Every 24HOCS has had a wrench thrown in the works and this year's is no exception...

There will be a course change for the 2009 24 Hours of Clear Springs.

The new course will be 25 miles long and entirely uphill


Actually, the new course is just a minor adjustment on the old course and gets rid of one of the worst parts of the old course. Saturday night a GIGANTIC pine tree fell exactly upon the bridge that goes over the creek in the first .5 mile of the course. That section has always been a pain to deal with because it never drains. The pine fell because the biblical amounts of rain we've had caused the creek to flood and quickly erode the roots. About 5 other similarly sized trees are on the verge of falling. The FS has deemed that whole section of trail too dangerous for anyone to use.

Which brings us to the new route..For the first time in 5 years we're changing where the start/finish (aka "Transition") area will be. We're moving it from the trailhead parking lot to the Group campsite. Those who were at last year's race remember the Group campsite as where we did the post race awards. Having the Transition area there is a huge thing for the race. The Group camp has power and restrooms so the soloists will be pampered like never before. It is also within walking distance of the team sites, so there won't be a need to drive people to and from the team sites to the transition area.

The new route will leave the Group site, follow the hiking path (which will be closed to all but racers for the event) around the lake and to a service road which will climb up to a gravel road. Take a left on the gravel road and in a quarter mile take a right and you're back on the normal course headed to Checkpoint 1. Don't worry, it will all be marked very clearly for the race. On the other end of the course, you'll pop back out on the blacktop after the last climb and turn right. Instead of pulling in to the trailhead parking lot like usual, you'll continue past the Park's pay station and on to the Group site...do that for 23 more hours and you're done

Brian

not that I have any experience...sounds like a change for the better to me for sure, I think the transition and the camping should be close...

It sounds like a great time....we really can't wait. Is it required for each team member to ride in order...I mean, can you please explain the rules to me regarding teams and laps completed, for instance, can your team member finish a lap for another? Do all members of a team have to alternate in the same order or can a member take a double?

The only requirement is that each person on the team ride at least one lap. There are no requirements about order of riders. Only one of a team's riders can be on the course at a time. If a rider can't finish the lap, a teammate can start that lap over again. For example, if I'm riding my team's 8th lap and I can't finish it, my teammate can start the 8th lap over and my progress in the 8th lap is nullified. There is ONE EXCEPTION: If a rider has a mechanical problem and makes it to a checkpoint or somehow informs me that they've got a broken bike, a teammate can take a new bike out to them, usually by driving out to the checkpoint the rider is stuck at. In this way the rider can finish the lap, though it might take them a long time to do so.

Its a very strategic decision whether to start a new lap and nullify the rider on the course if they have a mechanical or take the long time to get a new bike to them.

Could be worse though, you could break your bike, make it to a Checkpoint to call in, but none of your team are awake to do anything about it

Brian

Longest night of my life!!!

imagine what the boy scout, who's sleeping bag was invaded, is saying about that night. hopefully, you at least bought him dinner before.

EZ tees it up and Sunny drives it right down the fairway.

I expect Concierge check in after each lap, valet bike parking, and beer retrieval btwn laps. Oh...yeah....and a warm towelette for my hands and face too!!

... don't forget the senorita special massage!