09 May 2016

Top 22 tips to see the Amgen Tour of California

SPECTATOR TIPS

Top 22 spectator tips for seeing the Amgen Tour of California, by Pedal Dancer®:
  1. Print this one single page with all the facts created by AmgenTourofCalifornia.com
  2. Study the team rosters (startlist) and team websites to better recognize the racers (Teams)
  3. Attend the Team Presentation if possible (Events & VIP)
  4. Check for road closures and allow for time to park (always park where it is easiest to get out)
  5. Know the start and finish times of the stage you are attending (see Stages)
  6. Arrive 2 hours before any start or finish (stages)
  7. Allow time to watch the women's race before the men's race.
  8. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen and a rain jacket
  9. Ride your bike up a mountain!
  10. Ride your bike into the city: use bike valets or bring a good bike lock
  11. Visit the team buses at the start of a stage and ask the mechanics a question
  12. Use Tour Tracker app to watch while you wait, or watch the jumbo-trons in the Lifestyle Festival near the finish (How to watch)
  13. Enjoy the festival and sponsor booths at every finish area while you wait
  14. Bring a rider startlist to the time trial, or use your Tour Tracker app to check the order of rider start times
  15. Buy a VIP ticket in San Diego, Monterey, Santa Rosa, or Sacramento
  16. Put down the phone and watch the race with your eyes - look for the yellow jersey
  17. Stay overnight in a host city and dine locally
  18. Go to more than one stage: see a start, a finish, a mountain top, a sprint, a KOM, a feed zone (feed zone locations are marked on route profile maps) (Routes and Maps)
  19. Wear your Tour of California tshirts, hats or gear (ATOC shop), or wear blue and yellow.
  20. Bring 3 sharpie pens for autographs (just in case you loose one, or two) (Spectator Tips)
  21. Always carry something to autograph, just in case you see your favorite racer before or after a stage, or while walking around town.
  22. Come back again next year!
Read more by Pedal Dancer at TourChaser.com:
Recommended Read: Ted's blog post GooOOOOoooOOooOOooo Team!  Ex-pro American Ted King explains to fans what it sounds like from the saddle inside the peloton - TED King on what not to say - the riders hear what you say.

A bike race is coming to town:

Servais Knaven of Team Sky probably using Tour Tracker to check the stage start time (and why does this Team Sky car have New Jersey plates?).
©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Joe Dombrowski was deep in concentration pre ITT in 2015. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Team Sky staff members wait at the finish line at Mt Baldy KOM in 2015. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
United Healthcare staff members in 2015. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
Taylor Phinney signs an autograph for a fan. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
More Pedal Dancer® race coverage 2016 Amgen Tour of California: