Northern California - Sierra Road

Hi Gang.
So it seems like a bunch of people are going to be on there watching Pros suffer through it. :D Anyone want to organize a ride up there, on that day? Leave early, pick a good spot, and enjoy the show. :D

FWIW I think you will find a ton of folks climbing Sierra already much like last year. They came riding up to the KOM top as early as 8:30AM (I was there already LOL) and before you know it was very crowded up there. Check out this scene from last years TOC Sierra climb:

http://exoticreefs.us/toc06.html

Doesn't look all that crowded.

Doesn't look all that crowded.

There were a lot of people up there, but I wouldn't exactly call it crowded. They tended to cluster around places where you could see farther down the hill. There were enough people hanging around on the road that some fan-riders had a hard time getting through but most people just parked their bikes next to a fence and socialized for a couple hours.

One warning - no portapotties; eliminate ahead of time and don't bring too much coffee.

http://www.steephill.tv/grassyknoll/uploads/images_r/981.jpg

There were a lot of people up there, but I wouldn't exactly call it crowded. They tended to cluster around places where you could see farther down the hill. There were enough people hanging around on the road that some fan-riders had a hard time getting through but most people just parked their bikes next to a fence and socialized for a couple hours.

One warning - no portapotties; eliminate ahead of time and don't bring too much coffee.

http://www.steephill.tv/grassyknoll/uploads/images_r/981.jpg
So what would be the best time to get there?

So what would be the best time to get there?

They'll publish the race guide on line in the next couple days with ETAs. Last year they estimated between 2 and 2:30 for the KOM but it was closer to 2:45. We parked a couple miles from the bottom and started up about noon... that worked out pretty well. You could see about 6 helicopters over the valley so you knew when the race was getting close. I tried to work some kind of phone tree for updates but it didn't happen.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5269/171/1600/Sierra%20vs%20Summit.1.jpg

Remember to bring your bike, not your car. Last year, Sierra Road was closed to private cars several hours before the race arrived. There is no place to park up there anyway. The did let bikes on the road until 15-30 minutes before the pack arrives.

Regarding crowds, I remember people lining both sides of the road for about a mile leading up to the summit, with thinner crowds below that. Crowds were thickest at the summit, of course.

See you guys and gals on Seirra road tomorrow. I will be in blue and gold colors. ;)

I'm waiting for an updated weather forecast for tomorrow. I'll probably ride my commute bike with one pannier to store warm clothes and some food. The weather isn't going to be as nice as it was last year. And even then I got cold waiting at the top for the race to come by.

Look for the guy in a gray (silver?) beard and wearing an AV kit.

See you guys and gals on Seirra road tomorrow. I will be in blue and gold colors. ;)


Ill be up there with the MTBR and RBR gang.:D

Damn it was cold up there. I had on my Jersey, thin sweater, wind vest, and on top of that my hoody sweater! Still was getting cold.
I saw you Steve, but by the time I realized it was you you were on the way down from KOM spot. :)
One other note on that road. Descent is scary! I was constantly on my breaks trying to keep it under 30 on the turns! I felt my back wheel loose traction few times.
Took a bunch of pictures. Peleton was shattered! There was even on guy who was behind a sweeper. He was suffering!
On a funny side. Specialized Angel was at KOM spot. She walks out of the car looking all hot, turns around.... There is a huge whole in her tights on her but. Everyone just started laughing.

Sorry I missed you UmneyD. I rode up to the top, didn't see any heavenly creatures, turned around, and rode down a little way where I could see more of the road and a couple of my club mates were hanging out.

Yeah, it was cold alright. I rode the commuter bike and carried one pannier. I had my UnDee shirt, jersey, vest, wind jacket, sweatshirt, and winter gloves. Most of me was fine but my fingers were numb. (I've developed bad circulation in my fingers when it's cold in the past couple of years.)

A just before the peloton arrived, a herd of cattle started trotting from up on the knoll where they were grazing down toward the road like they knew there was something going on and they wanted to get a better view. As soon as the main bunch had passed, they all turned around and headed back up the hill where they were originally. Too funny!

After the broom wagon came by, a group of us decided to go around the back way and drop down into Milpitas via Calaveras Rd.

Forgot to mention, doing that climb after two hours of inervals is a bad idea! My legs were completely shot, I think I was climbing at 5-7mph up that thing. :(

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00721-1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00729.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00749.jpg