Northern California - TDC Davis to Santa Rosa: Viewing Ideas?

My father really wants me to take him to see the Tour.
Bless his heart he follows cycling a bit now because of my passion for the sport.
He is 72 years old, and not real fit. He can't walk long distances any more.

I would love for him to see the race on a climb so they are going slowly enough for him to really take it in.

Does anyone have any tips on a good accessible spot on a climb during Stage 1: Davis to Santa Rosa?

You can always PM me if it is a super secret spot you don't want to broadcast in cyberspace :innocent:

I would say get to the start early. You can hang out near the start line. The riders all have to sign before the race. So you get to see everyone. Bring a start list so you can know who is who. There will be alot happening. Then after the start, jump in the car and go to Santa Rosa. They do 3 laps. You will also have festival going on. Santa Rosa goes off w/TOC. Huge since Levi pumps the crowd up. That way your dad does not need to walk to much and can sit down in cafes at both ends of the race if he is tired.

If you go to some climb all he will do is sit in the car and get out when the riders come by. Lots more to do in the Start/Finish.

I would say get to the start early. You can hang out near the start line. The riders all have to sign before the race. So you get to see everyone. Bring a start list so you can know who is who. There will be alot happening. Then after the start, jump in the car and go to Santa Rosa. They do 3 laps. You will also have festival going on. Santa Rosa goes off w/TOC. Huge since Levi pumps the crowd up. That way your dad does not need to walk to much and can sit down in cafes at both ends of the race if he is tired.

If you go to some climb all he will do is sit in the car and get out when the riders come by. Lots more to do in the Start/Finish.

I have been in downtown SR for the last two finishes. It is a big festival scene. It's a bit crowded and about an hour or so before the pelaton comes into town the people start lineing up at the barricades that line the route. There is a lot of space and getting a spot on the "lap circiut" isn't too hard, it does fill up along the barricades eventually. He might need to stand for a while. Maybe bring a stool or chair? Something easily portable. Or if an hour of standing/walking isn't too bad for him then don't. There's always the downtown bars on 4th St. to rest in ;) some of them have the live TV feed going on too. There was in the past a portable jumbotron on the sidewalk

Davis to SR is a 2.5 hour drive in good traffic. Given parking and showing up a bit late might be cutting it close. I haven't had to deal with parking around the downtown as I biked there from my GF house in the Junior College neighborhood. It didn't seem like parking in that neighborhood was too bad, but again it's a bit of a walk. Check out google maps and the area I am talking about is north of College ave. You can check out the distance for your self.

Good luck

jeff

I would head over to Montecito Dam on Hwy 128. There is a large parking lot so if you get there early, you should be able to get a spot. It is just a short walk down the road to see the climb. The race will be there at about 1:00pm.

If i go, I'm going to the finish really early and watch the women's crit before hand. That might give your dad more to see than just a group flying by.

If i go, I'm going to the finish really early and watch the women's crit before hand. That might give your dad more to see than just a group flying by.

What time is the women's criterium? I was thinking of doing the same.

Davis to SR is a 2.5 hour drive in good traffic. Given parking and showing up a bit late might be cutting it close.

More like 1.5 hours! Have you ever driven Davis to Santa Rosa? :lol:

It will be no problem to see the start and finish. I'm doing it. :D

The finish in Santa Rosa is always fun. People come out in droves, and it looks like the city is taking the festivities up a notch this year with even more stuff going on. It's a pretty good place to see the riders because they do several circuits around downtown. Last year we set up shop about 100m from the finish and had a great time.

Womens crit is at 1pm and also a fun time.

The start will also be fun. There's a juniors crit taking place after the pro peloton leaves town.

http://tourofcalifornia-davis.com/junior-criterium.html

We're planning on seeing the start then heading over to Santa Rosa for the finish, which we've done the last two years...

More like 1.5 hours! Have you ever driven Davis to Santa Rosa? :lol:

It will be no problem to see the start and finish. I'm doing it. :D

You're right, I had some brain flautulance. 1.5 hours from Davis to Santa Rosa with good traffic.

good luck.

J