Send us your Longsjo Photos!

We need your photos! (and video too)

In gearing up for the 2009 Longsjo, we're trying to gather as much memorabilia as we can to represent the history of the race. We've got a great collection of shots from the 60s, 70s, and the 2000s, but we could always use more. More from the 80s and 90s especially. Do you have some snapshots you want to share, or digital files you want to send? We will give you photo credit for your submission of course!

If you've got some video or film footage you'd like to share, we'd love to see it. I know that someone out there has some 8mm film of the Longsjo in the 1970s and 80s. We can help you convert that to video, and add it to our archive.

If you've got anything you'd like to share, or questions o how to get it here, send me an email: ecollier @ longsjo.com (remove the spaces)

Photo of Lance in 1992, Courtesy of Art Caponi

50th Annual Longsjo Fleece Gear Now Available!

Custom Longsjo fleece gear can help you get through the winter!

Hi all, We just got our first small order of custom embroidered fleece vests and jackets from Columbia Sportswear! The stuff is amazing, and the 50th Longsjo logo really pops! We'll be placing orders throughout the winter and early spring, or as long as our supplies hold out. The fleece jackets and vests are incredibly warm, and the technical softshell is a fantastic garment that can even zip into your other selected Columbia parkas and shells. If you're in Fitchburg you can check out the window display at 773 Main St. Check out the specs and pricing:

The Products:

Columbia Fleece Vest - $38
Full Zip
Two External Pockets
High Collar
Black in Color
Men’s and Women’s Sizing
S-XXL

Columbia Fleece Jacket - $45
Full Zip
Two External Pockets
High Collar
Charcoal / Black in Color
Men’s and Women’s Sizing
S-XXL

Columbia Shelby’s Softshell - $90
Full Zip
Two External Pockets
High Collar
Grey in Color
Men’s and Women’s Sizing
S-XXL
Find Your Size: Click Here

Local pick-up is available from the Longsjo office, or we can ship it to you for $5 via USPS.

You can start the ordering process by emailing us at info2008@longsjo.com with what you'd like. Once we get 20 or so pieces requested, we'll place the order with the manufacturer.

2009 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Opens Registration!

We are proud to announce that registration for the 2009 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic has officially opened on BikeReg.com!

2009 is the 50th edition of the Longsjo and we have some amazing celebrations planned to honor the incredible history of our race. These events are well into the planning stages and include:

• The return of many of our past champions
• City wide displays and exhibits honoring the history of the race
• Integration with Fitchburg’s Civic Days celebration (also celebrating 50 years)
• Past champions parade and champions dinner
• A very special reunion (announcement coming soon!)

Racing

We are maintaining the same stages as in previous years, though we are switching the order from 2008.

Thursday July 2 - Courtyard by Marriott Fitchburg - Rindge Road Time Trial
Friday July 3- Fitchburg State College Circuit Race
Saturday July 4 - Wachusett Mountain Road Race
Sunday July 5 - Workers’ Credit Union Downtown Criterium

Lodging

The race hotel has undergone a dramatic transformation for 2009. Though the hotel is in the same location as the past 17 years, the Best Western Royal Plaza is now the Courtyard by Marriott - Fitchburg. The hotel also features a CoCo Key indoor water resort, so bring your entire family to the race with you! Reservations are being made directly through the hotel in 2009. Please call the hotel at 978.342.7100

The Longsjo is again partnering with Fitchburg State College to offer dormitory style housing. There is some major construction going on at the Mara Village Suites, so housing will be at the Russell towers complex on a block or so from the race course.

The one drawback for these dorms is that there are only 40 rooms ( 80 beds) available with window AC units. Once these sell out, there will only be non-ac beds available at a reduced cost.

The meal plan is back for 2009, and is now available to racers who are staying away from the college. You can purchase the dormitory housing and meal plan at BikeReg.com.


Extras

If you are among the first 100 racers to register at BikeReg.com, you are automatically entered to win an 8gb iPod Nano! Don’t delay, Registration fees increase by $15 after June 15th, and most categories will fill long before that day.

You can also find us on Facebook, and get updated on all the fun things we are working on for 2009.

Some Great Local Coverage

I was working on the Longsjo website today looking to add some content, and I came across this amazing display of race coverage from the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. The Longsjo gets a tremendous amount of coverage from all the local and state papers including the Sentinel and Enterprise, Fitchburg Pride, Worcester Telegram and Gazette and the Boston Globe. The Telegram's coverage includes video and multimedia slideshows in addition to the daily and advance coverage of the race. Click on the Telegram links to check out the amazing work by the staff. -Ed

Getting Ready to Open Registration

Happy New Year everyone! We’re getting close to opening registration for the 50th edition of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic. We have some exciting events planned for this historic occasion! We’re going to use this blog, our e_newsletter, and Facebook to keep racers, sponsors, past champions and fans updated on all things Longsjo.

Our goal is to open registration for the race, as well as Fitchburg State College dorms on Monday January 26th. We’ll send out an email to all of last year’s riders as soon as we open up on bikereg. Stay safe and warm this winter, and we’ll see you in July! -Ed