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Anthem Moonlight RIde - Cycle


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Richmond, Virginia
United States
Sportsbackers
80F / 27C
Overcast
Total Time = 1h 04m
Overall Rank = /1000
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Got to Sportsbackers and picked up my bag, mounted the mandatory rear light and my ride number. Took a bunch of laps around the parking lot. Looked at the triple tandem across the parking lot from me. Really cool.
Event warmup:

Few laps around the parking lot....about 3 miles. Hung out. Maybe 15 minutes before we're supposed to start I check my headlight. Dumb azz...should have done this earlier cause my batteries are dead! Ran to the bike tent and find they have clip on frogs for $15...run to my car to grab the money. Thought I had grabbed a 20....dumb azz...I grabbed a 10, gotta run back to the car for the rest....clip on the new light and positioned myself towards the front of the pack.
Bike
  • 1h 04m
  • 17 miles
  • 15.94 mile/hr
Comments:

So we all start off together and I recognize the neighborhood from other races I've done. We're headed down the Boulevard and then have to do our first 180. Enormous pothole on the inside of this turn. About 1/2 mile up from that our first casualty--someone fell. Not sure how that one happened cause I didn't see it happen. Just saw him getting up.

Make another turn and we're headed through another neighborhood and it's pretty cool. Divided road so you see the headlights and taillights from bikes all around you, then there's a turn that takes us along "lakeside" (more like a big pond). No way to light the way for us so organizers have a bunch of glow sticks on the ground. Somehow I feel like Hansel and Gretel looking for the crumbs.

We had a spot where we had to go up a ramp. Very cool to see the bikes lined up around the ramp on the way. Would be a cool picture. Just as I was thinking that another lady said it.

Finally the split off of the 8 mile loop from the 17 mile loop. We bear right and head down past the hospital (St Mary's...those of us who have worked at a Bon Secour facility refer to it as the vatican cause it's the largest of the Bon Secour hospitals in the area) Down Monument Ave and back up.

Eventually we have to merge back with the short course only we're heading down a hill and have to take a sharp right to merge. The 8 mile riders aren't making much room for us. Second casualty there. Saw the girl go down. She seemed okay so I kept going.

Ride back into Sportsbackers Stadium and see a bunch of little kids riding. Cheer the little guys on.

No clue about speed cause I can't see my cateye. It isn't really a race anyway. More like a fun ride that I score free entry into from work.
What would you do differently?:

Check the headlight before leaving the house.
This wasn't a race, I scored free entry into this event cause I work for the sponsor. I've never ridden at night before and the adjustments to the visibility are a definite factor to consider for night time events. Couple folks riding pretty close together side by side. I was surprised they didn't crash.
Post race
Warm down:

Rode back to put my bike and helmet in the car. Decided to go home since my husband was home and the kids weren't.

Event comments:

There were at least 3 hairpin 180 degree turns on this course. Not sure that's a good idea for a night time ride.

The area where the longer course and shorter course riders merged was poorly thought out. As mentioned, a short downhill with a sharp right turn for us and the shot riders sisn't seem to know how to merge.

A good community event to promote getting people active.




Last updated: 2009-07-08 12:00 AM
Biking
01:04:00 | 17 miles | 15.94 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/1000
Performance: Good
Wind: None
Course: Winds through Richmond with lots of 18 hairpin turns. Parts of the marathon and Monument Ave 10k courses. All riders start together, about 4 miles in the "long" course riders split fom the "short" course riders (8 vs 17 miles) Then around mile 14 we have to merge together.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge Too easy
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5]

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2009-08-08 9:46 PM

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Royal(PITA)
14270
50005000200020001001002525
West Chester, Ohio
Subject: Anthem Moonlight RIde


2009-08-09 7:04 AM
in reply to: #2336376

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Elite
3595
20001000500252525
Quebec, Canada
Subject: RE: Anthem Moonlight RIde
Good job Judy

This seems like a fun event to do, I never really rode at night time. 
2009-08-09 9:48 AM
in reply to: #2336376

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Veteran
188
100252525
Rochester, NY
Subject: RE: Anthem Moonlight RIde
Sounds like fun, although I'd be a little afraid to ride at night too. 
Nice job!
2009-08-10 5:33 PM
in reply to: #2336376

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Champion
7163
500020001002525
Verona WI--Ironman Bike Country!
Subject: RE: Anthem Moonlight RIde
Sounds like a really fun time, especially seeing the little kids!
2009-08-11 11:07 AM
in reply to: #2336376

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Master
1591
1000500252525
San Diego, CA
Subject: RE: Anthem Moonlight RIde
Nice evening ride!
2009-08-11 12:37 PM
in reply to: #2336376

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Science Nerd
28760
50005000500050005000200010005001001002525
Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: Anthem Moonlight RIde
Nice ride!  That sounds like an interesting route to take at night.  All the hairpins don't seem like a great idea in the dark.


2009-08-11 10:23 PM
in reply to: #2336376

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Champion
5312
5000100100100
Calgary
Subject: RE: Anthem Moonlight RIde
sounded like a fun time. Up next, the dusk til dawn ironman, swimming in the dark.......
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