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A conversation with incoming La Grange President, Jan Datomi
Introducing our new LG Race Captains
La Grange hosts AAPI Violence Town Hall
April Race Report—Rosena Ranch Circuit Race!
BIKE NEWS: CBC pushes for new Stop-as-Yield Laws for Cyclists
A conversation
with incoming
La Grange President,
Jan Datomi
Editor: I’d like to welcome Jan Datomi, our new La Grange president. Do you like President, Madam President? What do you like?
Jan Datomi: I kinda like Jan, but I guess President is fine.
Great! Welcome, Jan. Let’s get right to it and talk bikes. How'd you get into bikes?
Well, I've ridden bikes my whole life, but I would say that I started riding seriously in my 20s. And then I got into other things, and then I've probably been riding more seriously again for the last 10 years.
So you were riding during college?
Yeah, after college. I had a Trek 1400, I think? I'm not sure. It wasn't anything too fancy. I rode with some friends, but back then I more into running at that point.
Was this in Los Angeles?
Yeah, the San Fernando Valley.
What is your first bicycle memory?
I have a very first specific bicycle memory. It was the first day I learned how to ride a bike. And what I remember is having a dream that night that I was flying. And that was the best dream. And that still stands out to me. The first time I rode a bike and then that dream of flying and it was fantastic!
How old were you when you learned to ride a bike?
I want to say, like 6, 7, 8 years old. My brother taught me.
Do you remember your first bike?
It was a banana seat bike. Remember those? (A Schwinn Stingray?) It had the tall thing in the back. That's what we all rode back then.
Very cool! And what kind of bike do you ride now?
I ride a Cervelo C5, specifically because it perfectly matches my reach from my last fitting. I have a Rotor groupset and some custom wheels that were made by the person who built the bike for me (Atilla Reisz). I’ve had it for about six months.
How would you compare it to your previous bike?
Oh, this bike is amazing. I have hydraulic shifters and disk brakes and I wanted to put disc brakes on there. It's actually a Rotor 1x13 road bike, which is different. And the whole bike weighs about 15 pounds. It's an amazing bike. It handles well. It's got to tubeless tires. I really noticed the quality of the bike going downhill.
So you have a 1x13; one chainring, and 13 gears in the back?
Yep. Wow, it’s like a pie plate on the back. (laughs)
How about professional cycling? Do you have a favorite professional cyclist?
I do watch professional cycling. I have to say, as everybody says, I love Peter Sagan. My new favorite, after the Giro d’Italia last year, is Tao Geoghegan Hart. I thought he showed so much heart and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in this year's Tour de France. He rides for Ineos. I've also been watching all the spring classics and, I don't know if you've watched the Amstel Gold, but it was like a millimeter photo-finish. Amazing!
So you’re a La Grange member, but you're also a Board member. How long have you been a member?
I would say about eight years now.
Why did you join La Grange?
Well, when I first started to ride I just rode with some people and I fell in love with group riding. Some of the people were La Grange members and I just thought it was a way to meet more people to ride bikes with and learn. There are so many things to learn about cycling that I didn't know. I felt like joining La Grange, the local club, I thought this would be a great way for me to learn about all these different aspects of cycling and then just have a good time with people who ride bikes.
Did you find La Grange riders welcoming?
Yeah, it was actually a…I don't wanna say it completely transformed my life but it's just great to be around like-minded people that like to be outside, like to exercise, like to be healthy, and like to ride bikes.
You've been riding for virtually your whole life. Do you have a proudest cycling moment?
I think my initial proudest cycling moment was when I did my first Century on the Tour of Palm Springs. I had never ridden that far. My friends were better cyclists than me. It was the beginning of me being able to ride long distances and my friends were gonna drop me so I planned on only doing 50 miles, but they went ahead because they were going to do the Century and I thought, “I’m just gonna do the Century.” I got back like an hour later than they did and it was just amazing. It was great!
That's fantastic. Now word association: Fast or Far?
I would say, “Far”. I’m not fast.
You say that you've been a La Grange member for about eight years, and you're also a board member? How long have you been on the board?
I've been on the board for maybe three years now.
And now you're president of La Grange. How did that come about?
Well, Rich (Hirschinger) decided that he wanted to step down early to help with the transition because he’s leaving the Board at the next election (October 2021). I felt like, based on the need and my experience, that I was a logical choice. I have enough experience and there are people with more experience that I can draw on. Also, I wanted to do it based on my desire to help the club.
What would you like to achieve as La Grange President? Do you have an agenda in mind?
Well, first and foremost, I want my personal motto to be “Ride Bikes, Have Fun”. There are so many things we do in life, that are just hard and awful, but riding bikes is fun! And La Grange’s goal is to create community and promote cycling and have fun. I want to have a dynamic club that attracts people to ride bikes and have a good time.
Do you have any fears or concerns about leading La Grange?
There are definitely strong gaps in my knowledge, especially about the online platforms. I’m fearful that I'll do something that will hurt the smooth flowing of the club. Failure is not being able to seamlessly achieve the everyday things that that we need to do, like elections and things like that.
What are you most excited about in being president?
I'm excited about leading. I really enjoy being a leader.
Some people have expressed that it's about time La Grange had a female president. What do you think about that? Do you agree?
I didn't even really think about that one. I think it's great. I think it's great for women, but for me, that wasn't really part of my thought process when I decided to be president. But, yeah, too often we forget half of the population is female. Women have a lot to give and a lot to offer.
If part of (La Grange’s) mission is inclusion, then I think in some ways, it personifies and helps us manifest our mission. But I didn't necessarily see it that way. What's important is that we have a qualified leader and if people take inspiration from me being a female leading the club, then great.
What does a good day on the bike look like?
Oh, going out into the Santa Monica Mountains, climbing one of those hills with friends, and then stopping and having lunch or a beer or a coffee at the end of the ride.
What's your favorite post-ride beer?
An IPA, of some kind.
And what do you like to do when you're not riding bikes?
I spend most of my time with my dogs, take them to the park, going on hikes. I have two brother dogs. I call them, “Bro’s”. They are 10-pound Chihuahua mixes. I also like reading. I read a lot.
What are you reading right now?
I just finished a book called “Educated” by Tara Westover. It’s a wild biography of this woman who grew up in a Mormon family, didn't go to school, 1-12, and then ended up going to BYU and then Cambridge University, getting a Ph.D. It’s just a bonkers story.
Very cool. Do you have any last words you'd like to share?
I hope to do well and see everybody out there on the road!
Fantastic, Jan, we very much appreciate your time. We look forward to your successful tenure as president and we thank you for being here.
Thanks, Jaycee. I really appreciate it.
Introducing our new LG Race Captains
MORGAN JAMES
Track Captain
Morgan is going into her second year on the La Grange women's race team.
Morgan has spent her career racing as a triathlete, training with her mom's race team, Pinnacle Women's Racing, along with varsity track, cross country, and swim team.
After high school, Morgan joined one of the first NCAA women's triathlon teams in Tennessee and served as team captain for two years.
She is now hooked on the adrenaline sparked from her time on the track.
Morgan is working towards her Architecture degree.
CARA APPLEGATE
CX Co-Captain
Cara Applegate has over 10 years of experience as a national-level road, cross, and mountain bike racer. She is also our club Treasurer.
Cara has won multiple tandem national championships with her husband, Coach Andy.
When not riding bikes, admiring cat pictures on the internet, or tending to her worm garden, Cara can be found as a mild-mannered finance director daydreaming about weekend gravel adventures.
TREVOR JAHN
Men’s Road Captain
Trevor has been on the La Grange Cat 3 race team for Lagrange for a year now, and has a decade-long record of racing and being involved in race team leadership.
Trevor raced for Purdue University and was briefly a triathlete.
At Purdue, he became heavily involved in the Cycling Club and showed consistent leadership; leading rides, taking new riders under my wing, and running workshops, etc.
Trevor has a Master's Degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
He doesn’t eat pizza with a fork.
DANIEL FUNK
CX Co-Captain
Daniel is a Masters racer, entering his first cyclocross race in 2015. Moving through the beginners, C, and B groups, he now races in 55+ and hopes to continue as he ages to 65+.
Daniel races other disciplines, but he finds CX the most fun. The people, the format of the races, and the general irreverence to the formalities of road events are why he continues.
In his spare time, Dan runs a small business selling hairpins.
La Grange hosts Stop AAPI Hate Town Hall
Last month, Velo Club La Grange held their second virtual Town Hall, entitled “Stop AAPI Hate”. This event was an opportunity to hear from Asian American Pacific Island members of our community, as they shared some of their experiences involving stereotypes, exclusion, and racism. AAPI violence is unacceptable and VCLG is committed to fostering a safe, accepting, and inclusive cycling community for everyone. We invite you to watch the Town Hall and share it with friends and family. We thank our panel participants for sharing their poignant and thought-provoking stories.
April Race Reports!
DAN FUNK GETS A PODIUM AT THE ROSENA RANCH CIRCUIT RACE
Rosena Ranch Circuit Race - 55+/60+ category.
PRE-RACE
This race is held on a one-mile closed section of 4 lane road. There are two 180˚ turns at each end, and there are 3 short ramps on the course; one heading out and two coming back. Our category raced 20 laps for 40 total miles, which in my head riding 20mph, would take us 6 minutes per lap or 120 minutes total time. Ultimately we rode for 1:43 for an average speed of just under 24mph.
I arrived around 9:30 for my 11:22 race to find cooler heavy overcast weather with rain! Not something I expected nor was prepared for. Fortunately, the drizzle ended around 11, but the road was still quite wet, making those 180˚ turns seem quite intimidating. Once we started, however, pockets of sunshine appeared, and after an hour or so the road dried out. The wind also picked up, resulting in a headwind on the return section to the finish line.
We had 46 riders in our combined category, coming in from around California and Nevada. Some people I recognized from past races so I had an idea of who to watch for, but until the race begins you don’t know who comes with good fitness. I’ve been riding regularly throughout COVID, not having to travel for work, getting in on average 5 rides a week. While I’ve only been riding since my mid 40’s, I know there is a difference between riding shape and racing shape. Honestly, I wasn’t confident I was in racing shape, but I was eager to test myself.
THE RACE
With 20 laps to race, I didn’t expect any breaks to happen until less than 10 to go, but there were attacks and the strong riders slowly revealed themselves. The break attempts were made more difficult because of the headwind on the way back, and few lasted more than a lap. Our combined group seemed to be experienced cyclists, so squirrely actions in the peloton were minimal, especially at the 180-degree turns. Not having a lot of racing experience, the group dynamic is interesting to me. Lots of chest-pounding from some riders early on, only to see them fall back later. Some guys are super rigid as to their lines or the riders they follow. Some guys are barking orders or offering advice. Like life, there are all types.
I had a teammate, Glenn Savarese, and riding buddy, Chris Stephenson, in the pack, and while we didn’t talk about tactics or strategy, we knew that when the final attack came we needed to respond and be in that group. Throughout the race we worked to stay near the front, responding to surges and trying to figure out who the strong guys were. The latter wasn’t that easy, as everyone seemed strong. It became clear, however, that the back turn would be where the ultimate break would happen, as the short rise and fall before the turn would raise your heart rate, and then coming out of the turn, the rise and headwind would challenge you to sustain it.
With 4 laps or so to go, I tried to whisper to Chris who he should watch for, but without waiting he attacked. Another rider, Chris Jagger, who had been aggressive throughout chased him, and together they were able to work for a nice 15-20 second gap. I think the peloton felt they had enough time to pull them back, but with 3 laps to go, Emilio Cervantes, a rider I knew through cyclocross (former national champ) and someone I expected to be in the final group, attacked to bridge. I was close to him so I chased. My effort was intense and focused so I didn’t see who else went with us. I couldn’t hold Emilio’s acceleration as he bridged up, but I heard someone behind me say we had a gap on the field. It wasn’t until we made the next turn that I could see how large our gap was.
At that point, a few things were going through my mind. First is, “can we hold the gap through 2 more laps”? The second was, “would our group of 5 or 6 work together”? The third was “I could get a podium”! The last thing seems pretty vain and foolish, bringing to mind some Aesop tale, and those thoughts got pushed aside as I focused on putting in as much effort as possible. On the next lap, we did work together but lost a rider or two. On the final lap, there were 4 of us and the hard pulls were rewarded at each of the last two turns by seeing our gap growing a bit. Nonetheless, the effort on the final stretch hurt. I’m probably wrong but I seem to remember taking a pull after the back turn, then getting relieved near the top of the ramp, then moving up on the final ramp to the finish. the guy I was rotating with, Frank who I learned was from NorCal, was in the 60+ while I was in the 55+, so our position at the line was only a matter of pride, not of the podium. Somehow I was able to finish slightly ahead, 4th overall, and 3rd in my category.
It was my first road podium and very exciting. Special thanks to Alan Kwok who took some great photos of me during the race.
Congratulations, Dan! You train hard and it paid off! – Editor
Mike DaSilva, Lars Riske, and Warren Sutton at the Rosena Ranch Circuit Race!
RACING FOR LA GRANGE HAS ITS PERKS!
Racing for La Grange is a hell of a lot of fun. Not only do you get to race with a TEAM, but you get some extra perks from the club and sponsors. Sure, you can go race alone but when you have a team, friends that sacrifice for each other and revel in each other’s successes and balm the disappointments, it is the best experience. Interested in racing? Reach out to Tina or Trevor!
Bike Month: May 21st is “Bike Anywhere Day”
MAY IS BIKE MONTH!!
Since many of us are working from home nowadays, “Bike-to-Work Day” during National Bike Month isn’t really applicable. This year Metro is calling Friday, May 21st, “Bike Anywhere Day”. I know, I know, you don’t need a special day to ride but make a point to ride THAT day. Show the world that you support a healthy and sustainable mode of transportation. Go somewhere you don’t usually go with someone you don’t usually ride with.
Metro is also offering the following resources:Learn How to Ride Safely: FREE virtual classes.
Find a Bike Route and Ride
Special offers this month on Metro Bike Share
Keep Your Bike Safe: Secure bike parking 24/7 at five Metro stations
Becoming a Bike Commuter: Introduction to being a bike commuter.
Commute 101: Bike commuting tips.
Flat Tire Clinic: Step-by-step approach in a conversational style.
CalBike pushes for new Stop-as-Yield Laws
According to the California Bicycle Coalition, people who ride bikes should be able to treat stop signs as yields. “It’s safe. It’s smart. It’s common sense.” says their website. This Stop-as-Yield (also called an Idaho Stop) is something many of us do, but is it safe? Should it be law? Read the article and let us know what you think on Facebook.
SOS: Support Our Sponsors
Free Skratch Bottles now at Bike Improve
Every member of Velo Club La Grange gets TWO FREE SKRATCH WATER BOTTLES courtesy of our friends at Skratch Labs. If you haven’t already received yours then top by Bike Improve today to pick yours up.
LG Membership offers Great Club Deals
In the market for a new helmet, a bike, sunglasses, legal advice, nutrition, cycling shoes, an aero fit, orthodontia, kustom clothing, an aero fit, a house in the hills, coffee, some gym time, or jaw yoga? Check out our wonderful sponsors.
New Members
Please welcome our new members who joined in April 2021!
Andrew W, Tom V, Christopher M, Tyler C, Aaron W, Yi S, Sierra S, Joseph C, and Henry S! Also a hearty welcome back to returning member, Alex M!
Welcome, everyone! We are happy to have you.
