Livestrong Challenge - schedule for 2009

[Possegal]

My motto on the Philly ride - what goes down, must come up.
That rest stop at 20 miles is funny because you know what lies ahead. The first year my sister said - oh I think all the worst hills are behind us at that rest stop. Then we were like - oh no, they were just ahead of us!

Last year I sent a text back to our "encampment" at the start line from that rest stop, telling them that we were heading into the big hills so send positive vibes. Of course my brother who trains in Pittsburgh was all - those hills? you thought they were bad? Dude blew us out of the water and he's 20 yrs older than I am. I must do more training back in my home town!

[cyclingmama]

BTW, the difficult hills start after the rest stop at 20.54 miles (RS#2).

and then is it bad for the rest of the ride (70-mile route) or does it get better after a time?

[bluebug32]

and then is it bad for the rest of the ride (70-mile route) or does it get better after a time?

Cyclingmama, I tried to PM you back, but says your inbox isn't accepting. Anyway, hope you're doing well!

Edit: you'll see that the real climbing begins at about 30 mi. in

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=43017

[Possegal]

My sister and brother-in-law and I did the Girls with Gears ride in Limerick, PA last Sunday. The only rest stop on the 40 mile ride was at about mile 21 and lo and behold, it is the same place as the 1st, then last, rest stop on the Livestrong ride. Not sure that we really climbed any of the same hills, but we climbed plenty. The lance ride has 3800 ft of climbing on the 45 mi ride and my Garmin told me we did 3700 ft on this ride. I'm amazed my legs survived. Felt pretty happy with myself at the end!

[ny biker]

and then is it bad for the rest of the ride (70-mile route) or does it get better after a time?

The steepest hills are in the middle portion of the ride.

[bluebug32]

Question: do you stay overnight the night after the race, too? We're about a four hour drive away and some of my group needs to return for work sometime Monday. Are there shower facilities anywhere at the race? I know the answer is probably no, but really not looking forward to sitting in the car with two sweaty guys (and myself!) and 100 miles.

[Possegal]

There are showers in the gym of the college. I haven't used them and admittedly last year didn't even go in there to use the bathrooms. So I'm not sure that they were still available to us last year. In '07 they had the packet pick-up in the gym, but last year they had tents set up. I'm not sure if that meant that last year the gym was then closed to the folks on the ride. So I guess I'm really not answering your question. My team stays over Sunday night. Some are about a 6 hr drive from Philly, I'm about 2.5. I still like the idea of not getting right into my car.

[ny biker]

Last year one of the sponsors, Embassy Suites, had portable showers at the post-ride event. There were not that many of them, so there was line to use them, at least when I was there (which was around 2:30-3:30). But yes, they had showers.

The year before that they let us use the locker rooms at the college to get cleaned up after the ride.

I don't know what they will plan for this year, but I think Embassy Suites will be back as a sponsor so my guess is that they will have the portable showers again. (FWIW, in the post-event survey last year I suggested that they have more showers available as well as a place for people to change if they don't want to shower right away. If enough other people made similar comments, maybe they will have more facilities available this year.) To be on the safe side, you could always bring some Wet-Ones, which are good for a quick clean up when it will be a while before you can reach a shower.

I also have a long drive home and I'm always so tired after the ride that I just take Monday off. I stay at the hotel on Sunday night and I like to eat a gigantic celebratory breakfast at Cracker Barrel before I hit the road. Mmmm...biscuits and gravy....mmmmm

[ny biker]

BTW, the elevation profiles for Philly are posted:

http://www.livestrongchallenge.org/s...n_Profiles.htm

[ny biker]

Just wanted to say - good luck to everyone doing the Seattle ride this weekend!

[bluebug32]

BTW, the elevation profiles for Philly are posted:

http://www.livestrongchallenge.org/s...n_Profiles.htm

Are the arrow-circles about the peaks the percent grade? Also, I thought the ride was approx. 8k feet of climbing, but this says 4+.