"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Nor Cal Races

Hey Vino, Pizzaman, and company- I'd like to pick a Nor Cal road race, and make a trip up this season. My first thought is to come up for Copperopolis on 4/07. I remember a thread about this last season, and found a bunch of pictures online (http://www.abbiorca.com/bike/road/road2006/copperopolis/best/index.html). I'd be interested in hearing your suggestions, if you had to pick just one Nor Cal race, it sounds like Wards Ferry, Snelling, Orosi and Patterson Pass may be good picks as well. Climbing is usually my strength, along with endurance, I'm intrigued by the nasty roads, looks like good fun n' sufferin.

Forget Snelling, while there's some bad sections of road it's not much of a climbers race and the finish is horrific. Wards Ferry is fun but the climbs are a bit short.

Copperopolis is a classic. Great climbers race. It's hairy too, with a nasty potholed descent to the finish. It's the Saturday before Easter BTW. Last year Levi and BJM showed up, Levi trounced everyone.

Orosi is also a blast. It's around 6500' of climbing with some steep pitches and 60+ miles if you include the neutral roll out. Roads are better than Copperopolis and it draws a much smaller field. Rained last year and I finished looking like I had ridden Paris Roubaix. Loved it.

If you were coming up a bit later Mt. Hamilton is a beast if you do the long course.

Forget Snelling, while there's some bad sections of road it's not much of a climbers race and the finish is horrific. Wards Ferry is fun but the climbs are a bit short.

Copperopolis is a classic. Great climbers race. It's hairy too, with a nasty potholed descent to the finish. It's the Saturday before Easter BTW. Last year Levi and BJM showed up, Levi trounced everyone.

Orosi is also a blast. It's around 6500' of climbing with some steep pitches and 60+ miles if you include the neutral roll out. Roads are better than Copperopolis and it draws a much smaller field. Rained last year and I finished looking like I had ridden Paris Roubaix. Loved it.

If you were coming up a bit later Mt. Hamilton is a beast if you do the long course.
Thanks, is Mt Hamilton the one-way course? I've wanted to do that one as well, but forgot to list it. The whole Easter thing may get in the way of Copperolis :(

Thanks, is Mt Hamilton the one-way course? I've wanted to do that one as well, but forgot to list it. The whole Easter thing may get in the way of Copperolis :(

Yep, Hamilton's point to point. If you come up I can probably hook you up on the Vino shuttle :)

Well crap, Orosi was looking good, but it's the day before some of SoCal BF folks are doing our own Breathless Agony ride. Do you know the date for Mt Hamilton? Is usually a late May race? If so, that might work out. BTW, Southern Nevada Stage Race was just cancelled, and my aero bars arrived this morning :rolleyes:

Well crap, Orosi was looking good, but it's the day before some of SoCal BF folks are doing our own Breathless Agony ride. Do you know the date for Mt Hamilton? Is usually a late May race? If so, that might work out. BTW, Southern Nevada Stage Race was just cancelled, and my aero bars arrived this morning :rolleyes:

Hamilton is Sunday May 27, the day before Memorial day.

I would also recommend Berkeley Hills on May 12 or Wente Vineyards on April 21.
Both are good for climbers and have large fields.

Here's a link to the Northern California / Nevada racing schedule:

http://www.ncnca.org/road/

In addition to the races already discussed (Copperopolis, Mt. Hamilton, Orosi), some other hilly NorCal road races are:

Wente RR (4/21) - fairly steep uphill finish
Berkeley Hills RR (5/12) - longer uphill finish
Pescadero RR (6/9) - longest uphill finish
Patterson Pass RR (8/11) - long main climb with false summit, flat finish
University RR (8/26) - really a circuit race, but no flat anywhere
Challenge RR (9/1) - descent with nasty surface ala copperopolis, flat finish

Yep, Hamilton's point to point. If you come up I can probably hook you up on the Vino shuttle :)

Vino, you're doing Hamilton again?
I was thinking of skipping it since it's just a few days before Mt. Hood starts.

Here's a link to the Northern California / Nevada racing schedule:

http://www.ncnca.org/road/

In addition to the races already discussed (Copperopolis, Mt. Hamilton, Orosi), some other hilly NorCal road races are:

Wente RR (4/21) - fairly steep uphill finish
Berkeley Hills RR (5/12) - longer uphill finish
Pescadero RR (6/9) - longest uphill finish
Patterson Pass RR (8/11) - long main climb with false summit, flat finish
University RR (8/26) - really a circuit race, but no flat anywhere
Challenge RR (9/1) - descent with nasty surface ala copperopolis, flat finish
Thanks for the link and info. I'll be looking at Mt Hamilton and Berkely Hills as possibilties. Pescadero is the same date as the SCNCA Champ RR.

Pescadero is the same date as the SCNCA Champ RR.

I am bummed I usually drive down for that race so I can get dropped. I have been doing it the last 2 years and it one of my favorite races. I guess I will stay local and do Pescadero.

Challenge is a bit of a beast too, the finish is actually still a bit uphill after a good climb.

I'm up in the air on Hamilton also with Hood right on the heels.

The Wente Road race is followed the following day with the Wente Crit in the same town. Two races the same weekend if you're interested in it.

Anyone doing the Wente races should comment to the race organizer about adding a TT on the Friday of that weekend to make it a 3 stage race. it's been suggested before but not enough interest.