Amazing Unicycle Race in Canada! June 2008

[ntappin]

Originally Posted by maximus unius

Ntappin, it does have to be 2 consecutive days.

My bad, I guess I will just have to ride up to my cottage, get some nice muni done aswell .

[steveyo]

I'm definitely considering entering this race. The scenery alone will be worth the airfare.

How much is the entry fee? I assume it's alot since the prize money is so big, or do you have sponsers hacking up that kind of cash?

[Andy Cotter]

Originally Posted by steveyo

How much is the entry fee? I assume it's alot since the prize money is so big, or do you have sponsers hacking up that kind of cash?

There is no entry fee. Lodging is free. Food is free. Transporation (when not on a unicycle) is free.

The only thing that will cost you is getting to Nova Scotia. But, they are trying to get some money for that as well (although those traveling from the other side of the world may have first dibs on that money).

Edward is getting sponsors to pay for this event. He is much more connected than I'll ever be. Nathan and I have been talking to him about this for about nine months and he has made a lot of progress.

A quick note on the pre-reg ride. If a day during the race is 200km long and there are three riders then each rider will roughly do 70km (providing the distance is split evenly among the riders). Two days with 70km each day for a pre-reg ride is a sample on what the event will be like. We want people to be a minimum level of long distance riding before signing up with the hopes that every team can finish the race. While 70km may sound like a lot, it isn't really that much with some proper training.

-Andy

[tholub]

Originally Posted by nathan

Rules: Detailed rules will be published by fall of 2007. The type of unicycle will be unlimited.

This idea is really intriguing, but I would rather see the unicycle type limited to fixed-gear, or else have different prize categories for fixies and guni's.

[Eroick]

I really want to do this. First I have to get into distance riding, but that shouldn't be too bad, I have 1 and 1/2 years to prepare. Sounds awesome. Traveling from Ottawa shouldn't be too bad, much better than you guys comming from NZ!

[unicycle6869]

God, this sounds like a great thing to do. I'm not into distance but am seriously thinking about it now. Even doing it just for fun and not for the compition would be great.

As a side note, I think they should have called it Tour de Uni!

[Andy Cotter]

Originally Posted by tholub

This idea is really intriguing, but I would rather see the unicycle type limited to fixed-gear, or else have different prize categories for fixies and guni's.

The only time (that I know of) that the fixed and guni went head-to-head was at Unicon and the results were mixed. It seems that Unicon was a long time ago but from my memory in the marathon, the first couple to cross the finish were not riding Schlumpf.

If there is any other data out there that suggest that guni have a big advantage let us know. It think that if you are going to go fast, you will do it regardless if you have a fixed or guni.

With an event over five days, a lot can happen and the team that is favored to win may have some trouble. The reason the money goes out to the fifth place is that many teams may figure they won't win but with some practice, good strategy, and steady progress could be one of the top 5. Even if a team doesn't get on the top five, think about it another way, it is a great way to see Nova Scotia and hang out with other long distance riders. I've been on long distance tours through 11 countries and it is one great way to see the world.

There is one option to deal with the guni vs fixed issue, providing there is more prize money available, we could make a special prize for the first team that finishes that is guni and another for fixed. But, there is only going to be so much prize money and there is something for keeping it simple.

-Andy

[Bruce Dawson]

Sounds great. The Seattle area riders will undoubtedly put together a team or two.

[GizmoDuck]

Originally Posted by Andy Cotter

The only time (that I know of) that the fixed and guni went head-to-head was at Unicon and the results were mixed. It seems that Unicon was a long time ago but from my memory in the marathon, the first couple to cross the finish were not riding Schlumpf.


-Andy

The first Schlumpf at the Unicon Marathon was Tony Melton on my 29'er Schlumpf.

The fastest will be a comination of both unicycles- Coker for hills/twisty terrain, Schlumpf for flat time trials. So best to have both on your team.

How will teams work with males/females?

[tomblackwood]

Originally Posted by GizmoDuck

How will teams work with males/females?

We'll maintain separate water bottles so as not to get cooties.

I'd agree with the sentiment toward not differentiating between fixed and geared. Both have pros and cons, and my speculation is the team that wins this will do so more because of their conditioning, riding skill, and commitment to wanting to win, than because of the type of unis they are riding.

I'm just looking forward to the pedaling and the quality hang. If this is the "Gumball Rally" of unicycling, then I'm one of the old guys in the Mercedes convertible. Let the Ferrari do what it's going to do, and take time to enjoy the traveling.

Who, I wonder, will step up to play the role of the Fake Cops?

[semach.the.monkey]

Wow, this sounds too good to be true. A free five day all expenses paid trip around Canada, and all we have to do is get there and ride a thrid of 800km! Well, I'll be there for sure.

STM

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by tholub

This idea is really intriguing, but I would rather see the unicycle type limited to fixed-gear, or else have different prize categories for fixies and guni's.

What Andy said, plus this: In the 10k (12k? 13k?) race at NAUCC 2005, Gilby creamed everybody on his Schlumpf, including riding a partial extra lap due to a wrong turn. But the world-class field at Unicon last summer showed that each unicycle type has its strengths.

I like the idea of unlimited racing, at least in the early days of road racing, which these certainly are. By leaving restrictions off the equipment, we will develop faster unicycles in a shorter amount of time.

If you think a Schlumpf will be faster for you, train your butt off and earmark some of the prize money to pay for it!

[joemarshall]

Originally Posted by tholub

This idea is really intriguing, but I would rather see the unicycle type limited to fixed-gear, or else have different prize categories for fixies and guni's.

I've got both, many thousands of miles on the coker, something around a thousand on the schlumpf I guess. I'm not convinced that the 29er schlumpf is so much faster if at all. Even Roger with his 36er schlumpf isn't so much faster than sam W with the stock coker. It might make a slight difference but nowhere near as much as the differences between people's training and general fitness levels.

The massive advantage the 29er schlumpf has for us international riders is that it's so so much easier to transport compared to a coker. .

Joe

[steveyo]

There are now so many of you "heavyweights" on this thread, I'm worried a lowly NY State team won't even get a bid. I've nearly convinced my family that Nova Scotia should be our vacation in 2008!

[nathan]

Originally Posted by GizmoDuck

How will teams work with males/females?

All teams can be mixed. There is no category for all male, all female or anything else - we're all just unicyclists.

---Nathan