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2013 Tour of California Training Camp

Coach RichCoach Rich
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2013 Tour of California Training Camp



It’s time to get our 2013 Tour of California Training Camp off the ground! 2013 will be our SIXTH year hosing a camp for the Tour of California.



The short description is:

  • You will ride 3 to 5 hours per day on the route of each stage...about 2 to 3 hours ahead of the pro peleton.
  • Along the way you’ll be cheered by crazed cycling fans on the top of KOM’s and at intermediate sprints.
  • If the 2013 Tour retains the Mt Baldy and Big Bear finishes, you’ll experience two mountaintop finishes.
  • You will have the unique experience of being chased, literally, by the pro peleton.


There are many high volume training camps. The EN ToC is the ONLY ONE that happens during, in, and around a TdF level pro cycling event!



Dates:

While the official dates and stages have not yet been announced, the Amgen Tour of California will likely begin on Saturday, May 11th, or Sunday, May 12th, and end on Sunday, May 19th. Depending on the nature of the first day (ie, a prologue time trial or a legit riding stage), we will meet in the starting city on either Saturday or Sunday and begin riding the next day (ie, Sunday or Monday)



The camp ends after we complete the ride on Saturday, May 18th, so you can fly home that evening and have a day to reset before going back to the real world on Monday.



Cost: $2995

  • Non-refundable $500 to reserve your spot in the camp.
  • Balance due in full by March 1st, 2013.
  • Discounts and “layaway”:
    • 20% ToC veteran discount, ends September 15th, 2012.
    • 15% off before September 15th, 2012.
    • 10% through December 31st.
    • If you like, we can put you on a layaway plan: a subscription through PayPal to pay off your balance due over several months. Add $75 to the camp price for this layaway option, to cover our PayPal fees.


Includes:

All riding, SAG, transportation, training food, and double occupancy lodging from Saturday, May 11th, through Friday, May 18th. If you choose to stay in LA on Saturday, May 19th before your Sunday flight, that lodging expense is not included in the camp.



Not Included:

  • Add $500 to the camp price if you prefer your own room.
  • Airfare to/from the camp.
  • Dinners each night...because we don’t want to put you on a budget after you’ve been riding all day!
  • Transportation to/from the airport, though we have always been able to use the camp vans to get everyone to the airport at the end of the camp.
  • Bike shipping. See below.


Ready to register?

Payment:

  • Email rich@endurancenation.us and then please send a non-refundable $500 deposit payable to Rich Strauss, 607 Parker Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016.
  • Your remaining balance is due in full by March 1st, 2013.


Questions?

Please post to this thread or email Rich



Riding Expectations:

Many stages have admin miles on the front end, or boring, flat, into a headwind stretches before two laps of the finishing town (which they won’t let us ride), etc. Also, you are not a pro cyclist sitting in a peleton with 170 other pro cyclists. Finally, each day we have to drive from where we stopped riding to that night’s hotel, usually in the start town for the next stage. For these reasons we ride “the best parts” of each stage rather than every mile of every stage.



That said, you can expect to ride 3-5hrs per day, every day, on extremely challenging terrain and you WILL be quite thrashed at the end of the camp! Historically, campers have logged 22-30hrs of total saddle time each year of the camp. This is a not a wine and cheese, hobnob in the VIP tent kinda camp. We RIDE.



Daily Itinerary:

This is how you can expect each day to play out:

  • 8am: on the bikes, whenever possible riding from the hotel to the course.
  • 3 SAG vans on the course providing you with food, fluid, tools, spares, a leapfrog ahead on the course if needed, etc.
  • ~12-2pm: riding ends, sandwiches and other food in/at the vans.
  • ~3-5pm-ish: admin transfer to our lodging for the night.
  • Whenever possible your bags will be waiting for you in your hotel room.
  • 6pm-til: dinner, either on your own, or with the group, etc.
  • Your bike will be cleaned and inspected each evening so you are ready to go first thing in the morning. The intent for each day is that you hand your bike off to us at the vans, go to your room, your bags meet you there, you shower and eat. The next morning you drop your bag off and meet your bike. You may or may not be happy to see your bike after a few days :-)


Draft Itinerary, by Stage

When the Tour publishes the host cities and routes, I’ll publish a draft itinerary of our plan, stage by stage. However, in the past:

  • You can expect KOMs and Intermediate sprints on each stage. These are very fun additions to the daily riding, as cool opportunities to test your fitness and have fun with your fellow campers.
  • Mountain top finishes in Mt Baldy and Big Bear: these have been AWESOME for the last 2-3yrs of the Tour.
  • Hopefully Solvang will be the host city again of the time trial. This is a neat opportunity to get in a light day (about 40 miles) and then stalk the pits and get your fill of pro bike pjorn on!
  • The Tour typically has a not-so-good stage, in terms of scenery, etc. We’ve used this in the past as an opportunity to get in a great day of riding off the course at a much more relaxed pace. Past editions have featured a ride through Sequoia National Forest and ride down the coast from Monterey, through Big Sur and then inland through the Coastal Range.


Questions?

Please post to this thread or email Rich



Other Admin Notes:



Getting to/from the camp:

  • In: you will fly into the host city for Stage 1, TBD
  • Out: please book yourself on the last flight out on Saturday, May 19th, from LAX


Bike shipping:

  • We have no ability to transport bike boxes during the camp. For this reason, all bikes must be shipped to Rich’s house, where he’ll assemble them and bring them up to SFO to meet you.
  • Please ship your bike to arrive at Rich’s house no later than Friday, May 11th
  • You’ll then pack your bike on Saturday, at the conclusion of the camp, and then either fly it home with you, or Rich can drop it off at either FedEx or UPS. If you chose to use this option, please bring a pre-paid shipping label with you to the camp.

 

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