Just a reminder.  Let me know by Friday if you’re planning on riding.  I drove the course last Saturday and it’s in great shape!  Early forecast for Sunday: sunny and 81 – perfect!

 

 

July Century Ride Announcement

 

Century Ride RSVP by Friday 7/17 to ART: Art15651@frontiernet.net

 

Hey everyone!

 

It’s time for the third MN TriClub Century Ride of 2009.  The ride will take place on Sunday, July 19^th!  (Yes, we know it’s the same day as Heart of the Lakes Tri, but there’s always a race on weekend days during the season!)  This month we will be riding on our Northern Route which starts in Coon Rapids and heads “up north” from there.  This ride will have lots of great folks of all abilities in attendance.  When we did this route for the first time last year, it was very well received.  All are welcome to ride: MN TriClub members and non-members alike.  As with all of our Century Rides, it’s fully supported with ample snacks and fluids supplied on the course.  

 

A map of the course can be seen here:

http://www.mntriclub.com/downloads/MNTriClubNorthernCenturyRideRoute.pdf

 

This is an out-and-back ride on generally flat roads with great shoulders.  Since it’s an out-and-back ride, you can ride as little or as much of the route as you want to.  There will be 2 aid stations: Oak Grove and Pine Brook – approximately at miles 18 & 39 on the way out and miles 61 & 82 on the way back.  Each aid station will have energy bars, gels, water, Gatorade powder, fruit, pretzels, cookies, extra bike tubes, CO2 cartridges, sun block, bug spray, hand wipes and more.  As with all of our rides, an experienced rider will ride at the back of the group up until the first aid station so that you won’t get lost or be dropped.   All you need to do is ride and have fun.  This will be a really fun ride, so don’t be left out!  It’s good training for Ironman for those so inclined since you can easily extend the route north by 6 miles and get in 112 miles.  It also includes part of the MinneMan bike course if you’ve ever wondered what that is like.

 

Below are all the specifics YOU’LL need to know about the ride, but first WE need to know if you’re coming so we can buy enough “stuff” for every rider.  So please RSVP today to Art (art15651@frontiernet.net) while you’re thinking about it.

WHAT: MN TriClub Century Ride
WHEN: Sunday, July 19th @ 7:30 am sharp!
WHO: MN TriClub members (free) and anyone else interested in riding ($10 for non-members and $5 for TCMC members).  A liability form for non-members is attached (MN TriClub members do not need to sign this form, but all others do including TCMC members).  The information asked for on the form can be entered right on your computer and then the form can be printed out so all you have to do is sign it.  Please print it, sign it and bring it along with your payment (exact change greatly appreciated) to help speed up the registration process and get you out on the course quicker.

WHERE: Sand Creek Park (http://tinyurl.com/lvw3rf), 1008 Northdale Blvd in Coon Rapids (use Google or MapQuest for directions).  We will meet and leave from the parking lot in the NW corner of the park (it’s the parking that is next to the RR tracks just off Northdale Blvd – not the main entrance to the park).  Meet at the park no later than 7:15 am (earlier is much better) and gather for a list of instructions, to get your map of the route and to pay your fee/sign a waiver if you are not a MN TriClub member.  

 

All riders of all abilities are welcome to join us. The only thing we absolutely require are bike helmets, although eye protection (sunglasses) and sunscreen (at least SPF 30) are strongly, strongly encouraged.  Also, bring as many water bottles as your bike can carry as well as an extra tube or two.  And finally, if it’s going to be extremely hot, it’s also a good idea to bring an electrolyte replacement (like Endurolytes or salt tablets) and some gels (GU, Hammer Gel, etc.) along.  Bonking is not fun, so be a prepared triathlete!

 

Please RSVP for this ride by noon on Friday, July 17th to Art: Art15651@frontiernet.net.

 

Future Century Ride dates: August 22, September 19.

 

Happy training!

 

-Art