The Ontario Ride to Conquer Cancer

depmode · Veteran Member

questions about the ride

Simon.Monk · Member

Hi.
I'll try answering.
1. Last year there was no timing. They wouldn't be able to keep track of 2850 people. So you're on your own on this one.
The best way to time yourself would be to buy & install a bike computer. The low end ones will tell you your current speed, kms (both trip kms and odometer), time, average speed, maximum speed. More expensive ones have other features such as cadence (pedalling speed) and heart rate.

2. I don't remember there being any music. But it certainly wasn't needed as far getting people pumped up. Just the whole atmosphere and energy of the event was more than enough.

3. Hamilton stopover - There were a couple of shower trucks: tractor-trailers with shower stalls in the trailer. They hook them up to a fire hydrant or a large watertank, with 2 massive water heaters in the back. So there's plenty of hot water. Beer - one or two complementary beers. I can't remember exactly. You won't want more than 2 anyways. After all the exertion of the day, it's almost enough to put you under the table. Entertainment was a local Hamilton band, and of course the speeches, which were actually very informative and fun - not like any other speeches I've snored through.

Hope this answers your questions.

neilm · Member

Welcome aboard. Just remember it's not a race so don't worry about time but if you want to keep track just like Simon says biggrin

get a low end wireless computer they're inexpensive. Music? no music soak up the atmosphere it's pretty awesome there's so much going on around you not like spin classes where you get look at a wall for an hour and a half. As far as Hamilton goes? Enjoy some of the energy but dude? seriously? I camped last year and I enjoy camping but not after you've just ridden the escarpment and climbed Hamilton mountain... trust me, get a room!!

Washago rider · Member

I would agree with all above, cheap wireless will do it for you, Course is well marked , you will not need a map + $500 gps, or nap sack full of goodies. travel light . Check points are like Sobeys stores and lunch area, a Swiss chalet and Sobeys. I did not want to leave. Hamilton , I am an avg 27 kmh rider, finished Sat appx 1 pm with stops, wish I had slowed and enjoyed more. I slept there but may do a room, I pitched another tent after other dude showed up 6 hours after me, blew up a 6'x6' -8 " thick matress on his half of a 5'x5' pup tent . And put my stuff outside -Rude . Couple beers is right. Bands x 3 were good. Speeches pumped you up. Music, NO hundreds of riders cheering , chatting will carry you threw. Niagara had some thing playing but could not hear over crowd? Satarday's start, it had a Sobeys size parking lot full of riders trying to get threw 10 foot wide hole, so back people ( i was there) took 15 minutes to start. Sunday was eat something , roads opened and you left when you were ready, OH, get up early or wait in 20 + min line for potty and then again for food-coffee!
Medical tent had pain killers , creams , EVERY thing.
Cheers

depmode · Veteran Member

Thank you all for your answers - its appreciated.

The reason for wanting to know about the timing was for one of the fundraising ideas i had - i was going to set up a time chart and have people pay $2 for a block of time for how long it will take me to complete the ride. the person closest to the actual time would win 50% of the money with the other 50% going to my fundraising.

Im also going to be looking into getting a hotel for the night too!

ehmbee · Member

With regards to training with music, why don't you check out my CD, Riding My Bike. It's very inspirational while you're training for the ride or just want to listen to it for your pleasure.

Check out the post I did for this here. Take care.

BG0411 · Newbie

Great to hear that your fundraising is going well and that you are excited about the challenge!

1. Indeed headphones are illigal on the road and there's no real music away from the start and finish lines. The cheering posts are quite loud and with the thousands of riders you'll be fine without the music. Some are even singing as they ride and lots of conversation especially at rest stations.

2. Bring money but all the food and beer is provided free of cost. You'll get lots of information prior to ride day.

3. The best way to track your speed, KMH, avg.speed is by a tachometer that you can buy at most bike shops for as low as $30 and up! Hooks to your bike and can be read as you ride.

SSM · Veteran Member

Last year I bought a bike speaker to hook my ipod to - I had tunes the whole way! It was from the bike show and was about $30 - just velcrod onto my handles bars! Was very worth it - I was even able to take requests along the route!

ndupuis · Newbie

Great fundraising idea - good luck! As for the hotel - I stayed in a hotel with another rider from our team. Although we did get sleep, it was short. I was out the moment my head hit the pillow. You end up staying for the whole party, grabbing a very late 15 min cab to the hotel and then having to get up extra early and line up for a cab back for breakfast (5:30/6). All in all, hope that they still have dorm rooms at Mohawk College and if not, I'm probably going to tent it.

See you in June.

SSM · Veteran Member

Well I will talk about the other side of it - I tented it last year and will be hoteling it this year!

The guy in the tent behind us snored the entire night - I was wide awake even though I used earplugs. To go to the washroom it entailed finding and putting on shoes, unzipping the tent, walking to the potties, searching for something to wash hands with, walking back to the tent, un zipping the tent again, removing shoes and then trying to settle in again.

I have already looked on line at the dorm rooms but there is nothing available - I assume the ride has blocked all the rooms and they will be release once they are annouced.

Everyone has to do what works best for them - a comfy quiet bed it where I am headed this year!

biathlonman · Member

This ride and all your rides will go better if you have a bike computer. Without data, you have nothing, and it motivates your training.

The rest and lunch stops are great - try to enjoy them because they are very well equpped. The problem is, the RTCC feels like a race and you feel compelled to get on.

Camp sites are very comfortable - showers - food - music - beer but the guy who wrote about problem in his tent couldn't have had a good night.

I told them on Day Zero that I am a very heavy snorer - that I was riding alone and that anyone they put in with me would be miserable. So, they gave me a tent all to myself. No joke, I had one of the best sleeps I have ever had, anywhere.

In any case, if you go to a hotel you miss a lot of the spirit of this thing - it is the most luxurious camp I've ever had.

Biathlonman