Monday, August 30, 2010

R.A.C.E. Events for Aug. 31st - Sept. 5th...........

Tuesday, August 31st - The "It's Aliya's Birthday!!!" Airport Criterium - 6:00pm & 7:00pm

Thursday, September 2nd - River Road 10-Mile Time Trial - 6:00pm

Friday, September 3rd - Friday Night Chico Airport Criterium - 6:00pm & 7:00pm

Sunday, September 5th - Cohasset Uphill Time Trial - 9:00AM
Info on R.A.C.E. Events Below:
Tuesday, August 31st - The "It's Aliya's Birthday!!!" Airport Criterium - 6:00PM (As & Bs) & 7:00PM (Cs) - Come out to celebrate our Junior phenom's birthday - Aliya Traficante is turning 13!!!! Be sure to wish her a very Happy Birthday!!!! Registration normally opens at 5:40pm on Convair Avenue at the Airport - with the event starting promptly at 6:00pm. We'll be using our standard Tuesday Night course starting/finishing at Convair Avenue - http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Chico-Airport-Tuesday-Night-Crit-Course . Category "A" riders will go for 50 Minutes PLUS 3 laps, while Category "B" riders will go for 45 Minutes PLUS 3 laps - Women's Category picked separately. Lots of Point Primes offered in this one, and possibly some t-shirts. Must sign in and wear a helmet in order to compete.
We will also have a Category "C" & Juniors Race race going off at 7:00PM. The "C" and Juniors race will be 25 minutes + 3 laps. If you are intimidated by the Criterium and/or the speeds out there, this is the Category to get a feel for what's going on without the crazy speeds. No other Category races will be on the course - just Category "C" and Juniors - so you can get used to the course, etc. The event MAY be mentored as well, depending upon whether ANY Category "A" or Category "B" riders are available to mentor. A mentor basically sits in with your group during the race, giving you basic pointers and helpful advice to keep you safe, skilled and sound during the event - and for future events. Mentors must meet with me prior to the event - so, if you would like to volunteer to be a Criterium Mentor, see me at the race on Tuesday night. Also - If anyone would like to donate Prime Prizes for any of the events, please bring them out to the Criterium or e-mail me! :)
Thursday, September 2nd - River Road 10-Mile Time Trial - 6:00pm - Registration opens at 5:40pm, with the first rider going off at 6:01pm. We will go in 1-minute intervals for this 5-miles out, 5-miles back, all-flat Time Trial. This classic Chico Time Trial course has been used for the last 29+ years. Come on out after work and give this one a shot! An extremely rough draft of this course can be found here -
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/River-Road-10-Mile-TT-Course (yes, the course is really 10 miles, not 9.9). And if you look at the Elevation Profile......it might tell you why coming back always seems a bit tougher than going out!
Friday, September 3rd - The Friday Night Chico Airport Criterium - 6:00PM (As & Bs) & 7:00PM (Cs) - Registration normally opens at 5:40pm on Convair avenue at the Airport - with the event starting promptly at 6:00pm. We'll be using our standard Tuesday Night course starting/finishing at Convair Avenue -
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Chico-Airport-Tuesday-Night-Crit-Course . Category "A" riders will go for 50 Minutes PLUS 3 laps, while Category "B" riders will go for 45 Minutes PLUS 3 laps - Women's Category picked separately. Lots of Point Primes offered in this one, and possibly some t-shirts. Must sign in and wear a helmet in order to compete.
We will also have a Category "C" & Juniors Race race going off at 7:00PM. The "C" and Juniors race will be 25 minutes + 3 laps. If you are intimidated by the Criterium and/or the speeds out there, this is the Category to get a feel for what's going on without the crazy speeds. No other Category races will be on the course - just Category "C" and Juniors - so you can get used to the course, etc. The event MAY be mentored as well, depending upon whether ANY Category "A" or Category "B" riders are available to mentor. A mentor basically sits in with your group during the race, giving you basic pointers and helpful advice to keep you safe, skilled and sound during the event - and for future events. Mentors must meet with me prior to the event - so, if you would like to volunteer to be a Criterium Mentor, see me at the race on Tuesday night. Also - If anyone would like to donate Prime Prizes for any of the events, please bring them out to the Criterium or e-mail me.
Saturday, September 4th - Will be at the Challenge Challenge Road Race - https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/events/index.xhtml?categoryId=28354
Sunday, September 5th - Cohasset Uphill Time Trial - 9:00am - Registration opens at 8:30am at Cohasset and Nicalog Road. Must register for the Time Trial in order to receive points(see Hill Climb Series info below). Free event, as usual. This is the 1st race in the 2010 Chico Hill Climb Time Trial Series. First rider off at 9:01am, and we will go in 1-minute intervals. Start is at Nicalog Road - Finish is at the Cohasset Store. (1st Race in the 2010 Chico Hill Climb TT Series too!):
Rodney............
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, CA
2010 CHICO HILL CLIMB TIME TRIAL SERIES:
Hi Everyone! So, we are starting up the 2010 Chico Hill Climb Time Trial Series on September 5th! The Series will visit various climbs around Chico - and Butte County(see events and tentative dates below). There was a similar Series done years ago here in Chico - 1981 or 1982 - by Tom Devol and Jeff Smith, who owned Cyclesport bike shop at the time. And, of course, now there is the almost-famous Low Key Hillclimb Series in the Bay Area every fall. In any case, we decided to have our own and revive the old Hill Climb Series.......with a few route changes. Below is a list of the tentative events with dates. It should be mentioned that these dates could change depending upon other events going on. And, of course......the weather! Rain will NOT cancel - but snow and ice will.
16 events - 28,000+ feet of total climbing - held over a 4-month period from September through December 2010!! Bound to be a very challenging and memorable Series. Sure - there will be pain and suffering - but it's the good kind!!
Note: The Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series will be back in January 2011 - starting with The Humboldt Hill Climb Time Trial on January 1st, 2011!
How does it work??? Below are each of the 16 Events in the Chico Hill Climb Time Trial Series. Each climb has been given a rank based upon feedback from some well-known riders in the area (and climbers in particular - yes, I know - everyone is different, but this is just a low-key have-fun series, so no big whoop). Hors Category and Category 1 climbs are the hardest, with Category 3 being.......let's not say easiest.......let's say........not quite as hard as Category 1! Points will be awarded to the top finishers in each Hill Climb TT - the folks with the most points at the end of the Series, wins the overall title in their respective categories........along with the coveted Chico Hill Climb Champion Trophy. Never done a Time Trial before?? No problem - it's just you against the clock.....go your own pace and just do what you can out there!!! There are ALL levels of riders out there - from Pros, to guys like me who take 2 days to climb Humboldt, and everyone in between.......so, just come on out and test yourself, and go your own pace!!
RESULTS: I will try my best to have results & photos out from each Time Trial within a 24-hour period, as well as the Updated Overall Standings after each event. Sometimes life gets in the way, but I don't foresee that happening this next Fall/Winter(unlike the Butte Hill Series!). The results will be posted to all of the e-mail groups & database, on Facebook, on Twitter and on my blog.
EVERY competitor who starts and finishes an event receives an additonal 3 points PER event. It should also be noted - there MIGHT be an additional point(s) awarded for "adverse conditons". One year, we had an absolute freezing cold downpour of rain at the Centerville Time Trial and I awarded everyone 2 extra points for "adverse conditions"........but, again, this is a BIG "might" and the conditions would have to be atrocious. ANY person who helps me start the riders off at the events receives an additional 3 points for volunteering - I usually only need 1 or 2 people, and can always use the help.....and you can still race the event - just be the last one out of the starting gate and you'll be good-to-go!! AND - any rider that finds my missing R.A.C.E. cat, Cricket, will receive a 10-point bonus and my undying gratitude. ;)
The Point Breakdown for placings is as follows:
Hors Category Climb = 40-36-34-32-30-28-26-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1 (In other words, 1st place in an Hors Category Time Trial gets 40 points, 2nd place gets 36 and on down the line - every person who competes in the event gets at least 1 point).
Cat. 1 Climb = 30-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1 (1st place in a Cat. 1 TT gets 30 points, 2nd place gets 26 and on down the line - every person who competes in the event gets at least 1 point).
Cat. 2 Climb = 24-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1(The winner of a Cat. 2 climb gets 24 points, 2nd place gets 20 points and on and on.)
Cat. 3 Climb = 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1
And here are the Time Trial courses, the very tentative dates, and their listed difficulty category. Starting times for the events are normally consistent - 8:30am registration opens, 1st rider off at 9:01am. **PLEASE NOTE - These dates are extremely tentative. Reasons for a change in dates include snow and ice on the climbs, other events going on that same day, a change in the R.A.C.E. calendar or Rodney being ill or out-of-town, etc. So, take the dates with a grain of salt....for now:

Sunday, Sept. 5th - Cohasset-to-the-Store TT - Cat. 2 - approximately 5.1 miles & 1,600 feet of climbing

Saturday, Sept. 11th - Honey Run TT - Cat. 1 - approximately 5.3 miles & 2,100 feet of climbing

Sunday, Sept. 26th - Forest Ranch TT (A Chico Velo event!) - Cat. 1 - approximately 11.2 miles & 2,400 feet of climbing

Saturday, Oct. 9th - Neal Road TT - Cat. 3 - approximately 8.3 miles & 1,400 feet of climbing

Saturday, Oct. 16th - Pentz Road TT - Cat. 2 - approximately 5.8 miles & 1,200 feet of climbing

Saturday, Oct. 23rd - Table Mountain TT(Wildflower Century side) - Cat. 1 - approximately 5.3 miles & 1,600 feet of climbing

Sunday, Oct. 31st - Centerville TT(From Covered Bridge to the gravel) - Cat. 3 - approximately 6.6 miles; 1,300 feet of climbing

Saturday, Nov. 6th - Clark Road TT - Cat. 2 - approximately 7.7 miles & 1,700 feet of climbing

Saturday, Nov. 13th - Coutelenc TT(just stay on Coutelenc) - Cat. 2 - approximately 6.8 miles & 1,600 feet of climbing

Saturday, Nov. 20th - Cherokee TT(From Coal Canyon Road) - Cat. 3 - approximately 4.8 miles; 1,100 feet of climbing

Saturday, Nov. 27th - Vilas Road TT - Cat. 1 - approximately 7 miles & 2,400 feet of climbing

Saturday, Dec. 4th - Garland TT - Hors Category - approximately 16 miles & 3,400 feet of climbing

Saturday, Dec. 11th - Pentz Road LONG Course TT - Cat. 1 - approximately 10.8 miles & 1,800 feet of climbing

Saturday, Dec. 18th - Cohasset to Gravel TT - Hors Category - approximately 9.4 miles & 2,900 feet of climbing

Sunday, Dec. 26th - Canyon Oaks TT - Cat. 3 - approximately 6.7 miles & 1,200 feet of climbing

Friday, Dec. 31st - Humboldt TT - Cat. 3 - approximately 3.4 miles & 700 feet of climbing

16 Climbs, approximately 28,000+ feet of total climbing, held over a 4-month period from September 2010 through December 2010. Consistency will be key to winning the Overall Series. Above distances and climbing are approximates only.
PARTICIPANT CATEGORIES: The following categories will be offered for the Series(see below). The winner in each category will receive the Chico Hill Climb Champion Trophy, along with Bragging Rights.........as well as any stuff we can get to give away as prizes:
Category "A" Men
Category "B" Men
Category "C" Men
Women's Category
Women's Category "C"
Womens 50+ Category
Mens 50+ Category
Juniors (Looking at 10 to 16 years of age for this particular Category, but may be changed depending upon who shows up!).
As usual, sandbaggers are strongly discouraged (A Sandbagger would be a Category "A" rider entering a Category "B" event). Also, if there are a lot of folks in one particular category, we may split those up into sub-categories, if needed. In turn, if nobody - or very few folks are in one category, we may eliminate it and add an additional category where the numbers allow it(these COULD include tandem categories, Trail-A-Bike category, mountain bike category, or any other age Categories). At the end of the Series, we will have an Awards Ceremony at a local establishment or at another R.A.C.E. event. Hope to have some Chico Hill Climb Time Trial Series T-shirts to give out as well, but will be dependent upon my extremely limited budget.
One note - Any rider caught giving grief to the Promoter, the Timers or the Starters of these events will be automatically disqualified from - not only the event - but the entire Series. So, do what ya always do, and just have fun with the Series - it's no big whoop, we're just out there having fun and getting some good fitness!!! (No no - we've never ever had a problem with getting grief - just wanted to state it so it will continue to just be a fun event for everyone involved!!). AND - Helmets are MANDATORY!
This Series is FREE - so come on out and take advantage of some, or all, of these Time Trials this Fall/Winter 2010! Although donations are always appreciated, they are NEVER necessary to enter these events - I just want y'all out there testing yourselves on your bicycles and having fun!!! Hope to see you out there - and I will have more details, maps and information as we get closer to the events.
Rodney........
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, CA

Thursday, August 26, 2010

3 R.A.C.E. Events this week!!!

Just a reminder that we have tonight's Thursday night Aguas Frias 10-Mile Time Trial (and if you go to the Thursday Night Market tonight, stop by the Chico Velo Bike Valet and we will guard your bike while you shop!!!), tomorrow night's Friday night Airport Criterium (all weekday events held at 6pm, with registration opening at 5:40pm!) and the Wheelock Circuit Race this Saturday at 9am - hope to see you out there at one, two or all three events!!:

Saturday, August 28th - Wheelock Circuit Race - 9:00AM - A newer Circuit Race course to try out for 2010! Registration will open at 8:30am at Spring Valley School on Pentz Road (near the intersection of Hwy. 70 - this is the lunch stop for the Wildflower Century). The event, as usual, is FREE! The Start/Finish Line is on Pentz Road - just in front of the school. The Category "A" event will start at 9:00am; the Category "B" event will start at 9:02am; and the Category "C" & "Juniors" event will start at 9:03am. This course is approximately 6.4 miles in length and climbs 400+ feet per lap. The Category "A" and "B" groups will each do 5 laps, for a total of 32 miles and 2,000+ feet of climbing. The Category "C" group will do 3 laps, for a total of 19.2 miles and 1,200 feet of climbing. For a map of this course, please visit:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Wheelock-Circuit-Race

Again, most
"USA Cycling" rules apply to these races - you know, WEAR YOUR HELMET, don't ride like a nutcase, be safe, and all that good stuff. Water bottle hand-ups will be SOLELY dependent upon volunteers - so, if ya have a volunteer, bring 'em out!! I will bring "some" water out, but not a ton - and won't have any bottles this time around.....so, come prepared. A mention about Tri Bars - You can have Tri Bars on your bicycle - BUT, you must NOT use them if you are in a pack or paceline! Normally, in a USA Cycling mass-start race, you would not be allowed to have them on your bicycle - but I know many of us like them on our bicycles and use them for training/triathlons/TTs. This isn't the World Championships - we do these Circuit Races for fun, fitness and practice - but please do NOT use your Tri Bars in a pack/paceline situation. Thanks!! HELMETS ARE MANDATORY!

Rodney..........
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, CA
www.ChicoBike.com

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

2010 Chico Hill Climb Time Trial Series!!!


Hi Everyone! So, we are starting up the 2010 Chico Hill Climb Time Trial Series next month! The Series will visit various climbs around Chico - and Butte County(see events and tentative dates below). There was a similar Series done years ago here in Chico - 1981 or 1982 - by Tom Devol and Jeff Smith, who owned Cyclesport bike shop at the time. And, of course, now there is the almost-famous Low Key Hillclimb Series in the Bay Area every fall. In any case, we decided to have our own and revive the old Hill Climb Series.......with a few route changes. Below is a list of the tentative events with dates. It should be mentioned that these dates could change depending upon other events going on. And, of course......the weather! Rain will NOT cancel - but snow and ice will.

16 events - 28,000+ feet of total climbing - held over a 4-month period from September through December 2010!! Bound to be a very challenging and memorable Series. Sure - there will be pain and suffering - but it's the good kind!!

Note: The Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series will be back in January 2011 - starting with The Humboldt Hill Climb Time Trial on January 1st, 2011!

How does it work??? Below are each of the 16 Events in the Chico Hill Climb Time Trial Series. Each climb has been given a rank based upon feedback from some well-known riders in the area (and climbers in particular - yes, I know - everyone is different, but this is just a low-key have-fun series, so no big whoop). Hors Category and Category 1 climbs are the hardest, with Category 3 being.......let's not say easiest.......let's say........not quite as hard as Category 1! Points will be awarded to the top finishers in each Hill Climb TT - the folks with the most points at the end of the Series, wins the overall title in their respective categories........along with the coveted Chico Hill Climb Champion Trophy. Never done a Time Trial before?? No problem - it's just you against the clock.....go your own pace and just do what you can out there!!! There are ALL levels of riders out there - from Pros, to guys like me who take 2 days to climb Humboldt, and everyone in between.......so, just come on out and test yourself, and go your own pace!!

RESULTS: I will try my best to have results & photos out from each Time Trial within a 24-hour period, as well as the Updated Overall Standings after each event. Sometimes life gets in the way, but I don't foresee that happening this next Fall/Winter(unlike the Butte Hill Series!). The results will be posted to all of the e-mail groups & database, on Facebook, on Twitter and on my blog.

EVERY competitor who starts and finishes an event receives an additonal 3 points PER event. It should also be noted - there MIGHT be an additional point(s) awarded for "adverse conditons". One year, we had an absolute freezing cold downpour of rain at the Centerville Time Trial and I awarded everyone 2 extra points for "adverse conditions"........but, again, this is a BIG "might" and the conditions would have to be atrocious. ANY person who helps me start the riders off at the events receives an additional 3 points for volunteering - I usually only need 1 or 2 people, and can always use the help.....and you can still race the event - just be the last one out of the starting gate and you'll be good-to-go!! AND - any rider that finds my missing R.A.C.E. cat, Cricket, will receive a 10-point bonus and my undying gratitude. ;)

The Point Breakdown for placings is as follows:

Hors Category Climb = 40-36-34-32-30-28-26-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1 (In other words, 1st place in an Hors Category Time Trial gets 40 points, 2nd place gets 36 and on down the line - every person who competes in the event gets at least 1 point).


Cat. 1 Climb = 30-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1 (1st place in a Cat. 1 TT gets 30 points, 2nd place gets 26 and on down the line - every person who competes in the event gets at least 1 point).

Cat. 2 Climb = 24-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1(The winner of a Cat. 2 climb gets 24 points, 2nd place gets 20 points and on and on.)

Cat. 3 Climb = 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1

And here are the Time Trial courses, the very tentative dates, and their listed difficulty category. Starting times for the events are normally consistent - 8:30am registration opens, 1st rider off at 9:01am. **PLEASE NOTE - These dates are extremely tentative. Reasons for a change in dates include snow and ice on the climbs, other events going on that same day, a change in the R.A.C.E. calendar or Rodney being ill or out-of-town, etc. So, take the dates with a grain of salt....for now:

Sunday, Sept. 5th - Cohasset-to-the-Store TT - Cat. 2 - approximately 5.1 miles & 1,600 feet of climbing

Saturday, Sept. 11th - Honey Run TT - Cat. 1 - approximately 5.3 miles & 2,100 feet of climbing

Sunday, Sept. 26th - Forest Ranch TT (A
Chico Velo event!) - Cat. 1 - approximately 11.2 miles & 2,400 feet of climbing

Saturday, Oct. 9th - Neal Road TT - Cat. 3 - approximately 8.3 miles & 1,400 feet of climbing

Saturday, Oct. 16th - Pentz Road TT - Cat. 2 - approximately 5.8 miles & 1,200 feet of climbing

Saturday, Oct. 23rd - Table Mountain TT(Wildflower Century side) - Cat. 1 - approximately 5.3 miles & 1,600 feet of climbing

Sunday, Oct. 31st - Centerville TT(From Covered Bridge to the gravel) - Cat. 3 - approximately 6.6 miles; 1,300 feet of climbing

Saturday, Nov. 6th - Clark Road TT - Cat. 2 - approximately 7.7 miles & 1,700 feet of climbing

Saturday, Nov. 13th - Coutelenc TT(just stay on Coutelenc) - Cat. 2 - approximately 6.8 miles & 1,600 feet of climbing

Saturday, Nov. 20th - Cherokee TT(From Coal Canyon Road) - Cat. 3 - approximately 4.8 miles; 1,100 feet of climbing

Saturday, Nov. 27th - Vilas Road TT - Cat. 1 - approximately 7 miles & 2,400 feet of climbing

Saturday, Dec. 4th - Garland TT - Hors Category - approximately 16 miles & 3,400 feet of climbing

Saturday, Dec. 11th - Pentz Road LONG Course TT - Cat. 1 - approximately 10.8 miles & 1,800 feet of climbing

Saturday, Dec. 18th - Cohasset to Gravel TT - Hors Category - approximately 9.4 miles & 2,900 feet of climbing

Sunday, Dec. 26th - Canyon Oaks TT - Cat. 3 - approximately 6.7 miles & 1,200 feet of climbing

Friday, Dec. 31st - Humboldt TT - Cat. 3 - approximately 3.4 miles & 700 feet of climbing

16 Climbs, approximately 28,000+ feet of total climbing, held over a 4-month period from September 2010 through December 2010. Consistency will be key to winning the Overall Series. Above distances and climbing are approximates only.

PARTICIPANT CATEGORIES: The following categories will be offered for the Series(see below). The winner in each category will receive the Chico Hill Climb Champion Trophy, along with Bragging Rights.........as well as any stuff we can get to give away as prizes:

Category "A" Men
Category "B" Men
Category "C" Men
Women's Category
Women's Category "C"
Womens 50+ Category
Mens 50+ Category
Juniors (Looking at 10 to 16 years of age for this particular Category, but may be changed depending upon who shows up!).

As usual, sandbaggers are strongly discouraged (A Sandbagger would be a Category "A" rider entering a Category "B" event). Also, if there are a lot of folks in one particular category, we may split those up into sub-categories, if needed. In turn, if nobody - or very few folks are in one category, we may eliminate it and add an additional category where the numbers allow it(these COULD include tandem categories, Trail-A-Bike category, mountain bike category, or any other age Categories). At the end of the Series, we will have an Awards Ceremony at a local establishment or at another R.A.C.E. event. Hope to have some Chico Hill Climb Time Trial Series T-shirts to give out as well, but will be dependent upon my extremely limited budget.

One note - Any rider caught giving grief to the Promoter, the Timers or the Starters of these events will be automatically disqualified from - not only the event - but the entire Series. So, do what ya always do, and just have fun with the Series - it's no big whoop, we're just out there having fun and getting some good fitness!!! (No no - we've never ever had a problem with getting grief - just wanted to state it so it will continue to just be a fun event for everyone involved!!). AND - Helmets are MANDATORY!

This Series is FREE - so come on out and take advantage of some, or all, of these Time Trials this Fall/Winter 2010! Although donations are always appreciated, they are NEVER necessary to enter these events - I just want y'all out there testing yourselves on your bicycles and having fun!!! Hope to see you out there - and I will have more details, maps and information as we get closer to the events.

Rodney........
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, CA


Monday, August 23, 2010

4 R.A.C.E. Events this week!!!

In addition to Tuesday night's Airport Criterium, Thursday night's Aguas Frias 10-Mile Time Trial and Friday night's Airport Criterium (all weekday events held at 6pm, with registration opening at 5:40pm!), we will be holding the Wheelock Circuit Race this Saturday at 9am - hope to see you there!!:

Saturday, August 28th - Wheelock Circuit Race - 9:00AM - A newer Circuit Race course to try out for 2010! Registration will open at 8:30am at Spring Valley School on Pentz Road (near the intersection of Hwy. 70 - this is the lunch stop for the Wildflower Century). The event, as usual, is FREE! The Start/Finish Line is on Pentz Road - just in front of the school. The Category "A" event will start at 9:00am; the Category "B" event will start at 9:02am; and the Category "C" & "Juniors" event will start at 9:03am. This course is approximately 6.4 miles in length and climbs 400+ feet per lap. The Category "A" and "B" groups will each do 5 laps, for a total of 32 miles and 2,000+ feet of climbing. The Category "C" group will do 3 laps, for a total of 19.2 miles and 1,200 feet of climbing. For a map of this course, please visit:

Again, most "USA Cycling" rules apply to these races - you know, WEAR YOUR HELMET, don't ride like a nutcase, be safe, and all that good stuff. Water bottle hand-ups will be SOLELY dependent upon volunteers - so, if ya have a volunteer, bring 'em out!! I will bring "some" water out, but not a ton - and won't have any bottles this time around.....so, come prepared. A mention about Tri Bars - You can have Tri Bars on your bicycle - BUT, you must NOT use them if you are in a pack or paceline! Normally, in a USA Cycling mass-start race, you would not be allowed to have them on your bicycle - but I know many of us like them on our bicycles and use them for training/triathlons/TTs. This isn't the World Championships - we do these Circuit Races for fun, fitness and practice - but please do NOT use your Tri Bars in a pack/paceline situation. Thanks!! HELMETS ARE MANDATORY!

Rodney..........
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, CA

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Table Mountain Road Race - Saturday, August 14th!!!

In addition to tonight's Airport Criterium, we will also be doing the Aguas Frias 10-Mile Time Trial on Thursday night......and the Friday Night Airport Criterium too!

Saturday, August 14th - The Table Mountain Road Race - 9:00AM - 1 Lap - 25 Miles
- This particular course was first used by the Chico Velo Cycling Club as a USCF Road Race course in 1984 during the Chico Omnium(which also included the 7-Mile Lane Time Trial and the Chico Downtown Criterium that year). Most groups did 2 laps of this course, but the Cat.1/2 guys did 3 or 4. However, I wouldn't do that to ya - we're only going to do 1 lap in this race - for a total of approximately 25 miles and approximately 2,100 feet of total climbing. (I wanted to make it just 1 lap too for those who ride out to the course and back to Chico - wouldn't wanna kill ya or anything!!) The course preview is located on Bikely.com here - and you can see the Course Profile by clicking on "Show" in the top left-hand corner........then clicking on "Elevation Profile":

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Old-Table-Mountain-Road-Race-Course

Like the Messilla Valley Circuit Race, this will have a Category "A" and a Category "B". The Start/Finish Line is located on Table Mountain Boulevard right by Table Mountain Ranch Road(see Bikely Map - this was the Start/Finish Line for the 1984 race as well - I'll be out there early, so look for the registration table). Each Category will do just 1 lap = 25 miles. Registration will open at 8:30AM with Category A going off at 9:00AM........and Category B going at 9:02AM. Women's Category will be scored separately. There WILL be a Category "C" & "Junior" race if enough riders show up, so come on out!! Parking is available on the unfinished freeway overpass at the Start/Finish Line.

****Now, a word of warning - This course goes in a clockwise direction - meaning that you will be climbing up to Cherokee from Hwy. 70. Although the hill does not seem quite as difficult as from the other side(the Wildflower Century side), the descent off Table Mountain will be quite tricky. Make certain that your bicycle is in good working order and that you are comfortable on technical descents. The Road Race course goes through amazingly diverse sections and is quite scenic - but please look out for one another and for yourselves, especially on the descent and on the Highway. All USA Cycling rules apply, as usual - you know, don't do stupid stuff, wear a helmet, obey the centerline, etc. Route Arrows will mark the course as well. Bottle hand ups and Feed Zones will be solely dependent upon volunteers - Feed Zone is pretty much anywhere on the course. Sag vehicles will be solely dependent upon volunteers as well. I will be sweeping the course at the end as well - so if I don't see you back at the Finish, I'm coming to get you!

Rodney..........
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, CA

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Messilla Valley Circuit Race - August 7th!!!


Saturday, August 7th - The Messilla Valley Circuit Race - 9:00AM - The classic event is back in 2010 for the month of Augustl!!! Registration will open at 8:30AM at the top of the hill of Messilla Valley Road - just near the intersection with Pentz Road. The "A" Category will be starting their event at 9:00AM, and the "B" Category going at 9:01AM, and if there are enough riders, the Junior and Category C event will start at 9:02AM(Category C and Juniors Event will be 5-laps, totaling 17.5 miles and 1500 feet of total climbing). The number of laps for Category A & B will remain the same as last year - 10 laps for each Category. Again, sandbagging will not be allowed! (Sandbagging would be an "A" Cateogry rider racing the Category "B" race). If you drive, please park at Spring Valley School, which is only 1-mile away from the Start/Finish Line - or at Butte College and ride in. There's not much parking at the Start/Finish area. The Messilla Valley Course is approximately 3.5 miles in length with about 300+ feet of climbing per lap. 10 laps = 35 miles and 3,000+ feet of climbing. I will have one water container at the Start/Finish Line, but water bottle hand-ups will be SOLELY dependent upon Volunteers - so if you have a volunteer, bring 'em with you! For a map of the course, please click on this link:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Messilla-Valley-Circuit-Race

HELMETS ARE MANDATORY! Rain does not cancel! (Part of the 2010 Chico Road R.A.C.E. Series - 30-point event!)

Rodney..........
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, CA