Dec 16, 2013 at 11:20 PM
can folks who have booked post their flight info??
Training Camps
Dec 17, 2013 at 12:35 AM
how about a google spreadsheet so we can see them all in one place.
Dec 17, 2013 at 12:53 AM
What date are most people flying out? hoping to book next week.
Dec 17, 2013 at 12:57 AM
Dec 17, 2013 at 01:17 AM
thank you!
Dec 17, 2013 at 01:21 AM
^mad organization holmes!
Dec 17, 2013 at 01:31 AM
I'm in. I tried to guess what seat Ryan picked on our outgoing flight so I could be right next to him.
Dec 17, 2013 at 02:28 AM
My plan is to fly out on Monday the 17th, and spend a couple days with my wife and kids visiting my sister in-law in Hermosa beach, heading out Sunday (school Monday). I will need to rent a car to make the trip to where the rides start, so wheels will be available should need be. In a perfect world, I might spend a night closer, so I wouldn't have to drive down and back each day. The wine wore off, and I'm still going!
Dec 17, 2013 at 03:12 AM
Mike, thanks for starting the Google doc.
I've added a few things to it. Will everyone who is confirmed please go to the doc and fill in at the very least the contact information tab, if not also your flight info and lodging arrangements?
Thanks!
Dec 17, 2013 at 06:23 PM
I added a seat column to the flights tab because a lot of us are on the same flight.
*A note on usage: It is not spelled "holmes" or "Holmes." It is spelled "homes," as it is a variant of "homie" or "homeboy." Said a guy called Whitey.
Dec 17, 2013 at 06:35 PM
There are going to be a lot of bikes on VX407!
Dec 17, 2013 at 08:45 PM
I'm heading out to Los Angeles tomorrow night. I'm currently slated to do a ride in the Santa Monicas that will include some dirt road riding. I'll bring back the ride file and memories and think about what it would look like with a wall of Kissenas behind me.
Dec 18, 2013 at 04:34 PM
Sale today:
$163 -- California Fares from New York City (One Way)
http://www.travelzoo.com/top20/60262430-1646547
Source: Virgin America
$163 -- California Fares from New York City (One Way)
http://www.travelzoo.com/top20/60262430-1646547
Source: Virgin America
Dec 18, 2013 at 06:31 PM
Going for good, are you...?dstokes said:Sale today:
$163 -- California Fares from New York City (One Way)
http://www.travelzoo.com/top20/60262430-1646547
Source: Virgin America
Dec 18, 2013 at 08:03 PM
Looks like I'm likely to be joining you guys this year. Instead of blowing a gasket my wife suggested she take the kids to visit her brothers in Glendale. I just have to find affordable fares and figure out whether to drive to Santa Monica or stay at a motel.
A couple of quick questions:
what time do the rides typically start and end? I figure this will impact whether I stay with my brother in law and when I leave on Sunday/Monday.
Also, does anyone know delta's bike fees? I looked it up and it reads $150 except to Brazil and Europe. I am hoping hat is international and not domestic. Looks like JetBlue is $50 but they include it in their free checked bag allowance so it is "really" $90. What is virgin atlantic's bike fee?
A couple of quick questions:
what time do the rides typically start and end? I figure this will impact whether I stay with my brother in law and when I leave on Sunday/Monday.
Also, does anyone know delta's bike fees? I looked it up and it reads $150 except to Brazil and Europe. I am hoping hat is international and not domestic. Looks like JetBlue is $50 but they include it in their free checked bag allowance so it is "really" $90. What is virgin atlantic's bike fee?
Dec 18, 2013 at 08:18 PM
Start time probably around 9am and finish 1-2 pm.
I suspect most airlines are going to be $50. The free checked bag allowance is often derailed because our bike bags are oversized. Keep it below 50 lbs, and it generally comes down to $50.
I looked up Virgin and here is what they say:
Oversized bags – $50 (63 to 80 inches) - in addition to applicable checked baggage fees.
This suggests a total of $75, but it may depend on one's agent upon check-in.
I suspect most airlines are going to be $50. The free checked bag allowance is often derailed because our bike bags are oversized. Keep it below 50 lbs, and it generally comes down to $50.
I looked up Virgin and here is what they say:
Oversized bags – $50 (63 to 80 inches) - in addition to applicable checked baggage fees.
This suggests a total of $75, but it may depend on one's agent upon check-in.
Dec 18, 2013 at 08:44 PM
Patrick, start time is more likely 9:30 or 10 and finish 3-4. That's if you do the whole ride. Every ride has a logical bail out point for those who want to shorten it. Also there's more people this year than ever before, which generally just means more delays.
In my experience Delta is horrible for bikes. Virgin, Jet Blue, and Frontier generally good.
You don't want to commute from Glendale to Santa Monica every day. That will turn into a nightmare, especially on Thursday and Friday because you'll have to drive at traffic time.
Dec 18, 2013 at 10:36 PM
Thanks Stokes...I is booked for cali too!
Dec 18, 2013 at 10:39 PM
Im in.
Dec 26, 2013 at 09:50 PM
Fatboy is 70% in...
Dec 28, 2013 at 10:34 PM
Patrick,
Delta is probably the worst for bikes. That $150 is a bargain by their standards. I've heard $300 for international, and the last time I flew Delta, it was $200 one way, and $215 back. They had no explanation for the extra $15.
If you're staying in Glendale, check out Jet Blue into Burbank. The times are sort of sucky--the only direct flight to NYC at the moment is the red eye--but the location can't be beat.
And perhaps you can convince the gang to start in Glendale and climb to the top of Mount Wilson. 60-mile, or thereabouts round trip, and over 6,000' of climbing. You can make a loop of it by riding west a bit and climbing up Big Tujunga in Angeles Forest.
Jan 04, 2014 at 04:52 PM
It's a cold winter, which means not a lot of long rides for most.
Those going to this camp - remember to get your long days in the saddle in when you can prior to camp.
4 days of 70ish miles with tons of climbing is not doable if you come into it having not been over the GW in two months (which I haven't!)
If you're going and you want to get the most out of it, I'd recommend getting in at least 3 back to back 4-5 hour rides before camp.
And do your core strength work!
Jan 04, 2014 at 05:24 PM
I would encourage everyone, campers and stay-at-homers alike to look at the season ahead, plan some objectives, set your goals of varying degrees of awesomeness and train/ride distances and intensities in line with those goals.
If you are planning on doing a big/heavy block of training leading into this training camp, then are going to ride Cali hills with Ryan & Co., you need to be realistic in your expectations about what that is going to do to your own race program for the season once you return to Tour de Prospect Park.
Set some goals for the camp itself. And those goals should be specific to YOU. I.e. a terrible goal is to "keep up with rider ____ on the _____ ride." A better goal is to "do the _____ climb at the upper end of zone ______."
Basically, the same thing I caution everyone about when doing group rides goes double when you are tempted by sunshine, shorts, a week-long-ish hall pass and imaginary KOMs. Pushing yourself by riding with better/stronger riders is an excellent approach to winter training...to a point.
Jan 05, 2014 at 01:35 AM
@ Marc
Is this goal specific enough?
Don't eat until Feb 15 so I can keep up with Ryan J on the climbs?
Jan 05, 2014 at 01:51 AM
It won't helpmperlberg said:@ MarcIs this goal specific enough?Don't eat until Feb 15 so I can keep up with Ryan J on the climbs?
Jan 05, 2014 at 03:03 AM
Frankly, Mark is right that this camp doesn’t do much to prepare you specifically for racing in Prospect Park. But, we’re not pros, so fun in the sun is enough reason for me. This weekend is not really about "training." It's about riding bikes.
But overall he's absolutely right that "Pushing yourself by riding with better/stronger riders is an excellent approach to winter training...to a point."
For Mike, a goal to keep up with me on climbs is great. Because he's not that far off. Mike's bigger than me and he's not a natural climber, but he's also a Cat 2 and one of the strongest riders in the City when he's in shape. In most other kinds of riding (not climbing) he dusts me.
The rides are designed to allow people to get whatever they want out of them as long as they can be at least somewhat self-sufficient. Those who want less mileage have built-in bail out points, and everyone will have ride maps and detailed cue sheets just like you'd get for a race. The group is also big enough that one group can say “we’re going slower.” And people can sit at the back for all the flats - there’s no need to show how tough you are by putting your nose in the wind. But its your job to make it the way you want it to be for yourself.
The main reason I remind people to get some long rides in is not because I want everyone to kick ass. Its just because you’ll enjoy this awesome weekend more if you don’t feel totally unprepared for it.
Jan 05, 2014 at 03:35 AM
i'm training hard to be able to keep up with michael at the taqueria
Jan 05, 2014 at 03:50 AM
Set your sights higher, WDC - Owens is threatening to come!WilliamDC said:i'm training hard to be able to keep up with michael at the taqueria
Jan 05, 2014 at 04:16 AM
guys... I was mostly trolling marc with that response. I'm going out to Cali for the beautiful riding and of course, the weed women and the weather.
I did some rudimentary calculations and if I got down to around 160 I'd be in the hunt but have to have some really great performances vs ryan. I got under 160 a few times last years but for comparison was around 165 at RvM. I'm at about 170 now, but that's fine since I was 178 after Christmas last year. But yeah, I'm just going to do some fun hard riding and enjoy myself and re-learn how to descend.
I think another thing I'd have to figure out is some lightweight clinchers to keep up with whatever weaponry Ryan is brining..... My 32 wheels with 27mm touring tires won't cut it.
Jan 05, 2014 at 04:16 AM
[nervous]
edit: at Owens