Everest Challenge Bible
Our famous finish line spread! And our famous aid stations getting set up.
Race director Tom getting ready to run backwards with bottle hand-ups.
Yes, the Everest Challenge is definitely on for 2008. We now have a new race director assisting for 2008 and taking the event over for 2009. He has more experience in extreme cycling type events than the current race director. We are excited about possible changes that will enhance the event for years to come!
Safety is the first priority for this event. Excluding follow vehicles from the first climb of day two in 2007 made this climb and descent much safer for cyclists. The first half of the first climb of day one will be closed off as well for 2008.
Official USCF flyer/summary
SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2008
EVEREST CHALLENGE
STAGE RACE
(approved by USCF, NCNCA, and SCNCA)
With the spirit of the “Death Rides” and the dramatic scenery of the Eastern Sierra, this bicycle ride AND race will test your perseverance going uphill. We have three climbs each day with gains of 2,600’ to 6,200’.
Come ride some of the Eastern Sierra’s fabulous alpine climbs.
This event (held under USA Cycling permit) is a combination of a USCF race AND a non-timed ride (for tourists/randonneurs like the Markleeville Death Ride).
Saturday 120 miles, 15,465’ of climbing. Sunday 86 miles, 13,570’ of climbing. Actual racing distance (excluding neutralized start and neutralized last descent after timing finish is 92 miles Saturday and 61 miles Sunday.
Entry fee $100 by 9/12 (includes FOURTEEN aid stations). You may register online at BikeReg.com or send a check (to Everest Challenge), USACycling Release to 2335 Sunset Drive, Bishop, CA 93514 (the release is the entry form). Late reg $105 (9/13 to 9/17). No mail in entries accepted after 9/12 or by BikeReg.com after 9/17. Reg at event is $120.
JUNIORS - $12, no late entry (note - juniors may choose shorter course).
Packet pick-up 3-7 P.M. Friday (Brown's Town Campground 1 mile south of Bishop on west side of 395) or 6:00-6:30 A.M. Saturday, at Millpond (just off Highway 395, 5 miles northwest of Bishop). Public racers, women, Masters 55+ and 65+ will start at 6:30-6:35 A.M. All other racers start 7:30-7:45 A.M. with a neutralized start both days. Saturday’s start/finish are at Millpond. Sunday’s start/finish is 14 miles south of Bishop and 2.3 miles east of Highway 395 on Highway 168 East. Awards will be given out at the finish line Sunday.
Cash Prize List Total – PRO/I/II - $1,350-$2,000; Cat III - $450-825; Cat IV/V - $450-825; Women PRO/1-4/40+ $200-425. Merchandise/jerseys/entrees for other categories. USCF State Championship medals. Juniors - medals. Tandem - medals. Winners may purchase State Championship apparel from Voler. For placings and ordering official USCF State Champion jersey, Masters divided every TEN years, and women divided into Cat I-II, III-IV and 40+. Public (non-USCF) categories are Men, Women, Clydesdales (over #190), and tandems. Placings each day. Awards above for the stage race. HEED jugs for 1st-3rd every category on day one. You may opt to ride only one day, or if you don't finish day one you may ride day two.
For more extensive information about this and last year’s events please see:
Cancellation policy - simple - 100% (except for BikeReg fee) for any reason by 9/10, just send a letter requesting refund postmarked by 9/10 and a self addressed stamped envelope. 0% after that.
USCF Permit for 2008 pending.
The Everest Challenge is a non-profit event. It is organized because of passion for the sport, for climbing, and for the scenic beauty of the area and to bring a completely unique race to the American race calendar. We are not a fund raiser, but in order to motivate and thank volunteers we have donated the proceeds to local groups or charities. Over the past 7 years we have donated over $15,000. These include the Bishop Foundation for Excellence ($1,000), The Northern Inyo Hospital Foundation ($5,000), Eastside Velo ($1,000), Shooting Star Cooperative Non-Profit Preschool ($2,250), the Lee Vining High School Boosters ($1,950), Lee Vining 6th graders and soccer ($750), Freedom in Motion ($1,250), the Bishop High School Girl's Varsity Soccer Team ($1,250) and $500 of left over food to other groups. We have also accepted donations and return of prize money from several past winners and a few other riders. This has gone back into the race (mainly for equipment) and served to motivate us to continue volunteering our time and energies to make this event happen.
Bare Bones
START TIMES (both days)
Non-competitive/Tourist - 6:50 A.M. (or prior if you have lights)
Masters 55+, 65+, all USCF Women, Juniors - 6:50 A.M.
Public, Tandems - 6:50 A.M.
PRO/1/2 - 7:30 A.M. (we may start you with the Cat 3's)
Cat 3 - 7:35 A.M.
Masters 35+, 45+ - 7:40 A.M.
Cat 4/5 - 7:45 A.M.
No category changes after 3 P.M. Friday.
Race Rules
Do not come to this race unless you can follow all our rules, especially our safety rules. ALL RULES AS PER USCF RULE-BOOK APPLY. Breaking any of the following rules will result in forfeiting all awards and additional penalties according to USCF official and race director.
Traffic/Support
Roads are open to traffic. Rules of the road apply. There will be one stop sign each day crossing Highway 395 and six other stops signs on day one.
No non-official support allowed except at 5 "feed zones." If your rider cannot ride down you may pick them up at Highway 168 or at the "8,250' Aid Station."
If you have family/friends/fans that wish to see you at the finishes, they must drive up before 12 A.M. on Saturday and 10 A.M. on Sunday and wait until the official releases you to drive down. There is no parking at either location that is not already used by the volunteers at the finish and the officials. Driving up there is a very serious safety violation.
If you think you might have someone driving on the course you must read the Support Vehicles page.
Neutral starts
The race is neutralized (as in easy warm-up pace, stick together) until the left onto Lower Rock Creek Road/Old Sherwin Grade day one; the west side of Big Pine for day two.
Cut-off times:
Mosquito Flat 11:10 Glacier Lodge 10:15
Pine Creek 1:40 Waucoba 11:30
Buttermilk Road 2:50 6,000' spring 12:40
7,000' Pipeline 4:00 Westgard Pass 1:20
Bishop Cr. L. 5:00 8,250' level 2:30
South Lake 6:00 Schulman Grove 3:30
We will enforce cut-off times (per Cal-Trans). You must turn around if so instructed by the sag wagon or you will not be allowed to return. If you fear that you won't make cut-off times, ride Tourist/non-competitive and start at the first hint of light. Any black numbers (racers) out on course before their starting times will be DQ'd.
Check points are at the tops of climbs. It is your responsibility to make sure your number is recorded. It is your responsibility to stay on course.
Race Numbers - must be placed on your right back, above the pockets and below your arm, vertically oriented with the bottom of the number at the jerseys side seam.
General Safety Guidelines
Be careful on the descents!!! There will be riders on the way up and way down. Riders must stay in single file as far to the right as possible so as not to force the little traffic present over into the descending riders' lane. All of the descents during the timed portion are fairly wide and open with good visibility and good surfaces with the exception of the first mile on the first descent of Day One. The road here narrows down to one lane, there are a few rocks in the road, and the shadows in the trees make visibility less than perfect. So be careful both on the way up and the way down. The narrow 9% descent from the top of Big Pine has a 1,000' drop-off most of the way.
Stay to the right! Keep looking ahead and not at the ground! There also is one sharp, steep corner on the way down about a mile up from Tom's Place with some washboards. This will be marked.
Feed zones (these are not marked) - you may give riders hand-ups etc. from -
Day one:
1 - the pull-off on Highway 395 about 1/2 mile before (south of) Tom's Place/Upper Rock Creek. Please drive up 395 to get to this NOT up the narrow, winding "Old Grade" that the racers are going up.
2 - the corner of Round Valley Road and Pine Creek (base of Pine Creek climb)
3 - in front of Millpond
4 - from the 7,000' aid station up Highway 168.
Day two: the only hand-ups allowed are on the first 1/4 mile of the Death Valley Road (either side is fine for riders going up or down). Please watch out for fast moving riders. If you need anything stop at your vehicle as you pass the start/finish either day.
Aid Stations
Don't litter. If you want a hand-up drop your bottle AT the aid station.
NUTRITION/INTAKE/ETC.
I've been asked to put some recommendations on how to finish a race like this strong. I have organized this event 5 years now, started AND finished three times (14th and 19th overall), and read lots on the subject. Everyone is different about how much you sweat and how much sodium you loose in your sweat, so some people may be exceptions to the rule. Some people may be predisposed to hyponatremia. But basically the recommendations would be:
1 - drink 20-28 ounces of sports drink/hour.
2 - intake - 300 calories/hour (#1 at the upper end will usually accomplish this depending on the drink).
Unless you are riding very easy or you know your GI tract can handle it, stay away from solid food (altitude and heat can slow the GI tract down even more). HammerGel and ClifShots seem to be very well tolerated by most people.
We will try to give you hand-ups on the fly. But we have a very small volunteer base here and some aid stations will only have a couple people. You may have to briefly stop to get a hand-up or fill your bottle yourself. We assure you that over the course of 2 days 2 minutes will rarely make a difference in your placing. 1 pound less or 1 watt more power over the 2 days will save you an estimated 4 minutes!!!
Please express your great thanks to the volunteers. The volunteer base is the limiter that threats the continuation of the event. If you have friends or family that would like to help out at the aid stations PLEASE LET US KNOW - everestchallenge@aol.com.
All aid stations will have about the same supplies (water, HEED, ClifBars, ClifShots, Hammer Gel, Endurolytes, salty foods).
Times to next aid station
Aid Station Open Time Fastest riders Slowest riders
SATURDAY < 1 1/2 hour < 2 1/2 hours
Rock Creek E.S. 8:45-10:00 < 1 hour < 1 1/2 hour
Mosquito Flat 9:30-11:10 < 1/2 hr < 1/2 hour
Rock Creek E.S. see above < 1/2 hr 3/4 hour
Base Pine Cr. 10:15-Noon < 1 hour 1 1/2 hour
Pine Creek 10:50-1:40 < 1 1/2 hours < 1 1/4 hours
Buttermilk Road 12:00-2:50 1/2 hour 1 hour
7,000' Pipeline 11:40-4:00 < 1/2 hour 1 hour
Bishop Cr. Lodge 12:45-5:00 1/2 hour 1 hour
South Lake 1:00-6:00
SUNDAY 1 1/4 hour 2 hours
Glacier Lodge 8:45-10:15 < 1 hour < 2 hours
Waucoba 9:30-11:30 < 1 hour < 2hours
6,000' Spring 10:15-12:40 1/2 hour < 1 1/2 hour
8,000' on WMR 10:40-2:00 1/2 hour < 1 1/2 hour
Schulman Grove 11:15-3:30
COAT BOX AT START - The bottoms of the two later climbs will be warm to hot. But the finish line will be cool or could be winter, especially if there is wind, so bring coats/gloves/head warmers to have taken to the finish line. You can put it in a box at the start that will be taken to the finish (no backpacks please, we don't have that much room). Make sure and take your stuff home. Minimum charge for mailing it back to you is $25.
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The day after EC '05 it snowed down to 9,000'. You should be prepared.
Ride Details - Day #1
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Day One Record - Drew Miller (Landis Trek VW), 2002
Time - 5:55:53 (includes neutralized start)
Day One starts outside of Bishop at Millpond Park, 4,425'.
The first climb is up to Mosquito Flat. At 10,250' it is the highest
paved road in the Sierras. The run in is 11 miles long. The
first 8 miles is neutralized. The climb is 22 miles, average grade
is 5%. Maximum grade lower half 9%, upper half 11%.
Back down to Round Valley for a short climb up Pine Creek to 7,420' in 8
miles, average grade is 7%, max is 9%, extended sections of 8%.
Then past the start/cars and up Bishop Creek to 9,835' in 20.4 miles,
average grade 6%. While this is not the highest spot or most
vertical gain, the last mile has two short sections around 15% grade and
will certainly test your strength and endurance and desire to stay on the
bike. Bottom half has extended sections of 8-9% grade, max grade 9%. Timing finish will be at the top after the turnoff to the boat ramp.
However due to parking/narrow roads all riders are expected to ride back
down to the cars/start for the official finish. This effectively
neutralizes the last descent (so you can enjoy the views, bask in the
unfiltered sunlight and rarified atmosphere, for the benefit of climbers,
and for your safety on the way down - GO SLOW). Total climbing for Day One
is 15,465' in 120 miles.
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Ride Details - Day #2
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Day Two Record - Chris Walker (Zombies), 2002 Day Two starts outside Big Pine with a climb up towards the Palisade Glacier. Starting elevation 3,940' finishing elevation 7,800'. The run-in is 4 miles long. The first 3 miles are neutralized and marshaled through the first stop sign and across the Highway 395. The actual climb is 9 miles with an average grade of almost 8% (max is 11%). There are extended portions of 9-10%. Then riders head back across the valley past the original start. Next we head up the Death Valley Road/Waucoba Canyon to 6,545' in 8.5 miles, average grade 5% (max just touches 12% in the roller in the "narrows", 11% in one corner before that). Back down to the cars/start and then up to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest at 10,100' in 21 miles, average grade 6% (max in the lower half is just touches 14%, max in the upper half just touches 17%). There are dozens of 9-12% rollers in the bottom third. The last 3 miles averages 10% grade. Timing finish will be at the high point a half mile before the Visitors Center. However, due to parking/narrow roads all riders are expected to ride back down to the cars/start for the official finish. This effectively neutralizes the last descent. Total climbing for Day Two is 13,570' in 86 miles. This brings the two day total to 29,035' (the elevation of Mount Everest) in 206 miles.
Stage Race Record - Chris Walker (Zombies), 2002 Make sure and enjoy the fabulous views on the way down. From the
White Mountain Road you can see most of the fourteen thousand foot peaks
in California including
Mount Whitney (the highest peak in the lower 48). You can see
Telescope Peak (the
11,049' peak that looms over Badwater, Death Valley, at negative 282', the
lowest spot in the U.S.) |
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On Day one there are restrooms at the start (in the park by the gazebo, you also pass by between the second and third climbs), six along the first climb, and two at the top of the last climb. On day two there are restrooms at the start (you pass by twice in the middle of the ride), at the junction of 168 and 395 (in the campground), at the top of the first climb, and at the top of the last climb.
Hey, ya know about the Tour de France right? Well this is about as close to the TdF as most of us will ever get. Only one day of the 2005 TdF has as much climbing as day one of EC. And just like in the TdF weather can be an issue. It can be over 100 degrees F or it can be snowing. In 2001, at the August EC, and 2002 at the late June EC, it was 104! But the last two riders down from South Lake got hypothermic and had to get off their bike!!! Be prepared. Even if it is hot in the valley the descents can be cold!
Need some good recovery? Check out one of our sponsors - Keough's Hot Springs, They have a warm pool and a hot pool, showers and a massage therapist.
Location/Hotels
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Day One starts 5 miles west of Bishop, California (200 miles south of Reno, 200 miles north of Lancaster). Go 4.3 miles northwest of Bishop on Highway 395, turn left on Ed Powers for 0.2 miles, right on Sawmill Road (map) for one mile, take all the lefts into Millpond County Park. Day Two starts just north and 2.5 miles east of Big Pine, California (215 miles south of Reno, 185 miles north of Lancaster) at the junction of Highway 168 and the Death Valley Road (map). HOW TO FLY TO BISHOP?? We do have an airport, but no commercial flights into it. The closest major airport is Reno, 200 beautiful scenic miles to the north. There is a small airport about 140 straight, fast miles to the south at Inyo-Kern. You can get connections (3 a day) to that airport on United Express from LAX. Los Angeles is about 250 miles to the south. Las Vegas is about 300 miles through or around Death Valley. Fresno is about 50 miles as the crow flies and ?? 250 miles by road. Mornings and summits may be very cool, average low is 49°F (record 32°F). In the afternoons the valley may be hot, average high is 89°F (record 103°F) (24-hour weather summary at Bishop airport, 4,052'). Think of the Tour de France (there can be days snowed out or it can be over 100 degrees F). These are even more serious mountains rising to above 14,000'. It will probably be nice, but be prepared for cold weather or hot weather and a wide range from mornings up high to afternoons in the valley. Sunrise 5:33 A.M., Sunset 8:13 P.M. We have been lucky the last two years and only had tailwinds!!! Can't promise this but usually wind is not an issue in these narrow canyons.
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Campgrounds:
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Questions and Answers
This is the hardest two day USCF race. Treat it accordingly. However thousands of people every year do "fun" one day rides harder than this (i.e. Furnace Creek 508, 24 hour races, the Terrible Two, etc.). Do a few things right and you should be able to finish well. Anyone who has done Death Valley to Mount Whitney, the Markleeville Death Ride, a double century, or even a metric double with a good amount of climbing included should be able to do this ride. However, you don't have to do both days or even all three climbs either day. The most important consideration is gearing, as in LOW, and pacing. As someone who has had knee problems since age 10, the Ride Director usually rides with a 11-34 XTR cogset in back and has been known to put on a triple.
How long will it take you? A rough guide is - you should be able to do Day Two in 15 to 20% less than your Death Valley to Mount Whitney time, or 35 to 40% less than your Markleeville Death Ride time. Day One should take you 10-15% longer than your Death Valley to Mount Whitney time, or 10-20% less than your Markleeville Death Ride time.
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Do I understand correctly that the timing finish is at the top of the last climb each day, but that we have to ride back down to the "official finish"? You got it. You will understand when you do the race. The tops of the climbs are very narrow and 200 people driving up to the timing finish to get their friends would cause fiasco (and we wouldn't be allowed to do the event again). There also is hardly any parking. It is about 25 miles both days. But it is all downhill except 100' day one and about 350' day two and the descent is awesome. Just be careful. Racing downhill at 70 mph is not a option. Will there be wheel support? Yes, the neutral support vehicles will all start out with neutral wheels that belong to the race. These will be Shimano and probably 11-32's or 12-27's 9-speed. But you are welcome to bring your own and put them in the follow vehicle of your choice. They will have tubes, pumps, patches. However, you should probably carry a spare and inflator. In the spirit of USCF, can I assume this is a two-day timed stage race?
Is each climb timed individually (six mini stages)?
My only other concern is recovery. I mean being ready for Day Two after Day One! Do you know of any special ways to work on this?
Are awards given for each day individually?
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What’s up at the aid stations? Please see the Feedzone page. You can survive and thrive with either 1) the sponsors’ products alone or 2) personal support handoffs in neutral areas both days. How long does it take to drive from Bishop to Big Pine? Can we stay in Big Pine or Bishop and drive to the starts? 15 minutes. Bishop to Big Pine Map. YES. Are the town and the people friendly to bike riders? Are the roads safe?
I am 36 years old and have never raced a USCF race. What category would I race in? Or should I just do the noncompetitive ride?
Do you expect the kind of riders that do doubles, and the 508 for instance?
What is the campground situation?
All I have is a mountain bike, is this okay?
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