Nifty 2014 Results and Banter!

Results and other post ride banter on the Facebook Page. Scroll for overall results, Marin KOM, and Claremont/Grizzly KOM. Look for a full report here soon. Nifty Ten Fifty Facebook Page

Nifty Ten Fifty FAQ

What is the Nifty Ten Fifty?
Please read What is the Nifty Ten Fifty?

Is there a ride description?
Please read the Nifty Ride Description

I’d like to do the Nifty, but I am terrified of the difficulty of the climbs. Can you say anything to comfort me?
No... But let me try. If you are reasonably fit, and have really low gears, the ride is quite manageable. The exceptions are Marin (climb #3) and Hiller (climb #9). Marin is painful no matter what your gearing or fitness level. Hiller, while not quite as severe, comes late in the ride when you're tired. Those two climbs are easily skipped. And we have the Nifty Lite for those who just want a pleasant day on the bike with a few good climbs.

I'm not sure what group I belong in, can you help? 
As you can see, above I have established groups by racing category. "Elite" is Pro 1,2, "A" is Cat 3, "B" is Cat 4 or strong, fit, recreational rider. The Nifty Lite is for anyone capable of getting up a few steep hills at any pace. Here is another benchmark — If you can ride Mt. Diablo, South Gate, from Athenian School to Summit, any day of the week in under 55 minutes, you are Elite. If your Diablo time is more like 55 min. to 1:05, then you are "A" group. If you are more like 1:05-1:25, then you are "B" group. If you're not sure, a Nifty trick is to start in the slower group. When the faster group passes, you can latch on. You'll be more rested and they'll be more tired, so you may hang. If you get dropped, no worries, slide back to the slower group. You certainly can ride on your own and navigate, but that's less fun.


Is the Nifty and organized ride, is there a fee?
The Nifty is a friends ride, there is no fee. Participants are mostly by invitation, but I throw the challenge out and anyone is welcome. I provide a route sheet, a pat on the back, some volunteer guides, and refreshments/light snacks at the half way point. A voluntary donation may be made if you'd like to help with the costs of hosting the event. $5 is suggested. After climb #9 we stop at Peets Domingo, for coffee and pastries. Bring money or your Peet's card.

Is there support on the ride?
No. You are on your own. You will likely ride with a group as the route is difficult to follow alone. I provide my phone number for emergencies, and am only half joking when I say “…but don’t call me.” There will be a well-stocked, self serve rest stop at the half way point with energy foods, bars, gels, etc., along with drinks, sodas, and a bathroom. Please take only what you need. This is where, hopefully, all the different groups congregate at approximately the same time for a social and feed break mid-ride. Please close the hatch on the Subaru if you are the last to leave.

What should I bring?
Aside from low gears and a positive, friendly attitude, bring what you normally would on a long adventure ride. 2 tubes, patch kit, pump, small multi-tool, food, sunscreen, helmet, and appropriate clothing for the weather. Bring enough food and drink for the first 3 hours, and some money to buy food later. We've got plenty of food for you at the mid point. If you need lights, you’re in serious trouble. Don’t bring ‘em.

I missed the Nifty but would like to do the next one. When is it and can I get on an email list?
The Nifty occurs on the first Sunday in April, that Sunday closest to April Fools day. There is an email list. If you’d like to be on it, email me, macpaulster@gmail.com

How long does it take to complete the Nifty?
The strongest riders can complete the Nifty in a bit over 4 hours riding time. The Elite group completed the ride in under 4 hours. Our fastest A group time was 4:20, but usually in the 4:30-4:40 range. The B group will be about an hour slower. Add in stops and regroups and you’re looking at 4.5-7 hours, depending on your ability. Then add another half hour to return to the start.

Can I do the Nifty on my own? Is there a route sheet or map?
You may download the route from the link supplied here, upload to your Garmin, and/or print out a cue sheet from that link. I will no longer be providing route sheets at the start.
You can find the courses here:
2014 Courses Posted!

The latest, greatest, course download for the

Nifty Ten Fifty 2014

The Nifty Lite 2014


OK, I understand the route is complicated with over 100 turns, I don't have a GPS and I really don't want to decipher a route sheet. What do I do?
You show up on time for the ride you want to join. We have four guided rides, for four levels of riders. If you stay with your group, you will not need to navigate, but please bring a route sheet in case you get separated. We have an Elite ride for P 1,2 riders, an "A" ride for Elite Cat 3 or Masters 1,2,3 level riders, led my me, a B ride, for strong, fit, recreational cyclists, who truly want to complete the entire ride, but at a more sensible pace, and the Nifty Lite, for those just wanting to join the Nifty fun with a pleasant ride with a few manageable climbs at a leisurely pace. The Nifty Lite avoids all of the worst climbs.

What gearing is recommended?
Gearing of course depends on your fitness, climbing ability and your ability to suffer turning the cranks at 30 rpm. The ride has been done with 39/23 low gearing. I did it for years with 39/27, and it seemed fine (now I run a 34/28). With that said, it's prudent to put on the lowest gears you have. The lower your gears, the less time you'll spend at an uncomfortable cadence, and the more you will enjoy the ride.

Nifty Ten Fifty 2014 Edition

Nifty Ten Fifty Scheduled for April 6, 2014!

* The date is set, folks, Sunday, April 6! Get yer climbing legs ready!

* Please carpool or ride to the start if you can. If you BART, get off at El Cerrito Plaza, and head north to Moeser Lane, via Richmond Ave, turn right and continue to Pomona Ave. We start at the intersection of Moeser Ln. and Pomona Ave in El Cerrito.

* Please be ready to ride 5 minutes before start time for your group. We start "on time." We will have a rider meeting for all groups, I will be there for Nifty Lite/B group start and A group start. Elite group will be small, and I will be gone. You guys are on your own and can take care of yourselves. Leaders will be Josh Dapice and Bill Laddish. There will be other Elite vets as well.

* Bring food at the start for up to 3 hours.  There will be a stocked, self serve, rest stop at half way point, about mile 25. Water and bathroom available. Bring money for coffee and pastry at Peet's Domingo after climb 9, before the final climb to the finish on Vollmer Peak. And don't forget the scrumptious new bakery, Fournée, next door to Peet's!

* A voluntary donation of $5 is requested to cover costs. Please find me and make your donation. I will be wearing a Marc Pro - Strava vest and Black STRAVA baseball cap. Some of my teammates will be there. Don't confuse them with me. They're thieves! :-)

* Bring low gears and a positive attitude. If you know the roads, lend a helping hand to others so they can find their way.

* Guides will wait a short time at the top of climbs to regroup. This is NOT a "No Drop" ride. If you fall behind, the guide will continue on with the group. Print out the route sheet and/or upload the route to your Garmin so that you can find your own way in a pinch. If you expect to be one of the slower riders in your group, the ability to self navigate may be crucial.

* I am expecting a large group this year. Please fuel up at the rest stop, drink up, fill your bottles, and take just one or two snacks in your pocket for the next climbs so that others have enough treats to stay fueled. You'll stop again at Peet's Domingo within 1-2 hours. There is also a bakery next door to Peet's.

* Upload your data to Strava and I will post results for KOM on Marin and the final climb up Claremont and Grizzly Peak to Vollmer peak. I will also track overall moving time for the entire course. But... it's not a race. KOM Results from last year are in the 2013 Ride Report

* Please ride safely, obey all traffic laws, descend at a sensible pace, wear a helmet, and do not do anything that might jeopardize the ride going forward.

* We will meet at Lanesplitter, in Berkeley, San Pablo Ave near University after the ride for suds and Pizza. 5 PM approximately.

2014 Courses Posted!

The latest, greatest, course download for the

Nifty Ten Fifty 2014

The Nifty Lite 2014

At the ride link, go to "Export," output a .tcx file, then upload to your Garmin by placing the .tcx file in the "New Files" folder of your Garmin device (DO NOT load the file into the "Courses" folder. Be sure to properly eject your Garmin or the file won't stick). Then you can follow with your Garmin. If you are old school, just print out a route sheet. Actually, print out a route sheet either way. I will no longer be providing route sheets at the start.

The NTF is scheduled for April 6, 2014, always the first Sunday in April. Start times will be:

"B" Group and Nifty Lite: 8:30 A.M.
"A" Group: 9:00 A.M.
"Elite" Group 9:30 A.M.

Where: Cerrito Vista Park
Moeser Ln. and Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, CA.

Park at the South end of the diagonal parking area, about 100 Meters from the corner.

Please scroll down to read much more info about the Nifty, and please do read the FAQ section.

Check out the Nifty Ten Fifty Film by Chris Leavell if you have not already done so.

As you can see, we will again have an "Elite" group, for super strong Cat 1,2 riders.

I will be leading the "A" group as usual. There will also be an Elite group, the usual "B" group,  and the "Nifty Lite" group. Scroll down below for more information on which group you should join, but in a nutshell:

Elite: Pro, Cat 1, Cat 2
"A": Cat 3, Strong Masters riders
"B": Cat 4, Strong, fit recreational riders
"Nifty Lite": An easier, shorter course, with a more relaxed pace

If you are not sure what group you belong in, start with a slower group and latch on to the faster group when they catch. This way you won't be dropped.

The ride is NOT a race, however the different groups allow everyone to keep moving and ride at their own comfortable, (or not so comfortable), pace. There will be KOM's on Marin and the final climb up Claremont, Grizzly, Vollmer. Data will be pulled from Strava, so be sure to upload your data. It's free, and you just need a Garmin, iPhone, or Android device.

Feel free to contact me: macpaulster@gmail.com

Cheers, Paul

What is the Nifty Ten Fifty?

What is the Nifty Ten Fifty? It's a bicycle ride in the San Francisco East Bay Hills that climbs 10,050' in just 54 miles visiting the steepest and most difficult climbs in the East Bay Hills. Berkeley Hills Death Ride and the Vicious Hills Ride, also play a role in the history of this event which takes place on the first Sunday in April each year.

There is a ride description that details each climb. It's nonsense really, but fun, (sort of), and unique for sure. I'm not sure what came over me in late Winter back in 2002, but my early mornings before work were spent exploring the most difficult climbs in the East Bay hills. The Nifty strings those climbs together in a somewhat sensible way, though applying the word sensible to this ride seems a bit of a stretch. Along the way you will experience east bay parks, old Berkeley architecture along with new, post-fire Oakland hills architecture. You will see hawks riding the updrafts, incredible bay views (weather permitting), and if you ride slow enough, maybe you’ll see an Owl in the evening light on Vollmer Peak.

There will be two groups, an "A" group and a "B" group. "A" group will consist of riders capable of climbing Mt. Diablo in around hour or so, give or take a couple of minutes. The B group will consist of riders who might climb Mt. Diablo in about 1:05-1:25 or so. You will need good fitness to complete this ride, and unless you are an extremely strong climber a 39/27 low gear is recommended as a minimum! There are grades of up to 28%. And, for those who want to be involved in the fun but do not find 10,000' in 50 miles appealing, there is the "Nifty Lite." The Nifty Lite is not a set course but rather an easier ride, led by Janet, that covers some of the less intimidating climbs, and some terrain that is not included in the Nifty route. The Nifty Lite is the easiest option and will be custom tailored to the group that shows up.

There is a detailed route sheet so that anyone can do the ride on their own, at their own pace, but with about 100 turns, it's better to follow someone who knows the way lest you spend all your time cursing the route sheet.

The ride starts from Cerrito Vista Park in El Cerrito. on the first Sunday in April. "B" and "Nifty Lite" group starts at 8:30 A.M. "A" group starts at 9:00 A.M.

The Nifty Ten Fifty is dedicated to the memory of Bill Ripke.

Photo of Marin Ave courtesy Mike Nachtwey. Visit mikenachtwey.com

Nifty Ten Fifty Ride Description

The Nifty Ten fifty

The Nifty Ten Fifty is a difficult bicycle climbing route in the East Bay Hills, primarily in Berkeley, and Oakland, California. The goal was to fashion a ride with 10,000’ of climbing in 50 miles. The finished route comes close to that goal, with 10,050’ of climbing in just 54 miles. There have been other attempts at this sort of madness. Grizzly Peak Cyclists did a similar route annually back in the late 70’s and 80’s. I understand they may still be doing a similar route called “Vicious Hills”. And there is “The Berkeley Hills Death Ride” consisting of 5 very difficult climbs in Berkeley. All 5 of those climbs are included in the Nifty Ten Fifty, but there are, in addition, 5 more climbs! Part of the appeal of the ride besides the suffering on the climbs is the bay views, the nice roads through the parks, and the incredible tour of bay area architecture, from old Berkeley homes, to the new, modern, post fire Oakland hills homes.

Climb #1 Moeser Lane

The route starts at the corner of Moeser Lane and Pomona Ave. in El Cerrito. If you are a cyclist that needs a warm-up, then a couple of trips back and forth on Richmond Ave. (3 blocks east of San Pablo Ave.) will do the trick. The cyclist heads straight up Moeser Ave to Arlington. It’s a 700’ climb with grades up to 20%. The average grade for the final .8 mile is about 15%. The route then descends through El Cerrito neighborhoods going mostly down Stockton Ave.

Climb #2 Terrace/Edwin

The next climb is Terrace to Contra Costa Ave, Edwin Street, cross Arlington and ascend a short, steep (20%+) footpath to the Kensington School. The route ends up at Spruce and Grizzly. In total this climb is not terribly difficult, but there are a few very short steep sections. The route descends Spruce, then turns right on Montrose to Santa Barbara then passes by Indian Rock, a well-known Berkeley landmark.

Climb #3 Marin Ave

This is the big daddy. Absurd. Ridiculous. No matter how strong you are or what your gearing, you will suffer on this climb. It is, by far, the most difficult climb on the ride. It climbs city blocks one by one, with a flat section at each block where it meets a cross street. The first block is about 14%, then there are some “easy” blocks of 10%. Then it kicks up again to about 15%+. Once you cross Euclid you are in for a real treat. 3 blocks averaging 22% with sections of approximately 25%-26%. Fortunately, you have the luxury of catching your breath by circling the flat area at each intersection, thereby possibly avoiding the dreaded “topple”. The route then descends the East side of the hills through Tilden Park, down Shasta and Wildcat to San Pablo Dam Road.

Climb #4 El Toyonal/Lomas Cantadas

This a long climb on twisty, wooded, narrow, residential roads. It’s quiet and beautiful. This is a manageable climb, with a few steeper sections on the lower part. However, near the top, by Grizzly Peak Stables, the cyclist encounters some extended 17%. It’s difficult, but everything will seem easy after Marin Ave! The ride then descends residential roads back on the west side of the hills above the UC Berkeley campus. Avenida and Buena Vista are the primary roads traveled on the descent down to Euclid.

Climb #5 Centennial Drive

The route passes briefly through the UC Berkeley Campus, entering at Euclid then turning east near the Campanile,then up around the La Crosse field and football stadium to catch Centennial Drive. Centennial starts off gradual then steepens to about 11%. It goes for quite a distance at this pitch, then flattens out at Lawrence Hall of Science, then finishes with a less steep section, perhaps 9% or so. The route then descends through Tilden Park via Golf Course Drive and Park Hills. The rider continues past the Tilden Merry-Go-Round to the bottom of Canon Drive at the Tennis Courts.


Climb #6 Canon/South Park

Climb 6 is really two climbs separated by a more or less flat section on Wildcat Canyon Rd. through Tilden Park. Canon drive is a short climb of about .4 mile and boasts a 12% average grade. Then the rider heads east on Wildcat Canyon to the base of South Park drive. South Park is a beautiful road through the Park that is closed to vehicle traffic in winter (Save the Salamanders)! It has some extended stretches of 12-15%. The route then heads South on Grizzly Peak and Skyline Drive into the Oakland Hills. The cyclist gets a break from climbing for a while. Shepard Canyon is the descent. The pavement used to be horrible on this road, but it has recently been re-paved.

Climb #7 Snake/Elverton

Snake/Elverton is the next climb. Snake is not terribly difficult. It averages about 7% and has a few steeper sections but it’s really quite pleasant. You can even spend some time climbing in the saddle on Snake—a rare luxury on this ride! You will then go left on Skyline to Elverton. Elverton slices through a steep area of the hills where a few daring souls have built homes with spectacular views. Riders will still enjoy the views without the worry of their home sliding down the hill. A twisty descent down Thorndale and Thornhill follows.

Climb #8 Broadway Terrace

Broadway Terrace to Old Tunnel. This is a nice climb through the Oakland Hills. The 1991 fire destroyed most of the homes on this road so the cyclist is treated to some new and interesting architecture along the way. These are luxury homes with splendid views. Some are quite nice. The pitch on Broadway Terrace varies, and there are some steep sections, but it’s mostly pleasant.

Climb #9 Hiller Ave/ Norfolk

At the bottom of Tunnel road, the rider cannot miss Hiller. Tunnel is a very popular cycling route, however most cyclists avoid Hiller Ave like the plague. It’s pretty ugly to look at, sporting a straight-up .2 mile section of 20%. Fortunately, it’s relatively short, but tired legs will be a factor at this point. The route then winds through residential streets with a short descent on Charring Cross and some more short steep climbing sections. The ride then descends again through hilly residential streets to the Claremont Hotel. Next is the only mandatory rest stop. Peets Coffee on Domingo Ave!

Climb #10 Claremont/Grizzly Peak/Vollmer Peak

This is the longest climb of the ride with the most ascent. It’s actually three climbs but there are no breaks between the climbs. Claremont has some extended sections that are about 10% or so. Then Grizzly Peak is a relatively sane pitch of about 7%. The final climb is up Vollmer Peak on a foot path. This much discussed climb sports a 28% kicker at the top. It’s difficult, but the recently paved path is much easier than it used to be when it was horribly pot-holed and full of gravel. The Peets caffeine should be in full effect now. Just grunt it out for a short section and you’re done! Though the ride officially ends here, you have to coast back to the start (about 7 miles), and there are a few short rises, but if you’ve gotten this far, you’ll make it back.

2013 Nifty Results, Ride Report

"A" Group tackles Moeser Lane

If I were to describe the 2013 version of the Nifty Ten Fifty in one word, I would choose... FAST! The Four Hour moving time barrier was shattered, even with the fastest riders taking a slightly longer detour.


I established a new, "Elite" P 1,2 group this year, and it was well attended, and those guys really beat each other up good. Amazing speeds on the climbs all day. I will let Elite guide Josh Dapice describe his group (see below). The "A" group was also the most competent and fast we've ever had, and many were able to latch on to, and hang with, the Elite Group. The "B" group was also super competent and fast, led by Gaston McMillan. Bill Dunn led a very small "Nifty Lite" group.

My "A" group was about 15-20 riders strong, and the pace was pretty hot from the gun. I dangled at the back, pushing a bit at the top of each climb to catch up, so that I could lead the tricky descents. Everyone rode well, very safe, yet fast. I was especially thrilled to have my Marc Pro - Strava teammates along, Christopher HD, Glenn Rawlinson, Kevin Susco, Kevin Keenan, and George Smith.

Marc Pro - Strava guys at rest stop

I have some preliminary results below for three segments of the ride. Marin KOM demonstrates a rider's maximum climbing ability while fresh, on a short, steep climb. Claremont/Grizzly/Vollmer shows a rider's ability on a longer climb late in the ride while fatigued. And the overall moving time demonstrates the rider's speed over the entire course. Some data is missing. Some Elite riders took a slightly longer detour, and hence the times are not perfectly accurate. But since they took a "long cut" vs. a "short cut" it isn't necessary to DQ them as I had threatened. Gaston's B group report is below the results. If you know where you placed on the Marin climb vs. your peers, but did not upload to Strava, let me know and I will insert you in the results.

Special thanks and kudos: To Gaston, Josh, and Bill, for leading their groups. To Clif Bar for bars, gels and blocks at the rest stop and Gu, for some Roctane products at the start.  To Clark Foy for helping out with the course.

Large group at rest stop

Great cameo appearance from Chris "Big Ring" Randall. Also nice to see Ted Huang show up and ride. Kudos to my teammates for representing Marc Pro - Strava in fine form. Special Kudos to Christopher Harland Dunaway for showing up the day after winning the CCX P 1,2 race and still having legs to put the hurt on the Elite group. Bill Bushnell showed up on his hybrid electric bike, and did a great job on the course.

First thing in the morning, I saw blue skies to the East, and I thought that we'd have some killer views later in the day. But some rather brisk Westerly winds blew in the marine fog, and dampened the views. On the bright side, temps were cool and comfortable for climbing hard, and we had a nice tailwind going up Claremont partially compensating for the rubberized legs, and making times slightly more respectable. It was overall a great day and a very successful event. My only regret is that we didn't have more women participating in the ride. With 70 or so riders, we only had one woman, Alison Chaiken. I hope to see more women participating next year.

Bill Bushnell rode the Nifty on his hybrid electric bike. Bill has a great blog and does wonderful, very descriptive write ups on his adventures. View his blog entry here:

http://mrbill.homeip.net/bikeBlog.php?2013#niftyTenFifty.2013.04.07

Results for overall moving time are approximate and only show those who uploaded to STRAVA. Those who circled at the top of climbs, or went backwards to help another rider will have slower times. Elite group, and some "A" riders took a slightly longer course, probably adding 5+ minutes to their time.

Note: If you uploaded to Strava later, and do not see your results below, please let me know and I will add them. macpaulster@gmail.com

Marin Ave KOM Climb #3

Christopher HD    6:58 (Overall Strava KOM, Nifty Record, Sub 7!)
Carl Nielson         7:05  (3rd overall Strava)
Bill Laddish          7:11  (5th overall Strava)
Josh Dapice          7:13  (6th overall Strava)
Clark Foy             7:51
Rob Manchester   7:59
Jim Whimpey       8:00
George Smith       8:02
Kevin Susco         8:05
Ken Cluff              8:09

Graham Cooper     8:12
Daryl Spano           8:16
Kevin Keenan        8:16
Brian Vaughn         8:20
Marcello Pederson 8:23
A P                          8:32
Glenn Rawlinson    8:38
Sae Stunna' Mark    9:07
Steve Shores            9:11
Paul McKenzie        9:15

Tom Ferreira            9:25
Ron Portola              9:44
Patrick Herlihy       10:03
Van Sutton              10:09
Floyd Williams       10:15
Alan Weatherall      11:05
Lenny Lesser          11:38
Gaston McMillan    12:20
Vladislav Luskin     12:26
Janos Roja               12:49

Eric Bain                 13:06
Bryan Culp              13:19
Wilson Tai               13:26
Dimitry Livdan       13:23
Brian Kelleher        13:32
Paul Liu                  13:36
Peter Widjaja          13:46
Dodeca Rokolla      13:53
Bruce Burkhalter    15:34
Mike Gill                16:00

Bill Bushnell            6:10*   (*Hybrid Electric Bicycle)

Claremont/Grizzly/Vollmer Climb #10

Christopher HD       21:20 (2nd overall on Strava)
Josh Dapice             23:21 (Josh has Strava KOM on another day)
Bill Laddish             23:21  (3rd overall Strava)
Rob Manchester      23:47  (4th overall Strava)
Daryl Spano            25:10
Clark Foy                25:44
Glenn Rawlinson    25:45
Paul McKenzie       25:56
Kevin Susco            27:09
Kevin Keenan         27:13

Carl Nielson            28:14
Graham Cooper       30:24
Floyd Williams        30:45
Ron Portola              31:36
Alan Weatherall       31:56
Brian Vaughn           32:03
Lenny Lesser            32:37
Sae Stunna' Mark     32:40
Matt Price                 35:09
Gaston McMillan     35:13

Frank Meltzer           35:22
Patrick Herlihy         37:16
Van Sutton                37:34
Dimitry Livdan         38:20
Vladislav Luskin      39:16
Mike Gill                  44:22
Paul Liu                    46:51
Peter Widjaja            48:26
Dodeca Rokolla        52:31

Bruce Burkhalter      55:05
Eric Bain                  58:46

Bill Bushnell             25:14*   (*Hybrid Electric Bicycle) 

Overall Moving Time (4 Hour barrier is broken!)

Josh Dapice            3:58:00
Christopher HD      3:59:00
Bill Laddish            3:59:00
Glenn Rawlinson    4:04:00
Clark Foy                4:08:00
Kevin Keenan         4:08:00
Daryl Spano            4:11:00
Michael Golub        4:15:00
Matt Price               4:19:00
Paul McKenzie       4:20:00

Carl Nielson           4:21:00
Kevin Susco           4:21:00
Jim Whimpey         4:25:00
Bryan Davis            4:29:00
Brian Vaughn          4:29:00
Graham Cooper       4:33:00
A P                          4:34:00
Marcello Pedersen  4:40:00
Alan Weatherall      4:43:00
Ron Portola             4:50:00

Floyd Williams        4:51:00
Patrick Herlihy        4:56:00
Matthew Santillan   5:00:00
Lenny Lesser           5:04:00
Van Sutton               5:05:00
Sae Stunna' Mark     5:07:00
Dimitry Livdan        5:08:00
Gaston McMillan     5:08:00
Dodeca Rokolla        5:31:00
Vladislav Luskin      5:33:00

Peter Widjaja            5:34:00
Mike Gill                  5:51:00
Paul Liu                    6:19:00
Eric Bain                   6:32:00
Bruce Burkhalter      6:35:00

Bill Bushnell            4:38:00*   (*Hybrid Electric Bicycle)

Josh Dapice's Elite Group Report:

I should have known that something was up when our “9:30” group was all assembled and ready to go at 9:15. Looking forward to a brisk morning with a few climbs through the east bay hills I figured there was no harm in getting started. We had a small but top notch group consisting of Bill L, Carl N, Chris HD, Clark F, Daryl S, Rob M and Tom R. We immediately headed off up Moeser lane at a pace that had my Garmin spitting out some remarkable watts. Pretty interesting for a day that promised 10,000 feet of climbing!

Elite Group (l to r) Daryl Spano, Clark Foy, Rob Manchester, Josh Dapice, Bill Laddish
Christopher Harland-Dunaway. Photo: Carl Nielson (also an Elite Group member)

It was a terrific adventure and I’ll let the Strava files speak for themselves. But a few things stick out –

• Clark setting a diabolical “welcome to the NTF” pace on Moeser. Definitely set the tone for the day.

• Bill, Carl and Chris taking off from the very bottom of Marin. Bill and Chris posting incredible times even after taking a few breaks at Hilldale and Keeler.

• The awesome rest stop set up by Paul near the Brazil room. Great spot to recover a bit and grab some Clif Shots and pretzels.

• South Park – Bill going berserk at the bottom and sticking it all the way to the top via his endless surges.

• Sharp eyes spotting Mr. Strava himself Michael Horvath on Grizzly Peak Blvd. coming the other way.

• Snake Rd – beautiful climb that inspired some race-style attacks. Even towards the end of the ride guys were making huge efforts (joined by Ted H. from the earlier group).

• Daryl committing at the bottom of Hiller, almost the end of the ride and one of the steepest parts of the day. I have no idea where he found the energy.

• Chris trying to work out how to get home from Domingo Peets, unaware that we had one, final 1,500 foot climb to the top of Vollmer yet to go. Chris ended up crushing the rest of us on the climb regardless.

This has to be one of the best ways to post good Strava times. It obviously wasn’t a race, which lent itself to extremely aggressive climbing. The East Bay has many superlative riders who ride these climbs regularly year round (OK maybe not Marin or Hiller) so it was pretty impressive to see where our group stacked up. I’ll be eager to see what folks can do next year.

I wanted to thank the guys I rode with for (a) being in such a good mood all day, (b) riding safely, and (c) tolerating a few routing mishaps. Thanks Paul for a great day. Click on names below to see their Strava file.

Bill L

Carl N

Chris HD

Clark F

Daryl S

Rob M

Gaston McMillan's "B" Group Report:

There is something beautiful and elegant riding with a group of new friends; streaming downhill in a serpentine line making our way to the next climb and seeing the riders ascend to the top of the ridge. And on a day like today, through the course of the Nifty Ten Fifty it happens again, and again, and again. As the guide, or 'B' group leader, I lead most of the descents through the twisting turning course and would glide back as the stronger guys in the group make there way to the top where they could have a rest. 

In truth, the 'B' group was great, many or most, like myself, were taking on the challenge of this ride for the first time, and there is nothing like a new shared experience to bring people together. And we stuck together really well through the day. I think there were about 35 people at the start, and we were about that size coming into the last climb. 

Moser and Terrace kicked us off, not really a warm up, not quite a suffer-up; we made it to the parking lot of the school as a nice big, perhaps overly optimistic group. Of course, Marin tried to crush that optimism, to no avail. We took off for El Toyonal in good spirits. it's true that after Marin, El Toy doesn't seam that hard, even though we know it is. I think we also expected to see the Elite and 'A' group about the time we were reaching the top by the steam trains, even taking a moment to water up. We were doing well, keeping them at bay - for the moment. From there I missed a left turn, which we went back to make as a right, and then made our way through the Alma mater of some of the riders before heading up Centennial. Someone said they thought it was longer, I felt it was long enough. After heading down to Wildcat we made short work of Canon before the rest stop. 

At the rest stop, everyone converged and we lingered. Everybody was happy to get some food and drink as well as catching up with each other for a few minutes. The feeling was charged, palpable. We'd made it through the half way point and everyone was doing well and feeling good. 

The 2nd half takes us to some of the great neighborhood climbs of Oakland, after Southpark to bring us up where we make the longest ride between climbs for the day. We all were looking forward to Snake and Broadway Terrace as they weren't out to strike us down like Marin or the upcoming Hillier. It was on these two climbs that the strong men of 'B' group made their way off the front pacing their way to the top. It was on Snake that we got, for a very brief instance, to glimpse the climbing acumen of the Elite and 'A' group. They passed me so fast I started to put a foot down and step off my bike. 

After these two climbs we headed to Hillier, a tough 'ol climb that kicks off the ramps through Claremont Hills. The 'B's stuck together really well through here, it's a twisty trail of turn and climbs that eventually lead down to Tunnel and then to Peet's for a cup of coffee. Except when we got there the idea of stopping just didn't sit well with most of the group and we headed directly to Claremont and Vollmer Peak. 

I'd like to say I was in roughly the middle, finishing in 5:17, with about an hour of stopping added to that. And it was a great group to be in the midst of; everyone enjoying themselves, keeping us all together, watching out for each other, riding at a steady yet challenging pace, and being safe. I wish I could remember everybody's name; some I'll find on Strava, some I'll recognize when I see them on the road, all of them having shared the experience of an amazingly fun and sometimes difficult day riding in the Eastbay Hills. I can't express my appreciate enough; to the 'B' group and everyone who showed up for a great ride among friends, and especially to Paul McKenzie. Thank you, everybody, very much.

A group of Nifty finishers on Vollmer Peak

Bill Dunn's Nifty Lite Report:

The Nifty Lite (aka The Thrifty Nifty)  is offered both as an intro to the Full Nifty and as the lessor of all evils.  The route typically avoids Moeser, Marin, and Hillier as well as the southern neighborhood climbs ad then ad libs some extra climbs, generally garnering between 6,500 to 8,000 feet of gain.

This edition ran with 3 or 4 coincidences and one, maybe two glitches.  For the last few years the thrifty group has been composed of Paul's wife Janet, myself, Brian Crowley(who stopped by to say Hi at the start) and Becca Heald, a local friend of Janet's who joins us for a part of the ride;  basically one gal and two guys for the whole thing.  (With all the hits that Paul was getting on the website we were expecting more this year.)  This year it was Barry ____ , a local who can be seen in brown and white front and center in the Rest Stop photo, and Alison  Chaiken from Mt. View.  So two guys and a gal again.)  None of us were sure about how much we could do, but we were all  wanting to go just like the other groups.

As leader, I did tell Alison (who was cautious descending)  that we'd wait for her, but I didn't tell her that we'd wait at every actual turn, so when she saw the El Toyonal sign on Wildcat Canyon she turned off, then realized her mistake, and continued on down.  By that time Barry and I decided that she must have cut over so we went ahead hoping we'd run into her, maybe find her waiting at the top of Lomas Cantadas.  As luck would have it, Barry and I stayed on El Toyonal while Alison followed the prescribed route (thereby gaining a shortcut) and then ran into us as she emerged.

As we continued Barry saw that he was feeling pretty good so at the rest stop he decided to go with the B group.  We saw him later on the southern descent of Grizzly Peak Blvd looking like he was having a fine time fitting right in.

Alison and I enjoyed the wonderful South Park climb and the climbs just off of Hillier and then made our way to Peets where Alison declared that she just couldn't take... another long descent!  Truth be told we had be riding in cloud and mist up to that point and she had gotten chilled, and it made sense for her to wind her way back to the start along the flatlands.  That left me to enjoy the tailwind going up Claremont Ave all by myself, where I found myself missing Janet and Brian to help egg me on to keep going.  I found, however, that even though my flesh was weak, my spirit still wanted to GO.

I really like the Nifty Ten Fifty because it serves as a wake up call and as an eye opener to both steep, steep climbs that you'll probably never see in such succession the rest of the year, and to the fact that even a "Lite" rider can climb through  some number of them without pulling ones legs out of the hip sockets!

Finally the last coincidence came at the afterglow pizza party attended by Bill Bushnell, Gaston, Paul and I:  Bill Oldham usually leads the B group and even though he couldn't make it this year, we still had two Bills at the party!

Thanks Paul and everyone:  it was great fun once again!

Nifty Ten Fifty, April 7, 2013

If you have questions at the start, or want to grab a route sheet, the bathroom key, etc., please come find me. I will be wearing a red SRAM ball cap, and Marc-Pro - Strava vest, and walking around pretending I know what I am doing. I will be about 100 meters South of the corner of Moeser and Pomona in El Cerrito, at the end of the diagonal parking area.

Note: There will be a brief rider meeting at the start, corner of Moeser Lane and Pomona Ave at a sunny spot (if it's brisk) a few minutes prior to start time. Please arrive early to prep, and be ready to ride at the start time. Have your $5 donation ready if you choose to contribute, it's voluntary, and covers the cost of maintaining this site, the treats at the mid-way stop, and beer and pizza for your ride leaders. If you only have a buck $ or two $$ handy, that's fine, everything helps. Pre-ride meeting will happen at 8:25 for the first two groups and 8:55 for the A group, 9:25 for Elite Group, and we'll roll immediately after

We should expect some residual damp spots in some shady areas. The roads in the east bay are pretty beat up these days, so be sure your tires are in good shape and are topped off with air. Please check your tires the night before the ride or at the start and pull out any bits of glass or other nasty stuff that could cause a flat. Not a bad idea to run 700 x 25 or 700 x 28 tires, though many will just stick with the standard 700 x 23. DO NOT run 700 x 23 tires with low pressure unless you are a lightweight.

Bring food for the first three hours. We'll have a stocked rest stop mid-ride, with light snacks, drinks, and some Clif Bar product. We'll then stop at Peet's Domingo before tackling the final monster up to Vollmer Peak, the longest climb of the day. Bring some money for the second stop.

Feel free to email if you have any questions or would like to be added to the mailing list.

macpaulster@gmail.com

You will receive no more than a few emails per year, you will be kept up to date on Nifty News, and your information will not be shared with ANYONE for any reason.

The ride begins at Cerrito Vista Park in El Cerrito, corner of Moeser Ln. and Pomona Ave.

I would like to encourage anyone using a Garmin or other GPS device, to upload the following files to your device, and practice following parts of the route for training in the weeks leading up to the event. Having more guides and volunteers who know the route will be very helpful if we get a larger turnout. Did you know that you can Follow a course on a Garmin 500? It's not as Nifty as using a 705 or 800 but it works! Practice with it first!

Also, I have added a GPS file for the Return to Start from the finish of the ride on Vollmer Peak.

Start times are 8:30 for the "B" Group and Nifty Lite Group, and 9:00 for the "A" group. The Elite Group will start at 9:30. The "Nifty Lite" avoids the most severe climbs but still offering a substantial challenge of about 8,000' of climbing in 45 miles at a more relaxed pace. Enjoy...