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:
6/6/07 UPDATE:
- No loud/aftermarket pipes.
- No Hardleys or cruisers
- Responsible riders (licensed/insurance)
- Must be able to ride slow, make tight u-turns
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/