La Voix June 2023

RACING NEWS

MAY RACING: More Podiums and Bear Jerseys!

 

May was another successful month for La Grange Racing. Our racers won several podiums and another State Championship in the Team Time Trial. Congratulations to all our racers!

COMPLETE Top 10 RESULTS
1st—Peter Dorantes and Nick Gillock, State TTT Championships (Masters 90+)
1st—Peter Dorantes, Boulevard Road Race (Masters 50+)
2nd GC—Victor Ayala, Tour of the Gila (Masters 50+)
3rd—Laura Martin and Morgan James, State TTT Championships (Open Mixed)
3rd—Peter Dorantes, State ITT Championships (Masters 50+)
3rd—Nick Gillock, State ITT Championships (Masters 55+)
4th—Victor Ayala, Hunte Parkway RR (Masters 50+)
6th—Laura Martin, Barry Wolfe GP (Womens 4-5)
9th—Renée Hagen, Barry Wolfe GP (Womens 1-3)

 

La Grange Battles @ the Tour of the Gila

 

This year’s Tour of the Gila in Silver City, NM, was EPIC! Battling adversity, our intrepid racers Nick Gillock, Victor Ayala, and Yan Lhert rose to the occasion. Nick and Victor raced the Men’s Masters-A race! This is a 5-stage world-class road race with aging but super fast category 1-3 racers. Despite being crashed out in the Crit Stage, Victor was able to hold on for 2nd Place GC in the 50+ bracket. (who says he’s just a sprinter!) The camaraderie alone is worth the price of admission. Great job, guys. We’re proud of you!!

 

CLUB NEWS
RECAP: The May LG50 ride

 
 

We had a great ride this month to Griffith Park. Our recent spate of cloudy skies did little to deter a good-sized group of riders through the city and into the park. We had quite a few new faces which is always nice to see. Altogether a great day on the bike. May’s ride was led by Marco Fantone with a generous SAG by Deb Carabet. You are cordially invited to the next one on June 24th. Hope to see ya there.

photos by Dan M., Lisa G., and Deb C.

Meet the Member: Taisha Walker

 
 

Where are you from?
I relocated to LA in 2020 and was previously living in Houston, TX. I spent 21 years in Houston before moving to LA so that is where I consider home.

Please use 3 words to describe yourself:
Ambitious, determined, funny

Favorite spot(s) in LA you would recommend to the club:
TW: Simply Wholesome for delicious prepared foods, smoothies, fresh fruit juice, and quality whole foods for purchase.

What do you do for a living?
TW: I'm a serial entrepreneur

What type of rider do you consider yourself? Are you still racing with the LG women's team? Any racing stories to share?
TW: I consider myself a competitive recreational cyclist. I am serving as co-captain with Laura Martin and Renée Hagen this season, however, I am not actively racing this season as I'm recovering from knee surgery in January. I plan to race with the team in future seasons.

My favorite racing story is how I got started racing. On Tuesday evenings I regularly participated in the Westchester Parkway ride and would see Tina Grant on the ride. Tina's wheel was one of my favorite wheels to hang on to on the parkway and we would briefly chat after the ride. Tina's strength on the bike was an inspiration and her words were always very supportive and encouraging. After a few weeks, Tina asked me if I was interested in "trying a race" and convinced me that it was only 30 minutes of my life. I agreed to try it one day with no real intention of actually racing. The next week Tina showed up at the parkway and handed me an LG kit to wear for the race coming up the following Sunday. Because I admired and respected Tina so much, I showed up to the race and bought a 1-day license. I had no idea what I was doing when I lined up at the start of the race, but I gave it a try and discovered a passion for the competitive thrill of bicycle racing.

Tell us about your bike.
TW: I am hands down a Pinarello girl! All of my bikes are named after Egyptian Goddesses. My race bike is Sekhmet, the Goddess of vengeance and war. She's a silver and black Pinarello Dogma F. My everyday bike is a crystal white Pinarello Dogma F named Isis.

How did you begin riding?
TW: I started with indoor cycling (spin) and took my riding outside on the road in 2010.

Do you enjoy other sports?
TW: I am a big NFL football fan, but do not actively participate in any sports other than cycling.

When did you join La Grange and why?
TW: I joined LG because of Tina. She represented LG in a way that made me feel included and supported as a member of both the club and race team.

What LG rides do you participate in?
TW: My favorite LG ride is the SB Century. I have also participated in the LG50 rides and the Nichols Canyon ride on Sundays.

What type of rides do you want to do next?
TW: I have traveled to a number of places in the US to participate in various sponsored rides and cycling events so I would like to expand my cycling travels to international destinations. In July, I will be embarking upon my first international bike trip as I travel with a group of cyclists to Ghana for 14 days. This trip will include tours to various historical and cultural sites in Ghana, networking and teambuilding with the Gladiators (a local cycling club), and of course a number of organized rides. One of the most exciting parts of the trip is that we are collecting cycling gear that we will donate to local cycling clubs in Ghana and have identified the first recipient of the Cycle Ghana Giveback campaign, who will receive a custom-built bike. The 2023 recipient is a junior female cyclist named Erica Sedzro.

NOTE: Anyone interested in donating gear and/or parts can reach out to me via email (taisha.walker@lagrange.org) or on my mobile at 832-574-9371. We are accepting donations for the 2023 trip through Jul 1, 2023. The link for anyone wishing to make a cash donation is included below.

Excerpt from the Cycle Ghana website that summarizes the trip as well as a few other links with additional information-

CycleGhana is your premier planner of Cycling and Culture Tours to Ghana, West Africa. Join us as we cycle from big cities to small towns, rivers to waterfalls, and markets to museums. CycleGhana Cycling and Cultural Tours offers experienced cyclists an opportunity to challenge themselves with a variety of routes from short, long, and high elevations to low elevations. With our main goal of helping promote cycling as a sport in Ghana and adjacent countries a trip with us will be an adventure you will never forget. CycleGhana also runs a nonprofit called CycleGhana Gives Back that collects funds and gear that will be donated during the trip.

CYCLE GHANA Website

DETAILS on Cycle Ghana's Giveback campaign

DONATE to Cycle Ghana Giveback Award for 2023 recipient, Erica Sedzro.

 

Erica Sedzro

 

PHOTO ESSAY: The Things They Carried…

What we carry may say a lot about us as riders and as people. This is a brief glimpse inside the pockets, saddle, or bar bag of a La Grange member. Do you see anything interesting or unusual? Share your own pocket story! Send a pic to jaycee.cary@lagrange.com.

 

Lisa G.’s Handlebar Bag

 

IN THE NEWS

Sponsored:
BIG NEWS from Pedal Mafia

 
 

For Immediate Release

Exciting news for cycling enthusiasts in Santa Monica! Pedal Mafia, the renowned cycling apparel and accessories brand, has just announced the grand opening of its flagship store in the heart of this vibrant coastal city. With a passion for quality and style, Pedal Mafia has quickly gained a loyal following around the world, and now Santa Monica residents and visitors can experience their exceptional products firsthand.

Nestled on a bustling Main Street, the new Pedal Mafia location showcases an innovative and sleek design, reflecting the brand's commitment to modern aesthetics. Step inside, and you'll be greeted by an inviting atmosphere, where cycling enthusiasts of all levels can immerse themselves in a world of premium cycling gear. From performance jerseys and bib shorts to stylish lifestyle apparel and accessories, Pedal Mafia offers a diverse range of products that combine functionality and fashion.

But it's not just about the merchandise. The Pedal Mafia flagship store in Santa Monica is also a hub for the local cycling community. Whether you're an experienced rider seeking expert advice or a beginner looking to delve into the world of cycling, the knowledgeable and friendly staff are always ready to assist and share their expertise. In addition, the store plans to host regular events and group rides, fostering a sense of camaraderie and creating opportunities for cyclists to connect and learn from one another.

Opening Late June - Stay tuned!

How to retire your old gear and apparel

 

Remember the old adage, “One person’s junk is another’s treasure”? We all have a closet, bin, or garage full of old, seemingly unusable stuff. How can you tell when your gear is at the end of its life? This guide will help navigate reselling, donating, recycling, downcycling, or (as a last resort) disposing of your favorite gear.

See the cycling-specific guide here or read the full article…

 

A DIY Enhancement to Google Bike Routes
aka “Brentwood is Biking Hell”?

 

If you’ve ever used Google Maps to find a bike route, you quickly realize that many of the Google suggestions are actually lousy streets for cycling. Some routes are simply misrepresented while others are just plain terrible with heavy traffic and no cycling infrastructure! One local cyclist has taken matters into his own hands by creating his own Google Bike Routes map, utilizing better routing and more realistic descriptions. Watch the video above to see his analysis of the situation.

See the “new and improved” Google BIke Routing Map here!

NOTE: These maps are subjective and can be altered and adjusted by all users. It also only references the West side of LA. Add your route experiences!

 

Where are 2023 La Grange membership cards available?

 

BIKE IMPROVE
Check the website for hours and directions

CAFFE LUXXE
BWood Country Mart location only
225 26th Street, Santa Monica
Daily 7 am – 6 pm

 

You will want one of these to take advantage of the great offers and discounts from our sponsors such as Bike Improve, Caffe Luxxe, Gilbert’s El Indio, and VeloFix.

They can be found at the above sponsor locations or ask your Board members the next time you see them.

Enjoy ALL of our wonderful partners!

 

2023 La Grange Partners

 

La Grange is incredibly fortunate to have such awesome partners! With our partners, you can satisfy virtually every aspect of cycling: Apparel, Accessories, Bikes, Repair, and nutrition. We also have partners to assist you when you have to live your non-bike life: Dining, Legal, Real Estate, and Engineering. Log into the La Grange website and check out your member-only benefits.

SOS—Support Our Sponsors

 
 
 

Pedal Mafia

Pedal Mafia makes some of the most comfortable and high-performance cycling apparel out there. And La Grange members get 20% off all in-stock items. Use the code located on the LG Benefits page.
Check out the killer apparel…

Apex Law (Tom Fitz)

Life is complicated so everyone needs a good lawyer. We have one of the best with Tom Fitzgibbon and Apex Law; specializing in Real Estate, Construction, Environmental, and Complex Commercial Litigation.
Contact Tom today…

 

New and Returning Members

Please say hello to our new members who joined in April 2023:

  • Michael B., Byron S., Brice K, and Aidan K. and Family.

  • And a hearty Welcome Back to Stanley K. and Kenny N.

    Welcome, everyone! La Grange is proud to have you with us.

And in case you were wondering, we don’t include last names here to protect personal online privacy.

LG Event Calendar for JUNE

This calendar is where you’ll find all of our upcoming events IN ONE PLACE. You’ll find both LG On-Bike and Off-Bike events as well as non-LG events. Check it out and bookmark it! Here is the schedule for June. Bold events are LG Team Targeted Events.

  • June 4 — CBR Carson #6 -The Finale-

  • June 10 — 26th Annual Barrio Logan Grand Prix

  • June 14 — LG Board of Directors Meeting (all members invited)

  • June 27 — June LG50 Ride

Have an event you would like to add? Send a request to Jaycee at jaycee.cary@lagrange.org

La Grange

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