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allison

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkblazer

weyland, don't forget to breathe and take it easy... i would also suggest against being there super early all suited up and ready to go 2 hours before it starts... its not temecula

I thikn they do a pre-event thing around 5:15. So, just make sure you have enough time to suit up, spin around, and get up to the gate around then.

It's gonna be busy, so watch for cars and other bikers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

Agree.....with 350 people in a mass start.....bumping into other riders will occur.

I did not get "bumped". I got smashed into the ground at like 17MPH. I've got the scars to prove it!

mtnbikej

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubjay

10 days to go till the 2008 Pow Wow.

It'll be my first CC, so I had a few questions (but not really afraid to ask, just wanted a catchy title). I'm guessing some of these will be answered in our race packets, but just in case...

1) Where do we park/meet in the morning?

2) What type of stuff will we find at the first aid station?

3) Do we need to clean our bikes? (per rule #4 VQ/CC "Guided" Training ride - Saturday)

4) Would you advise using some sort of headlight for the first part of the ride?

I think that's it for now.

. See if you can carpool with buddy. Park one car at O'Neil Park, then carpool to Blackstar. There will be a van taking people back to Blackstar throughout the day, but sometimes you may have to wait a while.

OR

Have someone drive and drop you off. Then meet you at O'Neil Park.

2. Try to be as self supportive as you can be. There will be water, Cytomax and Clif bars. However, if you don't like these options, be sure to carrry what you can eat or mix with water.

3. I am unsure of this at this time.....I am sure it will be determined in enough time.

4. At 5:30 it is dark......by about 5:45/50 the sun has come up enough that the lights are really not needed. Yeah, a little battery powered LED light is small and light enough that it won't make that much of a difference having to carry it the whole ride.

Keep in mind that you will be getting a full set of rules and directions as the event gets closer. It will explain a lot of what you are asking above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by allison

I did not get "bumped". I got smashed into the ground at like 17MPH. I've got the scars to prove it!

Aaaannnnddddd........at the same speed I got smashed into by another rider with a light.....pushed into my buddy and took out 5 spokes in his front wheel with my pedal.

It is all part of the experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abui

(3) Before any epic your bike should get a thorough check-up. Cleaning should be part of the job. You'll clean the chain anyway(?).

(4) The ride starts 30 minutes later than last year's early start. You can get by without a light.

Agreed......you should always at least clean your bike before a big event.

Also, the ride starts the same exact time that it did last year. We started everyone at 5:30 last year.

allison

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

. See if you can carpool with buddy. Park one car at O'Neil Park, then carpool to Blackstar. There will be a van taking people back to Blackstar throughout the day, but sometimes you may have to wait a while.

Just note I don't think O'Neill is open at 5 am (I could be wrong??). Not sure if people can get in unless they are camping Friday night.

If I'm wrong please let me know!! We would've left a car there last time instead.

mtnbikej

Quote:

Originally Posted by allison

Any idea when they might let us know about that? Would be nice to know in advance in case couples/friends etc were planning on sharing.

Also, I assume that time differentials will be taken into consideration? I realize that not everyone needs those 5 minutes, but some of us will.

IF they start the lighted before the lightless, there will not be that big of a time gap......maybe 30 seconds to a minute. Plus those with lights that choose to take it easy can hang in the back and not get trampled if they choose.

klutter

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

Where can those of us who are not participating show up to cheer and/or party with the participants?

Where is the finish line, food, and post ride fun going to be? I wouldn't mind shuttling people back to their cars with or without their bikes. I can carry 2 bikes on my hitch rack, and up to 4 other people if you want to squeeze (me + 3 more if you wanna be comfortable).

Maps would be helpful for the above questions since I am very visual person.

Start of race:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...=UTF8&t=h&z=18

Finish Line:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...=17&iwloc=addr

Post Event* (located in O'neill Park):
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...=17&iwloc=addr

* I don't know which camp site is reserved for the event, so the link just shows the entrance to the park. You'll have to wander around to find out where the WS set up camp.

If you're going to show up at the finish line to greet people as they finish, you might want to park in O'neill park. You may be tempted to park on the dirt lot off of Trabuco, but as people start finishing, you might not be able to get your car back out.

mtnbikej

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

Where can those of us who are not participating show up to cheer and/or party with the participants?

Where is the finish line, food, and post ride fun going to be? I wouldn't mind shuttling people back to their cars with or without their bikes. I can carry 2 bikes on my hitch rack, and up to 4 other people if you want to squeeze (me + 3 more if you wanna be comfortable).

Maps would be helpful for the above questions since I am very visual person.

Maple Springs is not open to the public, so no-one will be allowed at the bottom of the Motorway to cheer on / help out riders like they have in the previous years. Warrior's Society personel will be the only ones allowed passed the gate.

As for places to watch.....anywhere on Blackstar to Eagle road is open. You can also go up to Holy Jim and check cheer on the riders as they come down HJ to head out to finish or make their way up to WHT.

http://warriorssociety.org/events/Vi...ntInfo2008.pdf

http://warriorssociety.org/events/Po...alInfo2008.pdf

http://warriorssociety.org/events/Po...ations2008.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoisMustDie

What time should we get there for the 5:30 start? There are going to be close to 300 riders, right? That is a lot of cars for Blackstar. Is there an overflow parking plan?

Blackstar Canyon Road is about 1.5 miles long. THere will be parking on both sides of the road. We had no issues last year with running out of parking.

ThinkFast

Last year my goal was to finish, more than it was to finish with a fast time, so I did not start towards the front but towards the back. It was still pretty wild with everyone so close. Most mountain bikers aren't used to riding so close to others and tend to swerve a little around objects in the road making for a dangerous situation. My personal race was to the finish (it's not a race up Blackstar) so starting back a little didn't really effect me too much. I still finished VQ under 8 hours which I was happy with.

There was a great thread about what people were carrying last year. I tried unsuccessfully to find it. There were some other good threads this time last year that I found to be very helpful as well.

Have fun.

klutter

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThinkFast

Last year my goal was to finish, more than it was to finish with a fast time, so I did not start towards the front but towards the back. It was still pretty wild with everyone so close. Most mountain bikers aren't used to riding so close to others and tend to swerve a little around objects in the road making for a dangerous situation. My personal race was to the finish (it's not a race up Blackstar) so starting back a little didn't really effect me too much. I still finished under 8 hours which I was happy with.

There was a great thread about what people were carrying last year. I tried unsuccessfully to find it. There were some other good threads this time last year that I found to be very helpful as well.

Have fun.

I completely agree with this. In all likelihood, most of us won't be racing to place, we're just out to survive. Don't feel inclined to rush in beginning with everyone else. Besides, you'll be seeing some of these people again when the climbing begins.

genusmtbkr5

Quote:

Originally Posted by allison

Just note I don't think O'Neill is open at 5 am (I could be wrong??). Not sure if people can get in unless they are camping Friday night.

If I'm wrong please let me know!! We would've left a car there last time instead.

O'Neill is not open that early. They open at 7am even on weekends. You can overnight camp there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by klutter

Besides, you'll be seeing some of these people again when the climbing begins.

Reel them in one by one .

From the WS website:
Vision Quest event information (pdf)
Pow Wow General Information (pdf)
Pow Wow Staging Locations (pdf)
Preparing for the event

reflux

My plan of attack is to start off slow, then back off.

hehe

tbowren

This isn't a question but more what I learned from last year:

1. Don't drink Diet Coke right before the race or you may have to pee within the next hour. (and the next and maybe the next)
2. Do bring pickle juice and drink before motorway (While lowering seat is a great time)
3. DON'T eat 2 bananas, 2 cliff bars, 2 glasses of orange juice, some Peanut M&Ms and a goo at the motorway stop.
4. DO Keep chain tension when bombing down the rough Trabuco road so your chain doesn't fly off and get caught in your cassette.

Those 4 mistakes definitely cost me at least 30 minutes last year and likely my DNF.

Actually one thing I did last year which I will definitely repeat is bringing ziplock baggies of premeasured cytomax/heed/perpetum/etc that you like for your water bottles at the rest stop. You never know what type or how much support will be there, but there was almost always water. I have learned that 1 scoop of Lemon-Lime Cytomax and 1 scoop of unflavored Sustained Energy per water bottle works very well in my training.

Lastly, if you DO get a DNF on the VQ, don't get too depressed. They are called the WARRIOR'S society. Its SUPPOSED TO BE HARD!

KeepsWhatHappens

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbowren

Actually one thing I did last year which I will definitely repeat is bringing ziplock baggies of premeasured cytomax/heed/perpetum/etc that you like for your water bottles at the rest stop. You never know what type or how much support will be there, but there was almost always water. !

This is a good idea and has saved me time too.

KeepsWhatHappens

Picture 3.jpg

Koke

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbowren

Actually one thing I did last year which I will definitely repeat is bringing ziplock baggies of premeasured cytomax/heed/perpetum/etc that you like for your water bottles at the rest stop.

Motortabs are easy to carry and drop into a water bottle at aid stations. They are also a local company (Tustin) and they support local cycling teams/events.

DISCO

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubjay

10 days to go till the 2008 Pow Wow.

{I have worked the event and Pre-ridden the course for the last five years so based on that experience I will share my thoughts.}

It'll be my first CC, so I had a few questions (but not really afraid to ask, just wanted a catchy title). I'm guessing some of these will be answered in our race packets, but just in case...

1) Where do we park/meet in the morning?

{A good idea is to drop by switchback next week for registration to avoid the 4am stampede. The club will not be using trucks and buses to shuttle this year, so you will need to transport yourself to the start before 5:15 AM to check in. There will be shuttles after the event to take you to your car on black star. }

2) What type of stuff will we find at the first aid station?

{Most importantly water, which is scarce out on the trail. There will also be supplements like cytomax to lend a little flavor. Cut fruit like bananas and or oranges for quickly assimilated natural energy. Also Clif bar usually provides some bite size bars and maybe even shots}

3) Do we need to clean our bikes? (per rule #4 VQ/CC "Guided" Training ride - Saturday)

{It would be nice to have everyone comply with the wishes of the forestry service and advisable if you care about the environment at all. I don't think it fair to expect the volunteers to enforce it but we also must follow the law}

4) Would you advise using some sort of headlight for the first part of the ride?

{A small bar mounted cateye should help avoid most trouble and not be a huge penalty. Dropping off bulkier lights at station one would be frowned on since no well wishers will be on site. Furthermore it would distract from the focus on other participants, create possible saftey issues and worse waste precious time at the start of the event. The sun will be breaking about 45 minutes in and I would expect most participants to be grinding out of the canyon and up to Beek's where light wil be plentiful for the rest of the day. The way up is blacktop and fire road with only one significant obstacle that will be obvious and staffed. A small two double A powered light should suffice to be on the safe side but judge for yourself at 5:30AM tomorrow and make your own decision.}

I think that's it for now.

{Have a great time and happy trails}

More info http://www.warriorssociety.org/event...eral_info.html

Keith B

Can we have pre-mixed drinks handed over to a Warriors person and pick them up at the bottom of Motorway? If so who do we give them to and how will we find them when we get to the bottom of Motorway.

ps: Its beyond ridiculous to not the public 50yards up the Maple Springs road when there were hikers all over the place when I was riding down there last weekend. I find it hard to believe that the FS couldnt have their arm twisted to allow us to use the 1st 100yards of the trail - espeically considering the fire damage doesnt even start until 1/3mile before 4 corners!


ThinkFast STR Veteran	Last year my goal was to finish, more than it was to finish with a fast time, so I did not start towards the front but towards the back. It was still pretty wild with everyone so close. Most mountain bikers aren't used to riding so close to others and tend to swerve a little around objects in the road making for a dangerous situation. My personal race was to the finish (it's not a race up Blackstar) so starting back a little didn't really effect me too much. I still finished VQ under 8 hours which I was happy with. There was a great thread about what people were carrying last year. I tried unsuccessfully to find it. There were some other good threads this time last year that I found to be very helpful as well. Have fun. __________________ "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together". - African Proverb


reflux Senior Member	My plan of attack is to start off slow, then back off. hehe


tbowren Senior Member	This isn't a question but more what I learned from last year: 1. Don't drink Diet Coke right before the race or you may have to pee within the next hour. (and the next and maybe the next) 2. Do bring pickle juice and drink before motorway (While lowering seat is a great time) 3. DON'T eat 2 bananas, 2 cliff bars, 2 glasses of orange juice, some Peanut M&Ms and a goo at the motorway stop. 4. DO Keep chain tension when bombing down the rough Trabuco road so your chain doesn't fly off and get caught in your cassette. Those 4 mistakes definitely cost me at least 30 minutes last year and likely my DNF. Actually one thing I did last year which I will definitely repeat is bringing ziplock baggies of premeasured cytomax/heed/perpetum/etc that you like for your water bottles at the rest stop. You never know what type or how much support will be there, but there was almost always water. I have learned that 1 scoop of Lemon-Lime Cytomax and 1 scoop of unflavored Sustained Energy per water bottle works very well in my training. Lastly, if you DO get a DNF on the VQ, don't get too depressed. They are called the WARRIOR'S society. Its SUPPOSED TO BE HARD!


KeepsWhatHappens Warriors Society Member	Sunrise Data For March 1st Picture 3.jpg __________________ KeepsWhatHappens

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