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.
Holy Week concludes on Sunday, April 13 with Paris Roubaix.
Follow La Grange and Stay Informed!
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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
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