BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Question from someone interested: Never done this before and on the site it doesn't provide any details of what would be expected of the cycling course volunteers. What would we be doing?

I received the following from one of the coordinators:

The cycling course volunteers are from the Dr. Freddie Fu cycling performance team. They will be riding with the wheelchair athletes to ensure their safety.

If I hear more, I'll share with this thread.

Sorry man, I'm running. But if someone can hook me up with a piggyback ride, I'd be really grateful.

Hmm, I applied to volunteer before seeing that new info. Not to be insensitive but "riding with the wheelchair athletes" sounds a bit, um, boring, unless they go faster than I'm picturing.

Of course, with our hills I guess you could pick up some serious speed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhVSFjL4uwI&feature=PlayList&p=76BB5C3C2A0CC10D&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=22

If they mean "handcyclists", then it may not be as boring as you think...

Joe, I plan on meeting up with a buddy doing 8 min/m at a few places on the course for gatorade, gels etc. I'd be glad to help you or anyone else out any way you need. I'll be using panniers so don't be shy asking.

Mata...

In the New York marathon, the fastest men's runners do it in 2:09 something, the "chairs" are doing it in like 1:30+. I wouldn't necesarily worry about boredom, those top level guys are bad-ass. Probly bend your frame in half with their bare hands, too.

Marko, I likely won't see you out there. I'll be limping closer to 9:45/mi.

I would volunteer, but I'll be riding to meet up with my girlfriend at a few points along the course to provide food for her. I think she is shooting for somewhere in the 9:30-10:00/mi range, depending on how she's feeling that day.

Joe (and anyone else who is running) - I'm happy to help out in any way in that same general pace range. I've got lots of space in my messenger bag for gels, bars, etc.

Ooohhhhh.... I'm running the marathon too at a 9:30-10min/mile too!! It all depends in the heat.....

I'm planning on carrying my own stash of gels, but something that I've been telling some people is to have some ICE or SLUSHY ready.... sunday is shaping out to be a hot-humid day (77 high so far), which would make over-heating a likely event.... overheating is a killer, so ice or slushy (easier to consume) might be useful in the course to cool-down one's core...

Just my two cents...

But yes... if anyone is helping & riding, on top of gator & gels, something frosty would be awesome to cool down if is a hot one...

@ joeframbauch! -good luck!

According to the pace chart:

Wheelchair starts at 7:15 AM

Fastest finish expected 8:59 AM

Slowest finish expected 9:51 AM

The first thing that came to mind was not being about to keep up. A lot of the wheelchair athletes are some real BAMFs. I wouldn't be too worried about being bored.

Here is a piece on wheelchair athletes in the NYC marathon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWO5RzUxxIQ

4:10-4:20 in the marathon is going to be a popular time to finish, it seems!