2009 Vision Quest/Counting Coup - March 7th, 2009

Discussion in 'Racing and Training' started by dubjay, Sep 2, 2008.

  1. sailcalifornia

    sailcalifornia Member

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    Nothing gets me in the mood to train more than seeing that date there down on the calendar and know that since i plunked down the money i am going to do this Fing ride
     
  2. BrewMaster

    BrewMaster Thirsty

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    What's wrong with bringing a Samichlaus to the party? :beer:


    We've never met but you know me too well. :clap:
     
  3. Pho'dUp

    Pho'dUp Spam Musubi MasherSS

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    I agree. The Traverse was way harder this year.

    Of course you could always do the CC and shoot for a killer time.
     
  4. xhuskr

    xhuskr Powered by Guinness

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    finished Traverse in '07, + DNF '08 = CC 2009!!! :beer:
    and Sam...what year SAMichlaus are ya bringing with ya...I'll consider bringing my '95..taking a small sip every 10 miles!
     
  5. oneredbike

    oneredbike New Member

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    Any wise advise for a 45 old man first timer on a ss? Could not make it LY because sold out. This year is in my calendar. Do you have to train on this trail to be able to finish the ride on the actual race day?
     
  6. sailcalifornia

    sailcalifornia Member

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    I didnt because of the fire closure and finished fine.
     
  7. richie_rich

    richie_rich Dusty Dirt Devil

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    I'm in for the VQ...not sure what I am thinking other than I'm going to get to know my bike really really well between now and then.

    Rachel and Gregg - I'll be looking for the support on the trail for sure and couldn't ask for better people to wish me and everyone else well! :wave:
     
  8. jcka

    jcka Member

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    I plan on the CC for the first time. Done the 24HOA for the past couple of years and want to try something new.
     
  9. Waldo

    Waldo Lebowski Urban Achiever

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    Last year after months of training (which really didn't have me completely ready) I had to pull out the day before the CC. This year I want to go for it again, but I have to take a serious look at my time commitments and figure out if I can pull it....but I've ridden 3 of the last 4 days and plan to start stepping back up into some longer rides in the Santa Anas, just in case!

    I love having a masochistic goal like this to shoot for :bang:
     
  10. Reedster

    Reedster Active Member

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    I'll probably do it again. Last year I was signed up for the VQ, but missed the cutoff. So, I guess I did the CC, but I didn't get a stinkin' feather. If I do it I'll try for the VQ again and I will prepare better and hope not to have eye surgery 6 weeks before the event.

    ~R
     
  11. GeorgiaOfTheJungle

    GeorgiaOfTheJungle THE Penultimate Mtb'er

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    Masochism makes the world go round, at least the mtb'ing world :beer:
     
  12. Impy

    Impy Active Member

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    oh no. is it almost time to make this decision again?
     
  13. Pho'dUp

    Pho'dUp Spam Musubi MasherSS

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    Don't forget about the pavement climb up Maple Springs.
     
  14. Mdm. Dabalot

    Mdm. Dabalot New Member

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    Impy, sign up so I have someone to carpool with for training rides! I haven't ridden any of those trails but it seems like a good goal. Now, if we can only get Dirtmistress to join in! 5:30 am start - ugh!
     
  15. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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    It's not really the distance that gets you, it's the cutoffs. If you don't make the cutoff at 12 noon at LHJ, you won't get a chance to to do the extra 12 miles.

    For those of you who have never done either event. The only cutoff that matters for the VQ is 12 noon at the bottom of Lower Holy Jim(2nd aid station). That is 6.5 hours to get there from the start at Black Star.

    For the VQ, break down the course in 3 sections: Black Star to Maple Springs, Maple Springs to 4 Corners, 4 Corners to 2nd aid station (HJ lot).

    Those earlier cutoffs at Maple Springs at 9:30 and 4 Corners at 11:00 are for CC, because if you are at 4 corners at 11:00 and doing the CC, you're fine and will finish, but if you are doing the VQ and still climbing to the peak at 11:30, good luck getting to the botton of LHJ in 30 minutes to make that 12:00 cutoff!

    I emailed the Chris and he verified the new VQ cutoff will be moved up by 30 min from 12:30 at the base of WHT to 12:00 to the bottom of Holy Jim, which IMO makes it easier.

    From what I understand, there will be no refunds if you decide to drop from the VQ to CC or drop out all together, so be sure you know what you are signing up for! I will start training for these events in Oct. I have many of you on my training list and will send out PM's. :bang:
     
  16. Sebastian

    Sebastian New Member

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    Thanks for the info, genusmtbkr5.

    I plan on training early this time. I live in Sierra Madre. If anyone wants to get a training group going in this area let me know. I am just glad its not going to be as hot as the Traverse was.
     
  17. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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    Don't over train as I did last year, by the time the VQ came around, my knees were toast. This year I will NOT do as many training rides, but the quality of training rides will be plenty.

    I did the Traverse as well and that heat made that event tougher than the VQ IMHO. I was way more spent!
     
  18. atomrat

    atomrat New Member

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    I am planning to do VQ for the first time.

    Gene, I would be interested in your training rides.
     
  19. Padre

    Padre New Member

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    Good call. In my book... the VQ is like the Coup x 2.

    My first VQ year I made the cut-off by 4 minutes. The next year by 14. Maybe you should take the gamble?

    You can stay at our place if you'd like. It's small but cozy.
     
  20. reflux

    reflux New Member

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    In my opinion, this was the worst part of the entire ride, and not by a slim margin.
     

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