Video of Stages released......I'm scared!!!
http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/#2
The TOC folks are starting to release little mini promo videos for each stage of the tour. They have Stage 1 and 2 done (see the link). All I can say is Oh............................My.....................................GOD!!!!!!!!
What the hell was I thinking?!
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Nemo, you'll have a blast. Don't let those videos intimidate you. It's all good. Last year, Brian and I were watching stage reviews on williamscycling.com and we felt the same way, WTF!?!
Just about 3 months out!
Dave
Nemo,
Just watched the Stage two video. First, Davis CA is pancake flat. University town, filled with bikes. 120 degrees all summer, so never go in July! Nothing to worry about for a great portion of the stage though. Into the wine country, it's beautiful and roads are mostly flat with some rollers. Again, no big deal. The only hard, steep hill noted was the Oakville grade. Most people just zig zag up the road. It's plenty wide. Head down, and up you go. When you're at the top, it's a wonderful slow descent back. I did the hill as part of a century ride last year. The hill came at mile 85. Just cruised up slowly.
Ditto what Dave said. It's all good fun and fantastic riding. You'll have a great time.
tom
Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemo. Don't sweat it. You'll be fine. Us basement bound peeps had no problems.
Oh I would be scared, there are going to be some monster hills, bad weather. It is really going to be not-fun. You won't enjoy yourself at all! What where you thinking when you signed up?
There is only one thing I can think of if I was you. I would donate that trip to someone, who lives in the northeast, likes to cook and is an all around nice guy. I can give you some hints if you need them
I am a little worried about how to ramp up my biking mileage after NOLA70.3 in mid-April. I figure I'll drop a run and add an extra bike per week thru ToC, just to get my legs used to the mileage and the butt sititng time.
Sierra Road is the one to look forward to in NorCal. I'm sure you can find video on YT somewhere. 5k at 10-16%. I'm assuming we're doing it this year.
Some please kick Amgen in the ass to publish the route. Really curious to see how they take us out of San Jose. When I went to the EN NorCal gig last year I rode the scenic route out to the 5 on my moto. Some fantastic riding out there. Mines Road, Patterson Pass, etc.
And I wanna see what they are doing in the Sierras...and the official Pasadena to Big Bear route....
Nemo, don't worry girlfriend! I got your back!! If we get "spit out the back of the peloton", there's plenty of wineries where we can sip on Napa's best and wait for the van.
I can tell you that stage 1 is in my neck of the woods in so much as I have ridden those roads many times. From Nevada City/Grass Valley down to Auburn should be no sweat. The decent down hwy 40 into the canyon is tasty with an ability to be confident at speed. There are 2-3 turns that you must pay attention to your speed especially the right hander than says "15mph" it sneaks up on you.
I have never ridden from the confluence (base of the canyon) up to Pilot hill. I have done it from Pilot hill down and can tell you it is a hoot if you love speed, which means it is a grinder going the way the ToC is riding it. After Pilot Hill it is probably a net downhill to Sac with low traffic count and nice roads.
Maybe I will pull a Simply Stu and narrate some of Stage 1 for you on video if that would be helpful. LMK.
Vince
With all of the climbing I've been doing my descending-fu is very strong. I've been meaning to hook up the helmet cam and a buddy on moto with a camera to film me and Sawiris down Glendora Mtn Road. Sure to give the Moms of EN the willys, that's for sure
V
where do I buy my Laterne Rouge kit? I'm in serious trouble
nothing will ever be as bad as those Williams video viewings prior to hopping on the plane. "we've been climbing for 20' @ 430 watts and she's a beast of a climb" had me and Dave wondering if we'd make it back to NH.
If you time it right, you can get about halfway up the steepest grade when the tour comes through and, damn, you have to pull off.
I've heard of people doing it...
cm
Just looked at Stage 6 - H O L Y C R A P!!!!!!!!!
NO JOKE!!!!! Stage 6 is unbeleivable. Rich what kind of % grade are these climbs? I've did some 6 mile climbs at 9% grade ave. but also some 2 mile climbs at 12% grade ave. and they can be worse. If these are above 10% grade ave. climbs we'll all definately be stringing up to the Halligan, the Coaches, and anything else we can get ahold of.
Repeat after me,
'Dave's w/kg ain't all that, Dave's w/kg ain't all that. His power number is big, because so is he. His power number is big, because so is he.'
Dave
As a mid-west flat lander the climbing sounds worse than it is. I've been to 4-5 of Rich's cycling camps with varying forms of fitness and while it's challening it's not impossible.
Nemo, come on up in April. I've got a few steepies near Luray we can jumar up.
You are ON!!! Thanks for the invite!
We won't be doing all of Stage 6. I need to watch the video to see what the route is.
I guarantee you that you won't see hills steeper than you ever see. But California is big. Very big. You're going be on climbs that last a very, very, very long at a steady 5-6% grade. I remember one of the first camps I did out here, my "Crucible" camp in May of '04, I think. Day One was an 85 miles loop in the mountains with 8500ft gain in the first 55-56 miles. Gradual climb of 15 miles to the base of Angeles Crest Hwy (Hwy 2), then 42 miles of nearly continuous climbing. When we turned on to the 2 everyone took off....except me. I gradually reeled everyone in in about a mile, went to the front and said "any of you fuckers ever done a 42 mile climb? I'll give you a hint: if I'm behind you, you're wrong. See what you're doing right now? You're gonna do that, continuousy, for about 3hrs. Just sit down and relax."
That's what Hwy 2 is like. It all got burned. I havent' been up to take a look but it's closed through March for snow, rocks, and mud.
LMAO!!! I'm with you Dave. Guys like Drillbit and Coaches RnP are the one's to tether up with on the steeps.
Remember...you can always traverse the hill. We have some 17% shorter climbs here and occasionally we will do "hot laps" where we nail those hills 3-4 times in 50 miles and I'm in my 34/26 cutting a Wide path and traversing it at my 3.3-3.4 w/kg. The 4.0+ w/kg guys go straight up...after they sit my wheel on the flats and 1-2% downhill stuff. It's just not fair!
I'd love to be a climber for a day just to see what it feels like to hammer hills at 4.0+ w/kg.
V