Rider Packet Details!

Some details about your rider packet:

• cue sheet and info sheet - same content as on the website
• control card and Kensington postcard inside plastic bag: keep your control card dry and safe from the start - it is not waterproof - water damage (whether from rain or sweat), abrasion, "spindling," etc., can result in penalties - this has only rarely been a problem in the past, but a word to the wise
• rider-number label: for the left side of your helmet
• dropbag tags: you'll need tape, staple, etc. to afix these to your dropbags

This is mostly stating the obvious, but hope this answers a couple of questions!

-jle

Stretch Your Legs!

Here's my post (with maps) from last year on a couple of hourlong jaunts from the rider start that combine scintillating scenery and a chance to check your equipment ... and legs!

http://coloradolastchance1200k.blogspot.com/2009/09/stretch-your-legs.html

These jaunts may take you longer, of course, if you stop to take photos.  These are some of my favorite local miles - enjoy!

-john lee

Event Procedures - Read Carefully

These procedures cover:

• Check-In and Inspection
• Ride Start
• Bagdrop Locations and Controls
• Ride Finish
• Après-Finish Dinner

Check-In and Inspection will be 4:00 - 5:30pm on Tuesday 14 September at the Comfort Inn in Louisville. If this time will not work for you, please let me know in advance.  There is limited time at the ride start, so only limited inspections can be accommodated - in any case, you will need to have your dropbags properly tagged.

For inspection, 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, cue sheet, plus dropbag tags. After inspection, you may wish to join other riders for dinner at a neighboring restaurant - there are several within walking distance.

 

Ride Start

 

Sign in between 2am-2:30am at the Comfort Inn.   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 Sleeping - 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. Do not leave drop bag or other items in the motel room - you may be sleeping in a different room on your return through Atwood.  Instead, you will need to repack your drop bag and return it to the drop-bag area.

This allows us to manage the available space to accommodate the most riders.  Please be considerate with how you use and leave the room, as others may be using it after you.  There is no motel staff help - just our volunteers.

Atwood and Byers Food - We will have a selection of hot and cold food - e.g., pizza, fruit, soup, etc. If you have specific food, drink preferences (esp. energy, nutritional, sports drinks), consider packing them in your drop bag. Atwood rooms have microwaves, and there is also a common area for eating. Atwood and Byers both have places to restaurants, but they close relatively early.

Atwood and Byers Sign-In/Out – IMPORTANT - 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, and keep track of the riders. This is in addition to having your brevet card validated by staff.

Kensington Postcard – Mail your turnaround-point postcard at the Kensington post office, writing on it your time of passage.

Unstaffed Checkpoints – Checkpoints noted as “Any Store” 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 in the town are closed, note your own time.

Ride Finish

During peak rider-finish hours, the “pre-finish check-in” is at my house (noted on cue sheet).  This allows for a photo opportunity and presentation of the Randonneurs Mondiaux 1200k medal.*  At other times, proceed directly to the Comfort Inn, have the staff annotate your card, and leave it in my vehicle.  Please be sure your time of arrival is noted on your card and that you leave your card in the box provided. This allows us to keep close track of finishers, and post rider progress on the web.

• 7am-9pm: Dogwood Circle Pre-Ride Finish
• 9pm-7am: Comfort Inn

Drop Bags will be available starting Saturday afternoon at the Comfort Inn.

*RM Medals: We do not have our full order of RM medals, so we'll give out what we have and for the remaining finishers, will supply you a medal later.  (They come from France, so the ordering process is extended.)

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. Mention the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club as the group you're with. In past years, everyone's had a great time!

Bonne Route!

-jle

 

Last Chance by the Numbers!

The Last Chance 1200 km starts at 3 a.m. Wednesday Sept. 15.

Follow Last Chance at:

• Rider progress: http://www.rmccrides.com/lastchance.htm
• Blog: http://coloradolastchance1200k.blogspot.com/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/RMCCRides

753 miles: Distance

90 Hours: Time cutoff 9 p.m. 9/18

43: Number of riders

36%: First 1200 km
60%: First Last Chance
40%: Repeat riders, which is very good
27%: Local riders

17: States & provinces represented + Italy & Poland

Qualifications: Within preceding 12 months:

• 200, 300, 400 & 600 km, or
• 1000 km, or
• 1200 km

Route: Louisville, CO to Kensington, KS & back

Suggested 4-day stages:

251 mi.: Louisville, CO to Atwood, KS
219 mi.: Atwood to Kensington, KS & back
180 mi.: Kensington to Byers, CO
103 mi.: Byers to Louisville

Riders may choose to ride in fewer than 4 days.

8: Volunteers staffing controls with drop bags and the finish, Pat Heller, Charlie Henderson, Jim Kraychy, Beth and Brent Myers, Susan Plonsky, Julie Stokes and Buster the Corgi

7: Previous editions

49h 58m: Course record, Larry Ide & John Schlitter in 2008

Thanks to John Hughes for compiling this and for the concept!

-jle

Cue Sheet in Excel Format Posted

I have posted the cue sheet in Excel format, for those who might like to reformat theirs.

-jle

GPS File for 2009 Last Chance Route

Here is a pointer to a GPS file from last year's route:

http://coloradolastchance1200k.blogspot.com/2009/08/gps-files-for-last-chance-route.html

This year's route is the same except for a segment of the first dozen miles, and a segment of the last dozen.  I have posted an update of the cue sheet.

-john

Revised Cue Sheet Posted

I have posted a revised cue sheet:

• Return Oberlin control moved to Norton.
• Final stretch on Hwy. 52 and 95th St. "unkinked" to return to busier but more straightforward route used prior to 2009 (when there was road construction).

I don't anticipate more revisions, but we will be hearing back from our pre-riders when they return.

-jle