Road Cycling - Tour de Tucson

Looking for tips from anyone who has entered this or similar events.

This will basically be my first biking event---I'll be entering the 108 mile ride. My friend in another city is another beginner and I'm doing it to motivate her for her fund raising.

Anyhow, I'm looking to average a descent speed of between 14-18 mph---just looking to finish.

Any tips on survival? What to bring on my bike and what to depend on from aid stations? I don't really want to stop and rest, but to go all the way through, so does that mean I have to carry my own food, or are the aid stations drive-bys? What about flats and minor repairs? Is their road assistance?

Sorry in advance for being a bit ignorant.

Check out this thread for some general links to the PBAA pages as well as the application for the ride... http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?threadid=36729

I have done this ride 3 times so I can probably offer some information/assistance...

The event is huge so you will have a lot of fun guranteed! 3000+ people generally ride the 109 mile event so be prepared for a crowd.

The event starts at the Tucson Convention Center in downtown Tucson. They will group you by medal times: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Platinum - You must qualify for a platinum start position, basically any pro racer or a qualifying time in any other PBAA event, since this is your first it doesn't matter.
Gold - If you can finish in under 6 hours as a man, or 7 hours as a woman.
Silver - If you can finish in under 9 hours as a man, or 10 hours as a woman.
Bronze - If you can finish in under 11.5 hours.

The platinum and gold starters are on the right side of the road and are allowed to go first. Silver and bronze start on the left side of the road and are delayed 5 or so minutes before being allowed to start to give time for the groups to break up a little. If you want to start on the gold side, get there early... start is at 7 and the gold side is filled by 5:30 - 6:00 generally, then you will be forced to the other side no matter your ability.

As far as survival, just make sure your legs have some miles in them. Don't go too fast or attack the hills if you're not used to doing such things as 109 miles can seem like an eternity if you bonk at mile 25. There are tons of sag stops offering pretty much everything you want, including one for Krispy Kreme donuts. If you drink an energy drink then you will want to bring it as the only energy drink I have found that is occasionally supplied is Gatorade and it's only at the "unofficial" rest stops. As far as the normal fare at rest stops ... water, oranges and bananas is what you have to choose from. They also have bathrooms and most have Boyscouts or some community organization willing to hold your bike while you rest instead of laying it down. My best tip for you ... hydrate well, but make sure you pee before the ride as the first rest stop will be PACKED! Another tip .... be prepared to layer for a chilly morning. The day may be warm, but the morning will probably be cool. The second time I did this ride frost formed on my saddle as I waited for the start.

As far as not stopping and resting the PBAA powers that be have said that because this is meant to be a ride, not a race, there are no feed-zones or handoff areas. You have to stop to get food and water ... every year there is argument about people taking handoffs, people doing handoffs, etc, but it's not a normal talked about by anyone but those in the lead group, supposedly PBAA will throw you out if they catch you doing it. If you want to go without stopping then you will have to be self-supported and carry your own food/drink.

If you have a flat or need help with a minor repair there is a bike patrol team out to lend assistance. Carry your own tubes, patch kit, CO2/pump. These guys/girls are out there all over the course but if you're waiting on them to bring you something then you're going to be waiting a while and the only thing I have ever seen them give out is a patch kit and usage of a pump. It's not their responsibility to have your equipment, just to help you if you need it. They do offer help to a point, but I recommend you know basic maintence/repair before heading out just in case. Again it could take them forever to catch up to you and so you could be waiting for a while before one of them rides past. Other riders are generally friendly as well and will offer assistance if needed, but again don't rely on them for knowledge and/or parts because a fair amount will just ride past and never think twice about you.... that's just the roadie mentality.

I think that's all your questions and more, but if you have more feel free to let me know and I will help... I am planning on doing the ride as well if I can get the money together so maybe we can hook up for a while.

I'd stop. Events like that have a charm that you only get from stopping occasionally. I haven't been down to do the TdT yet, but I've done the Ride for the Roses for the last three years and did a couple of Hotter'n Hell Hundreds. Plan on stopping to eat and chat with people. From what you say, speed isn't the issue for you, so don't push it too hard. What kind of distances are you covering regularly right now?

Last year I did the Tour as my first century. Had a great time. The only downer was a bunch of flats at the river crossing, and I ran out of steam with 15 miles left. I only stopoed twice and I think this year I am going to go for more stops, but shorter. I found I averaged about 2 mph less than I thought I would. I didn't know the tip about getting in the gold section and ended up in the Silver and Bronze section last year (which was probably better as the flats and bonk put me into the silver category anyway). Interestingly enough I just found out I have the same number this year as I did last year (I don't now if that is lucky or a bad omen)!

thanks for the tips, guys! i'll download the application and sign up. as for hooking up, i've already made arrangements with my friend to hang out with her, but maybe we can all do a pre-ride days before or something. i'll see what the plans are.

oh yeah, how about if a tire gets sliced and needs to be replaced? can you buy them at stands along the route? tubes are easy to carry---but tires are another story.

i also plan on using a camelbak m.u.l.e. --- any thoughts?

No roadside assistance for stuff like tires and such. The route is pretty well cleared before hand though so I don't think you have to much to be concerned about.

The one time I sliced a tire I just booted it with a wrapper from a Clif Bar so I could finish my ride.

For a supported ride, assuming you stop occasionally, a Mule will be overkill. I carry two bottles on organized centuries and stop to refill them. I highly suggest, again, that you stop and enjoy the ride. It'll be enough of a challenge without trying to go non stop. If you want a camelback, hook up something like their Classic. You shouldn't need much more than a seatbag for a supported ride. You can carry two spare tubes, a patch kit, etc. that way with no trouble. The mule is just too much, IMHO.

Yeah, after thinking about it, I have to agree. I'll just buy two 32oz water bottles and enjoy the ride.

The more I think about it, the more the question was ridiculous.

Thanks again!

Don't succumb to the temptation to ride on the shoulder to pass people! The shoulders have not been cleared as I discovered last year! (4 flats and used up all my patches and tubes in the first 10 miles, luckily I learned my lesson quickly enough).

Now, remember, there aren't any stupid questions, just stupid people :)

Seriously, not a bad question at all. It's better to ask than to show up and realize that you're stopping enough that you're not using your camelback. You'd ride around with three liters of water on your back for 6 or 7 hours.

Originally posted by Paul L.
Don't succumb to the temptation to ride on the shoulder to pass people! The shoulders have not been cleared as I discovered last year! (4 flats and used up all my patches and tubes in the first 10 miles, luckily I learned my lesson quickly enough).

Wow. Just how crowded is the course? What's the max allowable entries for the 109mi road ride? I've got aspirations to try to finish around 7hrs.

Thanks for the tip. I'll pass it along.

Originally posted by ImprezaDrvr
Now, remember, there aren't any stupid questions, just stupid people :)

Seriously, not a bad question at all. It's better to ask than to show up and realize that you're stopping enough that you're not using your camelback. You'd ride around with three liters of water on your back for 6 or 7 hours.

Ha! I'd be screaming for a chiropractor!

Originally posted by jedi_rider
Just how crowded is the course?

At the beginning the course is kind of crowded because of all the people that were in the gold section and should have been in silver as well as all the others that think they can win it in the first 10 miles. Once you've passed 10 - 15 miles it opens up quite a bit and you have much more room.

This is based on when the course went the original direction, it was switched last year and so a river crossing comes on fairly early and may change when it starts to open up. I didn't do it last year so I have no experience with it.

Things were pretty congested up to the river crossing last year but broke up just around the corner on the other side (too bad it didn't break up at the river crossing or I might not have gotten as many flats!). At least thats the way it was back in the silver group.

Originally posted by Paul L.
At least thats the way it was back in the silver group.

Largely that's because of all the people that start in the gold group that belong in bronze and silver. It's just the way it is unfortunately ... if you can get there early enough and get a good placing in the gold group you can avoid that problem to an extent, but with the river crossing so soon into the ride it's going to happen no matter what.

It's just like when I run foot races (5k, 10k, marathons)---there are always people with very ambitious times that slow down the other runners who are honest with their own capabilities. I hope putting myself in the silver group is exactly where I belong.