The Tour is a rain or shine event. We’ll be prepared for the rain and the rest stops will have a mechanic at each stop with warm drink and more.
With rain in the forecast we suggest a couple of things for you to be prepared.
Jacket, full finger gloves, Knee/Leg Warmers, and shoe covers will ensure you have an enjoyable ride.
Visit your local bike shop or REI Rancho to gear up if you don’t already have the right winter gear.
Please be aware that Tour de Foothills will be held late in the Fall Season. Daylight savings ends the week before our event. Due to reduced daylight hours, we will be establishing cut off times and route diversions on the course when necessary to ensure your return to the park under safe lighting conditions. Details will be provided at the start. Be assured if you start the Highlander Century at the designated starting time of 7:00 AM and maintain at least a 13 mph average speed, including all stops, you'll be able to complete the entire Highlander Century. If you begin the Metric Century at the designated starting time of 8:00 AM and maintain an average speed of at least 10 mph, including stops, you'll be able to complete the entire Metric Century Route.
The forecast calls for some drenching rains with few breaks from Friday to Sunday. Riding up the GMR & then down the really windy section to the East Fork sounds a bit suicidal to me.
We’re going to make sure the ride is as safe as possible. The official route will be announced the day of the ride. Hope to see you there! We’ll keep the website and facebook updated as we have more information for riders.
Just take your time and stay off the paint in the road. Depending on the force of the rain I may or may not be riding.
Great advise for riding in the rain. Hope to see you there.
Say what ” if it isnt raiining we aint training
Brings extra pairs of socks and install those splash guards! I’m also concerned about the descent from GMR.
I have to second all those concerns for desending down GMR, I have ridden that area often and a wet, steep, twising road, sounds like there will be a great potential to slide out on the corners…that area is well known for the cars and motorcycles driving fast!
For tandum riders it seems the risks are doubled.
Is there anyway to receive a refund?
A wet 47 degrees at 20+mph. Can you say namonia?
I came down the fork road in pouring rain last year, and while I made it down safely, can’t say it was much fun. Not sure I would do it again.
I think everybody’s concern is pretty legitimate. Organizers should really be concerned of the safety of their riders. I know we ride rain or shine but coming down GMR at over 30 miles per hour on a wet & slippery road would be a disaster and no gear can prepare u for that nor prevent it. I maybe riding easy but the person next to me might not. Refund? Re-schedule? Just wanna ride and get home to my family in one piece.
Gerry- You are absolutely correct. We want everyone to be safe on the ride. Depending on the weather we will have an alternate route that doesn’t include GMR.
I’m sure that it’s a HUGE undertaking to put an event like this together, but it would be an absolute catastrophe if the rain and steep descent caused even one rider a serious injury. I love to ride, and I’ve been looking forward to this Century in particular, but this is starting to sound a little absurd. I may just have to eat the registration fee and look for another Century that makes more sense.
I think I’ll let this one go. Not too crazy. My safety is worth more than the $70 registration fee. Very dangerous descent in the rain
I feel better now. I though I was being a wimp for not wanting to ride GMT in the rain.
Screw it, I’m riding!
The lure of this year’s century was to be able to ride up GMR and part of Baldy. If that part of the century was removed, then I and many other cyclists would be very bummed out. TDF becomes just another ordinary tour
The GMR-Eastfork route is what makes this century stand apart from the others. Those riders that take risks down the backside of GMR in the rain would have taken risks in dry weather as well. This isn’t baseball, we don’t quit when it gets wet.
my girl, I and a few other friends trained hard for this ride. the idea of riding part of GMR and Baldy sounded like a very cool challenge. but there is no way any of us will be riding these roads in the rain. safety is a priority! even if route changes a large portion of this century is through city streets. car drivers have a hard enough time maneuvering their vehicles in rain alone. throwing bike riders into the mix is just asking for trouble. refunds should be made available to those concerned more about their safety rather than checking off another century from their list.
Just wanted to confirm that we can pick up our bib # and check-in on Sat morning instead of Friday night.
I second what Roger and many others are saying. Safety is a priority. The challenge is what brought many of us to this race and why we signed up. We are all aware of the challenge but Challenging and Dangerous are not the same. (Rain) + (Cars, Open Road, Bikes, Treacherous Road). Lets not add to the Las Flores Canyon Tragedy that happened just recently. I will not be riding in the rain.
It’s always, always about the money. Upland is not going to give any of it back
Mike- Yes you can pick everything up Sat. Morning. See you there!
wimps, geez, wait for spring time & ride in the sunshine
Never ridden in cosiderable rain so i have no opinion but just that i’ll ride it and take precautions as i go but rain or no rain iam there.
Dear Admin,
If it rains Friday night and remains a 50% chance of rain on Saturday will you eliminate GMR and Mt. Baldy from the course?
Brian-As of now GMR and Mt. Baldy are still part of the Highlander Century Ride.
Was really looking forward to going up and down GMR and ACR. Have gone up and down Hwys 338, 18 and 38 during Ride Around hte Bear several times in the rain. Just SLOW down and don’t lean over, and ride lower pressures. But RATB is usually in warm weather. 40-45 degrees at 15-30 mph for 7+ hours does not sound fun. If it is raining at the start, no go for me. If I get caught out in it, oh well. The promo says rain or shine, so I don’t expect a refund, the money is for a good cause. Just hope for better weather next year, cus I will be signing up!
From my experience cycling in the rain is only for experienced
Cyclist . It takes a lot of determination , I rode in the rain last weekend and everything gets wet , now riding at 3,300 ft. Above sea level it gets colder even with the rain , my opinion is if you trained really good for this ride and your a strong rider go for it , because I know if I was stronger I would do this ride rain or shine, riding in the rain will only build your confidence more and make you feel stronger . For those that think that the risk doubles yes your right but also remember that cycling is a dangerous sport and we all take risks everytime we ride , and without risks where would we be ? In conclusion please leave the rain to the real cyclist that trained properly and knows how to take risks
Good luck cyclists
Hector
Wow! A lot excuses for backing out. This ride and all others are challenges. That is why we do them. I hope we don’t always stay off our bikes just because it is raining and there will be car traffic. You can always slow down on GMR and avoid competitive packs.
Can’t agree with you more, Xavier Torres. Everyone!!! No matter what the conditions, cycling has a risk component. Does not really matter if it is raining or not, and the risk component does not necessarity go up if it is raining. Your stats or getting hurt riding are pretty much exactly the same on a 80 degree perfect Sat weekend as on a rainy descent. Check your stats before you post undeducated comments and request route changes, when really you have no clue what your are talking about. The majority here are writing as if cycling had not risk components whatsoever, and a sunny 76.5 degree day with slight westerly breezes would guarantee a safe descent and ride. Not true whatsoever. I signed up for the century, main reason being I expect to do GMR and Baldy. Those are the main components that make this ride worth coming to. Considering it is November, and the event is “rain or shine” “no refunds” I did take into account that it might rain, and I am prepared for that. WHY ARE WE EVEN DISCUSSING ROUTE CHANGES OR REFUNDS!!!!????? If you do not want to ride, you have the choice of staying at home and watching college football.
OK you riders that stayed at home missed a great ride, sure a little rain on GMR and the cold on East Fork but you missed the greatest rest stops ever. At the top of GMR was a party like you never have seen on one of these rides and after East Fork they had heaters and lots of food to warm you up.
If you don’t want to ride with the Big Dogs stay on the porch.