Northern California - Tierra Bella vs. Primavera

Registration is now open for Tierra Bella and will soon be for Primavera. Both are on the same weekend so I will only be up to do one. And both are within reasonable driving distance. I am looking to do the 100 mile version. What are the pros and cons of each?

http://www.actc.org/tb/index.php
http://www.fremontfreewheelers.org/primavera.html

I haven't looked at this year's route, but in past years, the Primavera has had a more scenic route with less traffic. The Primavera has a couple more hills, but nothing really serious. The Tierra Bella does have better food.

I haven't ridden either. This will be my first organized ride so I just registered for the 100k in the Tierra Bella,

I haven't looked at this year's route, but in past years, the Primavera has had a more scenic route with less traffic. The Primavera has a couple more hills, but nothing really serious. The Tierra Bella does have better food.


One man's ceiling is another man's floor.

The Primavera includes the Calaveras and Palomares climbs. To me, they are pretty serious. :)

I've never done the Tierra Bella, but I've done most of the route it takes. You climb up to some abandoned hot springs, come back down across the valley and climb up to and around Uvas Reservoir.

I've done the Primavera (last year) and it starts in Fremont, goes up Calaveras (the wall), down through Sunol, and then up and over Dublin Grade to the north side of Palomares. From there, it's up the 6 mile Palomares climb (very steep towards the top) and then down to Niles Canyon and home. Very scenic, and much of it without a lot of traffic. Very well supported, too.

Last year I did both back to back (birthday weekend) They were both great, but I feel nostalgic towards the Primavera and I think It's a little more challenging and scenic. If I can afford it I'll do both again. BTW the headwinds sucked at the Tierra. Primavera was my best century last year.

+1 on the Primavera (did it solo last year, and it was my first supported century)

Calaveras is a great way to start the ride with amazing views, support was great with a friendly staff and lots of home baked goods :love: ran into lots of friendly people and got a good laugh at people lined up behind the tri-guys

knowing that Palomares was between me and a pasta dinner at the finish kept the motor turning.

Great way to spend 420 ;)

You guys are tempting me. Primavera might be a great first century of the year.

+1 on the Primavera (did it solo last year, and it was my first supported century)

Calaveras is a great way to start the ride with amazing views, support was great with a friendly staff and lots of home baked goods :love: ran into lots of friendly people and got a good laugh at people lined up behind the tri-guys

knowing that Palomares was between me and a pasta dinner at the finish kept the motor turning.

Great way to spend 420 ;)

Hey I was one of those leeches!!!:thumb:

Last year I did both back to back (birthday weekend) They were both great, but I feel nostalgic towards the Primavera and I think It's a little more challenging and scenic. If I can afford it I'll do both again. BTW the headwinds sucked at the Tierra. Primavera was my best century last year.

That's an interesting way to do a double century :lol:

That's an interesting way to do a double century :lol:

One year, I did Wine Country Double Metric on Saturday, then Grizzly Peak Metric on Sunday.

+1 on the Primavera (did it solo last year, and it was my first supported century)

Calaveras is a great way to start the ride with amazing views, support was great with a friendly staff and lots of home baked goods :love: ran into lots of friendly people and got a good laugh at people lined up behind the tri-guys

knowing that Palomares was between me and a pasta dinner at the finish kept the motor turning.

Great way to spend 420 ;)


Did you try my daughter's oatmeal raisin cookies at Sunol?

I'm the ugly dude at the water stop on Greenville Rd in Livermore, before you start climbing the Altamont Pass.

You guys are tempting me. Primavera might be a great first century of the year.

Primavera or Tierra Bella are the first century of the year for lots of people. You do have to watch out for weather, though. In some years, lots of people pay in advance, then don't show up because of very cold or wet weather on the day of the event.

Jen and I are signed up as a tandem team for the 100K Tierra Bella route. Gotta have a goal!

I've done the Primavera the last 3 years and fortunately the weather has held up each year. Its a good century to start the year off with. The Primavera start location is closer for me, so it means I can sleep in a bit later and not have to drive so far. I'll probably do it again next year.

I've done the Primavera the last 3 years and fortunately the weather has held up each year. Its a good century to start the year off with. The Primavera start location is closer for me, so it means I can sleep in a bit later and not have to drive so far. I'll probably do it again next year.

See you at the water stop.