Little Red Riding Hood in Utah

[Trekhawk]

Ride start was 8 am for the 100 milers. Good thing was there was night before reg packet pick-up in SLC. Hat sales were the same morning. Jersey sales were via active.com and were part of the reg packet pickup.

SadieKate - so you cant start any earlier? What time do they close the course? Im just a little worried that I may not make the distance before they start shutting down. Not too concerned about being out there on my own but if others are waiting for me to drive to SLC for after ride activities I could become a bit of a nuisance to all.

I know I still have a few months to work on my speed but I do think that even with heaps of training Im never going to be a speed demon.

[jobob]

Last year there was also a 100K (62 mile) option.

If you're not up to an imperial century by then, there's absolutely no shame if you do the 100K. That's my plan !

I'm not a speed demon either, so if worse came to worse you & I could hold up the rear. Maybe our dear friends would save us a snack or two at the end. Heck, I'd bring my own snacks anyhow ...

[Trekhawk]

Last year there was also a 100K (62 mile) option.

If you're not up to an imperial century by then, there's absolutely no shame if you do the 100K. That's my plan !

I'm not a speed demon either, so if worse came to worse you & I could hold up the rear. Maybe our dear friends would save us a snack or two at the end. Heck, I'd bring my own snacks anyhow ...

Hey Thanks Jobob I will keep that in mind as an option if I feel I wont make the distance in the required time. The speedy girls better save us some food. Thats the punishment for being swift riders they have to feed the slow pokes when they make it in.

[SadieKate]

The way the course snakes around you can always change your mind mid-course. The 65 and 100 miler share the same rest stops. The 100 miler visits the lunch stop twice, before and after the loop through Whydaho.

I need to go track down the map. It probably has more info about start and close. I suppose if you have your reg packet early you could start. Just beware that the rest stops might not be open,k but I know you know that.

TrekHawk, just keep you tme in the rest stops very short. The only one that was crowded was the first one. Petunia and I didn't leave until 8:30 or 8:45 because we screwed around a lot and stopped for photos which means we hit the first stop with everyone. If we had left on time we would have been ahead of the crowd. Now, mind you, there were only 875 or so riders so "crowded" is relative. As usual though, it was the line for the elephants that was the problem.

[Trekhawk]

The way the course snakes around you can always change your mind mid-course. The 65 and 100 miler share the same rest stops. The 100 miler visits the lunch stop twice, before and after the loop through Whydaho.

I need to go track down the map. It probably has more info about start and close. I suppose if you have your reg packet early you could start. Just beware that the rest stops might not be open,k but I know you know that.

TrekHawk, just keep you tme in the rest stops very short. The only one that was crowded was the first one. Petunia and I didn't leave until 8:30 or 8:45 because we screwed around a lot and stopped for photos which means we hit the first stop with everyone. If we had left on time we would have been ahead of the crowd. Now, mind you, there were only 875 or so riders so "crowded" is relative. As usual though, it was the line for the elephants that was the problem.

Thanks SadieKate - if they didnt mind I would probably like the idea of heading out earlier and having a bit of extra time up my sleeve to complete the course. I really do hope to finish the century so this might be a good plan. Im not one for lounging around at stops (not fast enough for that) I just visit the LOO, then eat/drink and Im out of there. How many rest stops do they have? Did you stop at all of them?

[yellow]

SK, you won't find your map 'cuz you gave it to me!

I don't have scanning capability, but I'll see what I can do tomorrow when the Utah world reopens. It's not the best quality so it may not scan all that well.

According to the map, here are some race logistics that should answer some of TH's questions:

There were three routes last year: 30, 60, and 100 miles. The 100 mile route has 4 "official" stops. The 60 mile route has 3 official stops. The 30 mile route has only one.

The 30 and 100 follow the same route up until about mile 24. They have the same first stop at about 20 miles. The 60 mile route's first stop is at mile 27.6; it splits from the other route at mile 18.2 (but comes back to join it later). There is a restroom (aka LOO, ELEPHANT) at mile 13.1 for all routes.

The second stop for the 100 is at mile 35. The location is the same as the first stop for the 60. The second stop for the 60 is at mile 35.5. This is the "lunch stop location".

The third stop for the 100 is at mile 48.8. This is the "lunch stop" location. The third stop for the 60 is at about mile 56 (the map neglects to show the mileage at this stop). This is the last stop for the 60.

The fourth and last stop for the 100 is at approx mile 80.

You only get to ride in Whydaho if you do the 100!

Ya stop at the stops if you wanna stop. I usually have to stop at all stops if I'm properly hydrating myself! (are there good willow patches on the route??? )

[SadieKate]

That must be why I just found it in the Oregonia mountainbiking route stash! Must have tucked it in there way back in September.

Yellow's got it right. The route snakes and snakes and snakes up to Whydaho. The third stop in Lewiston, Yewtah, is visited twice by the 100-milers. You ride a 20 mile loop into Whydaho between the two stops at it, so it is easy to reduce your ride to 80 -- certainly still a good ride.

I have several photocopies here. You want one? PM your snail mail address. I have a scanner at work and at home but neither is set up, so you'll have to wait for Mr. Postman (er, Postperson). The map describes all 3 routes and isn't easy to follow but you'll understand it with patience.

[caligurl]

The 30 and 100 follow the same route up until
Ya stop at the stops if you wanna stop. I usually have to stop at all stops if I'm properly hydrating myself! (are there good willow patches on the route??? )

i don't think i've EVER passed a stop on an organized ride!

that's quite an odd spread! you'd think they woulda put them at 25, 50, 75 for the 100... 20, 48, 80 is odd (and a big gap for the end of the ride!)

[SadieKate]

Hi, Sulis. Last year I saw several TE jerseys but none of the wearers seemed to know about this forum so spread the word!

Cali, this is RURAL Yewtah not megalopolis SoCal. You takes your rest stops wherever there is a village/park/elephant. The good news is that the population and traffic are low so the riding is relaxed, the air is clean and you can look up at the scenery.

Here is a nice article on bicycling in the Cache Valley.
http://www.utah.com/schmerker/2001/cache_valley.htm

A map to help everyone locate Wellsville. Ogden would have a lot of amenities. I suspect that the Marathon will affect housing and restaurants only. The Cache Valley is about 85 miles northeast of SLC. Tons of women commuted from SLC the day of the ride. Didn't even need a map to find the start, just followed the bikes.
http://www.utah.com/maps/logan/

[aka_kim]

that's quite an odd spread! you'd think they woulda put them at 25, 50, 75 for the 100... 20, 48, 80 is odd (and a big gap for the end of the ride!)

I agree, even if it is rural Yewtah. It's rare to have more than 25 miles between stops on a century ride (double centures are of course another matter, since those people are tough ). And the 100k's 1st stop is nearly 30 miles in - my crystal ball is showing "tons" (ie, bunches of 16 women) hunting for elephants all along that road.