40th Cat's Hill Classic This Saturday

Editor's Note: The following press release was contributed by Chris Twiggs, race director of the Cat's Hill Classic. It's been edited for clarity and brevity.

World-class bicycle racing again makes its way to Los Gatos on May 4 for the 40th annual Cat’s Hill Classic bicycle races presented by Mike’s Bikes and the Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club. 

Staged among the historic Victorian homes at Tait and Nicholson avenues just two blocks off North Santa Cruz Avenue in beautiful Los Gatos, the Cat’s Hill Classic bicycle race is renowned as one of the most difficult closed circuit cycling races in the United States.

Racers repeatedly climb up the challenging 23 percent grade of “Cat’s Hill” on Nicholson Avenue and complete the mile-long neighborhood loop with a 50-plus mph hair-raising descent onto the crowd-lined finishing stretch. 

Races for all categories and levels start at 9:20 a.m. and continue through the day. The women’s top category race will run for one hour starting at 3:55 p.m. The men’s professional and top-level class race will start at 5 p.m. and last for 1:15. This family friendly event is a perfect way to spend a Saturday.

The Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club

The Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club, named the number one amateur cycling club in the USA on four occasions, has presented the Cat's Hill Classic bicycle race continuously since 1974 making it one of the oldest cycling races in the U.S.

The Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club members volunteer their time to organize and run this race annually and also give back to the community by selecting a local organization to receive a share of the race’s registration proceeds. 

The Los Gatos High School Marching Band is helping by having members perform and sign up for some of the many volunteer jobs involved in putting on the race. In return, they will receive a donation of a portion of the proceeds.

A Kid’s Fun Ride will take place at 12:30 p.m. The ride will be divided into two age groups: ages 6 and younger, and ages 7 through 9 years. 

The kids will get the thrill of crossing the official finish line on Tait and Nicholson avenues, with applause and official race announcements.

All participants will receive first-place “gold” medals in this fun race. Parents must register their children at the registration area behind the announcer’s stand at the start/finish line on the corner of Tait and Nicholson avenues. 

Important notes: race-day registration is mandatory and will be open from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. or until 96 entrants have registered, whichever comes first. 

Registration will close once a total of 96 children have entered. Children must wear their helmet and the race number that will be provided to them. Parents or legal guardians must sign a liability waiver; other adults, neighbors or friends may not register other people's children.

About Mike's Bikes

Mike’s Bikes was founded in 1964 in the heart of Marin County and has grown to become the largest independent bicycle dealer in the U.S.

Its commitment to getting more people on bikes is demonstrated not only through their in-store professionalism, but also through the sponsorship of dozens of local teams, clubs and advocacy groups, and by the work of the Mike's Bikes Foundation and its Africa bicycle philanthropy projects.

With nine stores located in downtown Los Gatos just two blocks from the Cat’s Hill Classic start/finish line, Petaluma, San Rafael, Sausalito, San Francisco, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Sacramento and Walnut Creek, Mike's Bikes is delivering a world-class bike shop experience to thousands of customers all over the bicycle Mecca of Northern California. Two new Mike’s Bikes in San José and Pleasanton will be open this spring and summer, respectively.

Details: Race director Chris Twiggs, ctwiggs@gmail.com; or Barry Gordon, president of the Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club, 408-978-8200, or bgordon@structint.com

ALSO ON LOS GATOS PATCH:

• World Class Bicycle Racing Comes to Los Gatos on Saturday
• Women Spin Strong in Cat's Hill Race
• Cyclists Charge Through 39th Annual Cat’s Hill Classic
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