BICYCLIST Magazine #161 by BICYCLIST

guiding and inspiring travel by bike for sport, recreation and transportation since 1994

www.

BICYCLIST.xyz

issue 161

MAGA

In Print

25 Yea rs online 5 Years

organized RIDES, RACES and CELEBRATIONS of riding BICYCLES across the united states.

2019/2020 EVENT AND R ACE CALENDAR gear patrol

ask the coach

in search of dirt

asphalt, please

CONTENTS

Est. 1994

Issue 161 winter 2019

B road I nves tigation of C hallenging Y ourself, C ycling L ifes t yle and I nspiring S us tainable T ranspor tation

05 Electric age

Follow-up on the DIY E-Bike Add-on Hands On With The Revel Propulsion Bob Becker

10 In Search of Dirt Photo courtesy of James Murren

Rip Roarinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Through Kernville flow, flow and more flow! James Murren

12 Asphalt, Please Surviving the Mammoth Gran Fondo Riding 102 miles of gran fondo bliss John Woodson

13 DWR

Eastern Sierra Hijinks and Pit Stops under the Shadow of the Sierras Bob Becker

14 In Photo

BAT Build #002 - Colnago Decor Outlandish, outstanding, original Chris Reynolds

22 LAST PAGE

Cheers to Pete! Profiling the Generous Volunteer James Murren

Regulars 04 Prologue 06 Ask the coach 08 legal cycling 16 2019/2020Event/raceCalendar

Cover

All smiles as the Mammoth Gran Fondo makes its way through the

Sierra Nevada foothills where more than 1200 riders came together to participate in the event. See report on page 12. Photo courtesy: MGF/Captivating Sports

2 | BICYCLIST Issue 161

VITALS & DETAILS

BICYCLIST Magazine publishes stories of experience explicated by the handle, an acronym, BICYCLIST: Broad Investigation of Challenging Yourself, 'Cycling Lifestyle' and Inspiring (or Independently) Sustainable Transportation.1

MAGAZINE

EDITORIAL

Chris Reynolds | Managing Director chris@bicyclist.xyz

BAT #001

Kelley O’Toole | Managing Editor kelley@bicyclist.xyz

BAT #003

COLUMN CONTRIBUTORS

James Murren | james@bicyclist.xyz Rick Schultz | coach@bicyclist.xyz John Woodson | john@bicyclist.xyz

BAT DoC BAT #006

ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS

Bob Becker, Curtis Chen, Richard Duquette, Marc Olivier Jodoin, Anna Mos, John Shafer

ILLUSTRATIONS & DESIGN Christopher Massaad

BAT #008

COMMUNITY, ADVOCACY & OUTREACH

Victor Prestinary | victor@bicyclist.xyz BAT #002 Luis Suarez | luis@bicyclist.xyz BAT #007

READ/SUPPORT/DISCUSS

www.BICYCLIST.xyz  www.patreon.com/bicyclist  www.reddit.com/r/bicyclist

BICYCLIST

14252 Culver Drive Irvine, CA 92604 www.BICYCLIST.xyz (949) 264-3346 maildrop@BICYCLIST.xyz Directed and Printed in SoCal, USA Founded by Will Decker | Published by Chris Reynolds Copyright © 1994-2019 All rights reserved.

The magazine serves as an inspirational guide, championing the community of organized rides, events, races, and culture of a life traveled outside the confines of singly-occupied vehicles. BICYCLIST Magazine has been published as a print edition since 1994, provided to select locations throughout the western US, and made available free to the public. In 2014, the BICYCLIST Adventure Team (BAT) was organized, a not-for-profit collective dedicated to preserving the legacy of the BICYCLIST institution: a freely available publication chronicling, guiding, and independently documenting the culture of organized rides, events, races, and congregations of people traveling by any number of independently sustainable transportation options. The first effort of the BAT was adapting a digital edition of the magazine, and a repository for documented content, currently available at www.BICYCLIST.xyz. With the establishment of a platform, next began the production of The BICYCLIST Experience podcast, wherein members of the BAT expound and opine on the stories making waves across the BICYCLIST landscape, released on a weekly basis. The show is currently available on the Apple Podcast app or directly on www.BICYCLIST.fm. BICYCLIST is based in Southern California, an area that accounts for more bike shops, and active riders, than the rest of the United States – combined. Though our print distribution centers over SoCal, BICYCLIST reaches readers and listeners in all 50 states and more than 72 countries. Pledge your support of the BAT on Patreon to get access to the complete recording of the podcast, download the digital edition of this magazine, order delivered copies of the print edition, and so much more. Visit www.BICYCLIST.team to join the BAT party.

DISCLAIMER

Although all best efforts are made to avoid the same, we reserve the right to publish unintentional mistakes and/or factual errors which may occur on an issue basis. No responsibility is assumed by the publishers for unsolicited materials/articles/letters/advertising and all submissions will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright and/or appropriate licensing purposes subject to BICYCLIST’s right to edit and comment editorially. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine reflect the opinions of their respective author’s and are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form [print or digital] without prior consent of the publisher. Bicycling can be a dangerous sport and can lead to serious injury or death. Make it safer for everyone and obey all traffic laws, ride responsibly, use common sense, and wear a helmet.

SCan qr codes with a modern smart-device camera to get to ported auto-magically the bicyclist online nexus!

1|independently sustainable transportation, the IST of BICYCL-IST, is inclusive of bicycles of all types and stripes (e.g. road, mountain, gravel, adventure, city, cross, folding, electric, recumbent, trikes, folders, beaters, rain etc.). The bike may be different, but the bicyclist spirit is the same. Go forth and pedal!

BICYCLIST Issue 161 | 3

Prologue

Winter 2019

s you prepare for holiday festivities and consider your plans for the new year, we hope you find this issue an inspiration for your next adventure or exploration. The BICYCLIST Calendar has filled out for 2020, with events on record through July. Begin your search on page 16 with a range of events and races to challenge, entertain and reward, all throughout the Western United States. Bob Becker steps in with this issue’s ‘Electric Age’ bringing the ‘hands-on’ evaluation of the Revel Propulsion e-bike kit that we introduced last issue. The compact size and universal adaptability make it a compelling option. Find out more on page 5. Rick Schulz breaks down the four most common issues he encounters as a bike fitter in this issues ‘Ask the Coach’ which may be useful in determining if there are any areas of your bike fit that need some polish. See page 6 for more insight on his observations. James Murren takes us on a trip to Kern County in the ‘In Search of Dirt’ column. The area is one I am familiar with during childhood trips camping with grandparents. I look forward to visiting again with a bike in tow, see page 10 for the recommended trails. John Woodson provides his experience riding the Mammoth Gran Fondo this past September in this issues ‘Asphalt, Please’. He shares his report from the 102 mile ride in the heart of the Eastern Sierra Nevadas. Expanding on the geography of this area, Bob Becker peels back the layers and reveals a wide range of things to see in the ‘Destinations Within Reach’ column on page 13. James Murren writes ‘The Last Page’ with a profile of Pete Gonzalez, an active volunteer building trails with the San Diego Mountain Bike Association. If you’re looking for a way to take your passion for the ride to the next level, take a cue from Pete on page 22. Lastly, if you enjoy this magazine, or if you would be disappointed to find out it was no longer available in print, please pledge your support on Patreon. Support rewarded accordingly, including delivery of the print edition of this magazine directly to a location of your choice. Visit www.BICYCLIST.team to learn more and pledge your support of independent and free media dedicated to guiding and promoting a life traveled by independently sustainable transportation 1. See you on the route. Stay safe. Peace,

C hris R e yn old s

- Chris Reynolds, Managing Director (@chrsrnlds) 4 | BICYCLIST Issue 161

2020 release Schedule Issue Release #162 #163 #164 #165 #166 #167

February 4 April 7 June 2 August 4 October 6 December 1

Reservation Artwork January 10 March 13 May 8 July 10 September 11 November 13

January 17 March 20 May 15 July 17 September 18 November 6

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(949) 264-3346

DIY Bolt-On Revolution

Hands-on the Revel Propulsion diy electric bike kit

We take our turn integrating the electro-mechanical system onto a stock Kona Honzo MTB and come away impressed. By Bob Becker, TECHNICAL EDITOR EMERITUS We introduced the Revel ‘Propulsion’ kit in the last issue (#160) of BICYCLIST Magazine with a ‘first look’ at the different components and specifications of the dynamic system. Here you will find our ‘hands-on’ report and build details for those thinking of pulling the trigger.

s s e m b l y o f t h e R e ve l k it t o a Kon a Hon z o steel-f r a med bi ke wa s st raight for wa rd a nd helped sig n i f icantly by the i n st r uct ion m anua l on Revel’s website a s wel l a s n i ne YouTube v ideo s . Revel w i l l even loa n t hei r c u stomer s a templ ate for d r i l l i n g t he bot tom br acket , i f nece s s a r y.

Electrons with benefits

Ther e a r e s ever a l qu a l it ie s of t he k it t h a t a r e a t t r a c t i ve i n a d d i t io n t o it s l i g ht we i g ht . T h e s e i nc l u d e , bu t a r e n o t l i m i t e d t o t h e f o l l o w i n g : 1) I t wa s pl a c ed on a bi ke t h a t f it me wel l and wa s f un to r ide; 2) It nested to t he dow n-t ube a nd d id n’t h a n g dow n ABOVE The discreet Revel Propulsion DIY kit, installed on a Kona l i ke a cow ’s udd er on ot her DI Y k it s ; Honzo steel-framed bike, was tested on dirt trails and paved roads. 3) The power del iver y wa s smoot h a nd c a me on g r a d u a l l y, q u a l it a t i vel y, a t l e a s t a s wel l a mbit iou s MT B a rea s u si n g Cl a s s 1 ( PA S , 2 0 mph l i m it) a s t h e B o s c h a nd Ya m a h a s y s t e m s t h a t I ’ ve t e s t e d o r for t he test i n g, a nd a s a com muter u si n g Cla s s 3 ( Ped a low ne d ; 4) The bi ke c a n b e r e t u r ne d t o “nor m a l” a nd A s si st , 2 8 mph l i m it) for t he road . Q u a l it at ively, Revel’s t he k it c a n b e pl a c ed on a no t her bi ke i f d e si r ed si nc e per for m a nce of f road wa s si m i l a r to B o sch a nd Ya m a h a t h e b o t t o m br a c k e t mo u n t i s s c r e we d i n a nd d o e s n’t s yst em s , a m ajor accompl i sh ment for a sm a l l compa ny. t r a sh t he t h read s l i ke ot her DI Y m id- d r ive un it s; 5) The The power wa s i nt roduced ver y smoot h ly a s t hough t he mou nt i n g s y s t em , wh i le l i g ht wei g ht , i s mor e r obu s t ; r ider wa s respon sible for t he boost . Cla s s 3 per for m a nce 6) T h e i n g en io u s b a t t e r y m o u n t s e c u r e s t h e b a t t e r y of t he c om m ut er wa s si m i l a r t o m ajor m a nu f a c t u r er s’ bet t er t h a n a ny ot her s I ’ ve s een ; 7) B ec au s e t he bat t er y C l a s s 3 r o a d bi ke s t h a t we’ ve ev a lu a t e d . We’r e s a d t o i s clo s e to t he motor a nd t he w i re s a re t he cor rec t si z e, r e t u r n t h e k i t t o R e ve l . I t i s a h i g h q u a l i t y p r o d u c t t her e i s n’t a “s pa g het t i m a s s” t h a t ne e d s t o b e h id d en t h at c a n t r a n s for m you r f avor it e bi ke i nto a d y n a m it e i n s o m e w a y. T h e o n l y w i r e w a s f r o m t h e E g g r i d e r e -bi ke. e - bi ke d i s pl ay a nd it s len g t h wa s e a si l y cont r ol led by w r a p pi n g it a r o u nd t h e h a nd l e b a r s ; a nd 8) I t c a n b e switched f rom 2 0 mph ped a l a s si st ( PA S) to 2 8 mph wit h a but ton on t he E g g r ider.

On the Tr ail

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The system wa s eva luated on l ight t rai ls and more BICYCLIST Issue 161 | 5

4 Common Fitting Issues Heights, lengths, alignments

Fitting a Symmetric Machine to Our Asymmetric Bodies

Words By Rick Schultz, BAT DoC

uring fittings, I regularly see significant problems that cause cyclist’s pain and discomfort during and after riding. There are several common problems, but I’m going to highlight the top 4, and give you some insight on how to avoid them. Before I get into the specific problems, it helps to understand the underlying issues of fitting a bike to a rider.

The Core Issue

The inherent problem in riding a bicycle is the fact that you are coupling an asymmetric machine (human body) to a symmetric machine (bicycle). Our body gives us precise feedback and clues as to how it is adapting to the bicycle. There are 9 touch-points between the body and the bicycle; 2 for the feet, 2 for the hands, 2 for the sit bones, 2 for the pubic rami and 1 for the soft tissue. They all work together to support the body. Correct alignment is absolutely critical to maximize power and minimize injury. If this interface is out of alignment, then the rest of the body will compensate for this misalignment by heels moving side to side, knees diving in and out, hips and buttocks twisting in the saddle. And that’s just one pedal stroke. Multiply that by 10,800 pedal strokes during a 2-hour ride and you quickly have the makings for a repetitive injury. Other asymmetrical properties to consider are leg-leng th discrepanc y (structural, functional, legs of different length, which is not uncommon), scoliosis (spine curvature, also not uncommon), one side of the body stronger than the other, etc. Any misalignment can manifest itself in discomfort, pain and/or injury. There are even more things that can compound the problem of an uncomfortable fit such as, incorrect saddle width, seat too low/

high, stem too short/long, and crank arms that are too long.

Top 4 Common Fit Issues

1. Crank arms that are too long.

Pouring over thousands of my clients fit data, I started seeing a pattern of exactly where they said they experienced pain. Most cyclists listed “knee pain” as their number 1 issue. As a fitter, I can and have to fit the leg that is at 6 o’clock, but it’s the leg that is at 12 o’clock that is causing their knee pain. When a crank arm is too long, this knee is hyperflexed causing excessive sheer forces to the articular cartilage which, in turn causes damage to this cartilage. My daughter (Doctor Physical Therapy) and I wrote a paper for the medical journal, Lower Extremity Review, that discusses this problem and recommended solution in detail.

collateral ligament, but also putting extra pressure on the lateral condyle and lateral meniscus. This is usually experienced by cyclists with wider hips who have their cleats positioned too far to the outside (i.e., shoes positioned too close to the crank arms). In more extreme cases, it is advantageous to add width to the cyclist’s stance by moving the entire pedal farther out. This can be done using 1-2 pedal washers or even using pedal axle extenders. Another problem with cleats is that the toe-in/toe-out is wrong, which causes additional stresses to the knees if this is not set up correctly. When your cleats (and quite possibly pedals) are adjusted correctly, your knees will be tracking straight up and down. Good cleat placement also places the metatarsals directly over the pedal spindle so that when you are in your power stroke, your feet are positioned and knees aligned to be able to help provide the maximum force to the pedals – with no undue stress on your knees. A good bike fitter can have your knees going straight up and down during the first visit.

3. Combined problem of saddle height and saddle fore-aft positioning.

Many cyclists are either too high or too low in the saddle, as well as either too far back or too far forward. Being too high can cause the knee to be hyperextended, which can cause knee pain at the rear of the knee. Being too low in the saddle can 2. Bad cleat alignment. cause the knee to be hyper-flexed, which can When a cyclist pedals and his/her knees splay overstretch the cruciate ligaments, causing out to the side at the top of the pedal stroke pain in the front of the knee. The cruciate this is indicative of bad cleat alignment. ligaments are the major stabilizing ligaments Not only is this inefficient, but it’s also in the knee and can be more easily damaged potentially damaging to the knees. When in those cyclists who produce more power. the knees go out to the sides in this way, The correct saddle height allows the cyclist you are not only over-stretching the lateral to pedal with force midway between these two endpoints, which allows the cyclist to generate the most power without damaging Coach Rick Schultz specializes in coaching riders so that they the knees. can achieve their best. He is a certified bike fitter, and the official BICYCLIST Adventure Team (BAT) Director of Coaching (DoC). The other saddle issue I often see is Send your questions to coach@bicyclist.xyz SoCal Local? Make an bad fore-aft positioning. Many bike shop appointment for coaching and bike fits. employees and even some bike fitters will use

6 | BICYCLIST Issue 161

ABOVE Matching the imperfections of the human body to the perfections of a mechanical machine requires specific tuning. Keep the body and bicycle working together for pain-free and efficient pedaling. the saddle fore-aft to adjust the rider’s reach and comfort to the bars. But that’s wrong. Saddle fore/aft positioning is actually for placing the knees over the pedal spindles and should not be used to adjust the reach to the bars. Use a different length stem for adjusting reach to the bars. The real reason this positioning is critical is that when done correctly, the knees are placed directly over the pedal spindles so that when the cyclist is generating their highest power and pushing the hardest on the pedals, their knees are pushing straight down and not forward or backward. While there is some leeway in this adjustment, the closer the cyclist is to the correct measurement, the less stress there is on the knees.

4. Handlebars that are too low and too far away from the rider. Many cyclists like that “pro-racer” look but don’t have the pro racer body to pull it off. Most cyclists lack the flexibility and core strength to support this aggressive position. This “too-low & too far” position causes over-stretching of the hamstrings, which not only robs a lot of power but also causes a sore lower back. Correct bar height (via correct stem rise, length and number of spacers) will help you achieve a flat back which, coupled with rotating your pelvis forward will allow you to provide maximum power to the pedals while minimizing any lower back pain.

How Can You Avoid These Problems?

1. If you’re buying a new bike, start off with a quality bike sizing before you purchase your new bicycle. Make sure to deal directly with a bike fitter or a shop fitter that is trained and certified in bike sizing. This is the most

important step in the process. With a frame that doesn’t fit you, a bike fitter can only do so much to accommodate your body to the machine. For your preferred frame, a qualified bike sizer will be able to tell you your exact frame size, crank length, best pedal options, stem length, best saddle(s), best handlebar width and even the number of spacers that will ultimately be placed between the stem and headset. 2. Once you get your new bike, go directly to the fitter to get a thorough bike fit where these items (and more) will be fine-tuned to fit you perfectly. Make sure they measure both Max Extension and Max Flexion angles of the knees. 3. On your existing bike, if you think you may be suffering from any of the problems discussed here, you can take the steps noted to improve the fit for that particular issue. However, there may be more underlying issues, and I would be remiss if I did not recommend a professional bike fit by a qualified fitter. (Note: our bodies change over time, too. A fit you had done as recently as five years ago may well not be the best fit for you today.) In summary, most, if not all of these injury-causing misalignments can be fixed by a fitter who works closely with a physical therapist. Depending on the ailment, the bike fitter might only be able to go so far in the initial fit. A good bike fitter will discuss with you the need for a physical therapist to look at and possibly treat a given issue. After treatment, the bike fit can be continued to a successful and injury-free conclusion. If in doubt, write or call me for some help.

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BICYCLIST Issue 161 | 7

Wrongful Death: Proving Fault

Survival action and wrongful death claims

Understanding the proceedings, particulars and consequences when the ‘central witness’ is unable to offer their version of events.

By Richard Duquette

n bicycle vs. auto collisions, the bicyclist is almost always the party who is more likely to be injured. This is just the nature of things when a human body collides with thousands of pounds of steel at high speeds. For the same reason, sometimes bicyclists tragically lose their life as a result of these collisions. In a t ypical bicycle injur y case, proving fault involves compiling all of the evidence, including witness statements, party statements, police reports, and analyzing the facts using the Vehicle Code, re-constructionists, bicycle safety experts, and the principles of reasonableness. Insurance companies will often try to nitpick and shift blame to the injured victim. Even when they concede that the driver was primarily at fault, they will try to say that the cyclist could have done something differently. This is a tactic used to avoid paying full damages, based on a legal principle known as “comparative fault,” which holds that an injured plaintiff may only recover to the degree they were not at fault. When the victim is still alive to tell their story, it’s a lot easier for a skilled attorney to fight frivolous allegations of comparative fault. However, when the victim is dead, it is harder to tell their story. The responding police cannot question them for their version of the facts. And the driver of the vehicle is very likely to present the facts in a way that makes them seem less culpable. Further, there are not always objective eye witnesses to be found in these cases. So oftentimes, proving fault in a wrongful death case will require extensive investigation.

is the nominal plaintiff, focuses on damages the decedent incurred prior to death. These would include any medical expenses or property damages, and any other claims that the decedent would have against the defendant if they had lived.

California Exceptions

Unlike some states, California does not allow for pre-death pain and suffering damages in this cause of action (See Code of Civil Procedure §377.34). The damages available in these cases therefore include: Medical Expenses, Funeral Expenses, Property Damages, and Punitive Damages. Because of the lack of forward looking economic damages and the lack of pain and suffering, survival actions generally produce lower recoveries than wrongful death claims. Further, there is some overlap between these damages and the direct pecuniary loss damages available to wrongful death claimants. The specifics of the case will determine whether to claim them as part of the survival action damages or the wrongful death damages. For instance, if the surviving spouse pays medical or funeral expenses out of pocket, these should be awarded as part of the wrongful death claim paid directly to the spouse. However, if these payments are deferred as debt held against the estate, they should be claimed in the survival action.

Distribution Mechanics

Because survival actions focus on the decedent’s damages, all money collected in a survival action settlement or judgment will be distributed through the estate to all legal Survival Actions vs. Wrongful Death beneficiaries through the probate process (after When a person suffers an untimely death, discharging of all debts). This means that the there are two distinct actions that may class of persons who may benefit from a survival be brought. It is important to distinguish action (i.e. “real parties in interest”) may be between these two claims. The “survival different from those who may benefit from action,” in which the estate of the decedent wrongful death, depending on whether there

is a will and the way the estate is structured. For this reason, it is important for an attorney taking on a case such as this to determine whether there is a will, and sometimes they will need to consult with a probate attorney to identify the potential beneficiaries to put them on notice of the action. These beneficiaries are not direct participants in the survival action claim, but because they have an interest in it, they should be notified. This would include any charitable foundations or non-relatives named in the will, or, if there is not a will, any relatives who would be eligible to inherit under the intestacy statute, even if they do not qualify as a claimant for wrongful death purposes. This issue is especially important if the decedent was a resident of another state, where intestate succession rules may differ from those in California. An additional question raised when there is no will is who is the personal representative of the estate for purposes of bringing a claim? Generally where a will exists, it will name a representative. But if there is no will, naming a representative is a question of law. Generally it will be the surviving spouse. But if there is no surviving spouse, it may be an adult child. In the probate context, the courts will often have to name a personal representative to administer the estate. This sometimes means appointing a non-family member, if no family member is able and willing to serve in this role. For help in navigating the complexities involved in such circumstances, the experience and understanding of an attorney is vital to recovering. This article has been adapted from Richard Duquette’s podcast Bicycling and the Law, episode ‘Bicycles and Wrongful Death: Part 1 Proving Fault’ recorded on March 29 2017.

Richard L. Duquette has been fighting for his clients since 1983. His family-owned law firm specializes in providing

personal attention and quality representation to the people of San Diego, Riverside, and Orange Counties. Read his blog at www.911law.com and listen to his podcast, Bicycling and the Law, covering legal cycling topics.

8 | BICYCLIST Issue 161

BICYCLIST Issue 161 | 9

in search of dirt

Rip Roarinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Through Kernville

Flow, Flow and More Flow!

Take the Plunge on the Canell and Just Outstanding Trails

Words and Photos by James Murren

Seasonal Considerations

Summer can be very hot along the Kern River. If you are camping, the river is your cool down from temperatures that can reach triple digits. Trails up high are usually cooler spots. For Cannell, the pass is snowed in during the winter, so check online to see when the road opens up in the spring before making your plans. Mountain and River Adventures is a good resource to get the status. www.mtnriver.com

Shuttle

Check in with the Mountain and River Adventures to see if they are running shuttles when you are going to be in town. If not, they may have suggestions on how to set up shuttles. They also have the annual Shuttle Fest in October, a 3-day event. Sign up early to get your spot on the shuttles.

just outstanding trail, Kernville, ca ABOVE Flow on a loamy ribbon through the green trees and then on through the manzanita tunnels.

early 20 years ago, I lived a year in the high Mojave Desert town of Ridgecrest. While there, I learned from locals about a tiny adventure town along the Kern River: Kernville. World class whitewater is there, along with hiking opportunities in the mountains above town. Rock climbing can be found, as well as fly fishing. But what I go for mostly is the single track that often starts up high and ends down low, usually requiring the assistance of a shuttle. Since moving to San Diego six years ago, Kernville has become an annual extended-weekend mountain biking road trip.

Take the plunge

The Cannell Plunge is probably the most famous of the downhill rides, a 32 mile journey that starts in the pines of the southern Sierra and drops into what feels like a desert landscape in the

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Food and Drink

For grub and drink, stop by the Kern River Brewing Company, home to world class, award winning beer. Have a pint of Just Outstanding, an IPA named for the trail. Cherylâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diner has all the home cooking you might want or need, and The Cracked Egg is a great little breakfast spot. A Mexican restaurant and a pizza shop are both good to grab a bite. The grocery store in town has gas, as well as all of the things you forgot to bring. Get your fire permit there, even if there is a fire ban in place. Technically you need a fire permit to operate your camping stove. The general store and deli farther up the river might be closer for a quick run, depending on where you are staying.

Camping

There are numerous USFS campgrounds along the Kern River, as well as countless primitive dispersed camping spots that are free. The river is your shower, but there are portable toilets. Mountain and Rivers Adventures has a campground and cabins, as well as hot showers.

Lodging

There are a handful of motel and hotel options in town, and you could always rent houses and cabins through your favorite rental site.

Cannell trail, Kernville, California

ABOVE The Cannell Plunge is probably the most famous of the downhill rides, a 32 mile journey that starts in the pines of the southern Sierra and drops into what feels like a desert landscape in the khaki foothills. khaki foothills. Along the way there is technical rock riding and cruise control riding through meadows. The Plunge comes towards the end, where the trail drops five thousand feet in about eight miles. Arguably perhaps, you cannot find a better ride anywhere. Over by Greenhorn Summit, southwest of town, there is Portuguese Pass, a ripper of a downhill. It can be earned by climbing the forest road to the top, after parking in the vicinity of the shed that holds all of the salt for winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roads. From the same parking area, you could cross over the hard road/Route 155 and continue up to Unal Trail. Unal Trail is a loop that when ridden counter clockwise will punch you in the gut at the start, reward you with a spectacular long view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains looking north, and then double reward you with a fun romp back down to where you began.

FLOW THE J.O.

In that same area is Just Outstanding trail. JO really does live up to its name. Flow, flow, and more flow on a loamy

r ibbon through the green trees and then on through the manzanita tunnels, will have you smiling the entire time. When you drop out, continue left and ride the gravel road on to Wagy Ridge to Rocky Gulch. There is a ton of technical rocky, slabby, decomposed granite trail and dirt, a mixed bag of trail surfaces good for keeping you focused, i.e. not for beginner riders. Instead of going left, you could go on down to Granite and Dutch Flat, getting in some chunky cross-country and steep, technical, downhill riding when added together. Better yet, after Wagy and Rocky Gulch, connect to Granite and Dutch for a longer ride. Generally speaking, whichever way you go you will end up down Seasonalong Route 155 south of Wofford Heights.

You can read more from James Murren's travels on his website www.jamesmurren.com, and on www.BICYCLIST.xyz, search ' MURREN'.

Cannell trail. photo: jm BICYCLIST Issue 161 | 11

Eastern Sierra Hijinks!

secret spots and stops

Taking in the sites, roads and trails in California’s Eastern Sierra with a smorgasbord of places to go and things to see.

By Bob Becker

RIGHT The geological formation, Devil’s Postpile, is one of the many remarkable things to see in the Mammoth Lakes basis, an area crisscrossed with paths, roads and trails to explore. Lodging and camping options are plentiful both on the lakes and in the nearby town of Mammoth Lakes. 12 | BICYCLIST Issue 161

Photo by Jill Clardy

e headed nor t h t he f i r st week in October for our annual high-altitude MTB ex per ience a nd to obs er ve Mot her Nature’s beautiful panorama of leaves undergoing their fall color change. The tr ust y Subar u Outback, a veteran of many excursions like this over the last ten or so years, gobbled up the miles like the Geico gecko at a cricket farm. No tunes this trip; instead we listened a s M ichael C on nel ly’s prot a gon i st , Hieronymus Bosch, chased scoff laws involved in murder and drug heists. A ny d r ive t h a t t r avel s t h rou gh Bishop, California has a mandate that we stop at Er ick Schat’s Baker y for Sheepherder Bread, pastries and one of their amazing sandwiches. Accordingly, the Outback, like a well-trained mount, dutifully pulled into the parking lot and we procured the comestibles after standing in line for a half day or so. On other occasions, Bishop might be a base camp for visiting the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest 25 miles to the east, to view these magnificent trees, the oldest living things on the planet, or to plan an assault of White Mountain where the nation’s highest bike-accessible trail ends at 14,252 feet, weather and conditions permitting. Back on the road a couple of pounds heavier, we headed for my f avor ite campground across from Tom’s Place on Rock Creek Drive, about 25 miles f ur ther along Route 395. We set up

Photo by Chris Reynolds

camp, but the Outback ended up doing double dut y as an RV since overnight temperatures in the mid-twenties were too frigid for tent camping after years of SoCal weather turned me into a wimp. We used this as a base when exploring Little Lakes Valley, Inyo Craters, Devil’s Postpile and the paved bike trail around Mammoth Lakes Basin. On our return, we stopped at The Mobius Arch outside of Lone Pine. This is accessed by turning west on Whitney Portal Road from Route 395, driving 2 .7 miles then tur ning right (nor theast) on Movie Flat Road and veering right about 1.7 miles down the road. You can ride or hike the 0.5 mile trail to this spectacular granite formation. You’l l discover there are many other places to ride in the adjacent A labama Hills. Perhaps, if you listen carefully, you’l l perc eive t he s ou nd s of ho of beats as Tom M i x chased r ustlers in the 1920’s, Clint Eastwood as Joe Kidd more recently, or recognize scenes from the more than 150 horse operas made there since the days of silent movies or the scores of TV programs filmed there.

Horseshoe Lake Loop

A n ice paved bi ke path star t ing in downtown Mammoth gently climbs uphill to several lakes, including Horseshoe Lake, which has a fun dirt trail around it, suitable for families and beginners.

Minarets

This unforgettable range known collectively as the Sawtooth Mountains, for reasons that are obvious intuitively, can be viewed from Don’t tel l anyone, but we hiked this Minaret Vista above the entrance to Devil’s area, one of the most popular trails in Postpile. The ambiance of this area can the Eastern Sierra. Drive 10.3 miles up make “Two Buck Chuck” taste like Paso Rock Creek Road to the parking area. Robles 1858. Don’t ask me how I know since Be sure to leave early as the voluminous fermented libations are probably prohibited parking lot fills up fast. There are many there. trails and offshoots to explore, but we went on an out and back trip of about eight m i les and enjoyed a sur feit of magnificent scener y.

Little Lakes Valley

ABOVE Rock Creek Lake in Rock Creek Canyon is several miles off and above Route 395. The 55 acre lake is one of the highest drive-to lakes in the Sierras. Tom’s Place on Rock Cree drive provides great accommodations for an Eastern Sierras overnight adventure. BELOW We’ve previously counted Bishop as a base camp for a ride up White Mountain, home of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, featuring the oldest living trees on our planet. Some specimens exceed 4000 years of age and help to make the grueling climb from the desert floor worth the spin.

View these craters, striking evidence of Mam moth’s t urbulent pa st, about one -h a l f m i l e f r om t h e t r a i l h e a d of f the Mam moth Scenic L oop road. There is also a plethora of bike trails in this area; just select one, take of f and realize you’re lost.

Devil’s Post Pile

An incredible formation of columnar basalt and crowds to match, this is a must see. During peak season, you are required to take a shuttle to access this area, but in October you are free to drive in.

Photo by Chris Reynolds

Inyo Craters

BICYCLIST Issue 160 | 13

Mammoth Gran Fondo, In Review Journalist Rides Mammoth Gran Fondo, Survives!

Finishes the high altitude 102-mile route, 75 miles closed to traffic, ready to return next year.

Joining the Veterans

At the starting line, I’m surrounded by riders describing the amazing route and why they keep coming back for a third, fourth, and fifth time. Starting and finishing at 8000’ elevation, I’m just hoping to make it back today. We get underway en masse and descend through town at 30mph as the sun greets the mountain tops. It’s a little chaotic, but riders manage to stay upright - mostly. Turning onto Highway 395 and the first climb of the day, the large pack breaks into small groups. I latch onto one, looking for a place to hide until I warm up (it’s 45° F), or maybe until the finish. The route climbs north over several ridges while paralleling the sawtooth crest of the Sierra Nevada. My group of a dozen settles into a friendly paceline riding past volcanic craters and cinder cones before descending to Mono Lake, which I learn is three times as salty as the ocean. After climbing Highway 120 through tall forests of Pondersa pine and past giant granite boulder strewn fields, we stare directly at White Mountains on the California/Nevada border. The rugged angular peaks set against a sky-blue background contain the oldest living organisms on earth, Ancient Bristlecone Pine trees over 4000 years old. Although not quite that old, I am the oldest living organism in my group – and struggling to keep up.

Hurts So Good

At Benton Hot Springs we start the steepest climb of the day to Watterson Summit. Thankfully, a large grupetto lead by Elevate KHS Pro Brian McCulloch catches our chain-ring gang. By hiding in the middle of the grupetto, I give my legs somewhat of a rest (it’s still uphill) while everyone suffers in silence. Well, almost everyone. One rider starts calling out road grade percentage every time it increases, “5%, 6%, 7%!” It doesn’t help, in fact it seems to make things worse, as riders grunt and groan louder with every increase. At the summit the grupetto makes a beeline for the rest stop filled with turkey and cheddar sandwiches, homemade brownies, strawberries, Fritos, Oreos, Coke and all the Clif stuff imaginable. As good as those turkey sandwiches look, I’ve learned the hard way that the fastest way to the finish line is to stay calm and keep pedaling. So, I keep pedaling. An hour later I’m clawing my way back into Mammoth Lakes on 14 | BICYCLIST Issue 161

Photo courtesy Captivating Sports Photo

half-day from the heart and soul of Southern California, and 20 million Angelinos, is the little alpine town of Mammoth Lakes, California, tucked away in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. On the 7th of this past September, 1652 cyclists (plus 1 journalist) were in town for the Mammoth Gran Fondo, one of the most popular cycling events in the United States. The Fondo offers a 102-mile loop with 1 stoplight, 3 stop signs and 75 miles of closed roads winding through the stunning Eastern Sierras, past Mono Lake and under the shadow of 13,000′ peaks.

By John Woodson, Former Faux Pro Racer

ABOVE John Woodson soars into the finish with an elapsed time of 5:17:17 for the 102 mile route. the final climb. It’s a cruel 4-mile right-of-passage that offers misery with every pedal stroke. I tackle not only steep grades, but a headwind and lack of oxygen. Crossing under the finish banner as the announcer calls my name and finishing time feels monumental, like a Mammoth accomplishment. I now understand why riders keep coming back each September to ride the Mammoth Gran Fondo. With wonderful fall weather, stunning scenery, incredible course and a great host venue, the event is on par with any European Alpine gran fondo. See you next year at the starting line!

John is a former faux pro racer now enjoying life as a faux pro journalist in search of great bucket list rides to keep him in shape and out of trouble - well, at least in shape. He also has a website in which he writes and reports on Gran Fondos across the globe, www.granfondodailynews.com

JOHN WOODSON GRAN FONDO-102 MILES 90 OF 968 ELAPSED TIME:05:17:17.451 PACE:19.29 MPH GENDER PLACE 88 OF 808 THE NEXT MAMMOTH GRAN FONDO IS SCHEDULED! MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

VINTAGE m o d e r nII

In Photo | BAT BUild #002

Outlandish outstanding original

Photos By Chris Reynolds

The physically of the steel used in the mid-80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Colnagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offer an outstanding foundation for all manner of concoctions. In the first BAT Build (Issue #159), we based the drive-train selection with a focus on value. In this iteration, we are going for outlandish. To wit, we came up with a two-speed variant. The 17t on the rear cog matches the 53t/36t crankset and offers an insurance policy when the switchbacks begin. BICYCLIST Issue 161 | 15

L E F T There is a minor amount of horizontal adjustment in the drop-outs of the frame, but a chain-tensioner improves the ease of road-size repairs and allows for a pit-stop change of the front

chain-ring. C E N T E R Carbon details offset the penalty of steel and a Fabric saddle keeps things comfortable. Ultegra brakes slow the motion when required, and offer the smooth modulations

of modern braking systems. R I G H T As was used in the previous ‘Vintage Modern’ build, a threadless stem adapter was utilized allowing for the use of any 1-1/8” headset.

A B O V E The combination of Continental 5000s 25mm tires capping 80mm carbon wheels transfer pedal power to the

pavement adding a bit to the top speed, though the benefits of carbon wheels are traded off with increased weight. The

entire build comes in around 20 pounds, with a total cost around $1500, though a bit of diligent eBay searching was required.

16 | BICYCLIST Issue 161

www.bicyclist.events

December 2019 GUIDE TO THE CALENDAR 1 Sunday

Monthly Donut Ride Costa Mesa Specialized Bicycles ROAD: 23 miles SCa Specialized Costa Mesa

NorCal Cycle Swap NorCal Cycle Swap FESTIVAL: Swap Meet

7 Saturday

Swap Meet Saturday Encino Velodrome FESTIVAL: Swap Meet Encino Velodrome

Dead of Winter Double Los Angeles Los Angeles Wheelmen ROAD: 200 miles SCa Winter Canyon Road

7-8 Multi

Series Finale Santa Cross Weekend SoCalCross Prestige Series CX: course TBD

8 Sunday

CBR Upgrade Series #3 California Bicycle Racing ROAD: criterium 18550 S Broadwick S

The Valley Los Angeles CicLAvia FESTIVAL: Open streets SCa Reseda

Dirty30 Quick n Dirty MTB: 27.6 miles

____________________________________________________

Sacramento

NCa

West Wind Sacramento 6 Drive-in ___________________________________________________________________

We do our best to comb the wild west of cycling event websites to get the information you need to make the most of your time in the saddle. We provide this comprehensive listing, without endorsement, but we ask that you support the events that support the magazine. To submit your event, and view the full calendar with event details, visit www.BICYCLIST.events.

SIGNS & SYMBOLS

Date

Encino

SCa

____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Los Angeles

SCa CX

___________________________________________________________________

Dominguez Hills

SCa

____________________________________________________

Lakeside

SCa MTB

SCa NCa

IRONMAN 70.3 IRONMAN TRI: Individual and Relay Indian Wells

11-15 Multi

Best Buddies Breakaway Camp Best Buddies ROAD: 50 miles/day

SCa Tri

___________________________________________________________________

Malibu

SCa

City, State

FEATURES

MAGAZINE SUPPORTERS support the sponsors COMPETITION events with posted participants and results R ROAD events with 90% or more paved route MTB MOUNTAIN events with 90% or more dirt trail MX MIXED events containing both road and dirt FX FIXED events requiring fixed geared bicycles T TRACK events on a closed oval track CX CYCLOCROSS closed course road/mtb hybrid GX GRAVEL fire roads, grinders and adventure rides Tri TRIATHLON running, swimming, and biking BICYCLISM arts, entertainment and BIKES!

La Quinta

Event Name Organizer TYPE: length Location

13920 HWY 67 ____________________________________________________

The Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village

Day

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEVADA COLORADO

22 Sunday

Or Wa

Critical Christmas Bicycle Ride Critical Christmas Bicycle Ride ROAD: 5 miles (decorate bikes) Custom House Plaza

OREGON WASHINGTON ARIZONA AND BEYOND Monterey

NCa

continued next page... BICYCLIST Issue 161 | 17

www.bicyclist.events

JANUARY 2020 1 Wednesday Long Beach New Years Day Ride Long Beach Velo Allegro ROAD: 90 miles SCa Belmont Shore at Bay Shore ave.

____________________________________________________

Rough Riders New Years Day Ride Woodland Hills Rough Riders ROAD: 48, 60, 78 miles SCa 4900 Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Mt. Wilson New Years Day Ride The Nix family ROAD: 30, 50, 60, 80 miles 7122 Shoshone Ave.

12 Sunday

MTB Kickstart TBF Racing MTB: 6 mile laps Granite Beach

17-19 Multi

BWR Survival Camp San Diego Source Endurance MIXED: Training camp SCa MX San Marcos

____________________________________________________

Van Nuys

SCa

___________________________________________________________________

Folsom Lake

NCa MTB

___________________________________________________________________

25 Saturday

Low Gap Ukiah Grasshopper Adventure Series MIXED: 43 miles NCa MX Low Gap Park

26 Sunday

MTB Classic TBF Racing MTB: 6 mile laps Granite Beach

___________________________________________________________________

Folsom Lake

NCa MTB

February 2020 7-8 Multi

Tour de Palm Springs Palm Springs CVSPIN ROAD: 5-102 miles SCa Downtown Palm Springs

8 Saturday

The Rock Cobbler Bakersfield Sam Barn Productions MIXED: 50 miles SCa MX Lengthwise Brewing Co.

9 Sunday

MTB Challenge TBF Racing MTB: 6 mile laps Granite Beach

___________________________________________________________________

Folsom Lake

NCa MTB

___________________________________________________________________

18 | BICYCLIST Issue 161

15 Saturday

Camino Real Double Century Planet Ultra ROAD: 200 miles La Quinta Inn

Irvine

Camino Real Century Planet Ultra ROAD: 112 miles La Quinta Inn

Firecracker Bike Ride & Run Los Angeles LACFRC ROAD: 20, 40 miles SCa Chinatown

22 Saturday

Pedaling Paths to Independence Linden CCBVI ROAD: 25, 65 miles NCa DeVinciâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Delicatessan

23 Sunday

MTB Madness TBF Racing MTB: 8 mile laps Granite Beach

29 Saturday

Super Sweetwater Sebastopol Grasshopper Adventure Series MIXED: 52, 73 miles NCa MX Barlow Center

8 Sunday

MTB Showdown TBF Racing MTB: 6 mile laps Granite Beach

14 Saturday

Solvang Century, Metric, Half, Quarter S.C.O.R. ROAD: 25-100 miles Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.

21 Saturday

Saddleback Spring Classic Renegade Race Series ROAD: 1-100 miles Irvine Valley College

Solvang Double Century Planet Ultra ROAD: 200 miles McMurray Road

22 Sunday

MTB Championship TBF Racing MTB: 9 mile laps Granite Beach

20-22 Multi

North American Handmade Bicycle Show NAHBS FESTIVAL: show and awards Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center

28 Saturday

Cinderella Classic & Challenge Livermore Valley Spokesmen ROAD: 30, 65, 85 miles NCa Las Positas College

SCa

____________________________________________________

Irvine

SCa

____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Folsom Lake

NCa MTB

___________________________________________________________________

March 2020 Folsom Lake

NCa MTB

___________________________________________________________________

Buellton

SCa

___________________________________________________________________

Irvine

SCa

____________________________________________________

Buellton

SCa

___________________________________________________________________

Folsom Lake

NCa MTB

___________________________________________________________________

Dallas

___________________________________________________________________

continued next page...

March 2020 28 Saturday Lake Sonoma MTB Lake Sonoma Grasshopper Adventure Series MTB: 25 miles NCa MTB Warm Springs Recreation Area ____________________________________________________

Broken Spoke Challenge Fast Green Racing MIXED: 80 miles MadeWest Brewing Co.

Bike Ride for Hope Global Hope 365 ROAD: 16-67 miles The District

Ventura

SCa

____________________________________________________

Tustin

SCa

April 2020 4 Saturday

Tour de Cure San Diego American Diabetes Association ROAD: 10-100 miles SCa De Anza Cove

Nova Eroica L’Eroica MIXED: 81 miles Cambria

Gran Fondo Las Vegas Las Vegas Planet Ultra ROAD: 44, 76, 100 miles Nv Las Vegas Cyclery

Fish Rock Bike Monkey MIXED: 72 miles

4-5 Multi

California Classic Weekend California Classic ROAD: 35, 60, 100 miles Chukchansi Park

5 Sunday

Campagnolo Gran Fondo San Diego San Diego Koz Events ROAD: 20-101 miles SCa Downtown San Diego

Eroica California L’Eroica ROAD: 33-108 miles Cambria

The Great Auburn Epic Race TBF Racing MTB: 25 miles Auburn State Recreation Area

11 Saturday

Mulholland Century Los Angeles Planet Ultra ROAD: 70, 113 miles SCa 30255 Agoura Rd.

____________________________________________________

Cambria

SCa

____________________________________________________

Boonville

NCa MX

Anderson Valley Brewing ___________________________________________________________________

Fresno

SCa

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Cambria

SCa

________________________________________________________

Auburn

NCa MTB

___________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

SIGNS & SYMBOLS Date

Day

Event Name Organizer TYPE: length

City, State

FEATURES

Location

Nv Co

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEVADA COLORADO

Or Wa

OREGON WASHINGTON ARIZONA AND BEYOND

11 Saturday

Mulholland Double Century Los Angeles Planet Ultra ROAD: 200 miles SCa 30255 Agoura Rd.

Huffmaster Hopper Maxwell Grasshopper Adventure Series MIXED: 53, 88.8 miles NCa MX Maxwell High School

16-19 Multi

Sea Otter Classic Festival Sea Otter Classic FESTIVAL: Road, MTB, CX Laguna Seca

18 Saturday

Mulholland Challenge Planet Ultra ROAD: 58, 74, 106 miles

Hemet Double Century & Century Hemet Watrous Cycling Enterprises ROAD: 100, 200 miles NCa Farmer Boys

Bike Around the Buttes Yuba City Yuba Sutter Diabetes Support & Resource Center ROAD: 20-100 miles NCa Sutter Youth Organization Building

____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Monterey

NCa

___________________________________________________________________

Los Angeles

SCa

Hampton Inn & Suites Agoura Hills ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

continued next page... BICYCLIST Issue 161 | 19

May 2020 www.bicyclist.events

April 2020

18 Saturday

The REAL MTB Triathlon TBF Racing TRI: 8, 16 miles (bike) Granite Beach

Folsom Lake

Gran Fondo Pacifico Monterey Sea Otter Classic ROAD: 49 miles NCa Laguna Seca Raceway

Gran Fondo Carmelo Monterey Sea Otter Classic ROAD: 91 miles NCa Laguna Seca Raceway

Mountain Bike Tour Monterey Sea Otter Classic MTB: 19 miles NCa MTB Laguna Seca Raceway

Gravel Grinder Tour Monterey Sea Otter Classic MIXED: 30 miles NCa MX Laguna Seca Raceway

19 Sunday

Primavera Century Fremont Fremont Freewheelers Bicycle Club ROAD: 25-100 miles NCa Coyote Hills Park

25 Saturday

Tierra Bella Bicycle Tour Gilroy Almaden Cycle Touring Club ROAD: 35-124 miles NCa Gavilan College

Wildflower Century San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club ROAD: 52, 75, 100 miles NCa Creston Community Center

Ride 4 a Reason Oakland Claremont Middle School PTA ROAD: 45, 68, 109 miles NCa Oakland Tech

26 Sunday

Chico Velo Wildflower Century Chico Chico Velo Cycling Club ROAD: 12-125 miles NCa Silver Dollar Fair Grounds

Finish the Ride SAFE ROAD: 9-50 miles

NCa Tri

____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Los Angeles

Crystal Springs Picnic Area, Griffith Park

20 | BICYCLIST Issue 161

SCa

1-3 Multi

CLIF CampoVelo Napa Valley St. Helena CampoVelo ROAD: 12-80 miles NCa Clif Family Winery

2-3 Multi

XTERRA Spring Sprint Triathlon Koz Events TRI: International, Sprint, Mini South Shores Park Mission Bay

2 Saturday

Siskiyou Scenic Bike Tour Yreka Rotary Club of Yreka ROAD: 8-103 miles NCa Upper Greenhorn Park

Tour de Lincoln Lincoln Lincoln Rotary Club Foundation ROAD: 16, 31, 62 miles NCa McBean Park

3 Sunday

Grizzly Peak Century Moraga Grizzly Peak Cyclists ROAD: 52, 76, 102 miles NCa Campolindo High School

Tour de Cure Wine Country Sonoma American Diabetes Association ROAD: 12-100 miles NCa Sonoma State University ________________________________________________________ Renegade Off-Road Tri, Du & Aquabike San Dimas Renegade Race Series TRI: 15 miles (bike) SCa Tri Frank G. Bonelli Park

Folsom Lake Int’l Triathlon TBF Racing TRI: Sprint, International, Aquabike Granite Beach

9 Saturday

I Care Classic Bicycle Tour San Jose Almadan Super Lions Club ROAD: 20-100 miles NCa Paramit

Jackson Forest Fort Bragg Grasshopper Adventure Series MIXED: 56, 75 miles NCa MX Noyo Headlands Park

14-17 Multi

NorCal AIDS Cycle Sacramento NorCal AIDS Challenge ROAD: ≈80 miles/day NCa Davis

16-17 Multi

Bike MS LA Santa Monica The National MS Society ROAD: 30-100 miles SCa TBD

___________________________________________________________________

San Diego

SCa Tri

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Folsom Lake

NCa Tri

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

continued next page...

May 2020 16 Saturday

San Diego Century Spectrum Sports ROAD: 33, 67, 102.5 miles Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Volcano Fire Road Planet Ultra MIXED: 120k Veyo Community Park

Sonoma County Backroad Challenge Penngrove Petaluma Sunrise Foundation ROAD: 37-97 miles NCa Penngrove Park

17 Sunday

SoCal Ride to Defeat ALS Newbury Park ALS Association ROAD: 25, 40 miles NCa Dos Vientos Park

Herbalife 24 Triathlon Herbalife 24 Tri TRI: Olympic, Sprint Venice Beach

22-25 Multi

Paso Robles Cycling Festival Paso Robles The Great Western Bicycle Rally FESTIVAL: Group, independent rides NCa Paso Robles Event Center

23 Saturday

Heartbreak Hundred Planet Ultra ROAD: 100 miles

Heartbreak Double Century Planet Ultra ROAD: 200 miles Holiday Inn Express Lebec

24 Sunday

Skaggs and Super Skaggs Lake Sonoma Grasshopper Adventure Series MIXED: 96 miles NCa MX Warm Springs Recreation Area

30 Saturday

Devilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Slide Ride Pacifica PARCA ROAD: 40, 60, 100 miles NCa Pacifica Community Center

31-6 Multi

AIDS/LifeCycle San Francisco LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation ROAD: Multi-day Tour NCa San Francisco to Los Angeles

Date

Day

SCa

____________________________________________________

Veyo

____________________________________________________

R R

____________________________________________________

Los Angeles

SCa Tri

___________________________________________________________________

Lebec

SCa

Holiday Inn Express Lebec ____________________________________________________

Lebec

SCa

___________________________________________________________________

June 2020 Eastern Sierra Double Century Bishop Planet Ultra ROAD: 200 miles NCa Cielo Hotel

Event Name Organizer TYPE: length

City, State

FEATURES

Location

Encinitas

___________________________________________________________________

6 Saturday

SIGNS & SYMBOLS MAGAZINE SUPPORTERS support the sponsors COMPETITION events with posted participants and results R ROAD events with 90% or more paved route MTB MOUNTAIN events with 90% or more dirt trail MX MIXED events containing both road and dirt FX FIXED events requiring fixed geared bicycles T TRACK events on a closed oval track CX CYCLOCROSS closed course road/mtb hybrid GX GRAVEL fire roads, grinders and adventure rides Tri TRIATHLON running, swimming, and biking BICYCLISM arts, entertainment and BIKES! SCa NCa

Nv Co

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEVADA COLORADO

6 Saturday

Or Wa

OREGON WASHINGTON ARIZONA AND BEYOND

Tour of the Unknown Coast Ferndale Tour Unknown Coast ROAD: 8-100 miles NCa Humboldt County Fairgrounds

____________________________________________________

Lost and Found Gravel Grinder

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship MIXED: 35, 67, 100 miles Coot Bay

Portola

NCa MX

___________________________________________________________________

7 Sunday

Mendocino Monster Ukiah Rotary Club of Ukiah ROAD: 39, 62, 96 miles NCa Mendocino College

13 Saturday

Tour of Two Forests Double Century Santa Clarita Planet Ultra ROAD: 200 miles SCa Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Mammoth Bar OHV TBF Racing MTB: TBD

Giro di San Diego Gran Fondo Escondido GranFondo Cycling Tours Inc. ROAD: 30, 44, 67, 105 miles SCa Kit Carson Park

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Auburn

NCa MTB

Auburn State Recreation Area ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

continued next page... BICYCLIST Issue 161 | 21

SIGNS & SYMBOLS Date

Day

Event Name Organizer TYPE: length

City, State

FEATURES

Location

Nv Co

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEVADA COLORADO

Or Wa

OREGON WASHINGTON ARIZONA AND BEYOND

June 2020 13 Saturday Sasquatch Duro Oakridge Alpine Trail Crew Association MIXED: 32, 47, 77 miles Or MX Uptown Oakridge, Oregon

20 Saturday

Terrible Two Double Century Santa Rosa Santa Rosa Cycling Club ROAD: 200 k, 200 miles NCa Analy High School

20-27 Multi

Sierra to Sea Bicycle Tour Almaden Cycle Touring Club ROAD: 420 miles total Lake Tahoe

27 Saturday

Country Coast Classic Cambria SLO County Bicycle Coalition ROAD: 25, 50, 75 miles NCa Cambria Pinedorado Grounds

11 Saturday

Death Ride Markleeville Alpine County Chamber of Commerce ROAD: 129 miles NCa Webster Street

12 Sunday

Carlsbad Triathlon Renegade Race Series TRI: 10, 15 mile (bike) Pine Avenue Park

Silicon Valley Tour de Cure Palo Alto American Diabetes Association ROAD: 12-74 miles NCa Foothill College

20 Saturday

Mile High 100 Lake Almanor lmanor Recreation and Park District A ROAD: 33-108 miles NCa Chester Park

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

King Ridge Dirt Supreme Duncan Mills Grasshopper Adventure Series MIXED: 62, 80 miles NCa MX Duncan Mills ____________________________________________________

RBC Gran Fondo Silicon Valley Palo Alto RBC Gran Fondo ROAD: 47, 71 miles NCa Four Seasons East Palo Alto

____________________________________________________

22 | BICYCLIST Issue 161

Lake Tahoe

NCa

___________________________________________________________________

July 2020 R

___________________________________________________________________

Carlsbad

SCa Tri

___________________________________________________________________

PRECISION RUNNING GROUP

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14 Sunday

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profile

Cheers to Trailbuilder Pete!

Building the trails of San Diego county with SDMBA

Pete Gonzalez is a member of the San Diego Mountain Biking Association and Bonita Bikers, organizations that rely on people behind the scenes to ensure the best experiences for all riders.

Words and Photo By James Murren n every mountain biking community around the USA, there are handfuls of people working behind the scenes to improve the trail experience for all recreationists. Some are working with local and regional land managers on access issues. Others carry out the toiling work of trail building and maintenance. They plan, organize and facilitate major events, e.g. races and festivals, so that we can have a good time. Funds are raised and monies are counted and budgeted. Much of this happens and we do not see it.

full participation

Of all of those volunteers, only a few get involved in nearly all aspects of it. They jump in and help out wherever and whenever they can. There they are digging in the dirt, listening intently at a meeting and then asking questions, playing the role of trail diplomat out on t he t r a i l w it h ot her t r a i l u s er s , volunteer i n g to pa rk veh icles at a n event, and on and on. To shed a little light on such people, enter Pete Gonzalez from Chula Vista, CA. I sat down with Pete at TJ Oyster B a r i n B on it a a nd I le a r ne d t h a t , at age 71, he is having a blast in his retirement years as a member of San Diego Mountain Biking A ssociation ( S D M B A ) . L o c a l l y, h e r i d e s a n d volunteers as a member with Bon ita B i ke r s , a g r o up t h a t s h a r e s m uc h enthusiasm for mountain biking and work s to i mprove t he com mun it y’s t r a i l s . O f h i s volunteer t i me wit h SDM BA and Bon ita Bikers, he said,

“ I t r y t o do a s much a s I c a n . W h a t e ve r t h e y ask me to do.” What does he do with SDM BA and B on it a B i ker s ? Pete ha s been i nvolved with trail access efforts and bringing bike park s to ABOVE Pete Gonzalez of Chula Vista, member and S w e e t w a t e r volunteer of both the San Diego Mountain Biking Summit Regional Association and the Bonita Bikers sits down and P a r k a nd O t a y talks about his experience helping in the community. Va l ley Reg iona l Park. He has built bridges, literal and bikes, and hike and trail run and ride fig urative, in Mt. San M ig uel Park. horses, on trails. The fun we experience Additionally, he has volunteered at annual i s l i n ked t o t hei r com m it ment t o events, saying that he really enjoyed i mprove loc a l com mun it ies . O f ten volunteering at SDM BA’s 1st Annual working in the shadows, the idea is that Mount Laguna Trail Fest where he learned we need to start shedding some light of new trails and met lots of people and on what they do, and thanking them. made new friends. Cheers to Pete! About Pete, Susie Murphy, Executive Director of SDMBA, has this to say: “Pete is an amazing volunteer and always says yes with a smile. He helps on trail work projects, at events with kids and adults, and attends bike advocacy meetings! Pete has found a new passion in mountain biking in his retirement which is awesome for his lifestyle and health but then he tops it off by pitching in wherever needed. We are grateful for Pete and his energy.” Again, there are hundreds of “Petes” out there doing what needs to be done so that we all can ride our mountain BICYCLIST Issue 161 | 23

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