speedemon

Is anyone on this forum planning on riding the Tour de Peninsula ride in San Mateo on Sunday 8/1/10? Has anyone here ridden this event before? I was just wonder how it was if it is a pretty good ride here? I know so events are much better than others as I have been to some that were dudes which I haven't won't back for their next events. I'm thinking about riding this event. Any comments or advice is appreciated as we'll be coming for the Central Valley to attend this:

https://www.supportparks.org/tdp/

johnny99

This ride has been going on for several years. When they first started it, it was very controversial because proceeds go to the San Mateo County Parks, which is one of the most anti-bicycle park agencies in the Bay Area. Local bike clubs have been trying for years to open up some San Mateo County Parks trails and fire roads to bicycles and all they got was the Sawyer Camp Trail and maybe one obscure dirt road near the coast. The vast majority of San Mateo County Parks still completely ban bicycles from all park trails except the parking lots. Some local bicycle clubs organized a boycott of this ride because of the hypocrisy, but they have apparently worked out some kind of compromise since I don't hear boycott talk anymore. I don't know what that compromise was, though.

mtnwalker

Politics aside, the ride's usually organized fairly well and there were plenty of support at the rest stops early on. There's usually a pretty good amount of food, drinks and they even provide mechanics who can take care of any mechanical issues.

The issue I have last year was the poor support for the century riders. I believe this was due to the fact that last year was the first time they added the metric century and they underestimated the amount of time riders can finish the course. If I remember correctly it was approximately 5000 feet of climbing in 60 miles. A tough course. Last year everyone started at 9am, in waves, and on our way back the rest stops were mostly empty except for lukewarm water. When we arrived at the finish the place was mainly empty.

This year it looks like they have made adjustments to this based on how they changed the start time to 7am for the century riders. Hopefully the support at the rest stops will be better for the century riders as they return back.

speedemon

How though is the 31 mile course? It looks like it may have some climbs as it goes from sea level and way over I-280. I have flown out of SFO lots of times and it looks like these hills may be a little tough, is this true? Is this a pretty tough climb? I don't have a problem with doing 31 miles, but I'm also not much of a climber as I am not familiar with the area out there.

mtnwalker

The 31 miler should not be that hard for an intermediate rider. There will be some climbing but none are really steep or long. Looking at the elevation profile you shouldn't be climbing anything beyond 600 feet at the most and it should be less than 1500 feet total.

7bmwm3gtr

I did the 63 mile ride last year. Honestly, the 31 miler is nothing. I ride the TdP route from my house in Daly City which is about 15-20 miles away. The TdP course from Sawyer Camp all the way to Woodside and King's mountain is my weekend ride and I thought it would be ridiculous to pay 45 bucks to ride my weekend route, and it's not even for a major cause unlike the other rides that use that route.

I think the 31 Miler only goes up to Canada Road and back to Sawyer Camp Trail. That's really nothing, no hills except for going back to Sawyer Camp and the end of Sawyer camp.

The 63 miler just goes up King's Mountain and up Skyline down Old La Honda west. King's mountain is only 4.5 miles rolling distance with an elevation of 1600ish.

Anyways the view and scenery and environment is great and you might have a great time.

I'm not doing this year because I'll be racing in Santa Clara. Have fun though.

Dchiefransom

Is this the "Dirty Shirt" ride, or is that a different one.

johnny99

The "climbs" on the 31 mile ride are are mostly very gradual. I think the steepest part is on the bike path climbing over I-280.

There are two sections of narrow bike paths. Both paths include blind corners and hills and one of them has the cyclists going both ways at the same time. If you push a big group of inexperienced cyclists onto a narrow bike path, you can guess what will happen. Be very careful on those sections.

Kings Mountain is a decent climb. It is disappointing that a ride supporting San Mateo County Parks doesn't visit any of the parks along the route, such as Huddart Park on Kings Mountain Road.

ual747captain

Hey, I heard that they were going to close the Sawyer Camp Recreation Trail on Sunday for the Tour de Peninsula riders only. I thought that was a public recreation area! Does anyone know if that is closed for that event for sure?

johnny99

Public or not, I would not want to be riding the opposite way on a narrow trail when hundreds of cyclists are coming downhill straight at you.

ual747captain

That wasn't the point, the question was since it was a public park are they only allowing the riders from the Tour de Peninsula on it on Sunday. If you weren't participating in the tour as some might not be but yet be able use the trail on Sunday.

johnny99

The point is that riding against the flow of a big ride on a narrow trail is reckless and dangerous. If you want to ride with the flow, maybe they won't be checking very strictly.

Since the bike ride is sponsored by the same park system that manages the trail, they must think they have whatever authority they need to enforce their rules.

roadraccer

No one said anything about riding against the flow, just is it open or closed to the public on Sunday, simple as that! Sounds like Johnny doesn't understand the question.

mtnwalker

Well, we did the metric century yesterday and I will have to say that the ride this year better supported compared to last year's. The earlier start time was the biggest improvement and the lack of staggered start times. This allowed us to finish the ride earlier and enjoy the festivities at Coyote park. The whole route was clearly marked, there were people out in the course with flags to help guide the riders and stop traffic if necessary and the rest stops had food and powdered HEED on our way back.

The course was as tough as I remember it with plenty of climbing and some head wind on Canada Rd on the way back. Thankfully its cooler this year and that made the ride more pleasant as opposed to the heat from last year. Will definitely do it again next year.

genejockey 

I was going to pay the $45 and register, then do the Metric (or may be the 50 mile w/ shortcut), but then my wife pointed to our bank balance.

So I made a PB & Honey sandwich and two bottles of Cytomax and did my ride 'unsupported'.

It's a pity - Sawyer Camp Trail is a pretty ride, without all the crazy pedestrians.