Unleashing BMC’s Roadmachine: A Thrilling Adventure at Sea Otter’s Gran Fondo

When I discovered that I would be traveling to Monterey, California, for the Sea Otter Classic, I immediately knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go biking. With such a busy schedule, I’d only have a chance for one ride. Instead of going through the hassle of shipping my bike, I decided to take advice from the event’s website and rent from a local shop. The last piece of the puzzle was registering for the Gran Fondo Pacifico, a 50-mile ride with 3,000 ft of elevation gain.

A couple of weeks before my trip, I had the chance to interview Joan Hanscom, the NA Marketing Manager for BMC, for my Rough Road 100 story. During our conversation, we started talking about Sea Otter. When Joan discovered I would attend, she generously offered to reserve one of their demo bikes. And not just any demo bike, but BMC’s brand new Roadmachine!

Needless to say, I eagerly accepted her offer, did a 60-second dance party, and promptly canceled the bike rental I had previously arranged.

BMC Roadmachine: Components and Specs

The endurance geometry of the new Roadmachine is perfect for longer rides on the road or gravel. The model I tested had high-end components and features, including:

• All Shimano Dura Ace components, including Di2 shifters, 50-34 chainring, 12 speed 11-30 cassette
• 4iiii Precision 3+ Pro Power Meter (dual sided)
• DT Swiss ERC rims
• Ideally suited for 30mm road tires, with clearance for up to 40mm knobby gravel tires.
• Integrated bottle cage and downtube storage.
• USB rechargeable, integrated rear light mounted to the D-shape seatpost.
• New ICS Carbon EVO cockpit with 8 degrees of flare for better control (gravel model uses a vibration-dampening ICS MTT suspension stem.)
• Standard 2x drivetrain and 1x compatible
• 7.2 kg (without pedals)
• $12.999 MSRP

I brought my saddle, pedals, and saddlebag from home, which we installed the evening before the Fondo. I also paired my Garmin Edge 1040 Solar with the 4iiii power meter to enable power and cadence to display.

Gran Fondo Pacifico

On a chilly Saturday morning, with light winds and temperatures at 47 degrees, the riders gathered on the Laguna Seca Raceway for our adventure. Approximately 500 cyclists participated in the Gran Fondo Carmelo (85 miles) and Pacifico (50 miles). The Carmelo group set out first, followed by my group fifteen minutes later, precisely at 7:45 a.m.

One of the most exciting parts of the route was riding the renowned raceway. However, it was quite a scene as we tackled the corkscrew climb, which I later learned was the opposite direction the cars race. The ascent was a bit chaotic, with cyclists of varying skill levels navigating the steep corkscrew. I had to maneuver around people walking their bikes, barely staying upright, or just stopping in the middle of the raceway.

After conquering the corkscrew, we made a sharp right turn onto the road and faced more climbing before a thrilling descent heading towards the ocean. The Roadmachine handled the speed and turns perfectly. However, I couldn’t fly down the descent at full throttle due to the road conditions, dodging potholes, cracks, and many cyclists.

Knowing this was an out-and-back route, I reminded myself to savor the downhill portion, as the return journey would be challenging. As we approached the ocean, they routed us onto the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. Since it is a multi-use path, it was slow going as we navigated around walkers, runners, dogs, and tourists. Nevertheless, the breathtaking view compelled me to stop, take pictures, and gawk at the baby seals napping with their mothers on the beach.

The organizers set up two well-stocked rest stops along the route, manned by friendly volunteers. By the time we reached the last stop, the fog had dissipated, and temperatures had risen to the mid-70s. It was now time to face the daunting task of climbing back up and over the mountain. As expected, the return journey lacked the exhilaration of the descent. Does it ever compare? The last 2.5 miles of the steep climb were particularly grueling, accompanied by heavy breathing, except for the e-bikers effortlessly passing me on both the right and left. Although I had excellent gearing on the Roadmachine, I couldn’t help but yearn for a bit of e-assist towards the end.

The finish line awaited us slightly before the top of the climb, and volunteers handed out finisher medals. Worried that I wouldn’t be able to regain momentum on such a steep grade, I opted to ride through the finish line, snatching the medal on the fly.

Bottom line

I’m thankful to the folks at BMC for lending me the new Roadmachine to test ride. Putting it through its paces on long, steep descents and climbs was great fun. The bike’s endurance geometry is similar to what I’m used to riding back home, and I found it quite comfortable. 

Sea Otter Classic happens every April in Monterey and is open to the public. It’s a family-friendly event offering great riding and racing as a spectator or participant. There’s so much to see and do in the Monterey area, and I highly recommend checking it out.

As originally seen in Road Bike Rider.