Racer Ex 

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220237015614

BigSean

thats too funny. Are you planning to be here then?

Racer Ex 

If I can tie up some loose ends.

UT_Dude

That's hilarious

BigSean

Ill be doing the crit, the 5's and a masters race. My first 2 race day.

Racer Ex 

The short course (Hammy) is still pretty challenging and will create some selections. Absolutely come buy and say "hi"

BigSean

I dont think Ill be at the road race. Which race are ya gonna do? Pro 1/2 or the masters?

gsteinb

I wonder if he'd work the Nyack ride for Pcad?

patentcad

I'm thinking we turn that little rise prior to Scratchup into the Feed Zone Hill.

Racer Ex 

Masters. Those kids hurt my legs.

joecool2727

I'll be at Hamilton.

Pizza Man

Oooh, I'll bid, I'll bid!!

My race plan was to attack at mile 2 and try and stay away for the next 62 miles.

joecool2727

is the climb right from the start? flyer says 4500' over 20 miles, which is avg. 4%, which IS a lot for 20 miles, but does anyone know specifically how the climb is, how are the steep parts?

ElJamoquio

Why wait?

ElJamoquio

Hamilton isn't that steep, I'd guess 5%, except for the *very* end (last 100 yards or so might be 9%). I don't know if that's being used or not.

botto 

Umm... maybe I'm being a tad skeptical, but I'm pretty sure that's a scam, unless they've somehow brought Charly Gaul back from the dead?

Pizza Man

I rode the Mt. Hamilton climb and descent to Isabel Creek on Saturday (started at noon after the beginner track session, so it was nice & hot).


The race starts at the bottom of the climb and its about 17 miles from the start to the summit (if you’re looking at the Hwy 130 DOT mileage marking sign posts the KOM summit is at about mile 22.5, but the race start is near the 5.5 mile mark) . You start of with about a 6 mile climb that is steeper in the first few miles (maybe 5-6%), then levels off a bit then descends for a little over a mile, then climbs for about 2.5 more miles, descends about half a mile with a little roller, then makes a 90 degree left turn for the final 7 mile climb to the summit. Maybe it was just me, but it seemed like the final mile (marker 21.00 to 22.00) was the steepest (maybe 7-8%). After the KOM, you’re not actually at the top and the road is a rolling climb for the better part of the next mile.


The descent from the Mt. Hamilton summit to Isabel creek is about 5 miles (there are large numbered mile markers on the road every mile on the descent and continuing toward Livermore). It took me just about 10 minutes to descend on Saturday, and I was taking it conservatively. There are several switchbacks on the descent, but the pavement was pretty good. Somewhere between 2 and 3 miles down there is some bad pavement (raised like a little ramp) on the right hand side of the lane just before a right hand switchback. There is blue spray paint on the road marking it as a warning. There is plenty of room to go to the left of this bump. Be sure not to hit this at speed as you may get some air and find it difficult to make the turn. There is only 1 cattle grate on the main descent and it is about 3.5 miles down, located at the apex of a left hand switchback (so you basically just stop turning and go straight over the cattle grate, then continue turning).


At Isabel creek it flattens out, then you cross a little bridge followed by a steep little climb that’s maybe ½ a mile. I turned around here, so I don’t remember much else about the race except that there’re a couple good little climbs at around mile 35 & 37 that can split up a breakaway pack, then it’s mostly downhill from there.

BigSean

Its closer to an avg of 5%, and it is about 19 miles, unless the race starts down the hill from Mt Hamilton Rd. It is a long climb, but has 2 decents, not very long, but they are fairly fast. As you get to the last 5 miles the climb gets a bit tougher. Sometimes a bit breeezy, but nothing like So Cal. There will be some pro's and masters with times around 1 hour for the climb. The decent down the back side can be kinda sketchy. I believe cat 4's and 5's start on the back side, missing the main climb. Its only a tough climb because of the length, if ya over due it in the beginning you pay on the last 5 miles.

ElJamoquio

One hour for a climb of 19 miles?

BigSean

Here are the results from a local fun race this winter.
https://lowkeyhillclimbs.com/2007/week9/results.html

Now that riders are more in race shape, and the cat 1's and 2's will be there I expect it to be a bit faster. They only need about 1mph faster then this winner. Im sure Pizza Man and Racer Ex can shed some light on that as they will both be close to that time. Pizza Man will have the support of his team too boot.

joecool2727

Thanks for the detailed descriptions.

Snuffleupagus

Psst...Racer_Ex is the seller

OTB

Is there an unofficial record climbing Mt. Hamilton? I'm sure some guys can do an hour, but I can tell you that last year's pro/1/2 front group (inc. Scott Nydam, BJM, Wolberg) went over the top in a bit over 1:05. I was in that group until getting popped in the final 500 m when KOM surges began in earnest. The pace on the first part of the climb was a high tempo but not all out, the middle section was hard and half the field got dropped. That last part whittled the front group down to about 10. Going under an hour would be brutally fast! (BTW, I made it back to that front group in the valley, but got popped again when the attacks went. I ended up 13th, but then was DQ'ed for a brief draft behind a follow vehicle

With domestique services from racer_ex currently going for a penny, I cannot resist signing up for the Masters race this year! You need to extend the auction so that it's active through Sunday, that way we can all be checking our Blackberries and bidding as we race!! Suppose you get in a break with two other guys... they'll have a real-time bidding war to win your help

BigSean

Thats around an hour as far as Im concerned. Much closer then my 1:40. Im not aware of any unofficial records, but my parents lived on Mt Hamilton and my dad tells me some of the hill climbs have been done in under an hour. I think there used to be a race to the top.

joecool2727

Cat 3's:

Felt ok today. First few miles felt boxed in because the lane was so small and people were moving so slow. Finally got to the front and took off, passed the two guys that were already off the front and kept going. Was by myself for the whole climb with time gaps ranging from 1 minute down to only 20 seconds near the top.
I got to the top first and King of the Mountain which was pretty important to me because i like climbing, and the $60 wasnt bad either. Hardest climb of my life.

After the climb there was still 40 miles to go so i let the lead group catch me which was about only 10 riders. Stayed with them but unfortunately got a semi flat front tire in the last 5 miles and so I rode very conservately for fear of rolling my tire. 11th place. Still very pleased just to have been able to finish the race despite the flat and getting the King of the Mountain.