2009 Stagecoach

Date:                Saturday, January 17, 2009
                          MLK 3-Day Weekend
Distances:       26/50/100 mile options
Location:         Ocotillo, California (80 miles east
                          of San Diego, just off Interstate 8)
Address:          266 West Imperial Highway
                          Ocotillo, CA  92259  
Field Limit:      3,000 / including 60 TTT Teams
Start Times:    
     Team Time Trial:     7:00 A.M. - 7:15 A.M.
     Individual Riders:   7:15 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.

Registration Deadlines Mail-in postmark, Jan 10, '09 Online: Midnight, Jan 16, '09

Riders receive with paid entry:

• Ride registration
• Plenty of free parking
• Camp free 1-2 miles from start
• 3-day Martin Luther King Weekend
• Cue sheet for all routes
• Riders select distances from 26 to 100 mi. 
• Six fully stocked rest stops, plus lunch
  and rest stop items in Shelter Valley
• Brightroom Photography
• Dedicated law enforcement
• Roving mechanical support & rider shuttles
• Lunch at Shelter Valley or Ocotillo
• DJ Mark/festivities at Ocotillo Park
• Secure gear drop at Start/Finish/RS #1
• Optional post-ride Pasta Meal
• Goodie bag
• Refund/Rollover/Transfer (click here)
• Easy navigation course design; 50.0 miles straight out-and-back
• Very cool Start/Finish area at new 3.5 acre Ocotillo Community Park
• Optional "Ultimate 100 Mile 4-Person Team Time Trial" with special Tandem Division
• NEW:  Optional Stagecoach Caps
• NEW:  Optional Stagecoach Fleece Vests
• NEW:  Optional Voler Custom Arm Warmers
• NEW:  Optional Voler Custom Wind Vests

 5th Annual Stagecoach Century
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Ocotillo - Shelter Valley - Ocotillo
California, USA


2008 Kelly #339/La Mesa & Tammy
#538/El Cajon, CA crest Box Canyon Summit.
 Courtesy Brightroom.com


2008 Stagecoach Century glorious weather!


2006 Sturdy Stagecoach Rider




2008 Relaxing spin out in the desert, in January!
Photo Courtesy Brightroom.com

Stagecoach Century Sign outside Ocotillo Community Park, Jan 2, '09

2009 Voler Jersey, Club Fit, 3/4 Front Zipper, 3 Rear Pockets, FINAL DRAFT    
   
      
                          2009 Voler Jersey Front                                                 2009 Voler Jersey Back
                                                                     Click here for Sizing Charts
                                                                           
2009 Voler Wind Vest, Full Zipper, 3 Rear Pockets (Note: Final Draft has same colors as Jersey)

                                        
                       2009 Voler Wind Vest Front                                         2009 Voler Wind Vest Back
                                                                  Click here for Sizing Charts

Marjorie Reed Artwork for 2009 Stagecoach Jersey                                                                             2009 artwork:  "Leaving Cooke's Station"  By Marjorie Reed                  (Reprinted with permission of Reed family, may not be reproduced in any manner)
Through the kindness of the Reed family and with much diligent negotiation efforts by Gary Fillmore, owner of the Blue Coyote Gallery, in Cave Creek, AZ,  the 2009 Stagecoach Jersey will feature another enduring work of art by the renowned Old West artist, Marjorie Reed.  This is a unique opportunity for riders to purchase a jersey with sporting a true work of art.  The painting has several direct connections to the Stagecoach Century route.  Cooke's station, in New Mexico, was on the original Butterfield Stage Route, as are several points along the current Stagecoach Century.  Marjorie spent much of her life living and painting along the magnificent Butterfield Stagecoach Route and the Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1849.  She passed away in 1996, at Vallecito Ranch, near mile 30 of the current Stagecoach Century.  Co-located at Valecito Ranch is Vallecito Station, which was a station on the Butterfield Stage Route.  Vallecito Station is a public park and can be easily visited while riding the Stagecoach Century.
Gary Fillmore has recently completed the first comprehensive biography of Marjorie's fascinating life and her major contribution to western themed art.  Click here to learn more about the Oct 2008 release of "All aboard! The Life and Works of Marjorie Reed", which will coincide with the 150 year anniversary of the opening of the Butterfield Stage route in Oct 2008.   For background information on Marjorie Reed's paintings and body of artwork, please click here for a link to Gary Fillmore's Blue Coyote Gallery in Arizona. Shadow Tour and ST Promotions are honored to once again have an authentic Marjorie Reed painting grace the 2009 Stagecoach Century Jerseys, Wind Vest, and T-shirts.  Drafts of the 2009 jersey will be posted soon.  We'll continue to provide more information about Marjorie Reed and the upcoming biography "All Aboard! The Life and Work of Marjorie Reed".  We look forward to a long association with the Reed family and the Blue Coyote Gallery.	"All Aboard!  The Life and Works of Marjorie Reed"  A biography of renowned Old West artist Marjorie Reed (1915 -1996) By Gary Fillmore Front Cover	Back Cover

Shadow Tour Logo with lettering "The Ultimate Cycling Adventure"
Khaki/Black Bill	Khaki/Hunter Bill	Khaki/Sky Blue Bill	Khaki/Navy Bill
Stagecoach Logo
Khaki/Black Bill	Khaki/Hunter Bill	Khaki/Sky Blue Bill	Khaki/Navy Bill

Grey Heather

Midnight Heather

Navy

Royal

Black

Course Maps and Profiles:

Stagecoach Century Route

                                          Click Here to download Stagecoach Course Map as PDF

         

Course:

A 100 mile desert paved cycling event, not a race. Individual cyclists may elect to ride shorter distances as described on our website and on cue sheets included in rider packets.

Cyclist Levels:

The Stagecoach course is moderately difficult overall.  It is signicantly affected by weather conditions on the day of the ride. All cyclists need to assess their own physical conditioning, weather conditions, and course profiles when deciding what distance to ride. The course has several options marked, however, all riders may adjust their distance by safely excuting a u-turn along the out-and-back course.

For beginner cyclists, we recommend starting a the early start time. Typical beginner riders take eight to ten hours including stops to ride the 100-mile Stagecoach, depending on weather conditions. More advanced cyclists typically complete the entire route in under seven hours with minimal stops. The very fastest cyclists will be under six hours.  Team Time Trial teams may finish well under 5 hours in good conditions.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR BEGINNERS AND RIDERS NEW TO SHADOW TOUR: 

All Shadow Tour rides are hosted in remote locations.  This optimizes natural scenery and minimizes vehicular traffic.  As a direct consequence, some riders experience a sense of isolation and feel they have been left completely alone out on the course, because there are no urban areas or heavy traffic around them.  This is normal, especially on a long and unfamiliar desert century ride.  Anxiety levels also tend to rise when weather conditions make riding more difficult.

Rest assured, our courses are designed in such a way that you are never more than 9 miles (in front or to the rear) away from an on-course Rest Stop support or small community along the route.  Further, we have patrolling CHP support and our own roving SAG Wagons on the course continuously.  There are also many cyclists riding in both directions so you can flag one down if you need help.  This does not mean we can immediately evacuate every single rider at a moment's notice -- we can't--neither can any other major ride.  But we will get to you as quickly as possible if you need help. 

We strongly recommend riders unfamiliar with our course, or riders attempting their first full century, to take it "one small step at a time".  At Stagecoach, you have the freedom to ride north on S2, and at any time, you may safely turn around and ride back south (with full Rest Stop support) to the start/finish at the Ocotillo Community Recreation Center.  So if you're not sure of your level of conditioning, or if weather conditions develop out on the course, as they typically do in remote sections of the desert, consider turning back early.  You have the option to reconsider.  For example, you might ride north to Rest Stop #2 near 25 miles, then return south to Ocotillo giving you 50 miles; then repeat the process to complete a full century.

Our on-course resources such as SAG vehicles, communications, and volunteers are always limited.  Don't expect a Shadow Tour vehicle to pick you up the instant you feel you cannot continue--it's simply not possible.  If you feel you need help, try calling us on your cell phone, or dial 911 if it's an emergency, try flagging down another cyclist or motorist, or simply ride or walk back to the nearest Rest Stop and let the volunteers know you need assistance.  We'll do our best to get you back to the start/finish as soon as possible.  Keep a level head out there and be patient.  Constantly ask yourself how you're doing.  Use every single rest stop for fluids and energy products, including salt (pretzels or E-Caps) and bananas and Clif energy bars (major bonk busters).  Keep an eye on the weather, your time, and how other riders are progressing.  If you have any doubt, turn back early.  You still have lots of options to have a great ride! 

Registration:

Online and mail-in registration is open.  Click below to sign-up.

We encourage riders to register early and SAVE BIG!

• Concerned about committing early? Please visit our Refund/Rollover/Transfer Policy

Payment by Credit Card: processed online through Active.com. Riders receive a confirmation email from Active.com when their entry has been processed successfully. Riders without computers may call Active.com Customer Service at 1-877-228-4881 to register by phone.

Payment by Check: download the registration form, complete, sign, and mail it with a check.

IMPORTANT EMAIL & SPAM NOTICE: All our rider correspondence is through email. Please insure we always have a valid email for you or a friend who can relay messages to you. Additionally, be sure your spam filter allows inbound email from these two sources:

support "@" active.com AND support "@" shadowtour.com

Regrettably, we cannot verify bounced emails from spam filters requiring the sender (us) to actively respond (type a response). We are not responsible for missed emails caused by rider spam filters. We understand and support controls of unwanted spam. However, with thousands of emails to our riders, it is impossible for us to individually respond to these kinds of active response spam filters.

Registration Categories:

2009 Registration Notes

1.    Ride takes place rain or shine, wind, heat, or cold
2.    Refunds, Transfers, and Exchanges are permitted per Shadow Tour/ST Promotions Policy
3.    Lunch in Shelter Valley is included with all rides (shorter distances have lunch at the finish)
4.    “Post-Ride” pasta meals are $12 prior to the event, $15 day of event
5.    Voler Jerseys/Wind Vests/Arm Warmers:  Riders ordering these items by Nov 16, '08 will
       receive them at packet pickup. After Nov 16, '08, riders ordering these items will receive
       them in the mail in Mar '09 (free shipping).
6.    T-shirts: All riders ordering T-shirts will receive them at packet pickup.
7.    Caps and Fleece Vests:  Must be ordered by Dec 31, '08.  Pre-ordered caps and fleece vests
       will be at packet pick-up.  A limited inventory of caps and fleece vests will be at the event:
       first come, first served. For best pricing, color choices, and sizes, order by Dec 31, '08.
8.    All riders register as individuals, online or by mail, this includes tandems, teams, and clubs
9.    All riders select, in advance, the location for their included lunch:  Shelter Valley -OR- Ocotillo.
10.  Registration fee is the same for all distances. 

Lodging

OFFICIAL HOST HOTEL:

  
            


Shadow Tour is pleased to announce the official Host Hotel for the 2009 Stagecoach Century is once again the Mission Valley Resort.  This charming, beautifully landscaped property is in the heart of Mission Valley, near San Deigo's Old Town, the birthplace of California. 

The Mission Valley Resort is a casual oasis with all you’ll need as you prep for the Winter Stagecoach Century; enjoy a bite to eat at the Valley Kitchen Restaurant, grab a bottle of water at the Valley Liquor Store, or go for a quick spin on a stationary bike at the full-service athletic club.  

We selected The Mission Valley Resort in San Diego as the Host Hotel because there are very few lodging options near the actual start/finish in Ocotillo. From the the resort, Ocotillo is about a 1 hr 20 min drive (approx. 80 mi) heading east on Interstate 8. It’s an easy and scenic drive on Saturday morning—you won’t be disappointed. The huge advantage, for all riders, is the convenient Friday afternoon packet pickup at the Mission Valley Resort Ballroom. You can pick up your packets a full day in advance, allowing you to be set to ride immediately upon arrival in Ocotillo on Saturday morning. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL RIDERS to pick up their ride packets at the hotel on Friday, January 16^th, 2009 from Noon – 8:00 P.M. All riders still have the option to pick up ride packets at the start/finish in Ocotillo on Saturday morning from 6:45 – 9:00 A.M.

The Mission Valley Resort is offering a daily rate of $89 plus tax for all Stagecoach riders, based on availability.  It's still always best to book as far in advance as possible. 

To register online, please click here to be directed to the Mission Valley reservation website and type "stagecoach" as the password.  Or you may call 800-362-7871 and mention you are a participant in the "Stagecoach Century" when booking your reservations.  Click here to visit the Mission Valley Resort website.

Mission Valley Resort San Diego
875 Hotel Circle South
San Diego, CA 92108

Mapquest Directions:  Click Here

Direct Dial:  619-298-8281
Toll Free:    800-362-7871
Fax:           619-295-5610

Top 10 Friday Packet Pickup BENEFITS:

1.   Avoid lines on Saturday in Ocotillo.
2.   Calmly review your rider packet, Final Rider Instructions, course maps, and other swag items.
3.   Carefully affix ride numbers to helmet and bike handlebars in advance, vastly improving the
      odds of clear identification by Brightroom photographers out on the course.
4.   Review any last minute details, maps, and instructions provided in your packet the night prior.
5.   Avoid a round trip from your car to the registration area and back on Saturday morning.
6.   Work out any registration-related issues in the relaxed environment of the expansive Mission
      Valley Resort Ballroom.
7.   Easy in & out FREE PARKING for packet pickup.
8.   Chance to purchase t-shirts and jerseys while most sizes are likely available.
9.   Ask questions or get information about the ride on Friday afternoon/evening when volunteers
      and staff are not so pressed for time (like they are early Saturday morning in Ocotillo).
10.  Sign up Friday at the “Regular” price. On Saturday morning, all entry categories go up $5.
      Payment only by cash or check is accepted at packet pickup on Friday and Saturday.

MORE LODGING OPTIONS:  Listed below are hotel, motel, and camping options in the vicinity of Ocotillo. The small town of Ocotillo has only modest accommodations. The primary reason Stagecoach is such a low-traffic and pristine ride is due to its isolated location. The closest hotels are in El Centro, about 27 miles east of Ocotillo via Interstate 8. Overall, these are very good options considering the distance from Ocotillo and mix of quality and affordable hotels. If you prefer to stay in San Diego on Friday night and drive out to Ocotillo early Saturday morning, there are many other hotel options available, see link to Orbitz hotel search system below.