Southern California - Baker - Death Valley Roll Call and logistics thread

P.S. There is an easily-accessible bathroom at Shoshone, outside the restaurant, in case your support crew is interested.

One guy did it with me last year Brad Sisko, the other is Doug Patterson the (508) Polar Bear. I'm hoping that Doug will pull us through the wind, he's an animal. I'm the Sprinter, Brad will be my Domestique, and Doug will be my lead out man.;)

I remember one of your teammates was prety fried last year... I don't remember which one.

I remember one of your teammates was prety fried last year... I don't remember which one.

Chris who DNF'd (toast) was not in my club, just a friend of Brads. Brad was pretty toast too.

Its mostly downhill to the climb. Then its about 7 miles downhill and 30 more uphill, with a little rise and a downhill finish.



The race will likely stay pretty much together to the climb. I would be surprised if a break could get much traction in the first 30 miles. The road for the last 30 miles is pretty straight and relatively flat (i.e. false flat), so you will be able to see pretty far up the road. My group was able to see another group in the distance that gave us the motivation to chase and reel them in. Unfortunately there was another group in front of them. As far as keeping track of which race people are in, I'm sure it will get confusing. We were picking up people from the masters race ahead of us, and since you guys will have two races ahead of you, I'm sure you will find plenty of 4s that popped off the back, strung out along the road.

Hey, I resemble that remark! :rolleyes: There were only two races last fall because there weren't enough riders in the Pro/1/2 or the Masters 35+ 1/2/3 races to have separate races so they combined all of us for a grand total of something like 20 riders. The 4/5 race had over 60 riders.

As I noted before, I think I was the second oldest guy (behind genedoc) in that combined race. BTW, you young guys could have been a little nicer to the old guy and just let me sit in and relax when you caught me. :o

I may have a couple of teammates out there -- one in the 5 race and the other in the 1/2/3 race.

Anyway, it will be much nicer if the winds are out of the SW. That last 30 miles was horrible for me, especially with the headwind. Don't know how the 4s or the 5s tend to work in races like this but I'm guessing that there will be a break during the first 30 miles that may stay away to the finish. However, I expect that the pack will explode on the climb and that there will be a select few that battle it out for the win in the 1/2/3 race.

Have fun and race safely. :)

haven't done a race this long...

* any chance of a nature break? I think if I try peeing on the bike, I will 'pee on the bike', myself and ppl around ;-)

* where do I get a feed bag? do they have some at the race? After the feed, is it ok to drop the bag and have your feed-person follow and get it? Also, is it ok to drop warmers/bottles in the feed zone or do it before/after.

* should I carry stuff to fix a flat or rely on my follow-car? What are the rules for the follow car -- can my wife (yes, a RR and a romantic get away at the bun boy, I'm quite a catch) follow in case of mechanical, then pass, feed, clean and catch-follow? I am wondering if all follow cars are held together...

BTW, I may have room for 1 person and bike on the return depending on whether my team-mate shows. He is getting sick...

thanks for feedback from those who've done this before!

Keith

* any chance of a nature break? I think if I try peeing on the bike, I will 'pee on the bike', myself and ppl around ;-)

That depends on how fast you can pee and how well you can chase back to the group. My advice is too pee beforehand and hold it for the 4 hours the race will take. However, last year when my chase group was catching another group, I saw something very smart. One rider from the group ahead stopped to pee and then hooked up with us to chase back. That wouldn't have worked except we were closing on them and a catch was inevitable; I think he was stopped for about a minute and we caught the other group maybe 10-15 minutes later. And he did help pull.


* where do I get a feed bag? do they have some at the race? After the feed, is it ok to drop the bag and have your feed-person follow and get it? Also, is it ok to drop warmers/bottles in the feed zone or do it before/after.

My wife tells me that people were dropping things off in the feed zone to be picked up by the feeders. The feed zone was a good length, but you are only in it for maybe 30-45 seconds so you won't have long. They won't have any bags, if you want to do that you will have to bring your own. I think I remember the PAA team having musette bags, but most people just did hand-offs.


* should I carry stuff to fix a flat or rely on my follow-car? What are the rules for the follow car -- can my wife (yes, a RR and a romantic get away at the bun boy, I'm quite a catch) follow in case of mechanical, then pass, feed, clean and catch-follow? I am wondering if all follow cars are held together...

There will be a caravan led by the CHP but the cars won't always be behind you, and not always all together. I'll be running tubulars with a spare wheel in the car. I can't remember if I had a saddle-bag with me last year.

My wife tells me that people were dropping things off in the feed zone to be picked up by the feeders. The feed zone was a good length, but you are only in it for maybe 30-45 seconds so you won't have long. They won't have any bags, if you want to do that you will have to bring your own. I think I remember the PAA team having musette bags, but most people just did hand-offs.



Once in sight of the feed zone/crest, call out to your crew. Once they spot you, jettison your bottles off to the side so they know where to pick them up afterwards. After the handoff, don't expect to be able to drop a bag off - the descent is fast and may be too dangerous for people to pull over to pick up things.

Good luck everyone with the race. Be safe.

Once in sight of the feed zone/crest, call out to your crew. Once they spot you, jettison your bottles off to the side so they know where to pick them up afterwards. After the handoff, don't expect to be able to drop a bag off - the descent is fast and may be too dangerous for people to pull over to pick up things.

I believe the area at the top was marked with cones. You have to have everything dropped off by the end of the zone, before the descent starts. You probably have at most 30 seconds through the zone.

The winds are changing...

WSW
at 16 mph

Have a good race everyone!

The winds are changing...

WSW
at 16 mph

Seems as though we are destined for a cross wind, but beats a headwind every time. And maybe that will discourage all you deep profile aero rim types from busting out the heavy artillery. That's right... box section rims for everyone!

Weather is looking ideal, otherwise.

7am Sunny 52°F.....From WSW 4 mph
8am Sunny 57°F.....From SW 6 mph
9am Sunny 64°F.....From SW 8 mph
10am Sunny 70°F.....From SW 9 mph
11am Sunny 74°F.....From SW 11 mph

Seems as though we are destined for a cross wind, but beats a headwind every time. And maybe that will discourage all you deep profile aero rim types from busting out the heavy artillery. That's right... box section rims for everyone!

I still plan to run my 46mm rims

Seems as though we are destined for a cross wind, but beats a headwind every time. And maybe that will discourage all you deep profile aero rim types from busting out the heavy artillery. That's right... box section rims for everyone!

Weather is looking ideal, otherwise.

7am Sunny 52°F.....From WSW 4 mph
8am Sunny 57°F.....From SW 6 mph
9am Sunny 64°F.....From SW 8 mph
10am Sunny 70°F.....From SW 9 mph
11am Sunny 74°F.....From SW 11 mph

My Lews do well in these conditions...

Seems as though we are destined for a cross wind, but beats a headwind every time. And maybe that will discourage all you deep profile aero rim types from busting out the heavy artillery. That's right... box section rims for everyone!

Weather is looking ideal, otherwise.

7am Sunny 52°F.....From WSW 4 mph
8am Sunny 57°F.....From SW 6 mph
9am Sunny 64°F.....From SW 8 mph
10am Sunny 70°F.....From SW 9 mph
11am Sunny 74°F.....From SW 11 mph

LIES! All Lies! Don't believe it. There is always a headwind going through Shoshone towards Death Valley. It's gonna be a HOT day for sure. Don't show up to the start in warmers because you'll be stripping them off fast.

I still plan to run my 46mm rims

I was joking. Other than Cassave, I don't think I've even seen box section rims in ages. I'll just have to tuck in behind someone with the big rims on the descents. :)

My Lews do well in these conditions...

My 2000 gram Shimano's will cut through the wind like a knife:D

I was joking. Other than Cassave, I don't think I've even seen box section rims in ages. I'll just have to tuck in behind someone with the big rims on the descents. :)


I use box section rims...

I use box section rims...

Yes but they are tubulars and are as light as Helium.;)

Yes but they are tubulars and are as light as Helium.;)


True!

My 2000 gram Shimano's will cut through the wind like a knife:D

good thing.....you'll need that when it's your turn to pull

good thing.....you'll need that when it's your turn to pull

I think they were all planning on latching onto your train. They had a meeting and you were voted the engine.

I think they were all planning on latching onto your train. They had a meeting and you were voted the engine.

http://www.stickergiant.com/Ass-Gas-Grass_z887.html

http://www.stickergiant.com/Ass-Gas-Grass_z887.html

:eek:

Good luck everyone, I'm off to the Bun Boy :p

Good luck everyone, I'm off to the Bun Boy :p

I'll see you there. Try not to blast the TV late tonight. :p