For those who have done both, how do the courses compare?
Is the bike hillier at Ralph’s or at Vineman?
Same question for the run, Ralph’s or Vineman?
Aside from the logistical differences in transition areas is there anything different about Vineman that is noteworthy, or a lesson learned from one year to the next?
I have done Ralph’s three times and am very familiar with the course, but this will be my first time at Vineman and just trying to do some recon and get info from those who have done it.
Ralph’s has the harder swim and bike course. The bike is about 5-8 minutes slower depending on the rider. Ralph’s tends to have wind going back and forth.
The Vineman course is absoulutely POSITIVELY gorgeous. The run is hilly but scenic and gorgeous. Vineman is my Favorite half.
Unless you are from SF area, it is a hike to get there (some friends from LA took 11 hours as they hit SF rush hour).
Plan on spening most of Saturday registering, and then driving around to drop off your run gear. PITA.
Traffic up there sucks on the weekends–getting around on Saturday & driving back Sunday post race is as bad as rush hour in LA.
I ended up walking about 300 yards of the swim due to the shallow water + another 300-400 yards where I couldn’t stroke normally w/o scrapping the bottom.
Transition 1 was sandy/muddy–lots of people have problems with the first hill combined with muddy cleats.
The bike course is really good though. Ralphs is harder. The run course is really good as well. However I prefer racing next to the ocean over the vineyards
I have heard of the somewhat nightmarish logistics of the transition areas for the Vineman, so that much I am prepared for. Was curious about the hill comparison though. People in California have a very different idea of what constitutes a hill than those of us here in the desert.
I will say that I am looking forward to the race as I have only done Ralph’s for a 1/2 and am eager to try a new course. And, it is in the middle of wine country. So, it is a win-win situation for me and my ever supportive wife. Little vino after the race sounds good to me.
This will be my 8th Vineman! I used to live in the bay area so it was a given. Now living in San Diego this will be my 4th trip up for the race. I absolutely love the race and even make the drive all the way home afterwards on Sunday, which is usually more difficult than the race itself! As everyone else has said the bike is easier than Ralph’s and the run is a bit more challenging. It can also get very HOT which can make it a bit more challenging!
Hey Gang … this year we are planning to have carpet not only on the run to your racks (as usual), BUT also a long strip on the outward section so that you can run on and keep the cleats/shoes cleaner.
Thats the plan currently with the hope we can scoop up enough carpet (it’s alot;)
Thanks Kerri and Jimmy for the kind words … Jimmy check your email & we’ll see you at the half!
Lets see, traffic was never as bad as the LA area!!!
The race was very well organized!! The swim is well organized.
The bike area is great. I had no issue getting up the hill on my bike.
I had no issues with registration. Finding the hotel for me was a little tricky and where to park. Park next to the hotel, more spaces.
It is a good drive from the hotel to the swim/bike start. I just slept in my motor home right at the old church. My wife laughed when some guy came by and tried to pick me up. The bar down the street can get pretty loud.
The problem was my crashing 3 miles into the race. Now, I want to find out how nice the bike ride is since I saw the Santa Rosa Hospital too up close and personal. I recommend others can miss this part of the race. :o)
\The Vineman course is absoulutely POSITIVELY gorgeous. The run is hilly but scenic and gorgeous. Vineman is my Favorite half.\
Living here in Santa Rosa, the way I describe the cycling around here is to say that the vineman course is probably the least scenic and interesting riding around. i only ride it when I’m doing race specific prep work. if you think the vineman course is nice… you should plan a longer vacation and do some more riding around here. I’m not kidding, yes it is that good.
A few race tips-
if you leave much more than your wetsuit and goggles in T1 to be transported to T2, bring your own bag with your number clearly labeled on it. I did the T1 transisiton bag loading and transporting to the finish line for both races last year. the bags they give you at check in for your stuff don’t hold squat, and the string tie rips out of it when it’s over stuffed. I can’t even describe the amount of lose stuff flying in the back of the transition bag truck. I’m amazing that more people don’t lose stuff. Bottom line is, if you’ve got a fair amount of junk in transition, bring your own bag and make sure your number is clearly visible in multiple locations.
if you care about speed and leave your shoes on your bike- I bring an extra water bottle on my bike that I use to rinse my feet off after i’m up to speed on river road (and before I put them into my cycling shoes). I chuck the bottle at the first aid station. As someone commented, the transition area is a dirt/gravel parking lot that quickly is transformed to a gritty mud. They do try to put carpet down on a lot of the transisiton area, but it is still dirty. I lost a fair amount of skin one off my feet one year during the full vineman from having the grit in my cycling shoes.
Life is a lot easier if you can have someone deliver your car to the finish line for you. I’m local and have always had someone who could ferry the car over. I don’t know how well the shuttle works, but it’s got to be a pain.
the hills on the run course get significantly bigger on the way back.
the mornings can be quite cool and foggy - be prepared to start the bike in 50 degree weather and have someplace to put your sunglasses if the fog is bad - you won’t be able to see out of them. Arm warmers, etc. can be nice.
Slow down for the turn onto sunrise road off of river road, someone crashes here every year. it’s sharper than a 90 degree bend and downhill. and shift into the little chainring as you go under the bridge to prepare for the short steep section that starts westside road. If your’e a stong cyclist, this and the very top of chalk hill are the only two places where you need the little chain ring. The climb up canyon at 25-30 miles is pretty mellow and can be punched in the big ring.
have anything you need post-race in your T2/finish line bag, and not in your T1 bag. there is no guarentee that your T1 bag will be unloaded and ready for you when you finish. this is especially true if you’re young and fast - your bag is the first into the truck and the last one off. make sure your only car keys are not in your T1 bag - you don’t want to have to wait for the bag to be unloaded before going to get your car. Have clean clothes and shower stuff in your T2 bag that you leave over night, there are showers at the finish line in the local high school.
Don’t draft. Russ and Dave request and pay for more marshalls than any other USAT race in the country.
That’s all I have off the top of my head. feel free to PM me or post here if you have any other questions. Come visit Sonoma county and enjoy your stay.
And if you have time after the race…let me know and I’ll show you some road riding you won’t believe.
Jeff makes pretty valid points … but don’t get sucked into anything he wants to ride on dirt
Unfortunately there are NOT showers available in the high school any longer because of the atrocious mess that was always created … BUT there are outdoor showers near the finish.
Jeff. i’m off to the airport … my best for an “enjoyable” 211 miles on Saturday (you know 211 is 112 backwards … if you can push buttons on the phone when it’s over give me shout to let me know how it went!
\… but don’t get sucked into anything he wants to ride on dirt \
Riding dirt is fun. Dave just has bad memories of the stream crossings on one ride. Don’t pay attention to him.
\… my best for an “enjoyable” 211 miles on Saturday (you know 211 is 112 backwards … if you can push buttons on the phone when it’s over give me shout to let me know how it went!\
220+ miles actually, i’m planning on riding to and from the start (it just seems wrong to get in the car for 6 or 7 miles to drive to a double century). Will give you a call when it’s over, wish me luck against the stinky tourist guy.
Thanks for the information, THAT was exactly the type of stuff that I was hoping I would get from my OP.
I happen to think that Santa Rosa and Napa both are really very scenic. My wife and I have spent time in several areas for winery trips. Our best being in Santa Rosa staying in Sebastopol. We were only there for three days with no time for riding, but I had a couple great runs from the B&B we stayed at.
Thanks again everyone for the information. See you all out there!
BTW, since you live out there, got any recommendations for a good breakfast? Maybe a champagne breakfast? Sunday is my day, for racing anyway. Monday is my wife’s day, for winery tours and such. We tend to enjoy the smaller more intimate wineries over the larger more commercialized wineries like KJ. Not that they don’t have something offer, we just prefer the those that are a bit more toned down. Any winery recommendations would be great too! Thanks!
Done Vineman twice and Ralph’s 3x…why didn’t ya just ask me? Course differences have been pretty well discussed above. My best time at Vineman is about 6 min faster than my PR at Ralph’s (not this year).
While the Vineman course is beautiful and faster, I prefer Ralph’s because it’s a better fit for me…more of a “zone” course. Vineman is much twistier and turnier…got to pay attention…not so much my cup of tea.
You and the wife will have a great time in the Santa Rosa area…do the race once if only for that!
You know, I honestly don’t know why I did not ask… I SHOULD have though!! Guess I was just not thinking. Not uncommon for me these days!
I thought this would be a good 1/2 to meet everyone’s needs/desires for a trip. I get to race and we get to tour wineries. Twist my arm…
Glad you posted, I have been meaning to PM you. My wife is going to Tucson friday night, so I am a no-go for saturday. We’ll have to figure out another time, but probaly the soonest would be two weeks, so the 9th I guess.
Are you riding this weekend? You interested in a sunday ride? My saturday is pretty much completely shot for workouts. Let me know!
Best breakfast in town (other than blueberry pancakes at my place) is probably the omelet express. it’s in railroad square in santa rosa, directly across from the host hotel (vinyard creek, or whatever it is called now). cross west third street at the light and omelet express is on one of the side streets to your right. I’m sure there are other good breakfast places in the surrounding towns, but I’m not familiar with them.
I don’t know much about the wine scene around here. I can tell you what wineries are on the tops of which climbs, but that’s about it. There are wineries all over the place though. the best advice I can give is to get a Santa rosa map at the local gas station- the one that they all seem to carry has the wineries marked on it. And if you want the smaller wineries, then stay off of the major road through Napa county (on the west side of the valley). go out and get lost.
If you want to take a nice drive and see some redwoods, the coast, etc. I’d recommend going ~3 miles past guerneville on river road, turn left on bohemian highway, go ~7 miles to occidental, stop in the union hotel bakery for some excellent pastries, or at the west pole cafe. then turn right on coleman valley road (after 3 miles or so it will join with Joy road and you’ll need to turn right to stay on coleman valley). take coleman valley out to the coast, ~12 miles. when you hit highway 1, turn right and go up the coast to goat rock, ~8 miles or so. Just past goat rock is where river road (highway 116) hits highway 1. You can take river road back to guerneville. if you go north on highway 1 just past river road you’ll hit the town of jenner- there are some good clam chowder places and such there.
I describe coleman valley road as one of the best cycling routes around here that you don’t have to ride all day to get to.
It is indeed a beautiful course…but it’s way too technical for most of us to gaze upon the vineyards. It, as someone else has mentioned, is a “pay attention” type of course…some of the roads are a bit rough as well, and an errant viewpoint could spell disaster!
As everyone else has said the bike is easier than Ralph’s and the run is a bit more challenging. It can also get very HOT which can make it a bit more challenging!
… see you in CDA!