Outcomes & ICWC 2008!
The average camper got in 20-25 hours of riding and anywhere from 375 to 450 miles on the bike. There was no running and swimming as folks barely had the energy to pedal, eat, and sleep! Hard to believe we managed to go a whole week with no flat tires or serious mechanical issues! The best part of the camp wasn't necessarily the scenery or the riding--it was meeting and hanging out with cool folks who enjoy pushing their bodies into the unknown.

IronCamp West Coast 2008
Very simply, we want to create an incredible training experience for our customers next year.
Consider the following:

• The largest cycling race in the US is kind enough to scout out, mark, and in some cases control the best roads in the state for us. We took as many pictures as we could but they really don’t do the tour justice. The most consistent comment from the campers was the wide variety of terrain offered by each stage. For example, Stage 1 climbed out of Sausalito through Muir Woods, with huge trees lining the road. We then dropped down to the coast and were treated to waves crashing on rocks, and quaint seaside towns (BBQ oysters!). The course then jogged inland up Coleman Valley Road, a narrow paved cow path through incredible pastures and dairy farms, then descending into lush green valleys, past world famous wineries and finishing in Santa Rosa, a major hub of the California wine industry. And this was just the FIRST day!
• The race is also nice enough to bring people out on the course to cheer you on as you tackle the KOM’s or sprint against your shadow or fellow campers in small towns. We called this the Yahoo Coefficient: as you neared KOM’s, sprints, or the race closed in behind you, the number of spectators, fellow cyclists, yahoos and characters increased exponentially. What other camp offers a 5k climb at 10-16% grade through a wall of screaming and cheering fans?
• Many prospective campers expressed concern about the high cycling volume of the camp so early into the season. However, during the camp we quickly learned that is neither necessary nor desirable to do every mile of every stage:
  • Each stage has a 3-7 mile neutral zone, which is simply a parade through town to the good stuff where the racing actually starts.
  • Most stages finished with a 7-10 mile circuit race around the finishing town. Once you go into that circuit it’s difficult to get around and link up with the support vehicle.
  • Admin miles solo or in a 2-3 person group are significantly different from what pros experience tucked into a 150+ rider peloton. The estimated times on the route sheets (what time the race is expected at each turn, sprint, KOM, etc) STARTS at 24mph. These guys are friggin’ flying and a 5’ water or potty stop means the peleton just rolled you up by about 2 miles. This definitely lends a sense of urgency to the day but don’t underestimate how hard it is to stay away from these guys when they light the burners.
  • These are hard friggin’ courses. They’ve found the hard stuff on purpose, not gone around it.

  The net is that an A rider (sub 5:30 IM bike split) can expect to ride 75-85 miles in 4.5-5.5hrs. A B rider will see 50-65 miles in 4-5hrs. Trust us, by the time you trim off the fat above and add admin time on the front and back ends of each stage, that’s enough. We estimate we can provide a high quality training camp for sub 6:15 IM bike split athletes.

• Many prospects asked us about swim/run opportunities during the camp. Our advice: don’t ruin an epically cool training experience by being a tri-dork. Just ride the bike for a week, it’s enough. Seriously, part of what made the tour so special was how many towns we were able to experience, as the organizers often finished in one town and started in another. This necessitated a portage of bodies, bikes and bags 40-70 miles at the end of the day, which typically began with wheels up at 7 or 8am so we could stay ahead of the race. Again, don’t be a geek, just ride.
• We’ve done it, we’ve figured out the logistics, and are confident we’ll have a very solid game plan for 2008: lead/chase vehicles, hotels, restaurants, communications, insert/extract points for A/B riders, jerseys, shirts…and ass cream, we’ll have it all dialed in!

Are you interested in the cycling experience of a lifetime, one that will challenge your legs and senses, creating special memories and friendships? Stay tuned to www.ironcamp.com as we develop our plans and publish registration details. I know that Rich and I are already counting to days to when the race publishes the ’08 course!