Getting an early start on dates due to lots of interest.
Thinking April 30 or May 7.
I was considering April 23 too, but I'm going to be returning from a trip the previous weekend, and don't want to make it two weekends in a row.
Some other events that are around the same time:
DC Rando's 300 May 24
Calvin's Challenge May 1st
This is a West to East year.
5th annual.
Thoughts, comments?
AS someone mentioned, last year there was a heck of tail wind. This year is in the other direction? Good luck.
Mick
PS yer all crazy.
What is this?
My legs hurt now, just from reading that.
I've only finished one century before, and I had trouble walking after that. I think I'll pass on the CtC.
The blog gets worse very year, and still needs to be updated to get the directions set, it still has the west to east route from last year.
The less work I put into this, the greater the number of people show up.
joeframbach: You'd be surprised how easy it is to go long distances...it's more a matter of pacing yourself and keeping up with your food and water ("Eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty") than anything else. A certain disdain for common sense and accepted wisdom helps, too, of course.
Eric: Challenge rides just seem to take on a life of their own...if ya really want to weed out the field, put on the CTC EXTREME there-and-back version you were threatening...
I'd still like to do that, but that might be a better ride to end the season rather than start. I'd hate to destroy my knees in May.
Or just move the route to the Turnpike. That'll keep the posers away.
I think people are getting the wrong impression. I'm glad more people are showing up, just surprised how little work it is taking to keep this ride going, and getting bigger each year.
Sounds kinda analogous to the Dirty Dozen, really. I wouldn't be surprised to see 50+ people doing CTC in a few years time.
The awesome thing about audacious rides like this is that it encourages people to try things they may not have otherwise thought possible.
The other awesome thing is that, if it takes little work, there's less chance of burning out the organizer. :)
Perhaps I'll join the 50+ riders next year. Right now I can't foresee myself doing this this year.
Another problem is that the Pittsburgh Marathon is May 2nd. For a full week after a marathon, I can't even look at my bike without throwing up.
It's interesting to compare CTC with something like TransIowa, which was, I assume, an influence on the event (along with something like the Raid Californie-Oregon). From what I've read, TI is a mammoth undertaking (with a limited number of participants), and because it's a race, people get pissed.
Good on you, Eric, for creating and sustaining a fun-loving event instead of Just Another Race.
I hope I can get the time off work to do this. I never really paid much attention to this when it has popped up on the boards before, but it sounds awesome.
Honestly the biggest influence, rules-wise is the Great Divide Race. Much smaller in scope of course, but GDR's concepts of no prizes and racer responsibility for route finding are key to making this work.
Also PennDot really is to thank here too. Without the PA bike routes this wouldn't happen. I'm not down with marking a course on public roadways, or making my own map. I have neither the time, compulsion or willingness to open myself up to the legal liability of doing an event like this. Next thing you know I need insurance, so I have to charge people, so I have to register them, then prizes will be next and the whiners will show up.
Which leads me to thinking about the absolute lack of whining from participants (save for the first year). It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
Which leads me to thinking about the absolute lack of whining from participants
It's hard to whine when you're having _that_ much fun. Or in _that_ much pain, whichever.
did any of the first year complainers ever come back?
Nope. Got a few whiny posts on the old blog, and I think I might have poked at them a bit the next year on a Philly forum, but no one showed. Other than Chris (lockringnotincluded.blogspot.com) and Max, it's been pretty much all Western PA riders.
Last year could have been different, I have no clue where a lot of the people were from. I think there were 2 dudes from Maryland?
Little fact I just thought of, only 2 riders have finished all four years.
I think Ben was from Baltimore or DC or something like that. There were a couple of guys in from Chicago...both Jeremys?
So what was the first-year whining about, anyway, for those of us who came late to the party?
Yeah, there was some guy who stayed at my house for a night or two before last year's CTC who was from Baltimore I think. Worked at Proteus bike shop, cool dude. Friend of a friend who was psyched on things and needed crash space prior to the event. I saw him at Interbike this year but didn't get to chat... by the time I remembered why his face was familiar I was pulled somewhere else.
Short version, not worth an effort for a long version.
Group of 4 dudes from Philly showed up, asked at the start if they could pick their own route. I explained the rules to them, they went off course at first opportunity. Rode route 30 the entire way. Showed up at the after party, got mad when I declared Nick the winner. Got on Nick's case, challenged him to ride their route, etc. Also, much evidence of car support.
That's about it.
Thanks for the info Brad. Sometimes I feel a little bad for not making an effort to figure out who people are. But often the first time I meet them it is 5am in the morning, and know one, including me knows what is going on. It probably doesn't help that I am always late to the start.
i'm voting for may 7th because, i believe, that's when Rob Lochner can make it. look out.
Brad, the proteus guy is Ben..me and him match sprinted from lancaster all the way to the bell and then i put him up at my sister's. Know his e mail??
i little debbie's sponsoring this yet? I'll do it that year.
jk. maybe ill do it one year. but uh, how about i just offer someone a place to crash.
its possible i will do this this year, more possible than any other year
there should be a "prize," ie. special pat on the back, for the most times riding this
i think this ride should be renamed the "Tour de Sheetz".
The Mon Valley Century was also pretty Sheetz-laden. It was the same Sheetz 3 times, but it was glorious every time.
Sheetz, Rutters, and Wawa...the ultracyclist havens of choice.
I think Sheetz has the best made-to-order food, but Rutters has always had the edge for friendly employees willing to overlook cyclists napping in the corner by the coffee pot, IME.
I may follow through with my plan to buy a "I Heart Sheetz" T-shirt for the winner.
Wow! Eric don't you think the field will started getting crowded if you start giving out such envy-inducing prizes?
Crush the MTO 2010
Please sign this petition if you love Crush the Commonwealth!
Also, not sure which one is better:
they both have their merits. the first one because if you don't know what it is it looks like you live shitz. the second because of the pennsylvania layer cake
i vote for may 7th. nobody wants to do this in the cold and rain...honestly, now.
also, relative to the scope of the event - I heard some group of riders is planning team kits this year (warm up suits, jerseys, caps, the whole bit)...
I used to live near Stan Sheetz in Altoona; I could always attempt to ping him for some schwag. wp
beer at every sheetz? my pace would dramaticaly slow.
the first shirt is good. just don't eat the hummus in somerset though or you will get the shitz. and the pukes.
my "dinner" at the end of CtC 09 after day 1 was a 12 inch MTO (roat beef, extra mayo with spicy pepper rings) and a pint "chug" of Galliker's famous iced tea. (sorry: breezewood location)
i had breakfast the following morning around 830am at the Sheetz in Chambersburg (my first ever shmuffin - egg and cheese x2).
after that - I was in Turkey Hill and WaWa land the rest of the way.
Illie P I used to live near Stan Sheetz in Altoona; I could always attempt to ping him for some schwag.
Scary thought:
The Official Sheetz FoOt-LoNg Crush the Commonwealth Race and Menagerie.
All Sheetz all the time for me. I blame my serious stomach issues on not having one in the first hundred miles. That or maybe my body doesn't like peanut butter and nutella sandwiches as much as I thought. I think a little Sheetz action would have fixed me right up.
Wow... Already planning this one. I hope to god I don't get stuck at some crummy job or with a bad back this year. That is the funnest ride there is all year around here!
ok, i know it wasn't an option for start date, but i'm really voting for april twenty fourth. i'm going out to see screeching weasel the night before, so this works out perfectly.
does anyone else find themselves in a similar situation?
The later the better in my opinion LOL... Nobody likes riding in rain and then suffering from borderline hypothermia while trying to sleep a few hours!
Time to get stupid.
May 7th.
I regret to inform that I will be unable to attend this year's CTC as I will now be out frolicking around europe in May. Bummer.
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