Nifty Ten Fifty 2024

2024 Update:

Final Update 4/5/24: Unfortunately I am injured and have not been able to pre-ride the course. For that reason my normal update about road conditions/closures will not be provided. So plan to be careful and flexible. Also, please keep in mind that in order to be listed in the results you must do 3 things. 1. You must sign a waiver at the start. 2. You must upload your Strava file before 6 PM on April 6. And finally, 3. You MUST be sure your ride is public or friend me (Paul McKenzie on Strava) so that I can see your post. If you fail to do any one of these three things, you will not be listed in the results and I will not be able to go back after the fact and adjust the results. DO NOT list your ride as "Private." See you in the morning!

Nifty Ten Fifty will be held on Apri 6, 2024! We will start 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. Official Nifty Ten Fifty 2024 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/4394647

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 6th 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 6, 2024. 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 2024 course above in the update. 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.

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. And the link may not work, but I will fix it if possible...

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!