tetonrider

you can do a bit of math and with ~600 registered and first rider off at 8am the last rider will be somewhere around 1pm. i'd put a SWAG of 11:30-1 for the p12 field. i'm guessing 915, 930 for the 35+'ers. 8-830 for the 3/4s, but they're first so it's easy.

think i'm going P-R 25s. i agree that 90% of the race is paved, but i suspect the gravel could be decisive.

i hear mixed stuff about the gravel and the road quality. in a field of 160 i'd be even more likely to go with something beefy because there's less control of what you'll hit. also, with your boy's recent history better to be in the race than on the side of the road. just my opinion.
OTOH...


i suspect many will think the gravel will be decisive--and it might. however, it looks like the gravel leads to/overlaps with a bit of climbing. i think the prevailing wind may really neutralize the gravel and climb and that things will blow apart afterwards. of course, if someone/some group can get a gap at the end of the gravel/climb they could be absolutely gone when you add in the wind after that right-hander.

this is just my analysis based on a look at the course features + weather. i could be and have been very wrong.

hack

If I recall, the rollers (~10 miles) before the gravel are relatively sheltered from the wind. The course is pretty exposed from about 2 miles after Paskenta until this year's start location. The gravel is a bit climby and the punchy little hill after the gravel can hurt and help create a gap. All in all, it's a fun course.

tetonrider

good insight. thank you, hack!

hope you have an amazing race.

hack

Likewise. I'm sure you'll pick up plenty more from your recon given your experience. I was generally attentive to the surroundings last year. Well, at least until the pace picked up around the feed zone and I started to see double, so some of my recollection might not be 100%

tetonrider

don't think i'll be able to recon the RR. in the ideal world i'd like to, but i didn't realize the distances involved.

in particular i didn't realize thunder hill was as far as it is from chico, and after 12, 13h of driving on thursday i'm probably just going to head back to chico after racing friday. i've gotta go early to my buddy's 3/4 race and wait around before mine.

saturday's an early day with the travel (did i mention i hate mornings? ), so no recon then.

might go pre-ride the TT friday afternoon.

i'm going to give everything i've got in the race but honestly can't have much in the way of expectations. super early for me. can't quite treat it like i would for an A race. kind of pains me to say that.

tetonrider

most importantly, @hack -- any good spots to eat that one might otherwise miss?

my buddy is excited for all chipotle all the time (we live in an area with pretty much no chains), but i'd rather have good local food. any tips are appreciated.

hack

Shoot ... my Chico knowledge is limited when it comes to specific foods. It's about 2 hours north of me and I only get up there a couple times a year. However, the brewery, believe it or not, is a pretty solid place for good eats. It's near the south side of town though (not a bad area, just more driving). Sadly, the downtown corridor is getting increasingly overrun with a growing homeless population, but it has some hipster type places due the college right in town. It's a progressive little town, so you'll get some unique non-chain options near the center of town. They still have the chain type places (e.g., Chipotle) in the strip mall areas surrounding the town though.

Outside of Chico (e.g., Circuit Race or Road Race), there is little for eating other than the typical McDonalds, Burger King, etc.

Alleycatdad

The kids wanna drive down to Chico to see the crit on Sunday. Any tips for parking/spectating?

sa

Doge

As I've admitted this really is all about me - my kid just rides. Just had that discussion with a British dad about his kid.

I have some selling to do to Daniel as these tires are each 160g heavier than Friday tires and complete wheels about 270g heavier each (yep - adding a pound). As he's never done MTB or XCross - these would be his biggest racing tires ever and I figure he can ride right over any bikes in front of him.

Both are new, both are 25mm.
Left is 350g right is 270g (with air), Fridays are 24mm 190g - not shown.

Found the Dugasts on eBay "used" - never glued and got a good deal. Was waiting for the ride to use them.

hack

Eh, based on last year, no real tips needed. Park where you can and where it is legal. The "crowd" wasn't really that big last year, so spectating should be pretty simple. It only got a bit crowded at the finish during the finish.

aaronmcd

Full fields for 3/4 and 4/5 now.

tetonrider

was talking to my buddy about how it could be 39-40F for those TTing at 8am on sunday--thinking about how cold it might be.

then i realized it would be 40, 41 degrees warmer than it was when i walked my kid to school at 8am today. should be nice!

tetonrider

have a great race, aaronmcd!

aaronmcd

Luckily I've been riding outside at 6 am getting used to the weather. Still, I'll need knee warmers.

hack

Did a quick survey of the team. Most are running conti gp4ks (in the P12 race) and ran conti gp4ks in the past while winning the road race and stage race (in the 3's).

hack

Just saw this, worth a click:
2015 Chico Stage Race- Racer's Info - 2015 Chico Stage Race

hack

Because I'm bored as heck right now....checked BikeReg for Chico. P12 is now up to 168 riders, including a full Airgas team. Not sure where they're going to cap this thing, but next year should get a Cat2 field.

shovelhd

One east coast member is staying out here. He's going to terrorize Johnnycake. At least he's going to terrorize me.

Keep an eye on Cal Giant, they have two guys from out my way who could give you guys trouble.

hack

Yeah...looks like they only have 8 of their allowed 9 (max per team) in the race ... for now. 168 guys on a 6 turn 1km course. Will be fun to watch. Cal Giant's Wolfe (??) does well. Their other east coaster came in 2nd in one of the local crits a couple weeks back. Solid team and rider.

misterwaterfall

If they had a 2 field I would come down next year for sure, assuming I'm still a 2 then that is.

shovelhd

He won the pro field at my club's Tour of the Hilltowns.

shovelhd

I may be heading out to the Sacramento area for the last weekend in in April, and into the following week. Wente may be an option, depends on flights. Rides, definitely.

hack

River Ride (M, T, Th) and the Folsom Bike Race Ride (Weds) should be live by then. Always great rides.

mattm

I bet they will.

theres 198 registered for the 1/2's field now! it's gonna be crazy, and awesome.

mattm

assuming you mean the wente crit, it would sadden me if that was all you got to race out here.. it's not terrible but pretty low key.