La Voix July 2023 — Velo Club La Grange

This month our very own women’s Track Captain, Morgan James, competes in the Elite Track National Championship at the Velodrome in Carson. This is a world-class event with the best track racers in the country vying for the title of Champion! Track racing is daring, fast, frenetic, and perfect for spectating.

Morgan will be competing in several events including the individual pursuit, elimination race, and team pursuit. Let’s all go down and cheer on Morgan and the rest of these incredible athletes. Below is her tentative schedule. Good luck, Morgan!!!

Wednesday, July 5th
AM SESSION—3K Individual Pursuit Qualifying
PM SESSION—3K Individual Pursuit finals

Thursday, July 6th
PM SESSION—10K Scratch Race Finals

Friday, July 7th
AM SESSION—Elite Omnium - Scratch & Tempo
PM SESSION—Elite Omnium - Elimination & Points 20K

Saturday, July 8th
AM SESSION—Elimination - finals

Sunday, July 9th
AM SESSION—Team pursuit - 4K qualifying
PM SESSION—Team Pursuit - 4K Finals

For full details, times, and schedule…

Peter D. wins CBR’s Most Assertive Rider

Peter Dorantes is a breakaway expert. Time trials and road racing are his specialties, not crits. Not being a sprinter, Peter had to decide what he could do at the CBR Crit Series. A friend suggested he shoot for the Most Assertive Rider jersey in the 50+ category. This would require focus and strategy throughout the season but sounded in line with his riding style. Winning this meant racing six CBR races plus the Roger Milliken Grand Prix which would be a full and active season.

The most assertive rider wins points by being the first across the finish line on EVERY LAP of EACH race. The racer with the most points at the end of the season wins the jersey. You have to be a special kind of rider to win this jersey. It wasn’t easy but Peter rode hard, attacked often, and accumulated points. He did lose the jersey at one point in the season but was able to win it back. Winning the CBR Most Assertive jersey is a testament to Peter’s willingness to suffer and put it all out there. Congrats, Peter…on being The Beast!

P.S. – He also won the jersey for the 40+ category!

LG Cup 2023 Update: Piuma HC Only

Due to scheduling conflicts, the LG Cup 2023 will include ONLY the Annual LG Piuma Hill Climb this year. We are disappointed not to be able to bring you the LG Cup Sprint and Time Trial events but we promise Piuma will be better than ever. The full LG Cup Series will return in 2024.

CLUB NEWS
RECAP: The June LG50 ride

In June, we had a very special LG50 ride. We were joined by two of our awesome partners, Velofix and Canyon. Harley from Velofix generously gave his time to help members and others with last-minute maintenance items (lube those chains and check those batteries, folks). Six lucky members had the opportunity to demo some race-ready Canyon Aeroads. These bikes are super speedy on the flats and not too bad on the climbs either. Ask MVP. Those deep-dish racing wheels do take some getting used to. Big thanks to Mario, Patrick, and Demi for joining and supporting us.

We had perfect weather and a challenging route with wonderful ride leadership from Brian Perkins and a delightful SAG from Jan Datomi.

photos by Dan M., Geoff L., Dan C., and Jaycee

Meet the Member: Morgan James

Please introduce yourself.
My name is Morgan James. I am 23 years old and currently live in the Costa Mesa area. I just graduated this spring from California State University Long Beach with a degree in Interior Architecture. When I am not at my desk working, racing my bike is my favorite thing to do, and I specialize in track (velodrome) cycling!

Where are you from?
I am from Clovis, a small town in central California known as the gateway to the Sierras. I grew up with a passion for sports here, competing in swim, cross country, and track & field during high school.

Please use 3 words to describe yourself.
I would describe myself as creative, ambitious, and perseverant.

How did you begin riding bikes?
Growing up, my parents inspired me to take up the sport. Both my parents raced at the elite level in cycling and triathlon. I have always looked up to them, so it was no surprise when I wanted to tag along on their training sessions and race in the kid's races. All the way through my first two years of college, I was a triathlete. I have many fond memories of my parents pulling me behind their wheel for their training rides as I prepared for my racing season. For a short period of time, I raced on my mom's bike racing team, but my main focus at this time was on my goals in triathlon. Following high school, I had the opportunity to race on one of the first emerging NCAA women's triathlon teams at East Tennessee State University.

I never knew cycling was my strong suit until I entered the NCAA draft-legal racing circuit. During my time as a collegiate triathlete, my cycling coach, John Abbott, really fostered my love of the sport of cycling and convinced me to pursue it as an individual sport. I made the tough decision to leave triathlon and began pursuing my passion for cycling. Once I moved back to California, my dad encouraged me to try out track cycling. I was just starting my first semester at CSULB, and the Carson track was just 15 minutes from my new apartment.

From the moment I rode my first full lap on the track, I was hooked! The adrenaline and pure joy I felt that first day never went away. So, here I am today!

Tell us about your bike!
I am lucky enough to ride two bikes! My track bike is a Fuji Track Elite and my road bike is a Liv Enviliv Advanced Pro 1. I would like to say I love them both equally, but my road bike has been seeing much less action than my track bike in recent.

When did you join LG and why?

I joined La Grange in 2019. I was just starting my first semester at CSULB and had just moved to SoCal. I was anxious to start racing but didn't know where to start since I was just starting my transition out of triathlon. I started researching racing teams and reaching out via Instagram. La Grange opened up to me immediately and invited me out to my first LG50 ride that October. I felt embraced by the LG community, and soon after was invited to race team camp and SB Road Race. Since then, I have been racing with the club!

What regular LG rides do you participate in?
Unfortunately, I have not been able to join a whole lot of LG rides because of how far I live from Santa Monica. I have attended a handful of LG50 rides which I have thoroughly enjoyed. When it comes to racing, I attend nearly every LG-targeted road & track event!

Do you have any ideas for integrating your field of study with cycling?
This is a good question. While it does sound interesting to integrate, I really like to keep these two parts of my life separate. Cycling has become my sweet escape from a lot of the realities of adulting and life. The track in particular has become the place I know I can always go to in order to clear my head. What I love most about cycling, is that it creates a balance in my life; a distinct contrast from the creative environment of a design studio.

Please share a story about racing for LG:
Looking back on my time with LG, one of my fondest memories was my first race with the team. Following team camp in February of 2020, several of my teammates had donated vintage LG kits for me to race in since kit orders hadn't arrived yet. It was my first cycling kit! Previously all of my kits were designed for triathlon, so these vintage kits became my prized possessions. We were set to race the Santa Barbara Road Race, and I was so excited to race in this super rad kit. I met some new teammates, including Dani and Renée, and I remember Dani helping me to pin my numbers even though I had just met her. We get to the starting line of my first 4/5 road race, and off we go! Around 8 miles from the start, the pack got locked up and ended up with half the field crashed out...including me. Luckily I wasn't hurt and was able to get back up and finish the race, but I was devastated to have torn a hole in my prized vintage kit. Following the race, I felt discouraged by the crash. My teammates didn't hesitate for a second and continued to encourage me. That first race was the day I knew I had found my people.

Do you have favorite bike-friendly spots (restaurants, services, businesses) in LA you love and would recommend to the club?
Unfortunately, I don't live and ride in the LA area enough to have any recommendations! However, I have lots of great recommendations for the Long Beach area for my vegan peeps. My favorite vegan brunch is Wild Chive on Broadway Street! Absolutely incredible to the point where I believe anyone could be convinced it wasn't an all-vegan menu. My favorite thing to get here is the Monte Cristo breakfast sandwich.

Thanks for reading
As told to Renée Fox

Winner of the La Grange Cycling Photo Contest

And the winner is….Morgan James!

Congratulations to Morgan, winner of the La Grange Photo Contest. She was the top vote-getter with her photo that encapsulates her recent success in obtaining her Bachelor's Degree and her abilities on the track. Amazing photo of an amazing woman.

Thank you for bringing your talents to the club, Morgan. You really have earned bragging rights for this photo and all your achievements!

And a big thank you to all who submitted photos, sharing a part of your cycling life with us. Seeing what people are doing out on the bike inspires me to get out and ride!

— by Jan Datomi

The LG Santa Barbara Century is here!

Please join us for another La Grange Century as we ride north to Santa Barbara. The ride starts at the Van Nuys Train Station and departs at 7:30 am sharp. Our first stop will be San Vicente and Ocean (SVO) for those that don’t want to ride over the Sepulveda pass. We will serve coffee and snacks there. Starting from SVO shortens the ride to about 85 miles. We will roll from SVO around 8:50 am. You can expect to return to the Van Nuys Amtrak Station around 8:30 pm.

ROUTE:
https://www.strava.com/routes/8714909

COST:
$40 — Price includes all snacks throughout the day, your meal and drink at SB Biergarten in Santa Barbara, and transportation of your bike back to Van Nuys.

You must prepay via PayPal by Sunday, July 23rd at 10 pm so that we can confirm restaurant reservations and purchase supplies based on the number of riders. The club’s direct link to pay via PayPal is: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/veloclublagrange

TRAIN
You are responsible for your own train ticket, and most people purchase a coach seat, but you can buy a business class if you so desire. Please buy a ticket for Amtrak 11 Coast Starlight departing Santa Barbara (SBA) at 6:19 pm arriving Van Nuys (VNC) at 8:36 pm. The cost of the train ticket as of today is $25.

BUY AMTRAK TICKETS HERE

RETURN BIKE TRANSPORT
We can take up to 30 bikes in the van. They are protected with heavy-duty moving blankets and no one has reported their bike being damaged during transport. The first 30 requests will have priority in the van. Once the 30-bike limit is reached, you must find an alternate method of bike transport.

read full ride details and FAQs here

IN THE NEWS

Sponsored:
What to do after a bike collision…

A message from ACTS Law

If you are involved in a bicycle crash and you take the necessary steps afterward, you can make a sizable difference in the potential compensation you may be able to receive for your case. When you are involved in a bicycle crash with a car or a truck, it can be confusing and traumatic. Our lawyers at ACTS Law understand what you are going through and can help during your time of need.

Here are some of the key steps that you can take after a cycling incident to set yourself up for success:

Move Out of Traffic
If it is safe and you are able, the most critical thing you should do is move to avoid traffic and further potential harm. Make sure you and the people around you are safe. From a safe area, call 911 and wait for the police and emergency services to arrive.

Call 911
During this time, cooperate with investigating officers and request that a traffic collision report be taken. Some witnesses, and even police officers, hold biases against cyclists. A traffic collision report can be very helpful for your attorneys when advocating on your behalf, as your side of the story will be written down and will be considered in the case. Typically, the first statement you make is considered the most reliable.

Don’t Negotiate with the Motorist
Negotiating with the motorist will not help you with a case and could potentially be dangerous. A police officer or medical staff member can serve as a valuable mediator in these situations.

Get the Driver’s Information
If possible, get all the information you can from the other driver, including:

The license plate of the vehicle involved
Contact information of the driver (phone, email, and/or address)
Insurance information
Photographs of the scene and damage to their vehicle and your bicycle

Get Witness Information
If you are aware that other people have witnessed the crash, try to get their contact information. If they’re willing, have them speak with the authorities on-site so that they can share their perspective on the events.

Document What Happened
It’s important to document what happened during the time of the event and to gather evidence if possible. Write down all the details that you can remember and take photos of the crash scene, your bike, and any injuries that you sustained. If there is anything that you can remember before the crash or leading up to the crash, write it down or try to remember facts as best as possible until you’re able to document them.

Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible.
Go to the emergency room or make an appointment to see a doctor as soon as you are able. All your injuries should be evaluated after the initial impact. During the time of medical treatment, keep track of all medical care that you receive. This may include emergency care, medical transportation, specialty care, physical therapy, and/or rehabilitation. Similarly, you should document any suffering such as home-life stress, missed work, physical limitation, and other difficulties you are experiencing aside from strictly medical issues.

Preserve the Evidence
Preserving evidence can be helpful in the long run when looking at the details of your case. Retain your bike, clothing, and accessories and preserve them. Our experts can inspect these evidentiary items to reveal important details of the crash and/or your injuries. If you cannot gather these items, have a family member or friend do so on your behalf. Don’t wash your clothes and take photos if possible. Leave your bicycle in its unrepaired state and give it to your lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to evaluate the damages with the help of experts to make sure you are getting the compensation you deserve for all your damages.

Contact a Lawyer
A lawyer will be able to simplify the process and advocate on your behalf with qualified experts. Do not combat insurance companies or at-fault parties by yourself. Our team of attorneys at ACTS Law specializes in bicycle cases and has the expertise to help you through every step of the process so that you can focus on your recovery, get back to what you love to do, and become secure to begin your cycling journey again.

Contact Kevin @ ACTS Law here or call 833.ACTS LAW (833-228-7529)

COMMUNITY:
The Bahati Foundation Keeps Reaching Higher

If you’ve ever met Rahsaan Bahati, you know he’s a smiling and affable guy. And you probably know he’s a heckuva bike racer (10x National Champion, anyone?). What you may not know if he has dedicated a significant portion of his career to advocating for and helping underserved communities be exposed to the joys of cycling. This has not brought him financial riches or personal fame but it has improved the lives of many young people in our community…and it’s a family affair.

Read More…

A Look Back:
Coryn Labecki Is National Crit Champion

Coryn Labecki née Rivera has been winning for a long time! Coryn raced for La Grange as a junior. Since then, she has 73 National Titles under her belt and is currently racing in the Women’s Pro Tour with Jumbo/Visma. Coryn is once again a champion, winning the 2023 US National Criterium Championship with a bold and daring attack. Great Job, @corynrivera. We’re all super proud of you!

Enjoy ALL of our wonderful 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.

Check out your LG Membership partner Benefits

SOS—Support Our Sponsors

4iiii PMs & HRMs

Exceptional accuracy, lightweight design. The new PRECISION 3 Powermeter now available. 3-Year Warranty. Free Shipping. Get 35% off PMs and HR Monitors. Use the code located on the LG Benefits page.
Check out 4iiii Innovations…

ACTS Law

Bike accidents happen. Add a car to the mix and the results could be catastrophic. You will need a lawyer who understands cycling and cyclists. ACTS Law has the experience and expertise to be on your side.
Contact ACTS Law today…

New and Returning Members

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

Aemee D., Alex W., Mark S., Caitlin B., and Todd T.
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 JULY

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 July. Bold events are LG Team Targeted Events.

July 5-9 — USA Cycling Track Nationals
July 14 — LG Board of Directors Meeting (all members invited)
July 23 — Manhattan Beach Grand Prix
July 29— Annual La Grange Santa Barbara Century and LG50 Ride

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

RACING NEWS

Morgan James takes on Track Nationals

Peter D. wins CBR’s Most Assertive Rider

LG Cup 2023 Update: Piuma HC Only

CLUB NEWSRECAP: The June LG50 ride