Vision quest update per ws newsletter/2010 Vision Quest / Counting Coup - March 20th

Yup, you are correct. We will need more lights than before. Even it started at 6am, we would still need more lights since it is after DST.

 

no problem I have a seca 700, so bring it on.

Thinking I will need to coordinate a light drop off at Maple Springs somehow though.

 

Can some one point the time cut of location on the map please?
especially where is the Main Divide and Maple Springs Road?
is it four corners?
thanks...

 

Yes, Maple Springs meets the Main Divide at Four Corners.

Here's a map:
http://www.geoladders.com/gmap_display.php?route_id=69&walk_thru=1

Cutoff #1 @ 18.90 miles 9:30AM (4:00)
Cutoff #2 @ 25.74 miles 11:30AM (6:00)

 

Single best piece of advice I can offer: Get out there and ride as much of the course as possible before the day of the event. There's no substitute for knowing the trails and how to pace yourself in an event like this.

 

After Santiago peak there is main divine truck trail. And at the four corners there is Main divine trail. I got confused...

I just wanted to know location so i could measure if i can meet the cut off time.

Thanks for help... It's gonna be long day march 20 for me....:?:

 

Shap - see if the attached map helps. The Main Divide is the lilac line.

At the top of Blackstar, you'll take a right onto the Main Divide. Then you take Silverado (off the Main Divide) turn onto Maple Springs. At the end of the Maple Springs climb, you'll rejoin the Main Divide.

Make sense?

 

VQ/CC rookie from out of town needs some veteran/local assistance.

I lived in Lake Forest about 20 years ago and rode many of the trails that make up the VQ/CC - however never all in one day.

I now live in the Thousand Oaks area and could use some help with a close local hotel to stay at the night before the CC. (I am sure there are a lot of new places with all of the development and the toll road going relatively close). Anyone have any recommendations?

Also in terms of riding the CC itself, I wont be able to pre-ride any of the trails - so I will just show up and wing it and suffer through and hopefully see the end. I do have a few questions though:

Since it will still be dark for a bit when the ride starts, do you guys bring full light set ups and just lug them all of the way? Is there a drop off at the aid station? Do you just bring a small minimal light to just get by with?

Does anyone have a file of the exact CC course that I could load into my Garmin to have on the ride (not sure it is actually a good idea to see how far I have left)?

I am hoping there is enough parking at the start area? If I park there, will it be easy enough to hitch a ride back to the start area?

Any other recommendations?

Thanks,

Kirk

 

^ There are several newish hotels in the Foothill Ranch area real near to the course.

Linky: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...=UTF8&hq=hotels&hnear=Foothill+Ranch,+CA&z=14

 

The Hampton Inn and Marriott are nice (see SlowandLow's link). Friends and family stay there when coming in from out of town.

A small light helps at the start but not necessary. There is no place to drop gear during the ride.

Parking is available but tough at the start. Get there early as you often have to ride to start gate & check in as well.

 

kirkb (post 275): I can't help you with the hotel question, but:

Lights: by the time you reach the top of Blackstar the sun will be up, so you only need light for the ride up, and if you're comfortable riding in the dark perhaps not at all, although some will get edgy if you're "borrowing" their light pattern. I'm always pretty giddy at the start and if you want to follow my micro light I could care less, but not everyone shares that attitude. People will certainly have different opinions on this, but I've been fine with a small AA Cateye clipped to the bars and a red blinky on the seat post (so you don't get rammed by someone without lights) and at the top I just throw 'em in my pack. It's a long way to go to drag along my Niterider kit.

Course: geoladders. this link is 2006-2007. guys, are there any changes for 2010?

Parking: no problem, you may have to ride in a mile but no biggie, and unless something's changed for this year that I don't know about yet, there's a shuttle from the finish back to the start.

:beer: I'm nursing a broken rib (hockey injury) and a fractured metacarpal in my left hand (skiing) but I plan on being out there too, searing pain or not.

 

Lights will probably be needed this year since the race is after DST. It will be dark for a good hour after the start of the race. In years past, I got by without lights, simply staying with someone with lights for 20-30 mins until it was light out. This year, people may want their own lights.

There is always ample parking as long as you don't arrive 5 minutes before the starting gun. Switchback Cyclery offers a shuttle back to Blackstar after the race.

And I imagine there *has to be* a geoladders route for you to download.

 

Answers In Caps....

Good Luck!!! sorry for the messy reply, got the kiddos today!

 

Thanks for the info guys.

 

Note: Please do not place requests to buy and or sell your spots in this thread!!! They belong in the Classifieds (WTB ads are free) !!!

Thanks!!! :wave:

More info here: http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/racing-training/41964-2010-vq-cc-waiting-list.html

 

trading cc for vq spot

Just curious how this would work if someone trades a VQ for CC spot. Do we each pay the $25 fee and mail separately? Thanks WS guys/gals!

 

as for the lights the moon will be very limited for March 21st. Sunrise is at 6:56am so it is like riding tomorrow morning at 4:50am with little moonlight and no city lights...lighting up the sky (will be pretty dark out there).
last year I could get away with a small light or almost even no light....but this year I will probably bring a strong/bright battery operated light

 

ill have one of these bad boys on my bars at the start...

 

A request to the WS and anyone reading this.

Please ask the CC riders to listen for someone behind them while descending Holy Jim and offer to let him/her pass. It might be a VQ rider struggling to make a time cutoff. (On HJ CC riders do not have to worry about time.)

 

I'll be riding the VQ this year. Rode and finished every year since I started riding when I was 15,16, and 17 missed it last year and it killed me but i'll be back this year so watch out!