Community
Berkeley Omnium
Two kinds of racing. One cycling community.
A nonprofit weekend bringing the Berkeley Hills Road Race and Berkeley Streets Criterium together, with all proceeds supporting six East Bay NICA teams.
Explore Berkeley Omnium
Why I help organize it
I help organize Berkeley Omnium because it helps grow the next generation of cyclists. All proceeds go to six East Bay NICA teams. What I enjoy most is working with a fantastic team of people and volunteers who make the weekend happen.
Hills and streets. Different demands.
A road race rewards sustained effort over changing terrain. A criterium compresses the action into repeated laps and quick decisions.
Berkeley Hills Road Race
- Setting
- The Three Bears loop in Orinda
- What it tests
- Climbing, pacing, and tactics
A long-standing part of Northern California road racing, the Berkeley Hills Road Race takes riders onto the Three Bears loop. Climbs change the shape of the field: staying with a group, saving energy, and choosing when to attack all matter.
From the sidelines Watch how the group changes over the climbs. A gap that looks small can become decisive when riders have to work together to close it.
Berkeley Streets Criterium
- Setting
- A street circuit in Berkeley
- What it tests
- Cornering, positioning, and acceleration
The Berkeley Streets Criterium brings racing close to spectators. Riders return around a compact circuit, so you can follow a breakaway, watch the chase organize, and see how positioning changes as the finish approaches.
From the sidelines Pick a permitted viewing spot behind the barriers. Follow the same riders across successive laps to see the tactics develop; keep crossings clear and follow marshal instructions.
An omnium combines results across races into an overall competition. The event’s published guide defines eligible fields, scoring, and tie-breaks.
Read the Berkeley racing weekend guide
A local race with a lasting legacy.
Berkeley racing has deep roots in Northern California cycling. The Hills Road Race grew from local race promotion into a fixture that brings generations of riders back to the same demanding terrain.
The Berkeley Bicycle Club carries that tradition forward. Its history connects the road race with a broader culture of club rides, amateur competition, and people sharing what they know.
The street race adds another way to experience that culture: spectators can see the field repeatedly, understand the contest as it unfolds, and cheer for riders they recognize.
Room for the next rider.
Local racing grows when riders can find an entry point, build confidence, and see a reason to come back.
Junior cycling
Junior fields give young riders a place to develop race skills alongside their peers. The club also supports youth riding beyond competition, with a junior program that emphasizes teamwork, sportsmanship, and confidence on the bike.
Collegiate racing
Collegiate participation connects campus teams with the wider Northern California cycling community. Students race the same hills and street circuit as other fields, bringing team identity and a new group of riders into local competition.
Women’s racing
Women’s fields are part of the race weekend. The club’s wider work also includes mentorship and support for women’s cycling. A strong racing community needs both opportunities to compete and people who help riders find their place in the sport.
That principle also shapes how I think about mentoring engineers and new leaders: give people context, meaningful responsibility, and support as they grow.
What the weekend makes possible.
All event proceeds go to six East Bay teams in the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). Those teams help young people take part in cycling through coaching, equipment, and opportunities to ride and race.
Race entries, sponsors, and volunteer effort contribute in different ways. Together, they make a local event possible and help it support the riders coming next.
- People contributeRacers, volunteers, and sponsors
- The weekend brings them togetherCompetition and community
- All proceeds support six youth teamsMore opportunities to ride
There’s more than one way to join in.
- Race or watch
- Use the event website for the published race guide, categories, registration, and spectator information. Confirm the details there before planning your visit.
- Volunteer
- Ask the organizers where help is needed. Clear rider information, course support, and a welcoming race village all depend on people giving their time.
- Support the weekend
- Sponsorship can include financial backing, equipment, or in-kind help. Discuss what the event needs with the organizers so your contribution supports the racing and its community purpose.