Newcomer Rides

The LA Wheelmen resumed our popular monthly “Newcomers’ Ride” in September 2021 to attract riders, including but not limited to club members who were looking beyond the club legacy regular and weekend routes.  These rides have become popular as a result of the organizing team’s considered approach:

• Expand ridership beyond the LA Wheelmen by enlisting the LA Chinatown Firecracker Ride Committee as co-sponsors, and advertising the rides primarily on Meetup.com using the group Los Angeles Bicycling.
• Design new routes for either “beginner” riders of 1-2 hours and relatively flat, or “regular” riders, longer and with more climbing, but can be completed in about a half day. 
• All routes are pre-ridden during the week and led by leaders in a “no-drop” manner, regrouping at scenic points for slower riders to catch up. Strong “regular” riders have been willing to moderate their pace and take more frequent breaks than if they were riding alone.   This is part of the community spirit of the Newcomers.

For most rides, there may be no refreshment breaks or a quick stop at a park for riders to consume nutrition that they bring with them. 

(Summer 2022 Update).  Starting July 2022, we will offer beginner and regular rides on different Sundays during each month.  The “beginner” rides will alternate among our traditional Newcomer start points at the LA Zoo, the Culver Steps in Culver City, and the LA State Historic Park near Chinatown.  The “regular” Rides will all start and finish at The Culver Steps to take advantage of more moderate West Side temperatures. This will double the number of Newcomer rides.

For general questions, feel free to contact Hoy Quan or Mel Cutler using the Meetup app.  Also check the “upcoming rides” on this web site for future scheduled rides.