Questions for Newb about 12 Hours of Temecula

I have received permissions from my events coordinator (i.e. my lovely wife) to participate in the 12 hours of Temecula. Amazingly she almost agreed to come down and run the pit!

This will be my first race of any kind period. I entered the Solo Beginner class. There is a chance I will be changing to a 2 person team; however, I am proceeding as if I am riding solo.

I will be fully self supported. I have a pretty good idea of what I need nutritionally as I have worked out my system over the past few years doing long distance road events. I am concerned about the logistics of it all. I don't have one of those cool Ez Ups or anything. Could someone shed some light on how the pit situation works at these events? Any pointers for running your own pit would be great as well.

I will bring the following:
- Water (is this needed or is provided?)
- Food (Hammer stuff, PB&J sandwiches, fig bars, bananas, orange slices, salty chips, coffee drink, etc.)
- Chair
- Tools
- Stand
- Extra riding cloths (socks, shorts, jersey)

Lastly I live in Pasadena. Does it seem foolish to drive down the day of the event? Or should I came out the night before?

 

I have a motor home and plan on camping Friday night. Your more than welcome to use one of the 3 beds. There is at least 1 other person pitting out of the camp maybe 2 and some hangers on to play ride during the day.

The STR pit is the social hub, as most of the team riders hang out for at least 10 hours doing nothing (JoJo). It's nice to heckle them as you ride by.

My plan will be the same as last event: Pick one of the sites on the course to camp in. This way I don't have to lug all the stuff down to the grass area. Being a solo rider, the social time is on the trail not the pits.

Plan on feeding yourself all day. Jason will have water on course if you need it. Last event he had bananas and gels also.
-Tony

 

Sounds like fun...good luck to all the folks at STR that are doing this.

 

Don't forget to bring your bike lights.

 

Thanks hobbs. I will look at getting a campsite. I have plenty of camping equipment, including warm gear.

It sounds like the campsites are close enough that I could just make my camp my pit as well?

It sounds like laps are between 40-60 minutes. Seeing as I'm solo for 12 hours, pacing will be key and lap times will be slower. My thought is to carry at least one large water bottle with water and electrolytes and another with Perpetuem (x4 scoops). That should be enough water to last at least one lap, but need to do the math on that to make sure exactly how many. Question would be whether not to carry two bottles of water? This would allow me to keep riding for multiple loops without stopping. For the solo artists (regardless if you have pit assistance, what's your resupply strategy?

 

To ADD to Hobbs advice.

If your coming our Friday evening plan on some traffic and take the 210 to the 215 to the 15.Traffic is rough on the 15 from the 91 down on Friday afternoon and evening.

The STR tents will be there, but on the course this time and not super social as the 10 or so riders in our camp are all solo this time #-oIf you camp with Hobbs or on the course you'll be near us, so stop by and say hello. Sites 219 - 220 -221 are our site #'s

Like Hobbs said. It's a pain to drag all your crap from camp to the pit area unless your just there for the day. Many people show up early the day of and pit. We've done both and it's tough to pack up and drag yourself home after a solo race.

The camp grounds have water and Jason provides it on the course.

The sites on the race course are in Merlow Mesa (map) if your tenting it make sure and let them know, you'll get a less expensive fee.


Have fun and we'll cheer for you as you ride by :wave:

 

some great advice a good friend of mine gives me is never let the people passing you bother you. Those guys are on a team and only run a few laps. Just relax and ride until you die.

Death before Dismount.

 

It is hard not to let it bother you but I hear you. You have to ride your own ride.

 

I farking assume everyone is out there is on a team! In fact that's how I curse at them as the pass me. F-ing team riders! Of course reality comes crashing in when I see the awards ceremony.

 

This is my first solo attempt, too. I will be camping Friday, spot 166, look for a WW Superlite 5'er.

 

good luck everyone...see ya'll out there!

 

Mtb Maven - A few tips

Well first of all you are a Hero for racing solo. Good job on making the commitment to get er done! Racing solo is one of the best ways to experience an endurance event. A few things to bring:
- 2 bikes if available (just in case one bike has issues)
( You can also demo a bike from any one of the Companies out for the day Intense, Canondale, Turner, Ellsworth)
- Bring wheel stuff ( Lots of Tubes, Co2's , & extra tires)
- Get a cooler just for water Bottles
( fill up about 12 -20 bottles with water and nutrition)
( mark all bottles on the top - with contents)
- bring second cooler with food
( Make all sandwiches and individually put in bags)
( mark each sandwhich ie pbj, turkey)
- some good food sources to bring
- pbj
- ramen ( premade in tuperware bowls)
- v8 juice in small cans ( a must have )
- white rice ( premade in tuperware bowls )
_ as much fruit as you like ( try to stay away from citrus )
- anything that know ahead of time will not upset your stomach. The worst is when you get the runs. Not a pretty site. But you will need as much proper nutrition as possible.
- supplements needed:
- elecrolytes (hammer endurolytes) freebees at the race
- gels ( freebees at the race )
- a good meal replacement shake with protein ( fro when you dont feel like eating

Also bring warm and cold weather riding gear. It is hard to predict what Vail Lake will will throw at us.
weather looks like cold in the morning and 65-70 all day and sunny. But weve had it all in the past! So be prepared.
- leg warmers
- arm warmers
- riding jacket
- long fingered gloves
- short fingered gloves
- 3 pairs of shorts
- 3 jerseys
- chamois butter ( for that warm sticky feel ):-k
- 2 helmets ( you will thank me for this later )
- lighting systems ( niterider and Ayup lights will be on site, Ayup has lights to rent or borrow )
- Bring lots of water. Dont depend on me to hydrate you. Good bottled water is a must have. To much water is better.

well I know I forgot a bunch of stuff. So come on STR let him know! I have to go out and dig on the course now. I am getting super excited to get this 2009 race going. I'll see you all in the dirt!

Jason:wave:

 

Thanks, that helps.

 

Thanks for the killer list Jason. Lots of little things provided I will try to incorporate. Unfortunately I don't have an extra bike or wheels. I was going to have a buddy work the pit for me and bring his bike just in case. So if things get ugly on that front I guess I will have to break down and borrow a Turner or something. Oh the horror

Thanks for the recommendation on the V8. I totally forgot about that. I will add pickle juice as well.

Calories:
Figuring 300 calories per hour is all the body can absorb, that's only 3,600 calories, yet I will likely burn between 9,600 and 12,000 calories over the 12 hour period @ 800 - 1,000 calories/hr.

Water:
Figuring 20-25 oz/hr, that's 240-300 oz total over 12 hours. I have the Camelbak Podium bottle, which is 24 oz. That is 10 - 12.5 bottle over the course of the race. Which also looks like a bottle per lap.

It looks like I will be shooting to pit every two laps.

 

jason - will solo riders be able to receive 2 numbers for 2 bikes?

 

That list is missing Oreo Cakesters!

 

darn it Carl, quit telling all the secrets!!!:lol::lol:

The cakester is a staple of endurance racing as any Little Debbie Snack, Ding Dongs, gummy worms, etc. you get the picture.
Eat what you like because you'll be burning thru calories all day long......just make sure your stomach can handle it after 6 or 7 hours of constant pedaling which is why if this is your first endurance race I would hurry up and do a 6 or 8 hour ride to see what works.
Good luck and Carl you need to zip it:lol:

Oh, and ask Greg C about long distance road events, these are 2 completely different animals!
He may kick ass at the road century stuff but the amount of suffering at a solo MTB race was a eye opener for him.

 

Here's another newb question, since its my first solo endurance total beginner race:lol:. I planned on having gu's with me while i ride and sandwiches, rice(since i have plenty..lol), bananans/fruit and having snacks ready to come in and eat when I pit and i know the idea of course that what we burn, we need to replenish(calories). I also planned on hydrating with good ol H20 and another bottle of water and cytomax mix. I guess my question is, is that enough with gu's, food, and hydration to last??? or would you guys also recommend stuff like Sustained Energy from Hammer Nutrition?? I've ridden my bike with breaks for a total of about 6 hours but not sure if i need extra to make it last 12. Thanks guys!!!

 

Hey Brian --

Great advice from all!

You might wanna bring some rudimentary medical supplies as well (band aids, guaze, Bactine, Pepto, etc.). Maybe you gots a little med kit you can bring? Very helpful to patch up slide burns, etc. from when you ditch it in the dirt.

Or maybe you don't ditch it in the dirt like me?

Lest we forget -- here's that bastid Jujitsu Man taking me down during the November race. Freakin' peckerwood... *_*



I hope for your sake he's not around this race. Boyeeee...

Do stop by our pits on Merlot Mesa and say hi. There will always be loads of folks around. As you know, I ain't riding after all, so I'll be hangin' around running pit for Willie and peeling potatoes for Traci.

- shud

 

Okay okay. But this was titled a Newbie thread.

Bring lots of food. You never know what you'll want to eat.