hamster

It makes most sense to volunteer close to home. And maybe to pick busiest doubles, since those need more volunteers. Top 3 doubles in SoCal last year by the number of finishers were Grand Tour, Solvang Spring and Hemet.

Lesper4

Mailing my entry in for Hemet today. So I will try to help out at Solvang, maybe make something Romantic out of it on Sunday if I can convince the wife.

Rick@OCRR

Keep in mind too that several doubles have rides for the volunteers so you can do the double course on Sunday after the Big Event on Saturday. I've done workers rides at Knoxville and Hemet.

Rick / OCRR

leaping_gnome

Congrats to those who did the Camino Real. I skipped it this year and did a 300k up in San Luis Obispo this past weekend. I ride randonneuring brevets (200k, 300k, 400k, 600k, 1200k) with the CTC DC schedule whenever I am able. Look at www.pchrandos.com for more info on the randonneuring thing. Also signed-up for the 308 this year after missing the 508 last year. Looking forward to the Solvang Spring DC, which essentially is the same route as the SLO 300k. See you there.


Jim

anotherbrian

Many that I'm aware of (Devil Mtn, Tam, Knoxville) do the rides on separate weekends. May be a stretch if you're driving SoCal to NorCal twice in 7 days, though I know people do it. The tone/atmosphere of the volunteer rides is definitely different than the big events, but they're great ways to get credit for the rides as well as contributing to their running.

Lesper4

Never head of the randonneuring. I am in to volunteer for Solvang Spring, not really interested in riding it again.

Lesper4

Nocked out another century, this weekend may be a little difficult though. How good would it be to get some clip on arrow bars when I am not used to it?
https://www.strava.com/activities/115339177#kudos

Rick@OCRR

Great century Loren! I rode a century in Orange County but didn't get as many miles or as much elevation as you did!
https://www.strava.com/activities/115674379

Regarding aero bars, I tried them on one double, didn't like 'em, never used them on a double again. YMMV, of course.

Are you riding Joshua Tree?

Rick / OCRR

Lesper4

I will be at JT. A friend of mine who also did that century on a fixie will also be at JT on the same bike. I think he road CR on the same bike also. I am just trying to figure out how to ride this weekend. so I don't have time off. I will look for you at the start line, I will be driving in and out for this ride (same as I did for Hemet).

I imagine that takes a lot of pressure of your hands but it is also a different riding position. I should probably demo them somewhere.

Lesper4

Hamster, I noticed that you haven't put many miles or climbing miles in and you signed up for MC. Are you ramping up soon?

hamster

I put in more trainer time than outside time, and most of it is not logged in Strava. But you're right, I need to get outside more.

Rick@OCRR

We are driving out on Friday so hopefully see you at the start. My wife is working the ride, probably the last or 2nd to last Checkpoint. I worked it last year and it was really brutal with a dry, hot headwind for the last 60 (or so) miles.

I have a real HTFU attitude about this ride, expected to be much tougher than Camino Real. Have to see how it goes. Gotta love Anny and all her volunteers regardless.

Rick / OCRR

Lesper4

Looks like this weekend isa wash for a big ride, have to squeeze as much in as I can.

For the Solvang Double Volunteer, I probably need to get a room for the night before should I get one for the next night as well (Fri-Sun)?

hamster

Organizers might put you in a hotel room for the night before if you start early, check with them. I don't think you're going to need one for the night after.

Lesper4

They don't put you up, you have the same rates as the riders which is higher then I want to pay. Also I am not sure if I want to drive home at 8 or 9 but instead make a trip out of it.

hamster

When I inquired about volunteering for Solvang Autumn last year, they explicitly mentioned providing a hotel room (or, rather, a hotel bed) if you worked at least 6 hours.

Does anyone want to split a room before Mulholland Challenge, the night of April 11/12 in Sheraton Agoura Hills?

Lesper4

In this wet weekend I tried to get in a ride between clouds with JTDC coming up. I ended up getting two flat tires on the down hill but at least I got to the top. I am going to get a new tires but then I got an email from PBK that has Conti GP 4000S on sale for $41.45 plus 10% off. Or should I stick with the Mavic tires I have? Usually I just get the Serfas at REI for $23. I plan on doing at least a century this next weekend.
https://www.strava.com/activities/117284926

Lesper4

Another century down and had to deal with some winds, hopefully they will not be too bad out in the desert? It is supposed to pick up this week, not sure about the weekend.
https://www.strava.com/activities/118892795#kudos

Rick@OCRR

Sorry to say, I'm out of the Joshua Tree Double. I rode the Chuck Bramwell Palomar Century last Saturday and had far too much back pain to even consider riding another double until I get it all repaired.

Rick / OCRR

Lesper4

bummer, I am dealing with some hip pain (IT Band) but it does not bother me on the bike, just when I walk.

Lesper4

Question: I have been riding a Fi'zi:k Antares saddle all this year in two specific bibs and I have done 4 centuries flat to very hilly. Last year I road the entire year on a Cannondale CO2 saddle (mountain bike saddle which has considerably more padding then the Antares). I was thinking about switching back to the Cannondale saddle for the double century. Should I or just sit it out so to speak? I have been told the small and harder saddles are better as there is less contact?

Lesper4

Well that was definitely a hard ride with what was mostly head winds or cross winds but it is in the books. There were two LONG STRAIGHT CLIMBS, the kind that only occur in the desert and then there was the 10 freeway climb which wasn't so pad except for the winds. Great tailwind up the steep section but every time a semi drove past it felt like a huge wave of air just slammed you from behind. It was a good thing until the winds came from the side then you were hanging on tight with both hands. By rest stop 131 (Ragsdale) everyone took off in a massive group trying to get as much protection from the headwind section. I thought about calling it many times because of the wind but no one else was so why should I.

In between the last climb I got some stomach aches and finally found a rider with some tums but that really took its toll for about 1 hours, I had to walk about quarter mile because I could not sit folded over. Once the sun went down I was much better, but I did skip food at the RR. Probably the calorie consumption finally caught up to me? At the last rest stop I was hungry again and actually very sleepy so I had a cup of black coffee. I guess that is what I get for getting up at 2:30 and driving out, I still have to drive back home after I am done. It was great to finally see city lights in the night to know that it was over. I did end up pulling over in Cabazon for 1.5 hours to sleep for a bit before going home to Fontana. P.S. I used my clear lens in my sunglasses for the first time which was great with all the winds. In Solvang last year I just took them off, but then again it was not windy. Oh and the full moon was awesome at night!
Bike Ride Profile | 201 miles near Twentynine Palms | Times and Records | Strava

Rick@OCRR

Congratulations Lesper4, Way to stick it out until the end! Sorry I couldn't make it; hopefully next year!

Rick / OCRR

Lesper4

Anyone riding Solvang? I will be working it this year.

Curbendo

Yup. Where will you be?