trekking_TW

Thinking about signing up for the circuit race at Sea Otter this year but wanted to hear some opinions about the circuit race prior to registration.

Jim Bonnet

did it last year. its alot of fun... prepare for some climbing.

trekking_TW

isn't most of the climbing on the backside of the track up to the corkscrew? I thought the rest of the track was flat.

Vinokurtov

It's a blast. Most of the climbing is on the backside, there's a small amount coming out of the hairpin to the (moto) start finish.

Downhill is fast. I hit 56 last year. The climb is steep, I think I hit 5.6

Selections happen early, the field get whittled down quickly, at least in the 4 and 5 Cats.

trekking_TW

just registered for the RR.

gotta see if I can get Friday off to do the circuit.

Vinokurtov

Which class are you riding?

trekking_TW

Masters 30+ Cat5

You?

Vinokurtov

M40+ Cat 4.

Both races (circuit and RR) it's crucial to stay with the front group. There are "selection" climbs in both and it's an absolute flog to bridge back because there are also some good downhills that keeps the pack speed quite high. I managed one bridge back at the RR last year after getting stuck behind a bunch of people who blew, I couldn't make a second after dropping my chain on the hill.

Get your hotel now, things are already filling up.

And if you can, stay and ride the century on Sunday. Really pretty ride through the countryside, at one point last year my buddy got chased by some farm dogs. I pointed out that they were culling the weak from the herd

OC Roadie

I'm racing the Cat 4 30+, when you catch me, I can work for you . I have teammates in the Cat 4 40+ and the Masters 1/2/3, but I think I'll be by myself in my races. What gearing to you suggest for both races? I've got an 11/23, 12/25 and 12/27 to choose from.

Vinokurtov

I can use all the help I can get. Tell your teammates I pay well. The Cat 4 40+ is going to be hard, there are some big snadbaggers...I mean excellent Cat 1/2, er, I mean strong riders already registered. Some of them I raced against last year in the C5 last year.

If you're on a standard gearset, 12/27. If you're on a compact you could probably go 11/23 if you're strong. I did last year on an 11/26 (compact), I might have used the 26 a time or two, but I was mostly on the 23. The descents are fast so having the 11 isn't a bad thing.

The run up to the corkscrew pitches over 10% in a few places if I recall. Calcs have it around 9-10% average, there is a small false flat near the top. Great place to do wheelies on a Superbike.

travis200

I raced it last year as a 30+ cat 4 ut I was dead from the RR the day B4. I was dropped and rode with a small field of other peeps that were dropped. I decided this year I am only racing the RR as a 4 maybe as a 30+ cat 4 depending on who races from my team they seem to like the age group races more.

Vinokurtov

Hi Sherpa,

Same problem. I dropped the chain in the RR and ended up finishing the race either by myself or with a small group when we could managed it. Wasn't on great form in any case, almost no training over the winter thanks to some medical/surgery stuff.

When the circuit race came around I was able to hang on till the very end, and managed a 12th. Had I been on form and not well cooked from the effort the day before I'm pretty sure I could have contended. I was 5th or so out of the guys who rode both races (very few) so in my imaginary GC I did quite well

This year they are running the circuit race first, and the road race the day after. I was planning on choosing one or the other if they ran it like they did last year, but I figure I can handle an hour's race the day before the RR.

redal

The circuit race is alot of fun. When I did the race in 1991, I was still a junior. There was no junior category, so I had to race the Pro/1-2. It was the first Sea Otter ever and Lance Armstrong, Brian Walton, Ned Overend and a ton of other big names were in the race. I went up with a friend and on the way up we started talking about the race. I knew the circuit race was on a car racetrack but I knew nothing about Laguna Seca. I was thinking of a big oval, NASCAR style. When he mentioned a hill, I freaked because I knew who was going to be there. What a tough but fun day. I might go back this year and do the Pro/1 race.