Napa, California.

How to get there from Fremont:

Take 680 North, passing through Pleasanton, Walnut Creek and Martinez. Cross over Benicia Bridge ($2.00 toll) and remain on the right side to continue on I-680 to exit onto I-80 (left lane exit), signposted to CA-12 / Napa / San Francisco. Continue north for about 6 miles to merge onto Jameson Canyon road / CA-12 toward Napa / Sonoma. After 1 1/2miles turn slight left onto CA-12 west / Ca-29 north. After only a quarter of a mile turn left onto Soscol Ferry Road. Continue, passing under highway to park in this vicinity.

Time to location by car from Fremont (Niles):

Approx. 1 hour 20 minutes if the freeway flows. Entrants for the early races should not encounter much traffic. The return to the East Bay is another story.

Parking and other info:

Parking is on the streets in the local area before the race circuit. Finding a space should not be difficult.

There are suitable local roads that can be used for a good warm-up. Just ride back along Soscol Ferry Road but continue past where you turn off the main highway, the road dead-ends about ½ mile further south. The course is completely closed. Porta potties are provided at the circuit close to registration.

Downtown Napa is only 10-15 minutes drive away, so making the day of it can be easily done. All the usual attractions of the region, wine, food and antiques.

The Course, street by street:

The course is the same one as used last year. It is a clockwise 1-mile closed loop with 2 90-degree right turns and one looping right and then a sharp left turn (at the base of the hill). The hill has a maximum grade of approx. 6% and is approximately 250 - 300 yards long. At the top of the slope is one 180-degree turn.

The course uses the following roads. The start finish is on the southbound side of Napa Valley Corporate Drive. From the start/finish line, go only 25 (was 50 yards in existing description) yards to turn the 180 degree to descend on the north bound side of Napa Valley Corporate Drive for 450 yards. Ninety degree right onto Napa Valley Corporate Way for 200 yards. Turn 90 degree right onto Trefethen Way, which loops to the right for 750 yards to turn sharp left onto Napa Valley corporate Drive.

It is approximately 150 yards from the left turn to the finish line.

Other stuff you might need to know:

The road surface is fair to excellent the whole way around except there is a bad section just after the 180 degree turn that can be classified as bad. Several water bottles have been ejected at this section. There is another potholed section after the first right at the bottom of the hill, again water bottles have been launched here. The only other hazards are bot dots. Lightweight wheels and tires are O.K., weather dependent.

This is the first proper race of the season and a lot of guys and girls train up to it. I have seen two way's of winning here. Option 1 is the solo breakaway with many laps remaining, which may induce a small breakaway group. If you're solid on the hill and can maintain a decent pace on the rest of the course you can stay away. The other type of win I have seen is the monster attack on the last lap of the race. This is of course the less certain way to get a decent placing, but seems to be the preferred race tactic.

Gearing for the hill will depend upon your ability and weight. As a cat 4 rider I rode up on 53x17. Your basically on the big ring for the whole race unless they really slow down for the start finish hill / slope. The major consideration for your gearing will depend upon how fast you can get around the 180 degree at the top of the slope. Some riders on the inside will be down to under 10 mph.

This is a race in February and as such the weather can be temperamental. Take a good selection of wet weather racing gear, just in case. Also, do not be too disappointed if you do not have a good race. Don't forget, just 6 weeks ago you was eating way too much at Christmas.

A map of the area (courtesy Scott Regan):

There is a slight error in the map: the 180 turn is north of the road seen going to the right, not on the south side of it.