Southern California - a tour of california etape du tour? likely participation?

wouldn't it be nice if the tour of california offered us fans a chance to
ride an entire stage like the tour de france does with the etape du tour?
supported, sag stops, closed roads, et al? with the toc seemingly getting
larger and longer every year, perhaps they could run it on a rest day.
if they kept the cost $50-$100 per entrant, what do you think the likely
number of participants would be? let's suppose they chose a stage with
less population/right of way/traffic controls much like the stages in the
san gabriel mtns. the last couple of years. for example, one starting
near/around the northwest end of the angeles national
forest/san gabriel mtns/santa clarita area and
finishing at the southern base of the mtns. in azuza, la canada,
pasadena, upland or any number of like towns...would you do it?
why or why not?

for example, one starting
near/around the northwest end of the angeles national
forest/san gabriel mtns/santa clarita area and
finishing at the southern base of the mtns. in azuza, la canada,
pasadena, upland or any number of like towns...would you do it?
why or why not?

I rode the stage from Santa Clarita to the Rose Bowl the morning of that stage this year. I'll be doing it again next year. No - I would not be interested in paying $50-$100 for it.

Depends on what would be done with the money. Charity or to benefit some cycling related cause? No problem.

If they do it the same way they do in Europe - fully supported (with good, real food, not gatorade and trail mix) like a regular sportif, but with the roads closed to traffic - then yes, I'd do it. I would say the turnout would be pretty good.

No way they'd be able to get the roads in CA closed long enough for something like this. There are groups that follow the entire Tour of CA and ride each stage, they bring their own Sag support.

I saw a number of VIP type groups doing it at Mill Creek this year. Pretty sure they were official ToC groups. One whole Sprinter van pulled up to the summit, all hopped out in identical kits, took a group photo and rode down on identical bikes. And some clubs doing the course in the morning before the tour. Course was not closed, though. Most drivers where I was seemed to be cyclists or fans.

On the ToC website you can sign up for interest for next year
http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/VIP-offers/VIP-offers/2010-Waiting-List.html

2010 VIP Experiences and Hospitality

Limited opportunities are available so get on the waiting list before they go on sale!

I ride a good portion of the SCV/Pasadena stage prior to their passing through Clear Creek. Last two years I followed the chase cars down to the Rose Bowl. Saw Mancebo moments after his crash.

For free.

I ride a good portion of the SCV/Pasadena stage prior to their passing through Clear Creek. Last two years I followed the chase cars down to the Rose Bowl. Saw Mancebo moments after his crash.

For free.

That is cool - It it really that easy? Just wait for the peleton to pass, then hop on behind the team cars?

us fans a chance to ride an entire stage like the tour de france does with the etape du tour? supported, sag stops, closed roads, et al? with the toc seemingly getting
larger and longer every year, perhaps they could run it on a rest day.
if they kept the cost $50-$100 per entrant, what do you think the likely
number of participants would be?

I'd paid $300 or more to do such a ride, but it'll never happen. The French don't love their cars as much as we do, and we Americans (collectively anyway) don't love bicycle races and rides as much as they do. Maybe if the ToC is still around in 10 or 15 years...

Easy. Well, not really. This first time it was wet and it was hard to see and it was wet. The second time they were humping downhill at speeds that are hard to maintain solo. Coupla Helen guys overtook me at the bottom. Plus the course marshals weren't too pleased near the bottom. But, there are ways to get it done.

Easy. Well, not really. This first time it was wet and it was hard to see and it was wet. The second time they were humping downhill at speeds that are hard to maintain solo. Coupla Helen guys overtook me at the bottom. Plus the course marshals weren't too pleased near the bottom. But, there are ways to get it done.

I remember that year it rained. I was going to do it, but passed on it when the weather turned crummy. From experience, descending Angeles Crest is bad weather isn't much fun.

Depends on your definition. Personally, I don't like the days after it snows and the snow that people who have piled on their car falls off during the descent. It's like the eerie feeling that you might become a bowling pin.

But, I got to the lower gate just as the CHP was closing it to traffic. Pretty much the entire ascent without any traffic. It was good. Coming down was sketchy. But not that bad.

This next year, the TOC is in early May I believe.
No snow.
The etape in the TDF is usually run several days to a week before.
If the same was done here, with the proceeds going to....oh I dunno....something that would get the casual cyclist involved on a 100+ mile fully supported stage...we all know who/what I'm talking about...you'd probably get upwards of 1000 people if it was in SoCal, probably double that number in NorCal. It'd be bigger than the biggest centuries currently held. And its late enough in the year so people could train for that to be their first century.

Unless its proceeds go to charity, you wouldn't get me (or a lot of others) to participate. I'd rather look at the route and ride it a few weeks ahead of time if its "just for kicks".

One of the listed reasons for moving the ToC to May was to get to some higher climbs. Which means the 4800 ft spots in Feb that had snow will be 7000 ft passes in May that will have snow. Google Tioga Pass to see when that road opens - usually the 4th of July or so.
I think the ethics of cycling in France do not translate well to California.
I do think that some VIP type rides may have merit.

They are doing this for two stages this year. It's their Breakaway from Cancer; charity ride.
Thing is they are doing them in April.
Davis to Santa Rosa.
TO/Westlake

$125-$500 to enter; depending on benies.

I can't do either one.

http://www.breakawayfromcancer.com/events.php