Wednesday, May 2, 2012

10 Days and counting...



With just under two weeks to go until the first ever Burleigh County Cup I hope you're finding yourself on top of a lot of miles and in good health. The gravel riding in Burleigh County has been nothing short of amazing the last few weeks and with any luck the weather will cooperate with us and show us a great day to ride on May 12. While the Burleigh County Bicycle Cult is moving it's headquarters and things have been hectic I wanted to stop from the chaos and make sure a few things were clear for the Burleigh County Cup and Sippy Cup. First of all, if you recieved this email then you are registered. If you talk to someone who thinks they are registered but did not recieve this, either it's in their junk folder or I mis-typed their email. Also, being in our first year, we have decided to take day-of registration. I have recieved a couple of emails in the last few days from people who are just hearing about the event, wondering if it is too late to get in. I think it would be unfair to leave these people behind. This is the only year we will be doing this.
For ride/race day: The Burleigh County Cup and Sippy Cup will both roll out from Eagles Park (North of Bismarck, on River Road) at 9:15 CST. We will start handing out packets with the route map and take any late registrations at 8:00 at Eagles Park prior to the race and I will make the announcement to line up @ 9:05. As we've said before, we are renting the entire Eagles Park for Friday - Sunday. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the park, it has primative camping and can handle smaller campers also. We welcome all to stay at the park both Friday and Saturday night free of charge if you'd like. A number of local cyclists are planning to stay there Saturday night and it may be a good opportunity to share some stories of the ride, meet some new riders and have some good times. However, there is no shower facility on the campground.
For the ride itself: Please come prepared. This ride will be a challenging 75 miles or 35 miles depending on your category. For those of you doing the 75 mile option, if you are expecting a walk in the park, you are going to be in for a big suprise. And while the 35 mile option is shorter, and not quite as hilly and intense, it is still a challenge and a little bad weather could turn it into a real tough day. Have your bicycle in tip-top shape. A bicycle faliure is nearly as bad as a human one on a ride like this. Hydrate heavily days prior to the ride. Bonking and dehydration are not good. BE SAFE. These roads are not closed for this event, and some times have people driving extremely fast on them. Look out, check intersections before crossing and make the right choice. You are responsible for yourself.

A quick list of rules:
- All riders must wear a helmet.
- All riders must have a properly calibrated cycling computer (necessary to read the maps)
- All riders must carry a minimum of 2 24 oz water bottles on them (for Burleigh County Cup riders, you may have smaller bottles if you choose to have a dropbag. More on that below)
- All riders must carry food on them. This one is hard to enforce, but your burning calories, you gotta replace them.
- All riders must help another rider in distress, at the very least asking if they are OK before moving on.
- Any littering on purpose results in a DQ.
- Any course cutting results in a DQ.
- You are responsible for yourself. We do not have people standing by to pick you up. If you have a mechanical, or cannot finish because of fatigue, no one is coming to get you unless you have prior arrangments.

A quick list of recommondations:
- A map holder. Banjo Brothers makes a nice one. It attaches to your handlebars and you can look down at your map and match it up with your cycling computer. Simpl.
- A couple of spare tubes, pump and tire levers. Almost every ride I go on in this area results in at least one flat. Your not immune. And know how to change a tube.
- Muli-Tool. May be heavy, but I've seen a broken chain turned into new again in a few minutes with a small chain-breaker on a multi tool. Save yourself the walk.
- Drop-bag. For the 75 mile Burleigh County Cup you will have the option to hand in a small bag prior to the race (think lunch-box size, not backpack) filled with anything you'd like. These will be driven to a little beyond the halfway point and available for you to grab and re-fuel. Take advantage of this.
- Be responisble for yourself. Have someone ready to come and get you. Take your cell phone with on the ride to call if you need help. No one is coming to get you unless yo have prior arrangments.

Following the ride/race there will be free food and beverages for all riders courtesy of The Northside Market, The Sports Page Bar and McQuade Distributing.

Spectators are welcome to come out, cheer on riders and have a good time!


We look forward to seeing you all May 12! Spread the word! Get out and ride!

- BCC Staff

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