Currently we are running the course in the same direction as last year's successful event.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
2012 Bone Bender Course Planning
Here is the course for 2012. Well, at least our option #1. The team has been working hard to improve this years event and we believe we have. We added several miles of single track and another section of double track. A good mix of terrain and a total course length of 13.11 miles.
Currently we are running the course in the same direction as last year's successful event.
Currently we are running the course in the same direction as last year's successful event.
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9 comments:
Why 13 miles??....u are turning a 3 hour race into a 3 and a half to 4+ depending on lap times....u r looking at more than 1 hour lap...for 99% of racers... Y so long...??what is wrong with a 8-10 mile loop...do u need to use every bit of trail out there? I guess i am just curious your though process...really it makes it that most will quit before 3 hour time limit rather than go out for another hour plus lap and be racing for an hour longer than expected.
The course is not final and will depend on things like course conditions, safety of lapped riders and average lap time, etc. The current course was completed in about 1:30 by a sport level rider & 1:20 by an expert level rider.
Last year's lap time was in the 45 to 60 min range for most riders. It is not possible to have every rider finish the event in 3 or 6 hours. My theory is that with a longer lap (closer to 1:30 average) that riders will actually finish closer to their respective 3 or 6 hour time limit.
so there will be quite a few guys at expert levet doing 4+ hours of racing...significantly different than 3 to 3 1/2. that long of a lap means that last extra lap is an hour an a half + of racing...26 or 39 miles. those are significant diferences...you ought to just set the race up as a mileage race and not a time limit race...say the bone bender 30/60 (miles). I have no desire to race a 6 hour race...but with the way the lap times and distance is going, i will be closer to a 6 hour race than to the original 3 hour that i started...13 miles of single track puts me at about the 1:15 to 1:20 on a regular day...and i am not one of the 'faster' guys....45 minute lap time goal for fast guys allows for racing to plan his in-race nutrition and that last lap isnt a 'Death" march for an hour and a half...so a shorter race loop might allow for last lap to put u finishing at 3.5 hours.... I dont expect to finish exactly at 3 hours, but an 1:20 or 13 miles loop has a lot of people at the front finishing no where near 3 hours...I dont know, maybe i am the only one thinking like this...so take it with a grain of salt i guess...
I do thank u for promoting races, though.
thanks,
taylor
What is the difference in doing 4 laps on a 9 mile course and 3 laps on a 12 mile course? By my math it is still 36 miles. Last year 21 racers did 4 laps, with another 6 racers choosing not to go out for a 4th lap. With the added length it will eliminate the 4th lap. Yes, the faster guys will do 3 laps and some will get only 2. You must remember that a lot of things go into planning the length of the course. This years Bonebender will likely have over 300+ racers. Things to consider are scoring and congestion on the course. By having a longer course it allows racers to be spread further apart. This will help with scoring and lapped traffic. You say to take your post with a grain of salt, but your tone is very negative "...every bit of trail out there?" and "Death march" I hope you really do appreciate all Chris does with race promotion because it is a lot of work and can be very stressful. Most of the time the complaints out number the Thank you's and pats on the back. I see where you are coming from but I think if you do the math you will see that overall mileage will be the same. Don't forget that Chris included feed stations along last years course. Also the longer course includes a long section of double track midway thru for feeding and recovery. I hope you can see the need for a longer course even if it is not what you want. I know that Chris has been working very hard to make this years Bonebender the best it can possibly be. Thanks for all your hard work Chris.
Chris and all BB3/6 staff,
I am looking forward to another great BB3/6 as I know the quality of event that you and your crew provide to the racing public.
Some of the Chillicothe crew had an opportunity to ride Clinton yesterday and we had a blast. The trails are in awesome condition. We'll be there regardless of the lap distance. My thought is, if you've got the real estate, why not use it. This is an endurance event! As with 6/12 or 24 hour races, when the clock is running down to zero, you may have to make that decision as to whether you want to go out for that last lap. "That is why there in only one step at the top of the podium!"
I was there last year and really enjoyed it. People from our group won most of the events. I think adding in that much additional single track and distance is a big mistake.
Everyone's last lap is going to be a serious death march. Laps of ~1hr for the average rider make the most sense for a time dependent race.
You'll have a lot of people only do 2 laps, because they will come through at 2:50 or so and can't imagine going out for another lap of 13 miles. Where normally they'd tag on an extra lap (4th).
Thanks for everyones comments. We have taken everything into consideration and will make any necessary changes.
We should have an updated course map in the next two weeks along with a Athlete Guide.
Easy fix: Just make it a 3 or 6 hour race and have people race. If s person doesn't go out for a third or fourth lap and someone else does they win. Pretty simple. It is meant to be an enduarnace race not a UCI World Cup on a groomed course using tubular tires. Come prepared to do some miles and have fun, or don't. The rest of us will definitly be having some pain and suffering fun.
Can anyone tell me the amount of elevation gain per lap? Any suggestions on SS gearing? Thx!
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