Route Description and Starting Location
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2012 Tierra Bella Route Descriptions
60K (34.5 mi, 1067 ft)
If you have not ridden much over the winter, we recommend this flat route through Gilroy and a big loop out past Uvas and Chesbro Reservoirs. This route makes a good family ride.
100K (61.7 mi, 2458 ft)
With the 100K, you do much of your climbing in the morning, as you start with a climb to Gilroy Hot Springs. After a descent down Cañada Road, you will pass back north of Gilroy before looping around Uvas and Chesbro Reservoirs. Then a quick return to Gavilan College.
100M (99.8 mi, 6375 ft)
With the 100M, you also begin your ride with a climb up to Gilroy Hot Springs, but that is just the beginning. After descending down Canada Road, you will head north to do the challenging climb up Dunne Ave to the summit at Henry Coe State Park Headquarters. Then you descend back down the same roads and head northwest to Bailey and up to Calero County Park. By this time the northern winds should have picked up to push you south past Chesbro Reservoir and on to Gavilan College.
200K (121.2 mi, 7747 ft)
If the 100M is just not enough for you, then you can add on a scenic ride out to New Almaden and a climb up to the summit of Hicks Road, before retracing your route back to Calero County Park to rejoin the 100M.
Starting Location
All rides start at Gavilan College, on Santa Teresa Blvd. just south of Gilroy, about 35 miles south of San Jose. If you are heading south on Highway 101 from Gilroy, turn right on Castro Valley Rd. and right on Santa Teresa Blvd. to the north entrance of Gavilan College. Look for a sign to Gavilan on Hwy. 101 just south of the Monterey Rd.exit.
If you are approaching Gilroy from the south, you will not be able to turn left from northbound 101 onto Castro Valley Rd. due to the median barrier. Continue north to the Monterey Rd. exit where you can loop under 101 and head back south to Castro Valley Rd.
Starting Times
Check-in starts at 7:00 AM. The course closes at 5:00 PM. Riders must start and finish during this interval to insure that they receive the fine quality of food and support that is a Tierra Bella tradition. Rest stop cutoff times will be strictly enforced. Please plan to start your ride according to the following schedule:
60 K................................. 8:00 to 9:00 AM
100 K............................... 8:00 to 9:00 AM
100 Mile.......................... 7:00 to 8:00 AM
200 K............................... 7:00 to 8:00 AM
Parking & Accommodations
Parking at Gavilan College is limited. The college will enforce all parking restrictions and may issue citations. Please rely on our friendly, helpful parking staff (in orange safety vests) to direct you.
There is no overnight parking or camping at Gavilan College. The Gavilan gates will open at 6:30 AM. For a list of local motels and campgrounds, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your Tierra Bella registration form.
(See FAQs for links to lodging facilities.)
This page was last updated on April 3, 2011 If you have any suggestions and/or comments regarding this website please contact the ACTC WebMaster.
