2022 Last Chance Update #8

 A few notes as we head into the final stretch before the event!

Google Group Chatlist - I have changed the settings on the Last Chance Google Group, so everyone can see the group, see the posts, and make posts. (The chatlist is now open to everyone. I may change things back after the event to limit it to members.) Please use this chatlist to coordinate your riding plans - Jason Turner's post a few minutes ago is an example - and arrange room sharing, etc. Let me know if you have any access issues.

Baggage Storage - The manager at the Quality Inn confirmed to me me there will be no problem storing your bike containers and other luggage items while you are riding - most likely in their conference room, as they have done in the past.

RWGPS Routes by Stages - Jason Turner (thank you, Jason!) has sliced the overall RWGPS route into four routes, one for each stage. You can find links to his RWGPS stage routes on the Last Chance main page. 

Last Chance Jerseys and Vests - Voler has extended the deadline to September 12.  See the Last Chance 1200k Voler custom page.

IMPORTANT - Sign-In Wednesday 4:00pm-6:00pm - Sign-in will be at the Quality Inn in Louisville. If that time won't work for you, let me know. Here's what we'll do:

• have you sign the standard RUSA waiver - here is the 1200k waiver,
• inspect your bike for lighting - including backup headlight and taillight,
• check your reflective vest and ankle bands (or alternate reflective gear),
• check your dropbag for weight and volume - we have some flexibility, but please do not bring an overly large or heavy dropbag.

Any questions, just ask. See you in a few days!

-john lee

for the Last Chance 1200k Team

2022 Event Procedures - Read Carefully

- PRELIMINARY - 

Updated 12-Aug-2022

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 - 6:00pm on Wednesday 7 September at the Quality Inn in Louisville. If this time will not work for you, please let us know in advance.  There is limited time at the ride start, so only limited check-ins/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,
• drop bag tags.

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

Cue Sheets and Maps - This year we are not providing printouts of cue sheets and route maps. Instead, you can generate cue sheet and route map from the RideWithGPS route. (This is like Perms are handled now. We won't be providing separate cue sheets and maps.) You can also use the RideWithGPS route directly, of course, in a GPS-capable device. Here you see how to access a PDF of cue sheet and/or map ("Print Map & Cue PDF") or you can produce a web page of the cue sheet ("Print Cuesheet"), which you can then print or paste into Excel or other spreadsheet app and reformat to your liking.

Ride Start

Sign in between 3am-3:30am at the Quality Inn.   Deposit your drop bag in front of the hotel. As in years past, we are making provisions with the Quality Inn to store your bike container and other luggage. ([These arrangements TBD.])  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 - When arriving, sign in with our volunteer staff, who will record your arrival time and give you your drop bag.  If you've chosen the Atwood-lodging-included option in the event fee, our volunteers will assign you a room. Let us know if there's someone you'd like to room with.  Also verify that you will be staying in the same room both nights - in that case, you can leave your drop bag in the room the first night.  IMPORTANT - When you are leaving Atwood for the last time (e.g., the morning after the second overnight), and when you are leaving Ft. Morgan, hand off your drop bag to the volunteers.  They will not be retrieving drop bags from rooms.

Atwood and Byers Food - We will have a selection of hot and cold food - e.g., pizza, lasagne, 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 Ft. Morgan have restaurant options (early closing times in Atwood).

Atwood and Ft. Morgan Sign-In/Out – IMPORTANT - When you arrive in Atwood and Ft. Morgan, 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.  In addition, you may use a photo or GPS track as proof of passage through any checkpoint.

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 after noon on Sunday  If you finish earlier, have a hotel clerk validate your finishing time, and keep your card.  If you are going to be around on Sunday, you can hand your card over to me or another official.  Otherwise mail/email the card to me.

Drop bags will be available starting Sunday afternoon at the Quality Inn.

Après-Finish Dinner

We suggest rendezvous-ing at 6:30pm in front of the hotel on Sunday to head to a restaurant of your choice, hopefully in a group. Attendees pay their own way. In the past, we had made arrangements at a particular restaurant, but this business closed during the pandemic. 

Bonne Route!

-jle

2022 Last Chance Update #7

Cue Sheets and Maps - You can generate cue sheet and route map from the RideWithGPS route. (This is like Perms are handled now. We won't be providing separate cue sheets and maps.) You can also use the RideWithGPS route directly, of course, in a GPS-capable device. Here you see how to access a PDF of cue sheet and/or map ("Print Map & Cue PDF") or you can produce a web page of the cue sheet ("Print Cuesheet"), which you can then print or paste into Excel or other spreadsheet app and reformat to your liking. (That's what I do.)

1000k Riders - The 1000k route finishes in Brush, about nine miles east of Ft. Morgan (the third overnight). You are welcome to arrange lodging there and then hand over your card, receipts, etc., in Ft. Morgan the next morning, if we haven't left, or at the start/finish in Louisville. 

Food Options - Beth and Brent are putting together a provisional menu of what you might see at dinner and breakfast, including hot and cold items and take-away items at breakfast. We will post that when available. We will have vegetarian options. Let us know by replying to this email whether you prefer or require vegetarian - this will help us with quantities. (We don't have provisions for other dietary requirements.)

Event Procedures - The 2022 Event Procedures have been posted - as in the past, they are on the blog, and may be updated as we get closer to the event. Please have a look.

2022 Last Chance Update #6

 I have updated this year's route with what should be the near-final routing, plus annotations for checkpoints and services in the RWGPS cue sheet. This link is now posted on the Last Chance web page.

There will probably still be a separate Services section on the 2022 Rider Info page.

The 1000k brevet option is slated to finish in Brush, 9 miles east of the third overnight, in Fort Morgan. 

2022 Last Chance Update #5

Last Chance Jerseys and Vests - We're offering our traditional design, including short sleeved and long sleeved jerseys, wind vests and thermal vests, plus a choice of fabric types. These will be produced once again by Voler, who has always served us well. The pricing is pretty good, including a 15% discount for being part of the RUSA family of regions.

There will be one ordering deadline (9/18/2022), a week after the event, as some riders want the jersey as a token of finishing. We need a 25-piece minimum to get the order fulfilled. (We'll also be offering this to past Last Chance riders.) You can change or cancel your order any time before the deadline. Here is the Voler Last Chance page for perusing and ordering.

Ft. Morgan Third Overnight - Our support volunteers and drop bags will be at the Hampton Inn in Ft. Morgan for the third overnight.  If you plan to stay there, you can book reservations with the hotel. There are also other hotels nearby.

Rooming Partners - If you would like to room with a specific rider, let us know, as one of you has already.

A Small Event - At this point there are nine registrants, so now a rather small event. We can expect some further withdrawals, but also some new registrants. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

A reminder that you can see prior updates on the Last Chance Blog.

Happy high season training!

-john lee

for the Last Chance team

Returning to "Colorful" Colorado from Kansas ...

Last Chance Jerseys/Vests - 2022 Ordering

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, thermal 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: 9/18/2022.
• Scheduled ship date: 10/31/2022.

This is the same design as in previous years, except that we are offering a choice of two fabrics.

2022 Last Chance Update #4

Louisville Lodging - The event  will start and finish at our traditional 1200k host hotel, the Louisville Quality Inn. We have made arrangements for a block of rooms at a favorable rate for this area, $99 for a single king-sized bed, and $119 for two queen-sized beds. These are for the nights of 9/6 and 9/7 (checking out 9/8) and the night of 9/11. We have usually had use of their conference room for storing your luggage including bike bags.

The Quality Inn has always treated us well and been very gracious to riders. If you have questions or you encounter a discrepancy, please let me know.

Ft. Morgan Third Overnight - Our third staffed overnight will be in Ft. Morgan. We are providing food and other support, but lodging is not included, because there is ample lodging capacity, in contrast to Atwood, KS. Also, riders may have other riding plans. We have not yet decided which hotel we are using, but will let you know when we do, so you can make arrangements. This is how we've done things in the past, but this year, we have more lodging choices!

Questions or Helpful Tips to Share? - Consider posting them on the Colorado Last Chance Google Group. Everyone can share and benefit.

Happy training!

-jle

for the Last Chance Team

photo credit Catherine Shenk