Raven Rock Ramble 2011

News and announcements

This page contains important announcements about the ride.  Please read!!  This page will be revised up through Saturday, May 1. 

Quick notes

This page is current as of Saturday, Rebruary 19. 2011

Summary of changes

Here's a quick list of what's new/different for 2011: 

1. The tees shirts will all be the Zorrel Boston quick-dry.  Zorrel sizes their shirts differently, so make sure you pay attention to when you check your size.  
2. The cost is $35, which is actually $1 cheaper than last year if you requested the quick-dry shirt.  
3. Packet pickup will be at (location to be announced later)

Summary of non-changes

Here's a quick list of things that have stayed the same since last year: 

1. All riders must pre-register; there will be no day-of-event registration
2. Registration will likely fill by early April
3. We'll use the permanent shelters at the park for registration and food. 
4. The ride will start from the park road in front of the grassy parking area
5. Pre-ride announcements will be made promptly at 8:30
6. Mechanical support will be available at the start of the ride and on the route
7. There will be lots of enthusiastic volunteers on hand to help
8. There will be massive amounts of food!

Parking

Please view this map of Harris Lake County Park

We will be using both the paved parking area near the permanent shelters and the grassy field on the left after you enter the park. It is imperative that you NOT park on the grass alongside the road.  The folks at Harris Lake County Park have been very accommodating, and I very much want to continue to use the park.  

Carpooling is highly encouraged.  Volunteers will be directing traffic, and carpoolers will be allowed to fill the paved parking area, while solo drivers will be directed to the grassy field.  Please plan on arriving no later that 8:10am, preferably earlier, and allow 30 minutes to drive from Apex/Cary area.  The ride announcements will start promptly at 8:30am.  

Registration

All riders must pre-register, and registration will fill by early April.  You may pick up your rider packet the Friday or Saturday before the ride at (location TBD), or at the Longleaf shelter at Harris Lake County Park the morning of the ride.  

Toilets

I've arranged for porta-johns to be placed at the grassy field parking area.  There's also a porta-john at the disk golf area, and there are permanent facilities near the park shelters.  On the route, there will be toilets at all sag stops.  Sag stops 2 and 4 are at fire stations, so there will be emergency medical personnel there as well.  (Sag stops are numbered based on the 100 mile route; the 100K route bypasses Sag Stop 2). 

Food

Many of the volunteers will be bringing baked goods for the sag stops.  There will be water (courtesy Le Bleu), Gatorade, soft drinks, bananas, granola bars (courtesy SunBelt), bagels (courtesy Panera Bread), Coffee and tea (courtesy Starbucks), and all kinds of other goodies at each sag stop and at the start/finish point.  Rudino's will be delivering 40 large pizzas around 11:00 (timed for the 100K cyclists).  Food at the start/finish point will be served at the Longleaf shelter.  Water, Gatorade, and soft drinks will be available before and after the ride.  

Rider numbers

Each rider will be issued a wrist band with their rider number in their registration packet.  This is how you'll be identified as a registered rider, and also in case of emergency, so please wear the wrist band!  Make sure you keep the band loose as you attach it so that it won't be uncomfortable. 

Ride start

The will start from the road in front of the grass parking area.  Pre-ride announcements will be made from that point promptly at 8:30.  I encourage you to read the route descriptions if you're not already familiar with the route, and the cue sheet notes, below.

Hotels

Here's a map of nearby hotels.

Drop-off boxes

If you decide you want to leave any gear at a sag stop - typically a jacket as the temperature rises - they'll be able to label it with your rider number and return it to Harris Lake County Park.  In practical terms, only the crew from the first sag stop (all routes) and second sag stop (100 mile route only) will return to the park prior to the riders.  

Cue sheet notes

Alas, a lot of people won't read them, so here's the things you need to know: 

1. Obey all traffic signs and regulations.
2. In case of medical emergency, call 911.
3. To contact ride director, call David Cole at 919-924-3039.
4. To get attention of support vehicle, raise closed fist.
5. The routes are marked with stenciled arrows (100 mile is white, 100K is yellow, 50K is blue, 10 mile is red).
6. Arrows are placed beside "intersection ahead" signs; also just before and just after intersections
7. All sag stops have bathrooms. Stores are indicated on the route map.
8. An "X" in a circle indicates you have just missed a turn!
9. All routes begin and end at the park entrance on New Hill - Holleman Road.
10. Beware of speed bumps on the park road - they are big enough to cause pinch flats!
11. All routes close at 4:30 PM. Support vehicles will be monitoring the routes.