Okay.  We can stop taking over Tri Talk now!

Discuss...the 2009 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon!

Yay!

AWESOME!!!

I haven't been this excited about a race that's over a half a year away in a long time.  The wife and I are already making plans to spend a couple days in SanFran before and after the race.

She is super stoked too (I may not tell her the price tag - yikes!)

We visited earlier this year and I LOVE that town....

I haven't been to San Fran since I was 12.  I would love to take a few extra days for fun but just can't afford it.  The race is already going to cost me enough!

I haven't looked at the cost yet.  I could almost drive it, but flights should be cheap from Vegas.  I figure an average room for 4 nights and eating out...

It's the bike transport that concerns me most...  I wonder if race wheels fit in overhead....  baggage handlers scare me and I could at least protect a portion of my investment.

I'm going to have to say that they probably DO NOT.

If I were you I would drive.  We did a road trip between Vegas and San Fran when I was 12...didn't seem that far.

I'll be coming from Central Florida with the wife and 2 kids.   We definitely want to spend a few days there.....probably a couple before and a couple after.

Someone that participated last year gave me the name of a nice hotel that only cost about $100 a night and the manager treats the race participants great.....will share that when i get the name.

Gotta run and take my son to school, will be back later with lots of thoughs, questions, etc.

Yeah, I was playing with the overhead.

I just looked at mapquest.  9 hour drive...  Nope, that's just a little too long for this kid...  Flying gives me more time in CA too. 

That would be GREAT.  I would love to get a place close to the race.  Besides, that side of town is wonderful as well...

I missed Chinatown last time I went, so I will hit that up for sure.

Okay, well....think about THIS.

How far away from the airport do you live?  Let's just use 30 minutes.

30 minutes to the airport
Get there 1 hour early
1.5 hour flight
Spend an hour getting from the airport to your hotel

That's four hours.  So, you get an extra 5 hours in CA by flying?  And 5 hours on the lag end?

A nine hour drive is a DROP IN THE BUCKET.  That's a cake walk drive...easy peasy.

This is coming from the girl that drove TWENTY hours to a Half Ironman because it was cheaper than flying.

I rented one of the pensione rooms at this place:

http://www.edwardii.com/

I don't mind running down the hall to use the bathroom to save a few bucks.

What airport are you flying out of in FL?  Pensacola is the closest to me, but tix are like $500...*sigh* even on southwest!

I am willing to drive a few hours to get a cheaper flight....

i live in Central Florida, so either Orlando or Tampa.   a quick look shows Tampa at about $300'ish a ticket and slightly higher in Orlando.

i'm more than likely going to be staying at

http://www.edwardii.com/ as well.   i gotta have a private bathroom though...the wife and kids wouldn't stay if they didn't

however, if anyone has any other keep to very modest hotels they can recommend, post 'em!!

So HAS anyone tried to plunk down the registration fee yet?

The website recommends "not waiting"....especially until the 8th of Jan.

I will probably do it on 27ish December.  That's when the card closes that I want to use.

when my wife gets home, i'll likely book at the Edwards.   did you guys call to reserve or do it via the internet?

sounds like a nice BT get together will be had that weekend!!

i tell ya i haven't been this excited about any type of event in quite some time.

so now i'm wondering about transporting your bike.....what are my options?  how in the world do you take a bike on board an airline?   what is the bike transport company anyone has used?

I'll run the hotel by the official decision maker (the wife).  BUT it sounds just up her alley...

I wonder if they have a hotel bar?  BT happy hour anyone?  If not, I'm sure there is a bar close by!

As for bike transport, you can bring them on the plane, but may pay an oversize charge.  I'm not sure.  I would also stongly recomend a bike shipping case or box.  Fortunatly, I know someone who has one who already offered it to me to use.

There is also bike shipping companies, and they are not very expensive (well, a couple hundred, but that's what you can by a bike box for).  I found them online at one time, but forgot the link.

Found this.  I might just get it so I have one of my own.

Consider me "plunked"...

407 bucks.  (7 for a processing fee)...

See you there!

I'm thinking the same thing!  Maybe till the 16th though, and injoy all of Monday AND Tues in San Fran...