The Official 2018 VQ/CC thread

There will be a volunteer stationed there to make sure you stay on Main Divide.

 

It was in good shape back then. Now it is rutted pretty good. We went down it a month or 2 ago and it was really rough. I know I had issues with several sections.

 

It there plenty of parking on Blackstar the morning of the race or should I arrange to be dropped off?

 

There is usually plenty of parking.....but the later you get there, the farther down you end up having to park.

 

I'm gonna park where I'm used to parking....the Tree Farm.

It's basically downhill to the gate from there.

 

The Tree Farm Parking fills up fast.

 

Good thing I'm used to getting up early....the worm is mine!!

 

Never had a problem finding parking, and this year I plan on arriving around 5 am.

A bigger logistical "issue" is a ride back to Blackstar Canyon....
Some ride their bike back (painful).
Some take a shuttle (I never tried it).
In the past, my wife was there at the end waiting for me (and she gave me a ride back to my truck).
Make sure you have a game plan for the end of the ride.

 

I always camp at O’Neil and make a weekend of it. Nothing better than walking to get cleaned up, a few margaritas at Rose canyon followed by some s’mores by the campfire.

 

I rode the (old) Switchback Cyclery van shuttle back last year and it was fun to chit chat with other riders after the event on the way back to our cars. I see the same van almost everyday since they live around the corner from me.

 

This is doing it right!

 

If I didn’t live so close I’d do this as well. We camped there in 2016 when my son was only 6 weeks old but had my father in law drop his trailer off, @SnakeCharmer even came down for a Luge run that weekend. Good times! #glamping

Oh yeah, grabbing a steak at Trabuco Steakhouse is nice while camping as well!

 

The wife will be thrilled to drive me to Black Star in the morning, and then hang around at the bottom of Motorway. She might even pick me up at the end of the wash afterwards. Maybe...

 

I haven't even asked my wife to take me or pick me up. She thinks I'm insane as it is.

 

I’ll be riding my bike back to B*.

 

Given my fitness level, I probably will be too. From 4 Corners.

 

No more pessimism!

 

I'm more of a realist...that way I'm never disappointed!!

 

I actually say that exact same thing at work on a regular basis. Being too positive sets you up for letdowns.

 

I only live in Irvine but camping in a trailer makes it a little less rugged.

 

Well looks like I am out. I had a stupid crash when my front end washed out leaving Quail on Wednesday night. I lost a bunch of skin, but more importantly, I think I broke some ribs.

I am pretty bummed to say the least considering all of the training I have been doing for BWR... Through a bad cold and several weekends of rain. I am getting a lot better by the day, but I don't think I'll be up for the heavy breathing and core work on the bicycle next Saturday. I am 90% out for BWR, but I may try to ride and see how I do. I doubt it though.

Good luck to everyone out there and I will probably be at the bottom of B* cheering everyone on.

 

No bueno at all. Ribs are no joke. Heal up quick, and maybe BWR will be attainable - and there's always the Wafer if necessary.

 

No bueno...

Heal up.

 

Sorry to hear. Heal up fast and keep your spirits high!

 

Dang Rick.....that sucks. Sorry to hear. Hopefully you you bounce back quicker than you think.

Heal up.

 

Super bummer.

Getting any film done? Maybe just bruised and not fractured... still hurts a ton, but better to recover from.

 

Well... I tried to that night, but Urgent care wouldn't take me because I was there "because of a fall" and sent me to the ER down the street. They claimed it was their policy I asked why they have an x ray machine and how a bone would get broken without some kind of fall? It was 8:45 and they closed at 9, so we felt like they just didn't want to help me that close to closing.

We walked in to the ER and were yelled at by a guy at the front desk that they were VERY busy and would not be able to help me for several hours. I hadn't even said what was wrong yet.... For all he knew I could have been having a heart attack. He handed us a questionnaire to fill out and directed us to an empty waiting room (yeah... Super busy). Well, not all the way empty. There were a few homeless guys asleep on the floor and one homeless guy sitting in a chair yelling at himself. I told the wife that I would rather go home and if it was still bad in the morning we would make a run to another Urgent care or ER. I've been feeling a bit better every day, so I never made it back.

Gotta love the state of Health Care in the US.

 

Insult to injury, huh...

 

Go in and try again, but dress like you're homeless?

That really blows...

 

At some point in the last few years, I had to choose between having health insurance or a home.