Southern California - Tour de Palm Springs

I know it's still two weeks away, but I thought I'd ask:

Anyone doing the Tour de Palm Springs?

ya, about 9000 of us.

Helpful and charming!

Thought it might be! i'm doing the 55 with the wife and 5 or 6 friends

Cool. You're (relatively) close, so this might not apply to you, but for any first timers or veterans that have questions about the area, I'm a local. Just thought I'd put a general offer out there if anyone wants current road conditions, food spots, etc.

Just thought I'd put a general offer out there if anyone wants current road conditions, food spots, etc.

I can't do the Tour, but I am going to be there this weekend for my daughter's cheer competition. Got any 40-60 mile routes you recommend? I will have some time Saturday and Sunday morning, we are staying within a mile or so of the convention center.

I'll be there, riding my '75 MASI fixed gear on the century, plus Cheryl will be there, riding her first century, plus Linda and Keith and lots of other riders from our club (OC Rebels).

I wish there were lots of climbs on the route, but since there's not, I thought it would be good for another fixed gear century.

Rick / OCRR

I'll probably do it, especially if they have race-day registration. Anyone else shooting for sub-5 hours?

We're planning doing Palm Springs, should be between 5 and 10 of us out there. It's been a couple of years since I have ridden out there. I remember it being a bit bumpy with some bad areas of asphalt. How is it now?
RidinDirtee (The Greasers)

Hmm. Might be fun. What is the route like? With a bigger gear on the fixed, I could probably crank it out in 5.

I'm in for 100. My wife and 4 friends are on the 55 mile route.

Most of the bumpier roads have probably been resurfaced since you last did the ride, there aren't a lot of serious buckles or cracks, at least nothing consistent. That said, there are a few stretches (Worsley Road, parts of Country Club) that will give you some vibration, depending on what sort of tire and pressure you're running.

Mr. Clyde: A lot of this is actually the TdPS route, and a part of my usual Saturday ride. Mind the traffic on Ramon through Cathedral City, you can drop off miles by taking Ramon instead of Washington at Thousand Palms if you like.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3453891

I'll be there. Gotta do the local rides. :thumb: The hubby and I meet some friends that live in PS and merge in a little ahead of the "official" start time.

The roads in the east valley can still be kind of bumpy. Not too bad, some rough surfaces not potholes.

I pass my house at about mile 75. Perfect time for a pitstop (and check on my dogs!). :p

Hmm. Might be fun. What is the route like? With a bigger gear on the fixed, I could probably crank it out in 5.

Hi Robert,

Hope to see you out there! Is your fixed gear still the MASI? Mine is geared 42 x 15t for this century.

Rick / OCRR

Mr. Clyde: A lot of this is actually the TdPS route, and a part of my usual Saturday ride. Mind the traffic on Ramon through Cathedral City, you can drop off miles by taking Ramon instead of Washington at Thousand Palms if you like.

Thank you very much! I will try this Sunday morning.

I'll be riding with my family. Their plan is to do the 55.

Cool. You're (relatively) close, so this might not apply to you, but for any first timers or veterans that have questions about the area, I'm a local. Just thought I'd put a general offer out there if anyone wants current road conditions, food spots, etc.

Actually, I need some info as I'm coming in on Friday from Northern California (San Jose) to do the ride and celebrate my wife's graduation from school. We're bringing the RV and staying at the Palms RV Resort in Cathedral City right off of Gerald Ford Dr. So here's my questions:

How far is the RV place from the start?
What are some nice places to take my wife out for Valentine's Dinner?
Where's the shopping? (My wife doesn't ride)

How far is the RV place from the start?
What are some nice places to take my wife out for Valentine's Dinner?
Where's the shopping? (My wife doesn't ride)

I would estimate the RV place is about 8 miles from the start.

Shame on the Moon (http://www.shameonthemoon.com/) :love:

For shopping head east toward Palm Desert. Westfield Town Center (http://westfield.com/palmdesert/) (mall), The Gardens on El Paseo (http://www.thegardensonelpaseo.com/) (and other shops on El Paseo) are all in Palm Desert.

I would estimate the RV place is about 8 miles from the start.

Shame on the Moon (http://www.shameonthemoon.com/) :love:

For shopping head east toward Palm Desert. Westfield Town Center (http://westfield.com/palmdesert/) (mall), The Gardens on El Paseo (http://www.thegardensonelpaseo.com/) (and other shops on El Paseo) are all in Palm Desert.

Thanks for the information especially the restaurant. Made reservations already. As for the shopping I think she wants to hit the outlet malls too.

Thanks for the information especially the restaurant. Made reservations already. As for the shopping I think she wants to hit the outlet malls too.

If she hits the outlets, you may not see her again, they're huge :D They are west on the freeway about a half hour.

As for the restaurant, it is one of my favorites. Of course, the fact that it is named after a Bob Seger song helps (see my signature :))

Hi Robert,

Hope to see you out there! Is your fixed gear still the MASI? Mine is geared 42 x 15t for this century.

Rick / OCRR

Yes, still have the Masi. I think I'll be on my Viner though. If Chris and I blast through this, I want a few gears.

where are most people parking? I came out with someone else last year and I don't remember where they parked.

I'm in as well. Looks like the weather will be post card perfect...nice.:) See ya there Bob...and maybe a few of you others as well. :thumb::D

Hey Shnuddy! What's up with the riders in your neck of the woods? I'm property manager for my mother in-laws place at the La Quinta CC and I've been riding out there several times in the past couple of weeks...all the riders seem to be a little snobbish...no waves or anything. Is that the norm?

I'll be in the sub 5 club...
I'll probably do it, especially if they have race-day registration. Anyone else shooting for sub-5 hours?

Cool. Keep an eye out for Robert and I in a diplapidated, dirt-colored Ford Ranger with a white campershell. Black Felt, white helmet, red shoes & la Vie Claire jersey:

http://www.calamarichris.com/images/090927-pmar-chr3.jpg
(Possibly black arm warmers if it's chilly at the start.)
Will shoot for 4:30 if conditions are in our favor.

Well, I'll look... I'll be the guy w/ a lime green Tri-sport kit who is doing alot of yelling. should be a hoot!

Why all the yelling? Is the traffic pretty bad?

Hopefully they have the roads cleaned up by then. Yesterday I did the 65 mile loop recommended above. There were six water crossings due to the recent rains. One road close to traffic that I braved anyway because I didn't know an alternate route. Another time, I walked across and had running water up over the top of my shoes. True story.

Before the the ride thins out some of the other riders can be a hazard...and there can be some pretty bad road conditions.QUOTE=calamarichris;10377559]Why all the yelling? Is the traffic pretty bad?[/QUOTE]

" Afirmation without dicipline is the begining of dilusion."
You're spelling is real good Tollhouse. Real, real good! :thumb:

Bummer to hear about the road conditions. I sure hope they get that $#ite sorted out by Saturday.

You are a quick study...College boy!
You're spelling is real good Tollhouse. Real, real good! :thumb:

Bummer to hear about the road conditions. I sure hope they get that $#ite sorted out by Saturday.

That's pompous, blow-dried college boy to you, mister. :thumb:
(Relieved to hear it was intentional. (It's so hard to sense facetiousity on the internet.))

The Miscreant and I will be there. He'll probably want to pack it in at 50 miles, but I expect to go the 100. Finish time? Before dark. :D

.
Hey Shnuddy! What's up with the riders in your neck of the woods? I'm property manager for my mother in-laws place at the La Quinta CC and I've been riding out there several times in the past couple of weeks...all the riders seem to be a little snobbish...no waves or anything. Is that the norm?

Hey, I just left RLQ. I'm a personal trainer and I have a couple clients there.

As for snobs, who knows. There are always a few who think they're too cool for words no matter where you go. No more here than anywhere I don't think. If you ever see me out there I always wave :-)

Will you be out for the ride?

.

Hey, I just left RLQ. I'm a personal trainer and I have a couple clients there.

As for snobs, who knows. There are always a few who think they're too cool for words no matter where you go. No more here than anywhere I don't think. If you ever see me out there I always wave :-)

Will you be out for the ride?

Oh yeah, I'll be there...looking forward to this one for sure!

Pssh, water. Just slow down a bit if you don't like to get splashed. (Says the guy on the freshly painted white bike). Looks like I'll be there. I'll be the guy in black drafting off Chris. He's bigger than me, so it works well.

Hi,

I'll be there with some clubmates in some variant of our pink and blue club kit. I'm on a red Serotta for those who don't want to focus on the kit. ;)

Before the the ride thins out some of the other riders can be a hazard...and there can be some pretty bad road conditions.QUOTE=calamarichris;10377559]Why all the yelling? Is the traffic pretty bad?

I avoid all that sh*t by starting from a friends house, just a little early, skipping the whole Palm Canyon Dr. thing, and just heading out Indian Ave. You guys will probably all pass me. :p I'll be the one in the pink bike forums "So Cal Girls" jersey, on the black Felt. :)

I'll be out there for my first century.

There will be 4 or 5 of us out there wearing our club jerseys, Hope to see you all out there.

That's pompous, blow-dried college boy to you, mister. :thumb:
(Relieved to hear it was intentional. (It's so hard to sense facetiousity on the internet.))

Will there be an official BF'ers watering hole post ride ?? The" Yard house", I'm told serves beer...

I'm bringing a bottle of cr@ppy Italian champagne to spray from my tailgate, Giro-podium-style if we break 5 hours. 'zat count?
http://www.cyclingfans.net/images/2009_giro_d_italia_denis_menchov_rabobank_final_victory_podium_rome_colosseum_champagne.jpg

I'm bringing a bottle of cr@ppy Italian champagne to spray from my tailgate, Giro-podium-style if we break 5 hours. 'zat count?
http://www.cyclingfans.net/images/2009_giro_d_italia_denis_menchov_rabobank_final_victory_podium_rome_colosseum_champagne.jpg

That should fit the bill... but will the blonde on the right be there?

Sorry to get your hopes up. In lieu of trophy girls on a podium, stuffed animals, and the Colosseum, there will be sweaty dudes on the tailgate of a dilapidated '93 pickup, road kill, and an abandoned Circuit City in the background.
But if I crack 4:30, I'll be just as giddy as Menchov.

I probably can't join in your alkyhaul afterward--got a two-hour drive back home after the ride. :(

Sub 5 or sub 4:30.

Is that a solo effort? No drafting?

Will there be an official BF'ers watering hole post ride ?? The" Yard house", I'm told serves beer...

yes, but the yard house in rancho mirage is 20+ minutes away from the start/finish
at palm springs high school.
this place is on the main drag-hwy 111 aka palm canyon dr-in palm springs:

http://www.thehairofthedog.net/index.html

yes, but the yard house in rancho mirage is 20+ minutes away from the start/finish
at palm springs high school.
this place is on the main drag-hwy 111 aka palm canyon dr-in palm springs:

http://www.thehairofthedog.net/index.html

Actually the start/finish is at the Spa Casino in PS (http://www.tourdepalmsprings.com/node/19) (even farther away from the Yard House).

I remember being at the Hair of the Dog years ago. It was supposedly a hang out for mafia types. I have this vague memory of a swarthy type dancing on the bar ;) It was hard core back then (serious drinking going on), don't know about now, though.

sounds perfect for bf! could be a tad difficult dancing on the bar in cycling shoes tho...

The Yard House being out is a shame. I live about three blocks away. Metric: sorry about the water. It rained today and will again tomorrow, but it'll drain pretty quickly after that.

Keep an eye out for handsome clyde on a black surly crosscheck in a cat6 jersey.
136848
I'm not sure what's up with the rampant snobbery, I always wave and get an acknowledgment of some kind. That said, it might be laughs. I'm sort of built like a mountain gorilla and my effort face is a big grin, so maybe I just look too funny to ignore.