La Voix August 2023
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RACING NEWS:
Morgan James Silvers at Track Nationals
RECAP: The Manhattan Beach Grand Prix
Joey B and Company rock The Rift
CLUB NEWS:
RECAP: The July Santa Barbara Century & LG50 ride
Meet the LG Member: Drew Pedrick
IN THE NEWS:
PRODUCT REVIEW: The 4iiii Viiiiva Heart Rate Monitor
SAVE THE DATE: The All-Clubs Picnic and Eldo Finale are coming!
UPHILL CLIMB–The story of the Tour de France Féminine
TIPS: Heat Training for Cyclists
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
Caffe Luxxe: Introducing the ultimate cold brew experience!
RACING NEWS
Morgan James wins Silver @ Track Nats!
Last month our Track Captain, Morgan James competed in the Elite Track National Championship at the Velodrome in Carson. To say competing in this world-class event is a massive undertaking of time, training, and determination is an understatement. But let’s hear from Morgan herself.
“I’m so proud of my performance with all its ups and downs and I’m so thankful to La Grange for making it all possible. Every day got better and I’m proud we finished it out with a podium. Here are my placements
Team pursuit: 2nd
Elimination race: 4th
3K individual Pursuit: 6th
Omnium: 6th
Scratch race: 9th
Racing against the Olympic champion and countless other international contenders and national team members was daunting, but I came out of this week as a better and more confident racer. It was such an amazing experience and I can’t wait to shoot my shot for Gold next year! Thank you, La Grange, for your endless support.”
We’re rooting for you, Morgan. Here’s to next year's Championship!
Recap: The Manhattan Beach Grand Prix
La Grange had a great time at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix last month. The racing was fast and furious and like all racing, not easy. Peter had our best result of the day with a 4th from a breakaway in the Masters 50+ while Captain Laura Martin came in 11th in the women’s Cat 4 race. We also got to chat with our wonderful partners from ACTS Law. It was awesome to see so many new and familiar faces come out to support our LG race team. Enjoy the pictures!
RACE REPORT: Joey, Cara, & Andy rock The Rift!
By Joe Bernadello
The Rift Gravel Race Iceland.
Iceland is billed as the land of Ice and Fire, but perhaps they need to amend that to be the land of Ice, Fire, Rocks, Wind, SAND, and worst of all, WASHBOARD.
I raced The Rift last year and loved every minute of the experience; the landscape, waterfalls, people, bike-riding, food, natural hot springs, adventure, and suffering too were all top-notch. My wife and I loved our time in Iceland so much that I went back for a second helping of the race this year (she rode the 45K for the first time - WOOT!). All of our impressions from the first trip held true except that the suffering part went beyond the good kind of suffering and instead took me well beyond the limits of even type-2 fun. You see, Iceland has been relatively dry this summer, which has resulted in some good things like no snow fields to ride (um, walk) across and lower river levels that made the river crossings way easier, and some very bad things like a course that lacked good riding lines. For nearly all of the 200KM course, we were forced to either ride in sand, over doll-head-sized rocks, or on the most dreadful washboard imaginable, and when you were really lucky you somehow got all of them at the same time. With a stiff headwind. Yay.
I was joined in Iceland by LG friends Cara and Andy Applegate each riding their own bikes (because how do you get a tandem to Iceland???) and Irene van den Broek who was bike packing/camping like a total bada$$. Each of them did impressively well, though they all admitted to the difficulty of the course and the desire to get the ride done with well before the ride was over. Well, let’s be honest, Irene did beyond impressively well, she crushed a top 10 overall while riding the course “casually” and sleeping on the ground. Top 10 in the Rift is no joke. I also got connected to our Canyon Rep Mario Miller who was riding in the race with friends, Mario seems like a good dude and promised to set up some Canyon-supported LG gravel rides in the future. Having folks there that I knew made the experience all the better and was amongst the best parts of our trip.
As for me, I went to the race expecting to beat last year’s time, even as I was not in quite the shape I was last year…thinking that because I knew the course, I would race it smarter and be more selectively aggressive, burning matches at the right points in the race that took advantage of my strengths. Instead, I suffered in the sand and washboard, was slower on the 3 big run-up hike-a-bike climbs, and finished over an hour slower. There were times when I had more in the legs but the rest of my body was too sore to go. It is telling, I am writing this 4 days after the race, and the part of me that is STILL sore are my triceps. For you WHOOP nerds I had a 20.7 Activity Strain, burned 6700 calories over 12 hours of riding, and woke up the next day 1% recovered.
I’ll continue to recommend the race to others, Iceland is magical, but it will come with a warning and there is no way in hell I am riding that race next year. I will be going back to SBT GRVL this year and hoping that this Icelandic romp will pay off in race fitness in August…but what I am really thinking about in FNLDGRVL in Finland next June. That race looks awesome. Who’s game?
Ed Note: Joe wanted to emphasize that Irene raced to a TOP 10 in the Women’s OVERALL! Amazing job, Irene! You…are…a…Warrior!
CLUB NEWS
The Santa Barbara Century & July LG50 ride
By Rich Hirschinger
The annual World Famous Santa Barbara Century presented by La Grange was held on Saturday, July 29, 2023. A dozen riders started at the Van Nuys Amtrak station, loaded their backpacks in the van, and were off. The LG van was generously driven by Peter Dorantes, one of the strongest riders in the club who gave up a day of cycling to provide SAG support along the route.
The riders rolled at 7:30 am and rode up and over the Sepulveda Pass, into Brentwood, and down San Vicente to join about 40 other riders at San Vicente and Ocean (SVO). Some of the riders at SVO were partaking in the monthly LG50 ride, and eight of the riders were starting the ride to Santa Barbara from there. Stop #2 for the trip up the coast was behind the Trancas Market. The weather was mostly sunny with some sporadic cloud cover. The third stop was at “The Jets” at the Naval Air Station Missile Park. Dan Mitnick took the “iconic” photo of van and jet as the riders were rolling into the lot to get their first taste of Mexican Coke, a tradition for the SB Century ride.
Riding into Oxnard the riders met the familiar headwinds that "come with the territory" crossing from Oxnard into Ventura, stop #4. The bike path starts shortly after the Ventura rest stop, and the riders, thanks to Sam Selfridge, got to enjoy the newest part of the bike path, which connects Carpinteria Avenue to Santa Claus Lane. This new section of the bike path just opened a few weeks ago and keeps the riders west of the freeway. The path rolled through a less traveled neighborhood instead of Via Real, and after crossing over the freeway, it was a few short miles to the Santa Barbara Amtrak Station.
After a change of clothes and loading the bikes, we walked to the always fun and lively SB Biergarten for beers, food, and more beer before boarding the train home to Van Nuys. Many thanks to Peter, and Jaycee Cary, who is the Wout van Aert of the ride since he is the ultimate teammate that does everything for this ride. Next year’s ride will take place on Saturday, July 27th. Save the date!
photos by Dan M., Geoff L., Dan C., Juan, Rich H., and Jaycee
Meet the LG Member: Drew Pedrick
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Drew Pedrick and I’m from the East Coast, by way of the Deep South! I was born in Allentown, PA, spent the 60’s in New Orleans, and then moved back to PA, within about 10 miles of my old house and, as it turned out, about 5 miles from where the Lehigh Valley Velodrome was built in 1974. I loved riding there!
Drew, what 3 words would you say describe you?
Friendly, Passionate, and Creative
What drew you to the sport of cycling and how long have you been a cyclist?
I rode my bike around New Orleans with my friends, when I was 10 years old. We’d frequently find ourselves in the French Quarter. A buddy’s dad owned a well-known restaurant and we’d go sit at their bar and drink coke (we thought we were so cool!). Later, when I moved back to PA, I needed my 10-speed Raleigh to make the trek on country roads to hang out with my friends. We did some great long rides at that young age! I’ve loved cycling ever since! I could say I’ve been cycling for over 55 years, but if I consider my move to LA in 2006 and making a serious investment into bike, gear, and skills development, I’ve been “cycling” for about 17 + years.
Do you train regularly? What is your training regime like?
I don’t train regularly, though I ride almost every week, at least 1 to 2 times. For a long while I did 4-5 days per week with a combination of ride type, distance, effort, etc. Most of my riding uses wattage as the measure and I’m a big fan of intervals. Today, I’m rebuilding some lost time in the saddle due to work and life, by balancing climbing days with distance and time. Overall, my best training regime is riding with a great community of like-minded friends!
Tell us about your bike!
Some years back, pre-COVID, someone pointed out that I’d been riding my bike for many years and maybe it was time to treat myself to something new. Helen’s set me up with a Pinarello Dogma - the last before the F-series came out - and it’s been true love ever since! That said, I am looking for the next bike and am sure it will be a combo of road, gravel, and pure pleasure! (Open to ideas!)
When did you join LG and why?
I joined La Grange over a dozen years ago. I used to live downtown and rode with Pasadena for a while and others then moved to the Palisades in 2009. I’d heard great things about LG and began sliding into the Mandy ride on Wednesday mornings. I knew it was the club to join, so I contacted the club, joined up, and was warmly welcomed by many riders. LG turned out to be the source of a lot of great friendships since!
What regular LG rides do you participate in?
These days, post-COVID, I’ve been riding fewer LG rides, but always enjoy seeing folks at the starts, whether it’s Saturday at SVO or weekdays.
What is your favorite ride in SoCal?
A favorite local ride is to go through the neighborhoods (Marc Thomas style), head up Franklin Canyon and descend Stradella, stopping at Caffe Luxxe for a coffee.
A favorite SoCal ride is to drive to Patagonia and ride from there to Montecito, up Gibraltar and down past the mission, through Santa Barbara with a stop for fish tacos before back to the car!
Please share a cycling story for LG:
The moment I knew cycling would always be a part of my life was in 1973. I was 14 and living in Allentown, PA. I had cousins in New Jersey who would come visit in the summer. One in particular, my cousin Mike, also had an adventurous streak and we concocted the crazy plan to ride the 100 miles from my place to his, unsupported. We had no reason to believe we could do this, but we had all the willpower needed to tough our way through. Amazingly, our parents (probably our dads mostly) were all for it. It was a different time then, one where parents might just say, “See you in a few days, don’t get hurt, and call if you need help”!
We set off from Allentown for the first of two days (70 miles for day 1, 30 for day 2). I think we each had backpacks with food and spare tubes. That was about it. We crossed the Delaware River in good time and began heading to Princeton, NJ, not too far from our finish for that day. We were approaching Princeton when it began to drizzle. By the time we were there, we were in the middle of a solid downpour. No rain gear, no lights, soaked all the way through, we pushed along. Then we realized we’d missed a turn and had no idea where we were. We had a map in a plastic bag, but had no cell phone with GPS, mapping, turn-by-turn, like we have today! So I told my cousin Mike I’d stand in the middle of the road and stop traffic while he went to a driver’s door and ask for directions. That nearly got us run over a half-dozen times and arrested a few more! Finally, we got lucky and a truck driver helped point us in the right direction. As we left Princeton, the skies lifted and we rode the final miles with large smiles, sloshy shoes, and loaded legs! When we got to the end of our ride, we checked into the motel our parents had arranged for us, showered, and relaxed by the side of their kidney-shaped pool. We were in heaven. Then we went to grab a bite to eat for the night and rest for the next day, only to find out our folks had told the restaurant to serve us steaks, potatoes, and anything else we could fill up on. That was the real heaven!
The next day we rode, triumphantly into Homedell, NJ, down the neighborhood street and into the driveway of my cousin’s home, greeted by his folks–and mine. Turned out our parents had trailed us somehow the whole way and we thought we were out there all on our own!
After that ride, I knew I could set my mind to a goal and achieve it, as long as I kept my focus and knew I was never alone, no matter where, no matter when!
Do you have favorite bike-friendly spots (restaurants, services, businesses) in LA you love and would recommend to the club?
I find bike-friendly spots almost wherever I ride. Don’t think I’ve ever gotten anything but positive feedback as I’ve pulled up to a place for food, drink, rest, or help. I do really like Caffe Luxxe. I had a very bike-friendly lunch one day with a group at Forma on Montana. My favorite stop is The Old Place in Cornell, though the coffee line can take a bit of time—and well worth it! Worth going there off the bike as well. The bar there has some very interesting folk come through!
Any questions you would you like to add?
I’m always interested in what LG is thinking about older riders (post-60) like myself. We’re a growing contingent and are very much out there tearing up the hills!
Thanks for reading
As told to Renée Fox
IN THE NEWS
REVIEW: The 4iiii Viiiiva Heart Rate Monitor
By Jaycee Cary
I have had terrible luck with Heart Rate monitors. I get them and inevitably they fail long before I think they should. One brand is really good UNTIL you have to replace the battery. Remove those tiny screws a few times and they end up stripping or splitting the plastic threads. Once that happens the battery won’t contact and the unit is Kaput. I also find rust on the electrodes which doesn’t seem to inhibit performance but it is annoying. (and yes, I wash my strap frequently)
The other leading brand is just poorly built. They are wildly inaccurate and have frequent connection issues. I have also had them simply fall apart with parts breaking off. Terrible.
I was thrilled to find that La Grange sponsor 4iiii had a heart monitor called “Viiiiva” for an affordable price. I read about them and once I found out they had a 3-year warranty, I decided to give one a try. 4iiii is a Canadian power meter company used by teams in the men’s and women’s world tour.
The purchase was easy and the LG Discount was much appreciated. The product shipped postal from Canada and was going to take 2 weeks to arrive. That was a bummer as there were no faster options. Luckily, it only took about 8 days which wasn’t too bad.
The product was simply but effectively packaged. The setup was super easy: wet the strap, put it on, and then add it to your bike computer, phone, or whatever. I have only used it for a few weeks but so far it has been flawless. I love the low-profile design and the robust warranty inspires confidence. I have high hopes for a long and accurate lifespan.
PROS:
- Inexpensive (with discount)
- Low-profile design
- Simple setup
- Coin-turn battery cover
- App for firmware updates
- 3-year warranty
CONS:
- Slower shipping
- The battery had 40% remaining straight out of the box.
COMMUNITY:
The All Clubs LA BBQ & Eldo Finale are coming!
SAVE THE DATE: The All Clubs LA BBQ is Back on Saturday, September 9th, 2023!!
The famous All Clubs LA BBQ returns in conjunction with the Eldo Race Series finale! Held in El Dorado East Regional Park, affectionately known as ELDO, join us for a lovely day in the park featuring bike racing, cycling clubs, vendors, families, friends, children, BBQ, music, games, awards, and so much more!
The mission of All Clubs LA is to unify the So Cal cycling community inclusive of all clubs and cyclists. We use All Clubs LA events to engage the cycling community in riding and social activities that bring us all together. From advocacy to mentoring, racing to recreation, we are stronger together than apart.
Velo Club La Grange supports All Clubs LA in their goal of diversity, unity, and community! Hope to see you all there. More details coming soon!
Saturday, September 9th, 2023!!
RACING:
UPHILL CLIMB–The story of the Tour de France Féminine
In honor of the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift (you are watching that, right?), we recommend you watch this documentary about the short-lived but critically important first women’s Tour de France Féminine. This incredible race, held from 1984 to 1989, brought together the strongest women cyclists from around the world to compete along the same courses as cycling legends Eddy Merckx and Jacques Anquetil.
Throughout the short history of the Tour de France Féminin, the women continuously battled chauvinism from the press and race organizers. They also experienced the dismissal of their abilities by male riders.
Sadly, the Tour de France Féminin could not survive the uphill climb and was discontinued after the 1989 event. The “Uphill Climb” documentary ensures that the noble history of the women who conquered the Tour de France will never be forgotten!
Now streaming on Peacock and Discovery Plus
Training Tips:
The Benefits of Training in the Heat and How to Do it Safely
Extreme temperatures are becoming the new normal. Riding and training in extreme heat can be detrimental to performance and power and downright dangerous. However other than going out at the crack of dawn with Dan Funk how can cyclists continue to train and improve despite the heat? Research shows that training in the heat can boost performance even when racing in the cold. Here’s how to stay safe and get it right:
Read how to Stay Safe and make the most out of Heat Training
Sponsored:
Caffe Luxxe—the ultimate cold brew experience!
Introducing their newest creation: Un Caffè Superveloce. Cold Brew the Caffe Luxxe Way
There’s cold brew, and then there’s Caffe Luxxe cold brew. Caffe Luxxe took their time developing their take on this highly caffeinated delight to get it perfect for the palate. The result is an elegant body and velvety smooth finish. Perfect for sipping morning, noon, and night when you need to go-go-go! Pop by Caffe Luxxe today and pick up a bottle of their Superveloce. Salute!
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
Bike Improve
Summer is rolling on. Treat yourself to a new mountain bike and get to the trails!
All mountain bikes in the shop are up to 25% OFF!!! Bike Improve has everything you need to keep riding.
Go see Bike Improve today…
The Feed
Remember each La Grange member gets a $20 credit each quarter with each $35 order. The Feed has all your favorite brands and you can order individual servings of most items to experiment with new stuff.
Read More…
New and Returning Members
Please say hello to our new members who joined in July 2023:
Dustin L., Matt C., Jason F., David B., Monique S., Eric M., and Philippa M.
And a hearty welcome back to returning members Frank T. and Ayad M!
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 online personal privacy.
LG Event Calendar for AUGUST
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 August. Bold events are LG Team Targeted Events.
August 5 — Tour de Big Bear
August 6 — Chuck Pontius Memorial Criterium
August 9 — LG Board of Directors Meeting (all members invited)
August 12 — Hotter-n-Hell Hill Climb
August 26 — August LG50 Ride
Have an event you would like to add? Send a request to Jaycee at jaycee.cary@lagrange.org