Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - Superdrome Century!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/GSampson/Bikes/FInal-on-white.jpg (http://SupportLAF.com/)

We've organized a full Century at The Superdrome on May 30th (http://SupportLAF.com/) to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and cancer research. If you can join us for 644 laps of torture please do... if not, please consider supporting the LAF and our efforts by purchasing a ride t-shirt or donating to one of our LiveStrong Challenge participants.

Registration (http://SupportLAF.com/) is $50 and all of it goes direct to the LAF.
T-shirts (http://SupportLAF.com/) are $20 and $15 goes direct to the LAF. Pre-order ONLY ends May 19th!
All riders are also accepting donations for their efforts. Please help if you can!
Where is The Superdrome (http://www.superdrome.com/)?

Click the logo above or click:All the info! (http://SupportLAF.com/)

T-shirt design will feature all supporting sponsor companies!

http://www.supportlaf.com/slaf/website.nsf/SC644LOL-Tee.jpg?OpenImageResource

This sounds pretty awesome. I'm in Houston, but I'd be down to come up to Dallas and do this ride. However, I read the website and it mentions being certified in a Superdrome Safety course or something like that and having enough track time at Super. I've never ridden at the Superdrome (I ride at Alkek here in Houston), but is there any way for people not from the area to be permitted to ride at this event?

If you currently ride/race at a velodrome you can come up and ride with us. We'll do a few practice laps to get you used to the banking and make sure you are comfortable, but it is not a big deal.

If you are on the fence... check out our sponsor list and t-shirt (http://SupportLAF.com/)! The swag bag is going to be incredible! And, if you can't get into town to ride with us you can support the ride and the LAF by picking up a nifty t-shirt!

Pre-order for t-shirts ends May 19th so don't delay! (http://SupportLAF.com/)

I'm in. I'm a sucker for anything that looks really insane.

I have a few questions....

Is there going to be a course map? I'd hate to get lost.

What about an elevation profile?

How far apart are the rest stops?

Will there be SAG support, how about a bus ride and bicycle transportation back to the start?





:roflmao2:

I'm in. (Excellent!) I'm a sucker for anything that looks really insane. (In that case, you are in the right place.)

I have a few questions.... (ok, shoot.)

Is there going to be a course map? I'd hate to get lost.
We may not have a course map (too complicated) but we do have a queue sheet you can upload to your Garmin. It will go something like this:
In 65 meters make a u-turn left. In 65 meters make a u-turn left. In 65 meters make a u-turn left. In 65 meters make a u-turn left. In 65 meters make a u-turn left. In 65 meters make a u-turn left. In 65 meters make a u-turn left. etc.

What about an elevation profile?
The elevation profile actually changes depending on whether you are pulling, or changing position in the pace line. Here are two examples, not to actual scale:
1 Lap Pull -> Start _______________________ Finish
Pace line Exchange -> Start ____---__________ Finish
Several factors can affect the above including, but not limited to, the numbers of riders in the pace line, position relative to the pole lane, etc.

How far apart are the rest stops?
Well, that's kind of the kicker... Since we're not allowed to carry water bottles or food on the track (CamelSak is OK) we contacted a local charity and arranged to have bottle and food support on the front and back straight from these fine volunteers (http://www.attitudesecurity.com/webroot/sophiepoisson/girls_hawaiianTropic.jpg).

Will there be SAG support, how about a bus ride and bicycle transportation back to the start?
Sag Support: We'll have a van (http://images04.olx.com/ui/2/57/01/f_17435601_1.jpeg) pacing behind us the whole time. It gets a little harry though because to get a full size 18 passenger van to stick (http://members.iif.hu/visontay/ponticulus/images/impossible-01.jpg) to a 44 degree banked corner... well, they have to keep it steady at 65 mph. Fortunately, they'll keep the van above the Stayers Line.
Bus Ride: The bus (http://bobbyandsusan.com/wp-content/chicken_bus_galleryfull.jpg) will be parked near the warm-up circle and will gladly take you and your bike (via a rack) to the tunnel entrance. Considering traffic, possible mechanical failures and such we estimate the bus ride to be 1.5 days.

See you on May 30th! Remember, t-shirt pre-order (http://SupportLAF.com/) ENDS Tuesday the 19th of May and actual registration ends... sometime... that sounds... threatening!

:roflmao2:

That reply made my day. Hahaha

Hope all goes well with the event. :)

:roflmao2:

That reply made my day. Hahaha

Hope all goes well with the event. :)

Freakin' awesome.

What an event! I want to thank everyone that came out to ride and those that came out to lend support. We had a great time with several riders completing the full century, others doing a metric and many more who stopped by to help pull and cheer us on throughout the day.

Once I have links to photos and video I will post them. We have a video tour of the Superdrome to post as well as plenty of event photos.

Someone asked early on if the doing 100 miles would be easier at the 'drome than on open roads... tough to say since both have their pro's and con's:

A Century at the track:
* Having no traffic, no stop signs or traffic lights was a big bonus
* Having only one gear and needing to maintain one pace on that one gear...
* No gliding = no resting
* Pace lining on fixed gear requires back peddling to adjust pace
* One position on the bike leads to a very sore butt
* Banking puts additional stress on your left knee, plus engages more core muscles
... So was it easier or harder? Tough to say. I felt like it was more difficult, but we'll be doing this again in 2010 and you are all invited to come out and find out for yourselves!

Thanks to Greg and Will and all others involved for putting this on. It was a really friendly crowd and a very interesting way to ride 100 miles.