Edition Zero 2025 Newsletter One

Welcome to Newsletter One for 2025.

This newsletter is here just for you. We want to answer a few questions and set you up for a successful adventure on your bike in South Canterbury. As such, please take your time to read all of this newsletter, there is a lot of information here to help you out.

Let's get you set up for a strong finish like this!

Let's get into the interesting information!

Adventure

Edition Zero is set up as an adventure, this means things might well be different from your usual events. Please take note of the following so you can be prepared for your adventure.

1. Gravel: seems a bit strange to be talking about this, but there is lots of gravel of all different sizes on course, Be prepared for the road to not be smooth, for the gravel to vary and for the riding to be hard. The region has recently experienced a number of significant weather events, this has impacted the road surface and riders are to exercise caution at all times

2. Fords / Creeks / Waterways: The course crosses a number of fords, please take care when crossing, even if there is no water, the surface will be rough.

3. Hills: For every up hill, there is a down hill, while nice for a rest of the legs, one must always remain under control, and on the correct side of the road, paying particular care on blind rises and corners.

4. Gates: There are a couple of gates on the Mains course, please leave these as you find them

   
   

All roads are open, this means you can expect to find other road users at all times, locals, tractors, maybe even some stock. KEEP LEFT at all times and be prepared to make room, make way or even stop. It is an adventure after all.

Road Rules: All road rules must be obeyed at all times, keeping left, not riding more than two abreast, stopping, giving way, and following all of the legal road rules are all a part of the adventure.

Minimum Gear Requirements: New for 2025 is the addition of one item of compulsory kit. While you will be taking all the relevant tools and spares to ensure forward progress, as well as wearing the right clothing for the task, including being prepared for the weather (2022 we had snow on one side of the course and bright sunshine on the other!)

All Mains and Entree riders must carry with them at all times one emergency blanket that is large enough for them to take shelter in completely. We will have a number of emergency bivi blankets for sale at the expo.

Navigation: Please get your event GPX files here... signage is provided for the Entree, Snack and Taster, however we do recommend you have a means of navigating yourself.

You will need a means of navigation for the Mains.

DO NOT use any files from 2022, 2023 or 2024. The best GPX file is a fresh GPX file!

EZ25_Mains.gpx

Download GPX • 572KB

EZ25_Entree.gpx

Download GPX • 308KB

EZ25_Snack.gpx

Download GPX • 185KB

EZ25_Taster.gpx

Download GPX • 107KB

Challenge

It is really important that you understand how much of a challenge this event is. Plan your kit, service your bike and be prepared for a great day of challenge. If you do not believe us, ask anyone who has joined us in the previous three years.

Aid Stations: We have aid stations dotted around the event to provide you with water, your drop bags and facilities. Each aid station will have a timing mat, please make sure you pass by this correctly.

Drop Bags: Each rider will be given a drop bag at registration, this is for you to fill with food, nutrition and anything spare you wish to have on hand at the aid station. Please bring these with you to the event briefing and we will transport them to and from the aid station for you.

Mains riders will receive two drop bags.

Medical Support: There will be medical support at Cannington, Cattle Creek and the village, if you need any assistance, please alert one of the team.

Withdrawing: If for any reason you cannot continue on and you wish to withdraw from the event, please check in with the Tail End Charlie, the Aid station crew or the finish line village. Please do not just abandon the course and disappear.

Community

This event is also focused on creating a community of riders, participants and supporters while having a positive impact on the host community. To achieve this, there are a few key things that must happen.

Registration: Everyone must register for the ride, there is no Saturday event registration for the Mains riders. Registration on Friday opens at 3pm and closes at 8pm. Saturday registration for the Entree opens at 7am.

Gravel Expo: During event registration we have the EZG Expo going down. The expo is full of cycling brands, vendors and locals setting up to meet you, have some fun (goodies and giveaways aplenty) and share in the welcome that EZG is known for. Do not miss it.

Event Briefings: These take place 15 minutes prior to your ride starting, everyone must attend, they will be located on the Velodrome track - #dontbelate

Rubbish: Littering of any kind is totally unacceptable! There will be rubbish bags for you at the aid stations and finish village, otherwise be sensible and respectful, carry all your rubbish with you!

On Course Support: Given this is an adventure and people are travelling from all over to attend, this event is strictly unsupported. This means that there is no personal on course support. No one other than official event staff will be allowed into the Aid Stations!

Finish Line and Village: Once again the event will finish with two laps of the Waimate Velodrome. Please follow the taped CX style path into the velodrome, please complete two laps keeping an eye out for faster traffic and please exit the velodrome via the marked pathway into the event recovery zone.

Once out of the Velodrome, enjoy our village where the expo vendors will have refreshment flowing to help with your carb replacement requirements.

Drop Bag Collection: Thanks to the fine folk at Specialized New Zealand, you will be able to collect your drop bag securely from their expo set up at the conclusion of your ride. Mains drop bags will arrive prior to prize giving. Please bring your race plate to collect your drop bag.

Prize giving: This will take place at 5pm, it will be worth attending.

Afters: At the time of writing, there is an after party gathering in the works for Saturday PM. More on this in the next Newsletter.

Thanks

We hope your last few weeks of training and preparation go really well, travel safe and we will see you all in Waimate soon.

Stay tuned for the next newsletter to help you have a quality adventure.

Thanks for being here