We have set up a google group at calvinschallenge@googlegroups.com

Send a request for an invite to larry@calvinschallenge.com with the address you want to use

If you are new to Calvin’s Challenge, the rule used to be that only full laps count. That meant that sometimes you might have 15 minutes left on the clock to the end of the race, but not enough time to make a full lap before time ran out. If you didn’t finish your last lap before time ran out, even if it was just a few seconds, it didn’t count.

After looking at how other races handle this issue, we decided to go with the plan to mark each mile point on the 7 mile loop. You could then ride to the end of race regulation time and a course marshal would stop you at the mile mark you reached and punch your scorecard. Last year was the first time we tried this approach of allowing racers to race all the way to the 6 or 12 hour time limit. With safety as our primary concern, we stipulated that you had to be back to the school and have you scorecard turned by 15 minutes after your race time limit had been reached. You also had finish the lap, maintaining the same direction of travel. In practice, this meant that no one took advantage of the one or two mile check points. There simply wasn’t enough time to finish the loop and turn in the scorecard.

After reviewing how well and safe the last lap worked, we have decided to change the rules to make it even easier to get in those last few miles. The same mile points will be used. A course marshal will stop you at the mile point you have reached at the end race regulation time. Your scorecard will be marked with that mile point and you will then turn the scorecard over to the marshal right there. You can return to the school in either direction you want. For those of you reaching mile points 1 through 3, you can turn around and proceed back to the school in the opposite direction that the race was ran in. If you make it to mile point 4 or further, you should just continue the lap in the same direction after your final mile has been scored and card turned in. We ask that you please stay safe on the return back to the school, don’t let you guard down just because the race is over.

The exchange of riders can only happen at one of the two check points. Each checkpoint will have a designated Team transition area. For timing and scoring purposes, the on coming rider must follow the off coming rider through the timing chute. On the 50 mile loop, this means a leg of about 25 miles. On the 7 mile loop, it means that the rider will ride the whole loop without an exchange.

If you decide to have a crew, they can only meet you at the check points and cannot follow riders on the route. There is a crew route between the checkpoints that will be signed (but one turn is easy to miss). No matter if you are doing a 2 or 4 person team, it is quite easy  to do this without a crew.

Some recommendations:

You could send out each racer to do the 50 mile loop in it’s entirety, but that would be a slow way to score mileage.

You can have as many of the team on the route riding together as you want, but even if you have all 4 (or 2)  members on the route riding together you’ll only be scored as one. So, if all 4 of your team rode the 50 mile loop together as a team TT, you would only be scored 50 miles and not 200 miles

Teams can draft any of the other racers. Only the TT racers are excluded from drafting or being drafted on. They will have special designation to single them out. No drafting of the "Fun" riders, They will the riders without a number.

Whether it is the 2 or 4 person team, send a rider to the mid loop checkpoint with a vehicle that is stocked with what the other teammates will need when they transition later in the race. Start the race with rider #1 with rider #2 staged at the mid loop checkpoint. Rider #1 races the first leg to the mid loop checkpoint. Rider #2 takes over at the mid loop checkpoint. Rider #1 stays at that checkpoint and refuels and rests. Rider #2 races the leg back to the main checkpoint, where rider #3 takes over and races to the mid loop checkpoint where rider #1 is staged. Rider #1 races back to the main checkpoint where rider #4 takes over and races to the mid checkpoint where rider #3 is waiting to finish the loop. When all the loops are completed the remaining rider drives back to the main checkpoint and rejoins their team, (which has most likely started on the 7 mile loops). If your team is planning to start on the 7 mile loop after the two required 50 mile laps, you should send two riders to the mid loop checkpoint. If not, rider #1 of the rotation will end up riding two legs and rider #4 none.

For the 2 person teams, you’ll have to drive between the checkpoints after exchanges if your plan is to ride only 25 mile segments. Again,  this can be done without a crew.

By no means do you have to do it in this fashion, be creative (but stay within the rules). Rider communication (two way radios and cell phones) is permissible and recommended. You don’t want to roll into a checkpoint and have your relief rider off somewhere.

Both the 2 person and 4 person must complete two full laps of the 50 mile loop (100 miles) before starting into the 7 mile loop. But, the teams can continue on the 50 mile loop as much as the like.

Teams should think about setting up their pit area prior to the timing chute as the on coming rider MUST follow the off coming rider through the timing chute to be timed and scored.

The same last partial lap rules apply to the Teams. The Team rider that is last on the course will be stopped at the mile mark they reached at the end of race regulation time. Their number will be marked with that mileage. The remaining team members should remove their numbers and turn them as a group after race regulation time has been reached.

As well as the team category being new , so is the electronic timing and scoring, so please bear with us as we work through the inevitable issues.

In case of a complete failure of the Electronic Timing and Scoring system, we will revert back to the old way of scouring. You will be required to come to a stop so that we can mark/ punch your number at each checkpoint.

This is your page to post comments and offer up suggestions on how we can improve the race for YOU.

Yes, we had a problem with scorecards. We had a new supplier and we didn’t think to do a “Soak” and “Wind” test.

We got some racers score wrong. That is inexcusable. We really want electronic timing and scoring and will do everything we can to find a way to do it.

Next year the race date is May 2nd, make your plans now, we have!

The following list is things that you may or not need to know depending on the event you are signed up for. We seemed to keep finding things that we feel you need to know to make your race the best possible.

While the 12 & 6 hour races are drafting legal, we praise the accomplishments of the individual racer. We encourage you to set a goal, train for it and do the best you can come race day. You will face many challenges, from weather( always perfect) mechanical, intestinal issues, and plain old fatigue. But no matter your final score, know that we are proud that you came and put forth your beast effort. Learn from your mistakes and come back next year stronger and better prepared.

Change of Start time for the 6 hour race, from 08:00 to 08:30. We determined that we needed more time to set up after the 12 hour race goes off.

The timing clock operation has been changed. Instead of counting down to 00:00:00 at 7:30 pm, it will now read the real time in 12 hour format. (Eastern time). The 6 hour and 100TT necessitated this change.

NEW! Pace vehicle to lead the 12 hour group to the first checkpoint at South Solon. We know that a good amount of the “What were you thinking” racing happens during that first leg to S. Solon. Hopefully with “Big Brother” watching the goings on we’ll have a safer race.
We really don’t want to disqualify anyone, but at the same time we don’t want anyone killed or injured either. Guess which path we are going to take.

At the call for the 100TT (08:35) we need for those racers to move toward the starting line. We will get you out on the course as you line up. No pre determined start roster to worry about. We will send you out at 30 second intervals. 100TT racers must stop at the checkpoints to have their scorecards punched just as the other classes do. Remember, No drafting in the 100TT. If you find another racer drafting you, please tell them that you are in the TT and not to draft you. You will not ride any of the 7 mile loops as part of the 100TT. Since we don’t have a history with the 100TT, the awards will be handed out as best we can determine who the winners are. Bear with us as we fumble our way through this first year.

The Fun ride will start after all the races are out on the route. We hope this will be at about 9:00. That doesn’t mean that you have to start your Fun Ride at that time, but we ask that you don’t start before then. Feel free to ride any of the loops as much as you want. While the racers are restricted as to when they can be on the 7 mile loop, you are not. Please do not jump into the race group (s) as they pass you out on the route. The rules forbid them from drafting you, thus you could cause them to be penalized by you being in their group.
The Fun Ride riders must obey all the same safety rules as the racers. The Fun Riders will not be scored. At the checkpoints, tell the marshals that you are a Fun Rider. We want you to have a safe ride and hopefully come back next year and enter one of the race events.
12, 6 hour and 100TT racers, please be courteous when passing the Fun Riders. Giving them a heads up that you are passing will go a long way in preventing an accident. Remember that they look up to you with admiration and awe of your abilities. Show them that you can be fast and nice at the same time.

To all: The route goes through farm country. You may encounter equipment out on the route. Be careful when passing, much of the equipment has sharp and pointy things on them.

There is at least one turn on the route that is always vandalized, it’s become kind of a tradition. We will put road markings way before the turn (more like the left of a “Y”) and markings on the wrong way.

There are some deep pot holes on the 7 mile loop. Hopefully they will be filled by race day, but maybe not. We marked them with paint, but if you ride into one of these holes, you’ll go down.

No parking behind the school. There is a school activity going on the same time as the race and we have been asked to share. The school has been very kind to the race, so please, let’s do everything we can in return.

Bicycle One and Bacchetta Bikes are giving test rides of their recumbent bikes throughout the day. Most people have seldom seen a recumbent, now is a great chance to test ride one. Maybe a recumbent is just the bike to get your spouse riding. Think recumbents are slow? Not anymore. The 2007 UMCA 24 hour champion and 2006 series 24 hour champion rode a recumbent, the 2007 UMCA 12 hour race series (best of 3) champion rode a recumbent. The 2008 Heart of the South 500 mile race (with over 30,000 feet of climbing) was won by a recumbent rider. The modern recumbent may just be the perfect ultra distant cycling tool. www.bacchettabikes.com

Hammer Nutrition Endurance Fuels and Supplements has been very kind to Calvin’s Challenge this year by supplying the race with a generous amount of product for you to sample. Hammer Nutrition is the leading fuel supplier for the UMCA. I encourage you to ask one of the Race Directors if you have any questions about any of the product line. We have been Hammer Nutrition customers for years and they have successfully fueled all of us through many races and events. www.hammernutrition.com

If you are new to ultra racing, we encourage you to check out www.ultracycling.com It is the definitive source for long distance racing information. Learn about RAAM, RAAM qualifiers, 12/24 hour races, double centuries and how you can participate in a national points championship. The UMCA is the sanctioning body for cross state records. If you found that you like this kind of event, we can recommend a few others.

Most importantly, we could not do this without the many volunteers that do everything from helping you park to punching scorecards and keeping you safe on the route. Keep in mind that many of them were racers at one time, and are now are giving back to those that helped them to reach their goals by helping you reach yours. When you have reached your goals, please consider volunteering at a race or event so that the success that you have enjoyed can be passed on to the next generation of ultra racers.

We want your feedback. We will have a page on the Calvin’s website blog that will allow you to make comments about the race. While we hope you will have some good things to say, we also need to hear about any problems you may have encountered so that we can make improvements for next year.

On behalf of the Race Directors Jeff & Julie Stephens, Christine & Larry Graham we want to thank you for supporting Calvin’s Challenge and hope the rest of your season is safe and you reach your goals.

See you next year.