Road Bike Racing - California Racing

I know that there are websites out there, but I am lazy, and you guys are on top of it so...

I will be in CA from March 3-10th. I was wondering if there would be any racing on maybe the 8 or 9th in SFran? I would ideally like to find a TT but if there is anything that was early and close to town, I might be able to do it. I will be in LA Monday through Friday, then SFran Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Just figured I would check. Again, if it is not ridable from downtown, I am not interested as I will have no car and still a tough work schedule. Thanks in advance.

NCNCA.ORG has everything-- if you can get up to check bikeforums.net... aint too hard to check out NCNCA.ORG....Just copy and paste!

Where in LA are you going to be staying? If you're on the west side I'd recommend coming out to the Pier ride on Tuesday or Thursday morning.

I will be in Bev Hills on Rodeo drive. I have no real idea where that is in relation to LA. I just know the hotel sucks, the products are overpriced, and I have to fly in to LAX.

I wasn't sure if I would even bring a bike, but I figured if there was racing, it may be worth it. Or I would try to borrow a BF beater bike.

:)

Looks like your in luck
If you had a partner the team time trial on Sunday.
Ive heard good things about the Grand Prix on saturday.

http://www.socalcycling.com

Oops.

Anyone need a TT teammate for the Sunday morning TT??

Can someone fly in NomadVW for this?

Scorched. Earth. (well, compared to other sub-elites)

Can someone fly in NomadVW for this?

Scorched. Earth. (well, compared to other sub-elites)

He could catch a military flight into Travis Air Force Base.;)

Anyone need a TT teammate for the Sunday morning TT??

Post the cat you'd be racing in, age, and some recent TT times on the NCNCA forum. You'd probably get a teamate for the race and a ride from SF to Berkley.

Anyone need a TT teammate for the Sunday morning TT??

mind if i tie a rope from your seatpost to my bars and try to keep up? :D

If you want to race the Menlo Park Crit on Saturday you can catch Caltrain (station is south of Market St.) and it should get you close. For the Berkeley TTT take a Pittsburg/Baypoint BART train (subway under Market St.) from SF and get off at Orinda station. The start is a couple miles north. The Berkeley TTT is not flat.

Rick M.

Too bad you won't be here the week before, Merco is where it's at (you'd need a car though).

I'll be at Menlo Park on Saturday for sure and maybe the Central Valley Classic on Sunday if I feel like making the trek down to Fresno. I would have liked to do the TTT but my team is preriding this weekend when I'm out of town so I'm not likely to get a partner. It's the same course as Berkeley Hills so it would have been nice to get a feel for the course before the RR but there's plenty of time before May rolls around.

Anyone need a TT teammate for the Sunday morning TT??

Me and my buddy got 3rd there last year in the 35+ open. He's in Virginia now and I'm in Texas but...I can put some feelers out there for you if you'd like on a couple of lists...

If you want to race the Menlo Park Crit on Saturday you can catch Caltrain (station is south of Market St.) and it should get you close. For the Berkeley TTT take a Pittsburg/Baypoint BART train (subway under Market St.) from SF and get off at Orinda station. The start is a couple miles north. The Berkeley TTT is not flat.

Rick M.

I'm picturing Dr.W on the subway in full kit w/ 10k of TT bike;)

I'm picturing Dr.W on the subway in full kit w/ 10k of TT bike;)
,
It might just happen. If I find a teammate, and things can work out right, but can't get a ride to the race, well, it doesn't look like a tough course and while there is some climbing, I am thinking the TT bike would be appropriate.

The question would be, is it worth it to bring my crap for a week of training and then one race. Is there any decent training from Beverly Hills if I wanted to do say 2-5 hours round trip (depending on how early I want to get up)? What about from SF? Say Downtown leaving from whereever Union square park is?

I'm picturing Dr.W on the subway in full kit w/ 10k of TT bike

he might not be alone in that. Dr. J I'd offer to ride with you, but I'd be another candidate for the tow-rope treatment.

You'd be fighting some hideous downtown traffic getting from where you are in SF, but you could head north to Marin where there's some great training rides. Mt. Tam is a nice climb.

Its very tempting to enter the TTT just to see DrWJ in action

,
It might just happen. If I find a teammate, and things can work out right, but can't get a ride to the race, well, it doesn't look like a tough course and while there is some climbing, I am thinking the TT bike would be appropriate.

The question would be, is it worth it to bring my crap for a week of training and then one race. Is there any decent training from Beverly Hills if I wanted to do say 2-5 hours round trip (depending on how early I want to get up)? What about from SF? Say Downtown leaving from whereever Union square park is?

You're actually not that far from decent riding in LA. Once you get from Beverley Hills into Brentwood you're in the clear (trafficwise). You can head up Mandeville Canyon/Westridge or head north on PCH into the Santa Monica Mountains. You can easily get 2.5-5 hours of solid climbing and rollers with great views.

You're actually not that far from decent riding in LA. Once you get from Beverley Hills into Brentwood you're in the clear (trafficwise). You can head up Mandeville Canyon/Westridge or head north on PCH into the Santa Monica Mountains. You can easily get 2.5-5 hours of solid climbing and rollers with great views.

Really? That close? Or do you mean 2.5 hours one way?

And for anyone thinking of doing the TTT, I would happily race with anyone, cat 1-4. And if there are some skinny climber dudes that want to pull up the hills while I take care of the flats/descents, I think that could work quite well. I can't imagine it takes a lot to sit in the draft of someone pulling at say 350-400 watts. What, maybe 250? 300 watts at the most?

Really? That close? Or do you mean 2.5 hours one way?

Here are a few suggestions:

Mandeville Canyon: 1:30-1:45 total
easy 20-25 minute climb, some traffic. Shady, lots of trees, very pretty
http://tinyurl.com/286hdt

Topanga Canyon+ Old Topanga: 2:15-2:30 total
Traffic on Topanga but a solid climb. Old Topanga has less traffic, rural, nice view at the top.
http://tinyurl.com/23e7tk

Topanga+ Old Topanga+ Piuma+ Tuna (down): 3:30-4:00 total
Piuma is one of the best climbs around. Half hour climb with amazing views of the coast and the mountains. Tuna is an extremely challenging decent but one of the prettiest roads around.
http://tinyurl.com/2a5ns7

Or you can head north on PCH as far as you want. The further north you go, the better the traffic gets.

Here are a few suggestions:

Mandeville Canyon: 1:30-1:45 total
easy 20-25 minute climb, some traffic. Shady, lots of trees, very pretty
http://tinyurl.com/286hdt

Topanga Canyon+ Old Topanga: 2:15-2:30 total
Traffic on Topanga but a solid climb. Old Topanga has less traffic, rural, nice view at the top.
http://tinyurl.com/23e7tk

Topanga+ Old Topanga+ Piuma+ Tuna (down): 3:30-4:00 total
Piuma is one of the best climbs around. Half hour climb with amazing views of the coast and the mountains. Tuna is an extremely challenging decent but one of the prettiest roads around.
http://tinyurl.com/2a5ns7

Or you can head north on PCH as far as you want. The further north you go, the better the traffic gets.

Wow!! Nice! Thank you. Looking at the profile I am thinking I am going to have to bring the bike. Now the question will be whether it will be the road or the TT. Really appreciate the routes!

made sure the bike was sound this morning and did a quick climb up cold water canyon to mullholland. Nice views from up there and looking forward to getting to some of those other climbs later. What is this " pier ride?? Thanks for the advice guys. Oh, and no tt for me, but maybe I will ride over and watch

The Pier ride runs Tuesday and Thursday morning. It starts in Manhattan Beach, but a lot of people pick it up in Marina Del Rey at 7am. The pace is high around the Marina up to a sprint, calms down, then picks up again on Westchester Parkway. The meat of the ride lasts a little less than an hour, but its a good workout. This Thursday will probably be a bit slower, since a lot of people are headed out to Tour de Murrieta this weekend.

If you want to add some more meat to the Pier ride you can head up Mandeville Canyon afterward. It's a good 20 minute climb that starts at 3-4% and increases to about 6% at the top. Plus there are a few very steep roads that split off of it and head to the top of the canyon.

just went out to Marin park? Well whatever it is called just across the golden gate. Pleasant and quiet. Was thinking of riding over to the TT tomorrow and watching and maybe saying "hi" to any BFers unless someone wants to ride for a few hours tomorrow, say 7-10? Pizza? Anyone?

Tried to get you hooked up for the TTT but no takers. Horse Country TT series starts here in two weeks and I'm looking for a TTT par'ner. Come to Tejas?

The Berkeley TTT start list shows Levi Leipheimer starting solo at 8:52:30. Maybe he'd like a partner :)

http://berkeleybike.org/events/bbcttt_2008-starttimes.html