Okay, WF registration is in a few days. So, now that both of these Halfs are on the same day, and WF Oly is on Sunday, what are folks thinking?
I know I want to do the Oroville Sprint on the 12th, and the Auburn half on the 20th. So, not sure I want to do a half of the 3rd. WF is much further drive, camping is always tough, and coming back Sunday is always killer traffic. But, there are always so many great folks there.
So, having a tough time deciding which race to do.
Dave
I don’t think you could drag me to Wildflower.
why not?
If you haven’t done Wildflower before, go do it. Everyone has to do it once, and when you are done, you will know what Aztec is talking about. Don’t worrk about signing up the day of,the last two years it has taken over a month to fill up.
I have done Wf OLY the last 2 years. I thought it was a lot of fun. Never had seen so many great bikes in one spot in my life. So, this is why I am wondering what I am missing.
That’s like asking if you’d rather do NYC/Chicago/LA/insert any very large marathon here or Podunkville Marathon. Like John said, everyone should do WF once. My preference for that weekend will be the Wine Country Century in Santa Rosa.
clm
No desire to do the napa half on that weekend?
No desire to do any Envirosports triathlon, ever. I think he charges way too much for what he delivers. I will do his running races.
I’ve done WCC a number of times and it’s a great ride, super support and the price is fair, so I’ll be back there again in 2006.
clm
I don’t understand why WF gets such a bad rap on this website? I did it for the first time last year and will probably put it on my race calendar every year. It’s one of the most challenging bike and run courses in the US, the huge field is awesome, great buzz all over. You couldn’t pay me to camp though, hotel in Paso Robles all the way. Just my opinion, I’ll be there.
H
…or a condo across the street at Lake Naciamento.
We’ll bring the ski boats and do a couple of sets on the lake to warm up!
Yeah, the course is great and all, but it used to be a better experience. I like going down earlier in the year and doing a training weekend, staying in the cabins, but race weekend is a zoo, it’s a hassle to get there (wasting 2 training days, which for me is why I’m not going in 2006), plus, the prices are totally jacked up, which I don’t like. And if you don’t camp, you miss out on the WF experience, IMO.
clm
I’m kinda with Cathy on the no Envirosports triathlons. Trail races, absolutely, but anything else…just have heard too many spotty reports about the events the last few years. Admittedly, it has been a while since I’ve done one of his tris so my opinion might not be fair…but I would still probably stay away from his Napa race until and unless there are some rave reviews coming out of it.
As for Wildflower…I’ve always wanted to do that race but it never fell on the calendar at the right time for me. Now that I can be a bit more flexible with my work schedule, I’ve no desire to put up with the hassles surrounding the event. 10, 20 years ago—I’d be there in a heartbeat. Now as I’ve “mellowed” around the edges—okay, maybe “softened up” is a better term—I look for a bit easier logistics and nicer surroundings leading up to a race.
We had some good family friends that camped out by the Russian River during Vineman Half this year, and it seemed like it could be a cool experience as we hung out with them while waiting for my wave to go off…until I went and visited the bathroom and shower area. You know, there are just certain creature comforts that I have found I need to have as I age.
One nice thing about taking motor homes to a race, always the nice comforts of home.
Dave
take 152 to 5 and there is no traffic
.
Good point.
Tough calls. WF does have the atmosphere even if it is crowded. But, if I am just going to a race day, Napa is so much closer, probably cooler, and a lot less folks. (A little cheaper but what the heck.)
Dave
No I’m going to be a wuss and do the Auburn sprint.
Long way for a short race, but I would like to see if I can win the overall mtb again at WF though.
I thought the Half Vineman was kind of a pain logistically. T1 and T2 are ten miles apart. You need to go the night before and set up your T2 stuff. Bring a big zip lock to put your shoes in or they will be damp. You also have to wait forever to get a bus back to T1 and pick up your car. They don’t allow bikes on the bus so you have to then drive back to T2 to get your bike.
Wildflower is great and their are no cars on the bike leg. I love that. It drives me crazy when people say "I’m to cool to go do ‘this or that’ " because they did something a few times before it got popular. Blah, blah, blah, disco sucks and it must have been only one person who bought a hundred million disco albums in the 70’s because everyone else was too cool to have ever listened to disco.
That being said you can’t go wrong with either. They both have their pos and neg’s.
I agree, they are both different. Last year is was a non issue, different weekends so I did them both. This year same weekend, have to choose. Was much easier camping at Napa, much lower key event. But, WF is run so well. I dont like choices. :o)
Dave
Wildflower is great and their are no cars on the bike leg.<<
Hmm, not sure which WF you did, but there was traffic all over the LC last year.