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Race category
Last Post 06/16/2020 07:38 PM by Frederick Jones. 26 Replies.
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 05/13/2020 05:54 PM |
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Assuming it doesn't get canceled, I'm planning to race the Mt. Evans Bob Cook Memorial this July. Haven't had a license since 2008. At the time, I was a career Cat. 3.
So what do I do here? Can I get a one-day license and enter the Cat. 4 40+? I wouldn't stand a chance in the 3's these days but I also think it's insulting to think I'd be in the Beginner Cat. 5 category. Granted, it's not like there is going to be much of a pack. The field will splinter probably within the first mile.
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eurochien
Posts:163
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| 05/14/2020 09:58 AM |
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Posted By Evan Solida on 05/13/2020 05:54 PM
Assuming it doesn't get canceled, I'm planning to race the Mt. Evans Bob Cook Memorial this July. Haven't had a license since 2008. At the time, I was a career Cat. 3.
So what do I do here? Can I get a one-day license and enter the Cat. 4 40+? I wouldn't stand a chance in the 3's these days but I also think it's insulting to think I'd be in the Beginner Cat. 5 category. Granted, it's not like there is going to be much of a pack. The field will splinter probably within the first mile.
It's been a long time since my last road race, but I think you can get a 1-day Cat 4 40 + license, especially if you've been out of the sport for a while. Mt Evans Bob Cook Memorial used to be one of my favorite races. I was never able to break the 2hr mark though.Hope it's gonna happen for you. The pack might stay together for a bit more than a mile, probably up until that first left bend when the real ascent begins, after that it's every man for himself! |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/14/2020 12:25 PM |
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1) It will get cancelled. 
2) race the clock, not the field. You license will default to 3's and you would need to request a downgrade. Is there a Masters 3/4 field?
3) Eurochien is correct....field will stay together until that first left bend. It is actually pretty quick going up to that turn....be prepared!
I think I have told my Bob Cook race story before, but if not.....drove up to Idaho Falss that Am, got out of the car and it was 51*. I had jersey / shorts, arm warmers, a Gore Tex vest and knit gloves (the kind with the rubber dimples on the palm). By the time we got to Echo Lake, it was starting to rain a bit.....then it was sleet.....as we cleared the tree line, it turned to snow and the wind kicked in HARD. Temps dropped (not sure how much) and I was frozen solid. Could not shift my STI because my hands were blocks of ice. I wanted to quit, but the only way I was getting off that mountain was to get to the top....if I had turned around, I would have died because I could not operate the brakes.
Past Summit Lake and the wind was brutal. I came around one switchback and it knocked me off the bike. had to unclip to catch myself....luckily an official on a motorcycle came by me just then and stopped in front on me long enough to block the wind and let me get back going. Otherwise, I never could have started again and would have had to walk to the next switchback. once I was pedaling, he took off and I swear I did not know I could go that slow on a bike and stay upright (I saw 1.2 mph on my bike computer!)
Finally get to the top and I must have looked bad because a volunteer came up to me immediately to give me a blanket and get me into a van. I had to have been hypothermic.....still have no idea who took my bike or how it got back down the hill. It took me ~10 minutes to warm up enough to start shivering....and when it started, it was full-body, violent shivering.
The date was July 8.
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 05/14/2020 02:00 PM |
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Thanks CK. Now I'm reconsidering! Not a fan of paying $100 to suffer in those kinds of conditions. That sounds horrible.
Back when I was living in Emporia, KS in the early 2000's, I came out to Golden to do a week of training. On a whim, decided to climb Mt. Evans. Had no idea what I was getting myself into and definitely didn't dress appropriately. Getting to the summit wasn't so much of a problem but the descent nearly killed me. I had to stop Summit lake and huddle up in some shack there. Didn't stop shaking for hours. And this was in late June!!!
Now I'm wondering if I should even bother, assuming it's not canceled. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/14/2020 02:36 PM |
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6ix. I have a photo of being huddled in that same area under a shelter surrounded by torrential rain.
I rode up between thunderstorms. Some people that were just ahead of me came screaming down the mountain and yelled at me to get back down because they were getting blown all over the place. I stubbornly kept going as this was a once in a lifetime ride (had flown into Denver). With some magic I summited just when the skies were clear. On downhill I was level with clouds and lightning it seemed. Just as I got to that shelter area the skies opened up real good. Perfect timing.
I learned about afternoon thunderstorms very quickly that week but still had several other close calls. Cottonwood climb is the best memory, first adventure into gravel before it became cool.
CK - the best part is if those violent shivers happen on the downhill. Really tests your bike's stiffness. This has happened several times although not on the Colorado trip.
Yes, that race won't happen and also agree with point (2), race for time. All those different categories are just crazy. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/14/2020 02:43 PM |
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Actually looking at map, my shelter was in Echo Lake area, not Summit lake.
Like 6ix, dressed very optimistic that day, short sleeves, didn't bother to carry even a wind breaker.
Big herd of elk in valley below Summit Lake, to right on descent. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/14/2020 03:53 PM |
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Now I'm wondering if I should even bother, assuming it's not canceled.
You should absolutely do it....I was a complete idiot and din't dress / pack appropriately. It is a great rac and everybody should experience it. Yeah, you can get freak storms like that in the summer, but it is usually manageable. This one was just especially bad that happened to hit on race day....and remember, you don't have to descend if you do the race. Just get to the top!! |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 05/14/2020 04:22 PM |
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I thought everyone had to descend no matter what. My plan was to throw every warm article of clothing I have in the bag that they bring to the summit for you. Probably no pedaling on the way down anyhow so why not get warm. And I have heated gloves!!
Suppose I can always register and if the weather is looking terrible, I just won't go. The storms generally start rolling in late morning so I should be at the summit by then. If the record is 1 hr 40 minutes, the I'd be pleased with 30-40 minutes behind that. |
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eurochien
Posts:163
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| 05/14/2020 04:28 PM |
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| When/if the weather is good the descent is a blast! |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/15/2020 08:22 AM |
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Well, I did it many many years ago, so maybe it changed....but there were no descents allowed when I did it. IIRC, they were worried about collisions in the turns between climbing and descending riders. Maybe that has changed....or maybe my memory is cloudy and they only took us down that year because of the weather?
Damn old age!!! |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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eurochien
Posts:163
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| 05/15/2020 09:20 AM |
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| Last time I did that race was probably 2004 or 2005, and I did it for every 7-8 seasons I raced, never shuttled down, always rode down. I used to train for it by riding from Morrison and back (6 hours). Those were the days... |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 05/15/2020 01:16 PM |
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Some goofball acquaintance of mine who spends hours and hours on a trainer, and this was well before smart trainers and Zwift, did Mt. Evans. Skinny as a rail, tactically as bright as rock, but he could climb like crazy.
Anyway when he got back we asked how he did, he was miffed that some girl kicked his *** After doing some investigation the “girl” in question was Jeannie Longo.
He had no clue. Likely still doesn’t, he’s crawled back into his basement to churn out the hours on his trainer even on days when it’s beautify to ride outdoors. Odd duck. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/15/2020 04:13 PM |
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*whew*
Was afraid Dale was talking about me for a minute there.  |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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eurochien
Posts:163
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| 06/12/2020 10:09 AM |
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Mt. Evans will be open this summer, but not to cars. I'm thinking to give it a go this year (not the race, just to ride it again, it's been a loong time).
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/06/10/mount-evans-summer-2020-cycling/ |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 06/12/2020 05:45 PM |
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| Closed to cars, but open to cyclists is a dream come true. We had that on 14 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway for 4 weeks in May, related to avoiding crowds at a popular trailhead. The riding was so pleasant and relaxed. Wildlife was much more apparent. Sometimes I would stop and just watch the birds, occasional black bear cubs (cute!), deer etc. |
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