2013 - Koppenberg

Submitted by David on Sun, 05/05/2013 - 11:54

Learn more about the Colorado Koppenberg Race

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All Photos below are from Sportifimages

Date:

Sunday, May 5, 2013

event_type:

Road Racing

51 Comments

Kopp hill dirt conditions?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/22/2013 - 07:18

Kopp hill dirt conditions? What is the condition of the hill after all the storms and rednecks in 4x4s? Hoping it will stay dry after this storm today...

Koppenberg hill conditions

Submitted by David on Mon, 04/22/2013 - 08:41

Saw this from the weekend. I rode the course 2 weekends ago and it was bad. 2 paths up and pretty bumpy. Definitely ridable on a road bike but it looks like its worse.

The dirt changes every week

Submitted by 303admin on Mon, 04/22/2013 - 07:24

As a near 'regular' of the Koppenberg I'd say during the Spring months that road changes weekly. Currently the road is not as nice as it was in the photo listed above but not as bad as years before the restored the road. Currently I'd say it's a solid and fair 2 lanes up the climb. IMO your greater threat still comes from the gravel afterwards on the top as you could get a snake bite. BTW, that climb can dry out in 2 days or less this time of year after a storm.

Condition as of 4/26

Submitted by Bo Jangles (not verified) on Sun, 04/28/2013 - 07:46

Pic from Allen Krughoff's Instagram...Much improved in a few days
http://instagram.com/p/Yk3tgitwhv/media/?size=l

I find the words "packed dirt

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/28/2013 - 08:57

I find the words "packed dirt road" to be very misleading. More like a gravel-covered dirt road. I would call "the hill" a packed dirt road.

Probably true

Submitted by Kris Thompson on Sun, 04/28/2013 - 14:21

Agree, this hill is so steep that gravel would not last very long on it. It's packed dirt which is better than if it were gravel.

reg list

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 09:38

what is the deal with not posting the pre reg list? is it an effort to get more people to register? it is the only thing keeping me from registering. i realize that might be silly, but i like to see what the field is looking like before i register. pretty sure i'm not alone on that...

Agreed. I'm not sure on the

Submitted by Colin (not verified) on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 13:06

Agreed. I'm not sure on the Kopp's condition on Sunday morning so I have been holding out since I race 35+ 4's. Last year it was in great condition and someone crashed in front of me the first time up, broke their collar bone and I lost the group. The 4's are a disaster as it is, much less with the hill in tough condition. If I knew that it was really close to being full I would sign up now, but I would rather wait and see what the road looks like. If I don't race it then no big deal. I'd rather not get held up on the first climb only to ride by myself again for 45 minutes.

Just my take: if you're

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 09:59

Just my take: if you're pinning your hopes in this race on riding in the middle of the field hoping no one goes down in front of you...you've already lost, no matter what the conditions, and you should probably hold onto your $$.

Completely disagree

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 10:11

My best result came the year I rode in the back the first 2 laps. Everyone is lighting up matches to be first up the climb, they win and blow up on top. Riders do go down on the climb. I'm not saying breaks can happen but just because a rider unclips on the hill doesn't mean the party is over for you.

That is silly. It's a race

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 21:14

That is silly. It's a race sign up, go race as hard as you can and see where the chips fall. I'm thinking that either people are sandbaggers and only sign up when they think they can do good, or they see that there's good competition and want to test themselves. Either way race hard and see how you do, waiting to see who's racing is a weak excuse.

You are obviously unattached.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 18:35

You are obviously unattached. Those of us on a team enjoy seeing the the roster before a race so we can discuss tactics, mark riders, etc. It is more fun for us this way. Not posting the rosters before the race has only encouraged teammates to not register. Its less fun, discourages team discussions before the races, and gives teams less incentive to register as a group. You can think its silly, but it will hurt overall registration numbers.

Don't forget, you need plenty

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 18:56

Don't forget, you need plenty of time, once you've decided to enter the race, to get your radio frequencies coordinated and your batteries charged. Wouldn't want to lose contact with your DS.

I'm simply holding out to see

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 14:25

I'm simply holding out to see if it's going to rain or not this weekend. Even a small amount of rain (and as of now there's a 50/50 chance for rain both Saturday and Sunday) can create havoc with the Kopp. I'm afraid I'm going to be a last minute Charlie and register day-of. Thank goodness they still let us do that for this event!

Koppenberg - Race Day

Submitted by David on Wed, 05/01/2013 - 11:01

This moisture will not be good for the hill. Are people thinking cyclocross bike? Will it be dry enough to ride a road bike. I am considering putting my MTB pedals on my road bike. What are people thinking?

I love this question. every

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/01/2013 - 12:39

I love this question. every year...

Photo taken 2 days after one of our April storms

Submitted by Kris Thompson on Wed, 05/01/2013 - 17:02

http://pic.twitter.com/0iuCW74P38

I took this photo just 2 days after one of those April storms. Road was perfect and climb was fine. Remember, that climb faces South.

Now the real trouble will come today and tonight... how much damage will the suburban rednecks do to the road as they go mudde'n on it.

Do you even realize that you

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 10:03

Do you even realize that you use inflammatory language in your posts? Rednecks? Really? Not everyone who offroads or who happens to drive up that hill is a redneck.

The road isn't too bad, but

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/01/2013 - 14:26

The road isn't too bad, but the soil on the climb itself is another issue altogether. It's the sort of dirt that turns to a derailleur-snapping, brake clogging mud with minimal moisture. If you need mtb shoes, better dismount well before the base of the climb and run the entire hill.

I made em extra sloppy for yaz

Submitted by Lunch Lady (not verified) on Wed, 05/01/2013 - 14:33

I know how you kids love your sloppy Kops....

The hill is in great shape.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/01/2013 - 17:18

The hill is in great shape. Even kids can ride it.

http://t.co/kGvMWw3yEI

Bah, my kids big ring it

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/01/2013 - 22:16

Bah, my kids big ring it

So, they rode it the day

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 10:05

So, they rode it the day before the snow. How are they doing today?

For those of us

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 06:50

traveling and not yet registered (safe way to do these great races because of the weather) any early intel on the dirt, do you Boulder racers think this will be a go?

The climb will dry out

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 08:23

The climb will dry out completely today. Only potential factor is the small chance of rain on Saturday night, though a little rain will be a good thing for the dirt.

i will ride today

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 06:57

I will be out there at noon

Hill Condition 9:50am on Friday

Submitted by Without Limits ... (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 09:51

The road approaching the hill and at the top of the hill were 100% Dry as of 5pm yesterday (Thurs). Any snow after we finished shoveling Wed night was gone by mid-day yesterday, but the hill is muddy (I wouldn't advise trying to ride today at noon). It'll take all day today to know exactly how dry it'll be by Sunday am. We'll be posting updates consistently on the website, FB/Twitter @BoulderRacing, and here on 303. Chance of rain for Sat night is only 20%.

Conditions of the hill as of noon

Submitted by Kris Thompson on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 13:29

Rode the hill at noon today and it was 95% dry with a few moist spots. At the rate it is drying I bet that by 2pm today it will be dry.

Some good upstanding people have been driving their large automobiles on the climb which thanks to them this race will be EPIC! The top side just got graded and I spoke to the operator of the grader and they will not be working on the hill. Sweet.

The riders standing on the podium this weekend should be proud of it.

I've ridden and driven that

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 13:45

I've ridden and driven that hill fairly often. all it takes is a few of us driving outbacks / audi quattros up and down it a few times when its dry and the ruts will totally pack in / level and smooth out. I live in SoBo and need to do a costco run so I can take one for the team this afternoon and run the turbo wagon up and down it once or twice. Sadly I can't race Kopp this year because I'm already pre-registered for the BtB which got moved to Sunday. HAVE FUN!!!

You're awesome! Love the

Submitted by Without Limits ... (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 19:23

You're awesome! Love the community support!

they graded all the dirt on

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/04/2013 - 09:26

they graded all the dirt on everything along Coal Creek Dr. and up top. It is going to be loose and rocky and insanely epic. I was out there yesterday around 6:30PM and it was a tough ride. Some good sized cobbles got turned up by the grader!

I saw the Without Limits guys

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/04/2013 - 10:28

I saw the Without Limits guys out there this morning sweeping the loose gravel in the corners and rocky sections on the straights. It'll be epic for sure, but much safer after the sweeping.

Koppenberg - Friday Update

Submitted by David on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 18:56

Hill 100% dry as of 6pm, top is rutted so it's a fight for the good lines. Grading took away all the washboard which is a plus and covered all the nails on the bridge.

From videos I've seen of

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 18:59

From videos I've seen of previous years' races, it seems the sweet line is to take the grass section to the right of the road. Wonder what sort of condition that stretch is in?

Grass section is runnable

Submitted by Kris Thompson on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 19:25

A few years ago when they "restored" the hill they put large boulders up at the entrance of the grass sections to prevent upstanding citizens from driving up on that section. You could run it but access to it is challenging... But anything is possible.

when I was riding out there

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/04/2013 - 11:15

when I was riding out there last night the left hand line was definitely the way to go anyhow. the whole right hand / inside was churned up and kinda sketchy

It's dry and ridable though?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/04/2013 - 12:12

It's dry and ridable though?

Bone Dry

Submitted by David on Sat, 05/04/2013 - 12:36

The Course is bone dry. Did not see any water or mud on the course.

Amazing photo showing the hills' progress over the past days

Submitted by 303admin on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 19:26

Thanks to the promoter for sharing.

Good luck everyone! It's going to be an epic year to participate.

attacking on the hill is so

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 21:41

attacking on the hill is so cliche, please do something more interesting this year tia

Koppenberg - Course Sat Morning

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/04/2013 - 11:19

Its really too bad the grader went over the course yesterday. It went from hard packed dirt to loose sand with large rocks. I did see the Without Limits crew sweeping bits of the course but sweeping parts of the course is like shoveling your driveway with a teaspoon. I will be racing tomorrow and I love this course.

Koppenberg Results Link

Submitted by Without Limits ... (not verified) on Sat, 05/04/2013 - 21:46

Here's the landing page for Koppenberg Results with lap splits http://my4.raceresult.com/details/index.php?page=4&eventid=16344&lang=en

FWIW - I thought the event

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/05/2013 - 18:47

FWIW - I thought the event was well run and fun. A lot of flats and mechanicals, but that's the nature of the race. Quick registration, chips worked well and it's nice to see the lap times. Thanks, I'll race it again.

Great event, hard racing,

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/05/2013 - 21:06

Great event, hard racing, well run, drive the 2 hours to do it again, oh yea!

Worth the 3 hour drive

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/06/2013 - 08:54

I drove three hours from Nebraska and will be back next year. Most fun I've had in a race in a long time. Very well organized event. Plus the race numbers with the Koppenberg logo were a nice touch. It will stand out on the garage wall with the plain white numbers.

wow, that is cool! thanks for

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/06/2013 - 09:30

wow, that is cool! thanks for taking the time to come in from way afield - this is one of our "signature" classic events. If you liked this one, and aren't opposed to making the trip, keep your eye out for Boulder-Roubaix next year - it is even more awesome! :D

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