NorCal Racing thread
#102
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 3,059
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I hope you both have good medical at work. The Giro is one of those races where people seem to take their brains out. And the dumpsters and tractor trailers parked on course are always a nice touch.
Here's a video documentary on the race. Good footage at 1:30.
[NSFW]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...;v=oQfDB0d6cTI
[/NSFW]
spoiler: red asphalt
Here's a video documentary on the race. Good footage at 1:30.
[NSFW]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...;v=oQfDB0d6cTI
[/NSFW]
spoiler: red asphalt
I think my game plan is to just go 100% out of the gate and drop everyone. Then I don't have to worry about it!
... haha. No, but really, it's only like an 18mi crit so 100% effort out the gate is doable. Also, there is a cat 1 mtb'er that is reg'ed for the the 4/5 field. Great. :|
#103
**** that
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: CALI
Posts: 15,402
Mentioned: 151 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1099 Post(s)
Liked 104 Times
in
30 Posts
I think my game plan is to just go 100% out of the gate and drop everyone. Then I don't have to worry about it!
... haha. No, but really, it's only like an 18mi crit so 100% effort out the gate is doable. Also, there is a cat 1 mtb'er that is reg'ed for the the 4/5 field. Great. :|
... haha. No, but really, it's only like an 18mi crit so 100% effort out the gate is doable. Also, there is a cat 1 mtb'er that is reg'ed for the the 4/5 field. Great. :|
If anything, you should just sit in the first half of the race (let everyone else do the 'go hard' part), then start going hard. Or sit in the whole time, and just go hard the last 1/4 of a lap.
#105
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Rail crossing and sketchy pavement in a corner, if I recall correctly.
#107
You blink and it's gone.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dundas, Ontario
Posts: 4,436
Bikes: Race bike, training bike, go fast bike and a trainer slave.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you think $40 is pricey for a race, don't race in Ontario
#109
You blink and it's gone.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dundas, Ontario
Posts: 4,436
Bikes: Race bike, training bike, go fast bike and a trainer slave.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Plus, a lot of these races are spread out around the province so there's always travel involved. We're actually lucky here because we're in the Toronto-Hamilton area so most of the race are a max 2-3hr drive away. Others are not so lucky and a hotel is involved with a majority of the races.
Still we pay and go
#110
soon to be gsteinc...
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Nayr497's BFF
Posts: 8,564
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Crits start at $45, RRs start at $65 (these are really circuit races). We had one true RR this year, a 100km loop and I think it was $75 for early reg and then went up to $85...
Plus, a lot of these races are spread out around the province so there's always travel involved. We're actually lucky here because we're in the Toronto-Hamilton area so most of the race are a max 2-3hr drive away. Others are not so lucky and a hotel is involved with a majority of the races.
Still we pay and go
Plus, a lot of these races are spread out around the province so there's always travel involved. We're actually lucky here because we're in the Toronto-Hamilton area so most of the race are a max 2-3hr drive away. Others are not so lucky and a hotel is involved with a majority of the races.
Still we pay and go
We raced from April until mid September. Imagine that amount of travel.
That's why we were all beasts. There's no ****ing way I was going to travel 4-15 hours to get dropped. **** that...
#111
You blink and it's gone.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dundas, Ontario
Posts: 4,436
Bikes: Race bike, training bike, go fast bike and a trainer slave.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yup and just think, I get dropped and keep coming back...I'm either dedicated, a sucker or stupid
#112
Senior Member
Anyone doing Challenge? Lots of climbing, and that killed me at Winters with 1/3 the climbing, but whatever! Good training ride if I'm dropped.
Might do Giro di SF as well, seeing as it's close.
Might do Giro di SF as well, seeing as it's close.
#113
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 56
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'll be there. small fields, my odds of getting dropped are high as well. I'd do SF if the bridge wasn't closed. that winters climb is tough because its so short. the high power/high kg guys can just pop right up over without missing a beat.
#114
Senior Member
Wow, you're right about small fields. More like non-existent fields. Only 2 pre-registered for cat 5. Does that even count towards upgrade as "mass start"?
#115
Senior Member
Hmm, last year there were 14 cat 5s, and all were preregistered. This year only 3 are preregistered. Anyone have experience with small fields? Is it worth going? Will they mix fields (4/5) or just let the 4 of us "race" each other...? I could skip it and do Red Kite, but I would love to have a long hard ride.
#117
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 10,978
Bikes: aggressive agreement is what I ride.
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 967 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Challenge is a fun race, and if no one goes they will cancel it next year. I would go were I not out of town.
It's kind of an epic with some of the worst "road" you will ever see, fast descents on said road, lots of forested climbing and fun downhill on a smooth highway.
That said, it's far away. Cat 5 doesn't matter how you place. Do whichever sounds like more fun.
It's kind of an epic with some of the worst "road" you will ever see, fast descents on said road, lots of forested climbing and fun downhill on a smooth highway.
That said, it's far away. Cat 5 doesn't matter how you place. Do whichever sounds like more fun.
#120
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Huh. I was thinking about the Giro but with the BB being closed and all the parking being used up by the America's Cup, it's edged up past my PITA limit. I figured it would for a lot of folks so I'm kinda surprised they have a full field.
#121
Senior Member
Damn, I guess Giro is out. Now it's a harder choice. I really wanted to get 2 races in this weekend. Guess I should have checked registration.
#123
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 3,888
Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 417 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Double up on 5's at RedKite tomorrow. Or do RedKite 5's tomorrow and the Under 35 or Under 25 (whichever applies) RedKite on Sunday??
#124
Senior Member
Pros for Red Kite: 2 races, close to home, more pack riding, more likely to do well, decent field size
Pros for Challenge: 6000 ft elevation, 66 miles
#125
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 3,888
Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 417 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I'd lean to toward RedKite, you'll get better "race" experience and be able to knock out two of them. If you're one of 3 Cat5's at challenge, it'll still be a race, but less pack experience. You can always drive up and ride the Challenge Route later on if you have an interest in climbing rough roads.