Thank you for your greetings to riders in your post replies! We are conveying those to the riders as they pass through Atwood (and will also do so at Byers).
-jle
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Day 1 - Wednesday 10 September
3:00 am - It's a mild, calm morning in the low 50's in Louisville, and the 36 riders are off to a good start!
7:15 am - Charlie Henderson reports from the Byers contrôle, while enjoying a giant breakfast burrito at the Longhorn Cafe - A glorious morning out on the plains, just past sunrise, mild temps, the hint of a tailwind. First riders, including Tim Feldman, Larry Ide, and John Schlitter, passed through around 6:15am, followed by a large group of up-to-this-point happy riders.
8:30 am - Free-range roving official Eric Simmons is out between Last Chance and Anton, savoring the treeless rolling landscape he featured on flèche Team Falcon. Charlie reports a carpet of "Colorado green" (a paler green than you see out East), almost like springtime thanks to recent rains. Tailwinds picking up.
10:20 am - Tim Bol and Judith Longley from Florida have passed through the Cope control. This is Tim's third Last Chance, and they both rode the Shenandoah this year - looking forward to much more comfortable weather on this one!
3:15 pm - The first riders have arrived at the Atwood bagdrop and control. Too bad for them they're not planning to stay long. Trail boss Charlie Henderson and sidekick Dan Shields report the newly remodeled "It'll Do Motel" is almost too comfortable to want to leave!
6:15 pm - East of St. Francis, the wind has turned firmly out of the south, and it's a stiff wind at that. This is the prevailing wind here - the middle two days of Last Chance '06 were unbroken SSE winds. It's warm here, too, but warm is relative: Brazilian rider Roberto Trevisan was spotted by Eric Simmons still in leggings in the heat of the day. Temps in the low 40's are predicted for the Colorado return, so tropical riders may be bundling up!
-jle
7:15 am - Charlie Henderson reports from the Byers contrôle, while enjoying a giant breakfast burrito at the Longhorn Cafe - A glorious morning out on the plains, just past sunrise, mild temps, the hint of a tailwind. First riders, including Tim Feldman, Larry Ide, and John Schlitter, passed through around 6:15am, followed by a large group of up-to-this-point happy riders.
8:30 am - Free-range roving official Eric Simmons is out between Last Chance and Anton, savoring the treeless rolling landscape he featured on flèche Team Falcon. Charlie reports a carpet of "Colorado green" (a paler green than you see out East), almost like springtime thanks to recent rains. Tailwinds picking up.
10:20 am - Tim Bol and Judith Longley from Florida have passed through the Cope control. This is Tim's third Last Chance, and they both rode the Shenandoah this year - looking forward to much more comfortable weather on this one!
3:15 pm - The first riders have arrived at the Atwood bagdrop and control. Too bad for them they're not planning to stay long. Trail boss Charlie Henderson and sidekick Dan Shields report the newly remodeled "It'll Do Motel" is almost too comfortable to want to leave!
6:15 pm - East of St. Francis, the wind has turned firmly out of the south, and it's a stiff wind at that. This is the prevailing wind here - the middle two days of Last Chance '06 were unbroken SSE winds. It's warm here, too, but warm is relative: Brazilian rider Roberto Trevisan was spotted by Eric Simmons still in leggings in the heat of the day. Temps in the low 40's are predicted for the Colorado return, so tropical riders may be bundling up!
-jle
Monday, September 8, 2008
Room Sharing in Louisville
Are you interested in finding someone to share your room at the Comfort Inn (or other motel near the start) ... and share the expense? Are you looking for someone who has a room to share?
If either is the case, you may reply to this post with your contact info. We won't be mediating things - it's up to those interested to contact each other.
Thanks,
-jle
If either is the case, you may reply to this post with your contact info. We won't be mediating things - it's up to those interested to contact each other.
Thanks,
-jle
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Last Chance Jerseys
In the interest of accomodating late arrivals, we're putting in our order with Voler after the event itself. If you've ordered a Last Chance jersey or vest, you should be receiving it the first half of November. (Yes, just in time to wear while working out on your indoor trainer!)
Thinking of ordering a jersey after all, or maybe ordering an extra item? You have until the end of the week after the finish (that is, by September 19) for us to receive your order. But that's the latest our production slot can accomodate.
-jle
Thinking of ordering a jersey after all, or maybe ordering an extra item? You have until the end of the week after the finish (that is, by September 19) for us to receive your order. But that's the latest our production slot can accomodate.
-jle
Ride Procedures
Ride Start
Sign in between 2am-2:30am at the Comfort Inn. We will try to arrange a motel-provided self-service breakfast. Deposit your Drop-Bags in Atwood and Byers piles, respectively. As in years past, the Comfort Inn staff is making provisions to store guests' bicycle bags and other luggage during the event.
En Route
- Atwood - We've allocated enough room for everyone intending to sleep there, though in some cases it may be two to a queen-sized bed. Please follow the directions of the staff when you arrive.
- Kensington – Mail your turnaround-point postcard, noting time of passage, at the Kensington post office.
- Unstaffed Checkpoints – Checkpoints noted as “Store/Personal Checkpoint” have no event staff: have any store clerk note your time of passage and initial the card or, if during the night when all establishments are closed, note your own time and initials.
- Atwood and Byers Sign-In/Out – When you arrive in Atwood and Byers, sign in on the sheet provided. Then remember also to sign out when you leave, whether your stay is half an hour or overnight. This allows us to track rider progress and post it on the website. This is in addition to having your brevet card validated by staff.
Ride Finish
- As in years past, the “pre-finish check-in” is at my house (noted on cue sheet). During daylight hours it should be staffed all the time. During nighttime hours, Buster the Dog may announce your arrival - the nighttime staff official (that's me) will be glad to welcome you. Please be sure your time of arrival is noted on your card and that you leave your card in the receptical provided. This allows us to keep close track of finishers, and post rider progress on the web.
- Drop Bags will be available starting Saturday afternoon at the Comfort Inn.
Après-Finish Dinner
As in years past, we've made arrangements at Carrabbas Italian Grill, in the next block north of the motel, starting 6:30pm on Saturday. Attendees pay their own way. In past years, everyone's had a great time!
Bonne Route!
-jle
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Check-In and Inspection
Check-In and Inspection will be 4pm-6pm on Tuesday 9 September at the Comfort Inn in Louisville. If this time will not work for you, please let me know in advance. You will need to show your:
- lighting system mounted on bike, and backup lighting system
- reflective gear for your bike and yourself (legbands and reflective vest or equivalent)
I will hand out rider packets including brevet card, Kensington postcard, printouts of map and cue sheet, plus dropbag tags for Atwood and Byers.
After inspection, you may wish to join other riders for dinner at a neighboring restaurant - there are several within walking distance. We recommend Carrabbas one block north.
See you there!
-jle
2008 Route Posted
The 2008 route map and cue sheet are now posted. As predicted, the route and checkpoints are unchanged from 2006 (except we're now using a sideroad near mile 730):
Any questions, let me know.
-jle
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