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Dear Shadow Tour Riders,
The 1st Annual 2011 Palm Desert Century (PDC) will roll Sat, Nov 12, '11. The "Best Deal" deadline is Jul 31st. Register Now for best prices!
Latest updates include the addition of CEP Timing, LLC (official timer of the El Tour of Tucson) who will be providing chip timing services for the optional Chiriaco Summit Time Trial. Richard Duquette, Pearl Izumi, and Vitalyte have joined as strong Sponsors. The PDC field already has 136 registered riders who have scored a great price on this one-of-a-kind desert century.
California deserts are spectacular in November. Deep blue skies, cool nights, and warm days. Past the summer sizzle, yet ahead of the Holidays--the sweet spot for desert cycling. With a Start/Finish in the idyllic City of Palm Desert, the PDC offers unsurpassed desert cycling paired with a World Class destination. Palm Desert is the premier Coachella Valley community, with abundant lodging options at many price points, a wide variety of fine restaurants, El Paseo Drive shopping, and cool family attractions. All within 2-3 hrs of Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Tucson, and Phoenix.
The Palm Desert Century route offers an entirely unique Coachcella Valley cycling experience. The out-n-back course design allows riders to select distances from 20 to 100 miles, based on personal conditioning, weather, winds, etc. The gentle start glides southbound through well developed cities of Palm Desert, Indio, and La Quinta, before turning east into the low deserts checkered with Orange and Date Tree groves, and vast fields of crops, at the northern shores of the Salton Sea.
Full Century PDC riders have a rare opportunity to ride Box Canyon Road. Just beyond the quiet desert town of Mecca, east the railroad tracks, Box Canyon Road transforms into a remarkable and scenic 15+ mile desert pass with no feeder roads, stopsigns, stoplights, or intersections. It gradually ascends at a gentle 1-2% incline from 200 ft BELOW Sea Level, to the Chiriaco Summit, nearly 1,300 ft ABOVE Sea Level.
This showcase segment of the PDC starts near the 35 mile point and ends at the 50 mile turnaround, at Chiriaco Summit, adjacent to Interstate 10. It will be designated an optional "Chiriaco Summit Time Trial", a one-way uphill Individual Time Trial, from Mecca to Chiriaco Summit. Prevailing winds are usually tailwinds. Timing is completely voluntary. Chip timing services are provided by CEP Timing, the same company that times the El Tour of Tuscon. The summit finish will have a well-stocked Rest Stop and is the Full Century turnaround point. The most immediate reward is a paid-up freewheeling spin back down to Mecca. Sensational sight lines to the Salton Sea are visible though the canyons, near Mecca. The striking profile of the San Jacinto range looms large in the distance.
The route returns along the same roads to Palm Desert with full support. Subtle transitions emerge as riders leave behind the remote, sometimes harsh, and undeveloped low desert vegetation, revisting La Quinta's immaculately groomed, wide peppertree-lined boulevards, past deluxe PGA Golf Courses and Resorts and communities, to a festive finish with music, medals, and exhibitors at the grassy 2.5 acre new University Park in Palm Desert. An included Subway lunch meal will be available here, for riders selecting the finish line option. An optional Post-ride meal will also be served at the finish. Bring folding chairs and blankets to enjoy hanging out post-ride.
Shadow Tour's ambitious goal is to attract 1,500 ambitious and adventurous riders, friends, and families to the inaugural 2011 PDC. Producing a major new century ride against the headwinds of a tough economy, creates even greater permitting and funding challenges; more than we've ever seen.
Even with 15 previous successful events, Shadow Tour must still "Prove it" to all communities and stakeholders. For local businesses and government officials, proof means attracting significant numbers of riders and encouraging overnight stays to generate meaningful local economic benefit. To Local, Regional, and California Police and Road Permit Agencies, it means detailed planning and executing a safe, well-organized event, with minimal impact on local citizens and vehicular traffic.
To foster wider Coachella Valley Goodwill, it means promoting and contributing to fundraising efforts for the Official PDC Charity: Roy's Desert Resource Center; a vibrant new organization assisting the needy thoughout Coachella Valley, with an enviable 85% success rate in getting folks back on their feet and returned to leading productive lives.
Add all this up and the PDC budget exceeds that of all existing Shadow Tour events, combined!
Which leads us right back to our Sturdy Rider base. We're counting on your loyalty and support to help make this Desert Gem Sparkle! We invite you to register for PDC today. To help, we're offering "Best Deal" prices, plus a special 10% discount promocode "PDC10PC" (all caps) to past riders and members of our Interest List.
Shadow Tour has listened carefully and implemented your thoughtful feedback over the years. We offer Long and Short Courses, with separate prices. Jerseys, T-shirts, and Post-ride meals are completely optional, so no need to purchase something you may not want. The innovative Shadow Tour Refund/Rollover/Transfer Policy helps if your plans change unexpectedly, and remains one of the only such policies in the business. We communicate details to riders before, during, and after the event. We maintain previous event Photo Galleries, weather data, and Full Century Finisher Lists for historical continuity. We allow riders to choose online or mail-in registration. We accept walk-up registrations whenever possible.
The PDC represents the next major step up for our desert cycling events. Palm Desert offers vast potential for adding many more cool elements in the future.
Please join us! And once you're in, please encourage all your cycling friends to join you. Consider bringing the whole family for an affordable quality family adventure with something fun for all. Whether it's visiting the Living Desert, a relaxed family Sunday Brunch at Tommy Bahama's, or a stroll along El Paseo Drive, there are countless great reasons to make it a weekend.
To help grow ridership for this Marquee event, reaching new riders is vital. Please post a message and link to Palm Desert Century on your social network, blog, and club websites. Email your cycling buddies inviting them to join you. We're most grateful for your support!
It's easy to spread the word! Just click on the "Forward to a Friend" icon below. You're invited to Friend PDC and Shadow Tour Facebook pages too.
 New PDC Fan Page
New Shadow Tour Group
Here's what's included with your paid entry:
Ride Registration
Rider Email Updates
Detailed Final Rider Instructions
Included Lunch Meal
Cue sheet for all route distances
Free parking
Veteran's Day Long Weekend
5 fully stocked rest stops + included lunch
Photography Services
Dedicated Law Enforcement
Roving Mechanical Support
Course sweep vans & vehicles
Lunch option at Halfway point or Finish
DJ / Expo / Band / Festivities at the Finish
Rider Goodie Gag
Gear drop at Start and Rest Stop #1
Optional Post-ride Meal
Options for Refund/Rollover/Transfer
50 miles out, 50 miles back
Start/Finish at the University Park
Optional Chip Timed Chiriaco Summit Time Trial
TT Results posted on website
Full Century Finisher names posted on website
Comprehensive Round-up email
Custom Finisher's Medal and Pin
Long Course / Short Course Pricing
www.shadowtour.com
Sponsor Corner:
World Cycles: Save 10% off most parts & accessories. Save 20% on Tune-ups. Great deals on bikes. Ask Owner Alex about Coaching and Training Systems. Look for the Yellow World Cycles Pickup at the Start/Finish and along the course!
Attorney Richard Duquette offers wise legal advice for riders: "Dont skimp on insurance!". Check out his article on Under/Uninsured motorists. Richard and wife Kim, are avid cyclists, triathletes and Stagecoach vets. Contact Richard at 760-730-0500.
Host Hotel: Homewood Suites by Hilton Palm Desert. Homewood Suites is offering PDC riders special rates, subject to availability. Rates start at $109/night p/t. Includes a special early complementary light buffet breakfast. Visit website for details.
Event Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Palm Desert is offering PDC riders special rates, subject to availablility. Rates start at $109/night p/t. Includes breakfast and ToGo Bags for riders. Visit website for details.
Sport Action Photos: New official photographer, specializing in capturing unique action-oriented rider photos at affordable prices.
Many Thanks!
Jim & Larry
Managing Members
Shadow Tour, LLC
Box Canyon Road about 5 miles past Mecca. Gentle 1% grade continues all the way to Chiriaco Summit. |
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