UmneyDurak

CAL is hosting WCCC Championship this year, and on Sunday they will have none-collegiate fields on the classic CAL course.

I love that course!!!! I can't freaken wait. A great alternative to Wente RR.

For those who haven't raced it, it's a more brutal version of San Rafael crit. The climb is steeper and longer, descent is steeper and course is shorter. So less time to recover. Super fun!!!!

Ygduf

strava for the course?

UmneyDurak

Don't know. I am sure it exists. I don't use it.

hack

I think this is it:

edit: this one: https://www.strava.com/segments/1106044

caloso

Bancroft-College-Durant-Bowditch?

UmneyDurak

Yep.

mattm

This Sunday?

Is this the same course as the "Berkeley crit" course held last year? Sounds like it.

Fun one, especially the cracked pavement at the bottom of the downhill in turn 3!

UmneyDurak

April 26th. Sorry.

Turn 3 is super fun.

hack

What's the CCCCCX course like? Wife is out of town for work this weekend and I might mix up the racing scenery and check this race out/visit family. Ridden through fort ord quite a bit, but that was circa 1994 on BMX'ers to get to Monterey.

hack

And if the fields are like 3-5 people, do they just lump groups together? Looks like some are slated for 60 min and others for 75 min. Would kinda suck nuts to get out there and throwdown with two other guys.

mattm

CCCCCCCCX is lumpy, but not overly so. Probably lumpy enough that "sprinters"/fat guys hate it, but not lumpy enough that true climbers like it.

So you don't need to be a climber, just generally fit, which it sounds like you are.

And the pre-reg fields are always pretty tiny there; I would guess it'll be somewhat smaller this week but hopefully at least 10 dudes to battle!

hack

Turlock RR?? Race with the masters crowd (35-39) or the Cat 3/4's...hmmm

caloso

Hack:

You would do well at Turlock. It's a power course. Lots of rollers and crosswinds, slight uphill finish.

hack

I fear the beasts aged 35-39 (e.g., Rossi) in the "State" championship race will do better. But, that's the fun part, right? Competition.

mattm

Anyone done the Sea Otter circuit race? (on Laguna Seca)

Wondering how the climb compares to the one at the Chico circuit race.. I heard it's easier but who knows.

Anyway any info appreciated!

Fingolfin

The easy answer (since I've only driven the tracks) is their Strava segments:
Thunderhill
Laguna Seca

Laguna Seca's climb is longer/taller overall and kicks up after turn 6. There isn't anything super short and steep like the turn 5(?) hump at Thunderhill, but there is a bit of a bump along the (car) start/finish strait.

Ygduf

I found Laguna Seca hill was basically coast-able. Pack goes so fast, if you are protected it was nbd.

UmneyDurak

Just renewed my license. Akaramba.

UmneyDurak

I wonder if they will have manned sound booth between T5 and T6.

Edonis13

anyone with a creaky bb30 better get it fixed now.....

Doge

I've video'd both :-). Hard to compare as I was watching P123 at TH and 15-16 at LS. My gut is LS hill is a more significant selection creator (harder) than TH.

For juniors this is the 3rd most competitive race in the country (Nationals, VOS, Sea Otter) and all but a few, including some with jet lag will be there. The good news is most will not be doing categories.

Not your level of race, but some course footage:

Doge

The only rim damage my son has ever had was from the Sea Otter 15-16 RR. Those Easton EC90s got flat spotted on 22mm 110PSI tires. The same wheels with (new rim) 25mm tires he just finished Paris Roubaix on with no damage (and used for Chico). BTW - the kids said Chico road was much worse and longer (the dirt section) than PR pave section.

There are some nasty pot holes on the RR to watch out for and the pavement is very patchy. Chico - everyone expected it.
If you use Chico type equipment in the RR you will be limiting climbing ability. The RR is hilly, rough and mostly clean. The best technique is to miss the holes, but I think sidewall and goat head, glass puncture risk is about normal/lower than normal, and certainly nothing like Knights Ferry was.

Our wheel choice for both Sea Otter races is the Mercury M5s 25mm wide 50mm profile and 25mm light tires.

hack

I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I've done Chico a couple times now and while the gravel section is rough, it's not god awful. At least Chico is only 10 miles instead of the 30 something at PR.

Doge

The PR stuff is many sections - but all shorter than the Chico. PR does not have Chico dust or rocks. It does have holes and bumps. Of course Daniel did not experience rain at either event. He does have a number of blisters on his hands from the vibration.

furiousferret

I'm just glad your son is taking a break from California Racing and doing something funner and less competitive.