GranFondo

[Roland]

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make it. if I'm not there at 4, get started without me.

[shawnc]

I'm not sure I'll be able to make it either - I have a deadline looming this evening.

For planning purposes, I would be interested in sharing accommodations on the Friday night in Vancouver (Accent Inns?). If someone has space for me and my bike in their vehicle when heading to the mainland on Friday that would be great too, but if not I can take public transit.

I have my own arrangements for Saturday night in Whistler, so don't worry about me there.

Thanks!

[JohnT]

I didn't make it .... but only because I forgot about it until about 8 pm. Sorry. It seems that many people were unavailable. Can we reschedule?

JT

[Quentin]

For those of you that registered for the Whistler GranFondo but didn't join the TS team before it filled up (9 maximum per team), now is your chance! I created a second team called "Triple Shot Cycling 2". Send me a message and I'll make sure you get on this team.

For those of you that can't remember, here's the list of folks registered for "Triple Shot Cycling":
Brian Sinclair (c)
Alan Cassels
Josh Erickson
Hugh Hart
Norman Marcy
Roland Rabien
Dave Spiers
John Taylor
Geoffrey Wong

Quentin.

PS> will Josh's entry will be transfered to Lister?

[wonger]

If anyone is interested in a room at the Accent Inn please let me know and I'll make a group reservation. As mentioned previously the rate will be $99 or less and it would be most affordable to double up. The skytrain is about a block away and there's a 24 hour restaurant across the street. If you can let me know by August 13th that would be ideal as it gives us a month and a better rate.

Also, if you're going to book a room in Whistler I'd do it pretty soon. I just spent an hour looking around and ended up at the Summit Lodge which is one of the GF host hotels for $119. Most places want a minimum 2 night stay so don't wait too long to book.

[bikehart]

Brian, Sorry I missed the beer on Monday, thanks for invitation. Since I was not there and because Geoffrey and I have talked some more since then I though I would post the current plan...

• I plan to drive to Whistler on Friday and leave my car with an over night kit and mtn bike shorts / pads at a friends house.
• I will take the bus back to Vancouver to pick up my race package by 8:00 PM.
• From there I will head to the Accent Inn in Burnaby to meet Geoffrey and the bikes.
• As far as the ride goes I will stick with the group if at all possible but if it is anything like the TC 10K It will be better/safer at the front, although probably faster than we would like for the first hour or more..
• I don't know about the 4 am breakfast a little early for a long day but I will go if anyone else is in.
• If anyone wants to throw a bag in the car so they don't have to wait in line on Saturday morning to drop theirs off I will bring the car to one of the morning rides the week of the fondo (Tuesday?) so you can chuck a pack in.
• On the way home on Sunday there is room for 2 more people with bikes, 3 if transport is tight. timing of the return trip is TBD but it would be good to be home for dinner. We will stop by Accent Inns on the way home to pick up any belongings that did not come with us on the ride.
• Wonger has booked a accommodations at the: Summit Lodge in Whistler Telephone: 604-932-2778 For Saturday night if you are interested.

Thats it so far....

Hugh

[Paul C.]

Hugh. Thanks for the updates. I am staying in Vancouver [at brothers place] Friday and Saturday night. So I would take one of those spots ,for a ride back to Vancouver Saturday p.m. At Brians last Sunday, someone suggested .... do a list of participants and their cell numbers for the weekend. Could be useful for connecting before or after. Paul C.

[wonger]

I plan to drive to Whistler on Friday and leave my car with an over night kit and mtn bike shorts / pads at a friends house.
I will take the bus back to Vancouver to pick up my race package by 8:00 PM.
From there I will head to the Accent Inn in Burnaby to meet Geoffrey and the bikes.
As far as the ride goes I will stick with the group if at all possible but if it is anything like the TC 10K It will be better/safer at the front, although probably faster than we would like for the first hour or more..
I don't know about the 4 am breakfast a little early for a long day but I will go if anyone else is in.
If anyone wants to throw a bag in the car so they don't have to wait in line on Saturday morning to drop theirs off I will bring the car to one of the morning rides the week of the fondo (Tuesday?) so you can chuck a pack in.
On the way home on Sunday there is room for 2 more people with bikes, 3 if transport is tight. timing of the return trip is TBD but it would be good to be home for dinner. We will stop by Accent Inns on the way home to pick up any belongings that did not come with us on the ride.
Wonger has booked a accommodations at the: Summit Lodge in Whistler Telephone: 604-932-2778 For Saturday night if you are interested.

Just to finish this plan off, I am driving to Vancouver Friday with my bike and Hugh's while he goes to Whistler. I am assuming that Lister will be travelling with us, so that leaves two spots for people and bikes to get to Vancouver. The same five would travel down from Whistler in Hugh's car on Sunday, back to Accent to get my car, then on to Victoria if so desired.

[JohnT]

Though I haven't set this in stone, my plan is to come back to the island Sat night so I can race at Mt Doug on Sunday. I can probably be talked out of this foolishness, but if anyone else wants to catch a ferry Sat night, let me know and perhaps we can travel together.

John

[Brian S]

Everyone:
thanks for all of the posts. As best as can be coordinated:
-we have 2 teams (thanks Quentin). The original bunch of early registrants is Triple Shot Cycling, and the more recent are Triple shot Cycling 2. We talked about the usual A vs B a bit at the meeting, but that may not be possible at this point. I will email the organizers if the group wishes to strategize and stratify
-the general plan is to get into that faster coral#3 and hold a block, stick roughly together through until the hills of Taylor way and the first part of the highway causes some thinning out, and then work through to Squamish. That point of course brings us back down to sea level, and the net elevation from there is about 600 m.
-Once out of Squamish, we need to have decided in our group(s) how to work the balance of the ride in terms. We need to be alert and flexible, as this is no TS paceline on Blenkinsop at 615 a.m. We are competing for road space with 4000!

In terms of accommodation and meeting up, drinking beer etc
-Friday. Either on your own, of at the Accent in out in Burnaby. The sky train which will get you down town with your bike. Some of us are staying with friends etc.
-Race day. I suggest meeting at Starbucks at Robson and Hornby ( Starbucks Coffee Co811 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z1T9, Ca ). it opens at 6. We grab a coffee to go and head over to the chutes--2 blocks away. Moo.
-Saturday night. On your own, as many are staying up, traveling down, or going home (john that is just
way too ambitious.
-Please get me some numbers for Saturday up at Whistler and any thoughts about restaurants. I am looking, but would like some guidance.
-I have talked to some friends about riding home on Sunday. Not advised by many, unless you have kevlar tires. The down slope side of the road (most of the south bound route) is off cambre and the shoulder provides drainage and drain grates. As well, the shoulder in general collects rock shard. Bad potential flat karma (think N2V in the dark).

[Brian S]

One other thought--what about a ride from Whistler on Sunday before heading down? We can chat about that one.
B

[Paul C.]

Brian.. Thanks for staying on top of Van to Whistler GF organizing. I may come back to Victoria Saturday night, but right now I plan to return to Vancouver Saturday p.m. after awards, food and Tripleshot celebrations in Whistler. A restaurant or hotel meeting spot in Whistler would be great as we will finish over a 2 hour span and by about 1 or 2 p.m. there will be about 4000plus cyclists and supporters milling around the finish area. Maybe we can all reconnect to tell war stories at the awards. When we were at your place somebody suggested, that we all exchange cell numbers for the weekend...probably a good idea.. mine is 250 419 2426. cheers Paul C.

[spearson]

Anybody want an extra rider to fill out their WGF team? Got an email last night that I can still join one.

[wonger]

Rooms booked at the Accent Inn Burnaby:

Marcy
Schlatter
Farrar
Wong

The hotel is actually about 8 km's from downtown so I think we'll be riding in before the start.

Brian have you made a reservation for dinner Saturday night? What about Caramba's? Pasta, not too spendy, central. I can call them if you haven't made arrangements yet.

[Katie]

Ran into a guy in the Whistler village who had just finished pre-riding the GrandFondo course. He wasn't really able to say much, but described it as "gruelling" several times.

Have fun next weekend!

[wonger]

I've been told by the club to apply Accent Inns' sponsorship of five room nights at the hotel to the Gran Fondo group. So there are currently three free rooms taken - Schlatter, Farrar, Marcy.

If anyone else is interested in a room let me know. I think most of you have already made arrangements but you never know.

[Roland]

I'll take room, or share with somebody else. I hadn't made plans yet, as I was planning to sleep in a bus shelter, under a bridge or on the downtown east side.

[wonger]

I was planning to sleep in a bus shelter, under a bridge or on the downtown east side.

It's not a total loss as we'll be riding through there at 5:30 in the morning. Should be good sightseeing. At this point I think you are bunking with Lister.

[Roland]

What ferry are most people taking over on Friday?

[Lister Farrar]

Hugh says we have to get the 4:00 at the latest to make the sign in deadline.

I assume he knows there is a 4.

L