Southern California - Ride to the TOC. Anyone interested?

I was wondering if anyone was thinking about riding to the final stage of the Tour of California in Long
Beach. It's Feb 25th. I was thinking of starting somewhere around the Whittier Narrows area and taking the SGBT to PCH and then into Long Beach. Anyone interested? I'm open to suggestions.

Excellent idea. Last year I cycled down with the tour from San Francisco. I saw the San Francisco time trial, the finish in San Luis Obispo, the finish in Santa Barbara, and the finish at Amgen in Thousand Oaks. I then slept in my very own bed and then rode from Malibu to the last crit in Redondo Beach.

At every place they had a bicycle parking area where it was manned and you were given a "hat" check to retrieve your bike. I felt the bike was safe everywhere.

To drive there and try to find parking is insane.

I am positive that I will be heading there as well, but from the southern route, not the eastern one...

Maybe we can have a meeting point.

I'll be riding from er...............Long Beach.

I'm in too. From the northern OC route....

I will also be riding from long beach. I live about 5 miles from the course. Now if i can just figure out from where I want to watch...

I am positive that I will be heading there as well, but from the southern route, not the eastern one...

Can I tag along?

I'm running this back up the flag pole since there seems to be some recent interest. Last year I road to the Redondo Beach circuit and planned on riding to the Long Beach circuit this year, but haven't decided where to stage a start. SGRT, SART, Griffith & LA River, Whittier Narrows, Rio Hondo. Anyone planning on meeting up somewhere in LB? What say all?

I'm planning from Encanto Park to LB.

David

Ya Dave, . . . saw your other post which is why I revised this previous post. Thought it might consolidate efforts and refresh recollections of a similar interest expressed by others previously. I might join you at Encanto, but nothing definite yet.

Our club rides to the climb of Balcom Canyon on the 24th. It's exciting to watch them climb that thing.

Our club rides to the climb of Balcom Canyon on the 24th. It's exciting to watch them climb that thing.

We're debating between Balcom Canyon and Santa Clarita.

I'm in for the Irvine to LBC ride.

My wife and kid will be out of town that weekend and I am doing Palomar the day before so I will need the recovery. Heck, this sounds cool. Could I carpool w/you Jim?

We're debating between Balcom Canyon and Santa Clarita.If you decide on Balcom you can ride with us. We start at CSUN at 8:00 and take a casual ride out there and people bring snacks and make a picnic of it.

If you decide on Balcom you can ride with us. We start at CSUN at 8:00 and take a casual ride out there and people bring snacks and make a picnic of it.Thanks John, that sounds like a lot of fun.....I will most likely join your group! :)

Thanks John, that sounds like a lot of fun.....I will most likely join your group! :)We'd be happy to have you and any other BFers who would like to come along. It will be about 80 miles round trip, but some people will probably start in Simi Valley to avoid climbing Santa Susana Pass.
Last year on Balcom was incredibly exciting for a couple minutes as they went by. Those guys climb that 23% grade like it's no big deal.
You could also go see the race the next day.

My wife and kid will be out of town that weekend and I am doing Palomar the day before so I will need the recovery. Heck, this sounds cool. Could I carpool w/you Jim?
Billy,

Something came up and I have to be at a family function on the afternoon of the 25th. I won't be able to make it to Long Beach. I'll be doing the morning club ride, though.

Jim

Billy,

Something came up and I have to be at a family function on the afternoon of the 25th. I won't be able to make it to Long Beach. I'll be doing the morning club ride, though.

Jim
I can dig it Jim. Family's gotta be first.

. . . . Last year on Balcom was incredibly exciting for a couple minutes as they went by. Those guys climb that 23% grade like it's no big deal.
You could also go see the race the next day.
That sounds like more of a grade than Dennison where I managed to park last year, and still made it over to T.O. before the peloton arrived for the finale. Great show.

I will be getting off work that morning across the street from UCI. Several of us are riding from there to LB and back. Its about 60miles R/T. Not a hammerfest. About 16-18 mph average. Any body want to join us?

I will be getting off work that morning across the street from UCI. Several of us are riding from there to LB and back. Its about 60miles R/T. Not a hammerfest. About 16-18 mph average. Any body want to join us?
Since lsitis isn't going this sounds like it might be up my alley. What time you plan to head out?

My wife and kid will be out of town that weekend and I am doing Palomar the day before so I will need the recovery. Heck, this sounds cool. Could I carpool w/you Jim?

I need a plan to get my wife and kids out of town...hhhmmm :D

Excellent idea. Last year I cycled down with the tour from San Francisco. I saw the San Francisco time trial, the finish in San Luis Obispo, the finish in Santa Barbara, and the finish at Amgen in Thousand Oaks. I then slept in my very own bed and then rode from Malibu to the last crit in Redondo Beach.

At every place they had a bicycle parking area where it was manned and you were given a "hat" check to retrieve your bike. I felt the bike was safe everywhere.

To drive there and try to find parking is insane.

:eek: good point! all this time i've been imagining them having massive amounts of parking like the long beach grand prix. i don't even know what long beach looks like without a race track set up down there. dang, now i actually have to plan for this?

We'd be happy to have you and any other BFers who would like to come along. It will be about 80 miles round trip, but some people will probably start in Simi Valley to avoid climbing Santa Susana Pass.
Last year on Balcom was incredibly exciting for a couple minutes as they went by. Those guys climb that 23% grade like it's no big deal.
You could also go see the race the next day.
I may join you guys, John, if I am invited. Francis' ride involves him riding it, which means I'll be dropped and lost in no time. Not that you guys can't drop me...:p ;) :D

I may join you guys, John, if I am invited. Francis' ride involves him riding it, which means I'll be dropped and lost in no time. Not that you guys can't drop me...:p ;) :D That's what I'm plannin on doin. CSUN at 8am.

That's what I'm plannin on doin. CSUN at 8am.
YOU'RE coming to CSUN. I won't believe that until I see it. ;) :D

I may join you guys, John, if I am invited. Francis' ride involves him riding it, which means I'll be dropped and lost in no time. Not that you guys can't drop me...:p ;) :D
Of course you are invited! We don't drop people on our rides unless they are obnoxious. And yes, I am having a hard time with the concept of His Verticalness coming to CSUN.

Since lsitis isn't going this sounds like it might be up my alley. What time you plan to head out?

We are off duty at 0800. So we can probably head out then. OK????

We are off duty at 0800. So we can probably head out then. OK????
Sounds good. I'll becoming out from Riverside. Where would be a good place to park near there?

Not Long Beach but Santa Rosa. I'll ride 2.3 miles to the corner of 7th and B street, most dangerous and exciting corner on the downtown circuit. See yah.

Well, for me to ride there from La Jolla would be insanity. But if I'm free next Sunday, I may be interested in joining you guys, perhaps meeting up at the start point of one of the group rides. We'll see...

Sounds good. I'll becoming out from Riverside. Where would be a good place to park near there?

Awesome! We have a Starbucks and an Albertsons right across the street. Easy parking. Or any side street. The race doesn't begin till about 1pm we will have plenty of time.

Duhhh, The cross streets are Campus and California in Irvine.

Awesome! We have a Starbucks and an Albertsons right across the street. Easy parking. Or any side street. The race doesn't begin till about 1pm we will have plenty of time.

Duhhh, The cross streets are Campus and California in Irvine.
I'll mapquest it. see you then!

If you decide on Balcom you can ride with us. We start at CSUN at 8:00 and take a casual ride out there and people bring snacks and make a picnic of it.


More than likely I will ride there with you guys ! I will probably arrange a meet up in Simi....

More than likely I will ride there with you guys ! I will probably arrange a meet up in Simi....
You could meet us at the Community Center on L.A. ave at the East end of Simi, just East of the park with the softball fields. We usually stop there around 8:40-9:00, depending on how quick we get going.

Of course you are invited! We don't drop people on our rides unless they are obnoxious. And yes, I am having a hard time with the concept of His Verticalness coming to CSUN.

I'll see you guys at CSUN at 8:00.

Anybody else interested in Sunday -- Sante Fe dam to LB/watch TOC/back to dam?

Awesome! We have a Starbucks and an Albertsons right across the street. Easy parking. Or any side street. The race doesn't begin till about 1pm we will have plenty of time.

Duhhh, The cross streets are Campus and California in Irvine.

I think Mrs Pico and I on for this, it should be an interesting race.

Anybody else interested in Sunday -- Sante Fe dam to LB/watch TOC/back to dam?

Actually, this sounds good. We could park at Encanto Park and ride down to Long Beach..

I am positive that I will be heading there as well, but from the southern route, not the eastern one...

I'd like to do this but, not sure what shape I'm going to be in. Where/Where are you leaving?

John:

I'm considering riding along with you folks on Saturday. I checked the route slip on sfvbc.org, and it indicates that the ToC should reach the top of Balcom canyon around 1:05 pm to 1:27 pm. If the ride leaves around 8 am, that should leave about 5 hours to make the approx. 42 mile trip to the top of the canyon to watch the tour.

Just wondering, why is the ride leaving at 8 am if there are 5 hours before the race comes through?

Thanks.

I know it's early but I don't mind spending extra time relaxing at Balcom Canyon before the Tour rolls through as I plan on taking my large saddle bag with some picnic supplies, a camera, and a pair of binoculars....:D

I'm out for Saturday since I'm doing Mardi Gras.

The Sunday Encanto to LB and back sounds cool. I may be in for that (if I can find a way to avoid errands yet another day). What time would you want to leave the park?

What's the mileage for the Long Beach ride? I may be join on that as well. My errands are all done and my apartment is clean and spotless! :D

EDIT: Joel, you are welcome to carpool with me if I join on Sunday's ride.

Awesome! We have a Starbucks and an Albertsons right across the street. Easy parking. Or any side street. The race doesn't begin till about 1pm we will have plenty of time.

Duhhh, The cross streets are Campus and California in Irvine.

I think I'm going to join you guys on this ride. Since I can't seem to make up my mind on whether to ride or watch the race, this way I can get both in!

What's the mileage for the Long Beach ride? I may be join on that as well. My errands are all done and my apartment is clean and spotless! :D

EDIT: Joel, you are welcome to carpool with me if I join on Sunday's ride.
It's only about 4 miles from the end of the SGRT to the race, I think. So, add 8 miles to the 72 or so on SGRT and it's 80 I guess?

It's only about 4 miles from the end of the SGRT to the race, I think. So, add 8 miles to the 72 or so on SGRT and it's 80 I guess?
I think I can do that. Of course, I'm riding 90 on Saturday and up Balcom :eek: You may need to bring a tow rope on Sunday...:p

It's only about 4 miles from the end of the SGRT to the race, I think. So, add 8 miles to the 72 or so on SGRT and it's 80 I guess?.....oh, and when you all get back, do 10 laps around Encanto Park and you'll all get another century down....:p :D