La Voix - August 2026

Greetings La Grange Members, 

Your August newsletter includes news from our Juniors racing team, upcoming events; the LG Skills and Safety Course and Edgar Burcksen Santa Barbara Century, recaps on the July LG 50, womens ride and Tour watch party at Caffe Luxxe, and August ride dates to add to your calendar.

Ride safely,

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

Hello La Grangers,

What a July it was. Hopefully you took advantage of the great weather and rode lots of miles, especially with fellow LaGrange friends and members.  And how exciting was the Tour? For one member and his son it was likely more exciting than for most. Sean Quinn who grew up in LA riding Nichols, Piuma and all of the other familiar rides made it into a bunch of breaks and finished in 19th overall.

As we look to August the club has lots of exciting stuff in store. First is this weekend’s Skills and Safety course. I encourage everyone to attend and also invite non-club member riding friends. Every cyclist on the road can benefit.

We are also a long week away from the club’s annual trek to Santa Barbara. This ride honors one of our legacy members who was an inspiration on the bike and as a person off the bike; Edgar Burcksen.

 Detailed information about both events and more are contained in this newsletter.

Vive La Grange,

Larry

Racing News

New Junior Racers!

By Aldo Jimenez

Please meet our newest La Grange racers: Brothers Pedro Marquez & Alfredo Marquez who race in age category 15-17 and Amaris, a CA state champion, racing U14. Team leader Aldo Jimenez recruited them to La Grange after watching their dedication to race every week at Eldo. Aldo is taking donations to purchase La Grange race kit for the Marquez brothers and a new La Grange state championship jersey for Amaris. If you’d like to contribute, reach out to Aldo Jimenez on What’s App, on Instagram: @losangelescycling, or email: aldo.jimenez@lagrange.org.

Club News


La Grange Skills & Safety Course

This coming Sunday August 2nd, please come and participate in our second La Grange Skills and Safety Course. Known as, the Course.


This edition: “Parcours plus Tour.” Once again starting with the real: rider, road bicycle, earth. Low-speed drills for control and balance. 

Again ascending to the second order: fluidity, harmony, wisdom. Riding in a paceline and peloton.

As before we will discuss each rider’s responsibilities, and train the teamwork vision that is this club. 

We may even glimpse cycling’s third level: valor, generosity, love. Being a good wheel.


Be safe! Ride with Velo Club La Grange! Come participate in the Course!

When: Sunday, August 2nd, 8:00 am - 9:30 am

Where: Eisenhower Ave. and Bringham Ave, inside the gate of the Veterans Administration (VA) campus.

Format: Combination of bike handling drills and choreographed group riding. Focused instruction and practice in a simplified training environment. Easy pace, friendly, supportive. 

This course is made for members and non members- everyone who rides in road cycling groups, and will focus on skills that riders at every level can learn and improve. We look forward to seeing you there!


LAST CHANCE to Register for the 2026 Edgar Burcksen Memorial Santa Barbara Century on Saturday, August 8

Registration closes Sunday, August 2 at 10pm

It is time to register for the Edgar Burcksen Memorial Santa Barbara Century to Santa Barbara! The ride, led by Rich Hirschinger, starts at the Van Nuys Amtrak Station and departs at 7:30 a.m. sharp. For those who don’t want to ride over the Sepulveda pass, we will stop at San Vicente and Ocean (SVO). We roll from there around 8:55 a.m. 

In honor of long-time La Grange member and distance rider, Edgar Burcksen, La Grange continues the tradition of our Santa Barbara Century in Edgar’s name. Edgar Burcksen passed away in April 2024 from injuries from a heart attack that occurred while doing what he loved, riding home from his regular Tuesday ride along San Vicente.  In 2006 Edgar edited the documentary “The Gift” about club founder Raymond Fouquet and Velo Club La Grange's early days.


Join us on Saturday August 8 for a day to remember. Sign up HERE

Route HERE

Ride Rules:

This is a group ride, which means we stay together, and you should be able to ride at an average pace of 18 MPH. There will be four stops approximately every 20 miles for food and drinks from the van. If someone has a mechanical, the group will continue to ride, but a La Grange member will stay with the rider. Riders should not be riding ahead of the group. 

Cost:

Club Members: $50 Includes a meal and drinks at SB Biergarten in Santa Barbara and transportation of your bike back to Van Nuys.

Non-members: $121.25 Includes all of the above PLUS, a discounted 1 year Velo Club La Grange membership! Don’t miss this opportunity to receive 33% off an LG Membership.

Existing members can renew their membership for 33% off by choosing the ticket + membership.

You must register and prepay by Sunday, August 2nd at 10pm so that we can confirm restaurant reservations and purchase goods based on the number of riders. Pay using the sign up link above.

Train:

You are responsible for your train ticket. Most people purchase a coach seat. Please buy an Amtrak 11 Coast Starlight ticket, departing Santa Barbara Amtrak Station (SBA) at 6:19 p.m. and arriving at Van Nuys (VNC) at 8:36 p.m. If bike space is available, please add a bike reservation at no charge, even if you may use the van for bike transport. This helps maximize flexibility and allows riders who sign up later to use available train bike spaces if van capacity fills. 

Book the train HERE

Duffel Bag:

You may bring one duffel bag with a change of clothes, which will be transported to Santa Barbara in the van.

Please plan to carry personal items back with you on the train. If there is extra room in the van, we may be able to transport additional items, but bikes take priority.

FAQs

1. Will bikes be transported to SVO after the ride for riders who start there?

No. All bikes transported by van will be returned to the Van Nuys Amtrak Station and must be picked up there when the van arrives.

2. What are my options if I start at SVO?

Option A: Leave your car at the Van Nuys Amtrak Station the night before and arrange a ride home (friend/Uber) from SVO after dropping off your bike. Your car will be waiting for you Saturday night.

Option B: Get a ride home from another rider returning from Van Nuys who has room in their car.

Option C: Arrange for someone to pick you up from the Van Nuys Amtrak Station on Saturday evening.

Option D: Leave your car at Van Nuys the morning of the ride and take the La Grange van to SVO. Please be on time, as the van departs shortly after the 7:30 a.m. rollout.

3. How are bikes transported back to Van Nuys?

The support van can transport approximately 20 bikes back to Van Nuys. Bikes are protected with heavy-duty moving blankets, and we have not had reports of damage during transport.

4. Does my bike have to be transported back in the van?

No. You are welcome to make your own arrangements, including taking your bike on the train. We simply need an accurate count of bikes returning in the van.

5. What is the pace?

The expected pace is approximately 16–18 mph average. We stay together as a group, but riders should be prepared to maintain the pace.

6. Are non-members allowed?

Yes! Please see the non-member cost above.

Please contact Rich Hirschinger with any other questions that you have.

Save the Date!

LG Women’s Ride: Saturday August 15, 8am at San Vicente and 26th, route TBA

LG50 Ride: Saturday August 29, 8am at Helen’s Cycles, route TBA

Club Events Recap

Images by various contributors

On Sunday July 19th LaGrange had a morning ‘Coffee Hour’ at the Culver City location of our sponsor Caffe Luxxe where a group of us gathered to watch the end of the Tour’s Stage 15 before departing on a group ride.

Stage 15 of the Tour de France is a brutal 184km Alpine mountain stage from Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison. Featuring roughly 4,700 meters of total elevation gain. The day culminates in an HC (Hors Categorie) climb—11.3 kilometers long with an average gradient of 9.1%—serving as a fierce battleground for the general classification contender. 

Thanks to all who came to celebrate the race, ride and support our sponsor Caffe Luxxe. It was a fun day.

 

The ride in one minute, by Cate

July La Grange Women’s Ride

Led by Janice

Thank you Janice for planning and leading July’s beautiful women’s ride up Malibu Canyon, Piuma to Cold Canyon and onto Mulholland to return via Old Topanga and Topanga.

July LG50 – to La Piedra Beach

Led by Dan Mitnick, SAG by Deb Carabet

The July LG50 ride followed a cool beachy out and back route to a hidden gem on the coast, La Piedra Beach in Malibu. The group started at and ended at Santa Monica Brew Works. Deb drove the LG Van to provide SAG at La Piedra complete with Dan’s famous chocolate chip cookies for everyone!


Members:

Please take a moment to ensure your contact information is up to date. Visit https://www.lagrange.org/member-dashboard#myaccount to confirm that your phone number is current, and double check that your emergency contact name and phone number are accurate. This helps La Grange improve vendor access to membership verification and ensures that, in case of an emergency during a ride, a board member can quickly notify your emergency contact. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to us at membership@lagrange.org.

Follow La Grange and Stay Informed!

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

  • LG Club on Instagram 

  • LG Race Team on Instagram 

  • LG on Strava 

  • LG on Facebook 

  • LG exclusive What’s App community for LG members only

    Join HERE and become part of the legacy of Velo Club La Grange, one of the oldest and most respected cycling clubs in California.

Support Our Sponsors

Gentle Jaw

"yoga for the jaw®"

Invented by Dr. Rich Hirschinger, a Board-certified orofacial pain specialist, the gentle jaw® is an easy-to-use, non-invasive passive stretching device for acute and chronic jaw and TMJ pain, and headaches. No drugs, no prescriptions, no exams required. Simply use the device for 30 seconds several times a day to give your jaw a comfortable stretch and see results in as little as a few days.

ACTS LAW

At ACTS LAW, LLP, our skilled and knowledgeable attorneys represent victims in a broad array of case types. We are trial tested and zealous advocates for the rights of our clients. See how we’ve helped others, and how we can help you.


THANK YOU to all of our sponsors!

ACTS Law, Personal Injury Lawyers
APEX Law, Real Estate and Business Litigation
Caffe Luxxe, Artisanal Coffee Roasters Gentle Jaw, A passive stretching device for acute and chronic tmj and jaw pain John Fox Fine Painting, Exquisite finishes and bespoke murals 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






La Voix - July 2026

Greetings La Grange Members, 

Your July newsletter includes recaps on the June LG 50, womens ride and summer social at Wurstküche, and some smokin’ July dates to add to your calendar. Especially hot is racing news from our very own young track racer Morgan James, who has been racing for La Grange to earn UCI points in PA, Trinidad and at the local indoor track in Carson. The Carson Velodrome was originally built for the 1984 olympics and will host the 2028 olympic and Paralympic track events. It is an excellent venue to spectate track racing as Amy, Gill, David and I can attest to from our time there Saturday night. Get a group together and head out to support La Grange and Morgan at the track next weekend!

Ride safely,

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

Hello La Grangers,

I suspect you are all tired of reading how I find it a wonderful time to be a cyclist in Los Angeles and La Grange. But at the risk of being that broken record, let me go on record saying. Wow!!! What a time to be in La Grange and LA as a cyclist. And let's face it. 

In a few days, the Tour begins and at the start line will be former US Champ Sean Quinn who used to do Nichols and other club rides with his father who is still a member. And while Sean is taking on the heat covering Europe, we will be enjoying the SoCal mild temperatures, riding up and down some of those same roads he and other pros use for their training.

I suggest that you use those roads to train for the Edgar Burksen Santa Barbara century route which has been rescheduled for August 8th.

Also, we are still working on details but look out for announcements via club email and What’s App groups for a morning “Happy Coffee Hour” where we will watch the end of a stage together and then do a group ride. Save the morning of Sunday July 19th.

Vive La Grange,

Larry

Racing News

Summer Racing: PA - Trinidad - CA

By Morgan James

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of travel and racing, and I’m incredibly grateful to Velo Club La Grange for helping make these opportunities possible.

The stretch began with a trip to Pennsylvania for the UCI C2 Fastest Woman on Wheels, where I raced against a strong international field and earned 4th place in the Elimination Race and 6th place in the Points Race. The weekend was not without challenges, including multiple flat tires, locking ourselves out of the rental car, and flight delays on the trip home.

From there, I traveled to Trinidad and Tobago for a UCI C1 event featuring some of the top-ranked riders in the world. The adventure continued off the track as we arrived to a fraudulent Airbnb listing, discovered my brand-new glued tubular tires had failed after unpacking my bike, and later faced more than 30 hours of flight delays returning home. Despite the chaos, I was pleased to finish 6th in the Elimination Race, 6th in the Scratch Race, and 9th overall in the Omnium. We also had the chance to enjoy a day at Maracas Beach, where we played soccer with local residents and experienced a small part of Trinidad’s culture.

Less than 48 hours after returning home, I lined up at the Summer Slam UCI C2 event in Los Angeles against another world-class field. Fatigue from the previous weeks of travel and racing caught up with me, and the results were not what I had hoped for, but the experience was valuable and highlighted areas for growth.

Thank you to Velo Club La Grange for helping support these opportunities. Racing internationally against elite competition continues to be an incredible learning experience, and I’m excited to carry the lessons from these events into the rest of the season.

Club News

Save the Date!

LG Women’s Ride: Saturday July 18, 8am at San Vicente and 26th, route TBA

LG Happy Coffee Hour, Tour Stage & Group Ride: Sunday July 19, details TBA

LG50 Ride: Saturday July 25, 8am at Helen’s Cycles, route TBA

LG Skills and Safety Course: Sunday August 2, 8am, details TBA

Register now for the 2026 Edgar Burcksen Memorial Santa Barbara Century on Saturday, August 8

Registration closes Sunday, August 2 at 10pm

It is time to register for the Edgar Burcksen Memorial Santa Barbara Century to Santa Barbara! The ride, led by Rich Hirschinger, starts at the Van Nuys Amtrak Station and departs at 7:30 a.m. sharp. For those who don’t want to ride over the Sepulveda pass, we will stop at San Vicente and Ocean (SVO). We roll from there around 8:55 a.m. 

In honor of long-time La Grange member and distance rider, Edgar Burcksen, La Grange continues the tradition of our Santa Barbara Century in Edgar’s name. Edgar Burcksen passed away in April 2024 from injuries from a heart attack that occurred while doing what he loved, riding home from his regular Tuesday ride along San Vicente.  In 2006 Edgar edited the documentary “The Gift” about club founder Raymond Fouquet and Velo Club La Grange's early days.


Join us on Saturday August 8 for a day to remember. Sign up HERE

Route HERE

Ride Rules:

This is a group ride, which means we stay together, and you should be able to ride at an average pace of 18 MPH. There will be four stops approximately every 20 miles for food and drinks from the van. If someone has a mechanical, the group will continue to ride, but a La Grange member will stay with the rider. Riders should not be riding ahead of the group. 

Cost:

Club Members: $50 Includes a meal and drinks at SB Biergarten in Santa Barbara and transportation of your bike back to Van Nuys.

Non-members: $121.25 Includes all of the above PLUS, a discounted 1 year Velo Club La Grange membership! Don’t miss this opportunity to receive 33% off an LG Membership.

Existing members can renew their membership for 33% off by choosing the ticket + membership.

You must register and prepay by Sunday, August 2nd at 10pm so that we can confirm restaurant reservations and purchase goods based on the number of riders. Pay using the sign up link above.

Train:

You are responsible for your train ticket. Most people purchase a coach seat. Please buy an Amtrak 11 Coast Starlight ticket, departing Santa Barbara Amtrak Station (SBA) at 6:19 p.m. and arriving at Van Nuys (VNC) at 8:36 p.m. If bike space is available, please add a bike reservation at no charge, even if you may use the van for bike transport. This helps maximize flexibility and allows riders who sign up later to use available train bike spaces if van capacity fills. 

Book the train HERE

Duffel Bag:

You may bring one duffel bag with a change of clothes, which will be transported to Santa Barbara in the van.

Please plan to carry personal items back with you on the train. If there is extra room in the van, we may be able to transport additional items, but bikes take priority.

FAQs

1. Will bikes be transported to SVO after the ride for riders who start there?

No. All bikes transported by van will be returned to the Van Nuys Amtrak Station and must be picked up there when the van arrives.

2. What are my options if I start at SVO?

Option A: Leave your car at the Van Nuys Amtrak Station the night before and arrange a ride home (friend/Uber) from SVO after dropping off your bike. Your car will be waiting for you Saturday night.

Option B: Get a ride home from another rider returning from Van Nuys who has room in their car.

Option C: Arrange for someone to pick you up from the Van Nuys Amtrak Station on Saturday evening.

Option D: Leave your car at Van Nuys the morning of the ride and take the La Grange van to SVO. Please be on time, as the van departs shortly after the 7:30 a.m. rollout.

3. How are bikes transported back to Van Nuys?

The support van can transport approximately 20 bikes back to Van Nuys. Bikes are protected with heavy-duty moving blankets, and we have not had reports of damage during transport.

4. Does my bike have to be transported back in the van?

No. You are welcome to make your own arrangements, including taking your bike on the train. We simply need an accurate count of bikes returning in the van.

5. What is the pace?

The expected pace is approximately 16–18 mph average. We stay together as a group, but riders should be prepared to maintain the pace.

6. Are non-members allowed?

Yes! Please see the non-member cost above.

Please contact Rich Hirschinger with any other questions that you have.

Club Events Recap

Summer Social at Wurstküche in Venice

Images by various contributors

Thanks for planning this one Deb! Wurstküche was super enjoyable- we enjoyed an incredible beer selection paired with sausages and Belgian fries, in a lovely open air tree shaded patio.

June La Grange Women’s Ride to Encino and back

Led by Jan Datomi

Images by Philippa Moore & Amanda Weinstein

Great job Jan for planning and skillfully leading such a fun women’s ride to the valley and back, before it got too hot! The group of 14 women started at San Vicente and 26, climbed Sepulveda to Mulholland then down into Encino. We took Coldwater canyon to Mulholland, descended Benedict Canyon and rode through Bel Air taking in the rolling hills and shaded tree-lined streets. After 36 miles and 3125 feet of climbing, the ride ended at Santa Monica New Works where a few riders enjoyed a beer with Larry, Marco and friends.

June LG50 – Up Fernwood, down Piuma, back on Malibu Canyon

Led by Geoff Loui | SAG by Jonathan and Amy Weiss
Images by various contributors

The June LG50 included a whopping 90 riders, with our friends from Big Orange joining! The route started at Helen’s Cycles, went up Fernwood Pacific, up and over the Top of the World and back on Piuma & Malibu Canyon for over 45 miles and 3,755 feet of elevation to end at Santa Monica Brew Works.


Members:

Please take a moment to ensure your contact information is up to date. Visit https://www.lagrange.org/member-dashboard#myaccount to confirm that your phone number is current, and double check that your emergency contact name and phone number are accurate. This helps La Grange improve vendor access to membership verification and ensures that, in case of an emergency during a ride, a board member can quickly notify your emergency contact. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to us at membership@lagrange.org.

Follow La Grange and Stay Informed!

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

  • LG Club on Instagram 

  • LG Race Team on Instagram 

  • LG on Strava 

  • LG on Facebook 

  • LG exclusive What’s App community for LG members only

    Join HERE and become part of the legacy of Velo Club La Grange, one of the oldest and most respected cycling clubs in California.

Support Our Sponsors

Lee Ziff Real Estate

Los Angeles Luxury Specialists


When you hire my team, you hire a proven machine for buying and selling Los Angeles luxury real estate. We operate like a boutique advisory firm: data obsessed, hyper local, and relentlessly proactive. From Brentwood to Beverly Hills to the Palisades, we monitor micro trends street by street, surface quiet and off market opportunities, and position listings to compete at the very top of their segment. Every detail, pricing strategy, timing, photography and film, copywriting, staging, and showings, runs through one coordinated plan designed to create urgency and protect your leverage.

Personal consultations for La Grange members, by appointment.

John Fox Fine Painting is proud to sponsor LG as a resource for specialized interior finishes and bespoke murals. If your home is a condominium or a castle your lived environment can be transformed by color, texture, pattern and design. Renée Fox and David Newcombe bring together a team of fine artisans around their decades of experience in art and homes. La Grange members receive a personalized on site consultation at no charge.


THANK YOU to all of our sponsors!

ACTS Law, Personal Injury Lawyers
APEX Law, Real Estate and Business Litigation
Caffe Luxxe, Artisanal Coffee Roasters Gentle Jaw, A passive stretching device for acute and chronic tmj and jaw pain John Fox Fine Painting, Exquisite finishes and bespoke murals 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





La Voix - June 2026

Greetings La Grange Members, 

This month’s newsletter includes recaps on our first LG Safety Course, LG 50, womens ride and spring social at Busby’s, member feature by Ryan Schmidt and June dates to remember. As the Tour de France approaches I’ll leave you with this question… Will the 19 year old Paul Seixas be in the La Grange Jersey (aka French Nationals jersey) at the Tour de France? So excited to see this young professional race against Tadej this year at the tour! Thanks again to Amy Hutner for your support in gathering content for this month’s La Voix.

Ride safely,

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

Hello La Grangers,

We closed out May with amazing weather and a super fun LG 50 ride to Griffith Observatory. As we look to June and beyond this might be a good time to set some cycling goals. And to come together as a club supporting each other in the club and larger cycling community.

Simple hellos, and sharing comments like “you are riding strong” can carry lots of positive energy that are just as powerful as that sugary gel, banana, or aero part.  

Let’s all have an amazing and safe summer riding our bikes and regaling the accomplishments and beauty of the day together afterwards. 

Vive La Grange,

Larry

Racing News

US Elite Track National Championships Bound

By Morgan James

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share a quick training and racing update as I head into a big stretch of UCI track racing this summer. Thanks to the incredible support from Velo Club La Grange, I’ve been preparing for a major block of international competition over the next several weeks. Next weekend, I’ll head to Pennsylvania for the UCI C2 Fastest Woman on Wheels, followed by my first-ever UCI C1 competition at the Carnival of Speed in Trinidad. After that, I’ll return home to race the UCI C2 Summer Slam at the VELO Sports Center before focusing on the US Elite Track National Championships later this August. I’ve been building toward this season since last September, and I’m excited to finally put all the work to the test.

One of the biggest turning points in my preparation came last November when I attended my first development camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The coaching staff encouraged me to make a major adjustment to my training by reducing some of my track-specific work and significantly increasing my aerobic base training and Zone 2 riding. Over the last six months, that change has made a huge difference in my fitness and confidence. While I no longer race for La Grange on the road, I’ve had a strong road season with several podium performances, and I’m currently leading the CBR race series in the Women’s P1/2 field with both the yellow and green jerseys heading into the finale in early June. In fact, I’ll be stepping off the plane from Pennsylvania and heading straight to the CBR finale that same day!

I’m incredibly grateful for the support La Grange has provided throughout this journey. Racing internationally and competing at the national level would not be possible without the encouragement of this community. I’m proud to represent the club this season and can’t wait to share how the racing goes over the next few months!

Velo Club La Grange! stay tuned for Morgan’s exact race schedule so we can show up in numbers to cheer for Morgan at the Velo Sports Center later this month and early July! The events are free to the public and really fun to watch.


Club News

Club Kit for Armenian Cyclists

By Michael Kludjan

Getting rid of old kit as new spring kit arrives? Arrange a meet up or drop off. I’m in Cheviot Hills and have a big porch where others have dropped off stuff. Helmets, shoes, kits, old equipment, anything bike related is acceptable. I’ll be making another trip to bring cycling gear soon. Reach out to me at 310-817-3299.

Thanks so much for your donations! The gear is greatly appreciated by the kids. They love the stuff.

Save the Date!

LG Women’s Ride: Saturday June 20

June LG50 Ride: Saturday June 27

Edgar Burcksen Memorial Santa Barbara Century: Saturday August 1

Club Events Recap

May Spring Social at Busby’s Santa Monica

By Deb Carabet

Images by various contributors

A great time was had by all who attended our May Social at Busby's West. Members played miniature golf, a little shuffleboard and enjoyed food and drinks while listening to our special guest speaker, Charles Aaron.

Three LG sponsors were present. Kevin Culpepper of ACTS Law educated us about the recently proposed measures by Uber that could significantly impact the rights of injured victims, including Los Angeles rideshare accident victims, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Rich Hirschinger of Gentle Jaw added context to Kevin's update and David Newcombe from John Fox Fine Painting provided an update from our recent Skills and Safety Clinic. It was so great to have our sponsors with us. 

Guest speaker Charles Aaron shared his background racing as a young cyclist and how he got his start owning and managing pro cycling teams over his long career and why he decided to focus on women's pro cycling.  He shared Human Powered Health's goals, news about their women's team and thoughts on returning to our cycling roots with the younger generation to bring pro racing back to North America.

Thank you for joining us Charles and for picking the winner of the Rudy Project Sunglasses raffle, which was won by Ryan Schmidt and his son! 

See you all at the next social! 


La Grange Skills & Safety Course

By David Newcombe

Skills Course, cont’d. The goal, we recall, to make group riding Safety a topic to which we devote club energy, as part of our culture of looking out for one another.

Starts at 8. There is a little stretching, off the bike, to be honest, a little reaching and twisting and balancing, of which we can expect mastery from those who propose to operate bicycles at speed in close proximity to us, no?

We inspect our tires. The instructor says, “You may be surprised by some damage you didn’t know about.” Then promptly finds a large hole in his own rear tire. 

That’s what learning is! A constant surprise, what you don’t know, right?

Or, what we don’t pay attention to. Or what we don’t have shared words to talk about.

We address these constraints thus: we test our brakes, hard, around the building at Helen’s and in the little parking lot. We try riding a straight line while turning to look behind, each side. We corner one-by-one past a moving pedestrian obstacle, the fearless Geoff Loui, studying our decreasing line by mental effort to not look at the obstacle. To not hit Geoff.

We ride smartly in a neat double line up 26th St. We frame our rubric as “rider responsibilities.” You are responsible for your line, your spacing, your speed. Your focus.

We all need corrections, and encouragement, too. In the Skills Course, we offer these objectively and kindly, while carefully tending our fragile paceline around the golf course clockwise, amidst the usual foreseen and unforeseen madness we call “the road.”  

A few of our LG junior racers, animating our pace line, demonstrate the future of road cycling, and the continuity of the Velo Club La Grange vision.

May La Grange Women’s Ride

By Amy Hutner

Led by Amy Hutner and Philippa Moore

Images by Philippa Moore

On May 16th, the Women's Ride met up at Ocean and San Vicente for a social-paced ride up PCH to Topanga and up and over Topanga Canyon, Old Topanga and Mullholland to Pedalers Fork and back. In addition to some 'regulars" on this ride (Cate, Philippa, Janice and Kirsten), we were joined by a few friends of Philippa's - Molly and Jolene. Topanga was lush and beautiful. While Amy and Kirsten both had to turn around before Pedaler's Fork, the hardy remaining crew were able to make it to Pedaler's and enjoy a coffee and pastry before heading back over Topanga and back to Santa Monica. A good time was had by all, new friendships forged, and solid time in the saddle logged!


May La Grange LG 50 to the Griffith Park Observatory

Led by Marco Fantone | SAG by Renee Fox & David Newcombe of John Fox Fine Painting
Images by various contributors

Saturday’s LG 50 ride could not have had better weather to trek across the city to the Griffith Observatory.

The ride started from Helen’s in Santa Monica where Jay and Adam opened the shop early for cyclists to purchase any nutrition and gear needed before the ride. The LG van was gleaming from a thorough detailing by Marco, David, Amanda & Renée. A few words on safety and the route were spoken and the group departed with the van following closely behind. As the peloton climbed Sepulveda, David spotted Rich Hirschinger with a mechanical, pulled over and used the tools in the van to help Rich get back on the bike so he was able to catch up to the group and finish the ride. The group had the usual small regroups near the start of Mulholland near the temple and also at the 101 freeway where Mulholland ends with the main regroup/ SAG stop at Travel Town just inside Griffith Park. Renée & David provided quite the spread with the usual fare plus sandwiches that fueled the cyclists for their final climb up to the observatory. A large group made their way to Santa Monica Brew Works after the ride for some well-earned beer and snacks.

Member Features

Mallorca 312 Bicycle Race

By Tom Hill

It was the end of April 2023 when my nephew Marcos from Argentina contacted me about a bicycle race on the island of Mallorca in Spain. He said I should come to Mallorca and do this race the Mallorca 312.

Marcos left Argentina twenty one years ago and moved to Mallorca to follow his dreams and passion for sailing. After earning his education in the boating industry he became a Captain and found work sailing private yachts owned by wealthy foreigners. Mallorca is a beautiful island and has attracted many famous people. Some of the homeowners on the island include Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas, Sir Richard Branson, Pierce Brosnan, Claudia Schiffer, Rafa Nadal and many others including Bradley Wiggins a winner of the Tour de France.

After a little research I was excited to enter the race the following year in 2024. Registration opens in October for the following year race. You have to be fast on the computer because once entries opened up they sell out 8,000 entries within ten minutes! I did not get my entry in time so I hooked up with a British Cycling Tour company that had some extra entries and got in.

There are three distances offered. The short version is 104 miles and 8,100 feet of ascent, the medium version is 140 miles and 13,000 feet of ascent and the longest version is 193 miles with 16,500 feet of climbing. I did the short version in 2024 finishing in 6 hours and totally drained crossing the finish line.

I registered in 2025 and was looking forward to the race again until I got a knock on my door January 7th at 10:15 a.m. by a neighbor who told me there was a big fire heading our way. I climbed on the roof of my house, made a quick video of it then came back inside. At that moment I froze deciding what I could get out of my house before the mandatory evacuation. After loading up my car with all I could take, Clyde (my dog) and I headed out to Sunset Blvd. to sit in bumper to bumper traffic to escape the fire as it kept getting closer and the smoke became thicker. Needless to say I missed the race in 2025 as it was a lost year relocating many times and living out of my car. I promised myself I was not going to let anything get in my way so I could return in 2026.

This year I chose to challenge myself and signed up for the longer distance race of 140 miles and 13,000 feet of climbing. I put in some longer early season rides to prepare for the longer race. Most of my rides were 5 to 6 hours long, though this race would be about 10 hours long. At 5:30 a.m. 8,500 riders lined up for a 6:30 a.m. start of the 16th annual Mallorca 312. It was a cold morning and I was shivering waiting in the dark for the gunshot start. The field of riders were mostly all Europeans with the majority from Spain, England and Germany. Every year the event draws top racers and some famous ex pros. This year brought Jan Ullrich from Germany and Miguel Indurain from Spain both past Tour de France winners. Indurain is the most famous Spanish racer having won the Tour de France 5 times.

I was placed in the last group of 5,000 riders and did not cross the start line until 18 minutes after the official start. The pace was fast once we got going on the flat section of about 10 miles before reaching the first major mountain pass. I tried to hold back knowing it was going to be a long day but it was hard not getting caught up with all of the others and adrenaline running high. There was also a time cut at mile 60 which I did not want to miss. Having started in the back and losing 18 minutes at the start made it that much harder. I rode steady and fast passing hundreds of riders over the first two major climbs and thankfully arrived 15 minutes before the time cut so I could continue on the longer course. It was a beautiful day, sunny and temperatures in the low 70’s most of the day. The mountain passes were very scenic and great ocean views. My goal was to break 10 hours. After 13,000 feet of climbing and 140 miles I crossed the finish line in 8 hours and 55 minutes and finished 4th in my age category.

It was my longest race and required all my effort. I was happy to beat my goal of breaking 10 hours. My finishing time will allow me to move up to another group next year so I can cross the start line sooner.

I would highly recommend cycling on Mallorca, it is truly the Mecca for road cycling and should be on your bucket list!

Until next year!

Cheers, Tom

Springtime Portland West Hills Ride

By Ryan Schmidt

Warning: If you bring up an epic ride in conversation with Renée, you may end up writing it up for La Voix.

Last April, I traveled to Portland on the first flight out of LAX on a Thursday, hoping to get a bike ride in that afternoon. I knew that I needed to get going as soon as possible as I was attempting the route for the De Ronde PDX 2024 ride. This ride occurs annually as part of The PDX Classics - Chasing Lions series (http://www.RondePDX.com and The PDX Classics - Chasing Lions Club on Strava). It is an open road event that is intended to mimic a Belgian classic, such as Liège-Baston-Liège, that is challenging for its up and down profile that is never flat.

I skipped lunch to head over to the Cycle Portland bike shop and start riding, relying solely on The Feed nutrition (orange Skratch gummies, blackberry pie bar, SIS Beta strawberry lime gels). The bike was ready to go thanks to an easy online reservation process, and I was able to store my shoes at the shop. I got a Giant carbon road bike with tubeless 32 mm tires and subcompact chainrings allowing for a 1:1 gear ratio for the smallest gear, which turned out to be perfect for the combination of rough pavement, gravel, and steep sections ahead of me.

The ride took me up and down the West Hills, which is a small mountain with panoramic views overlooking downtown Portland and the surrounding areas. They say that you can see around 4 volcanoes within the Cascade Range from the West Hills on the right day. I didn’t look that hard, but I could easily make out Mount Hood in the distance.

The route took me through an industrial area to enter Forest Park for some shaded gravel climbing punctuated by funky art installations. From there, I rode through beautiful neighborhoods built into the hills with well-kept landscaping that was in full bloom. Navigation was challenging as there must have been around one hundred navigation points. One eye was kept on the road, and the other on the Garmin. Apparently, you can follow lions painted on the street, but I only saw them once. The developer of this route was a true master operating at the level of a symphony orchestra conductor. I went past major landmarks (Pittock Mansion, the Zoo, and the Rose Garden), through parks and small paths connecting streets in unexpected ways, and even a cemetery! There was one set of antennas at the top that I approached from every possible direction. In the end, it may have been too much for the Garmin to handle. In the neighborhood that includes Portland State University, I entered a Bermuda Triangle where I lost the route and kept doubling back on myself. Apparently, I was supposed to climb a steep one-way street that is the width of a single car against traffic for approximately 600 feet (SW College St). Maybe this would be have been more obvious on the top-end bike computer models. Who knows?

At this point, I was low on energy, nutrition, and water, so I decided to head back to the bike shop. I was satisfied with my 37.7 mile ride with 5,935 feet of elevation gain in around four hours. I quickly downed a Mexican Coke, which was conveniently available at the shop and bought some socks for my daughter. From there, I headed to an outdoor food cart pod and ordered a sope de carnitas and a beer.

Life is good on the bike!


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Created in Collaboration with Caleb Ewan, this signature series is a reflection on a career defined by speed, precision, and years at the highest level of professional Cycling. Designed alongside the PM team, the collect6ion acts as both a celebration of Caleb’s journey in the sport and a representation of the next chapter, moving beyond the intensity of professional racing while still maintaining a strong connection to the bike, family, fitness, and the lifestyle surrounding cycling, keeping a connection to cycling long after racing itself.

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