Oregon Coast Cycling Festival Festival Flyer July 12, 2004 This newsletter is being brought to you courtesy of the Outdoor Life Network. In honor of the start of the 101st anniversary of the Tour de France, I’ve moved the computer into the living room and am camping out in front of the TV. It’s amazing how I can barely drag my sorry butt out of bed just to brush my teeth and zoom to the office in the nick of time to be at my desk by 8:30, but when the TDF is on OLN, I’m up and settling in with a cup of hot tea and a bowl of cereal as the opening credits start to roll at 5:30 in the A.M. I’ll be having breakfast with Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen tomorrow for stage nine. I love it when they say stuff like, “this a bit of dodgy roadway here.” Here’s a link to their schedule in case you need it … http://ww2.olntv.com/htmlpage.asp?htmlid=24 It’s official, the Oregon Coast Cycling Festival is nationwide! We’re banging both coasts! In today’s mail we received a registration from a person in New Jersey! Entries are coming in strong. Thanks to all who have already registered. For those who are waffling, “WHAT ARE YA WAITING FOR?!” The earlier you register, the easier it is on the various organizing committees, the better prepared they’ll be when you arrive, and ultimately the more fun you’ll have when you get here. The preliminary list of places to stay during the festival is up on the website. We’re still contacting owners and managers to secure more discounts for you, but it’s a start.   http://www.oregoncoastcyclingfestival.com/lodging.htm Some may be getting close to full, but the page will be updated in about a week or so with more hotels, motels, B & B’s, and campgrounds. Paving update #1: The Oregon Department of Transportation may be working to fix some slides and “heaved surface” on Highway 101 from Thomas Creek Bridge south into Brookings. They might be done by September 11th. This will only affect the Imperial Century riders. There may be some minor lane reconfigurations to be aware of, but hopefully some fresh roadway as well. There will be an update at registration if not sooner. We have a Photo Shoot planned for the weekend of July 24th here in Gold Beach. We need to get some more “eye candy” posted on the website of the gorgeous scenery along the Rogue River and in Squaw Valley. The wildflowers are in full raging bloom, the waterfalls are still flowing strong, and the late afternoon sunlight has that special summer glow to it. If anybody is interested in coming along and having their smiling face preserved for posterity, let us know. Any particularly good shots we can print out for you in photo quality. It’s really a lot of fun doing these kinda things; we definitely don’t take it too seriously, just watch out for the champagne corks. Your picture will go on a page like this http://www.oregoncoastcyclingfestival.com/Photos3.htm Paving update #2: As I mentioned a few weeks back, the Road Department will be paving on Ophir Road and Squaw Valley Road this summer. The brand new pavement on Ophir Road will only benefit the Metric Century riders, but (and this is the good news) on Squaw Valley Road the fresh stuff will be covering up some – not all – of the nasty rough chip-seal making this a really sweet section for all of you Metric and Imperial Century riders. The Mountain Lakes Challenge, held June 26th, in Ashland, was a great event. The route was grueling, but the organization was super smooth. And the post- ride burritos were awesome! Siskiyou Velo did an outstanding job. http://www.siskiyouvelo.org  I wish they could have warned me about that &#@^*#’ed! bee that flew down the back of my jersey on the descent of Dead Indian Memorial when I was going 45mph, but that’s life in the fast lane, right? Lesson learned? Zip up on the downhills. Paving update #3: Finally, after three years, the Patterson Bridge (Hwy 101 across the Rogue River) is being paved. I just got off the phone with Ted Bensen from the Oregon Department of Transportation and he says that as soon as the paving company “gets their asphalt in gear,” it’ll be done. Hopefully within the next three or four weeks. Lemmetellya, riding over that bridge has been like one of those hotel beds you put a quarter in or maybe a series of one-inch tall speed bumps two inches apart…for almost half of a mile! There’s a new registration form on the website. http://www.oregoncoastcyclingfestival.com/entry_form.htm The early entry discount is gone, but there’s a place for you to order tee-shirts. The design for the shirt hasn’t been decided yet. Hopefully we’ll come up with a finalized version before the next newsletter. September is one of the warmest months in Gold Beach, the average high temperature over the past 30 years has been 68.3 degrees; the average low 50.8 degrees. Is that perfect cycling weather or what? Here’s a link to the data http://www.ocs.orst.edu/pub_ftp/climate_data/mme2/353356.gif I heard from Ted Palfini of Mount Shasta who wrote in with, "Music and dancing after your ride sounds fun. Thinking about how your ride has the 65 and 25 milers finishing together sounds fun. Even your organizational meetings sound fun (ride a few miles, go to the pub, throw out some ideas, drink some beer)."  Right on, Ted, fun is what it’s all about! Any questions or comments? Ask away, just hit the “reply” button on your browser. That’s it for now. The next Festival Flyer e-version will be in your cyber- mailbox in a couple - three weeks...probably right after the time trial up L'Alpe D'Huez! Ride on, Main Sprocket http://www.oregoncoastcyclingfestival.com