The Calvins Challenge Event for 2024 – May 18-19

I am very excited to announce that the Calvins Challenge event is back after a long absence. Good friend and previous Event Director Larry Graham has just ridden the old 50.5 & 7 miles routes and reports the road condition is good, possibly even better than when he last held the event in 2016. We are even fortunate enough to have it at the same Shawnee High School location! Therefore the format for the 100 mile, 6 and 12 hr events will be exactly as it was in 2016! There will be drafting, non-drafting, and self-supported categories It must be clearly stated that this is not a race. Each rider is riding for personal best in their own category.

RAAM Qualifier: I have added an additional event to the 2024 event. It will be a 24-hour non-drafting event and will also be a RAAM qualifier. I have also created a new 26.2 mile course just for the 24-hour event so riders are not on the road so long without checking in. Direct follow will be allowed at night

Where is it:

The hub of the event will be the Shawnee High School (1675 E Possum Rd, Springfield, OH 45502) If you rode in Calvin’s 2016 or earlier you  will recognize it, however they redesigned the front drive with a cul-de-sac in it, so our timing and crew setup will be at the back of the building. This will actually be better with more room for crew setup, easier access to the restrooms. There is also now a traffic circle at the intersection of Selma Pike and E Possum Rd (at the NE corner of the school – which is a welcome addition. Here is a view of that area: Yellow path indicates bike route on road and purple is timing and crew setup. Riders will come into school back parking lot off of E Possum Rd – and then turn right on to Selma Pike

Important Dates:

• April 17, 2023 – Last Day to register to ensure you get a custom Calvin’s t-shirt
• April 30, 2024 – Last Day for reduced cost registration
• May 3, 2023 – Last Day to register to ensure you get your Custom Medallion
• May 15, 2024 5pm – Final day for online registration
• May 17, 2024 – 5pm – 8pm – Packet pickup and late registration
• May 18, 2024 – 5am-6am – event day packet pickup and late registration

Packet Pickup and on-site Registration:

At the Shawnee High School Football concession stand (behind the school)

• May 17, 2024 – 5pm – 8pm – Packet pickup and late registration
• May 18, 2024 – 5am-6am – 6-12-24hr event day packet pickup and late registration                      —————————————(please save this time for riders driving in on event day)
• May 18, 2024 – 5am-10am – Century race day packet pickup and late registration

Awards and snacks:

Awards will be given at the concession stand at Shawnee High School after each event as soon as results can be tabulated – Estimating 60-90 minutes.

I will provide some after ride snacks and water for the riders and crew. If you would like to bring anything to share there will some tables to put in on.

The events:

• The original 50.5 daytime loop (100 & 12-hour) : https://ridewithgps.com/routes/7576957
• A new 26.2 mile loop (6 & 24-hour) : https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45470792
• The original 6.8 mile finishing loop:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/7576965

The events:

There will be 4 primary events at 2024 Calvins Challenge: 100 Mile, 6-hour, 12-hour, & 24-hour.

Each event will have the following categories: gender, 5-yr age-groups, all bike types, non-drafting or drafting, supported or unsupported, and solo as well as 2 thru 8 rider teams. There is something for everyone!

The Century will ride 2 loops of the 50.5 mile loop.

The 12-hour event will ride the 50.5 mile loop as many times as they can. When they feel they would not be able to complete another 50.5 mile loop, they will transition to the 6.8 mile loop until the 12 hours is completed.

The 6 Hour riders will ride the 26.2 mile loop as many times as they can. When they feel they would not be able to complete another 26.2 mile loop, they will transition to the 6.8 mile loop until their 6 hours is completed.

The 24 Hour riders will ride the 26.2 mile loop as many times as they can. When they feel they would not be able to complete another 26.2 mile loop, they will transition to the 6.8 mile loop until their 24 hours is completed.

Note: For all timed events – you must complete the loop you are on when your time expires. Your average speed on this final loop will be used to determine your prorated distance for the amount of the time you rode that loop before your timed event expires. Even if you miss-judged how long it would take you to complete one of the longer loops and your time expired while you were riding one of them, complete the loop and your distance will be prorated.

Mechanicals and/or race abandonment before completing a full lap

If you have a mechanical and had to call your crew to help and had to return to the school, you must return to the spot you stopped (via vehicle is fine)  and continue if you are able. If you are not able to and you must abandon, to get credit for this partial lap you must be tracking your GPS location on your phone or Garmin (type) unit. You must save this file to Strava and present it to the Event Director when you declare you have abandoned before the official end of your timed event. If you do this then the Event Director will review your Strava ride and credit you with the mileage you rode on the partial lap.

Trains or temporary road closure due to an accident:

If you get stopped by a train or temporary road closure due to an accident: you can turn around and immediately start riding the course in the opposite direction until you feel the road will be cleared when you return, then turn back around and ride back to the same spot. To get credit for any mileage ridden in this scenario – you must be tracking your GPS location on your phone or Garmin (type) unit. When the event is over you must immediately upload the file to Strava and send it to the Event Director and tell them when and where this occurred. Ideally you will hit a lap timer at the beginning and end of your “detour” so it can be easily seen in Strava analysis..

Event protocol:

The 6 & 12-hour event riders will start first at 7:00am and will ride their respective long loop until there is not enough time to ride another loop – then they will transition to the 6.8 mile loop until their time is finished.

The 24-hour event riders will start at 7:05am and will ride their 26.2 mile loop until there is not enough time to ride another loop – then they will transition to the 6.8 mile loop until their time is finished., which will be at approximately 7am on Sunday morning.

The Century riders will start at 11am and will ride 2 loops of the 50.5 loop. You must come through the timing shoot behind the school after your 1st loop.

Non-drafting Rules:

If you are in any non-drafting category, you must honor the “non-drafting zone”. We have adopted the USA Triathlon (USAT) definition of this ‘zone’: as a “rectangular area seven 7 meters long (23 feet) and two 2 meters wide (6.5 feet) surrounding each bicycle”. This will provide a sufficient non-drafting area around each cyclist.

Miscellaneous:

Due to staggered start times, each rider is highly encouraged to start their own timer on their GPS unit, phone, or personal stopwatch when they start, so they know when their event time has completed.

This event is also aligning with the World Record setting standards within World UltraCycling Association (WUCA). This new format also allows all riders to ride until the very end of their timed event. Everyone will be encouraged and allowed to complete the current lap they are on until their time event expires.

** Special Note for Trikes and Handcycles: Due to speed, time, visibility and safety concerns, you will be allowed to ride the 6.8 Mile short-loop for the entire duration of any 6, 12, or 24 hour event if you like. Just tell me you want to do this when you check-in and I’ll assign you a special number for it.

Follow vehicles and crew:

If you are riding in the supported category and are riding on the 26.2 or 50.5 mile loops you are allowed to have a personal support vehicle somewhere on the course to assist you. These are the rules:

1. You must provide your contact information and also have the number of the Event Director.
2. You may not directly follow your rider (except at night for 24-hour supported riders) as that would present a dangerous situation with so many riders on the road. If you are seen doing this during the day, your rider will be immediately disqualified from the event and required to stop.
3. You may be on the course and stop at a pre-arranged location to hand off food or drink to your rider or offer any other type of assistance they need. It is best to pick one spot and stay there until your rider transitions to the 6.8 mile loop. If possible – riders should plan on  carrying enough food and drink for a 50.5 mile ride.
4. Your rider may call you if they need mechanical aid and you may drive to, and stop anywhere on the course to offer mechanical aid as long as it is done off the road.
5. Handoffs from the support vehicle while it is moving are not allowed. If you are seen doing this, your rider will be immediately disqualified from the event and required to stop. 

During the daytime loop, supported riders may have their crew set-up anywhere along the route as long as they are completely off the road and not on private property. They may also set up in the designated area behind Shawnee High School just past the start/finish timing area.

6.8 Mile Loop Support rules:

• Direct follow is not allowed when your rider is on this short loop. If you are seen doing this, your rider will be immediately disqualified from the event and required to stop. 
• Your rider may call you if they need mechanical aid and you may drive to, and stop anywhere on the course to offer mechanical aid as long as it is done off the road.

Where to park your vehicle:

• There is plenty of space for parking and crew setup behind the School.
• Preference will be given to self-supported riders to set up as near as possible to the riding path.

Electricity access:

Plan on there being no electrical outlets for you to plug into. I suggest small relatively silent generators or inverters that you can run from your vehicle if you need 110V power.

Unsupported Category:

Unsupported is a new category for this year which is also aligning with WUCA. This means that you are “totally” self-supported. You cannot have anyone help you in any way. If you get in a bad way on the course and need to call for help, you must either abandon and take your mileage at that spot – or change to the Supported Category.

Awards and souvenirs:

Registration fee includes a custom Calvins shirt, and a beautiful participation medallion especially designed for this event. Recognition after each event will be for top 3 places in drafting, non-drafting, supported, unsupported, age-group, gender, and bike categories. There will also be recognition for Overall in all main categories. Awards and recognition ceremonies will be held individually for each event as soon as the results for each event can be tabulated after completion. Award Ceremonies after each event will be held at the Concession Stand Shelter by the football field.

Accommodations:

• There are many hotels in and around Springfield where you can stay
• This is no camping allowed at the school

Misc Info:

Both courses used will be surveyed for exact length (to the cm), and all riders will be allowed to ride until their timed event expires, therefore allowing the greatest possible distance for each participant.

WUCA and GWR time and distance records on Surveyed Calvins courses:

Because of alignment with WUCA Record attempt rules, these surveyed courses can also be used to attempt any valid time and distance WUCA record attempt. This attempt cannot however happen simultaneously with the Calvins Challenge event. Contact records@ultracycling.com for more information about a WUCA record attempt.. Registration for this must be done at least 21 days prior to your record attempt to allow the pre-attempt documentation to be completed.

Because the courses will be surveyed for exact distance to the cm (also per WUCA Record rules) based on the shortest possible rideable distance, this may vary slightly with what your GPS unit reports. (The surveyed distance is almost always a little shorter) Your final distance will be calculated off of this survey and how many laps you have completed..

Many thanks to the Shawnee School District and especially the principal and athletic director or the High School

Lastly, we are very fortunate in that the Shawnee School District  has graciously allowed us to use their High School for our event again . PLEASE be considerate of the building and the space. Don’t try to gain access to the tracks or the school. Use the time immediately after your event (while you are waiting for the award ceremony) to remove all personal items and all trash from your support area.