Bicycle Race Needs Moto Escorts: Colorado Cycling Fest - Fort Collins

[sky_blue]

Wanted: Bicycle Race Escorts, June 9th -- We could still use a few more people.

Saturday, June 9 at 6:15am to noon

THIS WEEKEND is the Colorado Cycling Festival in Fort Collins. Part of the festival involves bicycle races up Rist Canyon. The organizers are looking for 6-10 motorcycles to use as escorts (no, not that kind of escorts).

The perks of the job are: free beer (New Belgium, Odell....) and t-shirts. Really, is there anything better? Oh, and the joy of helping out our two-wheeled cousins not get hit by cagers.

What they want:

• No loud/aftermarket pipes.
• No Hardleys or cruisers
• Responsible riders (licensed/insurance)
• Must be able to ride slow, make tight u-turns

6/6/07 UPDATE:

Ya'll have rear view mirrors, right?

What we'll actually be doing:
Turns out there will be 6 "certified" race escorts in addition to our motley crue. Each of us will be assigned to a riding group (the start of the race is staggered by skill groups). Our job will be to stay ahead of the leader of our assigned group. This obviously will change throughout the race as 1st place changes and bikes change position. Also, your group may overtake riders from the group in front of them, so keeping an eye on your current leader in your rear view may be tricky.

Don't stress if you loose your leader, just stay with your pack. Our first priority is SAFETY. The road will still be open to car traffic, so there is a lot to pay attention to. Certainly, don't sacrifice your own safety for one of the cyclists.

HAM Radio operators will be stationed along the route to provide communications through the mountains. You will get a map of their locations. If you see and injury, a breakdown, or any unsafe situation, you should ride ahead and radio in. There will be EMT's and mechanics standing by.

Speed: Cyclists climbing a hill may be moving veeeery slowly, like 5 mph, downhill, they may break the speed limit. Be ready.

Yes, you will be wearing orange vests. Feel free to bring your own if you have one that is special to you, if not, one will be provided. Anything else you have to make your bike more visible is also encouraged. (For example, I have one of those flasing LED lights made for cycling at night that I'll clip on my license plate.

Races start at 7, please arrive by 6:30 so we can have this talk again. Look for me near the start/finish line wearing a bright pink Icon jacket stylishly with my orange vest. If you're late, check in with anyone around the start/finish area with a radio and they'll send you somewhere...and you will be flogged.

Meet here:



After the event, feel free to check out the beer tent. Also going on in old town Fort Collins this weekend is The Taste of Fort Collins, which I hear is pretty nice. www.tasteoffortcollins.com/



The Roster:
Sasquatch (Dan)
sky_blue (Jen)
Pilot
___________ your name here.
InlineSIX24
Big E
Opie



This is the route:

Citizen riders (44.60 miles) will depart the stadium to the east gate #2 and ride north on Overland Trail to Bingham Hill Road; west through Bellvue and up Rist Canyon to Stove Prairie; south to Masonville; east to Horsetooth Reservoir; north on Centennial Road CR23 over Spring Canyon Dam; east on CR42 Dixon Canyon Road; north on Overland Trail (on the left shoulder against the flow of vehicle traffic) for several hundred yards to Hughes Stadium gate #2; west to the start/finish line.



To volunteer, send me a PM with your name/email/phone or e-mail me at jenashlin@mac.com. If you know anyone else maybe not lurking on the CSC board, who wants to check out a bike race, send them my way. I'll post more details as I know them.

http://www.coloradocyclingfestival.com/

[flyingmonkey]

I have a 600RR but with after market pipe

[Jason ON]

I have a SV with after market pipes, as well. Otherwise, it sounds like fun.

[BigE]

Sounds fun, PM sent.

[sky_blue]

There is no "rule" against aftermarket pipes, they just don't want screaming loud (or rumbling loud) motorcycles right next to the bicycle riders. Use your own judgement as to if your pipes are too loud.

Still looking for bikes for the Saturday races. Race starts at 7am, and we'd have to be out on the road before that--probably 6:30am. Probably a safety meeting before that--so plan on an early start. Racing should wrap up by about 3pm, then it's beer time!! Fort Collins Brewerey, Odell's and New Belgium will be there, as well as live music.

So volunteer already!! Come watch the riders struggle up the hills in spandex!

-Jen

[sky_blue]

So anyone else in? Looks like they only need us Saturday, June 9 at 6:15am to noon. Then you are free to eat BBQ and watch bands afterward!!

So far it's Dan and I, with interest from InlineSIX24, and Eric (BigE). You guys in or no?

Anyone know of a Bimmer club or a local sport-touring club I could ask??

[towneh]

I could do this providing the bike (mine as pictured to the left...) is in working order.

pm me a number so i can call as the repair process evolves and i'll reply with mine.

haya_henry (too fat to Trek at that degree)

[sasquatch]

I am up for it, .. just upgraded my ride, plated & insured, nice & quiet,...


does this mean orange safety vest? ick!


Dan 3) 252-1234

[pilot]

PM sent

[opie]

PM sent. As it happens, I have a passion for both motorized and motor free two wheel riding. So let me know, eh?

-O

[towneh]

well, it turns out that i won't be available for this after all.....
nutz,
bus_henry

[pilot]

I see I'm in. Now where is that Day-Glo safety vest...

[towneh]

I see I'm in. Now where is that Day-Glo safety vest...

i've got one if they don't dispense one to ya!!!!

--slow down that bench-act on the left; can't see what you're doin!!!

bus_henry

[pilot]

i've got one if they don't dispense one to ya!!!!

--slow down that bench-act on the left; can't see what you're doin!!!

bus_henry

I did, but the file was 90 kb and thus too big for an avatar. The frames are locked to a specific speed. I was just messing with the program (as a trial). Either that, or I was taking too many hits o' speed.

[sky_blue]

New Info at top of thread!!!!

[pilot]

Excellent maps and details. Thanks. I've got an orange safety vest.

[opie]

Jen, you might want to send out a reminder to those that sent you a PM or email. They may not check the thread. See you on Saturday.

[sky_blue]

First of all, damn this board for only allowing 5 photos and making me "go back and correct the error" and re-type this. Suck.

More importantly, thanks to OPIE, INLINESIX24, and PILOT for coming out this morning to ride as Marshalls in the Colorado Cycling Festival Rist Canyon Road Race. We recieved many compliments and thanks from the orgainizers, whom were expecting some "pro" marshalls, and got only *us*.

Quite a challenge keeping track of the riders in our groups, especially as they move from group to group and pass up through the field. Also, try doing this while going 10 mph up a steep incline. With sand. Amazing though, on the downhill, the leaders were pacing me at almost 70 mph. 70 mph in SPANDEX.

Pilot and I were assigned to the "agressive" group, the fast guys over 35 years old. Glad there was two of us. Many of our group moved up through and finished well in front of younger riders in "faster" categories. Pilot stopped to get a dead snake out of the road, and also to have a little chat with a skunk-pizza.

A few pics:

OMG SPORTBIKES!! Not something the referees usually see. InlineSIX24 in the white jacket. Race organizer Doug in the yellow shirt.




Pilot gearing up:



Gentlemen!! Start your...calf muscles!!! Have you ever seen so many shaved male legs? Freaky.



45 miles later, the sprint to the finish:

[sky_blue]

InlineSIX24 leads in the winner of his group:

[BigE]

Sorry for being able to make it Jen, looks like it was a blast.

[InlineSIX24]

Nice work organizing Jen. Maybe next year we can talk them into pushing it to like 9am?... ok probably not.

[pilot]

I just wanted to say that was one heck of a good time. Wouldn't mind doing it again. Jen, thank you and all the Colorado Cycle Federation folks for all the kind words toward sportbikers, on the whole.

Afterwards Matt "INLINESIX" and I dropped by IMI. Matt was smart and hung out just the right amount of time to get the feel for the place. I ended up hanging around till the sun started going down. Fun as usual.

By the way, I'll be brining some "snake stew" to RYBO's. YUM!