BICYCLIST Magazine #139

Guiding and Inspiring bicycle riding for sport, Recreation and transportation since 1994

Issue 139 - winter/Early Spring 2017

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Going ‘beyond’ in the tropics

A Race Through Rainforests

SoCal & Beyond Follows mtb legends through the Cuban landscape during the 2016 titan tropic Race

over the shoulder

yearbook

Behind the scene in Twenty Sixteen with the bicyclist editorial team

also profile Bikes and Brunch with Machines for Freedom

provisions Custom Molded Saddles

By Meld Solutions

FREE

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BICYCLIST magazine

SoCal and Beyond

Contents

Issue 139

Inside this issue

Features 07 group ride Bikes & Brunch

17 Yearbook The 2016 Bicyclist Yearbook

With Machines for Freedom

Behind the Scene(s)

By Ginger Boyd / Krystof Andres

By Chris Reynolds & Victor Prestinary

08 race report A (Very) Long Day of Racing

Regulars

Winter/Early Spring 2017 Designed and printed in Southern California.

Read and distributed throughout the world.

6-12-24 Hour World TT Championships

By Rich Wolf

09 touring The Grand Staircase A Western Spirit Cycling Adventure

By Shari Sullivant

04 Prologue 05 Explore socalbicyclist.com 06 Ask the bike coach 06 The Jones Report 11 Bicyclist product matrix 20 event calendar 23 Last Page

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10 Provisions : Books Your Century Ride Chapter one: Mistakes to Avoid

By Charles Lindsey

12 Provisions : On-Bike Custom Molded Saddles Discovering Meld solutions

By Kelley O’Toole

13 race report A Race Through Rainforests Going beyond in the 2016 titan tropic

By Victor Prestinary

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FIND THE CHAIN LINK

A small icon (exactly like this one: ) is hidden somewhere in this issue. If you locate it and enter our Find The Chain Link contest, you may win a FREE one-year subscription (or an additional year for existing subscribers) to the print edition of BICYCLIST magazine.

To enter, go to socalbicyclist.com/ftc and complete the online entry form or send an entry with your name and phone number to Find The Chainlink c/o BICYCLIST magazine 14252 Culver Dr. Irvine, CA 92604. Entries must be received by February 15, 2017 for consideration. The winning entry will be selected using a random-number generator and announced in a future print issue.

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Winner Issue #138

Arnold Desantos of San Jose, CA correctly identified the chain link on page 7 of issue #138 (see left).

For his efforts, he will receive a 1 year print subscription of the magazine and a care package of samples and SWAG from our sponsors and friends of the magazine.

Cover SoCal MTB legend David “Tinker“ Juarez makes his way through the Cuban jungle during the 2016 Titan Tropic MTB race.

We follow the race with a camera in one hand and a mojito in the other. Photo

by Victor Prestinary (see page 13)

@socalbicyclist

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regulars

Prologue

Winter/early spring 2017 “We have a long year ahead of us and the time is right to start making plans for bicycle escapism.”

EDITORIAL

Chris Reynolds - CR | Editorial Director chris@socalbicyclist.com Kelley O’Toole - KO | Managing Editor kelley@socalbicyclist.com Victor Prestinary - VP | Associate Editor victor@socalbicyclist.com Catherine Latour | Senior Editor catherine@socalbicyclist.com Bob Becker - BB | Electric Age bob@socalbicyclist.com Rick Shultz - RS | The Bike Fitter fit@socalbicyclist.com

ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP Chris Reynolds | Publisher chris@socalbicyclist.com

ONLINE

Chris Reynolds | Design & Development chris@socalbicyclist.com Kelley O’Toole | Social Media   kelley@socalbicyclist.com Tim Wilson | Social Media  tim@socalbicyclist.com

DISTRIBUTION & OPERATIONS

VITALS & SUBSCRIPTIONS

BICYCLIST: SoCal & Beyond is a multi-platform lifestyle and destination guide celebrating the arts, skills, events, and culture of the cycling life in Southern California and other locations in the Western U.S and BEYOND! BICYCLIST magazine is published 10 times per year. The print edition can be found at better bike shops, coffee shops and breweries throughout major metropolitan cities west of the Rockies.

Print copy subscriptions are $20 per year for delivery to the destination of your choice in the United States. International print subscriptions are $35.

For more information, visit www.socalbicyclist.com/subscribe or send check and your mailing address to Subscriptions BICYCLIST:SoCal & Beyond, 14252 Culver Dr. Irvine CA 92604.

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 BSCB’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 electronic] 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.

Victor Prestinary | Associate Publisher victor@socalbicyclist.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Ginger Boyd, John Jones, Andreas Moore, Samuel Parks, Wilnelia Recart, Rick Schultz, Shari Sullivant, Rich Wolf

READ/FOLLOW/LIKE

www.socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   /socalbicyclist  #socalbicyclist

SUBMISSIONS & CONTACT

Contact info@socalbicyclist.com for editorial guidelines and information.

BICYCLIST: SoCal & Beyond 14252 Culver Drive Irvine, CA 92604 (949) 264-3346 @socalbicyclist contact@socalbicyclist.com

Designed and Printed in SoCal Founded by Will Decker Published by Chris Reynolds Copyright ©2016 All rights reserved.

G

reetings and best wishes for the new year. We have a long year ahead of us and the time is right to start making plans for bicycle escapism. For our first issue of 2017, we have an inspiring collection of stories from local destinations, destinations within reach, and another installment of Bicyclist ‘Beyond’ to inspire your plans and adventures for 2017.

For those local or visiting Southern California, we have a piece by Ginger Boyd breaking down the monthly Calabasas-centered Bikes & Brunch ride put on by Machines For Freedom. This enthusiast road ride is central to the monthly meeting of some of the fastest women riding bikes in SoCal and an inspiring story of community in Great L.A. While planning your spring calendar, be sure to read the profile of Grand Staircase in Moab, Utah by Shari Sullivant. The tour is a beginnerfriendly ride over 5 days in the dirt roads of Moab and an excellent introduction to bike-packing and selfsupported touring.

Long-time contributor Rich Wolf checked-in with an account of his experience at the 6-12-24 World Time Trial Championships in Borrego Springs, and Charles Lindsey details common mistakes made on long rides, sharing the first chapter of his new book, Your Century Ride.

After receiving a tremendously positive response to our first international profile in the last issue, we’re continuing the journeys. This issue, we’re putting the bike in the forefront as Victor Prestinary follows the Titan Tropic MTB event in Cuba where more than 150 riders spent 5 days crossing the jungles and sleeping in tents. This bucket list event provides U.S. citizens an opportunity to ride in Cuba while still following recently implemented travel restrictions.

As for the bike, Kelley O’Toole looked to Meld Solutions for the creation of a custom saddle designed to match her posterior. A process involving foam, a proprietary mapping algorithm, and lots of attention to detail, resulted in a custom-molded carbon saddle weighing 136 grams.

You’ll also find a new BPM (Bicyclist Product Matrix) highlighting our favorite products of 2016, and a fresh dispatch from John Jones of Jones Wheels presenting a carbon vs. alloy wheels comparison. Winner? It’s complicated.

Until next time, see you on the route.

Chris R .

- Chris Reynolds, editorial director

All photography and design performed in-house by Chris Reynolds & Victor Prestinary unless otherwise noted.

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The Bicyclist Brief is a place for informative and interesting news that comes across our radar. We scour the interwebs curating and filtering for the most interesting news and content for both the local cyclist, as well as the cyclist living ‘beyond’ the SoCal borders. Succinct, to the point; brief.

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regulars

Ask the Coach

with Rick Schultz USA CYCLING COACH, USAC CERTIFIED

regulars

DO You Have A FIT Question?

Send your inquiries to fit@socalbicyclist.com

Q. How Can I Get Up Hills Faster?

C

yclists often ask me, “How do you get up hills so fast?” My reply for this question remains the same; I ‘spin to win’. In order to move upward faster and more efficiently, you will need to build up your spinning to a higher cadence than the average cyclist, which is around 85rpm, the most efficient being 105rpm. It will take about 6 months to be able to pedal at that rate if you’re doing regular training drills. It doesn’t take much time during your day and can be done in conjunction with any of your standard group rides.

the gears for success

When going full gas up a hill, use whatever gear you need to so that your cadence is between 90 and 105. As you get used to spinning you will find your ideal rpm in which you pedal the most efficiently, usually around 100 rpm. Your cadence will increase to 120+ rpm while sprinting, and if you can’t do 120+ in a sprint than your gears are too hard for you and you might want to consider new ones. If you live in a hilly area, you can use a road bike compact crank (50/34) along with an 11-32. If that’s not enough gear, look into a mountain bike cassette found in an 11-40, or there are some 11-42 and 11-46 as well. Though some might consider that a compact too small, Mark Cavendish is a prime example of the few people who can spin out a 50/11. On a 50/11 at 130 RPM you will be eating up the road and I think there are quite a few world tour pro teams that would like to talk with you. If you still want to go with a bigger gear, a 53/11 will move you down the road at over 49 mph at 130 rpm. Believe me, a 50/34 provides plenty of gear.

The Magic Numbers

The optimal number of the world’s top sprinters as they cross the finish line is 130 rpm. If you compare Peter Sagan’s cadence in his first year of racing to where he is now, you will see that early in his career he was pushing/mashing much bigger gears compared to what he’s spinning now, and he’s usually the first sprinter over the top of each mountain. Mark Cavendish sprints at 1600 watts and achieves a speed of almost 49 mph; he’s spinning 120-130 rpm. When it comes to climbing, take a look at Chris Froome’s average cadence; on 15km climbs he averages 414 watts (5.78w/kg) and 97rpm. To quote Levi Leipheimer, “You can consider anything under 90 RPM to be a low cadence, and 90+ RPM would be a high cadence.” When someone once asked Levi what his ideal cadence is, Levi summed it up by saying “it’s somewhere between ‘holy sh-- my legs are on fire!’ and ‘I…can’t…breathe!’”

Finally, if you need more convincing that increasing your pedaling rate is the most effective way to move up hill, refer to the 2008 study “Adaptation of pedaling rate of professional cyclist in mountain passes” published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology by José Antonio Rodríguez-Marroyo et al. The study monitored professional cyclist’s pedaling rate (PR), heart rate, velocity and power to overcome gravity during high mountain stages. The study concluded that the “cyclists chose higher PR to improve their performance,” proving that increasing your cadence is the tried and true method for getting up hills fast like the pros. Whether or not you decide to change your gearing, just remember those three words to keep you going, “spin to win.” ▲

Coach Rick Schultz is an avid cyclist who trains, races and coaches in Southern

California. He’s a bike fitter and USA Cycling Level 2 coach. As a USAC Certified Power Based Trainer, Rick also teaches the local Beginner Racer Program for USA Cycling. He’s the author of Bike Fit 101: Your Toolset for a Great Bike Fit and Stretching & Core Strengthening for the Cyclist and Triathlete. Check his website bikefitnesscoaching.com. Rick is now working with Jax Bicycles as their premier bike fitter using the new state of the art Trek Fit System. Come on by and give it a try.

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BICYCLIST magazine

The Jones Report Comparing aluminum and carbon wheels

BY JOHN JONES, OWNER OF JONES WHEELS IN GOLETA, CALIFORNIA

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“I have, at one time or another, seen every carbon rim on the market today damaged by braking on long descents. No exceptions.”

f only wheels could speak; if only we would listen. They might tell of the challenging life they lead, subject to constantly changing dynamics, twisting and deflecting due to rider and terrain. Assuming that’s the case both on and off-road, what is the optimal material for a bicycle rim? As in most things, the answer isn’t black and white. Here’s a short primer that identify some strengths and shortcomings for each material. I will separate my observations into road and off-road usage.

Road

Carbon structures are lighter than alloy, allowing manufacturers to produce deeper rims that weigh the same as a shallower alloy rim; a typical 45mm deep carbon rim weighs the same as a 27mm deep rim made from aluminum. The rider benefits from better aerodynamics, with no weight penalty. If life begins at 25mph for you, it’s a valid consideration.

Carbon road rims tend to absorb shock better; I say tend to, because the latest crop of wider alloy rims are much improved in ALL criteria, including absorption of road shock. Nevertheless, the first thing my customers notice when bolting on a pair of 38mm deep carbon wheels is how plush the ride becomes.

Alloy rims are a valid choice for the following reason. The latest rims from Easton, HED, Velocity and others offer lower rolling resistance owing to wider internal widths, an area where carbon is still playing catch-up. A modern, 25mm wide alloy rim possesses an in internal width of approximately 20mm. In comparison, a carbon rim with an external width of 27-28mm has an internal width of 17-18mm. it doesn’t sound like much, but that additional ten percent width endows your tire with a wider and shorter contact patch. This is one of the technical factors that allow for lower rolling resistance -- chalk one up for alloy rims. There’s another advantage that alloy rims possess, especially important for riders in hilly country. For those who “ride” their brakes on long descents, carbon clincher rims can be damaged by heat build-up. Higher-end wheels, such as ENVE and Reynolds are better able to withstand de-laminating due to heat, but I have, at one time or another, seen every carbon rim on the market today damaged by braking on long descents. No exceptions. Alloy rims don’t suffer from this problem; or bikes with disc brakes, obviously.

Off-Road

Mountain bikers don’t need aerodynamics; they need strength. Carbon mountain bike rims are roughly 20-30 percent lighter than an alloy rim of the same dimensions – with greater rigidity and impact resistance. Lighter rims require less energy to get moving, spinning up faster. Imagine cleaning technical uphill sections on your favorite trail after switching to carbon -- riders often report riding a gear or two higher following such an upgrade. Because of carbon’s higher impact resistance you can run lower tire pressure and not worry too much about dinging your rims.

Being lighter, carbon wheels steer better because they generate less gyroscopic force, allowing the front wheel to turn more readily. If you’ve ever tried to hold your line on twisty, off-camber terrain, you’ll know this is a good thing.

So, does alloy hold any advantages? A small one, perhaps; and One Big One. On fast descents, the flexible (less stiff) nature of an alloy rim will allow it to “read” the trail better. Faster riders familiar with both materials report that suspension and braking somehow feel better with alloy rims.

The Big One? That would be the cost, for both mountain and road. Carbon rims are still significantly more expensive, although the gap is slowly narrowing.

Owing to the fact that it requires up to seven hours of intensive, hands-on labor to make a carbon rim, aluminum will always hold an advantage on price.

There you have it; now, go for a ride. ▲

John Jones owns and operates Jones Wheels in Goleta, CA. www.jonesprecisionwheels.com

SoCal and Beyond

PHOTOS BY KRYSTOF ANDRES

group ride

Bikes & Brunch with machines for freedom

BY GINGER BOYD

T

he Bikes and Brunch ride began two years ago, just a few months after we launched our first collection as Machines For Freedom. Jennifer Hannon was still running the company solo, but knew she had to carve out the time to help grow the community of women who ride in and around Los Angeles. There was a real need for a strong women’s group ride. Too often group rides fall into one of two extremes: hammer fests that have you spending hours gasping for air without any opportunity to chit-chat, or Women Only rides geared towards beginners and often not challenging enough for women looking to get in solid weekend training hours. Jenn knew experienced female riders dispersed throughout the expansive city who usually trained alone, or spent weekends jostling for position amidst an aggressive peloton of ex-pro’s and wishful pro’s at the local fast group rides. Jenn thought, if all these women got together to ride, we’d have so much fun - and with that, Bikes & Brunch was born.

Once a month we gather at Pedaler’s Fork in Calabasas, CA to ride about 50 miles and 5,000’. Bikes & Brunch is a women’s ride, but we try not to call it out as such. Rather, we bank on the fact that people know the Machines’ crew is a bunch of ladies who are serious riders but are welcoming to new faces, too. The result is that on the first Sunday of each month anywhere from 20 to 50 like-minded women from across Los Angeles, even coming from as far as Orange County and Santa Barbara, gather together to ride, chat, laugh, and then stuff our faces with the best brunch ever. We sometimes get some dudes who tag along, which is totally fine with us because they respect the women who lead and attend the ride, letting them set the tone and pace. We have found that good vibes attract good vibes and there’s no need to make a hard and fast rule as to who’s allowed to join. If someone joins for the first time and the pace is a bit too high, they can work hard and come back the next month when it will be a little easier. I remember my first Bikes & Brunch, I got dropped in pretty epic fashion, Mulholland Highway felt like an impossible climb to me. These days I function as Ride Sweep, making sure newcomers like I once was don’t get lost or fall too far behind.

Our last ride of 2016 and the 2-Year Anniversary of Bikes & Brunch, we joined forces with the Rapha women in LA and EncourageHer Cycling from Orange County. In the midst of all the fear and hatred that had seemed to fill up the cracks in our lives and communities for the past few months, it felt right. We all needed a reminder that most boundaries fall away if you don’t choose to keep rebuilding them. Even in Los Angeles, a city that is notoriously spread out with East Siders and West Siders rarely getting the chance to ride together, are all stronger together. We saw over 40 women come out that day (along with a few dudes) for a jaunt out on Mulholland, up Piuma Road, and a swoopy descent down Stunt Road. We split into two groups so everyone could ride at their own pace, learned a new recipe for Pocket Donuts (shout out to Megan Jones), caught up with friends we haven’t seen in a while and met some new friends to train with.

At this point is feels like the Bikes & Brunch ride has a life, a personality of its own. Some faces are there every month, some come and go, but the pace is always just right – a fun, easy day for the stronger riders and a challenge for those new to climbing – but one everyone can agree on. If you are looking to start a women’s ride in your area but are having trouble getting it off the ground, I would suggest just being consistent. If people know you leave from the same spot each month, and if you keep the vibes happy and the pace consistent, people will start to realize what good stuff is going on. If you build it, they’ll come, maybe even from neighboring cities for a day of girl power, bikes, and snacks. ▲

TOP The group of riders poses on the side of the highway in Calabasas.

ABOVE The Los Angeles coastline appears as a background on the route.

BELOW Jenn Hannon of Machines for Freedom.

For more information on future Machines For Freedom rides, visit machinesforfreedom.com/blogs/rides-events socalBICYCLIST.com

@socalbicyclist

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race report

A (Very) Long Day Of Racing The 6-12-24 Hour World TT Championships: An Experiential Report

BY RICH WOLF

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX BAKANOV

“The middle of the road suddenly morphed into a huge cliff dropoff which quickly woke me up.

I had been avoiding taking in caffeine but I got on the phone to Shirley and demanded coffee!”

I

had known of the 6, 12, and 24 Hour World Time Trail championships for a couple of years but never really thought about doing it. One day out of curiosity I perused their website on the particulars and my interest was piqued. The real kicker was that it is held in Borrego Springs, just down the hill from where I live. It is one of my favorite places to ride on the road with light traffic and no stoplights.

My main passion is endurance bike packing where long days in the saddle are the norm. The most I had ever ridden in a day was 163 miles with bikepack gear and lots of dirt and climbing. I had heard about double centuries but I thought that was too crazy! Now doing 200 miles in a day became my goal. I looked up the old farts division from the past year’s race and was shocked to see the mileages they were putting down; 400 Miles for the first place guy and 316 for last. I knew I would be out of my league but, I signed up. Qualifying for the Worlds was easy, I paid the fee and entered the 24 hour race.

One problem that needed solving was that I did not own a proper time trial bike; the only one I owned was my trusty, old titanium 29er mountain bike. I researched some specifics regarding the subject of the proper bicycle to ride for a race of this length. I concluded that an aero position and fast rolling tires were the two major factors that I needed to consider. So I modified the 29er with aero bars, a reverse setback seatpost and some fast tires that would be comfortable and roll well on the fairly rough 18-mile loop course. I started out with some highly regarded 25 c tires, but ended up with 44 c wide tires because they were as fast, much more comfortable and stable, and flat proof. I ran them tubeless.

Training: I made the trek to Borrego several times a week and started bumping up my time on the bike. Late afternoon bike rides started out at three hours and increased my time so that my last ride was 12 hours, where I didn’t finish until 3 in the morning.

The race start time was 6 PM so I knew it was important to train at night. My major issues on the bike were keeping my butt, feet and neck somewhat comfortable. I spent well over 95 percent of the time in the aero bars, so my neck got quite a workout.

The worst issue to tackle was my feet. I was using clip less pedals, but developed a hot spot and sore feet after just 4 to 6 hours. I changed to more of a touring clipless shoe that helped but still gave me issues. I finally threw flat pedals on the bike and knew on my first ride with them that they were the answer to keeping my feet comfortable.

Thankfully my butt was OK with my setup.

My wife Shirley took care of crewing for me along with our good friends Alan and Elaine who live in Borrego. They were critical to my success, they fed me, ran errands for me, and kept me hydrated and going. All I had to do was to ride my bike while 8

BICYCLIST magazine

they did all the hard work.

Now just because they let me enter doesn’t mean it isn’t a serious event. People from all over the globe had entered this year and there were 4 World record holders competing.. I definitely felt like someone who had brought a knife to a gunfight! That became a reality at the beginning of the race. I started in the fourth of five waves and pretty much watched as most riders disappeared into the darkness. A little after two laps in the leader passed me with a huge whoosh! Soon after 3 more raced by followed by a guy flying along on a recumbent.

I tried to keep my spirits up by reminding myself that this was a 24 hour event, and that doing something stupid like pushing myself too hard at the beginning was not going to end well. Riding with others was a lot different than my lonely but enjoyable training rides. I only had one moment of drifting off to sleep. The middle of the road suddenly morphed into a huge cliff drop-off which quickly woke me up. I had been avoiding taking in caffeine but I got on the phone to Shirley and demanded coffee!

Dawn arrived and the nighttime temperature was cool enough for two layers. After 10 AM it really started heating up with highs in the low 90’s throughout the afternoon.

The heat, sun and effort started taking their toll on just about everyone. I noticed the leaders weren’t passing me with as much vigor as they had earlier in the race. Many had come from much colder climates and their bodies weren’t prepared for the heat. I kept plugging away, kept my heart rate down, and came into the pits every lap towards the end for a quick break and to take in some cold fluids. At the end of my last lap I was to move into doing the shorter 4.7 mile loop but decided that I had enough and was satisfied to sit out the last hour of the race and visit with some friends who had come down to cheer me on. I was able to get in 18 laps or 324 miles for 4th out of 8 in my division.

Christoph Strasser, the 24 hour world record holder, put in 550 miles just short of setting a new world record. He was upset because the conditions for a record were there but the heat took the opportunity away. However he won overall and set a new course record. Second place went to Jason Perez on a recumbent with 510 miles. Seanna Hogan won the women’s division with 433 miles. Jasmijn Muller from England was on pace to break the women’s world record but had to drop after 19 hours due to the heat.In the 12 hour race Dede Griesbauer won the overall and it appears she may have set a world record in the process!

All in all it was an amazing experience, and a well put together event. I hope to be back next year but it will be the 6-hour race on a tandem with Shirley! ▲ For more information go to: www.24hrworlds.com/ SoCal and Beyond

touring

the Grand Staircase A Western Spirit Cycling Adventure

BY SHARI SULLIVANT PHOTOS BY PRESTON MCCOY

A BOVE The small tour group enjoyed pleasant rides, amazing vistas, and excellent support.

BELOW RIGHT Shari’s daughter, Leslie, enjoying red canyons of Utah.

W

estern Spirit Cycling Adventures has been in the business of fun vacations for over 25 years, and if you take one of their trips, you will discover why. They offer guided mountain and road cycling trips for all levels – from family trips to technical singletrack – across the western United States. Western Spirit takes care of all the planning, logistics and work, leaving their guests to relax and have fun doing what they like best, ride.

The Grand Staircase Escalante trip out of Moab, Utah, where Western Spirit is located, is an example of one of their excellent tours. Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides on this trip, Sean and Katelyn, went above and beyond to be sure all of the guests’ needs were met, and our group had a fantastic time. This introductory mountain bike trip has an added perk of spending the first two nights at the wonderful Boulder Mountain Lodge in Boulder, Utah, with meals at the intimate Hell’s Backbone Grill. The lodge is comfort at its best in a beautiful, peaceful setting, and the restaurant served amazing meals, reflecting their commitment to sustainability, including organic produce from their own farm. After eating here, it could have been a challenge for our guides to prepare delicious meals at camp, but they rose to the occasion. Everything was fantastic and enjoyed by all the following three nights. Dutch oven lasagna is hard to beat, especially when it’s followed by Dutch oven brownies! socalBICYCLIST.com

The Grand Staircase is so called for the series of plateaus that descend from Bryce Canyon south toward the Grand Canyon, marked by vertical drops of a number of cliffs named for their colors – it should be called the Grand Stare-case. This area is a geological wonderland, with amazing scenery around every turn.

Our trip had some big mileage days, over mostly easy terrain, with a few hikes to access remote areas. Some highlights as we explored the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park were the 126-foot Lower Calf Creek Falls, ancient pictographs, a slot canyon, a surprise hail storm on the Burr Trail, the fun Upper Muley Twist Canyon, the beautiful Wolverine Loop Road and Petrified Wood Area, and a full moon for our last night at camp.

Most of the guests on our trip had been on several previous Western Spirit trips, a testament to a job well done. For anyone wanting to explore new, remote areas, without having to deal with planning and logistics, and meet great new people, Western Spirit is an excellent choice for a cycling tour company. It’s like summer camp with your favorite activities, great food and adult beverages, and no talent show! This was my second trip, and I plan to book another one next year. New this fall is a singletrack, four-day trip out of Phoenix, Arizona - a good choice when it is difficult to be away a full week. Check out this trip and others at westernspirit.com and be prepared for fun. Happy riding! ▲ @socalbicyclist

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provisions : Books

“The first mistake is inadequate training, or no training at all, for a century ride.”

Your Century Ride Chapter One: mistakes to avoid

BY CHARLES LINDSEY

M

aking mistakes at a charity ride, or forgetting something, is rarely a problem because of the ride support and the number of other riders at the event.

Other cyclists will help you when you need it. Often someone will give you a CO2 cartridge for your flat, or you can wait for the SAG support to pass by and help you. But some mistakes can have a harmful effect on your century ride. Help from other riders and ride support may not be able to rescue your ride.

Inadequate Training

The first mistake is inadequate training, or no training at all, for a century ride. I have made this mistake. I hurt myself two months before a challenging century ride that had lots of climbing. Before the event I was rarely able to ride and assumed that I could get through it with cunning guile. I suffered a terrible century, completing 90 of 100 miles with cramping legs. Training is essential unless you are in good shape.

If you are in good shape that means that you have already trained for months or you have completed a century ride just before the upcoming event. Fortunately, the ride support and shear number of riders at the event means making mistakes is rarely a problem. If you are already riding 70 miles in a reasonable time, then your training is actually maintaining your fitness. A reasonable ride time is about 5 hours on a flat route and slightly longer times on routes with hills.

Over-training

At the opposite end of the spectrum, is training too hard or over-training. Getting in rides every day will build your fitness at first, but after a short while, your muscles will not have had the time to recover, and fatigue will begin to develop. Signs of over-training include excessive fatigue in your muscles, and a stagnant heart rate that doesn’t rise to an aerobic rate. Along with the physical, you should be mentally in sync, as well. You have to strike a balance between tough training rides and not riding enough. Luckily, the distance between too little training and over-training is wide for most cyclists. The ideal training plan should be one where you feel like you are making progress, and you feel well.

Eating Right

I did not eat properly on my first century ride, and that hurt my ride performance. I bonked midway through the ride; it was a mid-ride meal and a tailwind that got me to the finish. Having a plan and sticking to it is important. Not eating on a regular schedule, or worse, not eating at all will be a problem.

Hand in hand with improper eating is hydration. It does not matter whether it is cool, or hot, during the ride, you have to stay hydrated. The only difference between cool and hot days is how much you drink and not whether you drink. I checked my weight before and after a long ride, and I found that I lost three pounds through sweating on the road. I figured out how many ounces of water are in three pounds, it’s about 45 fluid ounces, or two bicycle water bottles. This was how much water I should drink during a long ride.

Each of these mistakes can be overcome. None of these, plus many other common mistakes, are devastating in of themselves. They just make finishing the century ride that much harder and take a lot of the fun out of the event. You have to approach the ride with some thought, create a plan and stick to the plan. By following these steps, the ride will be a lot more fun and memorable - in a good way. ▲ We often refer to our contributor Charles Lindsey for advice on riding centuries. He has participated in many SoCal events and has written extensively on preparing and planning for long hours in the saddle. In anticipation for his new book, “Your Century Ride: A Training Plan for Achieving a Road Cycling Goal,” Lindsey has provided us an excerpt from his chapter entitled, Top Mistakes Made When Planning Your First Century. We recommend this book for the shelf of any cyclist who is considering this benchmark of cycling accomplishment, or looking to improve their experience on their next distance adventure. He illuminates the various situations you will encounter when planning for long events and sets you up for success with his invaluable advice and entertains with anecdotes from the road. If your new years resolution is to ride your first century, start here and finish first.

Failing to Plan

Another mistake that I often see cyclists do at century rides is to fail to plan. Heat and sunshine, or rain and wind, you have to decide what to wear to counter the expected weather. You should study the upcoming weather forecast and review your route for the ride. I have seen a few riders take a wrong turn, get lost and add time and miles to their ride. Spending time to get to know the route is a significant benefit.

Wrong Bicycles

Century rides are fun, but riding 100 miles is still a serious effort. I have seen riders bringing bicycles that are not appropriate for a century ride; once I saw someone riding an old beach cruiser. On a hillier century, one young rider was riding a fixed gear. You do not have to have a bike like the Trek Madone 9 Race Shop Limited that goes for $13,000, but you should have a bicycle that is not a hindrance to you.

Ride Your Ride

Every book and article about riding a century warns riders to watch the pace and “ride your ride.” Joining a faster group satisfies our need to be in a group. It also feeds our competitive desire. Who wants to ride alone or with a slower group? But it is a classic mistake. You have trained a certain level of performance, such as averaging 16 mph. Going with a fast group will increase your exhaustion later in the ride. Another downside to rolling with a faster, stronger group is attacking hills with an effort beyond what you trained for This could lead to problems, especially if it is early in a century ride. Pedaling up a tough climb too fast wastes energy that you will need later. Also, you could end up with hurt muscles that you would have avoided by staying with your training speed.

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BICYCLIST magazine

SoCal and Beyond

regulars

BPM Bicyclist Provisions Matrix #002 - YEARBOOK EDITION LOOKING BACK ON OUR FAVORITES OF 2016

Reviews and images available on the website. Visit socalbicyclist.com and search the BRAND name for the write-up.

inexpensive

costly

Bike

PEDEGO $3,495

hermes $750

Dromarti $246

garmin $200

Two Wheel Gear $129

Stretch Cargo E-bike

VK11 Alloy Wheelset

Race Black

Varia Radar Head Unit

Pannier Backpack

marin $2249

ism $225

arkel $220

ABUS $100

thames & Hudson $50

Four Corners Elite

PL 10

Seatpacker 15

GRANIT Plus 640 U-Lock

Magnum Cycling

Dean $1,250

Lumos $179 LED Illuminated Helmet

Coeur $200

Spurcycle $49

Masi $40

El Vado Ti Road Frame

Sport Zele Bib

Bell

90 Years of Masi

Detroit $700

Schwalbe $52

elevenpine $100

Thousand $44

FiveTen $20

A-Type City Bike

Durano DD

Crank It Up Shorts

Bullitt Gloves

3 Pack, Ba51c Sock

Dahon $529

Rock N Roll $9

Monoprice $40

Muc-Off $ 32

Pickle Juice $10

Chain Lube

Carbon Seatpost

X3 Dirty Chain Machine

6 pack, Pickle Juice Sport

D7 Folding Bike

socalBICYCLIST.com

BICYCLIST @socalbicyclist

11

Custom Molded

SADDLES

Discovering Meld Solutions

By Kelley O'Toole

F

inding the right saddle for any type of bicycle is a necessary step to take when beginning to ride, but it is particularly difficult to find the best saddle that checks all the boxes when it comes to comfort on the road. Both men and women will deal with pain or pressure if the saddle doesn't fit properly, I have met few people who haven’t changed saddles more than once because of fit issues. Manufacturers have attempted to accommodate or adjust to riders particular needs, but it’s practically impossible to make a saddle that works for everyone.

Meld Solutions was founded in 2015 by Ethan Ee, to test the feasibility of mass customization and maximize individual riders' potential. Ee's background at Google may have familiarized him with cloud computing technology, but otherwise the web interface is totally unique to Meld. Starting at meld3d.com, you create your account, chose the kind of saddle you want - an option for endurance riders who require added padding and flexibility is the Alps model, which - Meld then ships the impression mold that captures your imprint when you sit on the foam block with bibs on.

The foam is delicate, so move slowly as you lower your body onto the block, and be sure to center your bottom over the foam before sitting on it. I sat too close to the edge on my first try, attempted to make a better imprint on the opposite side, and caused a crack in the block. Not to mention I didn't use all the shipping materials they sent me which caused it to crack further during delivery. I was a little embarrassed, but Meld sent me another foam with no problems. Once I returned my impression mold, they scan the imprint into the online database, which uses an algorithm to create a 3D saddle model that molds to the posterior, adjusting to an infinite number of sit bone widths pelvic floor lengths. Furthermore, your anatomy geometry and past inputs are stored in your account, making the need for another foam imprint unnecessary.

custom fit solution Saddles of the Future

From start to finish, the entire process took about 3 weeks, which also accounts for replacing the cracked foam. Along the way I received email updates each time progress was made regarding my saddle. From when my order changed as "digitally processed" to "shipped" and "saddle completed" to eventually "shipped". When I received my saddle, it was unbelievably light, I weighed it to know exactly how light it was, 130 grams to be exact. My carbon saddle had my initials, an American flag and the SCB logo stamped on the seat, a choice I had made during the customization process. During that process, I could also chose to adjust features like padding thickness, rail materials, the presence of a channel or cut-out in the seat, and color. ▲

12

BICYCLIST magazine

WIN YOUR OWN Given that this is the most important aspect of the bicycle, Meld Solutions has agreed to give 1 reader a saddle custom made to their body.

In order to be eligible to receive this FREE CUSTOM SADDLE (three words that look great together) you must accomplish the following tasks: Fill out a saddle survey that we created. There are 4 basic questions regarding your current saddle fit and preferences. Go to www. socalbicyclist.com/ saddlesurvey to enter.

The survey will close on February 15th at which time we will collect all entries and pick 1 winner from them all.

As you’ve had a chance to test out the saddle and compare it with your previous saddles, let us know how your cycling has improved with the saddle.

As we see custom saddles as the saddle of the future, we want to know how they compare. Would you forsake brand loyalty for a saddle made just for you?

SoCal and Beyond

A Race Through

RAINFORESTS

I FOLLOWED LOS ANGELES NATIVE AND MOUNTAIN BIKE LEGEND, DAVID "TINKER" JUAREZ, AS HE ATTACKED THE RACE WITH CALIFORNIAN FEROCITY. OUT OF 150 COMPETITORS, JUAREZ PLACED 5TH OVERALL, A SOLID FINISH FOR THE 55-YEAR OLD COMPETITOR.

Going Beyond in the Cuban Tropics

BY VICTOR PRESTINARY The Titan events are put on by a Spanish company that specialises in endurance races all over the world. The Titan Tropic Cuba is the Second Titan MTB stage race that finishes on a cuban beach. After the long continued success of Titan Desert in Morocco, Organizer Felix Dot (an ex Dakar racer) and company decided to begin anew in the Caribbean. This five-day stage race took participants through the west part of the island from Havana through countryside, rainforest, farmland, and beaches. Racers camped together by night, with full SAG, food, water, and transportation support by day. The sections varied from long pot-holed highways, to short single-track and rutty dirt roads.

socalBICYCLIST.com

@socalbicyclist

13

M

y unexpected journey to Cuba began at Interbike 2016. Representatives of Titan Tropic were there recruiting American industry and media to help trail-blaze Cuba for cyclists worldwide. Indeed, trail creation is a very important role of the Titan Tropic. As a nation in transition by global influence, it is no surprise that Cuba has a tiny cycling community and an almost nonexistent MTB community. Trails throughout the country have a variety of uses, but Mountain Bikes are not even considered when allocating usage. For my first trip to the Caribbean, I was beyond lucky for the opportunity to see a country like Cuba fully supported by Titan Tropic.

Fast forward to December 2, 2016, and I find myself up before sunrise waiting for my LAX shuttle on a windy winter night. That morning, I met my travelling companions, Roy from the LA Times, Lynette from Bicycle Retailer, and Hallof-Famer Tinker Juarez, who all turned out to be awesome, but easily made me feel like the small fish in the big pond.

A number of journalists were invited to cover the MTB endurance stage race, with this writer opting out to capture Cuba's largest MTB event from the BICYCLIST perspective.

After overcoming a small visa obstacle in Mexico City, our place flew to La Habana (Havana) where we landed late at the José Martí International Airport.

Our first nights in Cuba were in La Habana. Racers enjoyed hotel rooms, because for the next four nights, they would be sharing an open field with 150 other cyclists in nicely-lined rows of minimal tents. This is the Titan Tropic. Almost 500 km of total mileage for the week, and the famous gray tents to sleep in. Three meals a day were provided by the event, consisting of mostly traditional Cuban cuisine. As a plantbased-eater, I relied on rice, pasta, bread, fruit, beans, yuca, and potatoes for meals, and I brought along some clif bars and trail mix for snacks. Each stage had multiple rest stops with food and drinking water, which turned out to be nearly a commodity in Cuba.

Those in the MTB nirvana that is the US West would be hard-pressed to call the Titan Tropic and MTB race. The first few stages were nearly all pot-holed roads and dirt country roads - a gravel grinder by SoCal standards - but the stages finished with some steep single track, making a mountain bike necessary for the whole race. Many participants used hardtails (ubiquitous in Europe) with many full suspension riders as well. The event even featured a Fat Bike category for the handful that were passionate enough to bring them.

Although not a traditionally technical route, this style of tour is actually very common for international events through Central and South America, and offers a one-ofa-kind tour of the isolated Cuban culture. Each year Titan Tropic continues, they work with local communities to build new trail infrastructure to incorporate into the race, helping to create a recreational bicycle community and improving the event routes over the years. Many racers brought their families, who followed the race via bus, all organized by Titan Tropic.

As a noncombatant, I was able to imbibe freely, enjoying Cuban Ron (Rum) in its various forms, Cuban beer, and Cuban cigars! There are some incredible trails around like a vista point we hiked to from the camp at Horizontes Villa Soroa. In Viñales, we visited the Mural de la Prehistoria (a huge contemproray mural), and Cuevas del Indio (a bat-filled cave with boat tour).

The journey home for me is always welcome, but I left far richer after experiencing the joy and generosity of the Cuban people. You can now bring back many Cuban-made goods, including delicious Cuban coffee, rum, and cigars. I look forward to seeing how the Titan Tropic will grow as Cuba becomes a stronger nation with new policies and deals in the works with entities like Google. ▲

14

BICYCLIST magazine

ABOVE Jen Hanks and Shannon Boffeli (Pivot Cycles) ride in a group of Titans through the Cuban countryside.

BELOW Kevin Hines sporting his Corner Cycle kit finished 10th overall.

SoCal and Beyond

Giordana + socal bicyclist #teamissue CX CYCLING KIT GIORDANA CUSTOM KIT. MADE IN ITALY. DESIGNED FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. REFLECTIVE TABS SEWN IN FOR SAFETY, HIDDEN STASH POCKET LOCATED IN BIB AND SILICONE LEG GRIPPERS PROVIDE BARELY-THERE FIT. LIMITED ISSUE. VISIT SOCALBICYCLIST.COM FOR AVAILABILITY.

BELOW A muddy, but determined Selene Yeager in her Bicycling kit rides through the town of Lopez Pena.

socalBICYCLIST.com

ABOVE Favorites Olga Echenique and Diego Tamayo set out from Viñales on the final stage of the Titan Tropic.

BELOW Lorena Valera (fitxtreme) lines up at the pre-race in Soroa.

@socalbicyclist

15

ABOVE Four of the Sexteto Horizontes playing Cuban jazz at our hotel in Soroa.

RIGHT Alberto Esaul grinds through the Cuban rain forest.

BELOW Beach celebration at the culmination of five days of racing and four nights of sleeping in tents for Team Gaes

16

BICYCLIST magazine

SoCal and Beyond

the 2016 bicyclist

YEARBOOK behind the scene(s) Looking back over the shoulder at some of our favorite moments with the people who helped to bring you the bicyclist experience in 2016.

A safety consideration suggested to us at the May 2016 One Way Ride to Mexico. (Issue #134)

Chris Reynolds and Krystof Andres have an early morning start shooting Dean Hall on the DEAN El Vado road bike on the road to Crystal Lake. The Pedego Stretch was piloted by Reynolds with Andres behind the lens, perched on the tail end, while Hall road the DEAN. (Issue #128)

socalBICYCLIST.com

@socalbicyclist

17

Victor Prestinary testing his road bike at one of the Irvine Let's Go Outside events at Blackstar Canyon.

Chris Reynolds and Kelley O'Toole surveying the San Diego Wind Tunnel propeller. (#132)

Cruising Whiting Ranch with Justin Macias.

18

BICYCLIST magazine

Chilling with Justin Macias and Tim Wilson after a long day perusing NAHBS.

Chris Reynolds shooting fixed-gear racers at the 2016 Comeback Crit in Huntington Beach.

Siobhan O'Toole joining in to review the Haibike XDuro 29 eMTB (Issue #131)

Tim Wilson riding with other industry guests at the 2016 Rally Season Opener in Calabasas.

SoCal and Beyond

Victor Prestinary pauses for a photo op with the Pedego Stretch on Blackstar Canyon Rd.

Bob Becker enjoying a morning in Silverado.

Victor Prestinary looking out over the Southridge downhill track in Fontana.

socalBICYCLIST.com

Chris Reynolds walking Austin and the Garneu Steeple in Fairview Park. (Issue #136)

Chris Reynolds testing the flash during the Dean El Vado studio shoot. (Issue #128)

Kelley O'Toole at La Purisma Mission in Lompoc. (Issue #137)

Kelley O'Toole enjoying a peaceful moment during our coverage of the Tour de Murrieta.

Chris Reynolds and Krystof Andres swapping recipes atop Main Divide.

Wilnelia Recart prepares for her cycling tour around Notojima, Japan. (Issue 138)

@socalbicyclist

19

Event Calendar

GUIDE TO THE CALENDAR

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.

Do you have an event you’d like to list?

Submit for free at socalbicyclist.com/events

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January

4 Sunday

Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

12 Saturday

Rock Cobbler 4.0 Bakersfield SAMBARN MTB: 90+ miles SCa Lengthwise Brewing Co

18 Saturday

Camino Real Double Planet Ultra ROAD: 198 miles / 8500’ La Quinta Inn

7 Saturday

2017

OC Donut Ride OCBrakeless FIXED Outlets at Orange

Orange

SCa

____________________________________________________

Resolution Ride AIDS/LifeCycle ROAD: 35, 15 miles Griffith Park

Los Angeles

SCa

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Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

15 Sunday

MoValCX MudFest 2017 SoCalCross Fever Series CX: TBA

Fontana

SCa

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Moreno Valley

SCa

March Field Park ___________________________________________________________________

18 Wednesday Southridge Winter Series

Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro

Southridge Park

Fontana

SCa

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21 Saturday

Tour de Palm Springs CVSPIN ROAD: 100, 05, 25, 10 miles Palm Canyon Theater

Irvine

SCa

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Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

22 Sunday

Corriganville CX-XC Season Finale SoCalCross Fever Series CX: Course

Fontana

SCa

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Simi Valley

SCa

Corriganville Movie Ranch Park ____________________________________________________

Fontana

Fontana

SIGNS & SYMBOLS Date

Day

Event Name Organizer TYPE: length

City, State

FEATURES

Location

SCa

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Irvine

SCa

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Fontana

Tri

MAGAZINE SUPPORTERS support our supporters COMPETITION events with posted participants and results ROAD events with 90% or more paved route MOUNTAIN events with 90% or more dirt trail CYCLOCROSS closed course road/mtb hybrid GRAVEL fire roads, grinders and adventure rides TRIATHLON running, swimming, and biking BICYCLISM arts, entertainment and BIKES!

Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

19 Sunday

Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

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25-02 Multi

Death Valley National Park Stovepipe Wells Climate Ride ROAD: 234 to 255 miles NCa Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley NP

18 Saturday

SCa

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Fontana

SCa

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March 4 Saturday

2017

28th Annual Blossom Bike Ride Reedley Lions Club ROAD: 60, 40, 20 miles Reedley College

Reedley

NCa

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OC Donut Ride OCBrakeless FIXED Outlets at Orange

5 Saturday

Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

Orange

SCa

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OREGON Wa WASHINGTON Az ARIZONA Or

Solvang Double Century Planet Ultra ROAD: 192 miles / 8300’ Santa Ynez Valley Marriott

Buellton

SCa

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Tour de Cure Phoenix American Diabetes Association ROAD: 100, 75, 50, 25, 10 miles Midwestern University

Glendale, AZ

Az

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Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

Fontana

18-19 Multi

Keyesville Classic SAMBARN MTB Keyesville Campground

19 Sunday

Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

20-26 Multi

Solvang Spring Tour Planet Ultra ROAD: 69/78/77/77/63/92/39 miles Royal Copenhagen Inn

SCa

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Lake Isabella

SCa

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Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

29 Sunday

Laguna Niguel Triathlon Laguna Niguel Renegade Race | So Cal Triathlon Series TRIATHLON: 11 miles SCa Tri Crown Community Park/YMCA

6 Sunday

Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

February 2017

4-5 Multi

Malibu Granfondo Westlake Village Serious Cycling ROAD: gran fondo & time trial SCa Four Seasons Hotel

25 Saturday Saddleback Spring Classic Gran Fondo Irvine Renegade Race & PCRF ROAD: 100, 50, 31, 1 miles SCa

Irvine Valley College

4 Saturday

11 Saturday

Solvang Century S.C.O.R. ROAD: 100, 70, 51 miles Hotel Corque

Bike MS: Coastal Challenge National Multiple Sclerosis Society ROAD: 100, 30 miles Rose Bowl

25-26 Multi

Bike MS: Arizona Scottsdale, AZ National Multiple Sclerosis Society ROAD: 100, 30 miles McDowell Mountain Regional Park

SCa

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20

OC Donut Ride OCBrakeless FIXED Outlets at Orange

Orange

SCa

____________________________________________________

Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

BICYCLIST magazine

Fontana

SCa

Fontana

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Nor NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Nv NEVADA So

SCa

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Fontana

SCa

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Solvang

SCa

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Joshua Tree Double Century Twentynine Palms Mountain High Cycling ROAD: 193 miles / 9343’ SCa El Rancho Delores Motel

Fontana

SCa

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Solvang

SCa

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Pasadena

SCa

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Az

SoCal and Beyond

SOCALBICYCLIST.COM/EVENTS

___________________________________________________________________

SCa

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Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

Fontana

SCa

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45th Annual Primavera Century Fremont Freewheelers Bicycle Club ROAD: 100, 85, 63, 40, 25 miles Mission San Jose High School

29 Saturday

8 Saturday

Mulholland Challenge Agoura Hills Planet Ultra ROAD: 106, 73, 52 miles SCa Hampton Inn & Suites

9 Sunday

Mulholland Challenge Double Agoura Hills Planet Ultra ROAD: 106 miles / 12700’ SCa Hampton Inn & Suites

M ay

Campagnolo GranFondo San Diego Granfondo Cycling Tours ROAD: 102, 56, 34, 20 miles Ruocco Park

3-7 Multi

SCa

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socalBICYCLIST.com

SCa

NCa Hemet

SCa Monterey

NCa

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Eroica California Hospice SLO County ROAD: 120, 85, 67, 38 miles Paso Robles Downtown Park

Paso Robles

Murphys

Subaru Sea Otter Classic Powered by SRAM FESTIVAL, CX, MTB, ROAD Laguna Seca Raceway

7-9 Multi

SCa

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Fremont

SCa Lebec

SCa

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Davis

NCa

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Tour of the Unknown Coast St Joseph Health ROAD: 100, 62, 50, 20, 10 miles

Humboldt County Fairgrounds

Ferndale

NCa

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Tour de Cure Gold Country American Diabetes Association ROAD: 64, 42, 22, 10 miles Johnson Springview Park

Rocklin

21 Sunday

Cervélo Belgian Waffle Ride San Marcos Cervélo ROAD: 140 and 68 miles SCa Lost Abbey

NCa

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June

2017

3 Saturday

Eastern Sierra Double Century Planet Ultra ROAD: 200 miles / 10200’ La Quinta Inn

Tour de Cure Tucson Tucson, AZ American Diabetes Association ROAD: 100, 75, 50, 25, 10 miles Crossroads at Silverbell District Park

9-13 Multi

California Central Coast Ride San Francisco Climate Ride ROAD: San Francisco to San Luis Obispo NCa San Francisco’s Presidio

Tour de Cure San Diego American Diabetes Association ROAD: 100, 62, 29, 12, 1 miles Del Mar Fairgrounds

10 Saturday

Tour of Two Forests Double Century Planet Ultra ROAD: 198 miles / 13220’ Hampton Inn

NCa

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Az

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Heartbreak Hundred Planet Ultra ROAD: 100 miles / 8500’ Holiday Inn Express

20-23 Multi

Fontana

Bakersfield

Davis Double Century Davis Bike Club ROAD: 200 miles / 8000’

Veterans Memorial Center

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Southridge Winter Series Southridge Racing MTB: DH, XC, Enduro Southridge Park

20 Saturday

Hemet Double Century and Century Inyo Ultra Cycling ROAD: 200 and 100 miles Motel 6

2 Sunday

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Kern County Junior Stage Race SAMBARN ROAD: TBD Kern County Race Way Park

Heartbreak Double Century Palmdale Planet Ultra ROAD: 202 miles / 15500’ SCa

Holiday Inn Palmdale

23 Sunday

SCa

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13-14 Multi

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Southern Inyo Double Century Lone Pine Inyo Ultra Cycling ROAD: 199 miles / 8100’ SCa Comfort Inn

Trabuco Canyon

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Mr. Frog’s Wild Ride Feeney Park Foundation ROAD: 100K, 50K Feeney Park

NCa

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April

Orange

Trabuco Challenge Warrior’s Society MTB: 24 miles / 4000’ Parker Ranch

Yountville

Central Coast Double Century Paso Robles BMS Cycling ROAD: 211 miles / 14000’ SCa

La Quinta Inn & Suites

15 Saturday

OC Donut Ride OCBrakeless FIXED Outlets at Orange

13 Saturday

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1 Saturday

Tour de Cure Napa Valley American Diabetes Association ROAD: 100, 80, 50, 25, 10 miles Veterans Home of California

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2017

7 Sunday

Del Mar

SCa

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Devil Mountain Double Quackcyclists ROAD: 206 miles / 20,000’ Marriott

San Ramon

NCa

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2017

33rd Annual Redlands Classic Redlands Bicycle Classic ROAD: TBA Citrus Avenue Downtown

Redlands

SCa

Bishop

NCa

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Santa Clarita

SCa

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Tour de Cure Los Angeles American Diabetes Association ROAD: 100, 66, 32, 7 miles Santa Fe Recreational Dam

Irwindale

11 Sunday

Tour de Cure Silicon Valley American Diabetes Association ROAD: 120K, 100K, 75K, 50K, 25K HP Campus Palo Alto

17 Saturday

Tour de Cure Spokane Spokane, WA American Diabetes Association ROAD: 100, 50, 25, 10 miles Wa Northern Quest Resort and Casino

SCa

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Palo Alto

NCa

___________________________________________________________________

@socalbicyclist

21

Last Page

Bikes For Kids

By Kelley O'Toole

T

and local businesses donated for the purchase of the bikes and helmets. Over 50 people showed up to help diligently assemble the bikes with a final inspection by the club's bike shop sponsor.

A San Diego-based nonprofit that makes surprise deliveries throughout California called Bikes for Kids, surprised 100 students at Thorman Elementary School in Tustin with bicycles for the holidays. The Bikes for Kids nonprofit works with local organizations, volunteers, and community members to surprise kids all over Southern California with bicycles. In 2014 Velo Allegro cycling club and the president William Pullano brought this event to Long Beach to promote cycling within the city. Each year a low income YMCA partner school in the City of Long Beach, with a minimum of 90% of students on free or reduced lunch, is selected to participate. What makes Bikes for Kids unique, is that they incorporate the element of surprise into the giveaway, announcing to the classes, after the winners are given their awards, that ALL the third graders receive a bicycle.

The following day, was the official Bikes for Kids “pickup day” at the school, in which the students and their parents came to claim the bikes and get an overview of bike basics from Velo Allegro club members and local YMCA volunteers. According to the official organizer of the event Pullano, the highlight of the pick up was “working with [volunteers] Al, Laura, Shelley, Kenan, Matt and Evelyn to teach two of the students how to ride their new bikes.” School administrators, with assistance by club members, collected parent waivers and released the bikes to each third grader.

his holiday season, several cycling organization made hundreds of Southern California kids very happy and active for the holidays with the gift of a bicycle. In San Diego, Rally Cycling Team partnered with Rally Health and San Diego Chargers’ Melvin Gordon for “Holiday Bike Build” giving 52 children of service members stationed at Naval Base San Diego's Admiral Prout Field brand new Diamondback bikes. In Riverside, Jenson USA and Free Agent BMX handed out 60 bikes to elementary students during the annual East Hills Holiday Bicycle Giveaway, and the Fontana Police Department gave 100 kids a bike each for their annual Bicycle Giveaway.

Closing the year out for third graders at Jenny Oropeza Elementary School was the surprise of a bicycle, built by members of Velo Allegro, YMCA of Greater Long Beach and Bikable Communities. President Mike Mische, along with the original organizer William (Bill) Pullano, Alvaro Rodriguez from the YMCA, and volunteers from the organizations represented, gathered in the assembly room on the Friday evening before the reveal, to build the bicycles. Club members 22

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ON the day of the assembly the students believed that bicycles will only be given to a few winners of an essay contest that answers the question, “How can having a bike help me make my community better?” During the awards bicycles were gifted to one student from each class as the essay is read aloud. After the winners were recognized, principal Mona Cook and club members stood in front of the closed curtain and announced that there was a surprise in store. They pulled back the curtgais on the assembly stage to unveil 130 bikes, while all the kids cheered in excitement knowing that they were all getting a bike.

The kids were very gracious, each writing a letter of thanks to the members of Velo Allegro, YMCA of Greater Long Beach, Bikable Communities, and the loved ones of community members. Many of them made promises to use their bicycle to help in their community, including picking up trash in the city. One letter read, (corrected for spelling errors) “Thank you for the bikes, when you opened the curtains I was starting to jump out of my seat and yell out like everyone did! My name is Zuleyma and I am 8-years-old. I am going to take care of my bike by cleaning it! I am going to ride my bike and clean the city of Long Beach." ▲ SoCal and Beyond

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