Completing a FarRide

A FarRide is built on preparation, sound judgement and honest reporting.

To have a ride recognised as completed, ride the published distance within the available elapsed time, meet any destination or check-in requirements and provide a simple record of what you achieved.

We ask for enough information to support your ride, not paperwork for its own sake.

Every rider sets out intending to complete their chosen FarRide. Sometimes the ride goes to plan; sometimes the conditions, the motorcycle, fatigue or life itself suggest otherwise. Whatever the outcome, both the distance ridden and the judgement shown will be treated with respect.

Participant Responsibility

Responsibility for undertaking a FarRide rests with the participant.

Each participant decides whether to start, continue, pause, vary or conclude their ride. The participant is responsible for their route, pace, rest, motorcycle, legal compliance, health, wellbeing and personal safety arrangements.

FarRiders specifies the conditions under which a ride may be recognised and recorded. It does not assess a participant's readiness, direct how a participant should undertake the ride, supervise the participant or assume responsibility for the participant's safety.

The published distance, available elapsed time and check-in requirements are recognition criteria only. They are not a direction or expectation that a participant should continue riding when they decide otherwise.

What is a completed FarRide

Unless the published ride description says otherwise, a completed FarRide requires the participant to:

• register for the ride, where registration is required;

• complete at least the published distance within the available elapsed time;

• attend the nominated destination or check in during the published window, where applicable;

• maintain a simple record using one of the available ride recording options; and

• submit the outcome of the ride to FarRiders.

The full time between the recorded start and finish counts, including fuel, food, rest and other stops.

FarRides are not races. There is no required average speed and no advantage in finishing faster. The participant's route, pace and rest decisions remain their own.

Ride Outcomes

Every registered ride can have one of three straightforward outcomes. A ride is considered started once a valid starting record has been created.

Completed

The participant completed the published distance within the available elapsed time and met any destination, check-in and ride-specific requirements.

The FarRide will be recognised and added to the participant's FarRiders ride history as a completed ride.

Ride Concluded

The participant started the ride but decided, or was required, to finish before meeting all the requirements for completion.

The participant records the distance achieved and finishing details where reasonably practicable. The ride will be added to their history as Ride Concluded, together with the distance ridden.

A participant may provide a reason for concluding the ride but is not required to justify a responsible decision to stop.

A concluded ride does not qualify as completion of the published FarRide distance, but it remains part of the participant's long-distance riding story. The record will show what was ridden, not what remained.

Withdrawn

The participant registered but did not create a valid starting record.

The participant can update or withdraw their registration or let the Ride Coordinator know. This assists with event planning, but a withdrawal will not form part of their riding history.

The Riding Process

1. Choose a FarRide

Each FarRide will set out:

• the available distances to choose from;

• the available elapsed times;

• whether there is a nominated destination;

• any check-in window; and

• any requirements specific to that ride.

The participant chooses whether their ride matches their experience, preparation and circumstances.

2. Register

Registration lets the Ride Coordinator know who intends to participate and assists with destination, catering and check-in arrangements.

If plans change before a valid starting record is created, the participant can update or withdraw their registration.

Registration is for ride administration. It does not mean FarRiders will monitor the journey or supervise the participant's safety arrangements.

3. Plan the ride

The participant chooses their route unless the published ride description specifies one. FarRiders may publish an official variation where a road closure or another unexpected event affects a specified route.

Route planning remains the participant's responsibility. Relevant considerations may include:

• fuel availability and opening hours;

• rest opportunities;

• weather and road conditions;

• wildlife and night riding;

• traffic and roadworks;

• the condition and range of the motorcycle; and

• the participant's experience, health and limits.

The route must reasonably support the distance claimed. If it includes loops, corners or possible shortcuts, retain enough information to show the route taken if clarification is needed.

4. Record the start

Before beginning the published distance, the participant creates a clear starting record using their chosen ride recording option.  The starting record establishes when and where the FarRide began. The available elapsed time starts from that point.

5. Undertake the ride

How the ride is undertaken remains the participant's decision and responsibility. Fuel, food, rest and all other stops remain within the available elapsed time.

Where a destination check-in applies, checking in during the published window is a condition of recognition. A participant may arrive early and wait, but the formal check-in occurs during the published window.

A participant does not require FarRiders' permission to pause, vary or conclude a ride. The reported outcome will be assessed against the published recognition criteria.

6. Record the finish

At the end of the ride, the participant notes the finishing location, time and odometer reading needed to complete the finish form.

Under the Classic option, a finish docket is not required unless the published ride description specifically requires one, such as for a Gold ride. Under the Digital options, the participant takes the specified finishing photograph.

For an organised destination FarRide, the destination check-in may form part of the finishing record. The finish form must still be completed.

If the ride is concluded early, the participant records the finishing location, time and distance where reasonably practicable. Immediate safety and wellbeing take priority over collecting evidence.

7. Record the outcome

After finishing, the participant completes the finish form through Record Your Ride and selects either Completed or Ride Concluded.

The form asks for:

• the participant's name and rider number, if allocated;

• the FarRide attempted;

• the start and finish locations;

• the start and finish times;

• the distance ridden;

• the selected ride recording option; and

• the supporting information required for that option.

This submission records the ride for recognition and ride-history purposes. It is not a welfare check-out service.

Ride recording options

Every participant can choose the approach that suits them. All options have equal standing when a ride is reviewed.

Classic

Use a conventional transaction docket to establish the starting date, time and location.

When the ride ends, complete the finish form through Record Your Ride and report the finishing location, time, odometer reading and distance ridden.

A finish docket is not required unless the published ride description specifically requires one, such as for a Gold ride. A destination check-in may establish the finishing time for recognition purposes, but the finish form must still be completed.

Retain any additional dockets needed to show significant corners, turn points or loops where the route taken may otherwise be unclear.

Digital

Use GPS and time-stamped photographs through the TimeMark app on a smartphone.

Take:

• a starting photograph showing the motorcycle's odometer;

• any additional checkpoint or odometer photographs specified in the published ride description; and

• a finishing photograph showing the motorcycle's odometer.

TimeMark adds the date, time, time zone and location information to each photograph. FarRiders will use the starting and finishing readings, together with any required route information, to assess the ride outcome and record the distance ridden.

The major benefit of using the Digital method is that finish form through Record Your Ride does not need be completed, as all the relevant data is captured by the TimeMark app.

Digital with tracking

Use the Digital option with an optional SpotWalla trip or similar location history as additional supporting information.

Tracking can make it easier to preserve and share the story of a ride, but it is never compulsory and is never monitored by FarRiders. Any tracking information submitted may be reviewed after the ride solely as supporting information for recognition.

No one has to pay to participate in a FarRide. A premium service or subscription provides no advantage when determining whether a ride qualifies.