Independence Day Populaire Route

[brian janaszek]

Hi all.

I recc'ed the route for the 4 July populaire today, and have since made some tweaks based on this and the input from Jim and Dan's earlier recce. 

http://www.bikely.com/cuesheet/route/156633

Biggest differences from the initial version:

1. Looping back to Saxonburg from Starz (I was happy to see a street sign) and then taking Logan to the Red Belt (I'm a big fan of both Starz and Logan, so I wanted include both).
2. Simplifying the return through town by using River to the 31st Street Bridge instead of going through the Cultural District.

Note that there will be two information controles along the way.  The answers should be obvious, and the controles themselves come at either end of the Red Belt leg.  Cards will be distributed at the start for writing answers.

The Bikely mileage is pretty close to actual (at least based on my mileage), so I'm leaving it as it.

Other things: I'm planning on providing coffee and biscotti (hopefully) at the start, and perhaps something at the finish, too (besides just water).  I also received a batch of posters yesterday and, hoo boy, they are sweet. 

I'll be updating the IDP website this evening.

brian

[Jim Logan]

Hi Brian:

I noticed you didn’t include any services on the cue sheet.  Sprinkling a copy on the cue sheet might help – convenience store on the red belt in near the top of willies hill (no restrooms), the one where the red belt crosses the 19 (has restrooms), and perhaps something down around Sewickley?

 

For those that don’t know the route?

 

Will you have cue sheets to hand out, or would you like me to make copies?

 

Jim

 

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[brian janaszek]

Thanks for the heads up.  I have them in them in my notes, but I will include them on the cue sheet as well.

I will have copies of the cue sheets.

How did things go on Friday evening?

[Sarah Quesen]

I am planning on riding the Populaire. I was checking out the cue sheet. This is probably a dumb question: what does "TCO" mean in the directions?

Also, just for my own peace of mind, you didn't throw any dirty dozen type hills on this route, just for "fun"? I know a bunch of you think those hills are "fun" so I thought I'd double check.

-Sarah

[brian janaszek]

TCO = To Continue On

I'll have those abbreviations on the final cue sheet, and I'll have copies to distribute at the start.

There are no Dirty Dozen-esque hills.  The only "real" climb is Starz Road, and that is definitely not DD quality.  Besides that, there are a few rollers on Logan, and the Red Belt, and the shallow climb across the McKees Rocks Bridge.

brian

[Jim Logan]

Sarah:

The ride does ride out of the Allegheny river valley, then back down into the Ohio river valley.  So for those of you that like flat time trials, the first half will feel some aspect “hilly,” particularly if you are feel peer pressure from the folks that doesn’t feel hills as much.  When you get as far as the red belt crossing Rt 19, the dynamic definitely changes.  If the wind gods bless us, the descent toward Sewickley should give you payback for the first half, plus if we get a wind out of the west (which is typical), we have some hope to have a tail-wind riding up the Ohio.  Get on your aerobars, put your head down, and the ride will feel more to your liking from there out.

 

Jim

 

[Sarah Quesen]

Brian and Jim-

Thanks for the info. Jim knows I am no lover of hills. However, I have a granny gear on my new bike and I am not afraid to use it. My friend who I am riding with is a little stronger than I am on the hills but I can easily catch up with her on the flatter sections. I don't have peer pressure issues when climbing -- either people have to wait or I get dropped, c'est la vie.

My usual experience with wind is that I have a head wind at all times, even on a two-loop out-and-back course. I am an agnostic when it comes to the mythical tail wind.

[Matthew Stidle]

Hi everyone --

I plan on riding the Populaire tomorrow...but just to be consistent
with my completely irresponsible nature, I forgot to print out a copy
of the cue sheet before leaving work tonight and I don't have a
printer at home.

Is there any way that someone could print out an extra copy of the cue
sheet? I'll repay you in coffee or something tomorrow!

Thanks very much,
-matt

[brian janaszek]

I'll have 30 or so extra cue sheets at the start, so you're set.

See you tomorrow!
brian