After the back and forth about the changes to the Montauk route this year, purportedly to provide a more challenging ride to enjoy, I was curious about details about the ride. Looking online, this sentence hit me harder than the change of route: * "Sorry, the shower truck and changing facilities have been discontinued."*
That change is indeed challenging. It is abundantly evident from this sentence, and the changes in other accommodations, that the true motive for the route change is logistic in nature and at the expense of the participants - thinly disguised as an improvement.
After 5 to 6 hours of sweat, rain, mud and athletic endurance, for the pleasure of a rewarding finish line, the ordinary rider will have to endure two to three hours commuting, in their own filth, on a public train back to Penn Station (with the added possibility of an additional wait on arrival - for the arrival of their bikes and gear via the unpredictable transportation), still physically uncomfortable from and reeking of the effort. They will endure all of this, just to be able to bathe and change out of soiled clothing.
Please explore the possible, and not necessarily costly, facilities and arrangements on site at the finish line to change clothes; if that is too costly, perhaps the Hampton Bays Fire Department could help with the coordination of facilities on their end. After all, who better to turn to in an emergency water related? It wouldn't hurt to ask.
Being cheap at the expense of their most loyal and enthusiastic participants is not the best of the solutions. Just because of this reason people would not enroll in the tour.
I'm also concerned about what has not yet been announced: the check-in times. If you look at the current LIRR schedule for trains from Penn to Hampton Bays, the earliest train to arrive in Hampton Bays is at 9:53, meaning those taking the train wouldn't get on the road until well after 10am (depending on when bikes are unloaded from the trucks)! For those wishing to ride 125 miles (or even 100), finishing in time will be difficult.
On Wednesday, March 28, 2012 9:02:01 PM UTC-4, Leo Cairo wrote:
> After the back and forth about the changes to the Montauk route this year, > purportedly to provide a more challenging ride to enjoy, I was curious > about details about the ride. Looking online, this sentence hit me harder > than the change of route: > * > "Sorry, the shower truck and changing facilities have been discontinued."*
> That change is indeed challenging. It is abundantly evident from this > sentence, and the changes in other accommodations, that the true motive for > the route change is logistic in nature and at the expense of the > participants - thinly disguised as an improvement.
> After 5 to 6 hours of sweat, rain, mud and athletic endurance, for the > pleasure of a rewarding finish line, the ordinary rider will have to endure > two to three hours commuting, in their own filth, on a public train back to > Penn Station (with the added possibility of an additional wait on arrival - > for the arrival of their bikes and gear via the unpredictable > transportation), still physically uncomfortable from and reeking of the > effort. They will endure all of this, just to be able to bathe and change > out of soiled clothing.
> Please explore the possible, and not necessarily costly, facilities and > arrangements on site at the finish line to change clothes; if that is too > costly, perhaps the Hampton Bays Fire Department could help with the > coordination of facilities on their end. After all, who better to turn to > in an emergency water related? It wouldn't hurt to ask.
> Being cheap at the expense of their most loyal and enthusiastic > participants is not the best of the solutions. Just because of this reason > people would not enroll in the tour.
Regarding the timetable, I am trying to see if they've posted the new one online anywhere yet. The PDF you reference is only until May 13th, so there's some hope that the new schedule does have earlier trains (for summer season, perhaps)?
As for the lack of shower and changing facilities, I too find that a bit of an issue. Are there alternatives offered in lieu of not having a shower truck?
On Thu, Mar 29, 2012 at 10:53 AM, Brian <bhoberman...@gmail.com> wrote: > I'm also concerned about what has not yet been announced: the check-in > times. If you look at the current LIRR schedule for trains from Penn to > Hampton Bays, the earliest train to arrive in Hampton Bays is at 9:53, > meaning those taking the train wouldn't get on the road until well after > 10am (depending on when bikes are unloaded from the trucks)! For those > wishing to ride 125 miles (or even 100), finishing in time will be > difficult.
> On Wednesday, March 28, 2012 9:02:01 PM UTC-4, Leo Cairo wrote:
>> After the back and forth about the changes to the Montauk route this >> year, purportedly to provide a more challenging ride to enjoy, I was >> curious about details about the ride. Looking online, this sentence hit me >> harder than the change of route: >> * >> "Sorry, the shower truck and changing facilities have been discontinued." >> *
>> That change is indeed challenging. It is abundantly evident from this >> sentence, and the changes in other accommodations, that the true motive for >> the route change is logistic in nature and at the expense of the >> participants - thinly disguised as an improvement.
>> After 5 to 6 hours of sweat, rain, mud and athletic endurance, for the >> pleasure of a rewarding finish line, the ordinary rider will have to endure >> two to three hours commuting, in their own filth, on a public train back to >> Penn Station (with the added possibility of an additional wait on arrival - >> for the arrival of their bikes and gear via the unpredictable >> transportation), still physically uncomfortable from and reeking of the >> effort. They will endure all of this, just to be able to bathe and change >> out of soiled clothing.
>> Please explore the possible, and not necessarily costly, facilities and >> arrangements on site at the finish line to change clothes; if that is too >> costly, perhaps the Hampton Bays Fire Department could help with the >> coordination of facilities on their end. After all, who better to turn to >> in an emergency water related? It wouldn't hurt to ask.
>> Being cheap at the expense of their most loyal and enthusiastic >> participants is not the best of the solutions. Just because of this reason >> people would not enroll in the tour.
>> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the 5BBC Bulletin > Board.
> To post to the 5BBC Bulletin Board, send email to 5BBC@googlegroups.com
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The start is later, but the end can also be later. The last train out of Hampton Bays is 8:27 (this assumes the May 20 schedule will be the same as the current one). The finish area is right by the station. Sunset on May 20 will be 8:11. That should give riders until approx 7:30 to get back. Starting at 10:00 or a few minutes later, that's 9 or 9 1/2 hours on the road, which should be enough time to complete.
Jim
________________________________ From: Brian <bhoberman...@gmail.com> To: 5bbc@googlegroups.com Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 10:53 AM Subject: [5BBC Bulletin Board] Re: Montauk Century Concern
I'm also concerned about what has not yet been announced: the check-in times. If you look at the current LIRR schedule for trains from Penn to Hampton Bays, the earliest train to arrive in Hampton Bays is at 9:53, meaning those taking the train wouldn't get on the road until well after 10am (depending on when bikes are unloaded from the trucks)! For those wishing to ride 125 miles (or even 100), finishing in time will be difficult.
My suggestion is to shower and deodorize at home that morning. The other LIRR passengers will (silently) thank you.
Jim
________________________________ From: Jayson Phillips <j...@jaysonjphillips.com> To: Brian <bhoberman...@gmail.com> Cc: 5bbc@googlegroups.com Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 12:00 PM Subject: Re: [5BBC Bulletin Board] Re: Montauk Century Concern
As for the lack of shower and changing facilities, I too find that a bit of an issue. Are there alternatives offered in lieu of not having a shower truck?
Regarding Brian's question about check-in times, I don't have an
answer yet but expect to shortly.
Regarding the shower trucks, here are the straight facts: we
eliminated the shower truck this year. There is no real alternative at
Hampton Bays Fire Department.
Why? Cost and lack of usage. The price of renting it, plus finding the
real estate to park it on, keeps going up. Still, we would have found
a way to continue the shower truck if more people were using it. The
reality is that we've had less than 200 takers in recent years (out of
1,000-1,500 registrants). People respected others' time, the lines
moved well, but the demand just wasn't there.
The conclusion we've drawn is that the shower truck is not a "make or
break" feature for whether a rider will register for the Montauk
Century. The fact is that most riders at Montauk had done a quick wash-
up, changed into dry clothes and showered at home later. The reasons
probably vary: not enough time in order to catch a train; being
defeated by seeing a few others waiting, or maybe they eating,
socializing or resting. Whatever the reason, the shower truck never
got the usage to justify the huge cost burden it's added to putting on
the Montauk Century event over the past decade that we've offered it.
Frankly, the under-used Montauk Century shower truck's cost was so out
of proportion to its overall benefit as a feature to paid registrants
that cutting it made economic sense in these times. We understand not
everyone is happy with it, but we also have to think about how to best
put our members' money to work.
While the 5BBC is a not-for-profit, it's no secret we use Montauk
Century as our annual fundraiser for the things 5BBC does for free or
very little cost both to members and the NY cycling community: day
rides, leadership training, meetings, events, repair classes and low-
cost, well-planned summer weekend trips. Remember that these things
are done by unpaid volunteers and require funding that goes beyond
what we raise from member dues. A shower truck just takes too large a
bite out of that.
As for how unpleasant the return trip will be, I don't think it will
matter. This is just my opinion, but I've been on those LIRR trains
for years. I won't pretend that there isn't some BO to be sure, but is
it really any worse than a typical day ride? And, knowing that 75% of
riders didn't shower, have you really found it that bad? I guess
everyone's nose differs, but not from where I've sat all these years.
I think Jim Zisfein's analysis -- shower and deodorize at home that
morning -- is great advice.
Since I addressed the subject of cost, consider the very similar ride
events going to the same area. Yes, they offer more amenities like the
shower truck, ice cream, etc. If those more luxurious features are
both affordable and important to you -- and they are very nice -- by
all means enjoy them.
But also take a look at their price points. With return
transportation, it's getting towards $150 or more, and this year will
easily soar past $200 by ride day. Call it a return to our cycling
roots if you want, but that's not the direction the 5BBC is headed in,
nor will we continue to try and compete that way.
The 5BBC is doing the Montauk Century for half that; $100 or under for
those who register now including return LIRR transportation (see
Marketing Guy's obligatory link to Eventbrite registration HERE:
http://5bbcmontaukcentury.eventbrite.com/)
I'm happy to answer more questions, and will provide more details when
I get them.
Use Purell hand sanitizer instead of deodorant. It kills odor causing
bacteria very effectively, much better than most deodorants and
remains effective for hours. You can get tiny travel size bottles to
take along with you. Add a few packets of Wet Ones and you'll be fine.
If you want take it a bit further, get a Merino Wool jersey and drop
synthetics.
On Thu, Mar 29, 2012 at 9:11 PM, Adam DZ <adam.a...@gmail.com> wrote: > Use Purell hand sanitizer instead of deodorant. It kills odor causing > bacteria very effectively, much better than most deodorants and > remains effective for hours. You can get tiny travel size bottles to > take along with you. Add a few packets of Wet Ones and you'll be fine. > If you want take it a bit further, get a Merino Wool jersey and drop > synthetics.
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the 5BBC Bulletin > Board.
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