(07-27-2020 07:16 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 01:11 AM)Ourland Wrote:  There's no reason to bother with deflating the bubble. It isn't necessary. Move Beer-Bike to the track and field stadium. Build up the event. It's a nice, modern venue with concessions and seating. What reasons are there to prevent it from happening?

I agree with this. What I understand from Rick Mello is that deflation of the bubble is extremely costly, and would not be justified for simply one event, even one as important to the University as Beer-Bike.

Is the synthetic track surface compatible with bike racing?

(07-27-2020 09:13 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 07:16 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 01:11 AM)Ourland Wrote:  There's no reason to bother with deflating the bubble. It isn't necessary. Move Beer-Bike to the track and field stadium. Build up the event. It's a nice, modern venue with concessions and seating. What reasons are there to prevent it from happening?

I agree with this. What I understand from Rick Mello is that deflation of the bubble is extremely costly, and would not be justified for simply one event, even one as important to the University as Beer-Bike.

Is the synthetic track surface compatible with bike racing?

This is a problem. The bike tires will do damage unless the surface is dirt, traditional gravel, or concrete. The synthetic surfaces are very expensive. Deflate the bubble.

I'd still take it back to the quad. I don't think the wash rack is there any more so that problem would be alleviated. And if you don't want bikes making turns there, you could do the extended quad past the Shepherd School.

I have never felt that a track in a parking lot could possibly have the same cachet at going around the quad.

(07-27-2020 11:55 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I'd still take it back to the quad. I don't think the wash rack is there any more so that problem would be alleviated. And if you don't want bikes making turns there, you could do the extended quad past the Shepherd School.

I have never felt that a track in a parking lot could possibly have the same cachet at going around the quad.

What’s the length of the current bike track vs the quad options? I think you are right that a quad option is the best solution. There should be ways to make it no less safe than the parking lot track.

Probably would have to close the quad to traffic for a few days to allow participants to practice and get the feel of the layout ahead of the actual race.

build a velodrome

A quick check of Goggle Maps indicates the Loop Rd./Laboratory Rd./College Way loop that runs from west of the Sheperd School to the east side of Lovett Hall is about a 1.4 mile loop with curved turns vs sharp turns. The current bike track is ~0.33 miles. I believe the men now do 3 laps and the women do 2. Using the big loop described above would change the nature of Beer Bike significantly. Having said that, one big loop with long straightaways could create some really interesting sprints to the finish line.

(07-27-2020 01:02 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  build a velodrome

Houston already has one.

https://www.alkekvelodrome.com/

The Owls play "important" football games at Reliant. Can taking Beer Bike off campus be far behind?

For this argument, important = big $$$$$

(07-27-2020 01:20 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  A quick check of Goggle Maps indicates the Loop Rd./Laboratory Rd./College Way loop that runs from west of the Sheperd School to the east side of Lovett Hall is about a 1.4 mile loop with curved turns vs sharp turns.

The two corners west of the Shepherd School are still 90 degrees, but with very slightly rounded curbs.

(07-27-2020 01:40 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 01:20 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  A quick check of Goggle Maps indicates the Loop Rd./Laboratory Rd./College Way loop that runs from west of the Sheperd School to the east side of Lovett Hall is about a 1.4 mile loop with curved turns vs sharp turns.

The two corners west of the Shepherd School are still 90 degrees, but with very slightly rounded curbs.

I've been running there for the past 2 months. With the new opera house, the turns are now curved and very gradual.

Here is the latest campus map. No 90 degree corners.
https://map.concept3d.com/?id=473#!ct/13398

(07-27-2020 01:59 PM)WRC1975 Wrote:  Here is the latest campus map. No 90 degree corners.
https://map.concept3d.com/?id=473#!ct/13398

Pits could be either in the parking lot in front of the opera house or where they used to be, in front of Lovett Hall.

(07-27-2020 01:25 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 01:02 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  build a velodrome

Houston already has one.

https://www.alkekvelodrome.com/

The Owls play "important" football games at Reliant. Can taking Beer Bike off campus be far behind?

For this argument, important = big $$$$$

I mean, this is an event that university admin would probably rather not have at all. The underage drinking is a recipe for bad press. I'd guess Beer Bike gets canceled before they move it off campus, under the strict purview of HPD and more prominent in the public sphere.

(07-27-2020 11:55 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I'd still take it back to the quad. I don't think the wash rack is there any more so that problem would be alleviated. And if you don't want bikes making turns there, you could do the extended quad past the Shepherd School.

I have never felt that a track in a parking lot could possibly have the same cachet at going around the quad.

This is a good idea. From what I hear, it all started at the quad. There's history and nastolgia there. Tap into that again. It could definitely work.

(07-27-2020 01:25 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 01:02 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  build a velodrome

Houston already has one.

https://www.alkekvelodrome.com/

The Owls play "important" football games at Reliant. Can taking Beer Bike off campus be far behind?

For this argument, important = big $$$$$

Well I heard this story. The US Olympic Sports Festival was held in Houston in 1986. The festival organizers needed a velodrome and had actually approached Rice to put a velodrome on the Rice Campus. Rice balked because it didn't have the Rice "look". The organizers then made a concession to match the facade of Rice Stadium. Then Rice balked again because they didn't want the corporation sponsorship of the velodrome to be publicly displayed on the velodrome or within Rice. The organizers chose Rice because of Beer Bike and it would be a place for it to be held annually. The above velodrome was built in 1986. Hmmm, story could have been true.

(07-27-2020 01:40 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 01:20 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  A quick check of Goggle Maps indicates the Loop Rd./Laboratory Rd./College Way loop that runs from west of the Sheperd School to the east side of Lovett Hall is about a 1.4 mile loop with curved turns vs sharp turns.

The two corners west of the Shepherd School are still 90 degrees, but with very slightly rounded curbs.

I should have said west of the new Opera House which is west of the Shepherd School. At least on Google maps these turns are long radius turns. The turns around Lovett Hall not so much.

(07-27-2020 03:17 PM)ruowls Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 01:25 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 01:02 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  build a velodrome

Houston already has one.

https://www.alkekvelodrome.com/

The Owls play "important" football games at Reliant. Can taking Beer Bike off campus be far behind?

For this argument, important = big $$$$$

Well I heard this story. The US Olympic Sports Festival was held in Houston in 1986. The festival organizers needed a velodrome and had actually approached Rice to put a velodrome on the Rice Campus. Rice balked because it didn't have the Rice "look". The organizers then made a concession to match the facade of Rice Stadium. Then Rice balked again because they didn't want the corporation sponsorship of the velodrome to be publicly displayed on the velodrome or within Rice. The organizers chose Rice because of Beer Bike and it would be a place for it to be held annually. The above velodrome was built in 1986. Hmmm, story could have been true.

Thanks for sharing! Sadly, the story you heard makes a lot of sense knowing how things work, or don’t, on campus.

I remember that story as well.

As for the current options on campus, is there any reason we couldn't round the corners?

Seems that'd be a whole lot cheaper than almost any other option

I think the distance of the big loop is a bigger issue. At ~1.4 miles, it’s ~40% more than the men ride now and more than 200% more than the women ride.

(07-27-2020 01:20 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  A quick check of Goggle Maps indicates the Loop Rd./Laboratory Rd./College Way loop that runs from west of the Sheperd School to the east side of Lovett Hall is about a 1.4 mile loop with curved turns vs sharp turns. The current bike track is ~0.33 miles. I believe the men now do 3 laps and the women do 2. Using the big loop described above would change the nature of Beer Bike significantly. Having said that, one big loop with long straightaways could create some really interesting sprints to the finish line.

Do it. Expand on on it. Have all the athletics teams go against each other. Set up some temporary bleachers along the route. Nothing big. Sell beer to patrons and set up a couple concession stands. Hold it on a Saturday night. Bring your alums together. The MOB reunion is the same night. Play all night. Who wouldn't love that? Beer, food, races and music. Cheerleaders.

(07-27-2020 10:59 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 09:13 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 07:16 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-27-2020 01:11 AM)Ourland Wrote:  There's no reason to bother with deflating the bubble. It isn't necessary. Move Beer-Bike to the track and field stadium. Build up the event. It's a nice, modern venue with concessions and seating. What reasons are there to prevent it from happening?

I agree with this. What I understand from Rick Mello is that deflation of the bubble is extremely costly, and would not be justified for simply one event, even one as important to the University as Beer-Bike.

Is the synthetic track surface compatible with bike racing?

This is a problem. The bike tires will do damage unless the surface is dirt, traditional gravel, or concrete. The synthetic surfaces are very expensive. Deflate the bubble.

Sigh...it's too bad that we did not build a proper indoor facility; a facility that could accommodate football, track, or other field sports as necessary.

Colorado Buff Indoor Facility

Admittedly, we would still have the problem of what to do with Beer Bike, but we would have a multipurpose indoor facility for football, track, soccer, and other club sports.