Some Last Chance Photos

Pre-ride - JLE photos

1. Tim Sullivan / sunset, Bird City, KS

2. Tim Sullivan - Nebraska

3. Raindrops

4. Heading into Byers

5. Rando Dinner in Byers

From Mark Thomas

6. Tim Sullivan - Kansas

7. Tim, JLE, sunrise, St. Francis KS

8. Rancher breakfast

9. JLE, Tim

Catherine Shenk photos at Last Chance, CO

10. Japanese contingent at Last Chance, CO line

11.

12.

13. Bill Olsen, Mark Behning, Deb Banks

JLE photos before / after event

14. Vickie Tyer w/ Last Chance jersey from 2009

15. Deb Banks

16. Makoto w/ Japanese contingent

17. Bill Olsen, Deb Banks, Mark Behning

From Beth Long, Atwood

18. Bill Russell, Atwood

Scenes from Tuesday Sign-In and Day 1!

A great start to our event! 

Rider packet prep at the Dale Estate.

Corn in background from Munson's Farm Stand for later dining.

The always effervescent Vinny Muoneke, jet setting between continents, is ready for another Last Chance!

Deb Banks tries out her new RMCC water bottle.

Jane and Joe Brown consult with Bill Olsen (center) on a personal electronic device.

Esteemed volunteer Don Ward helps David Nakai redo his cabling so he can brake properly. Thank you, Don! (Don will also volunteer at Atwood.)

Last Chance ancienne Vickie Tyer shows off her Last Chance jersey.

She "only" did LEL this year prior to this event ... and lots of brevets.

Bill Russell's HPV or Velomobile, somewhat scorched from high speeds, is ready to lift off for the Last Chance.

Everyone massing for the start, which will be downhill for the first quarter mile. A brilliant full moon is visible just above the motel roof!

Well-light-equipped randos head east as they will for the next day and a half.

Two thirds of the way to the first overnight in Atwood, Ray Rupel set up food, drink, and shade at Joes (mile 156). He encountered most of the riders. Thank you, Ray!

-jle

Scenes from Atwood Day 2!

Some early folks returning to Atwood, after their incursion into Nebraska, 469 miles into the ride!

It's been a flawless day of mild temps, somewhat hazy, sunny skies, no dramatic winds for our riders.

Thanks to Beth Long for these photos!

Paul van Wersch

Jane and Joe Brown

Our tireless volunteers in repose: Brent and Makoto

Vinny Muoneke

Vinny along with Greg Smith (Wisconsin RBA)

Carlos Medeiros Silva from Brazil

Jason Turner

Greg Smith

Bill Russell - first to Atwood outbound and first rider back

2017 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 4:30 - 6:15pm on Tuesday 5 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 drop bags 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 bag - to demonstrate it falls within the 15" x 9" x 20" (or equivalent volume) limit

I will hand out rider packets including:

• brevet card,
• cue sheet,
• drop bag 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 3am-3:30am 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 and have a vehicle which you wish to park at the motel, please get their approval first, 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. Unless directed by event staff, do not leave drop bag or other items in the motel room when you leave outbound - 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 motel rooms have microwaves, and there is also a common area for eating. Atwood and Byers both have places to restaurants, but they close fairly 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.

Unstaffed Checkpoints – Checkpoints noted as “Any Store” have no event staff: have any store (or other establishment) clerk note your time of passage and initial the card or, if during the night when all establishments are closed, note your own time.  Or you may get a receipt, but note the time on the card.  

If you are not following the overnight stages, you may be passing through Atwood and Byers outside of the times they are staffed. If so, have your card validated at any local establishment. Please also bear in mind that you could be riding prolonged distances with no services.

Ride Finish

Event staff will be available at the Quality Inn most of Friday night and 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, hand it to me or another official.  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 6:30pm 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

Last Chance Rates at Louisville Quality Inn

We've set up a block of rooms at our traditional "host" (start/finish) hotel, the Quality Inn in Louisville.  You can book via their central reservations, or select to speak to the front desk for any special needs or questions. Ask for the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club / Last Chance rate.

• Rates are for September 4, 5, and 9.
• The Quality Inn indicates they will have a place to store your bike container and luggage while you are riding, as in years past.
• At this point, no breakfast on the morning of the ride start has been arranged.
• Currently the fixed cut-off date for this rate is August 5.

This hotel is in the same block and 2/10th of a mile from the RTD bus lot, where RTD service from the airport drops you off. There are also other hotels in the 3-4 block vicinity.

Last Chance Jerseys/Vests Now Available

You can now order Last Chance jerseys and vests directly from the Voler's Last Chance page.

• Items: short-sleeve, sleeveless, and long-sleeve jerseys; wind vests.
• Choose between men's / women's cut.
• You pay Voler directly and items are shipped directly to you.
• Deadline to order and change orders: 8/27/2017.
• Scheduled ship date: 9/29/2017.

This is the same design as in previous years, except now with raglan sleeves. And new this year are long-sleeve jerseys.

Some Selected Photos

All photos © John Lee Ellis unless otherwise attributed

 

A Wet Start

 

Hans Binder ready for the elements.

 

Postcard checkpoint at Kensington, KS post office - Lone Binder photo

 

Boulder Creek Flooding

 

Big Blue Sky Returns

 

Vincent Muoneke and Andréa Matney at finish

 

The Author at Finish

 

Bill Olsen off the front entering Kansas - Lone Binder photo

 

The Big Expanse (horizontal crop) - Lone Binder photo

 

The Big Expanse (vertical crop) - Lone Binder photo