Tour de Shore question

Been thinking about doing the TdS ride this year. I've seen videos on YouTube from the past 2 years and it looks like a blast. I've also read quite a few of the TdS threads here while searching before posting this question.

I was looking at the website, and saw that there is a pledge collection sheet, which brings me to my question. Is there a "minimum amount" that needs to be collected before being allowed to ride? I didn't see any mention of a certain amount, but I'd like to be sure before I think on this ride much more.

I've participated in past charity rides that required a minimum of $150 in pledges, which I always struggled to meet (usually had to make an extra donation myself at the end to make it). Never was too good at talking people into donating to a good cause, and I am hoping to avoid having to do a really hard sell to get pledges.

Any information will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

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Permalink Reply by Anne B. on February 2, 2014 at 2:20pm

+1 million!!! I forgot which truck my bike was on and it was a little stressful!  James, I don't think you're being paranoid at all, even though it hasn't apparently happened yet it did seem possible that someone walking by could take off with a bike. My husband (who didn't do the ride) met me at the pick up spot and found my bike before I did- a bike obviously too small for him and they let him walk off with it.

The bag check stuff was a little lax too- our bags were all just waiting in the breakfast area off the lobby of our hotel, but it seemed fine and I hadn't packed anything of value. I'm so trained to be hyper-paranoid in the city that I must look a little ridiculous when I'm other places! 


Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

Last year was my first on TdS, and it was chaotic at the end.  It seemed that the buses and the trucks were there at about the same time.  One thing I learned was to know what truck your bike is on!  I did not check the number of the truck that they put my bike on, and was not sure which truck to watch when we got to Chicago.


James BlackHeron said:

Security is a little lax IMHO.

I'm not at all worried about the overnight camping but when they unload the bikes from the trucks, once they arrive back in Chicago on Randolph,  they basically just prop them all up against the wall on the sidewalk.  

People just pick up their own bikes out of the pile.  There is zero stopping anyone from just picking any bike they like and wheeling off with it. No claim tickets, no nothing.  If the bus you're in comes a little later than the rest of the buses (due to traffic) they are sitting there exposed for a while.   

I would prefer some sort of claim-check system.  There are a lot of bikes and a lot of folks picking through them for their own.  More than one truckload of bikes, more than one busload of folks riding back, a lot of bikes sitting out for the taking, and a lot of random folks coming and going picking through them for their own.   It's chaos.  It's just a little bit too "honor system" for me in this honor-less City.   I'd lock my bike with a U-lock on the truck but all that would do is make someone need to carry it away rather than roll it.  Perhaps I'm just paranoid.  I don't think there has ever been a problem. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on February 2, 2014 at 4:02pm

Chaos

Permalink Reply by Tom Z on February 2, 2014 at 5:12pm

This really concerns me. Has there ever been a discussion with the organizers about this issue?

I'd love to do the ride, but don't want to have to worry about my bicycle walking away when I get back to Chicago.


Anne B. said:

+1 million!!! I forgot which truck my bike was on and it was a little stressful!  James, I don't think you're being paranoid at all, even though it hasn't apparently happened yet it did seem possible that someone walking by could take off with a bike. My husband (who didn't do the ride) met me at the pick up spot and found my bike before I did- a bike obviously too small for him and they let him walk off with it.

The bag check stuff was a little lax too- our bags were all just waiting in the breakfast area off the lobby of our hotel, but it seemed fine and I hadn't packed anything of value. I'm so trained to be hyper-paranoid in the city that I must look a little ridiculous when I'm other places! 


Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

Last year was my first on TdS, and it was chaotic at the end.  It seemed that the buses and the trucks were there at about the same time.  One thing I learned was to know what truck your bike is on!  I did not check the number of the truck that they put my bike on, and was not sure which truck to watch when we got to Chicago.


James BlackHeron said:

Security is a little lax IMHO.

I'm not at all worried about the overnight camping but when they unload the bikes from the trucks, once they arrive back in Chicago on Randolph,  they basically just prop them all up against the wall on the sidewalk.  

People just pick up their own bikes out of the pile.  There is zero stopping anyone from just picking any bike they like and wheeling off with it. No claim tickets, no nothing.  If the bus you're in comes a little later than the rest of the buses (due to traffic) they are sitting there exposed for a while.   

I would prefer some sort of claim-check system.  There are a lot of bikes and a lot of folks picking through them for their own.  More than one truckload of bikes, more than one busload of folks riding back, a lot of bikes sitting out for the taking, and a lot of random folks coming and going picking through them for their own.   It's chaos.  It's just a little bit too "honor system" for me in this honor-less City.   I'd lock my bike with a U-lock on the truck but all that would do is make someone need to carry it away rather than roll it.  Perhaps I'm just paranoid.  I don't think there has ever been a problem. 

Permalink Reply by Casey Janociak on February 3, 2014 at 7:11am

First time rider on the LTD.  Anyone ever stay at the Clarion Inn? 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 31, 2014 at 10:16am

You should be fine Adam.  I'm not much of a winter rider myself and let myself go every year until around this time when it warms up.  I really can't take the cold air much.

Today is the first time I've really been out this year for a ride longer than a couple of miles running errands around town.  I've been on the trainer a couple of times but I'm not up to doing centuries like I was last fall.  

I put on a slow 20 miles today and I am pooped.  I do this every year though, and in a couple of weeks I'll have worked myself up to 30 miles and then 40, 50 and so on.

I am not worried about TdS myself.  I'm not the fastest or most powerful rider out there but it's not a super-far ride.  I never ride a century training for a century.  I get to the point where I can ride 50 miles in a morning and still be fine for doing other stuff that afternoon. It's been my theory that one can always stretch what they can ride comfortably/easily to 2x that if necessary. If I can go 50 easily then I can go 100 pushing myself.  If i can ride 35 easily then I can push myself for 70, and so on...

I'm just an old fat guy who enjoys riding medium to long distances at a sedate pace. I'm no racer and dont' ride at the front of the pack.  But the Tour de Shore isn't really all that tough.  There are plenty of great SAG stops with tons of food and plenty of opportunities to take a breather. You've got all day to get to the campground. 

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on March 31, 2014 at 10:19am

Adam,

Did you ever ride that far before the hip injury?  You are probably not too far behind a lot of people who threw in the towel for riding this winter.

First of all, it is not a race.  And there are rest stops.  I am really slow, but I started at about 7:30 a.m. and made it to the bar by about 2:30.  My fast friends were still there!  Had plenty 

Last year was my first year.  The longest distance I had ridden before that was 50 miles the previous September.  I started riding longer distances in April I think.  I joined a couple of group rides that were moderately paced and distance of about 50.  If you can ride 50, you can ride 66.  


Adam C said:

Well, it took a lot longer than I thought, but I just signed up for the TdS; camping option.

Now I'm sitting here thinking, "What the heck have I done?" Due to a lingering hip injury, I haven't been on a bike since December 17. Hip is finally cleared up and I'm ready to begin training. Question is, will 2 1/2 months be enough time to go from 0 to 66 miles? I'm thinking if I really apply myself, it will be, but the key will be "sticking to it."

Haven't camped in ages, but that seems like a more fun option than a hotel / motel, so that will be interesting as well.

Are there any groups that do training rides in preparation for the TdS? Maybe that will help with the training.

:~)

Permalink Reply by Anne B. on March 31, 2014 at 11:01am

Adam, the route is so nice and the rest stops frequent enough that I wouldn't worry about it, just do whatever training you can. Also, the ride is early in the summer and I got the feeling that a lot of folks weren't in their top shape yet. A fun, non-competitive ride! And good for you signing up for camping as well!

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on March 31, 2014 at 2:04pm

You will absolutely be okay.  Even if you try to do several 20 to 30 mile rides in May and don't manage to get up to 50 you will be okay. Pace yourself and relax.  It is meant to be fun! 

Adam C said:

No I didn't. The longest ride I did last year was about 21 miles, and that was in July, if I remember correctly. I too am pretty slow. Usually average anywhere between 10 to 12 mph. But if there are frequent rest stops, then I'm thinking I should be okay.


Permalink Reply by Vince Zaworski on March 31, 2014 at 2:51pm

I did it 2 years ago. One of the best things I have ever done on a bike. Had an awesome time at the campground meeting people from here. The campground has a no alcohol rule but they don't go around checking the contents of coffee cups, if you get my drift. The pizza was amazing and I still dream of it. I ate and ate and ate......

Wanted to do it again last year but work wouldn't permit it. If I can convince the wife it's a good idea I may do it this year.

When I signed up 2 years ago I was kind of stressed about the length of the ride so I did really put effort into training. With the casual pace, the mostly bike trails route, and SAG stops, if you can do 25-30 miles at a touring pace you should be okay. There's people of all ages and levels on the ride and some bar hopped through IN.  The 2nd day is shorter but more challenging because of the hills. But it seemed some folks short cutted straight to New Buff along the lake rather than follow the route inland to Three Oaks so that could be an option if you're too pooped to pedal on the 2nd day.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on April 3, 2014 at 12:33am

Bike the Drive was a good "primer" for T d S last year.  And you can ride it more than once to get more miles so long as you are off by the deadline time.  

Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on April 3, 2014 at 4:47am

TdS really isn't a big deal. It's like a leisure ride. In fact, I'm going to do it on my city bike this year and bring two panniers for my clothes (we are staying at a hotel)

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on April 3, 2014 at 4:52am

You? staying at a hotel?

And think about that city bike.  I did it on the Linus last year and the first day was a little rough on the backside.  Of course you have more long distance stuff under your wheels than I do. For me--LHT this year.

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