Here's the 411 or the Home Boy Hook-up on the Road Race ….......
the race heads east on the frontage and turns north on the Colorado River rd for the morning groups and continues east to Gypsum for the afternoon groups.(then turn back to the River Road)..............Its sweet smooth paved rolling hill's (Everything is a Big Ring) until just before the Town of Burns. That's where you hit the dirt/clay and the fun Begins. The county just graded and rolled it……...if you raced Hugo you'll find most of it smoother then the paved there. Not all of it, but most of it......so hammer away! There are two climbs near the turn-a-round, just out of Burns. One is about a .25 mile length at roughly 10% and the other is +/- 1 mile in length at 5/6% in grade and will take you to the top of the Mesa. The second climb is roughly 1.5 miles after the first. The Feed Zone will be just before the top. Right now the summit of the Mesa is the schedule turn-a-round for everyone (but Jr.s) ……That will make the mileage (Now this is off my bike Computer so don’t freak if it +/- of this) 60 for the Morning group and 75 for the afternoon group…..If you’re not suffering at the end you didn’t race hard enough!It's not a classic climbers race, but of a power course. The dirt/clay is hard as a rock and smooth. We rode it at race pace Sat and Sun with no problems.....!
I'm racing in the 3's and plan on running 11/25 for gearing with 23 Maxxis Columbiere tires at 80psi (I’m 152lb) just to take the edge off. But please don’t tell anyone…….
Here’s the LAW of the Race
· Yellowline/Centerline Rule will be strictly enforced! There is a yellow for all the paved areas. Any violations will result in an immediate disqualification! Absolutely NO refunds for DQs!
· There are some narrow Bridges (three to be exact). Returning groups have the “Right a Way” over outgoing……you will neutrals on the way out if you meet a returning group. We will have people there to help but it’s up to you to make safe.
· Also this is an open road and some of the nicest canyon roads you’ll find. But they are narrow in spots If you force a car off the road you will be disqualified. DON’T take over the Road. Please be smart, safe and nice. The person you meet coming the other way may kill the race next year or KILL you this year! Remember the Cattle Drive?
· Categories may be combined but scored separately.
· Feed Zone at 30 miles for the morning group and 45 for the Afternoon. If you want a Feed, SLOW DOWN...we’ll try to have some Neutral support if we have enough volunteers.
· Neutral Wheel Support if we have enough volunteers. Bring wheels for support of your category. It will be wheels in/out and neutral after 10 pars. It is recommend to bring a tube and pump as things split up and support might not be close by. Right now it looks good for most groups.
· No nurture breaks within sight of I-70
· Packet up will end 7:30 am Sharp for the morning group and 11:30 for the afternoon groups Saturday….If you come at 7:35 or 11:35 I can’t help you….sorry but with limited help. People have multiple jobs to do….Enough of that, you get the point.
Here a list that will make it fun!
· Please bring some extra water bottles for the Feed Zone. We’ll have a 300 gal water tank at the feed zone.· Ask your team mates to hand out a bottle or two when not Feeding Team Mates
· Please bring a smile and a good attitude. We are a very small team and racers just like you try to bring racing to the Western Slope. We’ve work very hard to make this run smooth……but if things don’t run like clockwork remember we are doing our best and trying to make it for you!
· A lot of the people working the races aren’t bike racer and may not be cyclist. Just community minded people and are working all day for a soggy sandwich and a warm Soda (Well it might not be warn, but you get my point). Yell at you fellow racer, not the guy in the wheel car……he did flatten you wheel.
· This is not WORK! So let’s make fun
See you there!
Mitch