2009 RAAM - NCCC Buffer support Ride from OCRR Posted

[Lou]

Hello NCCC members.
We have been offered the opportunity to provide "buffer/escort" support for the 2009 Race Across America (RAAM) starting in Oceanside. NCCC's responsibility will be to ride between the racers and spectators that want to follow providing a safe space for the racers. We will escort them to the Bonsall Bridge.
This year there will be three starts:
Tuesday, June 16 @ 12:00 pm the RAAM women and 60+ solo Racers will start.
Wednesday, June 17 @ 12:00 pm the men solo and Race Across the West (RAW) racers will start.
Saturday, June 20 @ 2:00 pm the teams will start.
If you would like to be a part of this event you must wear a NCCC Kit or Jersey to identify yourself. Also, we will meet for a quick briefing by the starting staff 1 hour prior to the start (Tues, Wed @ 11:00. Sat @ 1:00) at the RAAM Office which is the Community Building North of the Oceanside Pier.
I have been advised that the main event will obviously be Saturday and that is where they will need our assist. Saturday will also be an Oceanside "car free" event titled "Saturday on the Strand". Booths will be up with a lot of people expected to watch the start and maybe ride out with the competitors. If you would like to participate in the Tuesday and Wednesday event, please do so.
Oceanside has been a very bike friendly community. NCCC has active cycling members as volunteers on the city council. We should return the support.
See you all there.
Please feel free to add questions/comments to this message.
Perhaps a late start on that Saturday from OCRR to Oceanside and back via Bonsal would work.
Lou...

RAAM Link: http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/home.php?N_webcat_id=1

edit: Removed front page link request.

[raleigh]

Lou,  I definitely want to ride on Saturday as a buffer and think that riding over from OCRR is a great idea for those of us who are coming from this direction.  Does the race start at  1PM or is that the time they would want us to arrive at the office?  Would be nice to get there a bit early to check it all out before riding out after the racers.  Hopefully we can get an organized ride heading to O'side sometime in the late morning from OCRR. 

[Lou]

Saturdays' start is at 2:00. They want us there by 1:00 for the briefing.
I'm going to try the Thursday start as well just to get familiar with the goings on. Quite a few people have done this in the previous years. Don't think is will be too complex once we are there.
I'll talk to Jeff this weekend and see about a late OCRR ride for that day to Oceanside and back.

Lou...

[Lou]

 Some people have requested a ride from OCRR to meet at the pier in Oceanside and return to OCRR. We will need to be at the Start in Oceanside by 1:00 for a pre race briefing. We should leave OCRR by 11:30. There will be no cars allowed on The Strand that day. I have created a ride to the pier and from the Old Hwy 76 back to OCRR. OCRR to Oceanside pier is about 14.8 miles. The RAAM portion is about 13 miles from the Oceanside pier to Old Hwy 76 Bridge. Old Hwy 76 Bridge to OCRR is 14 miles. Total distance 41.6 miles. Looks like it will be a long day
WE MUST HAVE OUR NCCC JERSEYS/KITS ON TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT.

Ride slip (copy and paste to your word editor)

0.0       OCRR (Lv 11:30)
           =  PAR
4.72     R  El Camino Real
8.92     R  PCH
12.38   L  Eaton
12.48   R  Broadway
12.89   L  Cassidy
13.01   R  Pacific St
14.69   L  1st St
14.73   R  The Strand
14.86   Stop for RAAM at Pier

Follow teams to Old
Highway 76 Bridge via
San Luis Rey bike path

0.0      E  Vista Way
4.8      L  Warmlands
5.3      R  Warmlands
7.15     L  Foothill
7.26     R  Foothill
8.97     L  Montevista
9.52     R  Buena Creek
10.7     L  South Santa Fe
12.61   R  N Pacific St
12.86   L  Descanso Ave
13.12   R  Las Posas Rd
13.94   L  OCRR

See you there.
Lou...

[Lou]

Reminder if you are planning on leaving from OCRR to support RAAM. We'll be leaving at 11:30.
RAAM starts at 2:00. About 12 miles to the bridge. 14 miles back to OCRR.
We'll probably be back at OCRR by 4:30 or so.
See you all there.
Lou...