The 2010 Grizzly Peak Century will take place Sunday, May 2, 2010. Here is detailed information about it. If you have questions not answered on these pages, send them to century@GrizzlyPeakCyclists.org .
Registration information is on the separate registration page, here.
Deadlines and fees for 2010 are described in the registration information. A Release of Liability must be signed.
If you are under 18 a parent or guardian must sign the release for minors, and must also sign the Minor's Medical Release, which is returned with the application and will be given back to you at registration and must be carried with you on the ride.
The start location is Campolindo High School, 300 Moraga Rd, Moraga. From Highway 24 eastbound take the Central Lafayette/Oak Hill exit and go right on Oak Hill, left on Mt Diablo and right on Moraga Rd. From Highway 24 westbound take the Central Lafayette exit and go right on Deer Hill, right on First, right on Mt Diablo and left on Moraga Rd. Each of the above turns is at the first opportunity.
Go South on Moraga Rd for about 2.3 miles. Turn Right on Campolindo Dr where attendants will direct you to the available parking. Google has a map to the start.
Please CARPOOL if at all possible. Parking spaces in the high school's parking lot are limited.
For your convenience we have a car-free check-in station at the Island rest stop in Tilden Park. If you wish, you may bike there from home. It is only for pre-registered riders who bike there. Island rest stop has no parking for riders' cars. All available parking spaces there are reserved for century workers' vehicles.
There are three routes to choose from, all of them very hilly: 73 miles; 104 miles; and 112 miles.
The 73 mile route (5750 ft. climb) consists of the North (or morning) Loop. It climbs the east side of the Oakland-Berkeley hills via Pinehurst Road, then follows the ridge up and over Grizzly Peak and into Tilden Park. It then drops down alongside San Pablo Reservoir and heads north to the edge of the Bay and the Carquinez Strait. From there it climbs McEwen Road for a run down into Franklin Canyon and Alhambra Valley, then over Pig Farm Hill and through the hills around Briones Regional Park and Reservoir. Finally, one more short sharp climb on Rheem Blvd. takes you back to the start for lunch at mile 73. Here are links to the north loop map (PDF) and the north loop cue sheet (PDF).
The 104 mile route (roughly 8000 ft. climb) consists of the North Loop before lunch followed by the 31 mile South Out-and-Back. After lunch, you travel through Redwood and Anthony Chabot Regional Parks to the Proctor/Redwood rest stop at northern edge of Castro Valley, turn around, and follow the same route back. The 104 mile route is not mentioned on the registration form.
The 112 mile route (8550 ft. climb) consists of the North Loop before lunch followed by the 39 mile South Loop. After lunch, you follow the same route as the Out-and-Back up to Redwood Road (mile 80). At that point you turn right in order to loop around Redwood and Anthony Chabot Regional Parks via Skyline Blvd and Lake Chabot Rd. At the Proctor/Redwood rest stop you rejoin the Out-and-Back route and return via Redwood Road.
Here are links to the south map (PDF) and the south cue sheet (PDF) which describe both the Out-and-Back and Loop versions.
We also have a Google Earth tour of the route.
Rider check-in is 6:30 to 8:30am at Campolindo (7:30 to 10:00am if you use the alternative car-free start). We urge slower riders to get an early morning start, and if doing the full 112 mile route to start the afternoon loop by 2:00pm — see the table below.
All full-century riders must start the afternoon loop (or out-and-back) by 3:00pm. It is hillier than the morning loop and your average speed will be slower.
All full-century riders who arrive at the intersection of Pinehurst and Redwood Rds (mile 80) after 3:15pm must turn left and do the South Out-and-Back (104 mile route), not the full South Loop (112 mile route).
Food service at the start/lunch/finish (Campolindo): Hot food is available 11am until 4pm. Cold food is available until 6pm.
Overall closing time is 6:00pm. That's one hour earlier than 2007 and prior years. We won't try to haul you off the course at 6pm (these are public roads, you can ride all night if you want!) but at 6pm our volunteers will be packing up to go home.
Rest stop closing times: Island, 10:30am. Port Costa, 1:00pm. Briones, 2:30pm. Proctor/Redwood, 5:45pm. SAG support on each course segment ends correspondingly.
Start early and don't linger at lunch if you want to complete the entire 104 or 112 mile route . . . especially if you want food at the end! Briones and Proctor stay open late to support people who ride only the North Loop or ride home directly from Proctor. Their closing times are too late for people attempting either of the full century routes.
Slower riders attempting a full century. It is a challenge! You need to keep moving. Here are suggested timetables if you want to finish the full 112 mile route before the 6pm food cutoff. A rider who averages 11mph rolling speed between rest stops (which is midpoint of GPC's T pace) can afford only 10 minutes at check-in and rest stops and only 20 minutes at lunch, as shown in the table. That's not much! A rider who averages 12mph rolling speed can afford 15 minutes at rest stops and 30 minutes at lunch. A better choice, if you're running slow, is the 104 mile route. It is still a full century!
| milepoint | 11mph rider | 12mph rider | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check-in | 0.0 | 06:30-06:40 | 06:30-06:45 |
| Island | 19.8 | 08:28-08:38 | 08:24-08:39 |
| Port Costa | 44.2 | 10:51-11:01 | 10:41-10:56 |
| Briones | 61.4 | 12:34-12:44 | 12:22-12:37 |
| Lunch | 73.3 | 13:49-14:09 | 13:36-14:06 |
| 104 mile route | |||
| Proctor | 88.7 | 15:33-15:43 | 15:23-15:38 |
| Finish | 104.1 | 17:07 | 16:55 |
| 112 mile route | |||
| Proctor | 96.9 | 16:18-16:28 | 16:04-16:19 |
| Finish | 112.3 | 17:52 | 17:36 |
The table is not fully realistic. It optimistically assumes the same rolling speed for the afternoon loop, but in fact it is hillier plus you will be tired by then.
Our famous Grizzly Peak Century lunch is hearty, homemade, and hot — gourmet cycling food with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. The four rest stops along the way provide fruit, handcrafted cookies, homemade breads, and more prosaic carbs.
Drinks, etc. We provide lime gatorade, water, and some sodas. We do not provide sports gels or bars, nor any other sports drinks other than what may be provided by our sponsors. If you need these, bring your own.
Route maps and cue sheets are provided. The routes are clearly marked where permitted.
Basic mechanic service is available at most rest stops. Mechanics can make emergency fixes, but don't expect them to replace a derailer or overhaul your headset.
SAG vehicles patrol the route. They will help you if they can, and they will transport you forward on the course if need be. SAG drivers carry spare cables, tubes, and tires (common sizes only). You'll be asked to pay for any supplies used; carry some cash. Outside of emergencies, the SAG drivers' first duty is to aid riders who are continuing under their own power. Keep this in mind if you accept a ride from them. SAG drivers are not mechanics, nor taxi drivers.
Grizzly Peak Cyclists offer a Century-Preparation Ride Series at no cost, consisting of one ride per weekend for the six weeks prior to the century. The rides start at 25 miles and work up to 55 miles; they are about as hilly as the century itself. Those who complete the series should have no trouble completing at least the North Loop (which exceeds a metric century). For information see the GPC Ride Series Page or e-mail rideseries2@GrizzlyPeakCyclists.org.
The 2010 Century was photographed by West World Images.
Find your picture here.
Professional massage by Cathy Dana, C.M.T., will be available at the lunch/finish between noon and 4pm - and later, if demand continues. Cost: FREE! ( Tip bucket available.) A member of Team Alameda cycling club, Cathy has ridden in the Wine Country Century. For the last two years, she has parked her massage table at Turtle Rock, the start/finish of the Death Ride, where riders eagerly lined up for her services. Stop by at the end of your ride and get those hard-worked legs and back relaxed . you have earned it! Visit her website.
Every year, we make significant donations out of the proceeds raised from the Grizzly Peak Century to organizations and causes which promote or help bicycling in some way — be it advocacy, safety, education, awareness, or the bicycling environment. In 2009, we donated $12,300. See our donations page for specifics.
We thank our 2010 sponsors and supporting organizations! Please see the complete list of sponsors, here.
For some background on what the Grizzly Peak Century is like, you might want to read about prior centuries. We have information on the 1996, and 1995 Grizzly Peak Centuries.
We also have some Ancient History dating from 1968! And yet more old history from the 70's.