Northern California - Tour of California, rain or shine?

Whose smart idea was it to have a major bicycle race in the middle of the California rainy season. The racers will be there, but will any spectators go out to watch?

The National Weather Service has posted a weather hazard warning for San Francisco for next week, including heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, flooding, and high surf along Hwy 1. We're going to get more showers Thursday and Friday, then a serious storm starts on Saturday with a possibility of 1.5 inches of rain per day.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/warnings.php?wfo=mtr&zone=CAZ006&pil=XXXHWOMTR&productType=Hazardous+Weather+Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
219 PM PST WED FEB 11 2009

CAZ006-505-509-529-530-122230-
SAN FRANCISCO-
COASTAL NORTH BAY...INCLUDING POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE-
SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA COAST-NORTHERN MONTEREY BAY-
SOUTHERN MONTEREY BAY AND BIG SUR COAST-
219 PM PST WED FEB 11 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR COASTAL AREAS OF THE SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA AND MONTEREY BAY AREA.

.DAY ONE...WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT ALONG THE COAST FROM 6 PM
WEDNESDAY UNTIL 6 PM THURSDAY FOR BREAKERS BETWEEN 15 AND 20 FEET.
PERSONS PLANNING ON BEING AT LOCAL BEACHES ARE URGED TO USE
EXTREME CAUTION.

* HIGH SURF ADVISORY - SEE SFOCFWMTR - WHUS46 KMTR *

IN ADDITION...SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THIS EVENING. SMALL HAIL CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED IN SOME OF
THE STORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THE HIGH SURF ADVISORY CONTINUES ALONG THE COAST UNTIL 6 PM THURSDAY.

MULTIPLE STORM SYSTEMS WILL SPREAD RAIN ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE
NEXT SEVEN DAYS. ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL A FEW DAYS AWAY...PRELIMINARY
ESTIMATES SHOW THAT MANY COASTAL AREAS CAN EXPECT UP TO AN INCH OF
RAIN SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY WITH ISOLATED SPOTS POTENTIALLY
GETTING AN INCH AND A HALF.

THERE IS INCREASING CONCERN THAT SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL COULD OCCUR
IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE STORMS OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS WHICH COULD
CAUSE HYDROLOGICAL PROBLEMS. ANYONE NEAR BURN AREAS...SMALL
STREAMS...OR RIVERS SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT..

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS PER STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS PER STANDARD
OPERATING PROCEDURES.

Still beats Belgium in the Winter.:)

Seriously, it would be nice if they could move it somewhere in the schedule to take advantage of the Sierras. Don't know if you'd get the same quality riders in the peak racing season though.

Same type weather as last year, and they still had record crowds. Meanwhile, here I am looking for rain jacket and rain pants ... I'm gonna get soaked out there. Maybe I should bring a canoe?

There is a possibility of snow at the 2000 foot level this weekend. Dress warmly.

I think last year was only rainy in Southern California. The 2 stages I saw up here were sunny and cool.

There is a possibility of snow at the 2000 foot level this weekend. Dress warmly.

I think last year was only rainy in Southern California. The 2 stages I saw up here were sunny and cool.

the coastal stage to san luis obispo saw a horrible storm. we saw elephant seals on the side of the road when we drove through san simeon.

the next day in solvang i asked chris horner if he saw the elephant seals and he looked at me like i was crazy and then smiled and said he didn't see them this year but saw them last year.

levi said it was the stage was in the top three worst days on the bike for him.

ed rader

Yeah, the weather is a crap shoot for the ToC. However, the weather has been pretty good for the race for the most part. I know the weather during the first run of the race was uniformly spectacular, sandwiched between two period so fraging storms. But as someone said, it still beats Belgium this time of year. Heck, February here beats Belgium in April most of the time.

So why do it now? Because it is when the promoters can get the largest number of EuroPro teams over to the West Coast for a stage race. Once Paris-Nice and Tirenno-Adriatico happen, the Big Boys are pretty well consumed by the Spring Classics, the Giro, the Dauphine Libere, the Tour of Switzerland, the TdF, the Worlds, and the Tour of Spain. That takes you to late September. It might be possible to get some folks out then, but there is still competition from the Fall Classics, especially the Tour of Lombardy.

You'll notice that the Tour of Georgia and the Tour of Missouri don't draw talent the way the ToC does. That's because they are competing with higher profile races in Europe. The ToC, by contrast, pretty muich has only the Tour of Langkawi to go up against. As promoter, I'd much rather take that on instead of going head-to-head with Paris Roubaix or the Tour of Switzerland.

Same type weather as last year, and they still had record crowds. Meanwhile, here I am looking for rain jacket and rain pants ... I'm gonna get soaked out there. Maybe I should bring a canoe?

May be not a canoe, but the following... definitely:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0017Q2NS8/sr=1-16/qid=1234407211/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=3375251&s=sporting-goods&qid=1234407211&sr=1-16

Johnny, I've been wondering the same thing. The top dogs will be in Europe during the spring and summer, but what about an October date? Great weather, days still fairly long, could be part of series which would include city races, such as a revived San Francisco Grand Prix.

...Rainy season?

levi said it was the stage was in the top three worst days on the bike for him.

I believe it. I was cold and miserable just watching them online.

There was a decent crowd along 128 at Pleasant's Valley Rd. last year to see them ride to Sacramento. I rode my bike out there and by coincidence met some friends who had a pick up with a shell, where we hung out when it rained.

This year I'll tuck an umbrella in my pocket and ride up to the top of Cardiac for the KOM. Rain, shmain. Sure, sun would be better, but I can deal with some inclement weather to watch the event. For me it's just a small fraction of my day. For the pros, it's a day of misery.

I'm racing the 14th, probably in the rain, and I have to work the 15th or I would be out there rain or shine to see the riders go by. Yake some pictures for me, Red Rider. Maybe I'll see them next year. I'm not made of sugar, I won't melt from a little rain.

I believe it. I was cold and miserable just watching them online.

I was cold and miserable waiting for them at the finish line in SLO. Lucky there wasn't a crash at the final corner.

I'm still holding out hope for Saturday. WeatherUnderground still says 40% of rain. Which I take to mean 60% chance of not.

Rain and a heavy crosswind would be spectacularly ugly for the Prologue. TT bikes, tight 180 turn, and disc wheels don't make for a good mix in the weather.

Wow, that forecast doesn't sound so great. I still plan to hit the local stages (2 & 3) but looks like I'll be doing some wardrobe adjustments. Have to keep a close eye on things I guess and play it by ear.

I hope it doesn't suck too badly for the riders!

Ok i'll say it.... the spectators need to just HTFU it is only some rain... granted i love the water or i wouldn't be in the Coast Guard. But still it is only some water. Put on some gore-tex (one of the few times i advocate it because it is like an oven inside) and you will be warm AND dry.

Well said trinity. :lol:

It rained last year during the Sacramento stage.

It didn't stop the spectators (myself included) from attending.

It rained last year during the Sacramento stage.

It didn't stop the spectators (myself included) from attending.


Yup it was pretty crowded. I was at the final turn before the finish line. Remember seeing Boonen dialing it up. I called it too!

Saturday is looking somewhat promising.....

The biggest problem with the rain is that the racers are much less aggressive in bad weather. The peloton is drier and warmer. Break aways have little enough chance on flat stages (like most of the ToC stages) and even less chance in windy conditions.

So who is officially in for Monday's stage somewhere along Tunitas Creek? Rain, fog and general misery is one thing at sea level but at Skyline level where it's always 10 to 15 degrees colder, that's another level of htfu.

I always thought October would be a much better month for the tour of CA.
Our weather is always spectacular in October, definitely much better than Europe, and as far as I know most of the pro road racing in Europe is done by Septmeber, so why not have the Tour of CA in the first half of October?

The biggest problem with the rain is that the racers are much less aggressive in bad weather. The peloton is drier and warmer. Break aways have little enough chance on flat stages (like most of the ToC stages) and even less chance in windy conditions.

except last year heading down the coast when the break stuck. How quickly we forget.;)

So who is officially in for Monday's stage somewhere along Tunitas Creek? Rain, fog and general misery is one thing at sea level but at Skyline level where it's always 10 to 15 degrees colder, that's another level of htfu.

I may be out there, but I'll be racing in the rain in Fresno on both Saturday and Sunday, so I may not be up for another long ride in the rain, but I'm planning on being out there somewhere.

So who is officially in for Monday's stage somewhere along Tunitas Creek? Rain, fog and general misery is one thing at sea level but at Skyline level where it's always 10 to 15 degrees colder, that's another level of htfu.

I suck, but I am waiting for a critical mass to form to go up there so I can tag behind. It's easier to suffer in number than in solo.

So who is officially in for Monday's stage somewhere along Tunitas Creek? Rain, fog and general misery is one thing at sea level but at Skyline level where it's always 10 to 15 degrees colder, that's another level of htfu.

I'm in, even if I have to get out my CX bike to get up there through mud and/or snow. I won't be testing any PRs going up Kings to get there, as I'll be carrying photo + weather gear (apparently) but I'll be there...

So who is officially in for Monday's stage somewhere along Tunitas Creek? Rain, fog and general misery is one thing at sea level but at Skyline level where it's always 10 to 15 degrees colder, that's another level of htfu.

I am good to go if there are other commitments. I am not really a fan (but I am not not a fan, either) but Tunitas is so close to where I live and it is a day off so I feel compelled to check it out. I'd be coming by bike.

My one concern is how early would we have to get there before the racers come through? To wait for an hour or 2, no problem. To wait more than that, I may not want to do that, even in the sun.

My one concern is how early would we have to get there before the racers come through? To wait for an hour or 2, no problem. To wait more than that, I may not want to do that, even in the sun.

Some buddies and I are planning to park somewhere down below (not sure if the town of Woodside is a realistic option) and start up Kings around 7:30-8...may depend on just how good/bad the weather is. That should get us to the top 8:30 - 9 or so.

I would plan to be *at the top* no later than about 9:30 - 10 as access is usually shut down for at least 30 minutes ahead of the riders...unfortunately no one knows exactly when they will arrive and the route sheet may be a bit misleading as that's calculated using averages over the whole course, not realistic climb times.

There is not a tremendous amount of sun over there, even on sunny days. Plan for cold, at minimum, and maybe wet & wind, too...

I'll probably park at Canada/92 and ride down to Woodside, up Kings Mt Rd, and down to the steepies.
I'll with a Kings Mtn newbie so we'll probably leave Canada/92 around 7:30-8am on CX bikes.

I spend a lot of time with clients in WA. Compared to those guys, the amount of rain we are getting is like a cloudy day to them. I honestly don't know how they ride in those conditions day after day, especially what they have been through in December and January. Doesn't make it any easier for us, or the riders, but it is a different perspective.

I posted the question in the Pacific Northwest forum - How do they ride in the rain all the time?. The answer coming back was - the same way we ride in the heat in the summer. They don't know how we can do that.

but it is a different perspective.
Not it's not...what you're saying still basically amounts to "HTFU, wussies!" :lol:

I spend a lot of time with clients in WA. Compared to those guys, the amount of rain we are getting is like a cloudy day to them. I honestly don't know how they ride in those conditions day after day, especially what they have been through in December and January. Doesn't make it any easier for us, or the riders, but it is a different perspective.

I posted the question in the Pacific Northwest forum - How do they ride in the rain all the time?. The answer coming back was - the same way we ride in the heat in the summer. They don't know how we can do that.

+1.

I was in Seattle working most of September and October and was shocked to see so many pasty looking, super fit riders. Down here, anyone that fit is very tan or freckled...

So who is officially in for Monday's stage somewhere along Tunitas Creek? Rain, fog and general misery is one thing at sea level but at Skyline level where it's always 10 to 15 degrees colder, that's another level of htfu.

I'll be there for sure.

I'll also be on Sierra for the next stage. Hoping for snow on top of Sierra :lol:

I'll be there for sure.

I'll also be on Sierra for the next stage. Hoping for snow on top of Sierra :lol:

I was up on Sierra and Lower Mount Hamilton this past Tuesday. Sweet day to ride and they were working on parts of the road. The weather then was around 50+ but come Tuesday, it may be diabolical. :eek:

Let's see how HTFU those racer boys are. The current weather forecast is for snow on Skyline this weekend. Tunitas tops out at around 2000 feet and 3-5 inches of snow is expected at 2000 feet. The worst of the storm is Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning with upwards of 3 inches of rain possible in 24 hours, so maybe that will wash away the snow (if it is not cold enough to snow again).

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/warnings.php?wfo=mtr&zone=CAZ006&pil=XXXSPSMTR&productType=Special+Weather+Statement

...WINTRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT AREA HILLS AND MOUNTAINS
TONIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING..

...A SIGNIFICANT EASTERN PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT
CALIFORNIA OVER THE PRESIDENTS HOLIDAY WEEKEND..

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FOR AREA HILLS AND MOUNTAINS
TONIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. IN THE NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS..
EAST BAY HILLS AND SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS EXPECT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS
OF 3 TO 5 INCHES BETWEEN 2000 AND 3000 FEET...WITH 6 TO 9 INCHES FOR
ELEVATIONS OVER 3000 FEET. IN THE SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 5 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED BETWEEN 2000 AND 3000
FEET...WITH 6 TO 8 INCHES FOR ELEVATIONS OVER 3000 FEET.

I suck, but I am waiting for a critical mass to form to go up there so I can tag behind. It's easier to suffer in number than in solo.

I'm with Jack: I'll be sitting on the fence until we get closer to Monday. I'm all for seeing Lance...but not so much in the cold drizzle.

Well it may be a tough weekend for us cyclists and definitely tough times for the pros but at least this is good news for the ski resorts and the looming drought facing the state. Now if it would only start raining and I mean pouring dollars, many more of California's problems would be solved.

Saturday forecast graph from NOAA:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/satforecast.jpg

And here's the tv schedule for us not-so-hardy souls...

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/tv-schedule.html

At least its still at 40% chance of rain.

I posted the question in the Pacific Northwest forum - How do they ride in the rain all the time?. The answer coming back was - the same way we ride in the heat in the summer. They don't know how we can do that.

That doesn't make sense. I ride in 100 degree weather the same way I ride in 60 degree weather. Shorts, short sleeves. Last year I saw 102+ on my bike computer several times during bike to work week.

The rain causes all kinds of problems, keeping dry, having adequate ventilation, visibility (to see out, and for people to see you), keeping warm, keeping traction, and on and on and on.

All I know is, I like to do my outdoor activities when it is pleasant out, which is why I moved here from Seattle :) Hoping we get a decent weekend in sometime soon so I can get back out there on the bike.

Guess I'll stay warm in the pub along L st Saturday ;)

Saturday forecast graph from NOAA:

clipped out..



So where is that forecast for...Sacramento area, Santa Rosa, San Jose....?

So where is that forecast for...Sacramento area, Santa Rosa, San Jose....?

Sacramento. As that's where the race will be Saturday.

I'm planning to go to Santa Rosa on Sunday for the women's criterium and the closing circuits of stage 2 -- but only if it's not raining hard. If it's raining I'll stay home and watch on Versus. And right now it looks like rain is likely. :(

Anyone else planning to be in Santa Rosa?

Anyone who knows Santa Rosa know a good place to watch, and to park my car while I'm watching?

My heart tells me to stay home in Pacifica and watch the race come through town and the sprint. But it will probably be a lot more "fun" up on Tunitas so I bet I'll join you guys.

I wish they'd have better info for us on road closures because I could easily drive from Pacifica to Skyline/Tunitas (via 280) in 40 minutes and they'll probably take about 90 minutes to get there, especially if the weather is bad. But since I don't know how close we'll be allowed to get by car and how far I'll have to bike and even if we'll be allowed to bike or walk "down" Tunitas from Skyline to find a nice place to watch from... I guess I'll have to skip Pacifica and just head up to Tunitas really early like you guys, on my cyclocross bike as well.

looks like MASH SF is planning on 'riding along':

http://www.cyclelicio.us/2009/02/mash-sf-to-ride-fixed-in-tour-of.html

haha
that 'outta be interesante.

The weather forecast is improving. A couple of days ago, the NWS was forecasting 2-3 inches of rain per day over the long weekend. Now they are forecasting only 2 inches on Sunday and 1 inch each on Saturday and Monday. Also, Skyline may only get snow on Friday night, then temperatures get warmer.

It will still be wet and very windy and around 40F on Tunitas.

It's absolutely gorgeous in Sacramento right now. Hope this storm window stays open for another 30 hours.

Santa Rosa is definitely going to be rainy on Sunday.

I was in Santa Barbara this week and read a local newspaper story about how not hosting a ToC stage was no big deal. They mostly claimed that the city was busy on previous events but that the fans didn't spend that much money and hotel occupancy rates didn't go up much.

And this morning I saw a news story saying how happy Santa Rosa was to be hosting a stage and having Levi as favorite son and how easy it was to raise the kind of money they needed to for the priveledge and what a boon it is for the local businesses.