I just placed my order for cycling gear though the store and it went through. So I guess they have stock. I suggest all those interested in looking EN during the camp do the same before stocks are depleted!!!!!
There's been so much discussion in the haus lately about PM calibration, that I wanted to suggest a 5' clinic on the subject while we are in Tucson (they make it sound so complicated in those discussions that I'm now afraid of attempting to calibrate my powertap!!!!!).
Did you get your order yet? I ordered a new tri Jersey a couple weeks before IMAZ in XL which they showed in stock and never received it. Finally reached out to them last week and they told me they didn't have it and issued a credit.
Some folks have asked that instead of shipping their bike to and from the event can they rent bike in Tucson? I have confirmed today that the answer is YES!
Our partner for this event, Trisports.com, is offering a 10% discount to EN folks who rent through http://www.velolet.com. Simply put in Tucson, AZ as your location and the dates you want (March 20-24, 2013) and it will show a list of bike available. Looks like Cervello road and tri bike are currently available.
Take a look and let me know your thoughts or any questions you may have.
I will provide the discount code when folks ask for it. You can do so my emailing me at ENRaceDirector@gmail.com.
Some folks have asked that instead of shipping their bike to and from the event can they rent bike in Tucson? I have confirmed today that the answer is YES!
Our partner for this event, Trisports.com, is offering a 10% discount to EN folks who rent through http://www.velolet.com. Simply put in Tucson, AZ as your location and the dates you want (March 20-24, 2013) and it will show a list of bike available. Looks like Cervello road and tri bike are currently available.
Take a look and let me know your thoughts or any questions you may have.
I will provide the discount code when folks ask for it. You can do so my emailing me at ENRaceDirector@gmail.com.
Rock on!
John
Me again! Just got an email that Velolet just wants everyone to know the bike availability is LIMITED to what they have so orders are on a first-come-first-served basis! We have a BIG group heading to Tucson in March and there will be several other groups there in March doing camps as well. So if you are even considering renting a bike . . . do it NOW!
I will have the discount code shortly so ping me directly and I will send it out to you as soon as I get it.
Hey, are most folks flying into Phoenix and driving down to Tuscon or flying directly to Tuscon? I want to book my flights soon and see what others are doing. Thanks!
Coach P, Even though I will be getting my Brand New P5 in january, I'm evaluating renting a bike in Tucson to avoid the hustle of flying from and back to Brasil with my bike. Two questions: 1) Is there much to gain from the camp riding one's own TT bike worth that hustle? Or I will be just fine doing the camp with a good rental. 2) if rental OK, given I will arrive a day earlier and depart a day earlier, how many days would you recommend I rent the bike for? Will we ride all days? Tks much, Juan
Hello - I'm flying directly into Tucson on 3/20 (arriving around 3pm local time) and planning to bring my own bike. My dilemma, however, is to bring my tri bike or road bike... what are most folks bringing?
@Rich - I am bringing my tri-bike. I also plan to arrive on Wednesday and haven't made my travel arrangements yet. I plan to get to that in the next week or so as I review all the details in this thread for flight discounts and bike shipping details.
@John Stark - since we are coming up on the 2 month out mark, could you include in your next update the travel details (again I am sure).
Are there any arrangements for transportation to/from hotel? If you rent a bike, do you know if they'll deliver? Just trying to making a decision on this and figure out how to get to hotel and/or get bike if I rent. Thanks!
@ Kim, are you implying that you are trying to avoid renting a car?
I will tell you that it costs $55 from the airport to the hotel by taxi each way, and I rented a car last week there for $20/day, so you may want to run the numbers to determine the most cost-effective option for you.
I was in Tucson for business last week and thought I'd post some brief notes...
I was at a conference actually held at the Lowes. It's a very nice property and location. I came in a couple days early to train and scored a great deal off Priceline at the Lodge Ventana about a mile down the road from Lowes (same street). The Lodge was also nice, just a peg below the Loews. Our EN rate seems to be very competitive for that week/time of year. I booked on Priceline and got hit with the dreaded "resort fee" upon arrival of around $20/day at both. The resort fee is probably the most fraudulent and disgraceful fee in American business, outside of the banking industry. We may want to check on whether that is waived for our group.
I rented a Cervelo R5 from TriSports/Velolet for a day. Wonderful bike and in great condition. The entire experience with them was very positive. Cool store, too. Pick-up and drop-off takes about ten minutes, and that included them swapping pedals for my Keo Delta's and stock saddle for my Cobb. It's a good 30-minute drive from the hotel each way. The online reservation system will charge you for a second day after 23 hours, but they were extremely generous about being a little late in returning the bike- may be different during the spring due to demand. I sincerely doubt they would be able to drop off and pick up at the hotel, but worth asking I guess. The 10% EN discount covers the tax and online service fee basically.
At some point, people may want to consider coordinating flight arrivals. It costs about $55 for a cab from the airport each way. I rented a car from Hertz instead at $13/day (pre-pay promotion), and even after all those completely BS extra taxes/fees (I swear that the entire travel and lodging industry is built on fraud and deception), it came out to about $20/day. Run the numbers and you'll probably find it cheaper to rent a car for four days than a taxi for the round trip, especially if people buddy-up. Plus, you'll have the ability to get out and grocery shop, which is advantageous b/c the hotel is about ten miles from the nearest strip center and there are no food options except the hotel restaurant, which is good, but expensive and limited.
I know this sounds nuts, but if you're going to rent a car, you might *consider* flying into Phoenix, especially you northern folks. My work group all found TUS quite difficult to fly into without a connection. It's no PHX, which is about a two-hour drive away. But if that allows you to fly cheaper or non-stop from your local airport and not have a 60-90 minute layover somewhere, then your time may be better spent in a car than a connecting airport. Just putting it out there.
By now the team knows I'm the unluckiest guy in the haus. I come in for three days of training, and it just happens to be the three coldest days in Tucson since they started keeping records. Wonderful. That being said, I had a blast. I ran Sabino Canyon (7.4 miles roundtrip) and it was one of the most enjoyable running experiences of my life- I hope RnP consider it for one of our rally runs. It's all uphill into the canyon, and then all downhill back, maybe 2-3% grades in places. I ran it twice in a row for 15 miles, and with the elevation it kicked my butt. People were looking at me like I was insane. The entire path is paved and is just incredible- crossing bridges over streams and through some beautiful vegetation.
I also ran the Ventana Canyon trail behind the Loews hotel. It's not paved, quite raw and definitely more of a walking trail, but is also beautiful in its own way. You're climbing over rocks, through dried-up creek beds and across small streams, but that doesn't bother me. It would be like an Xterra run.
Despite the freezing cold, I did attempt Mount Lemmon on the bike. I had driven to the top (Summerhaven) the day before and it is absolutely stunning. It was in the mid-twenties that day- their coldest day ever as well- but I bet by March it will be perfect. People sledding down snow hills in Tucson, AZ- now I've seen it all. The elevation gain from bottom to top is about 6100 ft, topping out at 8200 ft. The air is so thin and dry that it does a number on you if you live near sea level like me. I made it five miles up the mountain on the bike before my feet and hands went numb, and it was getting dark. When the sun sets over the ridge, the temperature dropped about 15 degrees. I suspect that will feel great in March also. The shoulder is very generous most of the climb up, but very thin on the way down- strange. The OS gave me the strength to have kept going even higher (thanks, TR!), but frankly the ride down was terrifying. Guys were flying past me down 6% grades doing 30 mph around tight curves, and they seemed quite annoyed by my 15 mph pace. But I lived to tell about it, so who's laughing now? More cassette teeth would be a beneficial swap here.
I saw some crazy-fit riders passing me both up and down- lots of wild kits, and this definitely wasn't your normal local tri club. I bet spring break on Mount Lemmon will be one huge roadie orgy. It's 26 miles to the top, no false flats here; just straight-up climb- I'll be interested to see how we organize that.
Probably the most epic ride of my life- cannot wait to do it with friends. It's kind of a strange journey to get there, though. I find Tucson to be one of the most bizarre cities I've ever visited. A paradox of beauty and poverty. Well designed in some ways, poorly planned in others. For instance, you have to go about seven miles south and then three miles east, to then go back seven miles north to get to the base of the mountain. I don't know if we'll be expected to just HTFU and do it, or if we'll coordinate meeting at the base? I'm guessing the former, but Google Map it and you'll understand how goofy it is.
Apparently there's a bike path that surrounds the entire city. Maybe we can get up early and tackle that on Friday? I'd propose moving Mount Lemmon to Friday to ride that on fresh legs, but something tells me Saturday is the day cyclists take possession of that road.
Similarly, as you ride around, you need to know the area. You go from wide lanes with bike paths, to no bike path, to quasi-freeway overpass, and back to no bike path, to crumbling two-lane road, to wide bike path again. And if you don't know the 4-1-1, people will honk and give you the finger. Which is yet another paradox as I found the community to be generally quite bike conscious and bike friendly most of the time.
I think we're going to have an unbelievable experience in March. Like many, ahem, I thought and hoped we'd have more attendees sign up initially. I think that if we gave away a few, say R5's as raffle prizes, perhaps even nightly in some collaboration with TriSports, we could really teach the other members a lesson and confirm full enrollment next year. Who's with me? (My size is 56 cm.)
Bart- I'm still debating on the camp in general... The car and bike rental thing was just another factor. I'm not sure I'm up to Mt. Lemmon (def. not a good climber, although no doubt this would make me stronger) and I'm def. not a fan of "hanging off the cliff windy roads " (a la Big Bear/Arrowhead in Cali) in a car, let alone a bike! Yikes! LOL
@Bart. This is great info. I plan to pull all my details in when my OS is done and I have some more free time. My Tri-Sition store said they wo uld pack and ship my bike. I plan to take advantage of John Stark's deal for $100 and have it delivered to the hotel.
What is the hotel delivery deal you are referring too? I am still trying to decide if I want to ship my bike or rent one through Velolet. I hate spending the $ for a rental when I could use the same $ to buy a bike travel case. I'm thinking of bringing my road bike.
Also, I am flying into Phoenix since I can use my airline points and get a free flight, Tuscon just took too many points for the options that were available. Anyone else planning to come into Phoenix? Perhaps we can carpool with a rental together?
As of this moment . . . you ship to TriSports and they can hold it for you and you pick up there (they are on the way from the airport to Loews) or have it sent to Loews Resort for you to pick up there. We will have a secure room for bike pick-up.
For $100 TriSports will also assemble your bike and have it ready for pick or deliver it to Loews AND disassemble, box up and ship to anywhere you want in the U.S. All for the $100.
So, in short, you pay to ship to Tucson and pay TriSports to ship it home for you.
If you don't want any of the assemble, disassemble stuff, the TriSport fee for simply receiving and shipping back will be less. I will look into that fee.
John
@Dusty - here is the deal I was referring to from a post by John Stark. I asked my local tri-store and they said all I have to do is bring my fully assembled bike to them about a week before I want it delivered. They would break it down and ship it. I plan to send it to TriSports and pay the $100 for them to deliver to the hotel, and on Saturday, break it down and send it back to my tri-store for them to put it back together. I plan to make the phone calls and wire this in after the OS (SuperBowl Weekend). The pros to this vs. renting is that this is my ride, the other is not. I'll pay for that and it's ok. BTW - I will take my tri-bike.
As far as the travel, my wife and I will fly into Phoenix and drive a rental. I'll save about $250 and it'll only be a two hour drive. That plus the other stuff Bart wrote makes this the smart deal. Although my wife says she is going because RnP made this out to be so cool, when she figures out that the triathlete's idea of fun is a bit different from hers, she may back out. I'll enter that battlefield about a month out and proceed with reservations at that point. So, if that's the case, we can share the rental.
@John Stark - if I got the bike stuff wrong, please correct me. Thanks!
@Joe - Cool, thanks for digging that info out for me. I am picky about my bike so I leaning towards bringing my own. Just like to know I am on my ride. Plus I get power for the epic climb up Mt. Lemmon (as a big dude climbing is not my friend, should be fun). Just let me know about pooling on the rental if that comes to pass. Thanks!
@John Stark - Do I need to do anything to sign up for the $100 Tri-Sports option?
Okay - finalizing my travel plan and here is where I am:
1. Wife Not Going - so, I just sent John Stark a request for 50% of my Social Ticket ($164.99/2 = $82.49) 2. I am driving. So, it is 12 hours and I'm willing to travel with someone and work out the details through PMs off-line. 3. If someone along I-10 wants to link up and travel separately - but together, let me know as well. If I am travelling alone, I'll stay in El Paso on Tusday and bring it in on Wednesday. 4. I am bringing my tri-bike - leaving the road bike at home. It's been in my pain cave all winter long on the drainer and I'm just tired of it.
This is starting to come together! Really looking forward to it!
I am renting a Tri bike from Trisports and I'm in doubt if I should take my powertape wheel with me (its quite a hustle to carry it from Brazil) or stay watts free for the duration of the camp???? If worth the hustle I'm fine with it ..... But, is it???? Any advice???
Just draft behind Coach R, you'll get all the work you can handle.
Seriously, treat this rally as enjoyment/fellowship first, don't get lost in minutiae of training data. I say leave the wheel @ home, not worth the hassle. There will be more than enough work to meet anyone's training goals/needs.
~ Joe H: I'm driving up I-10 from San Antonio on Tuesday night as well! What are the odds?
Unfortunately, I've got another rider and a bike- so if you'd like to draft off me (yuck yuck), it'll be good practice for the rally. If so, PM me! Please note that: 1.) I can't leave S.A. until around 6 PM and 2.) my plans are to transition (yuck yuck) in Van Horn, TX (I was thinking Hotel El Capitan.) That adds about 2 hours to Wednesday (with proper pacing and power, of course.)
At 550 miles, El Paso would be just a little too far to drive starting that late, considering I'm actually landing at SAT at 5:30 PM b/c I'm coming in from Ironman San Juan... Because yes, I have serious mental problems just like the rest of you whack-jobs. Isn't this National Rally basically a tri-intervention?
Hey- I'm popping a "Red Star Cluster" and announcing that unless this sequester gets solved tomorrow, I'm going to pull out of the National Rally. I'm looking at a 20% pay cut for 5 months, or a total of 22 unpaid days.
I will send an e-mail to the admin tomorrow if things don't change. If I went at this point, I would expend more SAUs than I have earned in the last year. Money is secondary.
Comments
I just placed my order for cycling gear though the store and it went through. So I guess they have stock. I suggest all those interested in looking EN during the camp do the same before stocks are depleted!!!!!
Juan,
Did you get your order yet? I ordered a new tri Jersey a couple weeks before IMAZ in XL which they showed in stock and never received it. Finally reached out to them last week and they told me they didn't have it and issued a credit.
I did Dusty. Sorry you were not so lucky!!!
Hi Folks:
Some folks have asked that instead of shipping their bike to and from the event can they rent bike in Tucson? I have confirmed today that the answer is YES!
Our partner for this event, Trisports.com, is offering a 10% discount to EN folks who rent through http://www.velolet.com. Simply put in Tucson, AZ as your location and the dates you want (March 20-24, 2013) and it will show a list of bike available. Looks like Cervello road and tri bike are currently available.
Take a look and let me know your thoughts or any questions you may have.
I will provide the discount code when folks ask for it. You can do so my emailing me at ENRaceDirector@gmail.com.
Rock on!
John
Me again! Just got an email that Velolet just wants everyone to know the bike availability is LIMITED to what they have so orders are on a first-come-first-served basis! We have a BIG group heading to Tucson in March and there will be several other groups there in March doing camps as well. So if you are even considering renting a bike . . . do it NOW!
I will have the discount code shortly so ping me directly and I will send it out to you as soon as I get it.
John
Even though I will be getting my Brand New P5 in january, I'm evaluating renting a bike in Tucson to avoid the hustle of flying from and back to Brasil with my bike.
Two questions:
1) Is there much to gain from the camp riding one's own TT bike worth that hustle? Or I will be just fine doing the camp with a good rental.
2) if rental OK, given I will arrive a day earlier and depart a day earlier, how many days would you recommend I rent the bike for? Will we ride all days?
Tks much,
Juan
@John Stark - since we are coming up on the 2 month out mark, could you include in your next update the travel details (again I am sure).
Thanks, Joe
I was checking out the registration page and saw that it's fully refundable through 1/13/13. Then 50% throuh 3/1/13.
http://www.endurancenation.us/landing/endurance-nation-national-rally-2013/#6
Unfortunatly, I think I'm going to have to take advantage of this
I will tell you that it costs $55 from the airport to the hotel by taxi each way, and I rented a car last week there for $20/day, so you may want to run the numbers to determine the most cost-effective option for you.
I was in Tucson for business last week and thought I'd post some brief notes...
uld pack and ship my bike. I plan to take advantage of John Stark's deal for $100 and have it delivered to the hotel.
John - hopefully that service is still available.
What is the hotel delivery deal you are referring too? I am still trying to decide if I want to ship my bike or rent one through Velolet. I hate spending the $ for a rental when I could use the same $ to buy a bike travel case. I'm thinking of bringing my road bike.
Also, I am flying into Phoenix since I can use my airline points and get a free flight, Tuscon just took too many points for the options that were available. Anyone else planning to come into Phoenix? Perhaps we can carpool with a rental together?
@Dusty - here is the deal I was referring to from a post by John Stark. I asked my local tri-store and they said all I have to do is bring my fully assembled bike to them about a week before I want it delivered. They would break it down and ship it. I plan to send it to TriSports and pay the $100 for them to deliver to the hotel, and on Saturday, break it down and send it back to my tri-store for them to put it back together. I plan to make the phone calls and wire this in after the OS (SuperBowl Weekend). The pros to this vs. renting is that this is my ride, the other is not. I'll pay for that and it's ok. BTW - I will take my tri-bike.
As far as the travel, my wife and I will fly into Phoenix and drive a rental. I'll save about $250 and it'll only be a two hour drive. That plus the other stuff Bart wrote makes this the smart deal. Although my wife says she is going because RnP made this out to be so cool, when she figures out that the triathlete's idea of fun is a bit different from hers, she may back out.
I'll enter that battlefield about a month out and proceed with reservations at that point. So, if that's the case, we can share the rental. 
@John Stark - if I got the bike stuff wrong, please correct me. Thanks!
@Joe - Cool, thanks for digging that info out for me. I am picky about my bike so I leaning towards bringing my own. Just like to know I am on my ride. Plus I get power for the epic climb up Mt. Lemmon (as a big dude climbing is not my friend, should be fun). Just let me know about pooling on the rental if that comes to pass. Thanks!
@John Stark - Do I need to do anything to sign up for the $100 Tri-Sports option?
1. Wife Not Going - so, I just sent John Stark a request for 50% of my Social Ticket ($164.99/2 = $82.49)
2. I am driving. So, it is 12 hours and I'm willing to travel with someone and work out the details through PMs off-line.
3. If someone along I-10 wants to link up and travel separately - but together, let me know as well. If I am travelling alone, I'll stay in El Paso on Tusday and bring it in on Wednesday.
4. I am bringing my tri-bike - leaving the road bike at home. It's been in my pain cave all winter long on the drainer and I'm just tired of it.
This is starting to come together! Really looking forward to it!
If worth the hustle I'm fine with it ..... But, is it????
Any advice???
Seriously, treat this rally as enjoyment/fellowship first, don't get lost in minutiae of training data. I say leave the wheel @ home, not worth the hassle. There will be more than enough work to meet anyone's training goals/needs.
Wheel staying home!!!
Looking forward to meet you and ALL!!!
~ Joe H: I'm driving up I-10 from San Antonio on Tuesday night as well! What are the odds?
Unfortunately, I've got another rider and a bike- so if you'd like to draft off me (yuck yuck), it'll be good practice for the rally. If so, PM me! Please note that: 1.) I can't leave S.A. until around 6 PM and 2.) my plans are to transition (yuck yuck) in Van Horn, TX (I was thinking Hotel El Capitan.) That adds about 2 hours to Wednesday (with proper pacing and power, of course.)
At 550 miles, El Paso would be just a little too far to drive starting that late, considering I'm actually landing at SAT at 5:30 PM b/c I'm coming in from Ironman San Juan... Because yes, I have serious mental problems just like the rest of you whack-jobs. Isn't this National Rally basically a tri-intervention?
Anyone still looking for a roommate for the Rally?
Due to the impending federal budget doom, my family wont be coming with me now, so I have an extra bed and am looking to share. Let me know!
I will send an e-mail to the admin tomorrow if things don't change. If I went at this point, I would expend more SAUs than I have earned in the last year. Money is secondary.