RCY RIDE
REPORT
Amgen Tour of
California - Stage 6
View from the top of Balcom
Canyon
Saturday
02-23-2008
Although we are primarily
a mountain bike riding group and web site, some of us
occasionally leave the dirt and hit the pavement. On Saturday a group of
us decided to ride the road in what I hope will become an annual
tradition. The Amgen Tour of California (California's young version of Le
Tour de France) was winding its way from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita during
its sixth stage, and seven of us rode out to watch the category 4 climb up the
very steep Balcom Canyon located in the hills northwest of the town of
Moorpark.
Our webmaster Rod brilliantly
suggested the ride and 7 showed up at the Keuhner Road pink shopping center
off the 118 freeway in eastern Simi Valley with road bikes in tow. Rod,
Jamshyd, Nelson, Dean, Efi, Mickey, and Robco arrived around 9:30 to begin the
skinny-tired pedal across Simi Valley. 26 miles and around 1700 feet of
elevation gain later we arrived at the top of Balcom Canyon where festivities
had already begun. Bicycling fans lined the twisty highway near the
summit, sitting in lawn chairs, food set out on folding tables outside of RVs,
kids running around in miniature cycling clothes--all anticipating the arrival
of the peloton.
Jamshyd, Efi, and Mickey could
not stay long--apparently honey-do's awaiting them at home--and so left for the
return trek. The remaining 4 of us joined the colorful crowd, wandering up
and down the road taking in all the sites, smells and sounds. (all photos
compliments of Rod and his cell phone; edited by Robco)
As Dean inspects the
asphalt surface, he and Rob ring red cow bells handed out by
Toyota
to cheer on
the riders in front of one of this stage's King of the Mountain (KOM) competition
lines
Toyota also gave out
'chalk' allowing racing fans to write and draw messages to their
favorites.
Below, Nelson, Rob
and Dean find a message apparently written by an RCY
groupie!
Recently returned
from celebrating his 60th birthday in Death Valley, Rob finally meets the Grim
Reaper.
Also in attendance
at the race were a costumed angel and the Pope bestowing
blessings....strange bike racing fans
After almost 2 hours of
waiting the riders approached.....
Official vehicle
after official vehicle cleared the path up Balcom Canyon for the
riders
The 6 man breakaway
precedes the peloton by about 5 minutes
Finally the peloton
arrives!!!
In a flash the
peloton arrives and in seconds they are gone
After all of that waiting the
riders pass in moments and the crowd begins to disband. But it was worth
it. An exciting afternoon watching the crazy fans and the world's top
professional riders race in perhaps the United States' premier stage race.
We remount our bikes and under cloudy, cool, and sometimes slightly drizzly
skies, we head the 26 miles back to our vehicles. All in all a most unique
and enjoyable RCY ride.
Already looking forward to
next year,
Robco
Baggins
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RCYMountainBiking.com
Topo Map of the Ride
Amgen Tour De California 2008 Road Ride 23Feb08
