Mt. Tamalpais Hill Climb
Golden Gate Velo and IronDataThirstyBearCycling.com host the
50th Mt. Tamalpais Hill Climb
presented by Joseph Mendes, real estate and loan services
Saturday, September 15, 2012
12 miles, 2,000 feet of climbing
9/13 update: pre-registration is closed, but on-site registration will be available. We have a good bit of space in all fields except Category 5A, which has 43 racers pre-registered. The 5B field has a lot of space as does Public so we should be able to accommodate everyone on race day. Weather forecast looks great - probably some fog at the start but getting warm & sunny. Come on out to Stinson and make a day of it!
Registration and Start Line at Stinson Beach Park, US Highway 1, Stinson Beach, CA. Race goes north up Highway 1, right on Bolinas-Fairfax Road, right on Ridgecrest, finishing at the Rock Spring parking lot on the West Peak of Mt. Tam. Results will be posted at Stinson.
RACE SCHEDULE
Registration will open at 7:30, and close 15 minutes before each race.
Note: Registration will close if we reach our permit limit of 500 total racers, even if room remains in your category. Pre-registration highly recommended (online only).
| Category | Start Time | Entry Fee | Prizes | Field Limit (see note) |
| Elite 1/2/Pro | 9:00 | $35 | 6 | 50 |
| Masters 45+ 1/2/3 | 9:05 | $35 | 3 | 50 |
| Juniors 10-16 & 17-18 | 9:10 | $15 | 3 + 3 | 25 + 25 |
| Elite 3 | 9:15 | $35 | 3 | 50 |
| Masters 35+ 1/2/3 | 9:20 | $35 | 3 | 50 |
| Masters 40+ Cat 4 | 9:25 | $35 | 3 | 50 |
| Elite 5A | 9:35 | $35 | 3 | 50 |
| Women 1/2/3/Pro and Women 4 (picked separately) | 9:40 | $35 | 3 + 3 | 30 + 30 |
| Masters 55+ 1/2/3/4 | 9:45 | $35 | 3 | 50 |
| Elite 5B | 9:50 | $35 | 3 | 50 |
| Elite 4 | 9:55 | $35 | 3 | 50 |
| Public Men & Women | 10:00 | $25 | 3 | 50 |
Online registration is now closed. $10 additional fee for registration on race day. Prizes are T-shirts and merchandise, plus $500 in cash in the Elite/1/2/Pro race. Held under USA Cycling event permit & rules. A current racing license is required in all races. Day licenses are available for a $10 fee for Elite 5 men, Elite 4 women, and Public race categories. The Public category, a long-time Tam tradition, is an Elite 5 race by the rules but is intended for those looking for a less competitive feel to the event.
EVENT NOTES: PARKING, WARMUPS, ETC.
Marshals will direct you to the parking area - please obey them as well as the rangers on site. Our permit allows parking only in limited areas at Stinson.
We've been asked to keep Stinson Beach town as clear as possible and for that reason, marshals will direct you to warm up by heading north on Highway 1 until 10 minutes before the first race start - after that the starting area will be tied up with race staging and you won't be able to exit. You may want to bring a trainer or rollers to warm up in the parking lot.
After the finish, please descend to Stinson where we'll post all results by approximately noon. Officials will not post any results at the finish line. If you stay in the Rock Spring area, stay off the road and follow marshals' instructions - it's essential that we keep Ridgecrest and the intersection clear.
SAFE-RACING TIPS
As a hill climb Tam can be a very safe race, because the pack quickly spreads out on the climb and it's more like a time trial. But here are a few course-specific tips to keep in mind in addition to the general principles of safe racing;
- Pavement is generally good and Highway 1 was resurfaced recently in the area that had a lot of potholes.
- Don't take risks on Highway 1, it just doesn't matter. Think of Hwy 1 as the warm-up before the climb and don't bother fighting for position - that's been the area of the handful of severe crashes in this event. Every group usually stays together and your positioning matters very little to your result - it's a hill climb after all. Officials, motos and follow vehicles will enforce a strict centerline rule both along Highway 1 and on Ridgecrest. That means if you go over the centerline, even accidentally, you will immediately be disqualified from the race.
- Foggy? Watch for greasy pavement in the trees near the BoFax/Ridgecrest junction, and possibly during that last fast stretch before the finish line. And if the fog is in heavy, consider bringing a shell or vest for the descent.
- The Cattle Grate is still there right after the turn off Highway 1 onto Bolinas-Fairfax Road. The main risk is that the rider in front of you slows down, not knowing the general rule on cattle grates (just ride straight over them).
Course map - same as always:
