Greetings La Grange Community,
Our friend October is here and so is the October issue of La Voix. In it you’ll find links to purchase your tickets for the Annual La Grange Club Picnic and register for the Piuma Hill Climb both this Saturday, October 4, news from our race team, important dates for October, September LG50 recap and (spoiler alert!) news on the road world championships.
See you this weekend!
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
October is an exciting time to be a cyclist in Los Angeles. Particularly if you are a La Grange member.
This weekend we hold our annual Piuma Hill Climb event and picnic. This is always a great time to come together, push yourself amongst others and then relive the day's excitement. I won’t spoil any surprises, but the day will be a celebration from start to finish. If you haven’t already, sign up and line up for Piuma and then eat up at the picnic.
Looking beyond this weekend’s events, keep your eyes open for updates via the club’s WhatsApp channel and emails. We have the annual club photo coming up and another LG50 with a route to be determined shortly. But as the intense summer heat fades and October emerges there will be plenty of options. October is the perfect month for cycling around Los Angeles. Cooler weather, subtle light, color changes in the leaves and less traffic as the tourists have all gone home.
Vive LaGrange,
Larry Goodman President, La Grange
Racing News
Letter to the La Grange Board of Directors from La Grange racer Morgan James
The La Grange Board of Directors would like to recognize Morgan James for her dedication and loyalty to La Grange. One of California's largest and oldest cycling clubs with over 400 active members La Grange was founded by Raymond Fouquet in 1969 to support amateur racing among men, women, boys, and girls. Our mission extends beyond sponsorship, providing essentials such as travel, lodging, equipment, and entry fees to race team members. This support has produced a number or notable professional athletes including Coryn Labecki (EF Education–Oatly) and Sean Quinn (Education Easy-Post). We are proud of our rising star and loyal racer Morgan James, and pleased to share her letter below with you.
Dear La Grange Board,
I want to sincerely thank you for your support throughout my track racing season. Because of your encouragement and backing, I was able to compete in both national and internationally ranked events. This year, I earned a bronze medal in the elimination race and a silver medal in the team pursuit at the elite national championships, and I was proud to finish as a top U.S. rider during our UCI racing block at my home track.
I’m also excited to share some big news. As many of you know, my long-term goal is to pursue a spot at the 2028 Olympics. This November, I was invited to my first national team development camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado—an important step toward making that dream a reality.
I’m deeply grateful to La Grange for welcoming me when I first started this journey and for continuing to stand behind me as I chase these goals. Your support has truly helped bring these opportunities to life.
Thank you again for believing in me.
Warmly, Morgan
Club News
The Annual La Grange Club Picnic is this Saturday October 4!
Our famous annual club picnic is coming up in on October 4th and you don't want to miss out in all the fun! The incredible chefs at the Border Grill/SoCalo designed a menu just for our members. There is a little something for everyone!
The food and fun are going to be excellent. You DO NOT have to be a member of La Grange to come to the picnic so please feel free to invite friends, families and potential new LG members to be.
There is a small cost of $20 for all attendees. With costs all over going up over the last year, we have had to add a little cost. We do hope you understand and will not let that stop you from enjoying great food, and a beautiful place for a picnic. LG is still picking up the bulk of the cost for our picnic. We will be buying other drinks not included in the menu.
**We will be announcing the winners of the Piuma Hill Climb at the picnic.**
Feel free to invite friends to check out our picnic and some of the fun things being a member of La Grange has to offer.
Here's the link to register: https://lagrange.org/picnic /4/la-grange-annual-picnic
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have.
Cheers,
Deb Carabet
Purchase tickets here!
Register for the Piuma Hill Climb, this Saturday October 4!
The Piuma Hillclimb is La Grange's signature event and routinely attracts close to 100 participants. Located in the hills above Malibu off of Malibu Canyon Road, Piuma is a twisty, windy 5.4 miles of uphill nastiness. Max gradient approaches 8% in some areas. Elevation gain is just over 1700 feet. But wait, there’s more! The Hillclimb doesn’t end there. Once you’ve summited Piuma, you will descend the backside of Piuma towards Scheuren Road where you will negotiate a deceptively evil off-camber left turn onto Scheuren. From there, it’s another 1.8 miles and 550 feet of climbing to the finish line at Saddle Peak where participants can enjoy the La Grange Expo, with tents and offerings from LG sponsors. The hillclimb is a mass start similar to that of a marathon where riders will self-seed themselves based on their expected finishing time.
The 26th edition of our annual Piuma Hillclimb is fast approaching. Here are
answers to some questions we regularly receive:
Q: Why can't everyone simply use Strava to time themselves?
A: Don't think this hasn't been discussed already! The reason is that
everyone's GPS is slightly different as far as the starting point and finish
line are concerned and when mere seconds can separate riders crossing the
finish line, we need a finish line camera and bib numbers in order to get as
accurate a time as possible.
Q: What do these bibs look like and where do they go on my jersey?
A: Great question! This year we indulged a bit and produced a bib you may
actually want to keep after the event! (see attached) Also attached are two
examples of pinning (or spray-gluing) your bib. One is how NOT to place your
number and the other shows the correct position. If you want to insure that
your hard-fought effort gets counted, then make sure the scoring crew at the
finish line can read your number.
Q: Where can I pick up my bib number?
A: Numbers can be picked up after the Friday morning Marina ride at Caffe
Luxxe on Montana and 10th St. You can also get your bib at Ocean and SV on
Saturday morning starting at 7am. If those two options don't work for you,
you can grab your number at the base of Piuma starting at around 8:30.
If you are still on the fence and haven't registered, what are you waiting
for? Because afterwards, all you'll be hearing from club members was how
brutal yet awesome the hillclimb was. You don't want to miss out on that, do
you?
https://www.lagrange.org/member-calendar#!event/2025/10/4/2025-la-grange-piu
ma-hillclimb
October Save the Dates:
Our monthly Womens Ride will be Saturday October 18! Route TBA
The October LG50 will be held on Saturday October 25. Volunteers!! If you’ve considered leading a ride, now is the time to step up and propose a route!
Club Events Recap
September LG50 to Franklin Canyon, Valley, Old Topanga
Led by Rich Hirschinger | SAG by Jonathan Weiss and Frank Whitelock
The September LG50: To the valley the best way! This month’s route started at Helen's in Santa Monica, went up scenic Franklin Canyon dropped into the valley and returned to the PCH via Old Topanga Road to end at Santa Monica Brew Works for community.
Click here to view photos and video clips from various contributors.
September Board Meeting Minutes
Amanda Beasley, La Grange Secretary, has done the work to provide a concise summary of our monthly board meeting minutes so you can stay engaged with club goings on. Click HERE to read and look for these each month in LaVoix!
Welcome New Velo Club La Grange Members!
Please say hello to our 13 new members who joined in September 2025 (you can find them in our Member Directory):
Tolga Y., Michael E., Brian K., Sam B., Jason D., James D., Anil A., Paul J., Brad H., Jacob C., Matthieu P., Joshua H. and Matt W.
Existing 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.
Cycling News
World Championships: As it happened: Canadian rider outwits the favourites in elite women's road race
By Owen Rogers for Cycling News
La Grange members receive 10% Off TRIFIT's standard membership.
TRIFIT LA—Santa Monica’s largest independent, family-owned health club. Voted “Most Loved Gym” in 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, and 2025, we offer more than just workouts. We deliver a fitness experience designed to inspire, challenge, and connect.
About Our Community
For over 20 years, TRIFIT LA has been deeply rooted in the Santa Monica community. In addition to creating local jobs, we’ve hosted some of LA County’s largest free outdoor workouts and proudly support local fitness clubs, races, and nonprofit organizations.
About Our Mission
We’re passionate about helping our members reach their highest potential—both in sport and in life. Co-owners Gina and Bernard Baski lead with heart, offering top-tier fitness solutions while enjoying life in Los Angeles with their two teenage sons and their loyal Rottweiler, Banksy.
Experience what we’re about—community, performance, and purpose.
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Family Owned Since 1985
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
Santa Monica Brew Works, Santa Monica’s First and Only Brewery
