Local DIY Stage Race

[seenvic]

www.sorba.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=29567&p=309922&hilit=Fall+Tour#p309922

Check out this post/article.

I've known about these events for years, just never felt I was strong enough to go to one. These guys are strong.

But I like the idea and would like to do it here locally.

We could do a 3-4 day tour with say a Thursday nite time trail. Take off work on Friday and do three long XC stages on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Maybe the 49er, then a Parks Connector, then something on the LCHT. Leave FATS out of it, perhaps.

Anyone interested? I have a small clique of riders ready to go, but would love to expand beyond that clique.

Now, who's in and when. Will take some effort on all our parts and this won't be a "pay my fee, show up with my bike, race and go home" deal.

[mhanna]

Bill,

I'm in. Haven't done one of these before so just let me know what I need to do tp help out.

Mark H.

[dgaddis1]

Heck, this could be easy, as far as organizing it goes. Tell people where to show up at the start of each stage, post the route on the forums, give everyone a map/directions at the start. Leave a stopwatch and pen/paper at the finish line...no further support given to the riders. No fee to race, no prizes, no SAG stops. Show up with your bike and everything you need for the day (or drop stuff along the way before the race).

First person to finish uses the pen/pencil/paper to record gap between him and everyone else...have to use the honor system here.

[seenvic]

Oct 22, 2009 22:09:17 GMT -5 dgaddis1 said:

Heck, this could be easy, as far as organizing it goes. Tell people where to show up at the start of each stage, post the route on the forums, give everyone a map/directions at the start. Leave a stopwatch and pen/paper at the finish line...no further support given to the riders. No fee to race, no prizes, no SAG stops. Show up with your bike and everything you need for the day (or drop stuff along the way before the race).

First person to finish uses the pen/pencil/paper to record gap between him and everyone else...have to use the honor system here.

Not quite, but close. Picture more of a group ride with timed sections throughout the day, then regroup into the group ride and ride to the next timed section.

Honor system would have to be in place for the leaders, for sure.

Only reason money would need to be involved is if there are expenses for lodging, food etc.... Not sure to what level we will have this be a social thing as well as a race. Could be that we race, and all go home. Or it could be that we race, hang out, cook out, camp out, stay in a cabin, or whatever. Depends on what folks want.

I'd say about 20ish people would be good.

[Robf]

Sounds like fun! Count me in.

[seenvic]

BV, Treybo, Troy W, Robert F, Mark H so far as in.

I know a few others.

Dustin - you in?

[brianW]

If it is possible to ride 1-2 of the stages I am in.

[seenvic]

Oct 23, 2009 18:06:16 GMT -5 brianW said:

If it is possible to ride 1-2 of the stages I am in.

You're in.

[dgaddis1]

yeah...i'm in for sure

[robe2]

count rob e. from central fl. in, likely with rich b. sounds like fun (sorta...probably suffer alot, huh?)

long trip for us, so hang out, camp out, cook out option sounds cool to me...probably do it either way!

possible dates yet?

[seenvic]

Looking at January 2010 as a possibility.

I'd like it to be a full deal with riding, hanging out, cooking, camping or lodging of some sort. Not just a show up, ride, go home, do it all over again the next day.

Tenative route.

Thursday Time Trial on Great Wall Loop.
Friday XC. FATS, all loops except GW. Should be about 30ish miles.
Saturday XC. Modoc, Turkey, Wine, gravel, pavement for about 40-45 miles.
Sunday XC. Long Cane Horse Trail - some route up there. About 30ish miles.

Could move the Thursday TT to Horn Creek and do all 6 loops at FATS on Friday.

If we stay at HKSP, then we will prolly change up and do something there. I'd love to get Plum Branch Trail into it, but it is usually a hub deep clay pit until the summer time.

Alot of this thing depends on the energy folks put towards it. I got some to throw at it, but it will take several of us to pull this off.

[DavidT]

I would like to do this as well. Are you thinking the latter part of January or the beginning? If I am to do this, I will need to get it on my calendar soon, so nothing else gets in the way.

[treybo]

Oct 28, 2009 13:30:17 GMT -5 seenvic said:

Looking at January 2010 as a possibility.

Tenative route.

Thursday Time Trial on Great Wall Loop.
Friday XC. FATS, all loops except GW. Should be about 30ish miles.
Saturday XC. Modoc, Turkey, Wine, gravel, pavement for about 40-45 miles.
Sunday XC. Long Cane Horse Trail - some route up there. About 30ish miles.

Could move the Thursday TT to Horn Creek and do all 6 loops at FATS on Friday.

Alot of this thing depends on the energy folks put towards it. I got some to throw at it, but it will take several of us to pull this off.

I thought we were gonna try and stay clear of FATS?
Either way I am in for the event and to help plan and execute.

[chaosx44]

I'm gonna be ambitious and say that by January I will be ready to participate...assuming its co-ed I figure if I put it in writing I wont wuss out....but then again I might if it turns out to be impractical

[seenvic]

We could skip FATS. I got some pushback when talking to others about skipping FATS.

Maybe just do the TT there. I am thinking that may have to a night ride TT. Big Rock Loop, maybe.

Once Bartram gets to be almost 17 miles one way, it could come into the mix. If we could get the Keg-Mistletoe thing worked out (trespassing wise), that whole thing could make for good day. Or maybe a lollipop loop of Bartram-Keg CW-Bartram for a 42-43 mile day.

Coed....of course.

The prolouge time trial should be a good barometer for folks to figure out if they want to come back for the longer days.

The long days will be like group rides with timed sections where riders could get spread out. Then we regroup and ride to the next timed section. At the end of each day, we figure out the times and have standings. Maybe some points for getting to tops of some climbs first (FATS comes in handy for this) and some sprints as well...like the Tour.

Not sure when in January. Probably early in the month.

[mhanna]

Bill, Lets don't skip FATS. That seems so odd being it is our local Epic trail. The routes you've proposed sound great to me. I'd like to see FATS used and LCHT as that keeps most of the miles on fun singletrack and off the gravel/pavement. We did LCHT a few weeks back and finished on the lower section loop that didn't appear to be hardly ridden at all. It was almost like trailblazing. Doing a figure eight route there would easily be over 30 miles I would think.

I'm glad to help in any way. Just let me know what I can do. Can we invite others from out of town or are you worried it might get too big?

Mark

[onmybike]

In...pending no conflict with date once it is firm. My vote is for FATS to be in the mix.

Great idea BV!

[seenvic]

Gotta have a leaders jersey (or something to signify the leader). Same for KOM and sprints. Winners of these should be able to keep them. Any ideas?

I am thinking FATS and LCHT will be KOM days and all three days can have sprints points.

We gonna need some Greenwooders to help out with the details of the LCHT. I know it to ride it, but not to figure out where the KOM and sprint lines should be. I'd say LCHT being in will depend on riders from that area. Surprised I haven't heard from any of them as I emailed them about it.

Out of towners are welcome. I invited the boys from FL who chimed in here saying they are in.

This event will be a great time to meet other riders, but also a good time to get your clique of riders together and challenge yourselves. Better to suffer with a friend than alone.

[charlesjm3]

Sounds like fun let me know if I can help.
Charlie

[robe2]

Any firm date yet? The FL guys still want in, if the scheduling works out. Lots going on at Santos w/the upcoming FTF and the new western trails, so gotta get it on the calendar quickly.