Chengdu 525: Need to Know
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Welcome to the 1st Annual Chengdu 528, the China’s premier ultramarathon bicycle challenge. This 528-km event with 400 meters of total elevation gain traverses around 3rd Ring Road for 10 rounds in Chengdu and will be held every year in September, usually on the 3rd or 4th weekend.

2009 Schedule of Events
For other important dates, be sure to review the Hans & His Dear Friends Co. Ltd. Calendar at this link.

Thurs., Sept 17, 19:00 -21:00 MEETING & BIKE INSPECTION @ SHAMROCK RESTAURANT: Pre-Challenge Meeting Check-in must be done before the Pre-Challenge Meeting. Bring your bike with your lighting system, let us check your safety gears: your bike needs to have front and rear lights, you need to wear reflective material on your clothing. Registration for Pre-Challenge Carbon Load is Needed.

Fri., Sept 18, 18:30-20:30 PRE-CHALLENGECARBON LOAD @ ZOE'S BBQ Restaurant: Hosted at The Zoe's BBQ Restaurant. 3-cause-Ghost Rider-Carbon Banquet: A. Beef steak with French Fries (menu price: 68+18) B. Spaghetti Bolognese/Tuna Fish (menu price:28) C. Fresh fruit juice/lemonade water/Coke (menu price:15) total: 129RMB/person, Now Special Price for early bird who pays when MEETING & BIKE INSPECTION is only 98RMB. If you come to Zoe's without pre-pay, the cost will be 118rmb/person.

Sat., Sept 19, 6:00-7:00am. Challenge START TIME: We will begin the challenge @ Decathlon Tianfo's front main parking lot. All riders must be present at the start no later 7:00AM, thirty minutes prior to the start time for pre-challenge instructions and photos.

Sun., Sept 20, 17:00: Chengdu 528 Challenge Close Gate: The event ends.

Sun., Sept 20, 17:00-22:00: POST CHALLENGE PARTY: Everyone will have some fun and beer @ Decathlon, the parking lot. Sichuan Red Cross will be our guest, and they will be supporting our event for 2 days. Hope happy cyclists could donate 20-100rmb to the Red Cross.

SUNRISE/SUNSET/TWILIGHT: Civil Twilight begins at 6:26AM and Sunrise is at 6:54AM, while Sunset is at 7:28PM and Civil Twilight ends at 7:40PM. Length of visible light: 13h 02m. Length of day: 12h 14m

OFFICIAL RACE TIME: Click here to set your watch to official race time.

APPLICATION FORM: Chengdu 528 is an invitational challenge. Applications to challenge in the 2009 will be made available for just two weeks in Sept. For info on applying to compete, Registration Form
APPLICATION FEE: 100RMB/person, if you pay more than 100rmb, the difference will be donated to GIVING HANDS charity.

CHALLENGE ROSTER: Click here for the 2009 roster.
CD 528 GEAR: Click here to see the 2008 gear designs! (Stay tuned for the 2009 gear.)

RACE MAGAZINE: Click here to download the 2009 GHOST RIDERS - CHALLENGE Magazine. It's a 3-meg Pdf file. (Stay tuned for the 2009 edition.)
RULES: Read them, learn them, live them: CLICK HERE!. Stay tuned for revisions for 2009.
SPONSORS: Special thanks to Decathlon, One Two Glasses, Ghost Rider Bike Club, Giving Hand, ROCn, Chengdoo, and Shamrock Bar and Restaurant.
DISTANCE: 528 km, unless rerouting is required due to road closures or other circumstances. (The route was 525 km prior to 2008.)
STARTING LOCATION: Decathlon Sport Supermarket, No.199, Duhui Road, Gaoxin District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Tel: （86 28) 8531 0388
BIKE SHOP SUPPORT AT THE START LINE AND DURING EVENT:
Decathlon will be available during their work hours to repair or adjust your bike.
ENDING LOCATION: Decathlon Sport Supermarket, No.199, Duhui Road, Gaoxin District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Tel: （86 28) 8531 0388
CHALLNGE HEADQUARTERS: CHALLENGE Headquarters is located during the race at the Decathlon. If a rider drops out of competition, call Race Headquarters AT ONCE! State why and where you dropped out. Call @ 13547964848. For emergencies, call 110. OFFICIAL FINISHER'S DISTINCTION: To finish the Chengdu 528 is a noted accomplishment in the world of ultra endurance sports. The time limit is 35 hours for solo entrants. If you want teams their time limit is shorter.
AWARDS: All solo and team OFFICIAL FINISHERS will receive a finisher’s prize at the finish line. They will also receive an OFFICIAL FINISHER'S water bag, produced by Decathlon Sports, at the finish line.
BOBBI FISHER AWARD: This Award is intended to encourage and increase the participation of female athletes in Ultra Cycling challenge events in general and the Chengdu 528 in specific. In particular, this Award is to encourage increased participation of female athletes who have never previously competed in any ultra race events.

Therefore, the BOBBI FISHER Award is to be presented in recognition of the best female rookie solo rider entered, regardless of age, who enters and successfully finishes the Chengdu 528 in the lowest official time recorded.

The BOBBI FISHER Award is a perpetual award intended expressly to be concurrent with the CHENGDU 528 for as long as this race event is properly and officially sanctioned, organized and run.

The physical award itself may be monetary, services, merchandise or product; complementary/free entry in the next year's Chengdu 528 and/or other ROCn event(s); trophy, plaque or other device; or any combination or proportion as determined by event officials.
OFFICIAL CHARITY: The official charity of HANS AND HIS DEAR FRIENDS CO. LTD is the GIVING HANDS. One of the goals of the challenge is to raise funds for, and awareness of, this organization. Athletes, crew, fans, and friends of HANS AND HIS DEAR FRIENDS CO. LTD are encouraged to support this fine organization. Additionally, all entrants in Chengdu 528 (as well as all other ROCn events) may become fund-raisers and thus dedicate their athletic efforts towards this wonderful cause. Fund-raising with this "Challenge For a Reason" program is made simple with a fully automated and personalized webpage where your friends, family, and co-workers may log onto your website and donate to your efforts in a totally safe and easy manner.