CORPScamp Mt. Shasta: July 29 - August 2, 2009

Please join us at Mt. Shasta, the magical, mystical mountain which stands serenely near the top of California, for a five day cycling retreat. This glacier-laden volcanic peak provides the backdrop for superb cycling in a gorgeous, alpine region with dramatic lakes, rivers, forests, and memorable climbs. You can drive there easily from NorCal or Oregon, or fly in via Redding or Sacramento. Shasta is a bit remote, but that helps protect its quiet, wondrous setting. Mt. Shasta's special appeal will draw you back again and again.

Includes entry and participation in the Shasta Summit Century (58, 100, or 135 mi) on August 2.

Please join us for CORPScamp Death Valley, our annual cycling lifestyle training camp based in Furnace Creek and featuring up to 400 miles of epic, one-of-a-kind cycling in and around "Mother Nature's Greatest Sports Arena," Death Valley National Park. Come join Chris Kostman and the folks at AdventureCORPS along with fellow athlete-adventurers from around the globe for five fabulous days of cycling and camaraderie in beautiful, one-of-a-kind Death Valley! The adventures will include riding the route of the Spring Death Valley Century, the route of the Fall Death Valley Century, to the summit of Townes Pass, up to Danté's View, and more! Stay a few extra days after the camp and ride the Death Valley Century and Double Century, too!

Our "Bulletin Board" is kaput and has been replaced with a blog where would-be crew members can post their availability to crew, and where 508ers looking for crew can connect with would-be crew. Check it out!

New for 2008 and beyond, The 508 will feature the Classic Rendezvous Division. The requirements to enter this division - which will be a sub-category of ANY 508 division, whether solo, tandem, or 2x / 4x relay, will be to race on technology from 1983 or older. Specifically, this means:

- The frame and fork must be lugged steel (but built in ANY year, including brand new). - Yes, we know that aluminum bikes existed before 1983, as well as fillet-brazed steel...
- No more than six cogs on the rear wheel.
- 32 spokes per wheel minimum.
- Friction shifting on the down-tube or bar-ends (must be true friction shiters; not clickables set in friction mode).
- Toe clips and straps.

Just to be clear, the frame and parts don't have to actually be 25 or more years old - just the technology has to be 1983 or older. Of course "style points" will be awarded to those whose entire bike, other than the obvious - tyres, cables, chain, brake pads, etc - are from 1983 or older!

This new division is supported and endorsed by Classic Rendezvous, a website and email group dedicated to celebrating classic bicycles and history. More info here.

Mavis Irwin is a Furnace Creek 508 veteran, a 27-year-old, female graduate student, and a passionate cyclist and cycling advocate. Mavis can not speak, nor hear, but she has compiled a very thorough blog which documents the numerous and troubling questions and issues involving the purchase of the Race Across AMerica (RAAM) by the UMCA, the so-called governing body of the sport of ultracycling, as well as other related issues.

On February 23rd, she received a letter from RAAM's attorney, essentially telling her to take her entire blog off-line. This kind of threat is known as SLAPP suit. That was followed up with a nasty, threatening, and extremely condescending email from the RAAM CEO. We find these actions despicable and we wonder how the long the Board of Directors of the UMCA will allow this sport-destroying nonsense to continue. You can read the relevant, disgusting documents here:

http://ultracycling-us.blogspot.com/2007/11/raam-llc-threatening-to-sue-umca.html

Here is the SAVE THE UMCA blog's front page:
http://ultracycling-us.blogspot.com

Here is Mavis' time splits and bio page on The 508 website:
http://dbase.adventurecorps.com/individualTd.php?e=121

Here is Mavis and her support crew at the finish of the 2007 508:
http://www.the508.com/2007web/shows/show20/pages/DSC03089.html

The self-appointed and virtually unknown "governing body" of ultracycling, the UMCA, bought the Race Across AMerica (RAAM) over a year ago and spends the overwhelmingly majority of its time, resources, magazine pages, money, and efforts to promote RAAM. We do not think this is what a governing body should be doing, nor do we think it is in the best interest of the sport, the athletes, or all the other great races that make up the backbone of ultracycling.

The founders of the UMCA (and RAAM), John Marino and Michael Shermer, vehemently oppose this relationship between the UMCA and RAAM, as well as how the most recent UMCA board of directors election was handled. So do we. Until the UMCA proves that it deserves our support, and its tax-exempt "non-profit" status, we will no longer endorse, support, or participate in any UMCARAAM program. If you would like to learn more about what's going on behind the scenes with the UMCA, we encourage you to visit this extremely important and informative website:

http://ultracycling-us.blogspot.com/

Meanwhile, we'll just keep doing what we always do: work hard to produce and promote the very best endurance sports events we possibly can! Thanks for your support, everyone!