The Traverse 2009: All information thread(merged)

70 Degree weather. That would be nice! It will be fun either way...

 

Once I get rid of this nasty bout of bronchitis, I'm going to start riding the Santa Anas more.....get myself prepped for VQ 2010!

 

This is seriously, undoubtedly, for sure going to hurt... a lot. Ugh.
Troy: Why are you doing it?
Terry: Cuz it's there
Troy: There's Gay bars in Laguna beach that "are there" too...
Terry: Good point. Well, maybe it's for the cool T-shirt...
Troy: You can't wear it unless you finish.
Terry: Crap, then I dunno why I'm doing it. I just am. I enjoy pain I guess. I'm married.

 

Its getting close!

 

Let's just keep praying...

that it won't be as hot as it was last year!

 

Are you going to be there again this year?

 

Yep!

I'll be working it somewhere... don't know as Chris hasn't made the assignments yet.

 

Pain indeed. I noticed they moved the cut off at 4 corners up from 4.5 to 4hours. Ouch. To my fellow on the bubble riders, work hard this week and make sure you rest hard too 7-10days out. Is Keepwhatshappening volunteering. B/c that watermelon at WHT will be the best thing you ever tasted in your life. Goodluck!

40+/- miles, 8,000+/- feet elevation gain

The ride will begin from the end of Black Star Canyon Road at 7:00 AM. You will ride up Black Star Canyon Road to the Main Divide Road and at this point you will traverse the Santa Ana Mountain range via the Main Divide Road hitting all the peaks (including Modjeska and Santiago Peaks) until you intersect with the Trabuco Canyon Trail. You will then descend down the Trabuco Canyon Trail to Trabuco Creek Road and out 4 miles to the finish line at Trabuco Canyon Road. You must reach Aid Station 1 located at the intersection of Maple Springs Road and the Main Divide Road (4 corners) by 11:00 a.m. to be allowed to finish the course. You must also reach the intersection of the Main Divide and Lower Holy Jim by 12:30 p.m. to be allowed to finish the course.

 

The weather looks like it could be much cooler for this years race. :clap:

Trabuco Canyon 15 day forecast

 

Rode Blackstar to the peak this morning. For those who are wondering, the steep/loose section between Motorway and 4 corners (pictured below) is in relatively good shape. Not as difficult to pedal or keep traction as the last 2 years.



The road is a bit of a mess a little ways past 4 corners though.
.

 

That section made me walk both times I rode it in the past couple months!... a bit too loose and steep for me yet. The section about 1/4 of the way up from 4 Corners to Santiago is a bit sketchy as well... but with bigger, sharper rocks and not as steep.

Someone earlier said "Giving spot away since there's no chance he'll make it"

C'mon. I have like 4 months total, on a bike and I'm toughin' it out! LOL I have absolutely NO confidence I'm going to make the cutoffs, but I'm going to give it a helluva shot!!! Besides... if he's "that slow" then all the better!! I'll need at least ONE guy behind me. :bang:

 

I rode solo from Black Star to 4 Corners, down Maple Springs and back to Black Star. I started at noon to get the heat of the day and I got it. 92 deg on sections of the Main Divide. Not as hot as could be, but hot enough for me. Took these pics along the way.


Views along Black Star


This guy was over 3 ft long


strike a pose!




Something to wet your appetite

 

Nice Gene. Hows the knees feeling for the pain fest? Are you gonna do it SS?

 

Knees are not 100%, but not in pain either. No SS for this race. I will have a different bike to ride and it's not the Tribal. Stay tuned.

 

I'm wondering about ...

The PDF on the WS site says

Water, Cytomax, Clif Bars, Bananas and apples will be provided at each Aid Station.

Each? Isn't there only one Aid Station? Or at most only one spot with guaranteed water and food?

 

Last year there were stations at: Four Corners, Holy Jim, West Horsethief and Trabuco.

 

Yesterday the forecast was for a high of 74 degrees... Now it says 77 degrees!

That's a 3 degree increase in 24 hours...

3 degrees x 10 more days till Traverse, CRAP! It's gonna be 107 degrees!!! We're doomed!

 

Last year there was only one *official* aid station at 4 Corners. I assume that other WS members like Greg & John offered food & water out of the kindness of the hearts--or because they felt sorry for us out there in the heat.

One way or another, I don't doubt that we'll be very well supported.

And I'm with Gene: Leaving the SS at home for this one. Gears will be my friend between Motorway & 4 Corners!

 

There will be no Cytomax or Clifbar.....neither of them are sponsors this year. Drink mix will be E2 Hydro and gels/bars will be Hammer.....just like at VQ.

 

Traverse 2009 Cut Off Sheet

I put together a cut off sheet if others want. Please let me know if corrections are needed.

Download attached and remove the .zip from the file name to open in Excel.