"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Tour of California route details announced... pre-ride anyone?

I took the contents from today's Amgen press release and linked it to the google maps they have elsewhere on their site:

http://www.steephill.tv/entries/tour-of-california-course.html

I plan on riding the route and taking pictures for some pre-event reporting. Anyone want to join me for the rides in the Bay Area and Southern California?

Thanks for the info although I don't think I'd survive many of those rides, 'cept maybe the ITT routes! I'm hoping to get out as a spectator though. It would be my first pro cycling event.

Stage 2 is in my old neighborhood. I used run up Sierra Road across the street from my old high school for track&field training.

I've climbed Calaveras Road many times on my bike as there are many fabulous miles of beautiful back country roads over the hill above Milpitas.

It's part of the Primavera Century put on every year by the Fremont Freewheelers during the month of April.

I now understand why so many small french towns get so excited when a stage of the TDF passes thru their community.

I plan to be along the sidelines somewhere along the route.

When were you thinking of doing those pre-rides? I'm not getting my bike back until the end of the month, but would be happy to do all (or part of) Stage 6.

I am sooo excited... i still cant believe pro teams like csc are going to be riding through my neighborhood...i hope this tour will last a long time.

Stage 2 goes right by my parents drive way!!! I will be up there to do some pre-rides before the race starts and also following it south.

I'm interested in the end of stage 5, and/or part or all of stage 6.

Thanks for the info although I don't think I'd survive many of those rides, 'cept maybe the ITT routes! I'm hoping to get out as a spectator though. It would be my first pro cycling event.

Compared to the Tour de France, this race is pancake flat. Most of the route is below 1000 feet in elevation and it only breaks 2000 feet a couple of times during the whole week. Even by California standards, this route is pretty tame; many local century rides have longer and steeper and more climbs. I think they toned the race down because February is the middle of California's rainy season. It is also the beginning of the pro season and those guys don't want to push themselves to hard yet.

Stage 6 finishes pretty close to me, about 15 minutes drive. I voluntered on the web site months ago but haven't heard anything back yet. I'm wonder what route they will use to get inland. Possibilities include any of the canyons off PCH (which would make for some great climbs and descents!) or taking the back way, maybe up from Camarillo via Santa Rosa to Moorpark Rd.

Geez, these guys coming down Rock Store (2+ miles with 8-9% grades) or Westlake (2 miles with up to 18%!)..whooaa!

Post if you are going to ride part of this area. I'd ride for a while with you...until you drop me....about 10 minutes later!

Sheldon

Yes, it's exciting. Stage 2 will use some of my regular routes (Alhambra, Bear Creek, Happy Valley, St.Mary's, Canyon, Pinehurst, and Redwood). And they will pass right through Lafayette, down the hill from my home. I now have to select the best location to take some nice shots.

Oooh, my Father-In-Law lives in Hollywood Riviera. I might have to go up and stay with him for a day when they get into Redondo Beach. He's literally less than 1/2 mile off Palos Verdes Blvd.

I'm interested in Martinez-San Jose & maybe some of the ones south of San Jose, but realistically it will probably be tough for me to pull off, schedule-wise.

steephill, why don't you post your planned schedules here and let us all know where you're going to be and when, and we can join you at our leisure :)

Stage 2 includes some of my weekend rides. Palomares and Calaveras roads! I volunteered to work the prologue, Stage 2, and 3. I don't know my assignment yet but I'll try to take as many photos and video as possible.

steephill, nice website! I like your idea of collecting video and pics of the tour so I'll plan to send mine to ya.

I wouldn't mind doing the start of Stage 2 with you; I think that I can keep up with you for a mile or two. Thanks to your map, I can see that it actually goes through my hometown, Moraga. Cool, thanks.

I'll keep the forum posted on the pre-rides. Looks like we'll have lots of takers for stage 2 which is great since I live in Berkeley and know it's a great route! Don't forget about the Community ToC Video Project I announced. More details coming shortly. See the red side box in the route details posting if haven't already read it:

http://www.steephill.tv/entries/tour-of-california-course.html

Man..I wish I lived in CA right now.

Originally, there was talk of a Sacramento-Tahoe stage. That would have rivaled the toughest of the Alpine or Dolomite stages. Unfortunately, they had to schedule it so early in the season and there's tons of snow in the Sierras now. Weather could still be an issue, particularly with that one stage that rides Hwy 1 down the Central Coast.

I am definitely going to ride up to Thousand Oaks for Stage 6, and see Stage 7 as well.

Depending on the day y'all go out, I could be in for a Stage 2 ride. And I'll be watching the race in person somewhere along the Palomares-Calaveras-Sierra section, and would be happy to upload pictures for your group project.

I used run up Sierra Road across the street from my old high school for track&field training.

I've climbed Calaveras Road many times on my bike as there are many fabulous miles of beautiful back country roads over the hill above Milpitas.

It's part of the Primavera Century put on every year by the Fremont Freewheelers during the month of April.

It's also part of the Devil Mountain Double and Hamilton Challenge.

This is cool, DAY 2 is all my usual routes. I have profiles on all those routes from my HAC4.
I just did Sierra and Calaverous the other day.

I'm jazzed.