GranFondo

[Roland]

Can I add myself to the Gran Fondo planning committee? I'm going to sign up for the Men's Cat 1/2/3 race. I will need accommodation in Vancouver on the Friday night but I should be ok for the Saturday night.

Thanks!

NOW I'm jealous Mr "cat 3".
I would LOVE to do the Cat1/2/3 race instead of being stuck in the mass start. That's awesome that you are now able to get in, though.

man, need more upgrade points races.......

You are ranked 11th in VCL A. Send that to Cycling BC and demand an upgrade. Ask for an upgrade every week from now until the Gran Fondo.

[bikehart]

I just signed up ...

[Josh.E]

really?

I thought registration was full a long time ago.

[bikehart]

If you know anyone with RBC you may still be able to get in....Hugh

[Josh.E]

Can I add myself to the Gran Fondo planning committee? I'm going to sign up for the Men's Cat 1/2/3 race. I will need accommodation in Vancouver on the Friday night but I should be ok for the Saturday night.

Thanks!

NOW I'm jealous Mr "cat 3".
I would LOVE to do the Cat1/2/3 race instead of being stuck in the mass start. That's awesome that you are now able to get in, though.

man, need more upgrade points races.......

You are ranked 11th in VCL A. Send that to Cycling BC and demand an upgrade. Ask for an upgrade every week from now until the Gran Fondo.

Hey Roland.
Thanks for that. It actually worked. Just got an email from cyclingbc, I'm now cat 3.

[Roland]

Thanks for that. It actually worked. Just got an email from cyclingbc, I'm now cat 3.

Isn't that a lot easier than winning races?

[shawnc]

Nice work Josh!

Now you, Bruce and I can do this thing together. Can we recruit any other cat 3 Tripleshotters to join us? *cough* RYAN *cough* We could get an actual team going!

[AdamD]

woo nice work, im only up to three crushed souls out of 20

[Brian S]

OK so here is the list, including Cat 3's of all of those who either have, may have, or implied that they were signing up for the Gran Fondo
Capt Dr. Saypuft
Geoff Wong
Josh E
Roland
John T
Alan C
Dave S
P Lawless
Shawn C
Quentin
Hugh Hart

I suggest we convene on the back deck of my house, weather permitting, for a beer and chat about the logistics and riding this Monday (Aug 2). Say around 430? 1737 Hampshire Rd. General hangers on from the group are also welcome. Please let me know if you are indeed registered, or if you are signed up for the cat 3--you guys can sit at the special table.
Brian

[Josh.E]

I'm already signed up for the granfondo, but am going to change it over to the giro if I can. I think Monday should work (you had me at "for a beer").
I've got a couple buddies as well who I signed up for the granfondo with originally, so I'm most likely going to be working something out with them. Maybe they can somehow be inluded/contribute to the overall plan. One of them is my almost brother in law, who lives in maple ridge, and may be able to provide a place for some of us to sleep the night before.

[Chris Fraser]

I am trying to find a registration spot if anyone hears of a late drop out. Chris F

[Alan]

I'm in for the Grandfondo beerfest, I mean, "planning session" at Brian's house. It's awfully close to supper time, should we bring some food, like cheezies or Doritos? Gotta keep those engines fuelled...

[Brian S]

1. Chris talk to Josh! It would be great to have you along.
2. Here is some information about self-seeding for the event. Definitely in #3! After all what are we but semi-serious about anything?
Corral #3 (under 4 hours): The third corral is the first of the GranFondo corrals and is recommended for riders in top shape who are comfortable riding in fast-paced group riding. This will be a fast-paced ride (>30kph) of for those anticipating completing the ride in 3 to 4 hours – that’s fast! This is for the semi-serious competitor who trains 8 to 10 hours a week.

Corral #4 (4 to 5 hours): The fourth corral is for riders in very good shape and anticipate finishing the ride in 4 to 5 hours. Riders in this corral will be familiar with the etiquette of group riding. This is still a fast pace (24kph to 30kph) and is meant for riders who are interested in challenging themselves.

[Paul C.]

I am registered for Whistler Granfondo...may come Mon p.m. [on way home maybe from day ride in Metchosin. ] I wi9ll go over to Vancouver Fri p.m. and may come back to Vancouver or even Victoria saturday afternoon...although I'm not sure how me and my bike will get back. Their return bus for bike and rider is $70 and only on Sunday. I hear that Graham Fraser who owns Ironman Canada is behind this event. They have big money, a data base of about 20,000 ironman traithletes[maybe lots of aero bars at Whistler GF.] and already plans for Granfondos in Alberta, Ontario and the U.S. I won t be surprised if they eventually put on a high profile Granfondo on Vancouver Island. Yes , it my be the cycling event of the year in Canada and TSC will be well representeted. I 'm excited to see how I place in my age group,unfortunately its 10 year age groups not 5year groups as it should be.. I sent them an email asking about there start line plans and suggesting that with $800,000 plus in the bank they could afford a few more medals. They said thanks but no thanks and more info will follow about the MASS start. regards , pc

[Quentin]

I'm in for the saturday planning session!

[bikehart]

See you all at Brian's on Monday...Hugh

[sylvan]

I'm in for the saturday planning session!

The one on Monday?

[Quentin]

I'm in for the saturday planning session!

The one on Monday?

Yup.

[Paul C.]

RE Whistler Granfondo . Mark Ford and Kevin Ford and Brad..... are entered also. Mark will just miss the 70 plus category. You may know this ...there are age group awards for 10 year age groups up to 70 plus. Hopefully you fast Cat 1,2,3, s are excluded from age group awards cause you will be into the prize money which I believe is a purse of about $ 20,000. cheers Paul C.

[wonger]

It's unlikely that I will be back in Victoria by 4:30 Monday, so here is my loose plan.

I am planning to head to Vancouver on Friday at a reasonable hour to get to the registration place and get my stuff - it would be great if me and my bike could hitch a ride with someone. Keep in mind that registration closes at 8:00 and you must pick up your own stuff - no one can do it for you. I'm planning to stay at the Accent Inn in Burnaby at Boundary Road and Lougheed Highway. The rate that we will get will likely be less than $100 for the night, so that is an option for all of us.

There's a 24 hour restaurant across the street where I plan to go have a large breakfast at about 4:00 a.m., then jump on the skytrain to head downtown for the start (bikes are permitted on the skytrain).

My family is planning to head up to Whistler for the weekend as well, so we will have accommodation for the night with family, but I am hoping that we (Tripleshot) can gather somewhere as a group for dinner that night.

A few of us were discussing the possibilities the other day and we thought it would be worth while to try to ride the event as a team, though it will be challenging to stick together particularly through the start. It might make sense to try to regroup at the halfway point and then see how long all of us can roll a pace line for the last half. Your time is counted by the fifth member of your team to cross the line, so its possible that the strongest of us on the day may go ahead of others if we can't all hold the same pace. Personally I think we will just have to see how things unfold on the day, but it would be ideal if we were all able to ride with a teammate or two and not have to suffer the indignity of the clown suit alone for the last half of the race.

I'll get the lowdown from someone following Monday if I'm not there. Have a great weekend.