Tour of Cali - Stage 6

[IanInSD]

All, last year we saw the stage 6 tour at the third KOM site, just after Ojai. We were going to see the tour at balcom but could not find a place to park nearby. Does anyone know of if there is enough room to park your car on balcom, if not where did everyone park that was in walking distance?

Thanks,

Ian in SD

[scvroadie]

All, last year we saw the stage 6 tour at the third KOM site, just after Ojai. We were going to see the tour at balcom but could not find a place to park nearby. Does anyone know of if there is enough room to park your car on balcom, if not where did everyone park that was in walking distance?

Thanks,

Ian in SD

Last year got to Balcolm about 7:00 AM, parked about 200 yards below the top, getting there that early we pretty much had our choice of parking spots. Our club had about 4-5 cars parked together. We then went for a ride down to Camarillo and then rode back. About 10,000 people there last year, how many will show up this year.

From the top you can see most of the climb on the way up. Last year outside of one rider that had broke away, the came into the bottom of Balcolm all punched up into a small peloton. By the top, they were spread out down the mountain. There are a couple of sections on Balcolm in excess of 20%.

[IanInSD]

Did you park on the back side or the front side, by the front side I mean leading up to the climb? We thought about the back side but didn't see much room there either.

Last year got to Balcolm about 7:00 AM, parked about 200 yards below the top, getting there that early we pretty much had our choice of parking spots. Our club had about 4-5 cars parked together. We then went for a ride down to Camarillo and then rode back. About 10,000 people there last year, how many will show up this year.

From the top you can see most of the climb on the way up. Last year outside of one rider that had broke away, the came into the bottom of Balcolm all punched up into a small peloton. By the top, they were spread out down the mountain. There are a couple of sections on Balcolm in excess of 20%.

[scvroadie]

Did you park on the back side or the front side, by the front side I mean leading up to the climb? We thought about the back side but didn't see much room there either.

Parked on the front side. On the front side at the top of Balcolm the road is wider.

[Brandy]

Still trying to figure out where to park for tomorrow! We want to see the Balcom climb and then drive to Santa Clarita (hopefully) beating them back for the finish. Any suggestions? How long do they have Balcom closed to traffic after they roll through? Is there a better place to park that we could ride from?

[roadfix]

We want to see the Balcom climb and then drive to Santa Clarita (hopefully) beating them back for the finish. Any suggestions? A helicopter?

[Brandy]

A helicopter?

My helicopter is in the shop right now.

[magicant]

My helicopter is in the shop right now.Is it getting a new propeller derailleur?

[awiner]

You will be hard pressed to find parking on the north or south of Balcolm without having a long trek to get where you need to be. Like Lee said, there is some space but you would need to get there at 0'dark thirty to claim it. I expect to see 10-20k people on Balcolm tomorrow.

You could always Park in Moorpark and ride to Balcolm. I am going to ride from home and come in to the South through Moorpark.

[Brandy]

You will be hard pressed to find parking on the north or south of Balcolm without having a long trek to get where you need to be. Like Lee said, there is some space but you would need to get there at 0'dark thirty to claim it. I expect to see 10-20k people on Balcolm tomorrow.

You could always Park in Moorpark and ride to Balcolm. I am going to ride from home and come in to the South through Moorpark.

We don't mind riding there...if we park in Moorpark, do you think it's feasible to get back to the car and to the finish in time?

[awiner]

Here is the route slip for Stage 6 which includes ETA's.

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/docroot/media/2007/stage6-log.pdf



If you want to get from Balcolm to Valencia you have a few choices. You can't go the direct route on the road since the tour is heading that way.

If you take the freeways from Moorpark, you would have to hit the 23 FWY, to the 118 FWY to the 405 FWY to the 5 FWY. It would take about 30-40 mins. if there was no traffic from the 23 FWY to Valencia.

The problem is going to be once you enter Valencia it will be a zoo unless you were to get there hours early.

I don't know if it will be possible or not.

[JustMe]

If you want to get from Balcolm to Valencia you have a few choices. You can't go the direct route on the road since the tour is heading that way.[/SIZE]
. . . .
The problem is going to be once you enter Valencia it will be a zoo unless you were to get there hours early.
. . . .
The peloton or any break away is preceded by a CHP car to clear traffic so they don't close the road to traffic other than for a brief period while the competitors and support vehicles are passing through.

There will probably be plenty of time to get to Valencia before the riders, but anywhere around the final circuit will be next to impossible if it's anything like Thousand Oaks was last year. Still, there are good opportunities along the approach to Valencia.