshalling

The event start will be coordinated by Dyfed Powys Police who will ensure that the B4310 is traffic free at time of start.  This will ensure a mass start is possible with riders enjoying a traffic free area to the junction of the unclassified road to Gorslas.  From this point on the event will be marshaled by motor cycle outriders from Carmarthen and District Motor Cycle Club supported by Dyfed Powys Police.  Static marshalls will be located at key junction and this process forms part of the event risk assessment.

There are three separate recovery vehicles to ensure that your are able to re-join the event without delay.

Medical support is provided by St. John Ambulance.

Please remember this is not a race, it is a sportive and a fun cycling day out.  All of the routes represent a significant challenge and you are advised to study the profiles carefully before registering for the ride of your choice.  Be warned the Merlin Ride (105 miles) is intended to be a significant challenge, you should not attempt this unless you have a high level of fitness.  You have been warned!