Livestrong Challenge - schedule for 2009

[aka_kim]

I'm riding Livestrong SJ with Team Triumph. I have not been training, and will likely be walking Metcalfe.

[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+.

[Possegal]

The arrow/circle things are the rest stops. And my garmin said 3800 total climbing for the 45 mile ride. Do with that what you will.

[bluebug32]

This is strange because we mapped out the course on Bike Route Toaster with GPS and it said the climbing was over 5,000 feet. They originally posted 8k for the amount of climbing and now they are saying 4,300. This would change the training plan just a bit. Anyone know the exact number?

[ny biker]

I would ask them. There should be contact info on the website.

[bluebug32]

Contacted them. Will report back

[bluebug32]

I wanted to share the response I received from LiveStrong:

Initially, we used a device that recorded elevation gain from a moving car. The result was that our numbers were off, seemingly. Based on www.mapmyride.com, which uses Google technology, the elevation for the course is just over 4,000 feet. However, I’ve received feedback from participants who say the 8,000 foot estimate is more accurate than is the 4,000 ft., this based upon their own personal GPS devices. Given that feedback, we nevertheless decided to stick with the estimation we received via www.mapmyride.com as the results that site provided for us in our other cities are accurate. So, if you’re looking for plan your training, I’d continue to train as though there were 8,000 feet and then enjoy the “leisurely” ride if there’s only 4,000.

This year, we are not offering showers at our Challenge Events. They were simply underutilized at previous events.

[Possegal]

I would be inclined to go with the results of people's GPS's. Like I said, mine read 3800 for the 45 mile ride, and I see other people's with similar results, and it sure felt like a good bit of climbing to me. My brother in law did the 100 the first year we rode it, and they had claimed that was 10,000 ft of climbing. He found it a really really tough ride (and he rides that distance a lot), so again I'm going to go with the idea that it really was that much climbing.

I would not be lured into thinking there is less, rather than more, climbing. Just my take on it.

[bluebug32]

Thanks, and I agree.

Did anyone do the ride last year and have the total for climbing?

[Possegal]

Last year my whole team did the 45 mile, so I don't have any info for you there for any other distances. But you can always search around on things like motionbased.com. I just looked and saw a lot of 8,000+ climbing for the 100 mile ride.

[ny biker]

They think the showers were underutilized?? Maybe that's because there were so few of them that the line was way too long to wait on.

I hope there will be someplace to change into clean clothes.

p.s. I got nuthin' on the elevation. I don't have my polar hrm set to measure it because it uses too much memory.

[Trek420]

Here's a California event for LAF happening this weekend

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=32118

[bluebug32]

For Philly, I'm trying to pick the best hotel for two nights. I know the Doubletree and Homewood Suites received high praise. Anyone stay at the Summerfield Suites by Hyatt? They appear to be the cheapest and the closest.

[Possegal]

No idea, sorry. I don't think that one was an option the last year at least. I remember the Homewood Suites being the closest to the venue last year. I'm sure it is just as nice though.

[bluebug32]

I did part of the Philly course last weekend (big 60 mile loop). It was pretty warm that day. We were eternally grateful for the kind woman at an Amish fruit stand who turned us loose with her garden hose so we could refill our bottles and cool off. I know climbing difficulty is relative, but there are definitely two long, steep monsters to tackle and then handfuls of short steepies. I was loving my granny gear by the end of this one. The Garmin said we did over 5,000 feet in 60 miles.

Even though the pre-ride had me a little bummed and discouraged, I'm still really looking forward to this and to riding my first century. I'm sure the energy on that day will be amazing!