MTN BIKE

It is that time Friday evening about 8:00 pm ride from Rex's and do the River trail. It will be dark and even the huffy mtn bike can make this ride. It is a good first time dark ride

Tour De St. George

I'm really thinking about traveling to St. George this fall. If any of you want to get away to the South for the UEA weekend let me know. I would like to participate in the Tour De St. George and I need a good excuse to start the winter out with one last ride before the snow flies. This is a ride not a race... and it is fun. It has some challenging terrain. It is not a flat course but it is a fun course.

This was my first ever organized ride last year. I participated in the 30 miler... and in the spring I did the century. The century was tough but that was my second organized ride and my very first century. I did it by myself. If I were to rate the difficulty it would be similar to the Tour of Wellsvilles. With all of our training and a few pickup rides between, the century can be done. If your don't want to do the century you could always do the metric century or if you just want a good excuse to dust off your bike you could do the 30 miler... I promise I won't make fun of you, remember I did this last year... you have to start somewhere. The food and beverages have been well stocked in the past with plenty of rest stops and lunch provided. It took me 7 hours last spring to complete the century but there were a lot of factors... there were wind gusts up to 30 mph, it was my first century and I was doing this alone, just to name a few.

Let me know if you are interested. I plan on going down with my family. We have typically made a weekend of it. You can get more details here:

http://spingeeks.com/falltour.html

LOTOJA

Well congrats everyone. What a Blast!!! That was a lot of fun. I know for those that were sick not as much but it was great to ride with each of you. Congrats to Jeremy Dustin for Second Place!

Dinner

So a Dinner for us that have been riding? If interested please reply with how many would come (yes kids) and see if we can get it worked out. I need to know today and then we will decide time and place it will be Friday Night at 5:00 at Rex's House. I will provide something of a baked chicken alfredo pasta. Please bring your own chairs.

Thanks

I just wanted to thank all you guys for the training this past season. All of you have been great encouragement and inspiration to me. I've felt like I've been warmly welcomed and then some. I honestly don't know what I would have done if I hadn't been invited out to your group. The schedule synced up quite nicely and I got an education on cycling I just don't think I would have gotten without the experiences I gained while riding with the group. I don't think I ever would have dared to do the TT if it hadn't been for the encouragement to do it (peer pressure at its finest.) It's been a summer of fun, hard work, a ton of time and a lot of memories. When you all catch up to me on Saturday I'll be happy to catch the train called team RYGO.

We'll see what the next season brings. Even if I don't do the LOTOJA next year for one reason or another, I know where I can find a good weekly workout and I'm glad I got to know team RYGO.

Are you ready for this? "Now get out there and ride your gut off!"

Thanks!

Jeremy B.

Support Crew Info

I did not want to rewrite this so it is posted in as comments below!!

Also if you can condense vehicle traffic it is really really helpful. Lisa Syme and Candace Davidsavor are riding up together. Doug where you have you wife starting at 5:45 if you would like Candace would love to help you out untill you catch up with her, or the whole race.

Let's Ride - September 8 - 11

Days until LOTOJA: 3

Saturdays before LOTOJA: 0 (Recovery Week)

All rides depart from the Logan Aquatic Center (LAC) 451 South 500 West unless otherwise noted. 

Wednesday September 8 at 6:00 pm: Blacksmith Fork Canyon ~ 25 Miles. 

Thursday September 9 at 6:00 pm: South Valley Loop ~ 15 Miles.

Saturday September 11 at 7:31 am: LOTOJA ~ 206 Miles.

LOTOJA To Do List

This is a list of things to do during the days prior to the race:

• Get extra sleep. Go to bed early every night this week so I at least have sleep surplus going into Friday night. Rex seems to be the exception, but most of us don't sleep well the night before the ride (I have to take at least one sleeping pill) so at least you won't have a sleep debt on race day.
• Be well nourished. This is not the week to diet, that time has passed. Don't go crazy on dessert and sweets, but eat well this week, especially Friday.
• On Friday I hyperhydrate. I keep a water or gatorade bottle with me all day long and suck that teat like a newborn. Warning: Your bladder will send urgent signals for relief, so be well positioned (especially in the LOTOJA registration line).
• Plan my feed zone schedule. I posted my feed zone schedule as comment on Rex's excellent post.
• Tighten and lube my cleats. I hate listening to squeaky cleats for 10 hours.
• Wash gloves and helmet. Easy to forget, but will feel good on race day.
• Clean bike and lube chain. Don't make any serious changes to the bike, though.
• Change any bike computer batteries.
• Shave legs. You'll look and feel faster.
• Find a funny hat, shirt or flag for your support crew to wear/wave so you can find them easily at the feed zones.
• Check your support vehicle fluids, tire air pressure, etc.
• Confirm hotel reservation.
• Think positive! We've put in the miles, we will finish and finish strong.

Whats on your to do list? Please add in comments and I'll bring them up to the main message.

Road conditions

I drove the race route this last weekend and then cycled the last leg from Alpine junction to the finish line. I saw two areas of concern with the road conditions. The first was after the strawberry/emigration summit as you begin the big descent there was a little gravel around the first tight corner. Hopefully it will be cleared on race day, but just be prepared. The second was just before you reach the bridge at Hoback junction. The road is torn up and there was no shoulder. In past years the road was filled with cars waiting to turn. This year it could be very tricky trying to get past the cars. It is only about 500 yards, but if conditions don't improve it can be very dangerous. Good luck and be careful.

For the Race and Rest stops

These are things I do remember that it is all my opinion and everyone has there own advice but you guys can have fun adding your own two cents:

I start out with a good heavy dinner and a good heavy Breakfast as well. I really like to have 9 grain cereal some eggs toast. Some try super hydrating, don't like doing this in the morning but you have you options.

For the Start: 1 bag of trail mix apple and gu flask 1 bottle of water. Yes I only take water to Preston I have seen and heard of guys so loaded up with electrolytes they can't stomach them at Preston and end up bonking. I also carry a two co2 cartriges in my bag with one tube and a box tube in my jersery. One year I had two flats in between stops and on my second a voluteer was there within 5 minutes to help. But because of the second flat I missed Josh and Matt in Afton so your choice. I also have a bag of meds and electrolyte tabs with tums, same thing I have had on the other rides

Preston FZ1: 1 h20; 1 Endurox; 1 12 oz gatorade (I down this and drop in the drop zone) here I pick-up Bars licorice and have different flavoride gu's. I usually take two Bars and some licorice here.

FZ2: Nuetral have to get off your bike to get anything usually pass.

Montpelier FZ3: turkey Wraps did this last year and loved it. I rolled them up and cut them with a toothpick so I could eat it quickly. I stop for a short (under 5) here I just don't do that good stoping and starting much better and recoverying on my bike by going a slow pace. I also pick up a new h20 and electrolyte tab and down another 12 oz bottle of gatorade and a banana and or oranges

FZ4: Nuetral have to get off you bike to get anything, depends on the weather some time this good to fill up on water to get ready for the KOM (king of the Mtn) race.

Afton FZ5: Same as Montpelier

Alpine FZ6: New H20 and Electrolytes, switch bars,

Hoback FZ7: This I usually have to stop and take my shoes off and walk around. Refill

Finish line: Absolutely make sure whoever your support is to bring shoes!! and new water!
walking back to the car in bear feet or in you cyling shoes is not fun.

Hope that helps.
On the meds I did not take any last year and felt great but I always take them just in case.
Also I have a bag ready if in looks like snow in the canyon to switch in Preston as well.
Lets hear others pionts of view LOTOJA Vets!!!