Road Bike Racing - University Road Race, Santa Cruz CalCup

Who is doing the University Road Race in Santa Cruz on Sunday? I am registered in the W4 (42 miles). Is this run like a circuit race (like Brisbane)?

I think it will be run just like a road race.

It's a great course (but really hard), either up or down, hardly any flat. Start, finish and neutral water are in the middle of the uphill. The last section of the uphill is the steepest. Turn at the bottom (from downhill to uphill) can be a little dicey. Beautiful Views!

Who is doing the University Road Race in Santa Cruz on Sunday? I am registered in the W4 (42 miles). Is this run like a circuit race (like Brisbane)?

I am on a waiting list. :( So hopefully.
What do you mean run like a circuit race?

I am on a waiting list. :( So hopefully.
What do you mean run like a circuit race?

You do laps. Great course. Won the 45 last year, but the submitted results didn't break us out from the 35's that we were racing with. I think Pizzaman got 2nd in the 35's and rode of from the mortals (me) around the halfway point.

I'll be there. E4

you guys have fun. We did something like 12 or 15 laps in collegiate and it was a killer. It'll be hotter now. the last steep bit is just a quick push, it's the long leadup to the feed zone, followed by a painful section to the top that sucks. You'll be happy if you can get someone to sit there and feed you every ~3 laps (you only need 1 water bottle :) ) The downhill sucks if you're by yourself, but is the time to rest if you're in a group (it's a pedalling descent, 35-40 mph depending on who is killing it).

i'm done racing for the year due to some knee issues.....but i think I would have skipped this little bit of hell anyway.

Was thinking about it but waited too long and it filled up. 4/5 race with a field limit of 50. Meh.

I'll be at San Ardo though.

60 miles of up and down? I'm skipping it this year. Its a great race though.

Was thinking about it but waited too long and it filled up. 4/5 race with a field limit of 50. Meh.

I'll be at San Ardo though.

I'll see you at SA

I'll see you at SA

Are you in the 4s?

Santa Cruz is a brutal race, perhaps the hardest I have ever done. I think somebody would have to pay me to do that race again.

^^...but you'll be there this spring, right?

^^...but you'll be there this spring, right?

He's graduated, so I would guess not?

So I am debating on a gearing for this race. I have compact 50/34 crank, and can't decide between 12/27 and 11/23. I used 12/27 at Patterson and it was a savior! In winters I used 11/23 I powered through, but I wished I had 12/27 on a last loop, final climb. I do better on climbs at higher RPMs. So the issue as I see it is 12/27 would definitely help me, but I am afraid of loosing contact with the group on descent, because if someone is cranking away at 53/12 I'll be spinning out 50/12. On the other hand with 11/23 I might get dropped going up, so doesn't really matter if I could have kept up on descent. Any words of wisdom?

Thanks
UD

it's not steep, except for 50m near the end of each climb that you'll be hammering out of the saddle anyway.

if I recall, i don't think i touched my 39/25, so if you're in the 34/23 and not spinning, you probably aren't going fast enough to keep up anyway. You might be glad to have the 11 on the downhill, but hopefully you'll never be pedaling when you're going that speed anyway :)

I'd go with the 11/23. If you're in a 34/25 it means you've already been dropped.

Yeah, I've graduated so no more collegiate racing for me. :(
Good luck to everyone who has the misfortune to be doing this race tomorrow!

I just noticed Women 1/2/3 starting after Men 4/5. :wtf:

Ok in 4/5 field, what a hell happened? After 7 or 8 laps, dude on motorcycle tells everyone to ride two abreast. I figured we are being neutralized for other field to pass us. Next thing I know someone at the front cranked up the pace, while we are still being told to ride two abreast. Gaps forming left and right, but now it's much worse since field is stretched out. :mad:

I just noticed Women 1/2/3 starting after Men 4/5. :wtf:

Did the W/1/2/3's catch the 4/5's? I was handing out water during your race and it was really hard to tell who was on which lap.

I also wonder why they start the 35+ 1/2/3 behind the Elite 3's and have us do 14 laps and the 3's do 15.

I also wonder why they start the 35+ 1/2/3 behind the Elite 3's and have us do 14 laps and the 3's do 15.

Me too. Nothing like making the huge separation then getting neutralized due to your particular antics. Next time, mind keeping the main group closer at least? It was a messy, though fun, race.

Did the W/1/2/3's catch the 4/5's? I was handing out water during your race and it was really hard to tell who was on which lap.

I also wonder why they start the 35+ 1/2/3 behind the Elite 3's and have us do 14 laps and the 3's do 15.

Yep, either on last or with two laps to go. It was kind of a mess at that point, with people being scattered all over the place. The starting orders and lap counts made little sense.