East Bay Dirt Classic

We’re closing out a gorgeous weekend and a number of cyclists took advantage of the weather to get out and give the 2022 EBDC course a go. For those interested in seeing the 2022 East Bay Dirt Classic Leaderboard, please click here.

In our last post I mentioned the tricky route finding parts. Despite being afraid of dirt, our tech wunderkind got out on a mountain bike this weekend and shot some videos of the sections I mentioned in my last post. I am including them below.

Segment 3: Badger’s Bump: This video shows the merge from the upper Sinawik Loop down onto the lower Sinawik trail and the end of the segment with the sharp left turn up to the observation area above Bishop’s Walk. The segment ends just before the quick left turn uo to the observation area.

Video of last 1/4 of segment 3, Badger’s Bump

Segment 4: Angry Ray’s Revenge: The first video shows the exit from Upper Palos Colorado, staying right after the final left turning switchback and exiting Upper Palos directly into the staging area where Big Trees and Sequoia Bayview meet.

Video of top of Upper Palos Colorado trail portion of Segment 4, Angry Ray’s Revenge

This next video shows the necessary left turn (instead of going up and right) midway through the Big Trees trail. Granted our fearless tech wunderkind stopped immediately after the left turn to chat with some other dirt fiend, but after 30 seconds or so of gabbing, he continues on towards the windy singletrack of the rest of Big Trees. Hopefully you get the point and can forgive the camerman.

Video of Big Trees trail left turn at intersection midway through the trail on Segment 4, Angry Ray’s Revenge

Route finding has been one of the difficulties every year and we hope these detailed explanations along with the videos and segments (which you can “favorite” and set as live segments in Strava) help reduce some of the challenges of route finding.

– Your friends from C510

Two things I heard today from C510 brethren who rode the course: 1)There is a lot of hard climbing. 2) Route finding on segments 3 and 4 are challenging, particularly on segment 4. So I’ll try to give as much detail for segments 3 and 4 as possible.

Segment 3 – Badger’s Bump is the upper Sinawik Loop in Joaquin Miller. It starts with a short steep loose climb and then settles into nice rolling singletrack. It merges with the lower Sinawik trail (BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS MERGE) heading toward the observation area at the top of Bishop’s Walk. Rather than pop out onto the road early and roll on tarmac to the observation area, follow Sinawik trail a little further to the abrupt uphill left turn which exits directly at the observation area.

Segment 4 – Angry Ray’s Revenge climbs Upper Palos Colorado Trail BUT (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT) near the top at the last left turning switchback, stay right (as opposed to continuing on the last bit of Upper Palos Colorado which exits a little further down Sequoia Bayview) and exit directly into the parking area/confluence of Sequoia Bayview and Big Trees and continue directly on to Big Trees. On Big Trees about midway through, there is an option to turn right uphill (shorter Big Trees version) or turn left downhill through some more windy singletrack (longer Big Trees version). AT THIS JUNCTION GO LEFT AND DOWN STAYING ON THE LONGER BIG TREES SEGMENT INCLUDING MORE WINDY SINGLETRACK.

I hope these descriptions help clear things up a bit. Please do look at the segments on Strava and ensure the above makes sense and download the course and “favorite” the segments to help with guidance along the way. Ultimately please be safe and have fun out there!

The 2022 East Bay Dirt Classic 2 week window opens tomorrow, October 1st! Weather should be perfect for testing the legs and the lungs with mid-70s temps for both Saturday and Sunday. If you haven’t registered yet, please find the registration link here. There are some great prizes on offer this year from our sponsors, including donations from GU, R&A Cycles, Mikes Bikes, East Brother Brewing, Obsidian Ridge Winery, Sports Basement and Peak Design! Many thanks to this year’s sponsors!

Year after year this event helps to raise money and awareness for the members of Alameda County who are food insecure. All of the net proceeds from the EBDC registration and our annual C510 fundraiser go to our friends at the Alameda County Community Food Bank. So thank you once again for your participation in the East Bay Dirt Classic and your help in supporting those members of our community who are most in need.

Get out there and enjoy the riding and share the stoke! – Your friends at C510