Road Bike Racing - Leesville Wheels?

I'm hearing that the pavement at Leesville is worse than Copperopolis. Is that true? Is that even possible?

My wheel choices are Ksryium SL3 (my normal wheels) or heavier but bombproof 32 spoke Open Pros. Is it bad enough to use the OPs?

I'm hearing that the pavement at Leesville is worse than Copperopolis. Is that true? Is that even possible?

My wheel choices are Ksryium SL3 (my normal wheels) or heavier but bombproof 32 spoke Open Pros. Is it bad enough to use the OPs?

JRennie will comment, but it sounds like OP's and Gatorskins, or tubulars if you have them.

Clinchers only, but I have some 25mm GP4000s that I commute on. I'm thinking the additional 2mms might make it a bit more comfortable if the roads are that bad.

I rode Campy Zondas with low mileage (<300 miles) ProRace 2s there last year to finish 4th with no problems. During the race, the big problems I saw were flats, so strong tires are a definite. Although, the guy who nipped me at the line for 3rd got on his bike at the Sunday crit (was it Vacaville last year?)the following day and his front wheel tacoed. He rode his aero race wheels, which are handy once you are over the climb.

The rough roads are worse than Copperopolis (especially now), but the bad section lasts less than 10K. Don't forget the mile of dirt road you have to traverse in the last 10K, but it is pretty simple. Other than that, once you crest the climb, the rough road is over!

Good luck...I have a broken scaphoid else this would have been one of my focus races this year.

Wheels aren't the issue, pinch flats and punctures are. Yes there is gravel and dirt and potholes but not really wheel killers. I double flatted 8 miles into it last year and boy was it a long solo chase home. Thick tires and tight cages are your friend. That being said I'm really a fool cause I'm still running PR3's this year and just hoping for some good luck from above. Also, this isn't a climbers race. There is some climbing in it but much more rolling and flat.

Well, I'm not much of a climber. My plan was to ride hard in the first part to protect our climber and just try to hang on from there.

The climb isn't so long that a non-climber cant suffer through. If you have a protected guy you might be better served to save a little in the beginning and get over the climb with the group. You will be a much bigger asset to a climber in the last 10k of flat than the first. Also if he needs a wheel you'll be there.

mmm... race tires on 30mm rims w/ low spoke count or training tires on a box rim with regular spoke count...

haha wow what a tough race!! Kept thinking it couldnt be thaaaat bad...well it was. Horrible road conditions LoL lots of potholes and general nastiness along with general helpings of sandy dirt sections tee hee. As Jrennie predicted we caught and passed the 3's (although there was a breakaway group that we did not catch)

good times - I brought my race wheels and dont know if I trust them after dragging them over that course! Going to take a close look for any damage before tomorrows crit.

finished 3rd...thought i had 2nd but found out there was some pro Tri-athlete that soloed after the climb for the win (monster)

I vowed to never race this again after last year but like bayareawheeler I kept telling myself it couldn't have been that bad. It was, It is, It will be and I will never return. Last year was a double flat on the first climb this year was a flat right before the climb. Oh well.

The guy who solo'd off the front of the 4's is a beast. It must have be 50 miles solo.

I flatted at 13 miles, where it was rolling and intermittent pavement. I chunked a rock pretty good and pinched flatted my front.

If I had half a brain, I would have just turned around and ridden back into town. But no. I figured "Well, I paid my money, I might as well see the course." At mile 45, I was cursing my self. What a crappy road. Do they send people around the state looking for the worst possible roads to run bike races on?

Sheesh.

oh god that was the worst race ever. you know when people usually complain about a race its not as bad as they say (4th of july crit for instance.. that was awesome).. but this race was so much worse than anything anyone who rode it previously described it to me.. i was in the 5's... got dropped off the pack right after we passed that first CHP car because the ground suddenly turned to hell... I happen to ride a crit bike (soloist team) and i brought some nice durable (read: stiff) wheels with training tires. couldnt hold speed on the terrible pavement (i think its worse than 'poor'). I didnt flat but boy what a terrible ride. i spent 40 miles solo with lots of masters and a few women passing me. somehow they managed to add in 3-4 extra miles too. and the registration was terrible! well sportsbaseonline was great but the volunteers were clueless. defiantly not going to that race ever again.

actually i did flat. after i parked my bike at my car after the race i went to get a soda and i came back and my front was flat lol.

Now that I've done it, I'll answer my own questions:



I'm hearing that the pavement at Leesville is worse than Copperopolis. Is that true? Is that even possible?

My wheel choices are Ksryium SL3 (my normal wheels) or heavier but bombproof 32 spoke Open Pros. Is it bad enough to use the OPs?

Yes, the pavement (if you can call it that) was worse than Copperopolis. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes and felt it with my own ass.

The Ksryiums were fine. I flatted because I hit a rock hidden in the gravel. Next year, if there is a next year, I'll put 25mm tires on and maybe that will help. Also, next year I'll check to make sure that when I swap on a cassette I'll actually put on the 27. I was in a rush the night before when I was switching out my flatland cassette. I assumed the whole time I was climbing in a 27. Nope. A 25. Dumbass.

Yes, the pavement was awful but that was some of the most fun I've ever had on a bike. If they advertise the course as being in terrible condition and their advertisement holds true, that doesn't make it a bad race... just a poor race choice for you. I thought the conditions made things interesting.

Yeah, I'm just pissy because I flatted and rode most of the race by myself. And it continues my string of bad luck in road races this year.

I was patching the flatted tube this evening and discovered two separate pinch flats. Amazing. I've never had that happen before.

Yes, the pavement was awful but that was some of the most fun I've ever had on a bike. If they advertise the course as being in terrible condition and their advertisement holds true, that doesn't make it a bad race... just a poor race choice for you. I thought the conditions made things interesting.

it wasn't 60 miles and i'd have to say that pavement was beyond 'poor'

it wasn't 60 miles and i'd have to say that pavement was beyond 'poor'

My computer reads 63.5mi... that's pretty close. And the pavement.. c'mon man.. it's bike racing. It's not supposed to be easy.

My computer reads 63.5mi... that's pretty close. And the pavement.. c'mon man.. it's bike racing. It's not supposed to be easy.

ya im pretty sure id be bitter also if a mechanical caused me to DNF...cost me 80 bucks in gas just to get up there!

But i got lucky and made it through the course - funny thing is on an easy commute in this morning I pinch flatted!! Oh the irony. I still cant believe nobody went down in the sandy sections. Saw lots of fishtailing and damn nears!