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2007 Results

Pick-Up* Team Time Trial
6.9-mile TTT Race



Thursday, August 21st, 2008
5:30 PM (5:15 PM Warm-Up)
North Point Drive, Stevens Point
(At the Nature Center, Schmeeckle Reserve, UWSP)

* Ad-Hoc, spur-of-the-moment, Team Time Trial race.
   This IS a race, and your impromptu team may win, if you all ride together.

Event:   Have you ever wanted to race in a Team Time Trial? You know, like Lance and his 9-member USPS Blue Train? If so, here’s your chance. Well, sort of!

 Remember when you and a bunch of your friends would gather at the ball diamond with your bats, gloves and a baseball--all wanting to play, but no one, like Little League, was there to organize a game? What did you do? Of course, you picked a couple of “captains”, chose up sides, and played ball. Well, let’s do this with our bikes--and have a "pick-up" Team Time Trial. If you are a “sport” rider, you might want to join us for this interesting competition. Like that pick-up baseball game, we’ll meet at our ITT course on North Point Drive, divide up into 4- to 6-rider teams, and ride the 6.9-mile ITT course as a Team Time Trial. The winner of the contest, of course, will be the fastest team. Following the TTT, the Thursday Sport Ride that normally leaves from Herrschner’s will leave for about a 25-mile training ride (See Thursday Sport Ride for more information.)

Riders:   This is an open event and any sport cyclist may join in. It is assumed participants will be those with road bikes who can ride solo at speeds of greater than 18 mph and have had training and/or experience riding in groups, especially paceline work. You might be especially interested in this event if you have been coming out for the Tuesday or Thursday Heartland weekday sport rides. Caution: THIS IS A RACE AND TEAMS WILL BE RIDING AT HIGH SPEEDS.

Course (6.9 miles / 10.8 kilometers):

  • Start -- North Point Drive at Schmeeckle Reserve Nature Center;
  • West on North Point Drive to N. Reserve for .3 miles;
  • Right turn onto N. Reserve Street for 2.5 miles;
  • Right turn onto Jordan Road for .9 miles;
  • Right turn onto Wilshire Blvd. for 2.5 miles;
  • Right turn onto North Point Drive for .7 miles;
  • Finish Line -- North Point Drive at Schmeeckle Reserve Nature Center.

Event Procedures and Requirements:
  1. Participants must "sign-in" by 5:30 PM. Signing-in constitutes a waiver holding Heartland Club, its Officers, and members harmless for injury or damage (participation in this event is at your own risk).
  2. Teams of 4-6 riders will be formed based upon the selections made from the entire group of participants. The ride host will appoint temporary team “captains”, and each “captain” will then choose team members one at a time, alternating selections until all participants have been assigned a team.
  3. The teams will then meet for 5 minutes to choose a team leader and to develop a strategy for the race.
  4. The event will start at 5:45 PM at 1-minute start intervals. Start sequence will be determined by the team leaders conducting rock/paper/scissors (odd man out). Teams will start with riders at a stand-still with one foot on the ground, in a pairing (as in double riding), and will begin their ride at the signal from the starter.
  5. Remember:
    1. Participants must always wear a helmet when on their bikes;
    2. Participants and teams are responsible for obeying all traffic laws and safety procedures;
    3. Participants and teams are responsible for avoiding unsafe conditions, such as dirt/sand/gravel and other obstructions on the road, conflicts with moving vehicles and animals, etc.;
    4. Participants must ride the entire course with their assigned team, grouped together with no more than 36 inches of separation between riders. Riders are expected to draft and obtain help from other riders on their team, but not from other teams and/or vehicles and spectators;
    5. Each team’s time over the course will be taken when the last rider of the team the crosses the start/finish line. The team that finishes with the quickest time wins the race.

Things to Remember:
  • The course will not be marked on the road.
  • You will be responsible for getting yourself back to the start point. You will need to rely on the map or other means if you get off the course.
  • Roads will NOT be closed to motor vehicle traffic, so always stay on the right side of the road and in bike lanes when available. If you bridge the gap with the rider(s) ahead of you, stay well clear and pass on the left when the road is clear of traffic both in front and to the rear.
Event Host:
Jack Friess jfriess@spacs.k12.wi.us (715) 340-3132