Just wondering if anyone knows where the start is going to be based, Calgary or Edmonton this year? How do you register for the bus (if its not too late)? Can you pick a tent mate if they haven't met the minimum yet?
The start is out of Calgary. The last three years they have used Spruce Meadows...I don't see them changing that because it is a great venue for parking the participant vehicles and is set up pretty well for what the event needs.
They usually let folks know about the shuttles in advance. You may need to check with the Ride office to see where they are at, but considering Online check-in only started yesterday, they may not have the shuttles fully set-up yet. Give them a shout and I'm sure they can get you name on the list for the shuttle from Edmonton to Calgary.
If your proposed tent mate hasn't hit the minimum yet, I'm pretty sure it won't let you pick them yet (or at least that has been the case in the past). Keep an eye on the person you want to bunk with...you can update your tent selection until pretty close to the actual Ride date.
The route map is up on the Ride website (Participant info - event info - route). Looks pretty similar to last years' Ride other than Day 1 where we're not going through Longview...looks like they are going south to Sec. Hwy 540 before turning west this time. Should (operative word here) be a little nicer Day 1 in terms of the climbing....still lots, but 400 m (~1200 ft) over 50 km isn't bad in the last half of Day 1.
Yeah, I think Day 2 has been pretty much the same since 2010. Day 1 has changed a lot (though less this year) to try to find the "best" route for all that climbing so it won't knock out too many of the folks who don't get much a chance to train.
Looking at the profile, it looks like this year's route should be a little easier overall...though it still looks like they have the big climb at the start. As much as I hate the climb, I can see why they have it....helps spread out the pack in a hurry.
Yeah that first bit really brings the whole ride into perspective.
I think by going south and skipping Longview will be a bit easier those hills heading south out of Longview are doozies
South of Longview it's tricky to set up a course... there are limited numbers of roads suitable for the Ride and the further south you go from Calgary before the turn, the more you're pointed directly at the mountains (i.e. 2010 with the Nanaton - Chain Lakes leg). 2011 was actually more climbing than 2010, but it was spread out more...I think more folks would have done better last year if not for the wind and rain.
Hopefully the weather cooperates this year and the new portion of the course this year becomes the more permanent route.
-- Edited by Psycho Mike on Friday 11th of May 2012 04:15:02 PM
No matter which way it is it'll be brutal in it's own special Alberta way.
Fingers crossed it's mild weather this year.
As for the tents, to answer the original question...if you don't have a tentmate you can select random and they find someone for you to scare with. I did that for my first 2 rides it was an adventure.
Thanks. I'm hoping that my hubby is going to be my tent mate. He's only got $400 raised so far. I'm very afraid that he's not going to make it or that he's going to end up making a rather large donation himself. Fingers crossed
