Sat May 16, 2026 · 7:00 AM PDT

Friends of
VAM.

Friends of Tam is for your bucket list.

Friends of VAM is for your trophy case.

Distance
194.1 km
Climbing
4,535 m
Roll-out
GGB 7am
Format
Segment Challenge
Four climbs up Tam. Two crowns.

DVC Collective introduces a spirited take on the bay area classic.

// the format

How it works

Roll out together from the GGB Visitor Center and rendezvous with the north-of-the-bridge crew Java Hut in Fairfax. After that, ride your own ride. Four posted climbs, your combined time across all four decides it.

  1. Drop ride. No re-groups. You must be self-sufficient. From SF, we roll to Fairfax together. After that, you're on your own — solo, in groups, however the day shakes out.
  2. Four scoring segments All four are climbs up Mount Tam. We will score ride data from those who joined the DVC Collective event on Strava and completed all four segments on May 16th.
  3. Combined time wins Add your elapsed times across the four segments. Lowest total takes the crown. Miss a segment, you're out of the GC but still get some GXs.
  4. King & Queen of VAM One title for fastest man, one for fastest woman. That's it. Everyone else gets the ride and a shot to make it on the leaderboard.
// THE SEGMENTS

The Tam Four

Every scoring segment is a climb up Mount Tam to West Peak. Pace it however you like — only the combined elapsed time across all four counts.

// vam · velocità ascensionale media

What's VAM, anyway?

Italian for velocità ascensionale media — average climbing speed. It's the spirit of this event, not the scoring system: combined elapsed time across the four segments is what crowns the King and Queen. VAM is just how we measure who's flying.

VAM  =  vertical meters climbed  ÷  hours on the segment

Reference. 1,000 m/h is recreational. 1,800+ m/h is World Tour.

We will score ride data from those who joined the DVC Collective event on Strava and completed all four segments on May 16th. Lowest combined elapsed time wins.

For context · pro tour climbsVAM, m/h
1
Pogačar
Plateau de Beille · '24
~1,940
2
Pogačar
Pla d'Adet · '24
~1,860
3
Pogačar
Galibier · '22
~1,830
4
Vingegaard
Col du Granon · '22
~1,750
5
Vingegaard
Hautacam · '22
~1,720
·
A strong amateur up Tam
for comparison
~1,000
/ vam

See you
at the top.

Sat May 16, 2026 · 7:00 AM · GGB Visitor Center