CURRENT RIDE & EVENT SCHEDULE
(Newcomers welcome- helmets required!)
|
JUNE SCHEDULE
Sunday, June 1 - 8:30 a.m. SOUP TO KNOTTS (Long 72, Medium 57 and 2300 feet of gain., Short 32) I think I’ve said this before, but this is really “Knotts to Soup” We start within sight of the parachute ride at Knott’s Berry Farm. “Soup” is in Yorba Linda at the World’s Best Hamburger (they probably have soup). The long and the medium both head there, but the long takes 10 more miles to get to lunch (including going over Turnbull) while the medium takes a more direct and easier route. Both routes return together with some additional climbing in the Anaheim Hills. While this is going on, the short riders are touring northern Orange County on their own. By the time we get back, Knotts will be in full swing. If we weren’t so tired, we could go for a quick coaster ride and a chicken dinner before heading home. START: WILLIAM PEAK PARK in BUENA PARK. From Artesia Frwy (91), off & South Knott Ave ½ mi, L - El Dorado Dr. to Park.
Saturday, June 7 - 8:00 a.m. FULL BORE FOR FILLMORE (115 miles & 7000 ft of gain) This is another century + trainer to make sure you have the stamina for the Double in a few weeks. It also has a few hills to make sure you have the strength, although none of them are real killers. Let’s count them down. First it's over Sepulveda (not bad) and across the valley and over the hill to Valencia (no worse than Sepulveda). Then it's the long flat run to Fillmore for lunch (it may be flat, but is often into a headwind). After lunch, it’s over Grimes Canyon to Moorpark – toughest climb of the day but even it is not too steep. The one mile climb over Norwegian Grade gets you to Thousand Oaks where you pick up Mulholland Hwy (which has a few small hills) Then you have a choice of a Valley return (over Sepulveda again) or going over Old Topanga to the coast for a coastal return (one final climb either way). Just take them one hill at a time like you will on the Grand Tour and you will be just fine. Do this one, and you are probably ready for the Grand Tour. Ride the next two trainers and you’ll be doing it in style. START: BRENTWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - San Vicente & Gretna Green. From San Diego Frwy (405), off & west on Wilshire, R - San Vicente, L Gretna Green (1 block past Bundy).
Sunday, June 8 - 8:30 a.m. ARCADIA & STUFF (Long 44, Medium 39, Short 32) Every winter we are always in danger of losing the route up to Chantry Flats to landslides, but it looks like we made it through this one without damage. Also, the fire a few weeks ago didn’t quite hit Chantry, so LET’S GO TO CHANTRY! All routes first head to the Rose Bowl area The longs and the medium then head over to Altadena where only the longs go up to Chantry Flats. If you've never been up there, you should give it a try and if you've been there before, you know you want to go back. The medium skips the climb and heads directly to lunch where it will be joined by the long riders when they come back down. The short lunches in Pasadena as well, after a shorter tour of the area. Lunch for the long and medium riders is at Tops, best known for such delicacies as pastrami and chili fries, where you can Arcadia & Stuff your face. START: ALHAMBRA PARK in ALHAMBRA. From the San Bernardino Frwy (I-10), off & north on Fremont 2 miles, R- Alhambra Rd to 4 blocks to Park. Park on Raymond on East side of the park.
Saturday, June 14 - 8:00 a.m. ANGELES CREST– SAN GABRIEL CANYON (87 mi - 8300 ft.) As far as I’m concerned, this is the crown jewel of the training season. A day spent almost entirely in the mountains climbing to just about the highest point on Angeles Crest. 30 miles of downhill to complete the day caps off a great ride. Make no mistake, it’s a difficult ride. Over 8000 feet of climbing and close to 90 miles That’s a lot. But, take it one step at a time and you’ll get there. Step 1: Duarte to the base of Angeles Crest - not bad. Step 2: up to Clear Creek - the biggest stretch of climbing on the ride. Step 3: up to Red Box - tough but only 5 miles. Step 4: to Lunch at Newcomb’s Ranch - Up and Down. Step 5: up to Cloud Burst Summit - the hardest 6 miles. Step 6: to Hwy 39 - Rollies. Step 7: To finish - 30 miles of mostly downhill. You really won’t want to miss this one. The scenery, the mountain air, the mountain goats, etc. You won’t believe it. START: Encanto Park in Duarte. Take 605 Frwy north to end, off and R (east) on Huntington / Foothill Blvd 0.6 mile, L Encanto Parkway (before crossing river) to park on Left.
Sunday, June 15 - 8:30 a.m. HONOLULU FOR LUNCH (long 63, medium 51, short 35) It’s Father’s day. Nothing like a trip to Hawaii to celebrate. Well, we can’t do that, but we can go to Honolulu (Avenue) in Montrose. It’s no Hawaii, but at least we won’t make you go through airport security. The long and medium stay together on a circuitous route up to Montrose where the mediums have lunch. The long continues up and over La Tuna Cyn to circle back to the start. The medium heads back the way they came. The short heads straight to Montrose and then joins the Medium riders on the return. Several short climbs, but only the long does a major hill (and even that is not so bad with a 4 mile downhill as a payoff). So come on and take a trip to Honolulu with the Wheelmen. No luggage searches, no x-ray scans, and believe me, no one wants you to take your shoes off. Just ride. START: BARNES PARK in MONTEREY PARK. From San Bernardino Frwy (I-10), off & south on Garfield, R - Newmark, L - McPherrin to the Park. You might want to get there early to get a parking space as the park gets heavy use by morning exercise groups.
Saturday, June 21 - 8:00 a.m. BYWAYS OF PALOS VERDES (73 mi - 4000 ft) This is the last trainer before the Grand Tour and traditionally, we go for something a little easier. This ride was put together by our club Bike Shop Owner, Steve Bowen, and by coincidence, it goes by his shop. We begin the day with a pleasant ride through the beach communities from Brentwood down to the Palos Verdes peninsula Once there, we make a circuit including three climbs up to the top and back down. None of these climbs is more than 1000 feet, so that should be a piece of cake for well trained riders like you. We then get to Steve’s shop – not to give him a chance to sell you a bike, but where he will have sandwiches waiting for us. Then it's back to Brentwood and a job well done. You are officially trained. I say this every year, but I believe it’s true – if you have done all or most of the training rides, you will have no problem completing the Grand Tour. Enjoy! START: BRENTWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - San Vicente & Gretna Green. From San Diego Frwy (405), off & west on Wilshire, R - San Vicente, L Gretna Green (1 block past Bundy)
Sunday, June 22 - 8:30 a.m. CAL POLY BY GOLLY (Long 63, Medium 44 - 2600 ft, Short 28) Historically, we always rode this one in early January. I always wondered how people could stand to jet-ski on Puddingstone Reservoir in such cold weather. This year, we might want to jump in with them. Yes, it will probably be warm (ok, hot) but these rides are not so hard that it will be a death march. The long and medium routes head east to Puddingstone reservoir (touring the Cal Poly campus on the way). After a break at the lake, the medium returns via a fairly direct route along Diamond Bar Blvd while the long takes a roundabout way back via Carbon Canyon and Brea Canyon. The short takes a fairly direct route to Cal Poly and back. Just remember: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. We’ll be fine, so be sure to join us. START: PUENTE HILLS MALL in Industry. From the Pomona Frwy (60), off and south on Azusa Avenue. L - on Colima and L into Mall Parking lot. We park on top of the rise near Colima (away from Mall buildings) and immediately across from Shabaram County Park.
Wednesday, June 25, 7:30 p.m. - GOOSENECK & BUSINESS MEETING NOTE: DIFFERENT DAY. For meeting night directions, call (310) 641-5038.
Saturday, June 28, GRAND TOUR. 400, 300, 200 or 120 miles in one day. The biggest event of the LA Wheelmen year. For details, click on Grand Tour in the site index.
Sunday, June 29 - 9:00 a.m. OFF TO THE RACES (Long 70, Short 35) Traditionally, the post Grand Tour ride is an easy ride to Will Rogers Park, but another club tradition is to ride down to the annual Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. This year, those traditions clash as the races have been scheduled for the day after the Grand Tour. Well, we’re going to the races. After all, the only reason we schedule an easy post Grand Tour ride is to allow tired Grand Tour riders and Staff an easy recovery day, but the short ride down to the races may be even easier than the usual ride to Will Rogers. The short heads directly to Manhattan Beach (by a fairly flat course) and then returns after the races. And for those who aren’t worn out by the Grand Tour, there is the long route. It goes down to Palos Verdes, does a little riding on the peninsula before heading to lunch and then on to the races. So, all in all, today’s routes fit the bill as good post Grand Tour rides. We might even make this a new tradition, except they keep moving the date of the Manhattan Beach races around, so who knows if we will be able to do this next year. START: THE "CORNER", Olympic Blvd, 1 block west of La Cienega in Beverly Hills. From the Santa Monica Frwy (10), off & north La Cienega 1½ miles, L - Olympic 1 block to R- Le Doux.
JULY SCHEDULE
Friday, July 4, 8:30 a.m FIRECRACKER SPECIAL. (Long 47 - 800 ft., Medium 37, Short 24) For most, this is the first day of a 3-day weekend, so why not start the festivities with the club. After all, the really hot 4th of July action usually doesn’t get going until late afternoon and evening. These rides are short enough that you will have plenty of time to get home and join in the mayhem. The long and the medium are the same until lunch as they make a winding tour of Long Beach eventually stopping in Belmont Shores for lunch. The long makes a run up to Signal Hill (to a relatively new park up there) before returning to the start while the medium heads more directly back. The short is pretty much a shorter version of the long and medium, riding in the same area. The long is only about 800 feet of climbing and that includes Signal Hill, so you can imagine how flat the medium and short are. Traditionally, this is an easy paced friendly ride which loops around so much you are probably never more than a few miles from your car. So why not start your 3-day holiday with us. You’ve still got two more days to fill before it’s back to work. START: EL DORADO PARK in Long Beach. From San Diego Frwy (405), off & North/East on Studebaker 1 mi. to Park. Park in Library lot on right just before Spring St.
Sunday, July 6 - 8:30 a.m. CAPISTRANO CAPER (Long 66, Medium 46, Short 36) It’s the last day of a 3-day weekend, and if you haven’t gotten out of town for the weekend, here’s your chance. I know Capistrano is a long drive, but this is just about the only chance the club gives you to ride past San Onofre, through Camp Pendleton and lunch in Oceanside. All routes head south. The short gets as far as San Onofre before heading back. The medium makes it to the entrance of Camp Pendleton while the long goes through Pendleton to Oceanside for lunch before heading back. The long and medium take a rather hilly route through San Clemente, but a non-hilly option is offered. These are all very nice rides with very low traffic (with occasional tank traffic in Pendleton) Make the effort to come on out. It doesn’t happen very often, but if the Marines are on maneuvers, you might see a tank up close. You can’t believe how big they are. START: SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CITY PARK. From San Diego Fry (I-5), off and R on Junipero Serra Rd, L - El Camino Capistrano .7 mi. to park. Park on street near restrooms.
Saturday, July 12 - 8:00 a.m. VENTURA LOOP CENTURY. This is July’s Century of the month. It’s the same century we ran on January 1st, but only a few hardy souls rode that day and we didn’t use it as a training ride this year, so it makes for a good July century. It’s mostly coastal, so it should be cool (or at least as cool as possible in July). It's an easy course--just up the coast to Ventura and return (not very different from the lowland Grand Tour Lite route). No hills bigger than the ones along PCH. Even if you haven’t been participating in the Century of the Month, you might want to come out and join us for this one. START: Malibu Civic Center. Take the Santa Monica Frwy west to the end and then PCH north to R on Webb Way and R on Civic Center Way.
Sunday, July 13, 8:30 a.m. BALBOA/ NEWPORT (Long 65- 1900 ft, Medium 49 - 1500 ft, Short 38 This is the first of our normal two trips to Balboa each summer and a ride across on the ferry. They recently closed the ferry a short time to re-vamp the docks, so we can probably expect another fare increase to ride about a quarter mile across the water. Bikes are still cheaper than a car though and the ferry is always fun. The long and the medium get there via Laguna Canyon and a trip north along the coast to Newport. The short takes a more direct route via the San Diego Creek trail and the Back Bay. After disembarking safely on the refurbished dock, the short and medium take a fairly direct route back to the start while the long adds on a few extra miles. So come on down and get your sea legs for the summer. START: PINE TREE PARK in TUSTIN. From Santa Ana Frwy (I-5) in Tustin, off & east on Redhill, L- Bryan one block to park.
Remaining July Schedule:
Thursday, July 17 - GOOSENECK MEETING
Sunday, July 20 - MALIBU VISTAS
Sunday, July 27 - WATERMELON RIDE (CULVER CITY)