I live in an old farmhouse in a very scenic part of California, in the Gold Rush Country in the Sierra Foothills. The stretch of old U.S. 40 that goes past our house is a three-mile hill that is very popular with bicyclists. They struggle up to the top, and then turn around and zoom back down. I haven't tried it, but it does look like an exhilarating ride through the tall Ponderosa pines, above the heat and fog of the Central Valley. Our part of the road is fairly straight, so the visibility is good and the bikes don't pose a hazard to us on our way to the freeway. In other parts of our area, bikes can be as bad a hazard as the deer. We don't often get races past the house - just groups of people enjoying our hill.

The races like to go through nearby towns like Auburn and Grass Valley and Nevada City. They're pretty little towns with outdoor cafes where spectators can sit and watch the race go by. I've lived in this area 13 years now, and I think this bicycle phenomenon is delightful.

-Joe-

The Amgen Tour of California ends tomorrow - http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/