Stagecoach 400 Discussion 2012

[ScottM]

Alright folks, we have a brand new bikepacking event in California that just started.

Started, but a bit late due to a missing shipment of SPOT trackers.  But thanks to heroic efforts by Matthew Lee, Brendan and Mary, everyone is up on the board and tracking.

Tracking link:

http://trackleaders.com/stagecoach400

Race site:

https://socalenduro.wordpress.com/stagecoach-400/

First time events are always extra exciting since there are so many unknowns.  There are no trip reports to glean info from, no time splits to use for planning.  No one really knows how it's going to shake out.  We have some strong riders lined up and a huge field, too.

[ScottM]

It looks like there is some route confusion going on, right off the bat, with seemingly half of the field staying on course, and half off.  Anyone have any insight as to what might be going on?

[mikepro]

Oh look, another pink/blue dot race to follow... what fun!

Strong field for this race.  Not sure what was up with the initial few miles where 1/2 the field road some dirt trails and other half stuck to the road.

Fast downhill start.  At this rate, the 400 miles will be over in a day or two.

[Area45]

Jay P is flying!

[elitheknife]

Go Hunter!

[hikernks]

Hey all, I can probably shed some insight on the mixup at first.  I was riding, and got sideswiped by a car and am out (I'm good, LOTS of road rash!).  Evidently there was a mix up on a road with an easement issue.  Rather than argue it out, about 1/2 of us took an alternate route.

[mikepro]

Jay P is flying!

10mph average for the leaders ain't bad.  Anywhere from 100 miles to 120 miles down the hatch for the boys and girls up front, and still moving.  Looks like a nice night to be out ridin' in SoCal.  Stagecoach RV gonna get a lot of visitors tonight.

[ScottM]

Thanks hikernks -- I figured it was something odd like that.  Hopefully it didn't foul people up too much.  Sorry about the car crash -- probably the worst way to have to drop from a bikepacking race.  Heal up.

JayP is killing it, but look at Eszter, not that far behind him and leading the women!  I can't wait to check the tracker in the AM and see how night 1 shakes out.   120 miles down in the first 12 hours.  I don't know if there are really many slow parts on this route, but someone predicted ~48 hours for the winner (in the other thread).  Keep pedalin', all.

[hikernks]

Thanks Scott.  I'm good, just sore, but the bike is trashed.  Sucks.  There was a really great and diverse group.  What little of the ride I did was amazing, and I definitely plan on doing an ITT!

[ScottM]

JayP has a 30 mile lead.  Looks like he is the only one that didn't sleep.  Eszter took ~4 hours, and is still in second place! 

I'm guessing heat is no longer a concern as they are into the coastal mountains and then under the influence of the ocean.  But I could be wrong...

Noble Canyon is the only place I have ridden on the route, and it's good, good stuff.

[DaveH]

Anyone notice that Ez stopped 4+ hours but her time to Alpine was only 3 hours short of JayP's time???  Holy shiznit batman, Ez is possessed, lighting it up good and proper.  I didn't really expect that...early season and all. 

JayP will be tough to catch...it will be interesting to see how he holds on to his sleepless run.  Seems to be the new thing this year, going sleepless.  All the cool kids are doing it.

Cool route and wow what a stacked field for a first year event.

[jenyjo]

OMG! OMG! OMG!  wwwhhhheeeeee!!!!!

[Chad B]

Good route, there are a few sections in N San Diego that have some road sections that can be changed to double/single track (Artesian and Camino del Sur Rd).

First year route looks incredible though. Good group of riders out there. 

[Chad B]

JayP has a 30 mile lead.  Looks like he is the only one that didn't sleep.  Eszter took ~4 hours, and is still in second place! 

I'm guessing heat is no longer a concern as they are into the coastal mountains and then under the influence of the ocean.  But I could be wrong...

Noble Canyon is the only place I have ridden on the route, and it's good, good stuff.

I hear a few of the riders have Alpacka rafts and will be taking the ocean instead of Mission Beach Bike Path.

[RossC]

Has Jay P actually stopped or is his tent icon just because of patchy spot signal? Eszter is killing it out there!

[DaveH]

All we can say for sure is Jay's most recent location report is 8+ hours old.  This could be due to a number of factors, but I would have to put turning it off at the top of the list   We may not know where he is before he hits Idyllwild.

Quite a few folks in Alpine this morning.  They are set up nicely for a mid-day dip in the ocean.  How friggin cool is that???!!!

[tetontodd]

Where is JP? He must have not reset his spot right??
Any updates from the course? Ezster is bad ass! I haven't seen or heard from Rick Hunter since the early days of the cascade cream puff! Good to see him out there
Keep on chipping away everyone, good job!!

[hikernks]

I'm headed back to Idyllwild in about an hour, and hope to be there for the finishers, but not sure where JP is.  I'll try and get pics and post them for everyone.

[fastmtnbiker33w]

This event is one that will really take off.  Hell...with 42 people for a first year event, that's amazing!  I would have loved to do this one, but with a real career, gas prices, kid....yadda yadda....I have to watch from the sidelines.  The urban portion is one of the coolest things ever.  I can just imagine the thoughts of casual riders, runners, and walkers as stinky mountain bikers loaded with gear ride past them.

Can't wait to hear stories and see more pics.

[schillingsworth]

Fun race to watch from the sidelines!! I'll have to put this one on my radar for the future. Looks like JP has his SPOT working again and BAM, crushing it. Ezster is riding super strong as well. Very interested to hear more tales from the trail as riders finish up. Good luck to all, ride strong!