for those of you who know Homey...

[snapdragen]

Here an account of FC508 done in 2001. It's a special breed that does this race.

http://www.midcalracing.com/5082001/5082001.htm

I especially like this part:

"About 3 a.m., around 300 miles into the race, while on the climb up Salsberry, looking well up the hill, I could have sworn there were vans lined up on the side of the road with bikes on top. I felt great, thinking I was passing all these riders who had stopped to sleep or recover on the hill. It really did motivate me. However, as I went on, I realized that the car lights behind me were reflecting off the little 4 foot high poles with reflectors on them on the side of the road, which in my mind looked like vans with bikes on top. It's amazing how many I had to pass before I figured this out. Lesson: The mind often sees what it wants to. "

[maillotpois]

Wow - Snap that's scary. I am planning the 508 as a 2 person team this year. This seemed like a good compromise. I think. Still a bit scary. I am going to be consulting with Baldino and Homey a bit on the whole thing. Now that they have progressed to RAAM, it's a whole new scary thing. Can't imagine the hallucinations you get in RAAM.

[Bike Goddess]

Maillotpois- I crewed for Baldino last year, so I can also give you feedback from that perspective if you are interested.

Probably Baldino has already told you- the hill climber of the team should be the one to do Towne's pass. It aint pretty since it's long and steep. (I just did both ways in a car this past weekend and it was interesting to look at the grade from a cyclist's point of view).

Anyway, feel free to contact me if you want a woman's perspective!

[maillotpois]

Thanks BG! I will definitely drop you a line as we get closer to the event. My 508 partner crewed for our friend Karen, and then Karen is going to crew for us. So I feel like I am not coming into this totally cold, but any suggestions are welcome!!.

There's also a chance roles could be reversed and I could be riding with Karen and then Stacy would crew - it's a bit up in the air right now! I am also going to have to find another crew member at some point, because my husband can't get the time off for this and plus, then we'd have child care issues. And the LAST thing I want is a 10 year old tagging along on the 508!!!

Anyway, thanks for the support and I will get in touch with you. Are you doing the Solvang double or anything like that?

[Bike Goddess]

I wish! I didn't get enough mileage in at Death Valley to determine if I could do the double. I'm signed up for Cindyella so I'll do that (maybe twice!)