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THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2014
FEATURES
Herrera takes life by the handlebars C a s s a n d ra C h e n Going at his fastest speed of 37 miles per hour, senior Raymond Herrera speeds down the road from Griffith Observatory on his bicycle. Ever since he received his first bike at age four, he became interested in biking. Biking has managed to become a very important part of Herrera’s life. Herrera started riding bikes when he was young. His father had joined the Pasedena Mountain Bike Club when he was born, and since then, his father has encouraged him to start riding bikes. Herrera currently owns a Raleigh Revenio Bicycle, a Trek T1 Track Bike, and a GT
29er” Mountain Bike. “[What I like about biking is] either you’re pushing yourself or you’re going for a ride,” Herrera said. When he was nine years old, Herrera took part in his first race, the Bonelli Cross Country Race. Herrera has also participated in multiple underground races, Alleycat Races, and the Wolfpack Hustle Crash Race. He continues to attend races today. Biking has impacted Herrera’s life drastically. He said that biking has “opened up a lot of opportunities” for him. “I think biking really made me who I am,” Herrera said. “I gained lots of new friendships and got to travel and go on ad-
ventures. If I didn’t bike, I’d just be a regular high school student.” In the future, Herrera aspires for a career involving research and development for bikes.
Photos by Sydney Trieu
CicLAvia explores heart of Los Angeles C h ri s t y De n g
rollerblades, skateboards or anything with wheels can ride along it as well. “I come to CicLAvia for fun,” junior and Thousands of cyclists gathered in the Los Angeles area on Oct. 5 to attend cyclist Alex Liang said. “I’ve been here last CicLAvia, an event with a 10 mile bike year and it was pretty fun. I would do it Gutierrez to prepare physically, emotionC arolina Loaisiga route that stretched out from Echo Park every year, just because I have no reaally, and mentally for the three day trip. to East Los Angeles. It originated 30 years son not to.” “I would have to wake up early in the Cars zooming past at 45 Liang enjoys riding his bicycle, ago as a response to traffic on the roads morning for several months to prepare miles per hour, honking sounds in Bogotá, Colombia with the name Ciclo- especially with his team from the my mind to know the hours I would be coming left and right, and traffic vías. The purpose was to provide a way to AHMC Rehab Riders who also up biking. My husband and I would ride lights flashing red to green, to green relieve stress from the regular road con- came with him to CicLAvia. around the Rose Bowl to get mileage. Afto red back again. That is what AssisCicLAvia also includes gestion and promote healthy living. ter a month, we started adding the bags tant Principal Jeannie Gutierrez expeThis is the event’s 40th anniversary various activities other than that would be attached to the bike,” Gutirienced for three days when she biked and the tenth time it was held in Los An- riding at different parts of errez said. from San Gabriel geles. It is held quarterly every year. In the route, which began The couple biked to San Diego with 2015, four CicLAvia events will be held at Echo Park, stretched 60 miles on the first her husband. in Pasadena, San Fernando Valley, Culver through Theater District, day. Gutierrez biked City and Southeast Cities so people could Chinatown, Cinco Pun“At one point I for three days tos, Mariachi Plaza and experience it without having to travel far. thought this was too straight, only to stop “People were interested in bringing ended at East Los Angemuch for me, but at night to rest up for this event from Colombia to LA,” Director les. Other activities were I felt really happy the next day, travelof Production Rachel Burke said. “LA has food trucks, farmers after I finished the ing from city to city to a lot of traffic and people tend to not go markets, and live music. first day.” experience the scenThe next CicLAvia will out because of that. CicLAvia is meant to Although the ery. She describes the be held on Dec. 7 in the change that.” trip was physically experience has someThe route is not only limited to bicycles; south Los Angeles area. Photo courtesy of Jeannie Gutierrez exhausting, Gutierthing that she would Photo by Christy Deng rez will never forget love to do again in Gutierrez enjoys the ocean breeze on the moment when the near future. “Yes, I would do one of the stops in her San Diego bike she finally reached San Diego. this again. To me, journey. Gutierrez sees riding through the Thomas Wang the benefits of biking and encourages evneighborhood and the beach were some the erybody she knows to try and give biking things that kept me going. The scenery motiWhether they are locked away at school or gaththe benefit of the doubt. She relives her vated me to not stop. But I would definitely ering dust, bikes have touched the lives of many experience as “amazing,” “relaxing,” and need somebody to motivate me through,” students. For senior Elvis Ha, a bike is more than even “stress-reliving.” Gutierrez believes Gutierrez said. just a means to the end. From locomotion to racing this bike ride has given her a different The amount of time it took to prepare for in the future, bikes have become an integral part of outlook on life. the biking trip was immense and required his life. From a young age, Ha began his biking lifestyle. In fact, one of the earliest brushes he had with biking involved almost getting in a car accident. However, this experience did someone randomly on the street, in the river. Tran Lam not deter him from biking. Ha currently they wouldn’t know what’s going The “Los Angeles River Greenrides a GT Attack 2.0 Road Bike for transStretching for on,” Price said in an interview with way” project aims for controlling portation and recreation. 51 miles through KCET. “I felt that even with all this floods and enhancing aesthetics, “Biking is important to me because Los Angeles and lo- activity, policy, planning, and re- environmental, and recreational it helps me relax, stay healthy, and meet cating approximately engineering, the public knowledge values by renovating the river. new people that enjoy the same hobby as I 10 miles from San Ga- isn’t there.” So far, seven parks have opened do,” Ha said. “It usually makes the stress I briel High School, the People can obtain the Play the up along the river: River Garden get go away.” rich blue Los Angeles River LA River deck of cards for free at Park, Marsh Park, Elysian ValTaking his passion to the next step, meanders calmly as birds the LA River Center and Gardens ley Gateway Park, Great Heron Ha plans to participate in an official bike chirp and trees sway. Not many and at the UCLA Humanities Gates at Rattlesnake Park, Oso, race in Jan. To prepare, Ha trains daily. A locals are aware that the river exists, Building. Each deck contains four Steelhead Park, and Egret Park. training route he takes on the weekend although it has played an important suits that represent the neighbor- Marsh Park’s purpose is to clean is the Montrose Ride, a biking route role in Los Angeles in the past few hood: the Valley, Glendale Nar- out pollutants of the dirty water from Descanso Gardens in La years, enhancing economic vital- rows, Downtown and South. Every of the river. The other parks also Canada to Sierra Madre, takes ity and creating opportunities for card includes information bubbles serve their own purposes, such as about 45 miles long. to reach the state government to construct about a specific area of the neigh- providing access to the streambed Coupled with Gabe’s Bike trails, bike routes, and parks near borhoods and its sites. The Project portion of the river, and providing the five Shop to meet with other or along the river. 51 co-founder hopes for people to an amphitheater for education. miles it cyclists, Ha travels over 50 River guide Jenny Price created enjoy exploring the river and have The LA River plays a crucial miles for his weekly workout. “Project 51” in order to bring at- fun while doing so by playing the role in the development of the Beside physical training, Ha plans to tention to the Los Angeles River. LA River cards. Los Angeles County economic crowdfund over $2,000 for equipment on As a result, Play the LA River was The purpose of the cards is not vitality and creates a sense of gofundme.com in December. created as a community project to only to entertain or educate, but community as well. It can bring “The need for speed is why I want to race, but the spread awareness of and garner also to gather attention towards the people together and just have passion for cycling inspires me even more to race,” Ha interest in the river. LA River. Hopefully in the years them enjoy the tranquil river, the said. “Even though there’s a $1 billion to come, more and more people recreational parks, the trails, and Ha envisions that biking will remain a large part of his life. revitalization going on, if you stop will become aware and interested the bike route.
Go, Gutierrez, go!
Elvis Ha races to top
Play LA River landmark card game
Graphics by Stacy Chau, Cassandra Chen. and Christy Deng
Photo by Tran Lam