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2001 RACE CANCELLED DUE TO ATTACKS ON
THE WORLD TRADE CENTER
The above sculpture is "Bent Propeller" (also known as the WTC Stabile), by Alexander Calder. This piece was created in 1971 specifically for the World Trade Center as public art, and was displayed in front of the Vesey Street entrance when it originally opened, and was lost in the 2001 attacks. It has special meaning for our Event director, who greatly admired its sheer size (~ 30' tall), pop styling and unique color, and would affectionately refer to it as the "giant potato chip."
Before moving to the SARATOGA SPRINGS area in 1990, our Event director worked in NEW YORK CITY, and for a few years, lived in New Jersey. He usually rode into NYC over the GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE in the morning, then returned home in the evening via the PATH trains, which were located in the basement of the WTC.
On his way home most evenings, he would ride down West Broadway, cross Vesey Street, hop the curb, make a slight detour to his left, ride through the sculpture, dawdling inside for a moment to take it all in, then continue to the building's entrance to catch the PATH train. On days he took the train into NYC in the morning, he would make sure to ride or walk through the sculpture to get the day started on a good note.
About 30 percent of the sculpture survived the attacks, and its remains — four big pieces of steel, reportedly still bent (but probably not as Calder intended) and much darker in color due to the extreme heat it was exposed to — are currently part of the collection at the NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM.
The ADIRONDACK 540 is located about 250 miles north of NYC, and the third edition of the race was scheduled for September 14th, 2001, three days after the attacks on the WOLRD TRADE CENTER. Needless to say, the country was thrown into complete disarray and travel, especially in the NYC Metropolitan area, was brought to a virtual standstill. One rider was driving up from Florida when the attacks occurred, and could not get past the Washington, DC area, which was also attacked, and had to return home.
To complicate matters even more, the race's executive director, who had all of the entry forms and other necessary paperwork, lived three blocks from the WTC and had to evacuate the the area. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured, but was caught in the dust cloud that enveloped the area when the towers collapsed, and access to his apartment was almost immediately limited. Communication was another issue, and it took him more then a day and a half to reach the race director, who by that time feared the worst and had already cancelled the race.
But, just like the rest of the country, after we mourned our loses, we pressed onward. We donated the entry fees of pre-registered riders to a 9/11 fund and the ADIRONDACK 540 has gone on to become a well established fixture on the ultra cycling calendar. A MEMORIAL has been created on the footprint of the original towers and a NEW WOLRD TRADE CENTER opened in 2014, proving to the world that our resolve will never waver.
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ADIRONDACK ULTRA CYCLING GENERAL INFORMATION FOR RIDES
• GENERAL RIDE GUIDELINES
- Due to insurance requirements, motorized bicycles are not permitted on our rides. This includes all types of e-bikes and pedal assist bikes. Riders that arrive with a motorized bicycle will not be permitted to participate in our events and will be asked to leave immediately and no refund or credit will be issued.
- Due to insurance requirements, pets are not permitted on our rides or on our ride premises by any associated person attending our events. This includes riders, volunteers, friends, family, spectators, etc. Anyone arriving with a pet and/or their associated rider will not be permitted to participate in our events and will be asked to leave immediately and no refund or credit will be issued. ADA certified service animals will be permitted in areas the general public is permitted, according to ADA regulations. If arriving with an ADA certified service animal, please have its ADA identification vest on at all times and its certification papers ready for inspection.
- All of our events start promptly and most leave from the ADIRONDACK ULTRA CYCLING BIKE SHOP. Refer to each event for its exact starting location and time. Please arrive at least a half hour before the start time to check in, get ready, receive last minute instructions and have your bike inspected. When arriving and departing, please be courteous, especially if it is early in the morning or late at night, as our starting locations are typically in mixed residential/business neighborhoods. Please do not park in another business' lot or block a driveway or the street itself, otherwise your vehicle may be towed. The shop does not have a parking lot, but there is ample street parking in front of the shop and on adjacent streets. For travel directions and parking instructions to the shop, CLICK HERE.
- Ride times are recorded "door to door," with all rest stops, mechanical stops, delays, etc., included in your official finish time. The official event clock begins at the advertised start time, whether or not you are actually riding, and all finishing times are recorded when a rider checks in with the official time keeper. If a rider dawdles at their car or changes or packs up before checking in, their time will reflect that, just as if you took a break in the middle of the ride.
- Unless otherwise stated, our rides do not have an "official" time limit, but dusk is our "soft" time limit for rides that do not involve night riding. Most riders should finish well before the sun sets, but if anyone is still riding after dark and they are coherent, riding in a safe manner, properly prepared and meet our lighting requirements, they will be allowed to continue. However, if they are not coherent and/or not riding in a safe manner and/or not properly prepared and/or do not meet our lighting requirements, they will immediately be pulled from the course.
- Drafting is allowed in all of our events and group riding is encouraged.
- Helmets must be worn at all times while cycling.
- All traffic laws, signals, signs, devices, etc., must be obeyed at all times.
- All turns, stops, slow downs, etc., must be signaled and/or called out to other riders and other traffic.
- Always ride with traffic, ride defensively and be aware of your surroundings. Watch out for other traffic and never assume another vehicle will stop or yield, even if you have the right of way.
- Riders must get completely off the road when stopped.
- Ride no more then 2 abreast and only when traffic permits, and you must single up when traffic approaches from the rear.
- Keep as far to the right as safety permits and if there is a rideable shoulder or bike lane you must use it.
- Most of our routes are unmarked. Be prepared to navigate on your own and follow a cue sheet and/or GPS device. If relying on an electronic device for navigation, please make sure you have enough battery power for the entire ride, and be aware that in cold conditions and areas where there is low reception, batteries may drain at a faster then normal rate.
- Most of our events are unsupported on the road but snacks, pocket food and drinks will be provided at the start, middle (if returning to the shop) and finish. Riders should expect to be self-sufficient and have the ability to follow GPS directions and/or a cue sheet and use convenience stores to resupply along the route. Emergency SAG will be available in extreme situations, but please note we do not consider a flat tire an extreme situation. If you are not sure what to bring or how to carry it on your bike, feel free to CONTACT US and/or view our RIDER CHECKLIST.
- Sanctioned events will have other rules and regulations specific to their governing organization. Please refer to each event's page for exact details.
- Drug testing using WADA guidelines may be performed on any entrant up to 30 days before or after the event they have registered for. In addition, any rider under suspension by any sports governing body is prohibited from entering our events.
PRIVACY STATEMENT: We do not share your personal information with any other person, club, event, business, organization, etc., without your consent, except as required to submit official results to sanctioning organizations.
If you have any questions about our guidelines, feel free to CONTACT US.
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