After an enormously successful 2007 Low-Key Hillclimbs season, Low-Key is back with its traditional dose of mileage excess: the Mega-Monster Enduro! Low-Key founder Kevin Winterfield () returns from deepest Connecticut to present to you the 2008 Mega-Monster Enduro!
Saturday, 9 Feb 2008, between 8 am (slower riders) to 9:30 am (fastest riders). Faster riders will want to start 9 am to 9:30 am to avoid getting to the checkpoints before they open. Slower riders should start close to 8 am to avoid getting to the checkpoints after they close. The start is "low-key": when you're ready, you go, and we record your start time.
We start at the Paicines General Store in Paicines. Parking is available along the side of the highway (not at the store). Restrooms are available in the General Store to customers only, so please spend at least a dollar or so if you want to use the facilities (post-ride burritos are available!)
100 miles: Paicines to CA198 and back on CA25. It just doesn't get any simpler than that! We also offer a shorter, 100 km option, for those not up to the full route. Those who reach the 50 km checkpoint after the 100 mile cut-off time can do the 100 km route. To avoid getting to checkpoints before they open, faster riders should wait until 9 am to start. Checkpoints will be at miles 32 (Bitterwater), 51 (CA198), and 70 (Bitterwater) for the 100 mile (actually 102 mile) route. The 100 km (actually 103 km) route will turn around at the 32 mile checkpoint (Bitterwater).
Maps, etc:
For 100 mile riders, there will be checkpoints at miles 32, 50, and 70, at which you must give your number to the volunteer. These checkpoints are only open for a certain time period. If you leave early (close to 8am), and are exceptionally fast, you may arrive at a checkpoint too early, and have to wait for it to open. If you aren't so fast, and leave late, you may arrive at a checkpoint after it closes. Those arriving to the 32 mile checkpoint after it closes for the 100 mile course can turn around there and complete the 100 km course, hopefully before the 4pm finish deadline.
A summary of 100 mile checkpoint opening and closing times is as follows:
100 mile route
checkpoint | direction | miles | open | close |
---|---|---|---|---|
S/F | out | 0 | 8am | 9:30am |
Bitterwater | out | 32 | 10am | noon |
CA198 | turnaround | 51 | 11am | 1pm |
Bitterwater | in | 70 | noon | 2:10pm |
S/F | in | 102 | noon | 4pm |
checkpoint | direction | miles | open | close |
---|---|---|---|---|
S/F | out | 0 | 8am | 9:30am |
Bitterwater | turnaround | 32 | 10am | 2:10pm |
S/F | in | 64 | noon | 4pm |
We'll have water and some food at the checkpoints, however, riders can place bags labeled with their name and/or number in the vehicle driving to a checkpoint, and it will be available there for them when they arrive.
Too many to list! Combinations of the following, plus whatever we invent on the spot:
Scoring is based on time between when you start and when you finish. For individuals, it's that easy! For 2-rider teams, it's the time of the second rider. For teams of 3 or more, it's the time of the second-to-last rider: 3 riders on the team, second rider; 4 riders on the team, third rider, etc. In the ranking, those completing the 100-miler rank ahead of those doing the 100-km route, so the slowest 100 miler gets ranked just above the fastest 100-k'er.
For individuals, we'll use the following no draft rule: there must be at least a full 1 second gap between each rider and leading riders, or at least a 2 meter gap to the side (if side-by-side, and you could reach out and touch fingertips, you're too close). The exception is members of the same team may draft off each other. Any human-powered bike is allowed in the "HPV" categories. Daedalus? In all other categories, any bike allowed in a USA Cycling road race, cyclocross race, mountain bike race, time trial, track race, BMX race, or a UCI acrobat cycling event, or International Unicycle Federation race, is allowed in the main categories. We also have a "hybrid-electric" category, where the bicycle or tricycle (2-3 wheels) must comply with the following rules: (1) must have functional pedals that allow the bicycle to be ridden on level ground at 8 meters/second solely under human power, (2) must weigh no more than 100 lbs, (3) must have at least one on-board electric-powered motor to assist propulsion. No other motor type (e.g. internal combustion, nuclear, hampster wheel) is allowed.
And, as this is Low-Key, the roads are open to vehicular traffic, so CA Vehicle code applies. (yes, even to you, Martin!)
Of course, a standard-approved (a list of applicable standards is available here) helmet is required for all participants.
We need volunteers to make this event happen! Volunteers get two free rides at a future Low-Key event! Or, bring along a volunteer, and ride for free! This is a long one, so the more volunteers we have, the better! Burritos at the Paicines General Store are on us!
Fire off an email () if interested!
No pre-reg: at-site opens 7am, first riders start 8am, reg closes & last rider starts 9:30am. $10 entry fee, volunteers get 2 weeks free, under 18 years old are free, coordinators from the 2007 Low-Key Hillclimbs are free! Waivers available at registration.
If you can, you'll want to print and fill out the PDF release form before the event.
We have an email list! See http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/lkhc/.
Drive to Paicines along CA25. Park there, but please use the side of the road, rather than business lots.
In the event of impending bad weather, Kevin will decide by 10pm the night before (Friday night) to cancel the ride, and will post a note to the Low-Key mailing list. A note to this web page will hopefully follow! If unforseen conditions arise, we may also cancel at the start of the Enduro in Paicines.
Just can't get enough? Check out Fitness Day in Mountain View the next day, a Lance Armstrong Foundation fundraiser which is part of the Beat the Clock series. The Beat the Clock series also offers a schedule of Peninsula time trials later this year.
Email Kevin Winterfield