La Voix December 2023

RACING NEWS

La Grange Podium This Past Weekend With Katie Marsh

 

At the Turkey Trot CX race in Costa Mesa this weekend, Katie Marsh swept up a nice third place on the women’s podium. After moving up from fifth on the first lap, She chased for second but to no avail for the remainder of the race. Katie is looking forward to the rest of the cyclocross season this year and we can’t wait to cheer her on!

 

Southern California Cyclocross Prestige Series

 

SOCALCROSS series points accrue over 5 weekends and 10 race dates are planned this season. We will start sooner next year for a full season of cyclocross! 

Want to get involved? Race, Cheer, Volunteer, and more. Contact dot@socalcross.org with lots more ‘cross fun on a bicycle coming your way this winter. Stay up to date @socalcross and our partners throughout the ’23-24 season!

 

GCN+ | GCN App Is Shutting Down

 

By Stephen Farrand, published November 15, 2023.

GCN+ to close down in December as race broadcasts move to Discovery+ and Eurosport
'This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery and is driven by its global strategy'

GCN+ and its related app will close down on December 19, affecting the way many people watch professional racing in 2024, including the Tour de France, the Classics and many other races.

GCN+, which is owned by Warner Bros, announced the closure in an email to subscribers and on the GCN website and app. The globalcyclingnetwork.com website and the GCN YouTube channels will continue. 

Warner Bros. Discovery has been making a series of cuts and savings across its many companies. 

“It's the news we never wanted to announce, but today we're announcing the closure of GCN+ and the GCN app,” a message said. “Our huge thanks to everyone who subscribed, commented, and contributed to making it such a great product.

"This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content," a more detailed message explained.

"Given the news, we really want to express our thanks, to you, and the hundreds of thousands of cycling fans who have supported us and subscribed to GCN+.

"We also want to say thank you to the talented and hard-working people at GCN+ and on the GCN App who have poured their hearts and souls into creating such amazing content.

"The reality is that the media industry landscape has changed, and this is why WBD's streaming services are being consolidated to offer content in one place."

A message in the app confirms GCN+ will close on December 19 "in all countries and regions" while the company also confirmed that "GCN+ subscribers will receive a refund for the time remaining on their subscriptions."

GCN+ said viewers should check their local sports channels and sports broadcasters to find out where to watch cycling events, giving different options for different countries.

"In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport, or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans.

Information for viewers in the USA and other territories around the world served by GCN+ was not yet available.

 

Surf City CX in Santa Cruz, CA

 

By Dan Funk

Warren Sutton loves CX. While he is a relative newcomer to the sport, he is not a newcomer to cycling and endurance sports, a fact you’ll learn when riding with him after a season of winter ski races from Crested Butte to Aspen. Those jaunts are a mere 40 miles with 6800 feet of vertical gain mostly between 10k and 12k feet of elevation! 

For those unfamiliar with cyclocross, it is a form of bike racing that takes place in autumn and winter and consists of many laps of a short 1.5 – 2 mile course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills, and obstacles requiring the rider to dismount, carry the bike and quickly remount. The races typically take around 40 minutes to an hour, and in countries like Belgium and the Netherlands, you can find multiple races every weekend during the season within an hour's drive. The fitness required for success is a high level of aerobic endurance coupled with great bike-handline skills. Unlike road or criterium racing, cx culture is laid-back and fun, e.g. it’s not uncommon to see a beer-handoff area on a cx course!!

Warren and his family decided to take a weekend off for the drive north to camp and race.  His sons are also getting into the sport and seem to enjoy it as much as he does. 

Surf City CX is held at Crest Ranch which is perched in the forest on top of Bonny Doon Mountain, just a 20-minute drive from Santa Cruz. The race course features smooth (yes!) fast sections, singletrack descents, run-ups, and other fun features. One feature that is unique to cx is the man-made bridge which you’ll go over and under. Categories in cx include A, B & C groups, plus masters. As you’d expect with a Santa Cruz location, NorCal racers were out in force, and the competitive field made for great CX racing. 
Warren placed 2nd in his B group’s Saturday race, and on Sunday he placed 1st, besting the guy who beat him the day before. No doubt beers were enjoyed by all!!

 

The Bovine Classic - Gravel Ride/Race in Atascadero, CA (Oct 28)

 

By Dan Funk

They call it a ride, but it’s timed so you know riders will be racing… 

This is Bovine’s second year and the race (ride) just keeps getting better. Put on by the well-known, well-liked, and formerly LA-based Bryan Yates, this event takes place in the central coast area around Atascadero. I’m unfamiliar with the area, but I’ve become a big fan of the rolling hills, live oaks, tucked-away vineyards, and the superb asphalt/dirt riding encountered throughout the route.  

There are 4 different courses offered, from 37 miles to 99.9 miles, and while the race is held on Saturday, the organizers offer a full 3-day weekend of rides and events for those wanting to maximize their experience in that beautiful part of California. The feeds are well stocked and frequent, and the feast at the finish is top-notch. This year our generous swag bag included a nice pint glass to enjoy the post-ride suds, and my meal choice was beef short ribs…suberb!

Gravel riding is the new thing in cycling, attracting riders of all skill levels and riding styles. One thing that sets Bovine apart from other gravel events is the scoring format. Rather than a leaderboard based on the best overall time, Bovine lays out three different timed sections and the lowest cumulative time on these sections determines the leaderboard in the different categories. 

Each section is a little bit different. There’s the dirt climb, a dirt tt, and a single track with a tt finish. All are spaced out to allow recovery but most of all to allow the rider to enjoy the course and feeds. I don’t know how many events I’ve been to where I don’t even stop at the feeds as I try to get a low overall time. That would be a waste of a beautiful course if Bovine took the same tact.   

To all those interested in spending a lovely weekend on the central coast and enjoying first-class scenery and riding conditions, I highly recommend The Bovine Classic. 
(See the photo gallery n the Below is a link to photos, including a few of me from the event !)

 

CLUB NEWS
La Grange Banquet at Stella Barra

 
 

A spectacular time was had by all at our 2023 banquet hosted for the first time at the beautiful Stella Barra in Santa Monica. 

The quality of food, service, and ambiance were excellent! From start to finish, we were served by a friendly staff, passing trays of Rosé, Cabernet, Chardonnay, and a selection of cookies after eating to our heart's content from a delicious buffet of homemade pasta, tender meatballs, salads, and pizza. Marco’s incredible collection of jerseys was once again on display, from the club's very first wool jersey to a real-life sample of our 2024 kit! 

Other historic items included an original menu from La Grange Restaurant and rare photographs of our club's founder. A wealth of valuable prizes were raffled off to happy club members. The grand prize $4000 voucher toward a new Canyon bike was won by Dan Warner and a sweet set of new Nir wheels went to Joann Zwaggerman. 

La Granger of The Year trophy was awarded to Jan Datomi, the most deserving recipient, who brings an air of effortlessness to her many contributions to the club. The Raymond Fouquet Award went to the deserving Morgan James, our hard-working working passionate track team captain.

It was great to see our club so vibrant in coming together to support our generous sponsors and each other's achievements. Thanks from this current board to all participants and we will be building together this year on the energy you all helped to create!

 

Lisa’s October Escape Story

 

By Lisa Goldfarb

Before I was into cycling I was really into inline skating. Friday Night Skate starting at the Santa Monica Pier at 9 pm was my weekly jam.

Doooo ittttt!!!! Inline skating is great cross-training for cycling!

I've known about A2A, Athens to Atlanta road skate, for quite a while. It's been an annual event for 41 years! I'd hear stories about it from my friends who attended. Finally this year they said to me, “We're going and it's not gonna get any easier, so come!” 

I had about a month to train for the 87-mile road skate with a 4000 ft elevation gain on Oct 15. The furthest I'd ever skated was 40 miles but I barely skated all year.  

Somehow in my worst skating fitness with old crappy rec skates, I managed to do the distance. Not gonna lie, after about 50 miles I thought I was gonna die! I was surprised to see my body just keep going despite the pain and exhaustion.

I was grateful I wasn't hit by a truck like that one guy in the first 2 minutes of the skate (we had to restart the skate!), and I didn't wind up in the bloody road rash and broken bones skate pile-up 8 miles into the race or injure myself in any way. 

The scenery was beautiful, the weather perfect and my skate companions were there suffering by my side the whole way. It took us 8 hours and I managed to podium in my age category. I rocked my La Grange Jersey the whole day through the state of Georgia.

 

Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels Ride & Meals On Wheels-WLA Fundraiser

 

Thanks to the 50+ riders who attended and gave generously at the Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels Ride & Meals On Wheels-WLA Fundraiser that started at Caffe Luxxe on Montana and rode south to Malaga Cove. It was a lot of fun and perfect weather for a holiday ride. The group rode south through the Marina, with a social stop at Malaga Cove while some riders did a quick golf course loop. Such a cool way to share Thanksgiving celebrations with other club members! Check out the photos above by Dan Mitnick.

For over 20 years, Velo Club La Grange has raised money for the West Los Angeles chapter of Meal-On-Wheels, a national organization dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation in local communities. Serving over 85,000 meals per year to seniors and the disabled, Meals On Wheels-WLA is also serving recently unhoused veterans at the sprawling West LA VA Campus.

You can still donate! All donations are tax-deductible. Any amount is appreciated.

1) Donations can be made through La Grange PayPal here (note: Please put “Meals-on-Wheels” in the note section and please use "Send money to a family or friend" so that we aren't charged fees).

2)  Click here to donate to MoW-WLA directly.

 

New La Grange Instagram Channel

 

We’ve got a few ways to keep up with Club rides, activities, and photos! Be sure to follow us on your preferred channel (or channels)!

Keep up with weekly, special, and other rides & more on our Social Channels:

  1. Instagram: LG Club (new)

  2. Instagram: LG Race Team

  3. LG on Strava

  4. LG on Facebook

Follow us and tag us in your posts! Here’s how:

Include your ride photos on the Channels by mentioning the Club (Handle @veloclublagrange) in your posts. You can also use the hashtag #lagrangecycling

 

The All New 2024 Kit

 

The all-new 2024 La Grange kit store is open! If you are unsure of your size in the Pedal Mafia kit, we recommend visiting our friends at the Pedal Mafia store in Santa Monica to try on the kit and ensure you are ordering the correct size. Thanks again to Lisa Goldfarb for this hip take on classic design which will make us all look sharp!

Additionally, we are postponing our annual club photo until late January, date TBA so that we can all be in the latest kit.

 

LG50 is Going to The SF Valley: Dec 2nd

 
 

The Rescheduled November LG50 ride goes to The SF Valley!

This LG50 ride celebrates the beautiful SoCal Autumn weather as we roll over to the San Fernando Valley via Malibu Canyon and Wells with a shady side trip through Cold Canyon. Our #LG50 ride this month promises scenic views, camaraderie, and good times with special delicious Fall treats.

The ride will be led by Jaycee and friends.

Saturday, December 2nd
7:30 AM - Coffee, courtesy of Caffe Luxxe, & Snacks
8 AM - Roll from San Vicente & Ocean
Post-ride libations at Santa Monica Brew Works

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/23524706

“The Gift”: The Origins of La Grange

 

During the Annual LG Banquet while MC'ing, Larry mentioned a film that Bill Birrell and Edgar Burkssen, two longtime club members, put together about the origins of La Grange titled “The Gift.

You can find "The Gift" here on YouTube.

Vive La Grange.

 

Meet a New LG Member: Claire Fox Hofbauer!

 

Please meet LG Member Claire Fox Hofbauer!

An estate planning attorney, Claire is starting her own firm. She is from Los Angeles California, specifically born in the Hollywood Hills. Currently, Claire “does nothing other than ride bikes and cuddle her cat Lulu”. 

What drew you to the sport of cycling?

A boyfriend showed me how to ride a road bike in 2013 and I have been addicted ever since. On that maiden bike ride - my first time riding clipped in as well as riding in general - I fell 17 times and bled all over the matte white specialized Amira that we rented in Palo Alto. My boyfriend didn’t bother to explain the gearing to me, so I kept doing it backward and falling over as a result. My boyfriend was so embarrassed returning a dark brown and purple Amira to the shop that he just left it leaning up against the back of the shop, and we ran back into the car and drove away. I think descending after climbing Old La Honda, and how beautiful and fun it was, is the reason that I never stopped cycling after that day, despite having no skin left on my knees. I bought my own bike in 2014 and have had five road bikes, two gravel bikes, and two commuter bikes in rotation since then. All in all, I have ridden over 30,000 miles. 

How would you describe yourself as a cyclist? 

I am my best self when on the bike and around other cyclists. I think that only cyclists understand how much freedom there is getting on a bicycle, and how much more sensual the experience of the world, and the roads are traveling on a bicycle than any other way. I feel totally present when I am on my bike and feel all the scenery and road and every sensation around me. I can be a little bit reckless, but I am getting more careful as I get older. 

The only other sport I love is swimming and that is because I feel really mellow afterwards. I wouldn’t say I enjoy the act of swimming as much as I love the experience of Cycling. I really am a 1 trick pony. 

Tell us about your bike(s)!! 

My newest bike is a KOKO By CHAPTER2. It is forest green with yellow and silver details. My favorite things about it are how awesome it looks color-wise (I think I love all green bikes), its aerodynamic geometry that has curves built in to integrate the wheel/tire behind the frame, and the fact that its clearance allows me to ride road on 32 mm tubeless tires. I can descend faster and with more control on this bike, than on any bike ever. 

My other most-used bike is a dark blue pivot vault gravel bike. It is a SRAM 1x12 with a cassette in the back sporting a big old 52 (!!!) that lets me get just about anywhere. I have ridden it on many LG rides and feel happy to have it under me when we hit bumpy roads. I ride it with 40 mm knobby tires tubeless and it is great for all of the gravel trails on the west and east side as well as general city riding.  

When did you join LG? 

I joined LG when I moved to Los Angeles in 2020 but I did not go on a group ride until 2023. I think I waited so long bc the rides meet on the west side and I live in mid-city. I joined because someone told me it was a good cycling group and that if I chose to start racing again it would be a great team to race for. I have been to a few races and I can see that the team provides a lot of support. I enjoy all of the LG 50 rides. All my favorite LG members come together to ride them, and the routes are fun and a lot safer with our critical mass. I really liked the LG 50 route when we went to the observatory because the route and the people were great and the pace was social. I also always enjoy the Nichols ride because it goes through the roads of my childhood. It’s a hammerfest and I am always last and get dropped like a hot potato BUT it always sets me up for a good Sunday. 

Please share a cycling story: 

If I have to pick one story, … the Bike MS ride from Santa Monica to Ventura was a pretty ridiculous adventure. I was riding on the LG team with the nicest and most caring people. Approximately 3 miles into the ride, I slipped on a small bit of chalk on the bike path and broke my seat, as well as hit my right knee and cracked my frame (I didn’t know about the frame until a week later). Luckily, I had enough cash to purchase an alternate seat from the Bike MS mechanic who installed it for me and proceeded to go ahead and ride the whole route, stopping every 25 miles or so to have my leg wrapped by the local medics. My LG teammates never abandoned me and were so awesome and supported me the whole ride as my knee continued to swell to the size of a huge, bloody balloon. It was because of my teammates that the day was a total success and that I had a great time personally. It also felt great to be doing a ride for a great cause. There are lots of pictures on Instagram posted by the Ventura police and Ventura fire accounts of me getting my leg wrapped with a big smile on my face with the Ventura paramedics who helped me keep going. I felt a lot of gratitude for that ride. That sense of being part of a community that likes adversity but also has deep caring for each other is what cycling is all about for me. 

Claire recommends:

Caffe Luxxe & Gilbert’s El Indio

 

How Pro Cyclists Balance Strength and Mobility

 

By Gavin Mannion

Wondering how you can fit in more off-the-bike training into your plan? Here’s how the pros do it.

“The off-season and pre-season are typically the best times to begin an off-the-bike program. When riding time is low or non-existent, you can really focus on the other areas that need attention.” Read on for ideas on how to optimize off-season months. 

 

CicLAvia—South LA Presented by Metro

 

On Sunday, December 3, CicLAvia is opening up streets connecting Leimert Park and Historic South Central so you can jog, ride, bike, skate, run, walk, skateboard, spectate, and enjoy the route however you want.

CicLAvia routes are welcoming to people of all ages and abilities so bring your family to celebrate bicycles in LA!

This CicLAvia is presented by Metro.

 

Sponsored Content - ACTS Law Firm

 

Dear Cyclists and Friends,

As the holiday season unfolds, we at ACTS Law Firm want to reach out to you, our valued cycling community. This time of year is a poignant reminder of the joys, challenges, and resilience that cycling brings into our lives.

Your unwavering commitment to cycling, both as a sport and a lifestyle, continues to inspire us. At ACTS Law, we not only share your enthusiasm for cycling but also understand the risks that come with it. That's why we have dedicated a section of our practice to cycling safety, offering resources and tips to help keep you safe on the road. We believe that being informed is a key step in preventing accidents and promoting a safer cycling environment for everyone.

We also know that sometimes, despite all precautions, incidents happen. If you or someone you know has been involved in a cycling collision, remember that ACTS Law is here to stand with you. We are committed to fighting for the rights of cyclists, ensuring that you receive the support and justice you deserve in the aftermath of an accident. Our team is equipped with the expertise and empathy to navigate these challenging situations, and we are just a call away.

As we look towards the New Year, we wish you safe and enjoyable rides. May your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and the warmth of shared experiences. We look forward to continuing to support you in the coming year.

Happy Holidays,

The Team at ACTS Law Firm

 

SOS - Support Our Sponsors

 
 
 

4iiii

Treat yourself this Holiday Season. Get great deals on 4iiii Powermeters and Heart Rate Monitors. 4iiiii powermeters feature exceptional accuracy, warranty, and lightweight design. The new PRECISION 3 Powermeter even has Apple Find My technology. See their site for more details and use the code located on the LG Benefits page.

Check out 4iiii Innovations.

Pedal Mafia

By now you have probably worn some Pedal Mafia kit and you know they make some of the most comfortable and high-performance cycling apparel out there. Hope you purchased your beautiful new 2024 La Grange Kit and remember La Grange members get 20% off all in-stock items. Use the code located on the LG Benefits page.

Check out what’s new at Pedal Mafia…

 

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.

New Members

 

Please say hello to our new members who joined in November 2023 (you can find them in our Member Directory):

Christopher T., Allan G., Alex K., and Tom H.

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

 

Guest User

Cart (0)