Northern California - Sea Otter Classic 2009

Who's going? I'll be doing the circuit and road races as a 5.

I have a couple questions for those of you who have done this race before:

- What are the waits/lines like? I don't remember where, but I've heard it takes 30+ minutes to get from the entry gates to your race start, and about 15 more minutes to get your number. Any truth to this?

- On the website, it says the registration for a Friday race is on Thursday, for a Saturday race is Friday, etc. Is this referring to signing up and paying to race registration, or signing your waiver and getting your number registration?

- What are the road race and circuit courses like? Any tips?


Thanks!

(1) depends. it took me about 20 minutes to get from parking to registration last year. and only 5 minutes to get my number and transmitter. but I've heard about 15 minutes wait lines at registration.

(2) this is only if you are not pre-registered (e.g., you'll be paying for the race at registration). SO does not allow same day registrations. I'd advise pre-registering -- it saves time for you and for them.

(3) road course was in moderately ok shape last year. do a google search (or at bikely and/or mapmyride) for the actual GPS data -- it will have elevation profile. The only (potential) problem is sharp right turn after descent on the first two laps. But it was clearly marked, so I don't think this is an issue.

Last year there was a problem with Cat5 start: first they kept us on the line for 30 minutes and then asked to come back in an hour. There were some MTB races (?) finishing at the same time as Cat 5 start. Weird. Anyway, the race started almost 2 hours late and we finished in the dark and cold: temperature on the course drops dramatically right after sunset.

(1) depends. it took me about 20 minutes to get from parking to registration last year. and only 5 minutes to get my number and transmitter. but I've heard about 15 minutes wait lines at registration.

How long did it take you to get from the hotel/motel/whatever to the parking lot?

And, transmitter?

How long did it take you to get from the hotel/motel/whatever to the parking lot?


I drove straight from home (San Jose). There was no line at the gate.



And, transmitter?

yeah. they use electronic transmitters to place riders. feel like a pro :)

I will be doing the Cat 2, 40-49, cross country race as a tune up for Downieville in July. My race is Saturday morning, so maybe see some of you guys roaming around later Saturday :thumb:

I will be doing the Cat 2, 40-49, cross country race as a tune up for Downieville in July. My race is Saturday morning, so maybe see some of you guys roaming around later Saturday :thumb:

Glad to see you're back in action!

Thanks Red :)

Here is my cryptic ride report from the cross country race:

The start was postponed 30 minutes due to the fog. So I had an extra long warm up and was ready. I got pretty good position in the second row for the start. Patti found me and gave me some encouragement. I was playing the start through my head and was visualizing myself getting onto the dirt section in about 20th place. Then we were off. Everyone in a tight group, drafting as much as possible. Nearly a pileup as a guy near me hit his brakes pretty hard. That last little climb to the dirt just off the track is brutal and the lead group attacked there. I was in about 30-35th position at this point. Thinking to myself that I wish I was a little stronger. I told myself that a lot of these guys will pop soon and I will make up some ground. Going down the first fast fire trail at 40mph I was passing a few riders. Then on to the single track. I reminded myself this year that I was not going to get injured like last year. Broken scaphoid at about 38 minutes into the race. The single track was at a set pace because there really are no safe passing points. Everything was going well until the guy in front of me wiped out in a sandy corner forcing me off the course. I fell, but was nothing to worry about. I was up and back in the race losing only 3 positions. My rear brake lever was starting get closer to the bars and soon I had hardly any rear brake that I could rely on. This was tricky going through the sandy sections. I saw 4 crashes in front of me in those sections. I managed to get through, but was riding a little more cautiously on all downhills because of the rear brake situation. The uphills were at a fairly slow pace on the single track because I was picking my way through the back of the group in front of me. You use a lot of energy pulling a pass on the single track because you get either have to pass very fast (not many places with room) or ride through soft energy sucking terrain. Going up the long fire road climb from the Norcal race reminded me why I am doing all those intervals. I was keeping a fairly good pace, but still have a way to go before I am ready for Downieville. There were 2 guys from my group that I was behind. I worked on passing them and actually did until the final climb. I was climbing as hard as I could but they both passed me again. I just did not have the legs to get those guys. Finally I was at the top of the climb and heading down towards the bridge over the track. Two guys got tangled up right before the bridge but I was able to avoid this. Now I am on the bumpy off camber single track approaching the finish linel Glad I pre-rode the course because I knew how to go fast around the finish area. I passed 5 people and was neck and neck with a guy coming around the final left hand turn to the finish. He had the inside line and we both sprinted to the finish. He got me by a 1/4 wheel. I got 27th out of 90, 1:38. No cramping, no breakfast, just made a 70 ounce mixture of heed and a little perpeteum in my racing camelback, which I nursed during the 1.5 hour warm up and throughout the race. Actually finished it near the top of the climb-perfect.