Racer Guide · Berkeley Hills Road Race
Berkeley Hills Road Race start guide: Orinda HQ, staging and neutral rollout
Race morning begins at Orinda BART. Racing begins several miles later. Knowing the difference makes BHRR morning a lot easier.
Race morning at a glance
- Race HQ and registration
- Orinda BART, north end parking lot, 11 Camino Pablo, Orinda, CA 94563
- At Race HQ
- Registration, results, medical support and staging
- Parking
- Free weekend parking at Orinda BART
- Staging
- Northeast side of the Orinda BART lot, near registration
- First rollout from HQ
- 8:00 a.m.
- Actual race start
- San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek Road
- Finish
- Papa Bear, on Bear Creek Road. See the official course map.
- Important
- Your staging time isn't your race start. You stage at Orinda BART, then roll out together under neutral conditions to the actual start.
- Arrive early
- Registration gets busy. If you're still in line when your field stages, you can miss your race.
The short answer
Berkeley Hills Road Race racers check in and stage at the north end of the Orinda BART parking lot at 11 Camino Pablo in Orinda, California. Racers then complete a neutral rollout, escorted by a vehicle and a USA Cycling official, to the actual race start at San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek Road. The race does not start at Orinda BART.
Start at Orinda BART, but this isn't the race start
Your BHRR race morning starts at Orinda BART. Your race doesn't.
Registration, staging, results and medical support are at the north end of the Orinda BART parking lot. Racers assemble there at their staging time, ready to race. From Orinda BART, the fields roll out under neutral conditions, about 2.3 miles, to the actual Berkeley Hills Road Race start at San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek Road. Once the fields reach the start, the races begin separately, following the schedule and the officials' instructions.
- Race HQ: Orinda BARTRegister, get ready, and stage with your field.
- Neutral rollout, about 2.3 miles, escorted by officials
- Race start: San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek RoadEach race starts separately on the officials' instructions.
- The race: the Three Bears loop
- Finish: Papa Bear, on Bear Creek RoadCheck the official course map for the exact location.
Don't ride straight to the course start expecting to stage there. Your race begins with your field at Orinda BART.
Race HQ: Orinda BART
Berkeley Hills Road Race HQ is in the Orinda BART, north end parking lot, 11 Camino Pablo, Orinda, CA 94563. Orinda BART serves as headquarters for registration, staging, results and medical support, and staging is on the northeast side of the Orinda BART parking lot, near the registration table.
- Registration
- Results
- Medical support
- Staging
Registering on race day? Day-of registration is available (+$15) and cashless, and the registration guide covers licenses and junior waivers.
Parking at Orinda BART
Plenty of free parking in both the north and south end lots at Orinda BART. Areas marked as fee parking don't charge on weekends. The race information says it plainly: all parking is free on race day, and BART confirms its station parking is free on weekends.
Coming from somewhere on BART? Consider taking BART straight to Race HQ: registration and staging are right at the station, and the race encourages it.
Where do I stage?
Racers stage on the northeast side of the Orinda BART parking lot, near the registration table. Show up at your designated staging time completely ready to race:
- Registration and check-in done.
- Number pinned on properly.
- Bottles filled.
- Food in your pockets or on the bike.
- Bathroom done.
- Clothing chosen for the conditions.
- Bike checked.
- Electronics charged and ready.
- Everything you need for the race already with you.
Your staging time isn't the time to arrive at BART. It's the time to be ready to stage. Arrive with enough margin to park, register, use the restroom, get your bike ready and handle anything unexpected.
| Staging time | Fields |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | P/1/2 and Collegiate P/1/2, Elite 3 and Collegiate 3, Masters 35+ 1/2/3, Women's Long Race |
| 8:15 a.m. | Elite 4 and Collegiate 4, Masters 35+ 3/4, Masters 50+ 1/2/3, Masters 50+ 3/4, Masters 60+ and 65+ 1/2/3/4/5 |
| 8:30 a.m. | Novice and Collegiate Novice, Women's Short Race, all junior fields |
These are the most recent staging waves. Times and fields can change for each edition and are published with registration, so check the schedule for your own field.
The neutral rollout: Orinda BART to the start line
Racers roll out from Orinda BART under neutral conditions, escorted by a vehicle and a USA Cycling official, about 2.3 miles to the start at San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek Road. The racing does not begin when you leave BART. A neutral rollout is a controlled ride behind officials: nobody races until the officials start your race.
- Follow the officials' instructions.
- Stay with your field.
- Ride predictably.
- Don't attack, and don't race the rollout.
- Don't push your way through the group to move up.
- Watch for traffic, road hazards, the riders around you and changes in speed.
- Keep your hands where you can control the bike.
- Treat the rollout as part of race operations, not a chance to gain position.
First rollout at 8:00 a.m.
The first rollout leaves Race HQ at 8:00 a.m.. Not every racer leaves then: follow the current schedule for your own staging time and wave.
See what the BHRR rollout looks like
First time racing BHRR? Watch the rollout before race morning so staging and the move from Orinda BART to the course feel familiar.
Where does racing actually start?
The official Berkeley Hills Road Race start is at San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek Road. After the neutral rollout, the fields reach the start area, and each race starts separately according to the officials' instructions.
The finish is somewhere else
Race HQ, the race start and the finish are three different places:
- Race HQ and staging: Orinda BART.
- Race start: San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek Road.
- Finish: Papa Bear, on Bear Creek Road. Use the official course map for the exact current finish location.
You don't finish back at Orinda BART.
Before you roll out: know these rules
Teammates and family: please don't follow your racer by car. Watch from the finish instead, where our spectator guide has the details.
Teammates handing up bottles will find feed zone etiquette in the spectator guide.
Women's short and long course options
In the women's races, racers of every category may choose the long course or the short course. Everyone racing the same distance races together as one field, regardless of category.
Your result is recorded two ways
- Category placing: how you finish against racers in your category. This placing earns BAR/BAT and Omnium points.
- Overall field placing: how you finish against everyone racing your distance. The full field size can be used for USA Cycling upgrade points.
For BAR/BAT points, the race information's guidelines are: P/1/2 riders register for the long race; Category 3, 4/Novice and 40+/50+/60+ 1/2/3/4/Novice riders register for the short race. On OnTheDay.net, "Results" shows category placings and "Finish order" shows overall placings.
Racing the Omnium? The course that earns Omnium points depends on your Omnium category, which isn't always the same as the BAR/BAT guidance above.
Which BHRR course counts for the Women's Omnium →
These guidelines are from the most recent race information and can change between editions, so check them when registration opens.
Racing collegiate?
Collegiate and open results are scored separately in the indicated races: the P/1/2, Elite 3, Elite 4 and Novice fields have each had a collegiate field racing alongside them. Register under your school's team.
How to start collegiate bike racing in California →
How the conference and its scoring work is in our WCCC guide.
Hungry after the race?
The race information has listed a food truck at Race HQ from 9:00 a.m., selling burritos, tacos and drinks, for racers, teammates, volunteers and spectators alike.
Race-morning checklist
Before you head to staging:
- Arrived early and checked in.
- Race number attached.
- Bike mechanically ready.
- Electronic shifting charged.
- Bottles filled.
- Race food packed.
- Helmet, shoes and gloves on.
- Right clothing for the conditions.
- Bathroom done.
- You know your staging time.
- You know your rollout wave.
- You know Orinda BART is staging, not the actual race start.
When your staging time arrives, you should be ready to race, not still getting ready.
More for BHRR racers
Training, pacing, positioning and race week on the Three Bears:
How to prepare for the Berkeley Hills Road Race →
The course, its history since 1957, and past winners:
The Berkeley Hills Road Race →
Registration news for the next edition of the Berkeley Omnium:
Berkeley Hills Road Race registration updates →
Coming from out of town? Where to stay, airports, BART and getting between the two venues:
Questions
Berkeley Hills Road Race start guide: Orinda HQ, staging and neutral rollout: FAQ
Where is Berkeley Hills Road Race registration?
At Race HQ in the Orinda BART, north end parking lot, 11 Camino Pablo, Orinda, CA 94563, which also has results, medical support and staging.
Open Orinda BART HQ map →Where do BHRR racers stage?
On the northeast side of the Orinda BART parking lot, near the registration table. Arrive at your staging time ready to race.
How early should I arrive for the Berkeley Hills Road Race?
Early enough to get through registration, which gets busy on race morning, and still be ready at your staging time. If you're still in line when your field stages, you can miss your race.
Does the Berkeley Hills Road Race start at Orinda BART?
No. Racers stage at Orinda BART and complete a neutral rollout, escorted by a vehicle and a USA Cycling official, to the official race start at San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek Road.
Where does BHRR actually start?
At San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek Road, about 2.3 miles from Orinda BART. Each race starts separately there after the neutral rollout.
Rollout route from Orinda BART to the start →What time does the first BHRR rollout leave Orinda?
8:00 a.m. Fields roll out in waves, so check the schedule for your own staging time and wave.
Staging waves →Is parking free at Orinda BART for BHRR?
Yes. The race information says all parking at Orinda BART is free on race day, in both the north and south lots, and BART parking is free on weekends. Areas marked as fee parking don't charge on weekends.
Can I warm up on the BHRR course?
No. Warming up on the course isn't allowed.
Are BHRR roads closed to traffic?
No. There's no road closure for the rollout or the race, so racers must watch for traffic and road hazards throughout.
Is there water on the BHRR course?
There's no running water, so bring your own. The feed zone near the bottom of Papa Bear allows personal feeding and has neutral water and bottle handouts while supplies last.