Saturday, March 16, 2013

Nifty Ten Fifty, April 7, 2013



If you have questions at the start, or want to grab a route sheet, the bathroom key, etc., please come find me. I will be wearing a red SRAM ball cap, and Marc-Pro - Strava vest, and walking around pretending I know what I am doing. I will be about 100 meters South of the corner of Moeser and Pomona in El Cerrito, at the end of the diagonal parking area.

Note: There will be a brief rider meeting at the start, corner of Moeser Lane and Pomona Ave at a sunny spot (if it's brisk) a few minutes prior to start time. Please arrive early to prep, and be ready to ride at the start time. Have your $5 donation ready if you choose to contribute, it's voluntary, and covers the cost of maintaining this site, the treats at the mid-way stop, and beer and pizza for your ride leaders. If you only have a buck $ or two $$ handy, that's fine, everything helps. Pre-ride meeting will happen at 8:25 for the first two groups and 8:55 for the A group, 9:25 for Elite Group, and we'll roll immediately after

We should expect some residual damp spots in some shady areas. The roads in the east bay are pretty beat up these days, so be sure your tires are in good shape and are topped off with air. Please check your tires the night before the ride or at the start and pull out any bits of glass or other nasty stuff that could cause a flat. Not a bad idea to run 700 x 25 or 700 x 28 tires, though many will just stick with the standard 700 x 23. DO NOT run 700 x 23 tires with low pressure unless you are a lightweight.

Bring food for the first three hours. We'll have a stocked rest stop mid-ride, with light snacks, drinks, and some Clif Bar product. We'll then stop at Peet's Domingo before tackling the final monster up to Vollmer Peak, the longest climb of the day. Bring some money for the second stop.

Feel free to email if you have any questions or would like to be added to the mailing list.

macpaulster@gmail.com

You will receive no more than a few emails per year, you will be kept up to date on Nifty News, and your information will not be shared with ANYONE for any reason.

The ride begins at Cerrito Vista Park in El Cerrito, corner of Moeser Ln. and Pomona Ave.

I would like to encourage anyone using a Garmin or other GPS device, to upload the following files to your device, and practice following parts of the route for training in the weeks leading up to the event. Having more guides and volunteers who know the route will be very helpful if we get a larger turnout. Did you know that you can Follow a course on a Garmin 500? It's not as Nifty as using a 705 or 800 but it works! Practice with it first!

Also, I have added a GPS file for the Return to Start from the finish of the ride on Vollmer Peak.

Start times are 8:30 for the "B" Group and Nifty Lite Group, and 9:00 for the "A" group. The Elite Group will start at 9:30. The "Nifty Lite" avoids the most severe climbs but still offering a substantial challenge of about 8,000' of climbing in 45 miles at a more relaxed pace. Enjoy...