April La Voix

Hello La Grange, 

This month’s La Voix contains La Grange Development Team racing news, a new weekly ride, SafeSport certification announcement, VCLG member story, new tandem event dates, March LG50 recap and how to watch the Tour of Flanders! Happy Spring you all.

See you on the road.

Renée Fox, La Voix Editor


P.S. Have something else cycling-related you think would be interesting or beneficial to our members? Submit here to be considered for an upcoming newsletter.

Letter from the President

For cyclists, April is an exciting time of year, The pro peloton races through the classics. Lagrange tries new things.

This last LG 50 ride took us to neighborhoods I dare say most have not ridden through. But, what makes it really exciting for me is to have seen how the club came together for this ride. It involved many Directors and members planning and volunteering, even standing at strategic street corners to make sure the entire club rode together and did not get lost - some great teamwork.

It is also exciting because through the establishment of the women’s ride and improved visibility and communications to the greater cycling community, we are beginning to see an uptick in new members joining Lagrange.

In this season of change I urge you to step outside your cycling comfort zone and explore new rides, and most importantly new friendships with those you come across with a shared passion for the cycling lifestyle. When you do, invite them to ride with us.

Larry Goodman

Racing News

La Grange/ LaFábrica Development Race Team Race Update

by Sean Kiernan

La Grange had a solid day at CBR this past week, with Aidan Knierim on the podium for the first time at a crit. He placed 3rd and is looking forward to the next weeks.

Aidan’s teammate Chase started out strongly in an earlier race but unfortunately was pulled down in a crash.

The team has been training and competing across crit, road and other disciplines.

Aidan, Chase and the other riders will be at the Tour of Murrieta next weekend, and continuing the season from there.

Follow them on Strava and reach out to Aldo or Sean for other ways to support the team and riders!

Club News

NEW Wednesday Social Pace Ride

La Grange now offers a social paced Wednesday morning ride, perfect for new riders and folks getting back on the bike after time off! Be sure to check the LG Rides chat and strava for routes and ride updates.

Every Wednesday, leaving from SVO at 6:30am.

SafeSport

by Deb Carabet

Cycling is both an Olympic and Paralympic sport, governed in the U.S. by USA Cycling. As part of its commitment to athlete safety, USA Cycling has adopted SafeSport, requiring it for all racing programs and encouraging its use in other settings.

As an affiliate, LaGrange's board of directors has chosen to participate by requiring all board members, race team captains, and anyone with regular contact or authority over our junior team to complete the SafeSport Certification online course. While regular members are not required to take the course, those interested are welcome to complete the certification on their own.

For more information, visit:
US Center for SafeSport
SafeSport for Local Clubs

The U.S. Center for SafeSport was established in response to cases of sexual abuse in U.S. Women’s Gymnastics and other amateur sports. Initially focused on protecting athletes under 18, SafeSport now applies to everyone in amateur sports, regardless of age or gender. The SafeSport Core Certification helps participants recognize, prevent, and respond to various forms of abuse, including verbal, physical, intimidation, and bullying. The initial course takes just 90 minutes, followed by annual refresher courses lasting only 30 minutes. While primarily designed for athletes under 18, the training is relevant in many other situations. As a full time coach I cannot renew my certification without taking SafeSport and am heading up the tracking of our compliance for LaGrange.

Raymond Fouquet is in the center in the black cap with Rudy to his right. Doug is right behind and between the two of them. This photo was taken five or six years after the story's events.

Euro Technique

A true story by Doug Herrick

My buddy Mitch and I were riding south on Sepulveda Blvd in Culver City on a bright, sunny day in summer in the early Nineties. We were joined by La Grange Restaurant’s chef, Rudy at a stop light. We were all wearing our Velo Club La Grange Westwood kits and though it wasn’t planned, we decided to continue on together.  Pleasant conversation ensued until we came to another signal-controlled intersection and were greeted with a red light.  The three of us rolled to a stop, unclipped from our pedal binders, and set our feet down in unison.

Rudy looked down at our feet and asked: “Did you ride in Europe?”

The question took both Mitch and me by surprise.

Mitch said “No.”

“I’ve been there,” I said.  “The Netherlands, but it was just for a month of technical school.  Although I would have liked to have ridden a bike there, I didn’t have a chance to do so.”

The light changed and we rolled off.  “Why did you ask?” I said.

Rudy responded: “You both unclipped on your left instead of your right.  All of the Americans that I have met unclip on the right.”

We shook our heads, and I said: “Why would I want to put my bare leg down next to a saw blade?”  I pointed at the teeth on my big chain ring.  “And why would I want to push off with my leg next to that thing?”

Rudy laughed.

Mitch said:  “He’s right; putting your leg down on the right is just dumb.”

“I started riding bikes when I was five years old, and I’ve been doing it that way for as long as I can remember,” I said, “I honestly never thought about it until you asked.”

“Same,” said Mitch.  “But now we have a better reason—it’s Euro!”

Q2 Tandem cycling events with Wayfinder Family Services and LG member Sonya Chapman!

More details and registration are HERE

Tandem Cycling Captain Training:
Date: Saturday, April 26
Time: 10 AM - 12PM
Location: Wayfinder Family Services, 5300 Angeles Vista Blvd, Los Angeles, 90043.


Tandem Cycling Event:
Date: Saturday, May 10
Time: 8 AM - 1PM
Location: Syd Kronenthal Park, 3459 McManus Ave, Culver City, CA 90232

Club Rides Recap

March LG50 led by David Newcombe and Renée Fox, SAG by Tara Kriese and Marco Fantone

Full photo album by Dan Mitnick- HERE

Recap by David Newcombe

A cool morning loves hot coffee, and a gathering peloton does, too. La Grange drinks Caffe Luxxe. You should, too.

A new route intrigued these adventurers, it seemed, as riders had studied and now shared details and past experience of our grand destination: a lonely mountain east of nowhere. The instructions were brief and tactically specific. The rollout was sharply dressed and crisp, led by our ladies. As always we sort-of attempted what La Grange calls a double paceline, which is not a paceline at all but simply two, then three-and-a-half, lines of riders, leaving gaps for conversation between dear friends and new acquaintences. Of course our beautiful coast south is a familiar cruise to most.

Turning inland at Grand Ave in El Segundo woke our group up, a novel opening climb. Still our lady leaders who had reconned this segment the week before expertly piloted 66 now eager cyclists through the charming town for a proper warm-up that featured a jet takeoff right alongside us as we briefly overlooked LAX from the south.

A traditional into-the-breeze scramble along Westchester Pkwy led by local strongmen served as a stark gauge of current fitness. Race-like, the wreckage of hurtling pacelines stretched miles behind, by some accounts. At a regroup the main buzz was where are the bathrooms. We proceeded there, a few miles onward, directly without incident.

SAG, prepared and provided by our fine Directors, was outstanding throughout - the on-road support, the bountiful set-ups, the fresh homemade banana bread, the encouragement and love.

Refueled and supported thus, the peloton set out to conquer the Mountain, which turned out to be nothing more than spring green valleys and steep ridges, of which we sampled a few for a unique and expansive perspective of downtown with the high mountains behind it. You have to see all sides of this city to get it. Some took seriously our jest that we should do hill repeats and an extra scenic loop, while others watched with amused admiration.

Instead of A and B groups to the finish, everyone happily joined the gruppetto which was led by the ride planners themselves. People chatted and tried to remember where they’d been, and where they were at the moment, which made for an exceptionally light-hearted, congratulatory mood toward our arrivée.

After rides La Grange celebrates at Santa Monica Brew Works. You should, too.

In not listing individual contributors here, we acknowledge that such a success as this daring expedition proved was a clubwide effort. Thank you LG for a lovely tour!

New Members

Please say hello to our new members who joined in March 2025 (you can find them in our Member Directory):

Jenna C., Jinho H., Juan S., Kevin S., Pascal S., Sarah G., Sergio B., and Sukrant M.

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

Cycling News

Mathieu van der Poel’s third win of Flanders, 2024

The Classics “Holy Week” Begins with the Ronde

The Tour of Flanders on Sunday, April 6 is one of cycling’s five Monuments and a must-watch contest for true fans of the sport. Also known as the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the race was held for the first time in 1913 and will be celebrating its 109th edition in 2025, while the women’s race was added in 2004.

How to Watch

Holy Week concludes on Sunday, April 13 with Paris Roubaix.

Follow La Grange and Stay Informed!

Keep-up with LG Rides, News & more on our Social Channels

Support Our Sponsors

Santa Monica’s only brewery.

THANK YOU to our sponsors!

ACTS Law, Personal Injury Lawyers
APEX Law, Real Estate and Business Litigation
Caffe Luxxe, Artisanal Coffee Roasters

Helen’s Cycles, Local Community Bike Shop
Lee Ziff, Real Estate

Pedal Mafia, Killer Cycling Apparel

Rudy Project, Italian-Made Helmets and Eyewear

The Feed, #1 Source for Performance Nutrition

TriFit LA, Fitness and Performance Center
4iiii Powermeters, Harness the Power

Santa Monica Brew Works, Santa Monica’s First and Only Brewery

March La Voix

Hello La Grange, 

This month’s La Voix contains track racing news, a note from our LG President, a few awesome entries by club members in the form of an epic ride recap, volunteer report and new tandem training dates, updates from the LG Women’s ride, February LG50 recap, happy hour with Brian Hodes report and some promising news of a growing young generation of riders.

See you on the road.

Renée Fox, La Voix Editor


P.S. Have something else cycling-related you think would be interesting or beneficial to our members? Submit here to be considered for an upcoming newsletter.

Racing News

La Grange is Back on the Track with Morgan James

Weeknight track racing has started up at the velodrome! It’s a great opportunity to get some extra race reps in. Last week, I raced in the men’s field and ended up winning the omnium! I’m looking forward to an exciting track season with UCI racing slated to come to our local Carson, California track this summer.

Club News

LG Survey/ Request from LG President Larry Goodman:

Hello fellow La Grangers

Spring is in the air- a time of rejuvenation and planting seeds to grow. I am planting a seed as a request to each of you to help us grow our membership. 

Our recent survey revealed many things, including a need for more active community building both within our ranks and attracting engagement from outside the club.

LaGrange has a rich history and while our racing heritage is well known, less so are the accomplishments of members who rode their first centuries, lost weight, met their best friend and more. And there are many of those stories since most of us don’t race. Occasionally, we even have commuters join the back of the group on the weekday rides. There is a place for everyone within LaGrange. Please help spread the word and say hello, invite folks to join a club ride and offer words of encouragement or guidance.

 This is your club.  Let's work together to build and sustain its legacy.


Slow Ride to SLO By Amy Hutner

In the hopes of packing in a bit of adventure over Christmas break, I suggested to my partner, Gil, that we bike instead of drive to SLO to visit his son and grandson and take the AMTRAK back, and to my surprise, Gil said "sure, let's do it"!  We immediately started packing and setting up our bikes to leave the next morning so we’d have time to ride, visit with family and return for work Monday. We looked at the total distance (215 total miles) and considering both of us have limited bike training under our belt (we are both primarily ultra-runners), we decided 3 days riding was manageable. We picked Ventura as the first stop and booked a hotel. 

Day 1,  Out the door in Mar Vista by 8am.  Gil was riding his steel Salsa drop bar mountain bike with panniers, handlebar and top tube bags. I was on my Specialized Aethos road bike with a handlebar bag, a top tube bag and a backpack. We each carried a spare set of bike clothes, street clothes, tools, first aid, toiletries and some food. For full transparency, Gil carried most of my stuff in one of his panniers. 

The ride to Ventura on the coast was mostly scenic and not too challenging, which was fine for our first day. We stopped at Big Rock for a snack, and a fruit stand in Pt Hueneme.  I pulled over because I was looking for signs of Renee's new mural in Pt Hueneme and thought I spotted her beautiful bird theme, but turns out I was mistaken and settled for some overpriced fruit.  We got to Ventura with 62.6 miles and 1500 of elevation gain.  We walked along the beach from our hotel to a local brewery with a pizza place next door for dinner.    

Day 2 Our plan was to make it to Solvang.  We stopped for coffee and food at a Starbucks in Carpinteria.  Google maps took us on an inland route through Santa Barbara on Modoc Road, which I was unfamiliar with, and then said we should take the 154 to Solvang.  However, right before turning toward the 154, we ran into some cyclists who told us emphatically that the 154 was not safe to ride, and that we should continue further through Goleta and take the 101.  They recommended a detour on a more scenic route past Nojoqui Park into Solvang.  Riding on the 101 was a mixed bag.  The shoulder was quite wide so it never felt that dangerous, but when big trucks passed the wind would push me and we had to be careful crossing exits. The views of El Capitan and Refugio State Beach were nice distractions. I ran into a racing acquaintance from back in the day also riding on this section - the famously strong, eccentric Chris Walker who used to win all the Masters Road Races and still probably rides 100 miles a day.  As he passed me, I reminded him that we know each other, but he was more interested in keeping up his pace than chatting with and old "crush". 

We were told the climb on the 101 up to Nojoqui was maybe 4-5 miles but "not that bad".  Maybe it was because it came 63 miles into our day or we hadn't eaten enough, but the 5 mile climb along the side of a freeway seemed pretty bad!  It averaged 6-8% on crappy pavement and never seemed to end. It had a shoulder with a cement divider wall and I was able to ride most of the climb.  I finally crested the climb and descended a mile or so where I saw the right hand turn for Nojoqui Road and stopped to wait for Gil.  Gil pulled up 20-25 minutes later still in good spirits which is amazing considering his bike weighed so much with nobby wide tires and flat pedals. The alternate route to Solvang was pretty and tree covered.  We made it to Solvang with 78 miles and 3500 feet of elevation gain, arriving just before 4pm. The night before we had booked a room at "The Hamlett Inn", which was super cute and in the middle of town.  It was Jan 1st and Solvang was packed with tourists and filled with lights and decorations for the holidays. We found a decent place for some burgers, fries and beer and settled in for the night.

Day 3 We rode out of Solvang on Foxen Canyon through beautiful but slow going wine country roads, climbing 2,200 feet in 15 miles. The next 30 miles were mostly downhill into Santa Maria.  There, we stopped for lunch at an odd Mediterranean restaurant inside a liquor store and ate a big meal which seemed great until I got sick from the food immediately after.  There were some boring miles before the scenery improved by Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach and then it was "OK" the rest of the way into SLO.  We got to Gil's son's house by 3pm, with 75 miles and 2300 feet of elevation gain. In SLO,  we relaxed, hiked in Montana De Oro State Park and visited the Sea Otters in Morro Bay.  Sunday we woke early and rode our bikes to the Amtrak station in SLO to catch the 6:20am train to LA. From Union Station we took the train to Culver City, and were home by early Sunday afternoon.  All in all, a great adventure!  

Footnote - Club member Ryan K did the same ride IN ONE DAY this summer!  

John Fox, La Grange Volunteer

I heard about Volunteering for our bike club so I signed up. I brought my lunch, a bottle of water, and a hair brush, in case I got into any brambles in the Park we were headed to.

We took the LG Van to breakfast! I love the LG van, and I love breakfast even better. Sadly this breakfast was mostly for the bike riders, not for me. I did get a little banana, sweet!

When the bike riders finally got on their way, I cheered for them loudly!

After we cleaned up, a guy named Frank got in the van with us, and I stood on his lap as it gave me a better view, and I was watching anxiously for the riders. I do get anxious.

When we saw them, things got busy and we had to keep stopping, getting out of the van, and helping fix bikes and things. Then we didn’t see bikes anymore and just drove around for a while.

When we finally stopped I really had to pee! Luckily we were in a pretty nice parking lot with shade trees and a strip of grass. We began to set up Lunch. I wasn’t sure what we were doing since no one else except we and Frank were there, and it was a lot of food! But then suddenly the bike riders zoomed in! and I spotted my Mama on her bike!

I got more fruit and treats and walked around to meet people with my Mama. It was awesome. Soon the bike riders were leaving again, and I cheered for them even more loudly!

I was already tired when we got everything back in the van and started driving around again. We passed a lot of bike riders. Finally we went to that same place for beer, the one with the picnic tables. A lot of dogs were there! Mama and the other bike riders made it too.

It was a lot of work but also a lot of fun. I think we did a great job, and I might sign up again.you can join the conversation on our WhatsApp “LG Volunteers” channel, where we’ll be sharing upcoming opportunities and coordinating efforts.

Drew Pedrick (left) and family

A Note of Thanks by Drew Pedrick

Thanks to all the LG members who reached out to me personally (and perhaps to other equally impacted members) and offered kind words, free kit, a guitar session, a spare bike, cups of coffee and a sympathetic ear (perhaps a wheel or two) during these very traumatic and disquieting times. I can’t tell you what all this means and how important an athletic and social routine is. LG was and is a constant during this rough patch and I want to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude.

Warmest Regards,

Drew

Tandem Training Clinic with Wayfinder Family Services and LG member Sonya Chapman!

We had our very first successful Tandem Captain Training Clinic last month!! There will be another tandem cycling event on March 8 –Register HERE

Friday, March 8

8AM – 1PM

5300 Angeles Vista Blvd

No experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm. Sign up here!

Santa Monica Brew Works Happy Hour with Brian Hodes

Recap by Larry Goodman

For the February happy hour longtime friend of the club and professional cycling photographer Brian Hodes put on a one hour photo presentation where he shared the stories of each shot.  The event took place at our newest sponsor, Santa Monica Brew Works where members were able to imbibe their favorite refreshment and eat pizzas from the sister restaurant EmmySquared.

 During the slide show, Brian shared how he became a professional photographer, capturing a horrific terrorist attack as a teenager with a camera and then coming full circle to the start of the Giro in Israel a few years back. His photographs were a mix of the US cycling scene, Paracyclists and athletes, the Global races, and some special shots with his close friend Peter Sagan. Brian shared how he often chose the less obvious positioning to capture different and interesting angles that others missed.  Often Brian would end up climbing up hillsides and even up bridges. Then there was the editing of the pictures. Brian shared that in a typical day of a grand tour he would have to go through as many as 5000 shots to produce 20-50 photos to turn over to his client, often not finishing until 18 hours after the whole process began.

We look forward to planning more events like this where we can pair the fun of a happy hour with casual, cycling related ’ infotainment’. Keep your eye out for news of the next one which can be found on the LG website club calendar, What’s App announcements and emails.

Club Rides Recap

February LG50 led by Tara Kriese and Marco Fantone, SAG by David Newcombe and Frank Whitelock

Full photo album by various contributors- here

Recap by Tara Kriese

Our February LG50 was an incredible day on the bike, with over 75 riders rolling out from San Vicente and Ocean under perfect conditions. Our amazing SAG crew—David Newcomb, Frank Whitlock and John Fox—kept everyone fueled with pastries  and coffee from our sponsor, Caffé Luxxe, before ride leaders Tara Kriese and Marco Fantone led the peloton up San Vicente, across Santa Monica Boulevard, and onto Sunset. The route took us through all of West LA into Hollywood, over to Western, and up into Griffith Park, where the real climbing began.

At Griffith Park, the group splintered as riders tackled the climbs at their own pace, with a regroup at the Observatory while our fearless SAG team assisted with flats and mechanicals. We gathered for a group photo with the Hollywood sign as our backdrop before descending Trash Truck Hill, where our SAG crew was waiting once again. A few more mechanicals slowed things down, but the riders and sweep volunteers handled them smoothly.

For the first time, we officially split into A and B groups—Marco led the A group at a fast clip across Mulholland, while Tara led the B group social and steady, picking up a few A group riders who ran into issues along the way. Honorary SAG dog John Fox and his SAG crew mates, David and Frank, followed in the van to keep spirits high, capture photos and videos, and track the ride’s progress.

The ride wrapped up at Santa Monica Brew Works, where a few rounds of beers may or may not have been consumed. Huge thanks to our ride and SAG volunteers who made it all happen: ride leaders Tara and Marco, ride sweeps Jaycee Carey (who handled multiple flats and kept riders moving) and Amanda Weinstock (who made sure no riders were left behind), and our all-volunteer SAG crew of David Newcomb, Frank Whitlock, and John Fox.

Another amazing LG50 in the books—see you at the next one!

LG Women’s Rides: Growing, Thriving, and Expanding

by Tara Kriese

What started as a new initiative has now become a staple of the La Grange weekend ride lineup—our Women’s Rides are going strong! In February, we tackled a mix of routes, from the climbs of Bel Air and Mount St. Mary’s to scenic loops around Lake Hollywood and a tour of Neighborhoods East. We continue to roll three to four times a month, filling the Saturdays when there’s no LG50 with inclusive, welcoming rides for all.

Looking ahead to March, we’re planning some exciting new adventures, including a special drive-to ride route in the Valley starting in Westlake, and a dedicated ride for International Women’s Day.

If you haven’t yet, spread the word! Invite your female friends to join us. We post weekly ride details on Strava, Instagram, Facebook, and in the club WhatsApp group. These rides are open to all female riders and have already led to six new women joining La Grange—let’s keep the momentum going!

A big thank you to those who have stepped up to lead rides in recent weeks. We look forward to seeing more of our LG women leading rides in the months ahead. See you out there!

New Members

Please say hello to our new members who joined in February 2025 (you can find them in our Member Directory): Ryan K., Brian H., Andi C., Josh K., and Debbie C.

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

Cycling News

USA Cycling: “Promising Membership Trends: Growth in Young Rider Participation”

In preparation for the 2025 racing season, we took a deep dive into membership trends from the past year. We were pleased to find that our membership is growing—and it's all about the next generation.

One of the most encouraging trends we’ve seen is a 7.5% increase in members aged 23 and younger. This growth directly reflects the expansion of our grassroots development programs, local club engagement, and the continued efforts of our cycling community to inspire the next wave of riders.

Additionally, collegiate cycling membership has grown by 19.3%.

We’ve also seen substantial growth in racers competing at the UCI level, with an 18.2% increase. This rise highlights the strength of our development efforts and the growing opportunities for racers to compete on the world stage.

Another notable trend is the shift in the average age of USA Cycling members. In 2023, the average member age was 46. In 2024, it dropped to 39, signaling a movement of younger riders joining the organization.

These positive membership trends reinforce our mission to support and grow cycling at all levels. We thank our members, clubs, and race organizers for their ongoing dedication to the sport, and we look forward to building on this momentum throughout 2025 and beyond!

Follow La Grange and Stay Informed!

Keep-up with LG Rides, News & more on our Social Channels

Support Our Sponsors


La Grange members receive a 20% discount on all retail Pedal Mafia clothing and accessories. Please use “lagrange20” at checkout. Thank you for supporting Pedal Mafia. Order here.

February La Voix

Hello La Grange, 

I want to start by saying that I am so proud to be a part of this club. In response to major disruptions and loss from the fires, I’ve seen club members rally and support one another, our sponsors and Los Angeles in such incredibly passionate ways. This community is capable of support because we all participate in it. In this La Voix are more ways to engage, and be a part of La Grange in impactful and rewarding ways, whether its showing up for rides, helping to care for our club van, volunteering for SAG, leading an LG50, donating to victims of the fires, learning to captain a tandem for blind riders or contributing your unique voice to our WhatsApp community, so please look at the different ways our board and club members are working to build community and if there is a place you can see yourself contributing.

** Important note- Please be sure to check the LG website and WhatsApp LG Rides group for updates regarding rides and routes in light of fire damaged areas.

See you on the road.

Renée Fox, La Voix Editor


P.S. Have something else cycling-related you think would be interesting or beneficial to our members? Submit here to be considered for an upcoming newsletter.

A Letter from our new Club President, Larry Goodman:

Hello Fellow La Grangers,

This club has given much to me and I am honored to be giving back as the president for 2025.

Velo Club LaGrange began in a mix of community and to help juniors enter racing. This year I want to begin, but not stop, rebuilding both and ensuring the club’s continuation by attracting more, younger members. And, this year we have a new and promising Development race team.

The Development Team is being led by a few volunteering parents and our Race Captain Aldo Jimenez.  So we have that covered.

What I need your help with is further community building with the eye towards younger and more diverse riders. Part of this will take some pivoting and adjustment just as the racing scene is underway. I think of our club as a goal-oriented cycling club where riders who want to train for their first century, get faster, lose weight while having fun or meet new and interesting people with a fitness mindset are all welcome. The race team is but one type of goal and here to inspire.

My association with LaGrange began with a longtime member Rob saying hello and inviting me along on a Friday ride. Please try to do the same to others as you come across them.

Vive LaGrange,
Larry

Racing News

La Grange La Fabrica Development Race Team Report

by Sean Knierim

As many of our community know, LaGrange launched the LaGrange/LaFábrica Development Race Team this year to support young riders leaning into our sport.  

Inspired by the meaning of La Fábrica—“The Factory” in Spanish —this program is designed to build, refine, and shape promising riders into top-tier competitors. This investment reflects LaGrange’s deep belief in the power of cycling to shape character, instill discipline, and create lifelong opportunities both on and off the bike.

The team had their first race on Jan 25 up north of Santa Barbara.  Four of our riders competed in some serious wind this last weekend:  Aidan rode in the Cat 3 division, and our Cat 4 included Chase, Tristan and Ryan.  We encourage everyone on LG to follow and support these riders on Strava and IG.  

Aidan showed up and finished the ride despite losing his home in the Palisades fire earlier in the month.  Tristen and Ryan pushed their limits and learned a ton.  Chase also drove hard…until a rock took him out of the race (some bruises, but Chase and his new LG race kit will be ready to go in the coming weeks).

Aldo Jimenez is managing the team after racing for us over the last years.  He did a great job pulling the crew together headed into the weekend and has already started incorporating learnings from race #1 to prepare us for the coming season.  This will include cooking classes for pre-race prep…someone ended up burning spaghetti the night before before the rest of the crew arrived to provide calories to the boys.

BJ Olsen helped Aldo design this new team and provides performance coaching for individuals and the team.  LG member and Aidan’s dad, Sean Knierim, has been managing operations and board engagement.

Various members of the team will be competing during upcoming weekends so keep an eye out for the LG Race jersey.  We will share news about the upcoming race schedule with the club - please come out and support the team!

And please connect with Sean (sean.knierim@gmail.com) or LaVoix@lagrange.org if you would like to learn more about supporting this great group of young riders.Club News

Club News

Happy Hour at Gilbert’s El Indio!

Thursday Feb 27. Details to follow soon.

Life on the back of a motorcycle in the Peleton: words and photographs from Brian Hodes, Pro Cycling Photographer.

Based in Los Angeles, Brian Hodes has been a professional cycling photographer, traveling the world pursuing his work for the last 20 years. He has worked with the ‘who’s who’ in the sport including three-time Tour de France Champion Chris Froome, and three-time World Road Champion Peter Sagan, along with the top teams including Bora-Hansgrohe and Israel Premiere Tech.

LG Volunteers – Get Involved!

One of the best parts of being in a cycling club is the opportunity to contribute to something bigger—helping make local cycling even better. Volunteering brings ownership, which leads to greater satisfaction. What we all want.

Leading the charge are David Newcombe and Colin Razor, who are heading up our Volunteer Committee. Whether you’re a seasoned helper or just looking to get involved, you can join the conversation on our WhatsApp “LG Volunteers” channel, where we’ll be sharing upcoming opportunities and coordinating efforts.

Brian Perkins helping Rob Seltzer move some furniture into their new home.

Stronger Together: The LaGrange Community’s Response to the Fires

by Tara Kriese

The Palisades and Altadena fires deeply impacted our community, with over a dozen La Grange members losing homes, facing displacement, or dealing with hazardous conditions. While the devastation has been immense, the outpouring of support from our members has been even more powerful.

From day one, LG members stepped up—offering bikes, kits, and gear, as well as temporary and long-term housing for those displaced. Others provided transportation and logistical support, filling critical gaps in the recovery process. Brands and partners also contributed, helping members get back on the road.

As we move into the resettlement and rebuilding phase, let’s continue to check in on those affected and encourage them to get back on the bike. Riding isn’t just about fitness—it’s about community, resilience, and support.

To everyone who has helped—thank you. La Grange is more than a club; it’s a family, and your generosity has made all the difference. Let’s keep riding, together.

Tandem Training Clinic with Wayfinder Family Services and LG member Sonya Chapman!

Help Sonya’s racing dream come true! Join us next Sunday afternoon to learn how to captain a tandem and support Sonya’s goal of racing one.

Saturday, February 8

1:00 – 3:00 PM

5300 Angeles Vista Blvd

No experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm. Sign up here!

Club Rides Recap

January LG50 led by Marco Fantone and Dan Mitnick, SAG by Deb Carabet

Full photo album by Dan Mitnick- here

LG Women’s Rides

by Tara Kriese

The energy and momentum around our La Grange Women’s Rides have been incredible! Over the past two months, we’ve gone from just four riders on our first outing to 15 women at our most recent ride—with even more asking about this weekend’s ride. The enthusiasm from both longtime members and new faces has been inspiring, and it’s exciting to see more women getting involved, building confidence, and strengthening our community on the road.

Since we kicked off these rides, we’ve explored Bel Air, Palos Verdes, and Topanga, adapting along the way—including turning one of our women’s rides into a community ride the weekend after the Palisades fire because we all just needed to ride together. More than just miles, these rides have been a welcoming space for women to connect, learn, and gain confidence riding in a group. Many have joined the club after experiencing the camaraderie, support, and skill-building these rides offer.

Special thanks to our volunteer ride leaders thus far including Ginny Turner, Amy Hutner, and Renée Fox.

If you’ve been thinking about riding with us, now is the time! Our next Women’s Ride is this Saturday—we’ll meet at 8:00 AM at 26th & San Vicente for a scenic tour of Bel Air. Whether you’re new to group riding or just looking for a fun, supportive ride with other women, we’d love to have you join. Spread the word, bring a friend, and let’s keep this momentum rolling!

And beyond the bike, we’re planning our next Women’s Happy Hour—stay tuned! We’ll share details soon in WhatsApp and on our social channels, so keep an eye out and join us for some fun off the bike as well.

Women’s Ride to the PV Domes on January 18th

New Members

Please say hello to our new members who joined in November and December 2024 (you can find them in our Member Directory):

Steve S., Marc B., Richard B., Robert A., Scott V., Renee T., Caroline M., Alan B., and Zahra K.   

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

Cycling News

Elsewhere in the world.. The Tour Down Under… via Cycling News.com

The 2025 racing season is underway. Santos Tour Down Under recently concluded and this year it was Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly who claimed the top victories of the Australian summer, leading a podium full of international riders after tackling an array of stages which delivered some of the toughest terrain yet.

Follow La Grange and Stay Informed!

Keep-up with LG Rides, News & more on our Social Channels

Support Our Sponsors

The beauty of European tradition, made in Los Angeles. Established 2006.

LG Club Members receive a 15% discount on your entire purchase, excluding gift cards, when you present your La Grange membership card.

Our beloved Caffe Luxxe Palisades Village location was among the businesses and homes lost during the fires and the Malibu location is temporarily closed. Please help support Caffe Luxxe by patronizing their other locations:

Cart (0)