Northern California - Registration open for San Bruno Hill Climb!

You can tell the 2009 racing season will be here before we know it! Registration is open for the sanctioned New Year's Day San Bruno Hill Climb. It starts at a sane time of 10AM for you party people. I did it last year - great event - mass start by category. Hermes and I plan on doing it this year (weather pemitting) to start a New Year's Day tradition.

https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Item.aspx?item_id=2965

Cool! Post New Years effect made me not go last year.

Definitely going to try and make it this time.

I'm going to sign up.

Since I've not done ten Cat 5 mass starts should I do Cat 5 or Masters 35+?

I'm going to sign up.

Since I've not done ten Cat 5 mass starts should I do Cat 5 or Masters 35+?

The Cat 5 times are slower than the Masters 35+, so you will likely place higher if you enter as a Cat 5 (e.g., the fastest time last year in the Masters 35+ was 15:49 compared to the fastest Cat 5 time of 17:20.) Now if you were 55+, there would be an advantage to entering by age category - as a 35+ it really gains you nothing since you are competing with some 35+ guys who are Cat 1/2/3/4. The only advantage to entering as a masters 35+ would be that these folks would be more experienced (i.e., better road skills), but in a hill climb that shouldn't matter - the field separates pretty quickly.

COOL! Just paid for my racing license and registered for the race!! I'm official....Officially nuts!

Oh...and I'm racing for NorCal. that's my Team/club race ID

Thanks Velodiva! I just signed up for Cat 5. It takes me 13 minutes to get to the park entrance so I have some training to do. :D

COOL! Just paid for my racing license and registered for the race!! I'm official....Officially nuts!

Pete, you didn't buy an annual license before Dec 1 did you? If you did, it's only good till Dec 31, 2008.

I was poking around the Pen Velo site for info on the SB Hill Climb and look what I found...
Our own Pizza Man who was King of the Mountain in 2007.
http://www.peninsulavelo.org/photos/2007_SBHC_KOM_sm.jpg

Yea, this event is a great way to start off the year.

I plan to ride out to the course this Sunday (Dec 7) for a course preview ride. I'll be at the start at 9AM if anyone wants to join me. I may go up and down 2 or 3 times to really get familiar with the course. :D

Didn't make it to Sunday's race in GG Park?

Didn't make it to Sunday's race in GG Park?

I test rode the course on Friday, and crashed over the handlebars, landing on my shoulder. Not hurt too bad, but thought it was a sign. Then on my Saturday road ride I bonked on the final climb and got dropped by the whole group. My legs felt like mush on Sunday so I rode to the bike swap instead of the race.

Instead of spending $30 to enter the race, I spent $10 to get into the expo and $20 on a pair of wind proof gloves.

How did the race go for you?

I'm going to sign up for Cat 5.

Anyone know how a SB Mtn time compares to an OLH time??

Felt a little bit sluggish, possibly due to Thanksgiving indulgences :D. I also looked at the scale that morning and saw I was a couple of pounds more than I'd like and probably psyched myself out.

Lucky I got a call up for being in the top 20 in the series because I could hear a lot of carnage behind me after the first few turns. My front wheel washed out from under me on the same turn two laps in a row and lost some time there. In the end I managed 26th out of 90 and dropped from 12th to 13th place in the series standings.

I'm going to sign up for Cat 5.

Anyone know how a SB Mtn time compares to an OLH time??

It's easier and shorter. Just go like it's OLH and you'll be finished in no time. :)

3.5 miles?...how intense is the grade?

3.5 miles?...how intense is the grade?

The average grade is around 7-8%. With some sections of 10%.

It's basically about intensity. The effort will last 15-25 mins.

3.5 miles?...how intense is the grade?

The climb starts with a 7-8 percent grade up Guadalupe Canyon Road and a right turn into San Bruno Park, and up Radio Road with narrow switchbacks and grades up to 10%. Here is a screen shot from my Garmin from last year:

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/San%20Bruno%20Hill%20Climb/010108SanBrunoHCjpg.jpg

Man, this sounds like a blast. What category should I sign up for having never participated in road bike racing?

Man, this sounds like a blast. What category should I sign up for having never participated in road bike racing?

Cat 5. until you get enough points, then you can move to 4,3,2 etc...

Yea, this event is a great way to start off the year.

I plan to ride out to the course this Sunday (Dec 7) for a course preview ride. I'll be at the start at 9AM if anyone wants to join me. I may go up and down 2 or 3 times to really get familiar with the course. :D

I'm in for sure.

I'm tempted -- my best time on that route is right in around 24mins, so you guys above should be well up the leader board.

I'm tempted -- my best time on that route is right in around 24mins, so you guys above should be well up the leader board. last week I did 24 mins on my taxi bike, so I'm thinking I can sub 20 mins. I'd really be happy to break the record for my age group, but we'll see. I have some stuff to work on so maybe not this year. My Cardin still needs to go up a bit...my leg strength is really pretty good right now.

Cat 5 it is. I hope I can actually push it.

The Cat 5 times are slower than the Masters 35+, so you will likely place higher if you enter as a Cat 5 (e.g., the fastest time last year in the Masters 35+ was 15:49 compared to the fastest Cat 5 time of 17:20.) Now if you were 55+, there would be an advantage to entering by age category - as a 35+ it really gains you nothing since you are competing with some 35+ guys who are Cat 1/2/3/4. The only advantage to entering as a masters 35+ would be that these folks would be more experienced (i.e., better road skills), but in a hill climb that shouldn't matter - the field separates pretty quickly.

This is correct. The only tyhing I'd like to add is that I had the same question 3 years ago and decided to enter Cat 5. I wish I had entered 35+ because of the way they line us up. P/1/2, Cat 3, 35+, 45+, then I forget, but Cat 5 is last. Since it's a mass start with about 300 riders, I was in a lot of traffic for the first 1/2 mile and by the time I got around everyone, the lead group of about 15 guys was already off the front about 100 meters ahead, so I had to chase into the wind by myself. I never was able to catch up to the lead group, but caught and passed all but 4 of them as they dropped off the back one by one.

So, if you want to ride a faster time I'd enter 35+, but if you want to win a prize, Cat 5 is usually slower.

Can you even sign up for Masters 35+ if you haven't completed the 10 mass starts?

(Kind of a rhetorical question since I've already signed up for Cat 5.)

Can you even sign up for Masters 35+ if you haven't completed the 10 mass starts?

(Kind of a rhetorical question since I've already signed up for Cat 5.)


Yes, this event does not specify categories for masters.
Most races split masters into Cat 1/2/3 & 4/5, or sometimes Cat 1-4, not allowing Cat 5's, but anyone over 35, even with no prior races, can do this race.

To Pete and anyone else who was planning on meeting Sunday at 9 for this ride:

Unfortunately I can't make it Sunday, since there was a mix up with my Saturday/Sunday plans, so I'll be doing this Saturday (the 6th) instead, leaving from Velo Rouge at 8AM and meeting at the start of the course at 9AM.

I'm signed up now. I'll be chasing Henry.

:thumb: There should be a big BF showing to this.

I'm in... Cat 5.

Ruth is going to enter too (solo bikes).

I'm in... Cat 5.

Ruth is going to enter too (solo bikes).
I knew she was "Ruthless" what a Cheetah:thumb:

Master Male 45+ and 55+ are full already!

Master Male 45+ and 55+ are full already!


Still plenty of room in the 35+& you get to start closer to the front than the 45+ or 55+. :thumb:

Just entered as a Cat 5. This should be interesting :thumb:

If I see Cat 6, then I'll get in on this.. Chances are I'll be out of town though

Ty, where have you been?

Ty, where have you been?

work and school. I've been around, just not as active as I'd like. Was out of work for a while, so I just made an effort to lay very low and operate with uber minimal financial impact. Still not really out of the woods yet, but I miss the forums man. Had to pop in ;)

Not sure whether to join this, it would be my first race and I have gained a lot of weight. Any suggestions?

Daniel

My consistancy is great!....How exciting! I'm getting consistently slower every time I ride up the Mountain....I'm training backwards! :(

Were you up there today Pete?

I managed to sneak in my last climb of the year at lunch time - I was hoping to learn the answer to the question that Henry posed in the other thread about whether the finishing line was at the parking lot or at the top of the hill -- I did a PB of either 23.5mins or 24mins even. Too bad, I can't make the race and play lantern rouge.

I wanted to race this but was too late signing up. (Cat 5) Is there a wait list or did my procrastination get the best of me?

Ken

My consistancy is great!....How exciting! I'm getting consistently slower every time I ride up the Mountain....I'm training backwards! :(

:roflmao2:

It's not a problem until you start to roll backwards...:lol:

:roflmao2:

It's not a problem until you start to roll backwards...:lol:

Just pray it won't be windy... doth thou this moth be ye blown back to bed!:twitchy:

I wanted to race this but was too late signing up. (Cat 5) Is there a wait list or did my procrastination get the best of me?

Ken

You might be out of luck unless they'll let you ride for someone that failed to show.

I wanted to race this but was too late signing up. (Cat 5) Is there a wait list or did my procrastination get the best of me?

Ken

If you show up early (around 8) you can probably be first on the wait list. There's about a 99% chance there will be no shows, (99.999% if it's raining)

Anyone want to do a few repeats on Friday??

Ruth & I are going (on our solos, since we are racing on our solos).

Friday looks like the day with the best weather, and we will not get a chance on Christmas Day.

Anyone want to do a few repeats on Friday??

Ruth & I are going (on our solos, since we are racing on our solos).

Friday looks like the day with the best weather, and we will not get a chance on Christmas Day.

If tomorrow morning is wet, I'll pass on San Bruno and just ride the single speed in the park and join you on Friday.

What time will you be there Friday?

If tomorrow morning is wet, I'll pass on San Bruno and just ride the single speed in the park and join you on Friday.

What time will you be there Friday?

I don't know.

I want to say, in the morning so the day is still available after... but not early morning so we can sleep. ;)

If others join in, maybe there will be a consensus.

What time is good for you Chris?

how bout 10?