How was your Snelling?
I did Cat 5 and had a solid race - might've squeezed into the top 10, def. 15. I think I raced too conservatively (had a lot left in the tank at the finish and only went into zone 5 for the finish) but since it was only my third race ever I was fine with that. Curious how other races went - nobody even really tried to escape in ours and it just came down to where you were in the last corner and your uphill sprint.

Stuff I liked: closed roads, only 2 crashes, big turnout (I heard 800 total,) friendly bunch, crappy roads that reminded me of Sonoma.

Stuff I didn't like: starting 1/2 hour late, getting misted with pesticide, getting hit in the helmet with a golfball-sized rock (better than the face, tho,') people braking into every corner. Guess that last one could be remedied by riding on the front instead of mid-pack so I'll file that away for the next one.

Copperopolis is next for me - for those who've done that and Snelling, how do the roads at Copperopolis compare to Snelling's worst (the stretch on Figmond, I think it was)?
Though my Vittoria Corsas at 130psi did fine this weekend, I'm considering running some beefier tires (25 or even 28mm) for Copperopolis.

Copperopolis is next for me - for those who've done that and Snelling, how do the roads at Copperopolis compare to Snelling's worst (the stretch on Figmond, I think it was)?
Though my Vittoria Corsas at 130psi did fine this weekend, I'm considering running some beefier tires (25 or even 28mm) for Copperopolis.

Run 25s!

Velopromo could have at least swept the course like he said they would. Sometimes I wonder what work furlough program he gets his employees from. That trick with the bridge outage was rediculous. Every lap the path got narrower until the inevitable crash. Three guys in front of me crashed into that steel barrier and by the time I got going again the leaders were 400 yards away on top of the hill already. I heard later it was pre planned by Webcor to attack there. Pretty inproper of them to take advantage of the situation. So much for a code of ethics in the peloton!

I never did catch the front guys again but must have past at least a dozen guys standing by the side of the road on the last lap. That rough section left me sore in a number of places this year. Must be old age!

I dunno, I wouldn't find too much fault with Webcor for attacking there - pretty logical place to use the course to your advantage. After the first time around I made sure I was close to the front before the bridge, treating it just like any other selective part of the course. Although it was kinda exciting how the gap was a different width every time we came by!

Velopromo could have at least swept the course like he said they would. Sometimes I wonder what work furlough program he gets his employees from. That trick with the bridge outage was rediculous. Every lap the path got narrower until the inevitable crash. Three guys in front of me crashed into that steel barrier and by the time I got going again the leaders were 400 yards away on top of the hill already. I heard later it was pre planned by Webcor to attack there. Pretty inproper of them to take advantage of the situation. So much for a code of ethics in the peloton!

I never did catch the front guys again but must have past at least a dozen guys standing by the side of the road on the last lap. That rough section left me sore in a number of places this year. Must be old age!

I was in your race. On the first lap, the gap on the bridge was about 12 feet wide. It sucked because it got narrow quickly, but it was passable because folks knew it was coming. On the 2nd lap (if I remember right), they moved the barriers in a ton and left space for about 2 bikes (3 max) to go through at a time. Unbelievable incompetence! They didn't even tell anyone in advance about this new hazard and that's why folks crashed right into the barriers. From there on out, the stretch before the bridge would be an all out war to get to the front and avoid the pileup in the back. It was just like racing to get to the Arenburg Forrest before everyone else. Either you were in the front or you were screwed since the toughest riser/climb on the course came right after the bridge and you'd have to end all your momentum and experience one of the absolute worst accordian effects you'd face all season.

On the 3rd lap, the moto-official cruised up to us and told everyone to slow down. What!?! Everyone started yelling at him and flipping him off and yelling "no" since slowing the pace down would only make things worse by creating bunching and making it even harder to get through the narrow opening. Because it was fast on the front, at least it was close to single file and strung out a little, making it safer for most.

As for Webcor, I was next to the 2 Webcor guys when they were discussing the tactic in front and it was premeditated, but i'm not so sure that it was unsportsmanlike. After the first pass with the narrow opening, everyone knew they'd have to be in front or else suffer the consequences so it was really a fair fight. Either you worked before the bridge or you suffered. Again, if the pace in front is slow then eveyone is in trouble. I actually went and contributed to the break on the 3rd lap but neither Webcor guy would contribute after the climb and I think they wore themselves out a little just hammering it up to the bridge.

Anyway, my team finished 2nd and 6th so it was a good race for us despite the crashes and the unorganized way the race was conducted.

I was at Snelling, Cat 5. My first race.

Peterpen, I saw that hunk of asphalt hit a few folks, richoting around the peloton. Figmond was a terrible road... I was out riding yesterday and noticed my front rim is out of alignment. :(

There were some breakaways tried, but none stuck in the Cat 5 group. I was near the finish for two other groups (not sure who they were), but they seemed to finish mostly in a single pack as well, doing the all out group sprint to the finish. Seems other groups had problems breaking away also.

I was at Snelling, Cat 5. My first race.

Peterpen, I saw that hunk of asphalt hit a few folks, richoting around the peloton. Figmond was a terrible road... I was out riding yesterday and noticed my front rim is out of alignment. :(

There were some breakaways tried, but none stuck in the Cat 5 group. I was near the finish for two other groups (not sure who they were), but they seemed to finish mostly in a single pack as well, doing the all out group sprint to the finish. Seems other groups had problems breaking away also.

For anyone that thought that stretch of road was unbearable, don't even consider doing Leesville Gap. That whole race makes Figmond Road seem like Laguna Seca raceway.

For anyone that thought that stretch of road was unbearable, don't even consider doing Leesville Gap. That whole race makes Figmond Road seem like Laguna Seca raceway.

How about Copperopolis? I'm planning on running 25mm tires like Jed said, even though it means using my stock fork since they won't clear my Alpha Q. Any other advise for "The Paris-Roubaix of NorCal"?

How about Copperopolis? I'm planning on running 25mm tires like Jed said, even though it means using my stock fork since they won't clear my Alpha Q. Any other advise for "The Paris-Roubaix of NorCal"?

I am god awful on the really, really rough stuff so i'll be skipping Copperopolis as well as Leesville. In comparison, I think that Leesville is worse because the rough sections are slightly worse and much longer. Plus, they have extended gravel sections to give you a "break" from the jarring crater-like potholes. At Leesville, you'll see waterbottles and riders with pinch flats strung all over the course like an endless parade of human debris.

Obviously, make sure that your bottle cages are tight and don't bring your bling bling wheels because they are liable to get destroyed. I felt like I had sprained both my wrists last year, so you may also want to consider some gel under your bar tape (although I don't know how much good it will do you). I didn't do Copperopolis last year, but one of my teammates said "It's not that bad." The climbing is significant though and there are plenty of sections where you'll have to come out of the saddle even if you're normally a seated climber. Give yourself extra space on the descents because the whole field is liable to act sketchier around the potholes.

So are you going to do Wards Ferry instead? I'd opted for Copperopolis b/c it's a bit closer to me (and riding around Sonoma, I'm used to crap roads) but I dunno if I want to wreck my back - it gets kinda sore after all the pounding.
If I do Copper, I'll run my rear wheel all the way back for a litle extra flex (have adjustable dropouts on my KG481.) and maybe 28mm's if my fork will take 'em.

So are you going to do Wards Ferry instead? I'd opted for Copperopolis b/c it's a bit closer to me (and riding around Sonoma, I'm used to crap roads) but I dunno if I want to wreck my back - it gets kinda sore after all the pounding.
If I do Copper, I'll run my rear wheel all the way back for a litle extra flex (have adjustable dropouts on my KG481.) and maybe 28mm's if my fork will take 'em.

I did Ward's Ferry last year, and it was a fun race but I raced it on a compromised frame and the top tube broke all the way through on one of the potholes (ironically enough) so I had to abandon after the 2nd lap. I think i'll probably do Pilarcitos this year instead though, just to try something a little different. I have 25 races on my calendar so I may end up skipping that weekend all together depending on how I feel.

In comparison, I think that Leesville is worse because the rough sections are slightly worse and much longer. Plus, they have extended gravel sections to give you a "break" from the jarring crater-like potholes. At Leesville, you'll see waterbottles and riders with pinch flats strung all over the course like an endless parade of human debris.

I thought Leesville rocked for this very reason. It's a long race (by cat 4 standards) and the course is very demanding from a technical standpoint. Bikehandling was critical, almost to the degree of a mtb race. Definitely felt epic after all was said and done.

I wish they'd do it earlier in the year, though... I'll bet it's beautiful out there right now (or will be in a month for sure).

I thought Leesville rocked for this very reason. It's a long race (by cat 4 standards) and the course is very demanding from a technical standpoint. Bikehandling was critical, almost to the degree of a mtb race. Definitely felt epic after all was said and done.

I wish they'd do it earlier in the year, though... I'll bet it's beautiful out there right now (or will be in a month for sure).

True, it was 100 degrees last year which added to the already high difficulty factor. In a way, I love the course, but I just won't race it because I suck on that terrain. All kinds of folks I would normally beat were riding circles around me. The super fast, long descent was also pretty epic.

At Copperopolis last year I used Vittoria Special Pave 25(?) tubulars with 95lbs in them, I weigh 138 lbs. They were perfect- fast and comfortable, confident for descending. Copperopolis is a very hard race, but the pavement is not as bad as people make it out to be. Also, it is nothing like bad Belgian "roads". It is bumpy and you should make sure your bike is tight (just like before any race). It will be my first race of the season and I will be happy if I can finish.

I was planning on doing Copperopolis but I noticed a small crack in my frame last weekend my race plans might be on hold. Thats probabbly not a good race to go in with any kind of problems brewing. Those roads are murder on the rider and bike. Really sucks I kept putting off sending my money in for McLane RR guess I am glad I did.

I was planning on doing Copperopolis but I noticed a small crack in my frame last weekend my race plans might be on hold. Thats probabbly not a good race to go in with any kind of problems brewing. Those roads are murder on the rider and bike. Really sucks I kept putting off sending my money in for McLane RR guess I am glad I did.

There is no good race for a broken frame!