|
What is the Tour de Carroll? The Tour de Carroll is a one-day Spring Classic Cycling Event held in Westminster, MD. The 2008 routes were developed for cyclists of all ages and abilities. The 2008 Tour is the fourth event to be held in the Westminster, MD area. Is this a race? No, the Tour de Carroll is not a race but more a test great start to your cycling season. Above all we want all riders to have FUN!!!! and enjoy the event. Where do the rides start? All rides start and finish at Dutterer’s Park in Westminster MD 21157. Dutterer’s Park is a City of Westminster facility located at the corners of Monroe Street and Winters Street in Westminster, MD. For a web map, see the page on our website (www.tourdecarroll.com). The park is located behind Dutterer’s Florist, 114 Pennsylvania Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157. There is limited parking on the access road along the park. Maps of the cycling routes. Maps of the cycling routes are provided the day of the event. Please remember these routes may be modified at the last minute due to issues such as road construction, bridge issues, etc. Any special safety concerns or issues? All riders are expected to obey ALL traffic laws, including Maryland’s bicycle laws. Helmets are mandatory for this event…NO HELMET, NO RIDE, NO EXCEPTIONS. YOUR SAFETY is the top priority for the Tour de Carroll. Race Pace Bicycles of Westminster will offer a FREE safety check of your bike the day of the event. Please ensure your bike is 100% mechanically sound before you begin this event. SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY PLEASE! What are the distances for the 2008 Tour de
Carroll rides? What is the ride terrain? The terrain of the Carroll County area is rolling hills. For the Family Fun Ride, we have only two minor climbs. The 36-mile event has several longer climbs up to approximately a 10% grade. Our terrain in Carroll County is similar to the terrain in Belgium; the 63-mile event has two climbs that will mimic several of the famous Tour of Flanders climbs, such as the Koppenburg. We have several short (less than 500 meters) climbs of approximately 18% included in the 63-mile event. What does the Tour de Carroll support? 100% of the proceeds from the event benefit Family & Children’s Adult Day Services at West End Place, a private, not for profit adult day services center for seniors in Westminster, MD. West End Place is a program of Family & Children’s Services of Central Maryland. Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland is a private, nonprofit organization that guides families and strengthens communities. Our services include: finding loving homes for HIV+ infants; mentoring at-risk adolescents and supporting their families; instructing young and first-time parents in parenting and life skills and GED preparation; helping non-custodial parents maintain contact with their children; counseling victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse; helping senior citizens maintain their independence and letting caregivers take a much-needed break from elderly loved ones. Additional information is available online at www.fcsmd.org. When is the event held? The 4th Annual Tour de Carroll will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2008. It is normally held the last weekend in April. What is the typical temperature in late April in Westminster, MD? The normal lows are in the upper 40s and the highs in the 60s. Where is Westminster, MD? Westminster, MD is located about 30 miles northwest of Baltimore, MD and approximately 20 miles from Gettysburg, PA. What is the cost to register? The 2008 registration fee is $25. You DO NOT have to raise pledges to participate. ALL of the registration fees directly support seniors; no registration fees are used to support the event itself. 100% of the registration fee is tax deductible. Why an 8-mile ride? The 8-mile ride is a Family Fun Ride. We have several rest stops planned for this event. At each rest stop we will ask the children exercise/nutrition-related questions. We want to leave the kids (and parents) with a positive exercise experience and a series of “gee wiz” facts to pass on to their friends. Do you have the same routes/distances every year? Every year the routes and distances change. We will keep several of our more infamous short climbs (The Little Nasty) in the full Spring Classic. Contact information.
What kind of door prizes are you giving away? Local businesses and individuals have donated cycling-related door prizes for this event. You must be present to win a door prize. Winners of the door prizes will be drawn at 12:00 noon, and the winning names and prize will be listed on a board near the pavilion. After your ride, just check the prize board and review the winners. What about the 50/50 raffle? Tour de Carroll is sponsoring a 50/50 CASH raffle. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. You DO NOT have to be present to win. The winner will be selected, posted, and contacted by phone the day of the event. GOOD LUCK!! All raffle-generated funds directly support West End Place Adult Day Services. Emergency aid during the ride. SAG and SWEEP will be provided for the ride. It is a good idea to carry your cellular phone with you in a waterproof cover. During the event the emergency phone number to call is 443-375-1012. If your bike fails during the event, we will transport you and your bike back the ride start.
|
