Monday, April 17, 2006

Copper-pop-olis

Levi and I were racing Copperopolis this weekend. We ride the same bikes, Specilized Tarmacs. The similarities end there:


His Tarmac is an $8500 SL, mine is a $5500 standard

He got his for free, I sacraficed a new couch for mine

He's pro, I'm shmo

The pros did 5 laps for 105 miles, we did 3 laps for 63 miles

He crushes on the climbs, I get crushed on the climbs.

Photo credit: http://www.RonaldMariano.com

Copperopolis is a great race. The course is a 21 mile loop with 1600 feet of climbing per. Starts out flat for about 3 miles then turns uphill gradually at first, but gets progressively steeper as it stair-steps to the summit which comes after about 10 minutes of climbing. Then it's fairly flat or down hill rollers for the next 12 miles or so. You usually have winds to deal with in this section, but not this year. Then another 5 minutes of climbing followed by a fast decent, a short flat, and 400 meters up hill to the finish. Calling the roads potholed is a compliment. On many sections there are so many that you can't pick a line through them. Just have to bomb right through them. Tough course, but very fun in a epic way.

12 comments:

norcalcyclingnews.com said...

aha!

another scribblin' pedaler.

coolio,
m

ginmtb said...

Charity comment.

I'm a sucker for those that need to beg for comments... :)

Once things get rollin', watch out. Welcome aboard the time wastin' train.

Have fun!

nosajpalnud said...

does your wife know about this :)

Anonymous said...

Perspective can be a bitch!

But I like it.

Nice postage.

ms

Steve Griffiths said...

Ah! Touchdown... one little begger comment to get things rolling. Thanks bloggers for helping this little startup.

JD, the wife knows... but more bike stuff from me is the last thing she wants to read so I don't expect a comment from her any time soon.

PAB(a.k.a.CID) said...

I linked here through your profile page.

i almost decided not to comment.

i ASSUME that the Coors Light thing is a joke...

Steve Griffiths said...

PAB, I know you and your gang like to throw down the vino and hard cider, but for those of us rollers trying to be climbers we have to stick with the Racers Choice i.e: Coors Light. Plus it helps not to get s#$tfaced drunk when I'm watching the toddlers.

Steve Griffiths said...

Of course, given our team name that should probably stay between us. Sierra Nevada is the off season staple.

Lothar Glerbny said...

Man it was rough out there. Lots of opportunities to perfect the bunny hopping techniques.

nosajpalnud said...

Coors Light - dude I'm not ridin' with ya any more.......

X Bunny said...

there were way too many obstacles for this bunny to hop

Steve Griffiths said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.