silentben

I'm considering taking Feb 16th (a Monday) off work and watching the race most likely in the Tunitas-Skyline-Hwy84 vicinity since I could ride there from my house. I've never spectated at an event like this. Do they shut down the course? If so for how long before and after the riders pass through? Anyone have any ideas how crowded it'll be with other people watching?

Anyone else going to watch near here? It would be fun to have some kind of BF race-watching meet up and ride.

spingineer

You might want to hook up with Alan (SesameCrunch). He lives in Half Moon Bay.

pacificaslim

I live in Pacifica and will hopefully see both the start or golden gate bridge and then somewhere further down the course, maybe in that same 35/84 area you mentioned, or perhaps the finish in santa cruz. I'm also curious how they will handle traffic and lane control for the race.

johnny99

I don't know for sure how they will handle Tunitas, but for some of the hills and narrow roads last year, they shut down the road to cars for several hours before the race arrived. Bicycles and pedestrians were allowed on the course until about 15 minutes before race caravan arrived. The road re-opened as soon as the last racer finished the climb.

No way to tell how crowded Tunitas will be. I expect a lot of spectators to ride their bikes up Kings Mountain on the morning of the race. They may be held at the top of Tunitas once the racers get close to the bottom. A lot of people want to watch the race at the steep part of Tunitas (about half way up), but that is also the most narrow part of the road, so you'll need to get arrive early to find a spot. There will probably also be a big crowd near the top.

The bigger roads like Highway 1 will be closed for a much shorter amount of time, probably just long enough for the race to pass by.

uspspro

I want to head out early and maybe do OLH, W84, Up Tunitas to the steep part. Watch. Wait. Finish Tunitas upon re-opening. Descend Kings.

x136 

Bring a camera. That'd be a hell of a photo op out there.

silentben

New category for the hill climbing thread: Time up OLH carrying an SLR camera

spingineer

Well, it looks like I'll be a Traveling Course Marshall. Not sure how much of the race I'll actually get to see ... but I guess that is just the sacrifice I'll have to make.

jobob

Cool!

x136 

Man, I could set some new records for slowness there.

"Don't fall on the lens! Don't fall on the lens! Don't fall on the lens! Pedal! Don't fall on the lens! Don't fall on the lens!"

steelblue

Get one of these and you're all good.

silentben

I didn't realize this in my original post but Stage 2 falls on President's Day so no need to play hooky to come out and watch

spingineer

Damn, how'd you find out!

Knubby

I might have to get one and a new slr camera too!

chrisoco

I want to join you for sure. I generally don't follow the pros but this is our backyard and Lance's comeback. Knowing his history, he will probably win the TdF so we got to be there. I love that they go up Tunitas which is famous (infamous) for its, umm, non-smoothness (at 7 mph, it does not matter; I've yet to descend it). They get to see how the other half rides.

x136 

"Don't fall on your entire collection of camera equipment! Don't fall on your entire collection of camera equipment! Don't fall on your entire collection of camera equipment! Pedal! Don't fall on your entire collection of camera equipment! Don't fall on your entire collection of camera equipment!"

msincredible

I'll be able to easily ride to it from my new place.

redbike2001

I suspect that we will close Tunitas Creek from the top and bottom about an hour before the race turns off of Hwy 1 (about 9:15am for the closures). You should be able to ride up Tunitas Creek, but at some point, CHP will ask you to get off the road and off your bikes. I saw very few parking opportunities up there. Early Bird gets the worm. If you do venture up there with a car, you will need to have all four tires off the pavement or you will be asked to move the car.

Please do the race a favor and do not mark the roads with anything but chalk. Do not use any type of paint (including chalk paint). I spent $60,000 in 2008 to remove most of the paint that was reported. If you see someone painting, please ask them to stop.

Thanks

Eric Smith
Course Director
Medalist Sports

pacificaslim

Thanks for that info Eric. BTW, I'm curious about the route through Pacifica. I assume Skyline from SF through Daly City but wondering how they'll ride from that point to Devil's slide since there are a couple of ways. Any info you could share?

SaiKaiTai

From what I can see on the course map, they're coming down Hwy 1

redbike2001

SaiKaiTai is correct. We are coming right down Hwy 1.

taxi777

My spot...then the shot going down the slide

Anyone interested going with me from SF?...on bikes

Pizza Man

They have a rolling closure with more CHiP's than you think there were in the state.
They first close off the roads to motor vehicle about 1 hour before the motorcade gets there, but like others have said, bikes and peds are OK. At some point, probably about 10-15 minutes before the lead riders get there the CHP will ask bikes to get off the road.


I haven't fine tuned the logistics yet, but my rough plan is to:

1) Park in the Presidio, then ride up to and watch them come across the GG Bridge.
2) Drive south (19th Ave to 280 to 92 to Skyline) and park near the top of Tunitas.
3) Ride down a bit to find a good viewing spot.
4) Somehow get me and my bike to the finish line in Santa Cruz before they do (they don't go direct, so it should be possible depending on where I watch on Tunitas. I was thinking of watching them on the lower part of the climb, then after they go by, riding down to the bottom, make a left on Hwy 1 and TT to Santa Cruz. (I won't have to do the Bonny Doon climb, so I think I can make it.)
5) Watch the finish.
6) Ride back to my car up on Skyline.

silentben

Seems like this could be much easier said than done if even a small handful of other people have the same idea!

uspspro

I'm riding from home. Going up Kings, and then down Tunitas to the steep part.

Bringing a pannier full of food and drinks.