More details will be published soon, but here's a first look at this fine field!

AdventureCORPS Presents CORPScamp: Multi-Day Lifestyle Adventures for Cyclists, On and Off the Bike!

CORPScamp Concept:
• Cycling and other sports at their absolute best!
• One-of-a-kind, wondrous locations!
• Rejuvenate, relax, recharge!
• Personal attention or solitude: As much as you want!
• Sportive Lifestyle: Learn, get fit, socialize, explore!

Each CORPScamp features a specific route each day, with route sheets, support vehicle on the course, and two or more ride leaders. The group is encouraged to ride together at a conversational pace for the first ten miles, then everyone is free to ride at their own pace; most routes feature various distance options, too. Each afternoon features "The Yoga Social" with a rejuvenating yoga class taught by a fellow cyclist who has been trained at the world renowned White Lotus Foundation and holds a Yoga Alliance RYT 200 instructor certification. The "Yoga Social" is designed for all camp participants, regardless of yoga background, or lack thereof, and is designed to help each camper unwind and prepare for the next day's adventure. Social time before and after the actual yoga class gives everyone a chance to swap stories while enjoying tea and/or Hammer Nutrition Recoverite. Each camp also includes two group dinners, plus optional hikes and other outings. One-on-one coaching and custom bike fitting is also available at no extra charge. Every activity is optional, though; campers are free to "check out any time you like" if they want a break or extra rest or private time.

Please understand that CORPScamps are designed as a multi-day lifestyle adventure - five to seven days of fantastic cycling and outdoor adventure in an otherworldly place - and each camp is only as difficult as YOU want it to be. Most days, participants can make their daily mileage any number they want! We're not timing everyone, we're not keeping score, and we're not getting out the rulers for anything but checking seat heights! So please don't be put off by the name - CORPScamp is only as hard core as you want to make it! If you love cycling and want to get away from it all and enjoy the company, and insights, of fellow cyclists, then you will enjoy CORPScamp!

2008 marks the 25th anniversary of the event and we plan to do a lot to celebrate that, including:
- Having the race founder, John Marino on hand.
- Encourage former champions, from 1983 through 2007, to compete.
- Classic Rendezvous Division: See below.
- Scholarships for solo entrants 20 years old or younger: Riders 20 or younger will pay just $100 to enter, perhaps even receiving even more support if we can round up the sponsors.
- Extra special jersey, medal, and other commemoratives.
- Post-Race Event: We will have a really nice post-race breakfast at the conclusion of the race on Monday morning which many, it not most, of the racers and crews will attend.

We are very excited about the new 2008 gear we've designed and which will be produced by our new garment supplier, Hincapie Sports. All of the new AdventureCORPS gear may be ordered when registering for the Fall Death Valley Century and Double Century via Active.com on June 2, as well as when 508 applicants confirm their entry in the 2008 Furnace Creek 508 in early May.

Note: All 2008 508 official finishers will be awarded a FREE jersey at the finish line in Twenty Nine Palms.

Check out our new Death Valley jersey, Rough Riders jersey, Furnace Creek 508 jersey, Furnace Creek 508 vest, and AdventureCORPS arm warmers by clicking the blue button at left!

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.

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! (Soon we'll add other topics to the blog about which you can comment and discuss.)

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 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!

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!