Racing is hard work

"It's a target event for all the (top) NorCal riders," said race director Alec Simpson.

This year, an expo area will be in place for various cycling equipment and vendors, along with Peninsula Velo sponsors.

"It's a lot of work," said Peninsula Velo Athletic Director Bill Fallis. "We work closely with the city."

None of it would be possible, however, without the tireless efforts of a volunteer crew. Volunteers will post fliers on parking meters beginning Friday night and throughout the weekend, informing would-be drivers that they can't park there. They will drag hay bales over "immovable objects," as Fallis put it, as well as set up barriers to hold the crowds back.

"We have a lot more fencing to manage the crowds at the start and finish lines," Fallis said, adding that nearly half the course now has metal barriers. The rest of the course is cordoned off with pylons and the entire course is marshaled by Pen Velo club members.

Simpson said the entire stretch of street coming down the start/finish corridor will now have barriers to keep fans from wandering into the sprinting racers' path - about 400 feet worth of barrier on both sides of the street. In the past, plastic mesh "fencing" was used and Simpson said it just looked horrible.

In total, about 1,000 feet of the metal barrier is being used at a cost of $1,500. The positive side, however, is that the rental company will set up and take down the fencing. The rest of the course will be cordoned off with pylons and ribbon.

At the beginning of June, notices were sent out to businesses around the course to let them know that the streets will be shut down from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"We hope there hasn't been too many problems with retailers," Fallis said. "Pretty much all the retailers see some benefit (from the race)."

Simpson, who is in his second year as race director, spent years volunteering his services for the race. He said business were at first a little agitated.

"As the race has gotten more organized, businesses have quieted down," Simpson said.

Fallis said "the club goes before the Burlingame City Council in January to obtain a special event permit, which runs around $100." Netie Shinday, executive assistant to the city manager and city attorney, said, "The event is reviewed by police, fire and public works. [The event organizers] have to meet certain requirements."

Despite having to go through the same steps every year, Shinday said it's basically a formality.

"They're happy to meet the requirements for the city and we know they put on a professional event," Shinday said. "There are never any concerns about the event not happening or not getting the permit."

The police and fire departments review the request as it pertains to traffic and safety.

"The biggest cost goes to the police for overtime (costs)," Fallis said. "We pay about seven cops for crowd control."

Simpson said it costs about $3,000 for the police.

Fire trucks and ambulances are on call for any disasters, but there is also a trained emergency room doctor and nurse who volunteer their expertise in the event of any accident.

"[The city] has requested, in the past, to have the fire department on scene but we asked if our people were adequate and they said yes," Simpson said.

Simpson said "the entire cost of putting on the race is in the $12,000 to $15,000 range. Most of that is covered by the racers' entry fees, which run between $30 and $35. Another $4,000 comes from sponsors. The majority of sponsor money, 95 percent, goes to a couple of charities: the Burlingame Community for Education and the Ryan Phua Foundation benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation."

"We try to make it nonprofit," Fallis said. "Most (of the money raised) goes to child cancer research."

Fallis said the event has already raised about $60,000 for cancer research.