Nifty Ten Fifty 2023

2023 Update:

Please check for the latest updates:

3.31.23 I recon'd the course today. Everything is open with the exception of lower Wildcat (SPDR to I-Point). That said, it is my understanding that Wildcat is open to bikes. While I cannot in good faith send the ride that way, anyone wishing to do the standard old course (descending Wildcat) is more than welcome to do so and will not be docked or DQ'd from results. The alternate course comes into play after Climb #2 Marin Ave. The old course goes LEFT from top of Marin on Grizlly Peak Ave to Wildcat, descends Wildcat, right on Camino Pablo (SPDR), then right and up El Toyonal/Lomas Cantadas to Steam Trains. The new course instead goes RIGHT at the top of Marin to Steam Trains, then descends Lomas Cantadas/El Toyonal. At the bottom (Camino Pablo) riders turn around and ascend El Toyonal and are now back on the old course. How you choose to do this section is up to you, and nobody will be DQ'd. However, any riders who choose the new course MUST descend all the way to the bottom of El Toyonal at Camino Pablo. Not doing so will earn you a DQ. Please note that there is a lot of wetness, bad roads, debris, etc. Please exercise caution on the descents, it's slippery out there!

3.30.23 NOTE THAT LOWER WILDCAT IS CLOSED. I WILL MODIFY THE COURSE AND ADD BELOW. UPLOAD THE NEW COURSE ON 3.31.23. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE LATEST VERSION. CURRENTLY IT IS V1.0.

Sportsbasement has chimed in and is offering a 20% discount for Nifty participants. PLUS... overall winner of Nifty (Age/Gender adjusted) will receive a $50 Gift Certificate from Sportsbasement. I will check out the course today to make sure everything is open. This does NOT affect the Nifty Ten Fifty. If there are any issues with Nifty Ten Fifty course, they will be reported here.

$50 Gift Certificate for overall Nifty Champ!

Nifty Ten Fifty will be held on Apri 1, 2023! We are back to the old venue at Cerrito Vista Park, 950 Pomona Avenue El Cerrito, CA. Registration opens at 8:30 AM. Registration closes at 9 AM. Riders can roll anytime after registering. There is an optional non-mandatory $5 donation to participate. Juniors must have an adult signed waiver. Results are virtual from Strava. In order to participate in results you must sign the waiver and you must upload your Strava file by 6PM day of the event. For the TL:DR crowd, here is the Nifty Ten Fifty 2023 SPECIAL NO WILDCAT V1.0. Upload this to your Garmin and show up and ride. For any riders wishing to do the old route and travel the CLOSED Wildcat Canyon, then this is your route: Nifty Ten Fifty OLD ROUTE w/ WILDCAT

Please read the information below carefully:

I will report on any road closures or issues before the event.

The Strava KOM for Thorndale will include ONLY Thorndale Dr. It will NOT include the uphill portions of Thornhill, Sobrante, and Elverton. Other Strava KOM's are Marin Ave, and Claremont/Grizzly all the way to Vollmer Peak.

Please be courteous to other participants, to pedestrians, and to motorists. You will encounter many hikers on the climb to Vollmer Peak. Please warn hikers of your presence, and pass slowly and carefully.

Do upload the course below to your Garmin. Upload your file to Strava by 6:00 PM on April 1st in order to be included in the results.

Be sure to upload the rwgps course below to your Garmin. You may also wish to print out a route sheet. You can do this from the link for the gps file.

The Nifty Ten Fifty will occur on Saturday, April 1, 2023. The Nifty Ten Fifty will again travel the newer route that was first run in 2015. Please scroll down for information about the event. Riders will self guide on the newer, improved, easier to follow course.

Do not download the 2014 course. Use the new 2023 course below. Services are available after 7 of the 10 climbs, at mile 41.6 in Montclair, so do bring food for several hours, and some cash to resupply. There is plenty of water on the course in the East Bay Regional Park system.

Here is the 2023 Ride With GPS course,  NIFTY TEN FIFTY 2023 SPECIAL EDITION NO WILDCAT

Check out this video done by Chris Leavel at Peloton Magazine about the Nifty Ten Fifty. You may need to sign in with a free Vimeo account to view the video.

We will have a Strava KOM challenge on Marin avenue, Thorndale, and Claremont/Grizzly/Vollmer Peak, the final climb of the day, and the largest elevation gain. Marin Avenue KOM and QOM will track the best climbers with fresh legs on steep terrain. Vollmer KOM and QOM will go the riders with more endurance, those who have paced well over the day.

If the full Nifty seems a bit daunting, consider the Nifty Lite which is about 42 miles and 7,000'. Still a tough ride, with some difficult climbing. It's also perfectly OK to come out and ride as many climbs as you like, then leave the course and head home. Here is the Nifty Lite 2018 Course.

Do read What is the Nifty Ten Fifty and Nifty Ten Fifty FAQ.

You can also read the New Nifty Ten Fifty Ride Description, a new, fully updated description for 2015 and beyond!