Do you get posted stuff from the oringen?

[frog]

We've entered for the first year and are camping.
We get alot of emails from them which is nice but the most recent one was about campsite distribution and the page with the campsites on was all in Swedish. Only the initial opening page of the oringen has an English translation (fair enough).
I don't think I can work out which campsite we're on from the Swedish page but I wondered if it's OK to just wait until we get there before sorting stuff out or whether I should be finding out which campsite we're on now.
Do we get posted any of this stuff in the same way we post out 6 days stuff to competitors?
I don't want to hassle the organisers with emails and thought some of you folk who've been a few times before may have the system sussed.

[Mrs H]

Frog - we are camping and have done so for a number of years -its incredibly well organised so don't worry about it. are you from FVO - if you are we have the other half of the same camping pitch - anyway the Brits are all placed together - quite close to the centre of things but a fair way from the buses to the events - it will be very jolly.

If you open the excel file we are all listed alphabetically by country UK is Storbritannien or something like that. and we are all on pitches 670ish. which you will find in block I towards the bottom right handside of the map near servicepoint 5.

I doubt we'll get anything in the post - when you get there you go to the registration place and they will give you a pack with everything in - usually in a nice reusable bag - but if you locate you camping spot first then you can go straight to it and set yourself up.

We expect to be there by Friday as we are going to Sweden the week before.

The oringen web site was in melt down yesterday but I have the map and list down loaded if you want to pm me with your email address I could send them to you.

[frog]

Thanks. Have managed to find the link now. I was clicking on the map areas hoping some names would pop up. We're from TAY so are nearby. I hope there are lots of laundrettes in Oringen as I think with our camping gear and o shoes there will be minimal room for clothes as it's just my son and I going so he won't be carrying much.
We've got a couple of days at Stockholm and then arrive Saturday, I think, must collate all my oringen booking emails in 1 place.
What are the hire bikes usually like? We've hired them for the week and I'm wondering whether they are road or mountain and whether or not to pack spd pedals and cycling shoes. That's maybe getting a bit silly weight wise.

[Neil M40]

The bikes are fairly basic I think. There is a picture of the more expensive "city bike" here
http://www.oringen.se/2769.php
I remember the military bikes which weigh a ton, like a pedal powered tank.

[frog]

It says military bike in my invoice although I don't recall there being a choice of bike in Feb. I'll email them to try and get it changed as the entry system only lets me add bikes not swap them. Not sure how we get bikes the right size. I'm probably too fussy.

[Becks]

I'm afraid you may be - the military bikes are super basic tanks - I think you still have to pedal backwards to brake! They're great for cutting down walks around the campsite but travelling any large distance on them can be a bit of a mission! I don't think they come in different sizes but I might be wrong...

[frog]

Have managed to sort out swapping them for city bikes. Thanks for the info. Have just discovered the google translate webpage facility which has made life easier. Am now translating a few swedish geocaches at the various locations as son is keen to take GPS and a selection of travelbugs and geocoins with us, if he doesn't lose the GPS this week at centreparks with his granny.
Am getting quite excited although some of the maps look a bit terrifying.

[Mrs H]

It might be worth saying that while things are very well organised the camping is generally very basic. Most people use the massive communal (but not mixed) showers at the actual events. The toilets may also be communal (it's surprising how quickly you get used to it). Most people wash their clothes in the cold water fed troughs at the service points where you wash plates (and your face and clean teeth).

Just getting to the event, running, getting back, doing food and stuff and having a stroll around in the evening seems to take up the whole day.

Give yourself plenty of time to get to the event - the walks-in are generally pretty long and you are unlikely to be at the same start as your son .

It might be worth mentioning a few of these things to him so he knows what to expect.

[frog]

Thanks, our first day's start is 9am which I'm not looking forward to.
What is a communal toilet?

[Ben.]

Think most Brits will be up early on the first day. With having to walk to the bus stop then the bus journey of about 40minutes then a 900m walk to the arena then the walk to the starts.

[frog]

Are the walks to the starts up anywhere? I can't see them. Do we get those in the info pack?
What do people do about rucksacks etc, just dump them somewhere at the event centre each day?
I've usually not worried much about security at o events, but I don't normally have money/ passports etc with me, and when I've travelled before I've usually been able to keep valuable stuff with me.

[Mrs H]

Hi Frog
Communal toilets have no cubicles just a row of toilet seats - very basic and agricultural, this may or may not be the case this year. There may or may not be showers available somewhere near the camp site but there are always massive communal showers at the events - which will be quite quiet on our first day if we go straight after our run as we are running so early - later on massive very orderly queues form for each shower head.

Mr H is off at 8.30 on day 1 and the distance to the start could be several k depending which start you are at. Remember we are also camped about 1km from the bus stop. We will be looking to get a 6.30ish bus - but at least it will get better as the week goes on.

The distance to you start, along with your start time will probably be printed on your bib - usually up side down so you can read it when you are wearing it (clever eh?) You go to the start of your sponsor - also printed on you bib mine is Sveaskog (Forestry commission) and when you come to the finish you run down your sponsor's lane.

The walk to the start is quite pleasant if you give your selves lots of time. There will be toilets (usually a tent with buckets but sometimes portaloos) on the way and drinks stations and the distance will be counted down at about 500metre intervals along the way.

Usually the Brits seem to have some sort of camp set up - look for some Union Jacks - it tends to be in the same place relative to the finish funnel each day. People just leave ruck sacks there - I have not heard of any security issues - but others may know different.

Oh - and remember to do something to your bikes to make them distinctive - you will never have seen so many bikes in your life and if you get to the bus stop early when no one is there you will not find them again when you get back in the sea of bikes which turned up afterwards.

[frog]

Thanks, not looking forward to the communal toilets. Quite happy showering naked, and can even cope with mixed sauas but don't fancy going to the loo in front of anyone (sprog when toddler excepted). I suppose blokes are used to it, although doubt many fancy public pooing!

[Soldja Boi]

My club are not staying at the central camping sites and will be driving each day to the competition area. Does anyone know if the car park fee is just for the oringen town or is it for parking at the site each day?

[Homer]

I hope it's (mainly) for the event each day. They weren't cheap.