On the Road

SUGGESTED START TIMES

  • 100-MILE: start at the Village 6:30am-7:30am
  • 100-KM: start at the Village 6:30am-9:00am
  • 75-KM: start at the Village 6:30am-9:00am
  • 50-KM: start at the Village 9:00am-11:00am

Riders should be sure to start their respective rides in order to finish the day at 5:00pm. We have a hard cutoff at 5:00pm for all riders with certain cut off times throughout the routes. We suggest you start early and target your finish time to be 3:00pm in order to enjoy the festivities in the VMware Village in Palo Alto after the ride! The Village closes at 5:00pm.

Celebrity riders will be leaving on different routes throughout the morning. Check here closer to the event date for the schedule.

  • TIBCO: TBD
  • Vanderkitten: 8:30am
  • Canary Chicks: 9:00am

WEATHER

Dress in layers. Especially for the 100km and 100mi rides, expect dramatically different weather on the coast than in Palo Alto. A jacket and/or leg & arm warmers that can be packed into a jersey pocket are a great way to be prepared.

REST STOPS

There are Rest Stops along the routes, which have snacks and drinks to refill and refuel you.  You will pass five rest stops on the 100 mile Century route.  100 km Metric Century riders will have four rest stops opportunities.  75km riders will be able to hydrate at two rest stops and there is one rest stop on the 50km Metric Half Century route.  Of course all routes end at the VMware Village, the mother of all rest stops.

SAG & MEDICAL SUPPORT

Rolling SAG and Medical support will be provided on all routes.  Each SAG vehicle will have a bike mechanic and an EMT.  In addition, the Rest Stops will have some basic tools for self-repairs.  We recommend all riders carry basic tools and spare tubes as you would on any other ride on remote roads.  Special thanks to The Village Doctor of Woodside for coordinating the medical support and for manning a medical tent in the Village.

STRAVA

Together with Strava, we set up some just-for-fun timed climb and sprint segments on the 100-mile, 100-km, and 75-km routes. Think you’re fast? Think you’re strong? With Strava you’ll be able to compare yourself to professional riders and to your friends. The Canary Challenge is not a race and no one is required to participate, but if you’d like to push yourself for a few hundred yards, have at it!  We’ll be awarding fun prizes to some of the climbers and sprinters who participate. So see how you measure up to the pros and other riders. Join the Canary Challenge on Strava today!

Strava, the premier social training website for cyclists, provides an unparalleled interactive and entertaining way to log your rides. Created by avid cyclists, Strava allows riders of all levels to track their progress, compare rides, find new places to ride, and measure themselves virtually on local climbs and sprints.  On the day of the event, using a Garmin device or an iPhone, Canary Challenge participants will be able to upload and view their results in the Village or after the event at home.

TRAFFIC & ROAD CONDITIONS

The Canary Challenge is run on open public roads so it is a requirement that riders obey all traffic laws. That includes STOPPING at all stop signs. Police will ticket event cyclists just like and other. Riders also need to watch speed limits. Police have and will ticket riders for speeding. Also, iPod or other MP3 players or Radios, if worn while cycling, are extremely DANGEROUS and police may cite the rider! For your safety and the safety of others, don’t use your audio player while riding!

There are a few sections of road that can get considerable amounts of vehicular traffic, especially as cars travel between the coast and the Hwy 280 corridor. Most of these sections have good shoulders but riders should always be careful and respectful of traffic. 
 
Much of the terrain on the courses is hilly, twisting and can be very windy. These roads are generally thought of as fun to ride but they do require skills and caution to navigate safely.

Remember:

  • This is not a race and there is no winner
  • ANSI/Snell-approved helmets must be worn at all times during the ride
  • All riders must carry a driver’s license or other form of ID
  • All riders are responsible for the safety and condition of your bicycle and its equipment

 Riders should carry:

Click here for list
  • Spare tube
  • Patch kit
  • Pump
  • Tire irons
  • Tools
  • Water bottles
  • Medical identification
  • Personal clothing
  • All riders must check-in at start
  • All riders must sign the release form before starting the ride
  • All riders under 18 years of age must have the form signed by a parent or guardian and carry the medical release authorizing any needed treatment
  • Please be courteous to local drivers and respectful of traffic
  • Bicyclists must obey all California Vehicle code laws, including all stop signs and signals. Local authorities may cite violators
  • Ride single file and stay right
  • Pace lines
  • All pace line leaders should announce “on your left” to all riders being passed
  • Riding in a pace line is inherently dangerous. You assume all liabilities for riding in a pace line
  • Exercise extreme caution near all pace lines
  • Riders impeding other riders shall safely stay as far right as possible or pull off the road if necessary allowing faster riders to pass
  • You must wear your assigned rider bib number on your back so it can be seen from cars behind you. You may not be allowed into Rest Stops without your bib number visible
  • Your bib number is the same color as your course arrows
  • Private sag vehicles are prohibited. Riders with private sags will be disqualified

DISCLAIMER

Canary Foundation reserves the right to refuse entry, disqualify or remove anyone from the course for reasons of the their own safety, for the safety of others, for violation of any rules above or of the California vehicle code or for any other reason including the well being of the rider, other riders, or the ride.