3T America is planning on hosting a USA version of the 300km Jeroboam event. The format will somewhat follow the Italian affair (http://www.jeroboam.bike/) with 75km (Standard) 150km (Magnum) and 300km (Jeroboam) distances but it will be spread over two days and we'll add a paved 150km road Fondo to the 150km gravel "Enduro-style" affair. There's also rumors of a special award for anyone who completes the Réhoboam - doubling up on the 300km Saturday event and 150km Sunday routes for a 450km weekend.
I'm looking for advice and tips of what to include, what to avoid, great features and pitfalls of events you've attended, etc.
I see Paul Errington over at Gravelcyclist.com has a ride report on this other race. I bet if you reached out to him he could give you some suggestions. The major pita I see the way that race is set up is most of the race is set up to ride in the dark starting at 4 pm. I have done plenty of ultra road rides and most start(rando 400k 600k etc.)start at 4 AM in the morning. That would be a suggestion from my end as I have only started a race that started at night. The Rocky Mountain 1200k which starts if I remember right at 10 pm. Good luck on your race.
Now reading what I typed I guess you couldn't start that ride that late if you expected the riders to do the Sunday ride/race also.
Thanks, I know Paul and rode the first 200km with him at the Jeroboam in Italy. I don't see a way of avoiding the darkness and fitting the 300km Jeroboam event between the 75km Standard and 150km Magnum is important for staffing limitations.
I don't think lights could be avoided regardless of start time, do you?
SuperDave wrote:Thanks, I know Paul and rode the first 200km with him at the Jeroboam in Italy. I don't see a way of avoiding the darkness and fitting the 300km Jeroboam event between the 75km Standard and 150km Magnum is important for staffing limitations.
I don't think lights could be avoided regardless of start time, do you?
-Dave
I have no problems of putting lights on my bike and riding in the dark as I have ridden many a rando ride in the dark. You were asking for my suggestion so if I wanted it set up the best way. It would be start at 4 am or 5 am get most of the miles in on the daylight time and then finish the ride up later that evening instead of riding. 10 hrs. or so in the dark first and then finishing the ride up in daylight. Most people find it tougher riding in the dark and the newbie here to gravel riding but now throw in having to navigate an unknown course in the dark and thinking you might have a chance for lots of folks of getting lost more easily.
Sounds pretty cool; I enjoyed the recap and video from the two guys at the Italian event. Am I to understand that there will be an option for a 150km road ride Saturday and a 150km gravel ride Sunday? It might be wishful thinking, but that would be very appealing especially if travel is involved. To have two rides of around 100mi back to back on a weekend is very doable for a moderately trained cyclist, and it would also add some intrigue to the event as well. We have done several weekends travelling to a grand fondo type event on a Saturday, and a gravel event nearby on Sunday. All you need to do is bring two sets of tires! Speaking of travelling, where will this event be held?
