Our Volunteers!

A truly dedicated cadre of volunteers made this year's Last Chance possible!

Charlie Henderson and Jim Kraychy at the Colorado High Country 1200 start in July. 
Charlie was unable to perform his traditional Trail Boss duties this year, but did vital work behind the scenes, making motel arrangements and orienting the field staff.

Beth and Brent Myers - Atwood and Byers
Beth and Brent shown here at Virginia Dale on the Colorado High Country 1200 (J. Kraychy photo).
Beth and Brent put in a heroic effort - Beth in Byers; Brent in both locations, including rescuing some riders on the course.

 

Jim Kraychy - Atwood
Jim, together with Brent, kept Atwood going for two successive nights as the riders passed through outbound and then on the return.  Fortunately, the weather meant the riders were more clumped together than in years past, giving a break in the action and time to get a little rest.
 

Ronaele Foss and husband Paul Brown, shown staffing the High Country Saratoga overnight control. 

Paul was supporting Ronaele on the Last Chance, but helped many a rider along the route.

 

 

Patricia Heller - Finish

Pat greeted and processed finishers at the Quality Inn in Louisville, making sure each got their medal and snacks and beverages, too.

 

JLE and Buster - Ken Bonner photo

 

Thank you, great volunteers!

-jle

A Bright Finish!

As of noon, four 1200k riders and two 1000k riders have finished.  It's a brilliant, warm, sunny day, after a second crisp night, temps dipping into the upper 30's for riders heading out overnight from Byers.
 

The not-finishing rate now stands at 48%.  Despite the dry, sunny weather of the past two days, there's been additional attrition as riders have had to confront - in addition to chilly overnight temperatures - some winds, an above-average number of tire punctures (from thorns and other rain-blown debris on the roads), and just general depletion from that first cold, rainy first day.

 

Updates and photos to come!

 

-jle

A New Day!

Wednesday was a rough, rough day for riders, with periods of driving rain intermixed with drizzle, gusty NE winds, and chilly temps.  Hypothermia beckoned at any moment.

 

Arrival times at Atwood were well behind the norm.  Brent Myers volunteering at the Atwood overnight control says it's a day he'll never forget.

 

What a difference a day makes:

The weather on Thursday exceeded forecasts, dry with high overcast early on giving way to brilliant sun, temps into the 70's, and relatively calm winds.

 

So far, riders have fared much better today, hopefully a chance to recover and refortify.

 

Wednesday was the first Last Chance with a rainy start. We've already experienced our highest dropout rate.  Veterans of this year's Cascade 1200 and Rocky Mountain 1200 can empathize. 

 

The rest of the ride looks like essentially perfect weather, into the 80's Friday and Saturday.  The riders have earned it.

 

Bon courage et bonne route!

 

-jle

A Moist Start!

29 riders headed off at 3am in light rain and mild 60º temps on the 9th edition of the Colorado Last Chance!

 

The sheltered motel entrance was a popular pre-start spot:

 

 

Two of these riders - Patrick Chin-Hong and Bill Olsen - just finished the Taste of Carolina 1200 two weeks ago!

Weather should be improving in the course of the ride.  We wish everyone bonne route and lots of cycling fun!

 

-jle

2012 Rider Packet Details

Some details about your rider packet:

• cue sheet (same as on the website)
• control card inside plastic bag: keep your control card dry and safe from the start; the card 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
• postcard for you to fill out and mail at the turn-around point (Kensington for 1200k riders, Phillipsburg for 1000k riders)
• rider-number label: for the left side of your helmet
• dropbag tags:with your name and bagdrop location on them
• Byers Byway Permanent Populaire card and cue sheet for 1000k riders

-jle

Two Local Rides to Stretch Your Legs

Here are a couple of scenic loops you can do from the Quality Inn or nearby.  Ideal for testing out your bike and legs.  You can do either of these as a loop, or out-and-back from a point on the loop.

Eldorado Springs - Cherryvale (18.5 miles - RideWithGPS route) - Favorite local cycling roads, rolling, with a shallow climb to the town of Eldorado Springs and the mouth of Eldorado Canyon (prominent in rock climbing circles).

Morgul-Bismark (14.5 miles - RideWithGPS route) - A bit hillier, with a climb up to Hwy. 128, and great views from that mesa west to Eldorado Canyon and the Boulder Flatirons.  There can be a bit of traffic on Hwy. 93.

-jle

2012 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 5:00 - 6:15pm on Tuesday 11 September at the Quality 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 at the ride start.

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)
• drop bags - to demonstrate they fall within the 10"x10"x24" (or equivalent) volume limit

I will hand out rider packets including brevet card, turn-around-point 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 Quality Inn.   Deposit your drop-bags in Atwood and Byers piles. As in years past, the Quality Inn staff is making provisions to store motel guests' bicycle bags and other luggage during the event.  PARKING: If you are not a guest at the motel, please consider parking elsewhere, as there is limited parking which must accommodate motel guests during our 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 when you leave - you may be sleeping in a different room on your return through Atwood.  Instead, 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. This is in addition to having your brevet card validated by staff.

Turn-Around-Point Postcard – Mail your turnaround-point postcard at the Kensington post office (1200k riders) or Phillipsburg post office (1000k riders), 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.  Or you may get a receipt, but note the time on the card.

Ride Finish

Event staff will be available at the Quality Inn most of Saturday.  If you finish earlier, have a hotel clerk validate your finishing time, and keep your card.  If you are going to be around on Saturday, at the motel or at the Carrabbas dinner, you may hand it to me.  If you are leaving before that, e-mail me your finishing time and mail me your card (address on card).

Drop Bags will be available starting Saturday afternoon at the Quality 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 7:00pm on Saturday. Attendees pay their own way. Mention the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club or Last Chance as the group you're with. In past years, everyone's had a great time!

Bonne Route!

-jle