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Hmm.. maybe I could do the volunteer thing at the finish? I'm likely to finish before a lot of other riders so could be useful at the end? I've no idea when I'm likely to finish though - which dates did you pick?
hippy-
For sure you could.
I volunteered at the registration day in 2011 with my wife and it was great fun meeting and greeting riders from around the world, but it was also hard work!
I finished at some fairly early o'clock time in 2011, around 7 am I think. I wasn't in any fit state to really help much that day.
If I rode in 2017 and was a bit quicker and finished in 80-85 hours, rather than 95, then I could have a full night's sleep, possibly in a hotel and then be ready to help out the next day.
From what I understand, one of the areas where things could be improved is the finish for those riders at the very tail end of the field. Most of the volunteers had been there for days and were just tired and ready to go home and the reality is that those arriving at the very end of things are those that probably need the most help getting them fed etc. So, it sound like some 'new' volunteers arriving later on the final day and ready to work until the small hours would be helpful (I can not remember what final cut off is for the last riders - 2am ish? And this time there may be an even longer window as they are looking at start slots as late as 4pm?). If I'd been able to get 10-12 hours of rest, I would be up for helping out at the tail end.
Anyway - it's all a very long way away! Who knows. I don't have to really think about it until 2017, so I probably won't worry to much.
marcusjb
If I ride it, I will do it the other way around this time. If I ride a little quicker than last time and finish the night before rather than at 6 or 7 am, then a full night's sleep and ready to help when they seem to really need help (particularly really late into the final night when the tail enders are coming in). Not 100% on whether I will ride it yet.