The town of Mammoth Lakes sits at 7,900 ft and the peak of Mammoth Mountain sits at 11,053. Most of our rides and runs during the Mammoth Camp will be in the 7,000 to 9,200 range. I have included a few suggestions to help make this year’s camp a great experience for you. First, our home base and lodging area for most of you will be at Horizon 4 Condos located at 2113 Meridian Blvd., Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 .
Training at Altitude
If you have not worked out at altitude, you’ll quickly realize that everything seems just a little more difficult. The main reason is the reduced availability of oxygen, resulting in an elevated heart rate at rest and during exercise. The first workout is always the toughest because your body is trying to figure out how to function in the presence of limited oxygen. Most will find that this first workout is by far the toughest. This is not the time to push the pace. Simply complete the workout without much attention to your pacing. The next day will get easier. This is the reason I am suggesting that you get there on Thursday in early afternoon. You can get in a short workout, settle in and relax a little before the camp officially begins.
Adjusting to Altitude
Some people transition to the altitude easier than others. One of the most common side effects of traveling to altitude is nausea, headaches, loss of appetite. In order to combat this, make sure you are drinking plenty of water and eating a sufficient amount of carbohydrates.
Workout Distance and Intensity
Since your body will be working much harder to complete your bike rides and runs, it’s important not to push your body over the edge by going too hard too soon. It’s also worth mentioning that 45 miles at sea level does not compare to 45 miles at altitude. I know many of us are so focused on mileage that it’s tough to not make this your reference point. I would encourage you to look at your ride in terms of hours on the bike instead of total mileage.
Weather Conditions
The rides can be as cold as 45 degrees and as hot as low 90’s. Be prepared for any conditions. Be prepared for all types of weather.
Departing on Thursday
The drive usually takes about 6 hours so we should be up in Mammoth by about 3PM Check in is at 4:00 if you’re staying at Horizons 4. This is not an official workout, but I would strongly encourage all of you to get in a short workout on Thursday. I would keep it in the 20-35 minute range.
Bike Maintenance
Just a reminder to make sure your bike is dialed in and shifting, rolling, and riding like butter.
Cycling Clothing
The weather in Mammoth in June can get into the upper 80’s, but each morning can be as cool as 40 – 50 degrees. Bring cold weather and warm weather cycling gear – here is a list of what I would suggest
- arm warmers
- leg warmers
- wind vest
- toe warmers(if you’re a wimp like me)
- Light weight jacket
- gloves – long and short finger
The beauty of having a support vehicle following is that you can easily strip down and stash extra clothing in the vehicle.
Bike Condition
I would recommend going through your bike to make sure everything is in good working condition. If it’s been a while, take it in for a tune up. Marco at G2 Bikes in Aliso Viejo, can dial it in for you. A smooth shifting bike = a happy cyclist
Support Vehicle
You can use the support vehicle for a variety of purposes. Here are a few:
- stash your extra clothing or anything else you don’t want to carry with you on the bike
- basic mechanical support
- leap frog – lets say you are at your limit, but would still like to finish the ride. No problem. Hop in the SUV and we can drive you up the road for a few miles(or many) and then you can continue with the rest of your ride.
Nutrition and Gear Bags
We will carry plenty of cold water on every ride. No need to carry all of your hydration/nutrition. My suggestion would be to pack your stuff in a small gear bag like the one pictured on the right. Pack an anything you may think you’ll need for the ride such as arm warmers, a vest, jacket, food.
Swimming
Whitmore pool is the best option for lap swimming if you want to get in extra yardage. I believe they only offer AM lap swim and then it’s recreational swimming the rest of the day. Not sure if they have a lane or two open during recreational swim. Give them a call.
Whitmore Pool 760-935-4222
http://www.cityconcierge.com/mammoth-lakes/summer/swimming.asp
Purpose of the Support Vehicle
The purpose of the support vehicle is to provide water, carry your extra cycling gear, carry extra nutrition, transport riders who need to have the routes modified, and dish out a some friendly harassment.
Who’s in the Support Vehicle?
Mia and I will be the two driving the support vehicle. As much as we’d like to transport others to check out the action of the day, we need to make sure we have room for those riders who need modifications throughout the camp. We’d hate to tell a struggling rider, “Sorry, support vehicle is full. Buck up, dig deep, keep pedaling, and you’ll be fine.” The only exception to this will be our first ride on Friday. We don’t anticipate modifying this for anyone. Friday we will have room for 5 others to join us as part of the vehicle support. Let us know if anybody coming with you would like to join us.
Rendezvous Points
Throughout the ride we will have designated rendezvous points. These spots will be identified with a marker of some sort and this is your opportunity to stop or keep riding. If you choose to continue riding, we ask that you turn around and circle back until you see the last rider. You’ll be able to get in extra mileage and still ride with the group. These will be reviewed before each ride.
Rain or Shine
Rides will take place rain, shine, wind, hail, snow, blizzard……We will ride in all conditions except lighting storms. Weather forecast looks nice.