BICYCLIST Magazine - #131

#13 southern california 1

Bicyclist Events | culture | bicyclism

WILD IN IDYLLWILD HONOR THY CHAIN STATE BICYCLE CO.

MALIBU GRANFONDO - TOUR DE MURRIETA - REDLANDS STRADA ROSSA III STRONG BEACH BRAKELESS CRIT - ISM SADDLES - ALÉ APPAREL MONTENEGRO MANUFACTURING - UNLIKELY CYCLIST - 2016 RACING CALENDAR THE ROUTE: PIER TO PIER II - CLUB DIRECTORY - THE CLIMB: THOMAS MOUNTAIN RECREATION EVENTS CALENDAR & SO MUCH MORE

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Socalbicyclist.com

“I have tremendous respect for his exceptional professional ability and am grateful for what he accomplished on my behalf.” -Timothy W.

SERVING THE CYCLING COMMUNITY SINCE 1995 Thomas Forsyth has been practicing law for 26 years and has been representing cyclists since 1995. Mr. Forsyth is an expert in his field and offers free legal advise to all riders. When represented by an expert, there is no learning curve.

“I could trust that my case was in good hands, and I could focus on recovering from my injuries. I was very pleased with the professionalism, and also the personal care that they took in handling my case.” - Judy H.

“After meeting Tom at his office I was pleased to discover that he himself is an experienced cyclist and knows firsthand the trials we face everyday, as well as the love we feel for the sport.” - Kevin J.

Bicycle Attorney: Law Offices of Thomas F. Forsyth Serving all of California with offices in both Pasadena and San Jose

Pasadena (626) 240-4633 San Jose (408) 573-3670

Se Habla Español Please see our website for further information

www.bicycleattorney.net

Contents 14

community

IDYLLWILD

May 2016 Events | Culture | Bicyclism

27

provisions

OFFROAD DIVISION state bicycle company

REGULARS

EDITOR'S NOTE Companionship & Solitude 5 NEW & NOTEWORTHY Did You Hear About... 6 READER'S RIDES Your photos #socalbicyclist 7 BACK TO BASICS Honor Thy Chain 11 The CLIMB Thomas Mountain 16 THE ELECTRIC AGE A Letter to the Editor 22 The ROUTE Pier to Pier II: Ventura to Santa Monica 32 CROSSWORD Updates and Follow-Up 45 LAST PAGE Nick Roumonada: A True Inspiration 46

COMMUNITY

WILD IN IDYLLWILD RED RIDER CLUB Riding For A Cause SEA OTTER CLASSIC Monterey

WANDERING PHOTOGRAPHER

MALIBU GRANFONDO Westlake Village STRONG BEACH CRIT Long Beach TOUR DE MURRIETA Murrieta STRADA ROSSA III Redlands

14 21 23 12 18 24 36

#131 35

profiles

UNLIKELY CYCLIST

PROFILES

MONTENEGRO MMFG. Downtown LA 9 UNLIKELY CYCLIST Costa Mesa 35

PROVISIONS

REVIEWED ALÉ Cycling Apparel REVIEWED ISM Endurance Road Saddle REDUX SRAM GX 1x10 EXPERIENTIAL State Bicycle Co. - Deluxe Pulsar

8 10 26 27

EVENTS

HIGHLIGHTS & PREVIEWS 38 2016 CYCLING EVENT CALENDAR 39 GRAVEL Adventure Racing / Grinders

COMPETITIVE MTB Get Dirty, Ride Clean COMPETITIVE ROAD Test Yourself RECREATION Help A Cause, Make New Friends ULTRA LENGTH 150 Miles And More ARTS & CULTURE Off The Bike

CLUBS

DIRECTORY Find Your Future Peloton 44

COVER

The State Bicycle Co. Deluxe Pulsar 29er in the Wild at Idyllwild. Read about the place on page 14 and the bike on page 27.

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Companionship & Solitude

S

ome people ride bikes to find companionship and some ride bikes to escape it. This dual aspect of cycling, being both a social sport and one that provides solitude, is something that has always appealed to me. I find opportunities to enjoy both and appreciate the importance and benefit of cultivating them in my bicycling life.

The self-reliance that develops during solitary time in the saddle builds confidence and helps reinforce the perception of our own independence and unique capabilities. The commonality of that perception can become the glue that bonds many of the friendships in the cycling community.

Yet, sharing the experience of cycling is unlike that of many other sports for a number of reasons. With an extremely

low barrier to entry, fitness and experience don’t preclude participation or enjoyment. Traveling on a bike between two points in a safe and enjoyable environment is an experience attainable by more bicyclists than ever before.

Living in Southern California provides an endless array of distances to travel, sights to see, and new people to meet.

And, experiences to share.

When someone becomes more comfortable on their bike, distances increase, average speeds become faster, and more measurements may be taken. But the experience - that feeling upon arrival at a planned destination, or the nerves before departure, let alone the sheer joy of completing a climb that you thought you’d only ever be walking up - those feelings remain the same, to be experienced again and again, perhaps in new

Editor's Note

scenery and around new faces. But the exhilaration of piloting a two-wheeled vehicle with your own body continues, whether or not numbers measuring your performance rise or fall.

SoCal Bicyclist is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive listing of calendar events and bicycling clubs for new and seasoned riders. Ask a few more people to join at the start of your next journey and you will have more with you to celebrate at the end. You’ll have shared a time together where politics got left at home, work life was silenced, and the group carried on with a singular purpose and focus - turning the pedals and moving down the trail - in a community of cyclists. See you on the trail,

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#131 - May 2016 EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTORS

Kelley O’Toole - KO | Managing Editor kelley@socalbicyclist.com

READ/FOLLOW/LIKE

Chris Reynolds - CR | Editorial Director chris@socalbicyclist.com

Victor Prestinary - VP | Editor-at-Large victor@socalbicyclist.com Catherine Latour | Senior Editor catherine@socalbicyclist.com Tim Wilson - TW | Associate Editor tim@socalbicyclist.com Bob Becker - BB | Senior Writer bob@socalbicyclist.com

ADVERTISING

Victor Prestinary | Advertising Coordinator victor@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 & LOGISTICS Victor Prestinary | Director victor@socalbicyclist.com

PUBLISHING

Chris Reynolds | Director chris@socalbicyclist.com

Cate Clark, Cody Lewis, Justin Macias, Andreas Moore, Samuel Parks Shari Sullivant, Teresa Todd, Tim Wilson www.socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   /socalbicyclist  #socalbicyclist

SUBMISSIONS & CONTACT

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

Southern California Bicyclist 14252 Culver Drive Irvine, CA 92604 (949) 264-3346 contact@socalbicyclist.com Designed and Printed in SoCal Founded by Will Decker All photography and design performed in-house by Chris Reynolds & Victor Prestinary unless otherwise noted.

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About VITALS & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Southern California Bicyclist 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. SCB is published 10 times per year.

The print edition can be found at more than 1000 locations and events throughout California and adjacent states. Find a location near you or view the interactive, digital version at www.socalbicyclist.com Print copy subscriptions are $20 per year for 10 print issues delivered to the destination of your choice in the United States. International print subscriptions are $35. For more information, visit www.socalbicyclist.com/subscribe Copyright ©2016 All rights reserved.

Published April 4, 2016

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 SCB'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.

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New & Noteworthy

Did You Hear About The...

LOCAL Camp Pendelton Grants Cyclist Access

EVENT 2016 Electric Bike Expo

Earlier this year, we mentioned on our Facebook page (/socalbicyclist) and podcast (SCB.fm) that Camp Pendelton, an active US Marine Base, was limiting access to cyclists. The base stretches across a swath of land from the coast to the mountains and without access, cyclists are forced to use an access road that runs along I-5 freeway, a major 16-lane southland motorway. Much to the delight of cyclists daunted by the prospect of sharing asphalt with 18-wheel trucks, the base has instituted a program to allow cyclists to register and receive access to the stretch of road. Visit socalbicyclist.com/cpmb for the form. -CR

The Electric Bike Expo, a consumer demonstration event in its second year, was held at Liberty Station in San Diego February 26-28. Large crowds moved through the station that showcased 125 different e-bike models from 20 manufacturers. Of note was the number of participants new to cycling or who hadn't been on a bike in many years. The demo moves to Rice University Stadium in Houston March 11-13. -BB

New program allows access to vital cycling corridor.

San Diego, CA

Send your news, updates and corrections to editor@socalbicyclist.com

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 Southern California Bicyclist.

To enter, go to socalbicyclist.com/ftc and complete the online entry form or send an entry with your name and phone number to FTC c/o Southern California Bicyclist 14252 Culver Dr. Irvine, CA 92604. Entries must be received by February 28, 2016 for consideration. The winning entry will be selected using a random-number generator and announced in a future print issue.

For official rules and entry, VISIT SOCALBICYCLIST.COM/FTC

LAST ISSUE'S WINNER ALI MARASHI

(Glendora, CA) Issue #130 - Page 12 The winner of last issue's FTC drawing was Ali Marashi of Glendora, CA. He correctly identified the icon on page 12, located on the number plate of the racer. His pattern-recognition skills have earned him a oneyear print subscription to SCB and the one-andonly SCB care pack.

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Tern eLink pedal-assist folding bike.

MAKER Femke Effect

Any publicity is good publicity

Mainstream market coverage of the recent UCI doping case precipitated an increase in e-road bike sales, especially those with the Vivax seat tube motor system, which is reportedly enjoying a five-fold increase in sales. Apparently the old Hollywood maxim, "Any publicity is good publicity," applies to doping bikes, too. This has changed the market's perception of e-bikes, from ponderous vehicle to sleek and rapid transportation. In the Netherlands, this consequence is being called the "Femke Effect," after the young Belgian woman whose bike used a motor system. - BB CORRECTION The holder of record for most miles cycled in a year, previous to Kurt Searvogel who broke that record earlier this year, was Tommy Godwin who we mis-identified as “Tony”. We’re unsure who Tony Godwin is or how he made it into our magazine. Thank you to Ken Probst of Tustin, CA for the eagle eyes on that. -CR

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#socalbicyclist ď…­

Reader's Rides

Our Favorites

The Broad (Los Angeles)

San Gabriel River Trail

Verdugo Mountain

San Clemente

Brian Howard @BrianHoward1

Scott Fajack @m.scott.deserti

Jason Wong @byephurk8r

Felix Carvalho @felixwcs

Show Us Awesome &win All chosen photos win the highly coveted, much sought after awesome sauce Purist water bottle. To be considered, follow @socalbicyclist on Instagram and tag your rides with #socalbicyclist. Congratulations to this month's winners!

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PROVISIONS

Reviews

W

ALÉ Cycling Apparel Italian Quality And Performance

e were excited to receive and test a custom racing kit from ALÉ - designed and made totally in Italy. Pietro Caucchioli is a former Tour de France racer and President of ALÉ and is an integral influence on the design of their kits. The focus of many custom kit makers is to promote the image and size options for their products, but ALÉ's kits are designed for high performance. I was blown away by the quality of the bib and jersey they made for us.

The first thing I noticed about the bib was the variety of unique materials. The straps are made from thin elastic ribbons that attach to a similarly light and flexible material that forms the back. The top part of the chamois also uses this type of material, and constitutes the most flexible part of the kit. This flexible connection performs most of the stretching so that it fits the rider’s upper body, while the straps function solely to maintain vertical alignment. What results is a lightweight design overall with almost no pressure on the shoulders while still remaining skintight around the body.

The sides and rear of the bib utilize a thicker material that excels both aerodynamically and in durability. In the event of a fall, these are the areas where the bib will make contact with the ground, so it is critical that they are the strongest. I fell off my bike during a small dirt drop while wearing this kit, and landed on my left hip while skidding along the dirt. Although there was a good amount of pain from the impact of the fall, the bib was unmarked. Thin and light elastic material comfortably secures the lower part of the bib to the thighs without sliding.

The padding in the chamois is perfectly shaped for Full performance with no sacrifice needed for style. a performance saddle and features a slight cutout Photo courtesy of ALÉ. in the center to prevent any blood-flow issues. This of the body. Coupled with all the external materials’ takes some pressure off of your sit bones, and adds aerodynamic properties, riding in this kit actually zero chaffing to the thighs and hips. feels appealingly different and smoothly comfortable The ALÉ custom jersey matched the high as wind whips around thighs and torso. performance in of the bib. Also thin and lightweight, the jersey is breathable, comfortable, and durable enough to withstand normal use and even falls. The jersey we received featured three deep back pockets with strong elastic to keep valuables secure while you ride. A small zipper on the right pocket reveals a fourth compartment that allows small items to be sealed away with easy access.

This is an excellent performance option for clubs, teams, and events looking for a custom kit that delivers more than just an image or size options. ALÉ’s off-the-rack items also feature many of these advantages and are perfect for anyone looking for a higher quality kit. - VP Visit alebikewear.com for more information.

The jersey fits skin-tight with no bunching in the front due to a contoured elastic strip at the bottom where it meets the front of the chamois. When the rider is bent over in riding position, the jersey slides over the bib and maintains the aerodynamic shape

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PROFILES

Montenegro Manufacturing Hand-Made in Downtown Los Angeles

Makers

Hern Montenegro's prototype road bike which was showcased at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Sacramento this past February. Montenegro sources Hermes-Sport wheels, as profiled in SCB Issue #129.

A

fter years of experience working with carbon fiber in the bike industry, Hern Montenegro officially went all-in on his passion when, in 2013, he created the first product branded with the name Montenegro. Hern is a racer, experienced frame builder, and carbon-fiber expert. After working with Predator and Ritte, Hern discovered the dream life of working for one's self, and began creating his own custom carbon frames for people looking for a personalized ride experience.

bamboo frames. Builds cover multiple disciplines, with an impressive amount of customization in the geometry and materials used. Montenegro also offers a one-piece full carbon customized handlebar and stem, lighter and stiffer than a bolted stem and bars, and built to the exact specifications of the rider.

Hern’s experience with carbon fiber allows him to also offer expert services in carbon frame repair and custom part work. Anyone looking to step up their bike game would be well served exploring any one of the many options Montenegro offers. Experienced riders should consider a custom Montenegro for their dream ride, made right here in SoCal and offering a ride experience of the highest order. -VP

A Montenegro bicycle is one of a kind because each bike’s geometry and paint job is unique, tailored to the rider, and an embodiment of the builder’s personality. As a racer himself, Hern knows how to achieve high standards, and is ready to accept any building challenge. Case in point, the Montenegro Visit MontenegroMfg.com for more information and tell logo can also be seen on its increasingly popular them SCB sent you!

With years of industry experience, all Montenegro carbon is formed by hand in Los Angeles, CA.

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PROVISIONS

Reviews

I

ISMModern Endurance Saddle Saddle Technology

n SCB Issue #127, we looked at the importance of the bike saddle as the foundation for a rider.

A properly fitted saddle allows the rider to use a full range of hip movements while it provides a stable platform for the pelvis. Ideally, a high quality saddle stabilizes the rider without their awareness or any conscious effort.

with respect to the bike, and the rider learns how to adapt to the saddle, all discomfort disappears. The rider feels attached to the bike and can't differentiate where the body ends and the bike begins. The thighs glide smoothly past the rails, that are quite far out to support the sit bones, yet no uncomfortable rubbing occurs.

The ISM PL 1.0 is a saddle that accomplishes this feat masterfully. ISM saddles utilize a design that many cyclists might consider a "triathlon saddle, but the PL 1.0 is a saddle for any serious bicyclist. The design completely removes the traditional ‘nose’ feature and, instead, supports the sit bones on the sides of the saddle. This removes the need for any type of cut-out, as the design naturally puts little to no pressure on common blood-flow-restricting areas.

The result is a perfect balance between support for the pelvis and movement of the hips.

The saddle then acts as a centering point for the motion of the legs when spinning. Tested on both dirt and pavement, finding the proper ride position is effortless and leads to little or no sliding around on the seat. No signs of restricted blood-flow or numbness were detected while using this saddle.

The padding is perfect for endurance or longdistance riding. It provides just enough comfort to train up your sit bones while remaining relatively light-weight.

If you are experiencing anything less than an ideal ISM saddles are positioned on the seat post ride position on your long-distance bikes, the ISM PL differently compared to traditional saddles. Because 1.0 may be for you. -VP they align differently with the rider's body, they may not always fit when swapped onto an already fit bike. Check out ismseat.com/technology for more information on what sets ISM saddles apart from the competition.

When the saddle is adjusted to the correct position

Ismseat.com: all of the PL saddles are a full 270mm long, and allow for superb fore-aft rider movement. The rear measures 135mm wide – adding support for those that like to roll their hips back while climbing.

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A

HonorBy Cate thyClark chain

BASICS

s early as the 3rd century BC, the first use of a chain drive was described by the Greek engineer, Phylon of Byzantium. As part of the polybus, a repeating crossbow, it didn't transmit power continuously, yet it remains the first historical record of such a mechanism and the most complex.

A continuous and endless power transmitting chain was used in China in the 12th century to operate an astronomical clock tower powered by a water wheel that acted as a large gear. But it wasn't until the 16th century that the inclusion of the chain drive appears in the operation of a human-powered vehicle.

From sketches by Leonardo da Vinci, industrial designers and inventors had access to an early depiction of a vehicle where a roller chain transferred power from pedals to a drive wheel. Propelling a twowheeled vehicle forward, this simple mechanism was employed in early bicycle designs during the 19th century. But only when Hans Renold invented the bush roller chain in 1880, was there a great advance on the common pin-and-link chains of the day. A Swiss/British industrialist and inventor (who introduced scientific management to England), Renold is recognized for inventing the foundational design of modern precision roller chains found in bicycles today. Considered the most effective means of transmitting power devised for cycling, the roller chain remains the preferred choice for both utility and performance road cycling.

The exceptional efficiency of the roller chain, rated at 98.4% by the National Physical Laboratory, is primarily due to the reduced friction when the roller piece of the chain engages with and leaves the tooth on a sprocket (toothed-wheel or gear). Consisting of a series of short, cylindrical rollers held together by side links, the inner links (or plates) are pressed over bushings, with the rollers on the outside and the pins of the outer plates on the inside. As reliable and efficient as the roller chain was for utility, fixed wheel, and track racing cycles, it lacked the lateral flexibility needed for the derailleur gearing first developed in France in the 1930's. Used with five or more sprockets, the derailleur chains developed in the 1980's are of the 'bushless' pattern. The inner plate bushings were discarded in favor of inner plates stamped with two short tubular protrusions on their inner faces. Outer plate pins pass through the protrusions while the rollers bear against them. This improved flexibility, shifting, strength and durability.

The roller chain is made up of a system of plates, pins and rollers that work together to provide exceptional efficiency and durability if property maintained.

performance while decreasing weight. This new configuration is designed to cope with the weight differences on the two sides of the bike. One side has to accommodate the drive train, primarily the rings from the chain set, while the other side doesn't.

In contrast to the standard roller chain design, the asymmetric chain has distinctly different inner and outer sides to the plates and must be placed on the drive train going in the one correct direction. The plates on one side of the chain are shaped to better facilitate up-shifting on the cassette or between chainrings, and on the other side, the plates are designed for better down-shifting. It may also include hollow pins and perforations in both inner and outer plates.

Today, most bicycle chains are made from plain carbon or alloy steel, but some are nickel-plated to prevent rust and to increase the lubricity of the metal surface. Whether wet or dry lubrication increases efficiency and how best to lubricate a roller chain is open for debate, but there is agreement on the general rule for a long chain life: Never lubricate a dirty chain, as this pushes particles into the rollers (although cleaner/lubricant combo products are now available to mitigate this). Chains should be cleaned before lubrication and wiped dry after the lubricant has had enough time to penetrate the links. With its historical development and wide application, doesn't this simple, efficient and elegantly designed Recent innovations in the roller chain include piece of machinery deserve to be maintained as if it asymmetrical designs that improve shifting were a piece of fine jewelry? -CC

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Wandering photographer

Westlake Village, CA The Malibu Gran Fondo took place this past March and succeeded in providing a memorable and competitive experience for those in attendance. The event kicked off on a Friday evening and was set at the Four Seasons Westlake Village, a five-star hotel that served as host for the weekend and provider of meals specially crafted for the participants.

Saturdays ride was a 150km course that spun down through Ventura connecting to PCH and continued south where it sped up Latigo Canyon Road (Climb profile in Issue #129) and wound its way back to the Four Seasons. Beyond the accommodations and meals waiting for the riders, the Malibu GranFondo also provided amenities that were on par with the luxury digs.

Event organizers arranged a bike wash and lube provided by WD-40 as riders finished the 150km (93.2) course and were ushered to a private tent where professional massages were in order for all riders. The quick recovery from Saturday’s ride was important as riders started Sunday with a 20 km timetrial that added points to the overall score for the event with awards (and bragging rights) to take away from the weekend.

The weekend comes at a cost measurably higher than other cycling events, but when viewed as a luxury weekend getaway where all cycling needs are considered and riders can focus solely on turning pedals in one of the best places to ride a road bike, the value becomes apparent. Leveraging the amenities of the Four Season, the weekend could also serve as a fantastic couples retreat or group trip for you and your cycling pals. -CR

Malibu GranFondo

Malibu, CA

Complete photo gallery from event at socalbicyclist.com/MGF16 ORGANIZER WEBSITE SEE YOURSELF? LET US KNOW! ridemalibugranfondo.com Pictured cyclists can email us at wp@socalbicyclist.com and receive a FREE one-year subscription to the print edition of Southern California Bicyclist magazine. Well done!

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LEFT PAGE Omar Spina RIGHT PAGE Top Left Joy McCulloch, 1st place woman overall and QOM. Center/Top Right Amenities at the MGF included post-ride bike wash and Mavic SAG along the ride.

Bottom Left Luke Vanlauwe, rocking the Giordana Sahara kit -AND- Lazer Blade helmet we profiled in issue #130. Reader of the year? Bottom Right Scott Johnson, Founder & CEO of Serious Cycling

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PROFILES

Places

Idyllwild, CA Written by Shari Sullivant

The Hub Cyclery in Idyllwild has all the provisions to support your mountain habit.

T

homas Mountain lies near Idyllwild, just west of Highway 74 as you head towards Palm Desert.

The mountain is named for Charles Thomas, a pioneer who founded a ranch in the valley in 1861.

There are different options for this ride. One is to stay on the fire road for a 16-mile loop and the other is a five-mile fire road climb with a technical single track descent on the Ramona Trail; a total of 14 miles.

began at dawn, it had the feel of a mini-vacation. As we started riding up the fire road, the air was crisp and cool, but the climb quickly warmed us up.

Having previously ridden the single-track descent route, we set out on this morning in early March to explore the longer all fire road option. The day began as many days do when heading out of town on a day trip. With coffee and bagels for the drive that

along the way – most of which were vacant.

The views to the west of Anza Valley and the Cahuilla Indian Reservation, and the San Jacinto Mountain range capped in snow to the east, were breathtaking. The season brought us a first glimpse of wildflowers, with Indian paintbrush and others Both routes return to the parking area with a ride beginning to bloom. along Highway 74. With a summit of 6,825 feet and The road is in excellent shape as it consistently a 2,000 foot plus elevation gain on the longer ride, climbs through pines and chaparral. Just as I was this ride is a good aerobic workout with nothing too feeling like the climbing would never end, Tool Box steep and Southern California views that can’t be Springs Campground came into view through a thick beat. Located in the beautiful Garner Valley between forest of Jeffrey pines at about the five-mile mark.

Idyllwild and Palm Desert, there are many riding It was time for a short break. At this point, one option options in the area for an extended visit, including would be to take the Ramona Trail down the hill, which popular Hurkey Creek and The Hub Trails near the is a fun, technical single track that keeps you on your Idyllwild Arts Academy, as well as rides in the Palm toes. On this trip, we opted to continue climbing up Desert area. the fire road several more miles, passing camp sites

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For being called “one of the most popular rides in the area,” this trail was amazingly empty. We encountered a total of two hikers, one equestrian, two motorcyclists, and one truck during our several

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PROFILES

Places hours on the trail. This route would make an excellent introductory bike-packing trip, with many campsites to choose from, and a great fat tire ride in the snow.

Once again, as I was wondering, “when will the climbing end,” we reached the junction that took us on a welcomed downhill on Thomas Mountain Road and back to Highway 74. This long, curvy downhill brought smiles to our faces. Again, the scenery was amazing, with fantastic views to the west and, after turning back towards the east, of Garner Valley and the rugged San Jacintos. For a while we wondered if we were going to end up on the wrong side of the mountain and down in Anza, but the road eventually turned back toward the San Jacintos and headed down to the 74.

After the ride along the highway back to the car, our legs were tired and we were ready for a stop in Idyllwild before heading home – including requisite visits to The Hub Cyclery, a great local bike shop; Mountain Paws, an upscale pet store; and a local eatery for a good meal with a glass of wine. Two favorite restaurants are Gastrognome, with delicious homemade soups and breads, and Fratello’s, for authentic Italian food. Their outdoor seating keeps the mountain views from ending even when the ride is over. With our stomachs full and our bodies tired and dirty, we drove home with memories of yet another Southern California adventure.

Shari Sullivant is an Orange County native living in Tustin. Shari enjoys riding her Santa Cruz Superlight on trails all over the county. Chino Hills, O’Neil Park, and Backstar Canyon are some of her favorite spots to ride.

"Harmony" is one of the many wooden sculptures created by local artist David Roy on display around the mountain town of Idyllwild.

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The climb

THOMAS Mountain

Idyllwild, CA - Documented by Shari Sullivant

Route Summary Start: Turn right off Hwy 74 5.5 miles south of Lake Hemet onto Pyramid Peak Road, turn left on Hop Patch Springs Road and follow it to a small parking area where the pavement turns to dirt.

Route: Follow the fire road for approx 5 miles to Tool Box Springs Campground. For the single track descent, follow a narrow spur to the right of the restrooms downhill to Tool Box Springs and 100 yards further to the beginning of the Ramona Trail (unmarked), which will end at the trailhead parking area off Hwy 74. Follow the highway back to the car (total mileage 14).

For the longer loop, continue on the fire road past Tool Box Springs Campground several more miles until reaching a Y – the left spur takes you up to a view point. Keep to the right and continue all the way back to Hwy 74, staying right at another Y further down the road continuing on Thomas Mountain Road. Follow the highway back to the car (total mileage 16).

Climb finish (Thomas Mountain 6,825 elevation)

Photos and interactive map socalbicyclist.com/THOMASMOUNTAIN

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The climb

Lake Hemet (8.5 miles south of idyllwild)

Campgrounds (Tool Box Springs and Ramona)

Climb start (Hwy 74 & Pyramid Peak Rd)

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Wandering photographer

STRONG BEACH CRIT So-Cal FIXED Series - Long Beach, CA

Complete photo gallery from event at socalbicyclist.com/sbc16

Men Results:

1) Addison Zawada (Red Bull/State Bike) 2) Cesar Valenzuela (Team Zero Miedo) 3) Steven Mergenthaler (Neu York Racing/Monstrow)

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Women Results:

1) Jo Celso (Team Cinelli Chrome) 2) Asia Morris (Engine 11) 3) Sarah Bartlett (Catella Cycling)

socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   

T

he third installment of the So Cal Fixed Crit series took place on Sunday, March 13, and was presented by Throne Cycles and hosted by community leader Hector Morales Jr. The Strong Beach Criterium is a technical, 6-turn course that includes a hairpin turn and a roundabout. Racers must survive 40 minutes of surging breakaways and attacks before race officials announce on the megaphone that there are '5 laps to go.

Hosting this year’s race was a challenge due to an increased police presence. Officers patrolling the area stumbled upon the unsanctioned gathering and stopped the race from starting. After being told to pack up and go home due to the lack of permits, the race was then moved to an alternate course, referred to as Hughes Crit. A huge thank you is extended to Hector (Heck Yeah Crits/Throne Cycles), Jared (FixedGear BeerCrew), and Luis (SoCal Fixed Series), for getting the podium and race set up at a safe location nearby. Almost 100 racers showed up, including 15 women.

The men’s race started first since the women racers were featured as the main event. Steven (Neu York) took the halftime bonus point awarded 25 minutes into the race. This bonus point is critical because it helps the rider move up in the overall standings at the end of the 10-race series.

After this, many teams began to group together in preparation for the final sprint. Following the '5 laps to go' announcement, Ronnie Toth (Leader Bikes) attempted to break while the pack frantically looked around. He began extending a gap until a few riders from State Bike, Engine 11, Fix Fixie, and GLK start closing it. (Continued Next Page)

Ride report by Cody lewis of Fix Fixie @CodyLOVESTOFLEXX

SEE YOURSELF? LET US KNOW!

Pictured cyclists can email us at wp@socalbicyclist.com and receive a FREE one-year subscription to the print edition of Southern California Bicyclist magazine. Well done!

southern california BICYCLIST #131

19

Wandering photographer

(Continued Last Page) In the final 2 laps, one rider went down on the back stretch due to overlapping wheels. This scared the peloton and halted any movement until there was only 1 lap left. Once everyone got the call for bell lap, the pace began to pick up again with the finish only 3 turns away. With 2 turns remaining, Addison Zawada (Red Bull/State Bike) made his move and held off the peloton to take first place. Congrats Addison!

The women's race started soon after the men's. The women stayed together for the first 10-15 minutes, then Jo Celso broke away from the peloton. After Jo took the mid-race bonus point, it seemed probable that she would win.

Pure Fix Racing, Engine 11, Zero Miedo, Fix Fixie, and Catella riders were left to battle it out for the podium. Asia, Evelyn and Elaina from Engine 11 used their power in numbers to string out the field leading into the last few laps. This helped set up Asia as she came out of the final turn with a slight lead over the peloton. She sprinted for second place while Sarah Bartlett hustled herself into third. -CL

ORGANIZER WEBSITE www.facebook.com/SCFIXED

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The next race in the So Cal Fixed Crit Series is scheduled for May 28, 2016, and will be hosted by OC Brakeless. Find more information at the So Cal Fixed Series page: www.facebook.com/SCFIXED

socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   

COMMUNITY

The Red Rider Club

CLUBS

Written by Teresa Todd

Lenny is dependent upon insulin. He monitors his glucose levels throughout the day with mathematical precision. What Lenny discovered, is that by building up his endurance from a modest 30-mile ride to a 100-mile century ride, he was able to minimize – and often eliminate for a single day – his dependency on insulin.

“It became clear that exercise needed to be part of my lifestyle when I made the connection between it and its effect on my insulin needs,” Lenny candidly shared. “What I have found is that riding gives me the ability to determine my limits, not the diabetes.”

Without question, Lenny pushes the limits.

Determined to do more, he got involved in the Association’s Ship to Shore Tour de Cure ride. “The Tour de Cure family invigorated my desire to ride, provided opportunities for healthful exercise, and gave me a better outlook on life,” said Lenny. “Now I ride for a cause – a cause that I believe in.”

Lenny Isaacs is an unwavering advocate for our sport and a front-line ambassador for the American Diabetes Association.

W

hen planning a trip to Las Vegas, many Angelenos labor over whether to drive or fly.

But if you’re Huntington Beach resident and Type 1 diabetic, Lenny Isaacs, you may decide to cycle the 300+ miles. And that only begins to tell the story of this unstoppable rider.

Although not entirely by choice, Lenny is a member of an elite group known as the Red Riders, people diagnosed as diabetic who fundraise for Tour de Cure to help stop diabetes. “When I asked myself what my purpose in life was, family and managing my diabetes wasn’t enough. I wanted to help other diabetics improve their lives, and to be a role model for the individuals suffering from this disease.”

“I strive to be approachable,” said Lenny, who travels the world on business. “I proudly wear my Red Rider jersey or jacket to let others know that, if they want to talk, I am there to listen.”

On May 1, 2016, Lenny will join fellow riders in Long Beach for the annual Ship to Shore Tour de Cure ride.

He and co-captain, Judi Shapiro Thiel, will lead Team Dia-BEAT-THIS in a ride that’s more about having fun with a purpose than speed. “We will all be there to ride for an important cause, and it’s a chance to ride across the great port bridges.”

With absolutely no family history of diabetes, this hi-tech sales enablement trainer with IBM found himself with a life-altering diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at age 29. It would be nearly two decades later, and a coast-to-coast move, before the recreational cyclist And the next time you see a Red Rider jersey, shout raised in Long Island, New York, would marry his love out “GO RED RIDER!” You’ll inspire them to keep on for cycling with his disease, and find his passion. the journey to stop diabetes.

Lenny arrived in SoCal with his family in 2007. As they drove along Pacific Coast Highway, a peloton of riders pulled up alongside. It was on that first day Feeling inspired? With six courses ranging from 5 in the Golden State that Lenny announced, “That’s to 100 miles, all levels of riders are welcome. To join what I want to do.” In the years that followed, Lenny Lenny at Tour de Cure, start your own team, or sign up to ride with Team RED for individuals, visit became an unwavering advocate for the sport and diabetes.org/shiptoshoretourdecure a front-line ambassador for the American Diabetes Association.

So, what’s the connection? As a Type 1 diabetic,

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REGULARS

Electric Age

To the editor From Dr. Jane Franklin

(Ed. We received the following letter and were inspired by Jane’s enthusiasm about her bike. We met with Jane and found her to be an energetic woman, and we're pleased to see that rub off on her husband who has developed a newfound interest in cycling.)

Dear Socal Bicyclist: If you’ve ever heard the saying, “When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple,” well, you can just forget about that right now.

At 62-years-young, I’ve started riding an e-bike and I’m officially in love! That old woman in purple may cause a scene, but she’s got nothing on me and my bike.

This last Christmas my husband surprised me with an electric bike and now, three months later, he wonders how he’ll be able to catch up with me! I’ve been exploring and wandering every day, discovering new trails and fun places to ride—that is, as long as the battery lasts.

At first, I was concerned that I’d go too far and run out of power and have to pedal all the way back home. But then I realized that I can carry the charger along with me… just in case. That eased my mind considerably.

A retired dentist, Jane Franklin ushers at Segerstrom Center for the Arts when she’s not zipping around Irvine on her e-bike.

The bike looks fairly unusual with its fat balloon tires, bright yellow color, and zippy motor. I get plenty of looks as I whiz by people on the street. Other than its weight, riding the bike is effortless. In fact, it’s so easy that after a month the bike became my favorite form of transportation. I happily run errands around my neighborhood, always able to keep pace with my music...even uphill!

tried mine, he wanted one, too! So, we’ve ordered another e-bike. The new one will be mine since the new ones are smaller and lighter.

One thing I’ve noticed is that regular bike riders on the road don’t always seem very welcoming to my amazing e-bike. Maybe they think I’m hogging the bike path or that I should be on the road. Often they just stare. But I’m certain that the more they see me on my big, yellow bike as well as others on e-bikes, they’ll come around. I certainly won’t stop waving at them and, if someone wants to ride with me, they better be pretty speedy on their regular bike. I am tough to keep up with now!

The trickiest thing about my new “crush” is that she’s heavy and can be difficult to maneuver.

Because of the effort needed to manage this largersized bike, I’ve needed to make some adjustments to my carefree riding. How I stop, take bumps and Thanks to SoCal Bicyclist for the opportunity to corners, and hit dirt, can all be tricky maneuvers. share my experiences in SoCal’s bicycling community.

But, over time, I’ve gained more confidence and will soon be able to maneuver effortlessly.

My husband had never liked bicycling, but once he Dr. Jane Franklin

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REGULARS

A Sea Otter Preview

M

Electric Age

Questions and Expectations

y annual Spring pilgrimage to the Sea Otter Classic, taking place this year April 14-17, begins with a drive up the California coast towards Montana de Oro (Mountain of Gold) State Park in Los Osos. The terrain provides marvelous MTB explorations with a challenging technical single track that rewards riders with views of a full spectrum of vividly distinctive wildflowers. Spectacular scenery surrounds ocean vistas as waves crash below. After a stop to ride Montana de Oro, I detour to the charming sights and delightful comestibles at the Farmer's Market near San Luis Obispo, where the downtown area is closed every Thursday evening for the market.

• Are component manufacturers designing more robust parts so they will withstand the extra power generated by e-bikes?

• How are Abus and Kryptonite modifying their locks to make them more immune to hand-held angle grinders that can defeat any lock currently available?

• A review of the e-MTB tours that Eco Bike Adventures, the first e-bike tour company, has available.

• On Friday afternoon, the first-ever electric mountain bike race will take place at Sea Otter.

This e-MTB race will serve as a supreme test of stamina and strategy as the competitors attempt to gingerly nurse My anticipation of the Sea Otter Classic had been their batteries in order to provide maximum assistance building ever since I heard the announcement that an during the hour-long event. As usual, other bikes and electric mountain bike race would be added to the Iist equipment will be available for examination, and I will of events. I was looking forward to being immersed in take the opportunity to augment my logo-adorned new e-products and learning about the rapidly evolving tee-shirt and sock collection in order to remain welltechnology. My time will be filled with taking test rides and dressed throughout the rest of the year. speaking with representatives to ascertain the differences Finally, I'll take a couple of days to ride the excellent between their new products. The questions and topics I’m trails in Santa Cruz and traipse along West Cliff Drive to looking to explore are: watch the surfers below before it's time to drive home.

• Which e-bikes are the major manufacturers planning to The return trip will include a ride in the hills above Santa introduce?

Barbara, the punctuating point on a week that will be well • When will Bosch release the next version of their spent. -BB excellent mid-drive system?

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#1 31

2016 TOUR DE MURRIETA Murrieta, California

PROVISIONS

REDUX

S

SRAM GX 1X Groupset

A Look-Back At The Game-Changing Group

RAM revolutionized MTB shifting several years ago with a 1 x 11 group that provided excellent gearing range while obviating the necessity of a front derailleur. Initially, this system was quite expensive with the cost of rear derailleur, shifter, chain, crankset and cassette totaling about $1500. Trickle down technology has provided the GX 1 X 11, 2 X 11 and 2 X 10 groups for about a third the cost of the initial offering. SCB evaluated a 1 X 10 GX group which was standard equipment on the State Pulsar reviewed on the next page. State produced the 1 X 10 system by replacing the double crankset of the 2 X 10 with a single one. The result provides the simplicity of rear derailleur only shifting while reducing the gearing range slightly.

The GX group was tested in environments ranging from fairly steep mountain trails to more mild fire roads. The gearing provided sufficient range for most ascents, but didn't have a "stump pulling" combination. SRAM designs their groups with components that mesh well together and the GX followed this formula. The horizontal parallelogram design rear derailleur, which reduces shift force and chain slap, allowed instant, precise shifting either up or

down. The X-sync chain retention technology worked perfectly and we didn't have a single instance of the chain separating from the chain ring even when going off drops or descending very rough terrain.

Another nice feature is the GX parts are cross compatible with those from other SRAM groups allowing a plethora of options. The GX group is a welcome addition to mountain biking. -BB

The SRAM GX can be found on the State Deluxe Pulsar MTB, reviewed on the next page.

• 100% All Natural Ingredients

• Scientifically Proven to Stop Muscle Cramps™ • 10X Electrolytes as Sports Drinks

• Sugar Free, GMO Free, Caffeine Free, Gluten Free

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socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   

PROVISIONS

STATE BICYCLE CO. Deluxe Pulsar 29er State Bicycle Company is a direct-to-consumer supplier that has focused primarily on urban transportation. A few months ago they added two steel 29-inch mountain bikes to their stable. The 1 X 10 Pulsar is a derivative of these bikes.

to gnarly singletrack. The combination of 29-inch wheels, steel frame, fairly wide tires and excellent saddle provided a compliant, predictable ride over all terrain from smooth roads to heavily eroded trails.

The BB7's had excellent stopping power and the GX The Pulsar is equipped with a composite parts drivetrain snicked from gear to gear with aplomb. list of relatively inexpensive, yet highly functional It was obvious from the handling characteristics components. These include the SRAM GX group re- that State had studied frame geometry thoroughviewed elsewhere in this issue, Rock Shox XC 30 fork, ly. The biggest surprises were the Vigilante tires Avid BB7 brakes with 180 mm rotors, WTB wheelset, which had minimal rolling resistance on the road but Vigilante tires and Rocket seat. Notably, the frame hooked up well in the dirt and the front fork which afhas an eccentric bottom bracket which provides for forded a scrumptious magic carpet conveyance over single speed conversion and braze ons to add a impediments in the trail. SCB is impressed with the front derailleur. Pulsar. -BB (available at statebicycle.com MSRP $1,349) Several riders of varying ability evaluated the Pulsar in environments ranging from mild fire road

(continued on pg. 28)

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(continued from pg. 27)

The Deluxe Pulsar includes a variety of braze-ons for a wide-variety of setups including adding a front derailluer or running the bike as a single-speed adventure machine.

The key to the variability is the eccentric bottom bracket allowing for both geared and single-speed setups without any auxiliary chain tensioning device needed.

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socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   

The frame is well thought-out and designed for whatever trail you can throw at it.

The bike we received was setup with a hybrid SRAM GX set-up providing a front-deraillur free experience.

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(continued from pg. 29)

Bomb-Proof

The 4130 steel provides a rigid lightweight frame that ensures the only limit to your adventure is you.

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socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   

Where will it take you?

An excellent trail companion for Southern California and beyond.

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REGULARS

The Route

Route start (Ventura Pier)

Naval Base Ventura County

Basics This is the second article in our pier-to-pier series. Our goal is to collect profiles of routes along the Southern California coast as a resource that will help riders and bicycle tourists safely navigate the coastline. This particular segment takes you from the Ventura pier south to the Santa Monica pier. The route makes only a few turns through Ventura and Oxnard, and continues primarily along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu towards Santa Monica. This is a flat, point-to-point route 58 miles in length and features many iconic views of the Southern California coastline.

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REGULARS

Pier to pier - part 2

The Route

Ventura to Santa Monica: Documented by Justin Macias

Specifics Starting from the Ventura Pier, make your way south along the bike path that parallels Harbor Blvd. The path will continue along San Buenaventura State beach for about a mile until it pops you into a neighborhood on Pierpont Blvd. Rejoin Harbor Blvd by turning onto Peninsula St. By turning on Peninsula St., rather than Seaward Ave., you’ll bypass the busy car traffic from the 101 Hwy on-ramp and Marina Village Shopping Center.

Continue south on Harbor about seven miles until Harbor turns into Channel Islands Blvd. This road will take you along the border of Port Hueneme which is home to a US Naval Base. Ride past Ventura Road and turn right on J Street.

Continue for two miles and then turn left on Hueneme Rd. Ride four miles and you will have ventured inland, well away from the California coastal vistas. This is due to the presence of the Naval port and Naval Air Base along the coastline. Be assured that the roads will soon return you to the sea. Turn right onto Naval Air Rd., and ride for three miles until it ends at Las Posas Rd. At this point you can continue south on Highway 1 for the remaining 41 miles and on into Santa Monica.

Almost immediately after joining PCH, the roads start to open up and become more scenic. Along this section of road, you’ll pass Malibu Lagoon State Beach and Zuma Beach, both known for their influence on SoCal’s surfing culture. For anyone interested a detour to experience some elevation changes, several climbs to check out are: Mulholland Hwy, Encinal Canyon, Latigo Canyon, and Topanga Canyon. Be careful on these roads, as they can be tight and winding. -JM

Photos and interactive map

Route finish

socalbicyclist.com/piertopier2

(Santa Monica Pier)

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PROFILES

Unlikely Cyclist

Bike Shop

Costa Mesa, CA

The Unlikely Cyclist caters to the women of our sport with a wide variety of sizes and brands unavailable elsewhere in SoCal.

B

efore the Unlikely Cyclist became a popular SoCal bike shop in Newport Beach, and a goto resource for beginners to advanced female cyclists, it was the title of Lisa Kanno’s cycling blog which she started after buying her first road bike in 2011. In her first post, she wrote, “ I am not a “typical athlete, and have had many physical challenges along the way, but I ADORE cycling.” Nearly a year after her buying her first road bike, she decided to take the plunge and invest her future in her passion for cycling - she would open a bike shop that catered to women bicyclists in Southern California.

A full service shop with Linus, Bianchi and PUBLIC bikes available in a wide variety of sizes and geometry.

The Unlikely Cyclist maintains an inventory of bicycling apparel in a variety of sizes ranging from S-3X, and of bicycle types that include Bianchi Sport bikes and PUBLIC city bikes (they’re the only shop in Southern California that stocks that brand).

Lisa hosts weekly club rides with a strict “no-drop” policy and bike clinics of interest to all riders. She also offers her bike mechanic’s services as well as Locally-owned, independently run, for women, by women. frequent instructional clinics so that women are able to fix their own bicycles. Employees and customers The doors of The Unlikely Cyclist officially opened alike seem as close as family and Lisa welcomes October 12, 2012. Since then, Lisa has continued to women of all riding abilities and interests. -KO create a shop that is the go-to place for women cyclists. The Unlikely Cyclist is decorated with vintage posters and cycling jerseys, giving it a real SoCal Unlikely Cyclist vintage vibe. Lisa also sells shop tees and stickers 1661 Superior Av that display her sense of humor. She was inspired to create the shop mascot of a cat riding a bicycle when Costa Mesa, CA 92627 she heard someone say that the challenge of getting theunlikelycyclist.com women in a group to do something is like trying meetup.com/Orange-County-Women-on-Wheels to “herd cats.”

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Wandering photographer

The Strada Rossa is a newer addition to the Southern California bicycling event roster. Over the past 3 years, the Inland Empire Biking Alliance has promoted this annual club event to become a sell-out ride that draws the toughest bicyclists around. It was sunny with clear skies and a light breeze as we rode through the Redlands foothills - this is not your grandfather’s fondo. All surface and all-terrain, the Strada Rossa continually switches between fire roads, single track, and long stretches of pavement. This year offered riders grueling century and metric century routes, climbing local peaks, exploring suburbs, and traversing highways. All routes featured a water crossing early in the day that forced riders to dismount and hop their bike over rocks - some sloshed through, unfazed by soaked cleats. The Strada Rossa guarantees to bring out the toughest in anyone. -VP

Complete photo gallery from event at socalbicyclist.com/rSRIII

ORGANIZER WEBSITE www.iebikingalliance.org

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socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   

REDLANDS STRADA ROSSA III Redlands, CA

SEE YOURSELF? LET US KNOW!

Pictured cyclists can email us at wp@socalbicyclist.com and receive a FREE one-year subscription to the print edition of Southern California Bicyclist magazine. Well done!

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EVENTS

Highlights

O

What on the Event Horizon?

n April 8-10, celebrate the spirit of Italian cycling in Paso Robles with a vintage bike ride and Italian festival at Eroica California.

Support the fight against breast cancer on your road bike at The Boob Ride Orange County & San Diego on April 16. Watch the firstever electric mountain bike race at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey April 14-17.

Enjoy a traditional Belgian waffle and quality beer after you conquer dirt and gravel at the Belgian Waffle Ride on April 24 at Lost Abbey Brewing. Smell the salty air and ocean breeze as you leave the Queen Mary at the start of the Tour de Cure Ship to Shore on May 1. Get your fixed gear hustle on at the Shortline Crit in Long Beach on May 7, hosted by Wolfpack Hustle. Get as much MTB air as you can at the weekly

38

Upcoming Events Quick ‘n Dirty Summer Series in San Diego beginning on May 26. If you’re in Orange County area check out Over the Hump MTB Summer Series at Irvine Lake beginning May 10th.

There will be a lot to look forward to for summer, start it off by cheering on the pros at the Amgen Tour of California Men and Women’s races May 15-22. Enjoy some evening, brakeless racing on May 28th for the fourth race in the SoCal Fixed Series, the OCB Crit.

Take the AIDS Life Cycle 7-day bike ride challenge in the fight against HIV/AIDS, starting in San Francisco and ending in San Diego.

For those of you brave enough to take on a double century, The Tour

of Two Forests on June 11th will be a remote and majestic route worthy of discovery. Enjoy the post-ride festivities at Griffith Park after the 16th annual Los Angeles River Ride on June 12th.

Full schedule and event details at socalbicyclist.com/events

socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   

EVENTS

2016

April 1-3 Multi

San Dimas Stage Race ROAD: 3 stage time trial Glendora Mountain Road (GMR)

2 Saturday

Panoche Desert Hills Firebaugh California Gravel Gauntlet GX: 75 miles / 350’ Firebaugh, CA

Ride the Freeway California Classic Weekend ROAD: 100, 60, 35 miles Chukchansi Stadium, 93721

US Cup - Fontana Natl. XC #2 USA Cycling MTB: XC **UCI HC** Southridge Park, 92337

2016 Honor Ride Bear Claw Ride to Recovery ROAD: 100, 50, 21 miles Simi Valley Town Center, 93065

Fontana

Fresno

Simi Valley

6-10 Multi

Redlands Bicycle Classic “Where Legends Are Born!”

ROAD: Stage Races Redlands, CA

Mulholland Double Planet Ultra ROAD: 200 miles Sheraton Hotel

8-10 Multi

9 Saturday

Redlands

Eroica California Paso Robles Vintage Steel in Central Coast ROAD: Vintage Bicycles Paso Robles Downtown Park US Cup Bonelli XC #3 San Dimas USA Cycling MTB: XC **UCI HC** Bonelli Park, 93463

Mulholland Challenge Planet Ultra ROAD: 106 miles / 12,700’ Agoura Hills Hotel

Augora Hills

Augora Hills

Fontana

LAVRA Monday Night Sprints Carson Los Angeles Velodrome Racing Association TRACK: 250 meters VELO Sports Center, 90746

Rosena Ranch Circuit Race #2 San Bernardino SoCal Cup - Majestic Cycling ROAD: 2 mile course Rosena Ranch, 92407

Campagnolo GranFondo Koz Events ROAD: 105, 56, 34, 20 miles Little Italy, 92101

3 Sunday

Kenda Cup West - XC #3 Kenda Cup MTB: XC Southridge Park, 92337

7 Thursday

Belgian Waffle Ride Movie Night 2015 BWR Film, 2016 RAAM Short, Thereabouts II La Paloma Theatre, 92024

4 Monday

Glendora

April

CALENDAR

Encinitas

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

SIGNS & SYMBOLS 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 BICYCLISM arts, entertainment and BIKES! MAGAZINE SUPPORTERS growing the community

10 Sunday

Tour de Cure San Diego American Diabetes Association ROAD: 100, 62, 29, 15, 1 miles Del Mar Fairgrounds

Kenda Cup West - XC #4 Kenda Cup MTB: XC Bonelli Park, 93463

Finish the Ride Griffith Park Ride, Run, Walk, n’ Roll ROAD: 50, 34, 20, 6 miles The Autry Museum, 90027

Del Mar

San Dimas

San Diego

Los Angeles

IS YOUR EVENT NOT LISTED ?

Event listings are FREE!

Visit SOCALBICYCLIST.COM/EVENTS to submit your event.

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EVENTS

2016

CALENDAR

APRIL

Alpine Challenge Kiwanis Club of Alpine ROAD: 25, 51, 63, 99 miles Summers Past Farms

Finish the Ride Santa Clarita Ride, Run, Walk, n’ Roll ROAD: 57, 25 miles Heritage Park, 91355

The Boob Ride Orange County ROAD: 90, 70, 60, 30 miles Irvine Amtrak Station, 92618

Irvine

The Boob Ride San Diego ROAD: 90, 60, 30 miles Solana Beach, 92075

San Diego

Super Sweetwater Occidental Grasshopper Adventure Series ROAD: 70 miles / 9000’ Occidental Community Center, 92026

LA Circuit Race Back on Track Productions ROAD: TBA Los Angeles Int’l Airport (LAX)

30-1 Multi

17 Sunday

San Luis Rey Road Race SoCal Cup - Celo Pacific ROAD: 14.7 mile circuit Sullivan Middle School, 92003

Bonsall

Los Angeles

18 Monday

23 Saturday

US Cup @ Sea Otter XC #4 Monterey USA Cycling MTB: XC **UCI HC** Sea Otter Classic SuperPro Spring Classic Santa Clara County California Gravel Gauntlet GX: 116 miles Gilroy/Hollister

Wildflower Century San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club ROAD: 100, 70, 50 miles Creston, 93432

Zion Gran Fondo Planet Ultra ROAD: 77 miles Springdale Town Park

24 Sunday

CERVÉLO BELGIAN WAFFLE RIDE PRESENTED BY SPY GX: 146, 66 miles Lost Abbey Brewery , 92069

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Old Town Temecula Grand Prix Cast a Shadow ROAD: 1.4 mile course Temecula, 92590

L’Etape California Amgen Tour of California ROAD: 105 miles / 8400’ Thousand Oaks, CA

50 Mile Ride for Rwanda RSM Sho-Air MTB: 50, 25, 10 miles Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688

Women’s Gran Fondo California Girl Series ROAD: 70, 50, 30 miles Belkorp Agriculture

El Cajon

Calistoga

Santa Clarita

Dana Point Grand Prix Back on Track Productions ROAD: 6-turn course Dana Point, CA

Dana Point

Follow us on Facebook /Socalbicyclist

Creston

Aliso & Wood Canyon XC Trabuco Canyon Non Dot Adventures MTB: 9.5, 5.25, 4.5 mile loops Laguna Niguel Regional Park

Springdale, UT

APRIL

Catalina Island Gran Fondo Avalon Sho-Air MTB: Catalina Island, CA

Sea Otter Classic Largest bike festival in USA MTB:ROAD:CX:GX Sea Otter Classic

16 Saturday

Monterey

30 Saturday

14-17 Multi

Temecula

San Marcos

Thousand Oaks

socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   

EVENTS

2016 MAY

1 Saturday

Tour de Cure – Ship to Shore Long Beach American Diabetes Association ROAD: 100, 61, 32, 11, 8 miles Queen Mary, 90802

2 Monday

LAVRA Monday Night Sprints Carson Los Angeles Velodrome Racing Association TRACK: 250 meters VELO Sports Center, 90746

7 Saturday

10 Tuesday

14 Saturday

15-22 Multi

17 Tuesday

Downey Ride & Stride Metro OPEN STREETS Downey, 90241

SoCal RAAM Challenge Race Across America ROAD: 400 and 200 miles Mance Buchanon Park, 92057 Breathless Agony Kahler Cycling Academy ROAD: 114 miles / 12000’ Sylvan Park, 92374

The Short Line Crit Wolfpack Hustle ROAD: TBA Long Beach

Big Ring Century 2016 Team Faith Quest ROAD: 100, 62, 31 miles Crossline Comm. Church, 92653 Barrio Logan Grand Prix San Diego Bicycle Club ROAD: 0.8 mile course Barrio Logan, 92113 Rosarito Ensenada Since 1979 ROAD: 50 miles Rosarito, MX

Over the Hump Season Opener Over the Hump MTB: 4+ mile course Irvine Lake, 92676

Downey

Oceanside

CALENDAR

MAY

21 Saturday

Tour de OC ROAD: 100, 55, 25 miles Newport Mesa Church, 92627

Heartbreak Double Century Planet Ultra ROAD: 211 miles / 14000’ Holiday Inn, 93551

Palmdale

San Diego Century ROAD: 105, 67, 33 miles MiraCosta College, 92007

Encinitas

22 Sunday

City of Angels Run Presented by Volkswagen ROAD: 62, 33 miles UCLA Campus, 90095

Los Angeles

Ontario Grand Prix Pacific Sunset Velo ROAD: 62, 33 miles Ontario, 91761

Redlands

Long Beach

Laguna Hills

San Diego

24 Tuesday

Heartbreak Hundred Planet Ultra ROAD: 100 miles / 8500’ Holiday Inn, 93243

Costa Mesa

Lebec

Ontario

Over the Hump Week 3 Silverado Over the Hump MTB: 4+ mile course Irvine Lake, 92676

Rosarito

Silverado

Rosena Ranch Circuit Race #3 San Bernardino Majestic Cycling ROAD: 2 mile course Rosena Ranch, 92407

Tour of Long Beach Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Foundation ROAD: 100, 62, 30, miles Long Beach Arena, 90802 Central Coast Double Century BMS Cycling ROAD: 211 miles / 14000’ La Quinta Inn & Suites, 93446

Paso Robles

Amgen Tour of California San Diego to Amgen, Breakaway from Cancer Sacramento ROAD: 8-stage pro Mission Bay, 92109

Over the Hump Week 2 Silverado Over the Hump MTB: 4+ mile course Irvine Lake, 92676

SIGNS & SYMBOLS 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 BICYCLISM arts, entertainment and BIKES! MAGAZINE SUPPORTERS growing the community

southern california BICYCLIST #131

41

EVENTS

CALENDAR 26 Thursday

28 Saturday

29 Sunday

31 Tuesday

May

2016

Quick N Dirty Summer Series #1 Escondido 2 Thursday Quick N Dirty MTB: TBA

Lake Hodges, 92033

OCB Crit Irvine 5-11 Multi So-Cal FIXED Series

ROAD: Fixed gear

Irvine, 92614

Skaggs Hopper Geyserville 5 Sunday Grasshopper Adventure Series

ROAD: 90 miles / 10000’

Lake Sonoma, 95441

Sequoia Cycling Classic Circuit Race Fresno 6 Monday Budweiser Sequoia Cycling Classic

ROAD: TBA

TBA

Sequoia Cycling Classic Hill Climb TT Fresno 7 Tuesday Budweiser Sequoia Cycling Classic

ROAD: TBA

TBA

Barry Wolfe Grand Prix Thousand Oaks 9 Thursday Serious Cycling

ROAD: 1.1 mile course

Thousand Oaks, 91361

Sequoia Cycling Classic Criterium Visalia 11 Saturday Budweiser Sequoia Cycling Classic

ROAD: TBA

TBA

Over the Hump Family Night Silverado Over the Hump MTB: 4+ mile course

Irvine Lake, 92676

12 Sunday

SIGNS & SYMBOLS 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 BICYCLISM arts, entertainment and BIKES! MAGAZINE SUPPORTERS growing the community 42

June Quick N Dirty Summer Series #2 Escondido Quick N Dirty MTB: TBA Lake Hodges, 92033 AIDS LifeCycle SF to LA Grasshopper Adventure Series ROAD: 7 days supported Cow Palace, 94014

America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride Lake Tahoe Bike the West ROAD: 100 , 72 miles Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 89449 LAVRA Monday Night Sprints Carson Los Angeles Velodrome Racing Association TRACK: 250 meters VELO Sports Center, 90746

Over the Hump Family Night Silverado Over the Hump MTB: 4+ mile course Irvine Lake, 92676

Quick N Dirty Summer Series #3 Escondido Quick N Dirty MTB: TBA Lake Hodges, 92033 Tour of Two Forests Double Santa Clarita Planet Ultra ROAD: 198 miles / 13220’ Hampton Inn, 91381 Shevock’s Sierra Surprise Foresthill California Gravel Gauntlet GX: TBA Foresthill, 95631 Los Angeles River Ride LA County Bicycle Coalition ROAD: 198 miles / 13220’ Autry National Center, 90027 Salsa Ride at the Border

Los Angeles

San Diego

Foundation for the Children of the Californias

ROAD: 62, 50 miles San Ysidro, 92173

14 Tuesday

Over the Hump End of 1st Half Silverado Over the Hump MTB: 4+ mile course Irvine Lake, 92676

16 Thursday

23 Thursday

25 Saturday

Quick N Dirty Summer Series #4 Escondido Quick N Dirty MTB: TBA Lake Hodges, 92033 Quick N Dirty Summer Series #5 Escondido Quick N Dirty MTB: TBA Lake Hodges, 92033 King Ridge Dirt Supreme Occidental Grasshopper Adventure Series ROAD: 83 miles / 8900’ Occidental, 95465

14-18 Multi

Race Across the West Oceanside to Durango, CO ROAD: 860 miles Oceanside Pier, 92054

Oceanside

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Marketplace

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State Bicycle Tempe, AZ

statebicycle.com

ISM

ismseat.com

ALÉ

alebikewear.com

Lutz, FL

Verona, Italy

southern california BICYCLIST #131

43

CLUBS

Directory

Southern California Clubs

Club not listed? socalbicyclist.com/clubs

Orange County All-Mountain Trail Riders

meetup.com/allmountaintrailriders

3F Bicycling Club 3fbc.com

Off-Road Off-Road

Beach Cities Women Cyclists bcwcyclists.wix.com/bcwc

Road

Beach Area Recumbent Riders Road bikeroute.com/RecumbentRides.htm Bicycle Club of Irvine bikeirvine.org

Road

Canyon Velo

canyonvelo.org

Mixed

Ciclistas Capistrano Bicycle Club ciclistascapistrano.com

Road

Cycles Veloce cyclesveloce.com

Road

OCrider.com ocrider.com

Mixed

OC Women on Wheels socalbicyclist.com/ocwow

Road

Orange Coast ocvelo.com

Road

Orange County Wheelmen ocw.org

Mixed Off-Road

Supercolony supercolony.cc

Road

Team Velo Sport

teamvelosport.com

Girlz Gone Riding girlzgoneriding.com

Mixed

Road

San Diego Bicycle Club sdbc.org

Major Motion Cycling Club majormotioncycling.com

Road

San Diego Bicycle Touring Society Road efgh.com/sdbts

Marina del Rey Cycle Club mdrcc.org

Road

San Diego Cyclo-Vets cyclo-vets.org

Road

San Diego Wheelmen sandiegowheelmen.com

Road

Swami’s Cycle Club swamis.org

Road

Over the Bars otbmbc.com

Off-Road

Palos Verdes Bicycle Club pvbikeclub.net

Mixed

Pasadena Mountain Bike Club Off-Road pmbc.org

Team Unlikely Cyclist

Road

meetup.com/Orange-County-Women-on-Wheels

Road

SCOR bikescor.com

South Bay Wheelman sbwheelmen.org

Road

Velo Allegro Cycling Club veloallegro.org Velo Club La Grange lagrange.org

Mixed

Mixed Mixed Road

Blind Stokers Club blindstokersclub.org

Road

Celo Pacific

celopacific.org Girlz Gone Riding girlzgoneriding.com

Beach Cities Cycling Club bccclub.org

Mountain Bike Assistance Unit cuyamacasp.org

Off-Road

Road

Los Angeles

Road

Road

Bike Buddies bikebuddies.org

Major Taylor Cycling Club mtccsd.org

CORBA

corbamtb.com

Road

Pasadena Athletic Association paacycling.net

TRU Cycling

trucycling.org

Mixed

Mixed

Los Angeles Wheelmen lawheelmen.org

San Diego

VeloViet veloviet.com

Road Ride with Javi ridewithjavi.com

Off-Road

Road

Ranchos Cycling Club ranchoscycling.org

Lightning Velo

lightningvelo.org

Trail Angels trailangels.com

Veloce Santiago velocesantiago.com

Mixed

Road

Off-Road

Off-Road

Ramona Fun Riders ramonafunriders.com

Grand Masters Cycling grandmasterscycling.org

West L.A. Cycling Club wlacyclingclub.com

The Warrior’s Society warriorssociety.org

Mixed

Santa Clarita Velo

Mixed santaclaritavelo.org

Rock n’ Road Divas

rocknroadcyclery.net SHARE

sharemtb.com

Different Spokes (LGBT) differentspokes.com

San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club Road Road sfvbc.org

Orange County Rebel Riders ocrebels.com

Mixed Off-Road Road O ff-Road

North Coast Velo northcoastvelo.com

Road Road

Covina Cycle Club meetup.com/Covina-Cycle-Club

Road

North County Cruisers northcountycruisers.org

Cyclone Coaster cyclonecoaster.com

Road

North County Cycle Club northcountycycleclub.com

44

Racing Opportunity Advocacy

Mixed

Recyclers sdrecyclers.org

Road Road

Team Green (Vegan) officialteamgreen.com

Road

Mixed

Valle Verde Velo vvvelo.com

Road

Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside Big Bear Cycling Association bigbearcycling.com

Mixed

Butts on Bikes Inland Empire bobie.org

Road

Channel Islands Bicycle Club cibike.org

Road

Conejo Valley Cyclists cvcbike.org

Mixed

Cycling Connection cyclingconnection.org

Road

Desert Bicycle Club cycleclub.com

Road

Girlz Gone Riding girlzgoneriding.com

Off-Road

North Ranch Mountain Bikers Off-Road nrmbc.org Project HERO Ventura socalbicyclist.com/projecthero

Road

Redlands Water Bottle Transit Co. Road rwbtc.org Ride Yourself Fit rideyourselffit.org Riverside Bicycle Club riversidebicycleclub.com

Road Mixed

San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club slobc.org

Road

Tailwinds Bicycle Club tailwindsofsantamariabc.org

Road

Temecula Velo temeculavelo.com

Mixed

socalbicyclist.com @socalbicyclist   

REGULARS

Intermission

CROSSWORD

Crossword Will Be Back Next Month

WINNER

FROM ISSUE 129

Weight Training for Cycling The winner of the crossword from #129“Weight Training for Cycling” is Michael Croxton of Santa Barbara. For Michael’s efforts, he has received a Two Wheel Gear 2.0 Classic Pannier bag.

The answers to this crossword can be found at socalbicyclist. com/crossword.

Thank you to those that participated. And an extra thank you to 2 Wheel Gear for supplying the bag!

Bob Masuzumi (right) of Costa Mesa accepting the Silca bike pump he won for the submission of his crossword in issue #128.

SCB.FM WEEKLY EPISODES WITH THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF

Search “SCB.FM” in the Apple iTunes store Or visit www.scb.fm

REGULARS

Last page

Nick RoumOnAda

Giving Back To Those That Gave

N

ick Roumonada, a dynamic 30-year-old triathlete, began working with the Challenged Athlete Foundation (CAF) when he was given a prosthetic running leg through their grants program. After learning about CAF’s rich history in supporting disabled athletes, Nick was motivated to participate in triathlons. His dedication to CAF comes from a place of personal experience. “As a kid growing up with a disability, I accepted the fact that I just wouldn’t be able to do certain things that were athletic.” He adds, “CAF provides tools (adaptive sporting equipment) that gives me the opportunity to help make sure that no kid has to wait as long as I did to find out what their potential might be.”

Dedicated and inspiring, Nick is also an amiable guy with an ease about him that suggests he doesn’t take life too seriously. Responding to a question about what he would eat before a big race, he spoke openly, “I get a hard time from friends about my nutrition. I enjoy food, good beer and good wine.

When I first started running, I was living in NYC. My standard pre-race meal was enjoyed at the Chinese place around the corner from my apartment in Spanish Harlem. I would get the house special, chow mein. I was really into getting all the sodium I could because there’s one thing I always do, and it’s sweat!” Now that Nick lives in Seattle, he sticks to sushi and chicken pasta before a race. One of his favorite races is the Wildflower Triathlon held at Lake San Antonio in northern San Luis Obispo County. “I’ve done the long course (70.3 mi) three times now and “As a kid growing up with a disability, I accepted the fact that I just wouldn’t every year it’s different.” The event is be able to do certain things that were athletic.” He adds, “CAF provides tools considered the “Woodstock of Triath(adaptive sporting equipment) that gives me the opportunity to help make lons” and is nearing its 40th year. Nick sure that no kid has to wait as long as I did to find out what their potential considers competitors at Wildflower might be.” “some of the best athletes in the sport, both pro and amateur.” Nick also plans love, he is fond of being able to travel to attend the 2016 Ironman in Kona or just “get away” on the bike. “Cycling Available in Print May 2016 The training for a triathlon includes suits me well,” he says. Nick recently hours and miles of riding, running signed with Giant Co. Factory Racing and swimming, and Nick loves all of Team, so it looks like now he will be BIKE TO WORK it. When asked what he likes about spending even more time on the bike.

5 bikes - 5 people - 5 jobs You can catch Nick on his Giant bike the cycling aspect of training, he said, “I think it’s all about the challenge. when he participates in CAF’s 625-mile SUMMER PREVIEW Pushing myself harder, to go faster fundraiser ride down the coast for the MTB/ROAD/RECREATION/FOOD&DRINK and farther. [The bike] allows me to Million Dollar Challenge October 15-21 (last year they raised $1.7 milDon’t Miss A Single Issue just clip in and go, without even having a plan.” This year, he’s been getting lion) and the San Diego Challenge on Print subscriptions available more involved in the cycling side of the October 23 in La Jolla. -KO

Next issue

sport. Though running was Nick’s first

46

#132

at scbmag.com

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