Southern California - Tour of California is Coming! Wanna see it?

While the entire tour route (http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages.html) looks like it'll be a juicy race this year, the SoCal routes look promising for spectators. Stage 6 in particular looks like it would be fun to spend a day at the races. From this year's description:

"The ominous Balcom Canyon will be the final climb of the day, where in 2007 nearly 25,000 fans formed a narrow corridor for the riders. The cyclists will end the day with three circuit laps in Santa Clarita that finish at McBean Parkway at the Valencia Town Center."

Given that this year's tour will include the new Slipstream/Chipotle team, in only their second '08 race, I think it would be awesome to be among those 25K lined up along Balcom Canyon cheering the riders on! Sure it would take a little effort getting up early enough and parking somewhere nearby, then walking (or riding a bike?) up the canyon and select a spot and remain there all day until the racers pass through. I'll more than likely not get a chance to be a spectator along one of the TdF's legendary mountain climbs, but this will be close enough. The following day's ride up Millcreek Summit and down into Pasadena for a Rose Bowl curcuit finish also looks promising. Anyone watch in person last year? Any interest this year? Tips? Insights? I'm gonna make an effort to be there, video camera in hand.

Kidd, you picked a good spot. Balcom is a great place to watch.

...Anyone watch in person last year? Any interest this year? Tips? Insights? I'm gonna make an effort to be there, video camera in hand.

If you can, go to Solvang for the Time Trial. A-w-e-s-o-m-e!

Balcom? If you're driving, you need to get there about 2 hours prior to the race. Take lawn chairs, sidewalk chalk, and a grill with some tri-tip. Park on the backside of Balcom, (not on Balcom Cyn Rd, but there's a close by side street with deep ditches on either side that's good) walk up to the top.Better still, wait until a local club organizes a ride to Balcom for the stage & enjoy your hobby. :D

^^ Agree with Mark, you gotta bring your bike and ride up Balcom yourself to the cheering crowds!!!

There will be a BF road trip to one or more stages. I know I will be in Solvang for sure. More info to come...

Yes indeed, Balcom was a great place to be running along the riders as they appeared to ride effortlessly up this brutal grade. You wait two or three hours and then the peloton goes by in a matter of seconds. Well worth the wait, besides, you get to chat with your neighbors and take in the scenery and the atmosphere. Vive le tour de californie!!:D

I'm going to try to be there for every stage (I have a lot of PTO time that I need to take).

Yes indeed, Balcom was a great place to be running along the riders as they appeared to ride effortlessly up this brutal grade. You wait two or three hours and then the peloton goes by in a matter of seconds. Well worth the wait, besides, you get to chat with your neighbors and take in the scenery and the atmosphere. Vive le tour de californie!!

Yeah...that was what struck me most last year. It was a difficult walk up the hill let alone ride, and these guys just motored past. Amazing. At least there were ...what...maybe 4-5 riders at the end who looked tired and had little gaps to the peloton? All continental pros, too, not the European pros (Disco, CSC, etc...)

There will be an SFVBC group leaving CSUN at 8:00 that morning to ride out to Balcom.
The ride will go over Grimes to East Mtn road then up Balcom in the race direction.
It's a fun place to watch from.

After climbing that wall an hour earlier you can really
appreciate the speed the racers carry up that hill.

There will be an SFVBC group leaving CSUN at 8:00 that morning to ride out to Balcom.
The ride will go over Grimes to East Mtn road then up Balcom in the race direction.
It's a fun place to watch from.

After climbing that wall an hour earlier you can really
appreciate the speed the racers carry up that hill.

Saweeet!

Yeah...that was what struck me most last year. It was a difficult walk up the hill let alone ride, and these guys just motored past. Amazing.

That's either going to be inspiring or depressing to many of us to witness first hand:D

If you can, go to Solvang for the Time Trial. A-w-e-s-o-m-e!

Balcom? If you're driving, you need to get there about 2 hours prior to the race. Take lawn chairs, sidewalk chalk, and a grill with some tri-tip. Park on the backside of Balcom, (not on Balcom Cyn Rd, but there's a close by side street with deep ditches on either side that's good) walk up to the top.Better still, wait until a local club organizes a ride to Balcom for the stage & enjoy your hobby. :D

This is why I'm bringing the camera, not only for the two or three minutes it takes for official peloton to fly past, but also the crowd and pre-race local parade!

Yep, we were there on top of Balcom last year...

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/jojisan/BalcolmCanyon07.jpg

Yep, we were there on top of Balcom last year...

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/jojisan/BalcolmCanyon07.jpg

That's hilarious! France has their red devil with trident pitchfork, and we have our crucifix wielding Catholic Bishop! Are there any more of these pictures to share? Link please.

Those riders look too serious ;) Take it easy man, this is Cali.

This is why I'm bringing the camera, not only for the two or three minutes it takes for official peloton to fly past, but also the crowd and pre-race local parade!

I don't think it was much more than one minute! :eek::lol:

Maybe I got there late, I never did see a parade. A bunch of cops & VIPs went by...A couple vendors were working the crowd, handing out freebies (thundersticks especially).

Kidd, you picked a good spot. Balcom is a great place to watch.


Jim, let's plan to ride there again this year for Stage 6. Maybe I will drive there the day b4 and hide some goodies in the hills to snack on.

Adam, I am trying to plan a bike tour from Palo Alto down to follow the tour. We will be in Solvang the day before and I am not sure we will get to Balcom before the riders. If it were up to me, it would be no problem but I will be with a couple of late risers. I will know more as I plan more of it.

Sure enjoyed it last year, that is the place to be.

Sounds fun Jim.... I guess we can figure it all out as it gets close. This year I will brining my super duper EPO detector that will instantly evaporate any rider who shows signs on EPO usage. I guess that means by the time the peloton rolls to the finish we will have a race between 2 riders ! :)

That's hilarious! France has their red devil with trident pitchfork, and we have our crucifix wielding Catholic Bishop! Are there any more of these pictures to share? Link please.

Those riders look too serious ;) Take it easy man, this is Cali.

But did you notice the SoCal BF jersey?!! Ya gots ta reprezent!

(hint, over the pope's right shoulder)

Those riders look too serious ;) Take it easy man, this is Cali.

If you watch their faces live going over Balcom it doesn't look so effortless-- a lot of them are getting worked pretty good. I was up there for the first time they ran the ToC, and I saw more than a few guys making the Q sign as they came over the top.

ps. I'm boycotting all (so-called) Tours of California that don't include San Diego.

I might take a backwards drive through the final stage soon to see where I want to watch from.

Sounds fun Jim.... I guess we can figure it all out as it gets close. This year I will brining my super duper EPO detector that will instantly evaporate any rider who shows signs on EPO usage. I guess that means by the time the peloton rolls to the finish we will have a race between 2 riders ! :)

:D

Jim, let's plan to ride there again this year for Stage 6. Maybe I will drive there the day b4 and hide some goodies in the hills to snack on.

Route and time? Ride from home or drive out to Moorpark and take off from there?

Sheldon

Route and time? Ride from home or drive out to Moorpark and take off from there?

Sheldon


Ride from home... About 55 miles round trip. Last year we rolled at 9:30am and were there in time to get a good spot at the KOM marker.

I watched them climb Balcom Canyon last year. I think the 25K number is high. There were a lot of people but not that many. :eek:

ps. I'm boycotting all (so-called) Tours of California that don't include San Diego.

Hey, when they have a Tour of Tijuana, I'm sure they will include the TJ suburb of SD.


(Just jealous that I'm stuck in LA when I would much rather be in SD.)

(Just jealous that I'm stuck in LA when I would much rather be in SD.)

why would you rather be in San diego? Why are we whispering?

why would you rather be in San diego? Why are we whispering?

LA has actually exceeded my expectations (and that's even before accounting for the glories of riding in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mts.). I think its shortcomings are grossly exaggerated, mostly by those who don't live here. Still, if for some reason I had to move to SD next week, I wouldn't too shaken up. :)

I'm very interested in joining this excursion - ie. climbing Balcom and watching the stage!

^^ Outstanding. It is a lot of fun with the cheering crowds.

Sure do want to see it. I need the long sleeved T-shirts I get as a course marshall. The wife and I always claim the corner most likely to have a spectacular crash then pass out brooms to spectators and have them sweep the area clean. Santa Rosa puts up warning notices and tows any cars left on the downtown course.

I'll be broadcasting the Tour Of California at my place. I did the same thing for the Tour de France, and we had an incredible turnout almost every single night... standing room only most of the time.

We're probably going to watch the final stage live, since it's gonna be in Pasadena. I've got some friends who should be racing in it this year, so we'll probably have re-run nights with them there.

I'll let everyone know.... but the final stage is going to be epic, and it can alter the outcome of the race entirely. I know the sprinters are talking about it, because it's going to be a climbers stage, and it's definatly not going to be a field sprint. It will be interesting.

We watched it this year down in Long Beach... it was fun.

Hey, when they have a Tour of Tijuana, I'm sure they will include the TJ suburb of SD.


(Just jealous that I'm stuck in LA when I would much rather be in SD.)

I heard a rumour that San Diego would be included in the 2015 Tour of Mexico ;)

Balcom, . . . great place to view from, and the ride out to Balcom from CSUN in Northridge with the SFVBC group makes for a great day.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/imspec/2007%20Amgen%20Tour/DSCN1161s.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/imspec/2007%20Amgen%20Tour/DSCN1165s.jpg

Balcom, . . . great place to view from, and the ride out to Balcom from CSUN in Northridge with the SFVBC group makes for a great day.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/imspec/2007%20Amgen%20Tour/DSCN1165s.jpg

Is that Rasmussen? Did he do the ToC?

Is that Rasmussen? Did he do the ToC?

he sure did. I took this one as they were about to start the stage in Santa Barbara.

http://www.jmechy.com/gallery/albums/ToC/originals/IMG_0134.JPG

he sure did. I took this one as they were about to start the stage in Santa Barbara.

Wow, that's quite a touch of infamy. Just months later... worst TdF ever I'm guessing. Got any other great pics?

I'll be there to watch it somewhere on the mt.

Wow, that's quite a touch of infamy. Just months later... worst TdF ever I'm guessing. Got any other great pics?

I made a ghetto gallery out of all the pics i took at the start of that stage:
http://www.jmechy.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=1

Bettini chillin before the race (big pic): http://www.jmechy.com/gallery/albums/ToC/originals/IMG_0151.JPG

Levi rolling to the start:
http://www.jmechy.com/gallery/albums/ToC/originals/IMG_0181.JPG

Chicken sitting on his bike (big pic): http://www.jmechy.com/gallery/albums/ToC/originals/IMG_0183.JPG