Re: Leadville 100..how do they...

[r15757@aol.com]

On Aug 22, 7:54 am, "steve" <st...@steve.com> wrote:
> How the **** do they start 1000 riders? Is it a mass start?

I believe it can be described as a cluster-f.

The promoter starts it by lighting a fistful of hundreds, then they
drive a 63 international dumptruck full of cash three blocks to the
leadville bank, a hootin and hollerin and shootin guns.

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Aug 23, 8:55 am, r15...@aol.com wrote:
> On Aug 22, 7:54 am, "steve" <st...@steve.com> wrote:
>
> > How the **** do they start 1000 riders? Is it a mass start?
>
> I believe it can be described as a cluster-f.
>
> The promoter starts it by lighting a fistful of hundreds, then they
> drive a 63 international dumptruck full of cash three blocks to the
> leadville bank, a hootin and hollerin and shootin guns.

I think mass start events with lots of participants are invariably
cluster-fs. There is a mass-start 100 mile road ride here that draws
about 800 riders each year. The first 10km or so is a mad dash to the
first big hill. If you are not with the lead 1 or 2 groups over the
hill (either due to traffic or getting dropped), forget about a good
finish. This makes for huge jockeying to get a good start position
followed by total max HR mayhem as everyone tries to pass everyone
else before the hill. Everyone ignores the fact that the roads are
open to cars and the riders spread across every available inch of
road, and it is truely a cluster-f. I can't see how it is possible
that an MTB ride that narrows down to a trail could be anything but
way worse. Sounds like fun!

Joseph

[Moishe]

> I can't see how it is possible
> that an MTB ride that narrows down to a trail could be anything but
> way worse. Sounds like fun!

It's mitigated in a couple of ways: primarily, it never narrows down
to a trail. Beyond that, riders self-seed based on projected
finishing time with the top 100 finishers from the previous year in a
special area at the front (very similar system as used in big
marathons), there's a neutral start on closed roads until the turn
onto dirt, then a long stretch of gently climbing/rolling
doubletrack. That said, if you're strong and for some reason start at
the back (or on a singlespeed) you'll be caught up behind slower
people for much of the first climb even though it's doubletrack, which
can be frustrating. But after the first climb, it's never so
congested that it's impossible to pass, and there's no singletrack on
the course anymore (when there was, it was an undeniable cf, even with
fewer starters).

[andresmuro@aol.com]

On Aug 23, 10:39 am, "joseph.santanie...@gmail.com"
<joseph.santanie...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Aug 23, 8:55 am, r15...@aol.com wrote:
>
> > On Aug 22, 7:54 am, "steve" <st...@steve.com> wrote:
>
> > > How the **** do they start 1000 riders? Is it a mass start?
>
> > I believe it can be described as a cluster-f.
>
> > The promoter starts it by lighting a fistful of hundreds, then they
> > drive a 63 international dumptruck full of cash three blocks to the
> > leadville bank, a hootin and hollerin and shootin guns.
>
> I think mass start events with lots of participants are invariably
> cluster-fs. There is a mass-start 100 mile road ride here that draws
> about 800 riders each year. The first 10km or so is a mad dash to the
> first big hill. If you are not with the lead 1 or 2 groups over the
> hill (either due to traffic or getting dropped), forget about a good
> finish. This makes for huge jockeying to get a good start position
> followed by total max HR mayhem as everyone tries to pass everyone
> else before the hill. Everyone ignores the fact that the roads are
> open to cars and the riders spread across every available inch of
> road, and it is truely a cluster-f. I can't see how it is possible
> that an MTB ride that narrows down to a trail could be anything but
> way worse. Sounds like fun!
>
> Joseph

Have you heard of the Tour of Tucson? They have two mass starts. One
for the approx 200 pros or anyone who has completed the tour in less
than 5 hours (112 miles). You usually get top pros, top triathletes,
top amateurs, ex pros, a bunch of cat 1, 2, and 3 amateurs and a bunch
of unknown fast cyclists in the front group. The other start, five
minutes behind is for approximately 4000 plus cyclists. If you want
to start anywhere near the front, you need to get your ass to the
starting line at around 5 o'clock for a 7:00 am start, and freeze for
two hours. It gets pretty crazy and competitive with people in the
large mass trying to finish in 5 hours or less to get the platinum
medal and to catch up with the front room.

Andres

[Donald Munro]

andresmuro@aol.com wrote:
> and a bunch of unknown fast cyclists in the front group.

Presumably dressed in black.