Texas - The Texas Time Trials 2008

Please share your thoughts on this year's Time Trials/Tejas 500.

I am 60/40 on doing the 24hr TT- I definitely wouldn't be a "competitive player," but I still want to see if I can do it. Especially after feeling pretty darn good at the end of HH 100.

Who is attending? Who's doing the 24hr? I only saw one female rider (for the 24hr) in the results PDF from last year....surely we can do better than that!

Also - past experiences? Everything I have heard about this event thus far has been very positive.

Thanks!

Lisa

Wish I knew something, anything, about it. Where can I get info?

http://www.tt24tt.com/

Feel free to ask any questions you like and I'll try to answer from a racer's perspective. I raced it last year - did the 500 mile race as a 4-man team and broke the previous 4-man record by an hour. Unfortunately never got to hold the record as we were also beaten in the same race. Still hold the recumbent record though, and the second fastest time for the race overall. This year I plan on setting a time so fast it'll stand for years to come

Basically it's an absolutely MUST-DO. I've never had a better time at any event in my life. It's an absolutely indescribeable feeling to know you've accomplished something so significant - wether you win or not is immaterial. It's the best organized event I've ever been a member of.

Thanks aiki -

I was talking to my best riding buddy and we have decided to go watch this year. It's just a little too much of a last minute decision for this year. Plus I would rather spend $150-200 on registration next year and actually be competitive, rather than just be a finisher this year.

What event will you be doing this year? Also, it seems like this event is a little more friendly than a lot of competitive races - it seems more laid back. Is that true? How many people are there usually? And, how do you get used to riding at night? I can't imagine what it is like to be on your bike, on the highway, at 3 in the morning....

Lisa

I don't race, but the course is one of my rides.

Hey you've got plenty of time - come race, even if you just do the 6 hour or 12 hour. The course is ripe for records to be broken, and the experience you'll get with pay you back next year. The entry fee decreases for shorter races.

I'll be doing the 4-man 500 again, and probably the solo next year. I'm pretty sure that this year we can break the record and hold onto it, though I won't be trying to go faster than last year. I did a 50 minute loop last time but plan on staying in the 53-55 range if I can.

This race is EXTREMELY friendly. Everyone supports everyone, and Dan Driscoll who puts on the race, does it for the love of it, because he loses money on it every year. The finisher's trophies alone are OUTSTANDING. We were cheering on the people on either side of us, and I had people from every single team clapping and yelling and cheering me on at the beginning and end of each lap. It's ahrd to quantify how many racers exactly, because they start on different days! 150 perhaps? I slept through all the short races, I'm sorry to say.

Last year was my first year doing ANYTHING like this - we had no clue what we were doing. Also I'd never done any night riding whatsoever - just a half hour trial run on a closed road to figure out how best to mount my lights. Riding at nighr ended up being the best part actually - there was little to no traffic, it was cooler, and since there are only two turns per lap it's no big deal. Now I LOVE night riding, and doing a 200k Saturday that doesn't start until 7pm.

and for EVERYONE if you don't come race, PLEASE come volunteer. We need all the help we can get, and the volunteers are well taken care of. Some pics

The Reclining Flyers Flyers
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/flyinglazboy/104_6171.jpg

Me on the approach/passoff

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/flyinglazboy/104_6162.jpg

The Hardware

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/flyinglazboy/104_6187.jpg

2nd Fastest Four Man Team, and Recumbent Division winner!!!

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/flyinglazboy/104_6216.jpg



Thanks aiki -

I was talking to my best riding buddy and we have decided to go watch this year. It's just a little too much of a last minute decision for this year. Plus I would rather spend $150-200 on registration next year and actually be competitive, rather than just be a finisher this year.

What event will you be doing this year? Also, it seems like this event is a little more friendly than a lot of competitive races - it seems more laid back. Is that true? How many people are there usually? And, how do you get used to riding at night? I can't imagine what it is like to be on your bike, on the highway, at 3 in the morning....

Lisa

Oh, and this may interest you, Lisa - information from Dan D., the organizer:

The Time Trials are just around the corner. Please remember that late
registration is a week away, so get those applications postmarked. As of
today we do not have any tandems signed up nor do we have and female /
female teams. We have very few entries for the 20 mile time trial. As in
years past the majority of our riders are signed up for the Tejas 500,
leaving The 6 Hour, The 12 Hour National Championship, and The 24 Hour up
for grabs. If you can do The Hotter'n Hell Hundred then this race will be a
breeze. If you would like to come out and watch, great, but better yet come
on out as a solo or as a team and do a few laps, my guess is that you will
leave with a trophy, you will be proud of forever. If any one has any
questions, please feel free to e-mail or call.

Dan Driscoll
2811 Hollywood Drive, Arlington, TX 76013
Office: 817.460.5100
Cell: 817.925.0158
Fax: 817.461.5100
E-mail: dansm...@flash.net
September 25-27, 2008

Anyone want to do a 12 or 24 hour relay team? I know Dan and I'm sure that it's well run event and a friendly group. I'm not looking to set the record, but go out and have a good time.

folks, last call for an amazing ride - one you will not soon forget, and a call for volunteers if you can't race this year! This is the ONLY RAAM qualifier in this part of the country, and we need to make sure it stays alive!

Hey Greg, what do the volunteers actually DO? I had looked at the website earlier, and it wasn't really clear what was involved other than being there. I've got the 27th as a vacation day and would possible be available one or both nights.

Is this event something just anyone can go do, or is it competitive. Can you just go out and do it for the fun and pleasure (or the pain if you're in to that). Do you need to be able to go out and maintin a certain speed?

I'm going to try and attend at least some of this. Sounds like it would be fun to watch.

Chris

TexasKid- I think it is competitive, but anyone can go do it. I think I could even manage (barely) the 125 miles in 12 hours if 3 other slow people wanted to try it.

Is the course flat? If it is, I think I could do 125 miles in 8. Can we get a trophy just for doing it? Those are cool looking, and I could put it on my desk at work and impress people even they don't know what a slow ass I am. Hell, if I'm gone all night riding a bike, I better bring something home to show for it or I'll be sleeping with the dogs....

On the brochure, it says "A challenging and scenic 20-mile looped course". "Challenging" sounds like "Hilly" to me. If it's really hilly, I don't know that I could do the 125 m in 12 hours.

Registration fees seem pretty high, but then again, I don't normally do this kind of thing. so maybe that's the norm.

I haven't rode the course specifically, but I haven't ever seen a flat road in that area.

Hey Greg, what do the volunteers actually DO? I had looked at the website earlier, and it wasn't really clear what was involved other than being there. I've got the 27th as a vacation day and would possible be available one or both nights.

Anything and everything - there's a lot of computer input, set up and tear down, recording rider numbers, help with the breakfast, make goodie bags, registration and check in. All kinds of stuff. Give Dan a call - he's an AWESOME guy and supports cycling in this area like very very few people do. He's the president of the lone star randonneurs as well.

Is this event something just anyone can go do, or is it competitive. Can you just go out and do it for the fun and pleasure (or the pain if you're in to that). Do you need to be able to go out and maintin a certain speed?

not at ALL! The rides all have time or distance limits, but not any sort of minimum, and of course there's even a 20 mile race - so you can do lots of diffrent distances and times as you please. Some of the races are certainly competitive, but you can also use it as a way to just go and test your own fitness. It's a *VERY* laid back deal, even if some races have feirce competition.

Is the course flat? If it is, I think I could do 125 miles in 8. Can we get a trophy just for doing it? Those are cool looking, and I could put it on my desk at work and impress people even they don't know what a slow ass I am. Hell, if I'm gone all night riding a bike, I better bring something home to show for it or I'll be sleeping with the dogs....

it has ~900 feet of climbing for the 20 mile loop. Everyone who competes and finishes, regardless of distance, gets a sweet trophy! Everyone was really impressed with mine last year!

It's not cheap because it's VERY expensive to put on a USMCA sanctioned international event. This ain't your weekend pay ride!

I'm still looking for a partner for a 12hr relay team. Hopefully somebody will come through so that I don't have to ride 12 hrs by myself. PM me if you are interested. We would alternate 20 mile loops, so you would ride for about an hour and then have about an hour off.

If it's just 20 miles at a time, I coud probably avg. 18 mph. I don't think my tricross bike is as fast as a rode bike. Or maybe it's me...

I'd sure like to have one of those trophies.

I will be both a volunteer and a racer. If anyone DOESNT want to race should consider volunteering. We goof around and have all sorts of fun and good conversation. All you need to do is write down the split times as the riders pass the time table at the start of the race.

As far a racing goes. I havnt committed myself to one of the races. I roll a recumbent (baron) race bike. As seen in my Avatar. This will be very first bike race of any kind. And I want a guaranteed trophy. So I do NOT want any competition. :commute: (Next year I will be more competitive and give Mr. Greg a proper spanking.)

Terrance "Terry" Pickl

You're guaranteed a trophy anyway - even if you don't place. All finishers get a trophy, breakfast on Sat. Morning, and Dinner Sat. Evening. They do an amazing job.

Oh, and in your dreams :)

You sure on that 100% trophy? I thought I mentioned it on rbent but couldn't find where.

Awards Page (http://www.tt24tt.com/awards.html)
"Awards will be abundant and worthy of your accomplishment. All riders and team members completing The Tejas 500 within the 48 hour time limit will receive custom trophies, additionally those riders qualifying for RAAM will also receive a "RAAM Qualified" plaque from the UMCA (must be a member).

Trophies will be awarded to top finishers of every category of each of the races. In 2006 we awarded more than 100 trophies!

Trophies for everyone completing 500 miles within 48 hours.
Trophies for overall Male and Female for each category of every event.
Tandem Trophies: M/M, F/F, M/F each event.
Two person teams trophies - M/M, F/F, M/F
Four person teams trophies - 500 only
All team members will receive same award.
No duplication of awards.
Awards will not be mailed.
Must be present at the awards ceremony to receive all awards."

ah, I guess I hadn't realized all of the 500 milers get them, since that's all I've ever done. nicely spotted, Mark!

I'm signed up as a Volunteer. :)

FYI me and Bob Hammond are teaming up for the race. we are doing the 24hr. We are going to name our team "The Apex Predators"


I'm still looking for a partner for a 12hr relay team. Hopefully somebody will come through so that I don't have to ride 12 hrs by myself. PM me if you are interested. We would alternate 20 mile loops, so you would ride for about an hour and then have about an hour off.

24 hour! Very ambitious. Good luck to you both!

Made it out there, looked like things went off pretty good, lots of hard riding and tired people when it was done.

Here's a new friend. We met on a county road in the middle of the night where he and a buddy of his were helping to spur the riders along.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/TTDog.jpg

Well, my team got the job done: 500 miles in 23 hrs and 56 min, beating the old record by around 40 minutes. But it wasn't enough. an at&t sponsored team (what level, pro or semi pro I don't know) showed up and whipped the snot out of us amateurs. they finished in 21:15. Still, very proud of my good friends and what we got done and the fantastic time we had.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/Processed3226.jpg

Well, my team got the job done: 500 miles in 23 hrs and 56 min, beating the old record by around 40 minutes. But it wasn't enough. an at&t sponsored team (what level, pro or semi pro I don't know) showed up and whipped the snot out of us amateurs. they finished in 21:15. Still, very proud of my good friends and what we got done and the fantastic time we had.


WOW. It would have taken me 35 hours!

Hey Stephen, that's a nice photo of me! Mind if I borrow it for the article I'm writing on BROL?

Feel free. I've got a couple of other shots of you as well, but that one was the best angle. It is cropped down some, and not terribly sharp. I know there was one time when I just missed you altogether because you went by so fast. PM me with an email address if you need the original file. I ran across one of your teammates when I was checking out bikejournal.com, and probably have shots of the other two as well, though I'm not sure which ones they are. I may just send the batch to bicycle-stuff.com.

The regular photographer was there on Saturday afternoon, but I think y'all were done by then- check the link on the TT website. His quality is a lot higher and more consistent.

That bike looks neat in motion, but it's hard to get a good still picture of it. If you ever have a chance, try riding under an overpass while someone shoots straight down- I think that angle might work pretty well.

Here's the other pic I mentioned:
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/Processed3139.jpg

http://home.roadrunner.com/%7Ebrad.bedell/finishing.jpg

nice Brad! Brad was one of my teammates.

Stephen: yeah we were done just before 6am while it was still pitch black. We had a good run.

A couple of other pictures I see in the lot:
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/Processed3171.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/Processed3130.jpg