Tour de Orlando - Cycle

The race map was a hand drawn 100 mile map with about a third of the roads labled. The roads were marked with paint to tell you where to turn. Some showed turns the wrong way, others were not marked at all. People started getting lost in the first 10 minutes. I know this race was planned well in advance, but it looked like it was thrown together in 2 days.

We saw two SAG stops. One was great. It had plenty of everything. The other was on the wrong side of a busy road and had some drinks and cliff bars. We almost rode past it, good thing we didn't. We did not see another water stand in the next 50 miles.
That's right FIFTY miles. Apparently, we missed a turn that was not marked for one stop and they had put another stop a block off the route. Noone even knew this til later. So we ended up stopping at an intersection to study the map some more (several map stops) and the one and only support van came by and gave us some water. One of our group was having some health issues and was dehydrated. I opted to ride back with her to make sure she did not get lost and the others tried to find the rest of the route. So at that crossroads we parted ways. We ended up with 82 miles. The others wound up with about 109.

Once we got back, this is the best part, the race buffet was GREEN bananas, Bread and PB&J. Also, a coupon for a piece of cheese pizza, which was actually good. For our free energy drink, we got to stand and listen to an infomercial from a guy about his wonderful "energy drink" and sample a 5 ounce taste. That's right, a sample. It was like being at an expo and having a salesman show you the latest thing. It was almost laughable.

Next, I hear the race workers. They pull everyone off the course at the 6 hour 30 minute mark. It is supposed to be an eight hour event.
So at the 8 hour mark, on the dot, they left the site.
Yes, several people were still on the course.
Yes, the support had left an hour and a half ago.
No, you could not run the course backwards to check on the people because the course was so messed up you wouldn't know where to look. Especially for us, we were from out of town.

I have other things to vent, but I am too tired.
The ride was great, just not the event.

Buy a local map and trace the route out properly.
NEVER trust race organizers to provide anything.
Be completely self-sufficient. Maybe carry a backpack with supplies.

Rode the last part of the ride slow. Walked around for 30 minutes after the race.


Inadequate race organization. Never had to pace myself for 100 mile ride before.


Looked like the first race Buttar.com had ever put on.

They did not seem to care about the sport, just the money end. Get in, do as little as possible, get paid, get out. I hope this is not and indication of the way they run their events. My local club was planning on hitting half a dozen of their tri's this year.

Now I am not so sure.