The Challenge: Cyclists vs. Runners

EMMAUS – From the South Mountain Cycles & Coffee Bar
You knew this was coming. After all, the Tour started two days ago. That means our own little sufferfest can’t be far off. So here we go again:

Ride the 3 hills of Emmaus (2nd, 5th and 10th streets) with a group of people who love bikes. And then, keep riding those hills 10 total times. This fun little event began as a joke in 2004 when Bill, Ken and Taylor were the only finishers; grew in attendance, but not in finishers (Bill, Taylor, Beth) in 2005; found 8 of us dumb enough to ride all 100 (102 to be exact) miles in 2006; before sanity prevailed, and only 3 finished in 2007; an even dozen in 2008; and a record-setting 15 finished last year. The ride is traditionally held on the mountain rest stage and second rest day of the Tour, which this year is Wednesday, July 21, the day after the pros climb the Tourmalet for a mountaintop finish to Stage 17.

One twist: We’re even inviting those athletes that will learn to love the bike once their knees and back give out. Over the past year there’s been a movement by several locals to RUN one lap of 2-5-10. We have no idea why anyone would want to pound the pavement for 10 miles when they could pedal a perfectly good bicycle for 100, but we’re out to prove that cyclists really aren’t “exclusive”. (The running lap will leave at 7 a.m., along with the first riding lap. According to scientific calculations, the runners should be finishing about the same time as the riding Lap 2. There will be no further running laps after the initial one.)

Here’s a quick refresher on logistics for the day for those who are new to the idiocy and for those that have wiped it from their memory:
The ride (and run) leaves SMC in Emmaus promptly at 7 a.m. If you’re in for the long haul, or the first lap, be there by 6:45. At the end of each lap, the group swings by the shop to jot down the lap time (we’ll have a dry erase board), for water refills (we’ll have a big cooler), energy/espresso/Sportlegs, bathroom. These stops are ideally 5 minutes. (Stringing two laps together at some point, usually early, is a possibility, but with consent of the group.)

Riders intending to complete the entire century, for the most part, ride as a group. One key to finishing is the pacing. The faster riders are not there to prove how good they are–we all know that already. A bit of support for struggling riders get a whole lot more respect that half-wheeling each other on the ascents. We had a few hiccups last year, but for 6 of the years, it’s been possible for us to roughly climb as a group, then let people catch up on the descents and flat transitions so you begin each climb (2; double-digit/5; and 10) more or less together. It’s very rewarding to have every lap end with almost the entire group rolling into SMC pretty much together.

Anyone can jump on at the shop for as many laps as they want. In 2009, there were 60 different riders completing at least one lap. Having fresh legs (and attitudes) out there for multiple laps is extremely helpful to the century riders. (But remember: you’re there for pacing the group, not to show how strong you are.) The laps take about 50 minutes each, so it’s fairly simple to plan when to show up if you aren’t doing the entire ride. The only break longer than 10 minutes all day will be after Lap 6 when the group breaks for lunch from Armetta’s; this normally happens a little before 1:00 and takes about 30
minutes.

What to bring: money for lunch and maybe pizza after, espresso, gels; Advil; sunscreen; gloves (even if you don’t normally wear them, you’ll want to for sweaty hands on brake hoods after a few laps); change of cycling shorts & maybe jersey (for midride, you’ll be happy you did); chamois cream!; change of clothes for post-ride festivities; washrag/towel.

Word around town… is that the two Founding Fathers–Bill and Taylor–will be back for the full 2010 edition… Taus finished his 7-year house project and will show up–and NOT crash on his own road… Geronimo will ride one wheelie lap… Chuck will ride one more lap than Killer, whatever that takes… Brad’s motorized bike will be finished for the start…

Route specifics for 2-5-10 (all of this times 10):

View Larger Map

Clif Notes (for those who don’t care about every little detail):
Mileage per lap: 10.19 miles
Elevation per lap: 1,473 feet
Approximate time per lap: 47 minutes
Approximate time climbing per lap: 26 minutes
Approximate avg. speed: 13.1 mph
Highest % grade: 22% (on 10th)
Avg. grade of all climbs: 6.3%
YTD 2-5-10 finishers: Bill (3); Heath (3); Beth (2); Taylor (2); Brian (2); Laura (2); Steve (2); Tom (2); Army Jay (2); Topher (2); Ken, Pryor, Bowman, Lath, Corey, Jamie, Pearson, X2, Kyle, Donaghy, Gennady, JohnG, MattAllyn; Bobby; Cush; Kristy; Selene; DaveG; Skippy; ScottC; Chuck; Jay.

Details on 2008 edition:
Most riders on one lap: 29 (lunchtime); 26 (at start)
Fewest riders on one lap: 17 [Lap 8]
Quickest lap: 46 minutes (Lap 3)
Slowest lap: 55 minutes (Laps 8 and 10)
Average lap time: 50.2 minutes
Total laps ridden by group: 233
Approximate total climbing: 349,500 feet
Shortest break: 4 minutes (between Laps 1 and 2)
Longest break (excluding lunch, which was 30 minutes): 13 minutes (before Lap 10)
5-gallon jugs of water consumed: 6
After-ride beers consumed poolside: 49
Cigarettes smoked by Jay during century: 13