La Voix - October 2021

RACING NEWS
Tina Grant is a State Champion! Podiums by Yi, Martina, and Taisha.

 
 

Congratulations, Ladies! Vive La Grange!

The LG Cup Event #3 – The Piuma Hillclimb

 
 

It was another great day of intramural racing at the LG Cup Event #3 - The Piuma Hill Climb. We had a big group; all smiles, then grimaces, then back to smiles. A big thanks to Marco Fantone and his team of volunteers. We couldn’t do it without you.

Fastest men and women’s times of the day:

  • Nick Gillock — 36:58 men’s 50-59

  • Martina Blumenthal — 44:40, women’s 40-49

Full results can be found in the images above or here! Congratulation, winners!
(photos by Tina Grant and The Dans (Dan Mitnick and Dan Chapman)

The Annual LG Picnic

 
 

(photos by Dan Mitnick and Lisa Goldfarb)

CLUB NEWS
Vie13 chosen as clothing sponsor for 2022-23

 

VCLG is very proud to announce that we have chosen Vie 13 as our clothing sponsor for the 2022-23 seasons. We polled the LG membership about VIe13 and the results were overwhelmingly positive. Here are a few of the results of the survey:

  • 73.4% of respondents rated the overall quality of Vie13 products high to very high

  • 53.6% of respondents stated that Vie13 products meet their needs very well to extremely well

  • 52.8% of respondents would recommend Vie13 to a friend or colleague

See the Full Survey Results here.

ABOUT VIE13

Vie 13 is a family-owned business based in Michigan USA. Athletes Gary and Theresa Cliff-Ryan take performance apparel seriously.

From Vie 13
With fabrics. Cuttings. Seams. Getting rid of seams. It’s no joke that they update everything constantly to try and improve the performance, fit, and finish of our products. This is because we’re athletes who love sport and want to help every athlete meet their goal. Talk to Vie13 founder, Gary Ryan, about what it means to find the perfect fit and you’ll learn as much as your brain can handle. It’s not hype, jargon, or salesmanship. We believe in every seam, stitch, and cut. We think you will too.

La Grange is thrilled to continue our partnership with such passionate people.
See more about Vie13 here.

 

La Grange Rides the Italian Alps!

 

(photos by Dan Funk, Michael Higgins, and Brian Crommie)

Written by Dan Funk
Over the past 5 years, well excluding 2020, I’ve been fortunate to visit a small town in northern Italy called Bormio for cycling holidays. About 10 miles from the Swiss border, the town is nestled in a small valley surrounded by mountains that contain epic cycling passes any Giro fan would recognize: Stelvio, Cancano, Gavia, Mortirolo, Bernina, etc. The town of Bormio is lovely to behold, with cobbled streets, stone houses, and commercial areas that probably didn’t look much different from 100 years ago, albeit with WIFI. Lee Ziff may have said it best when he arrived for the first time this past month, “You guys totally undersold it, or rather, you need a realtor to describe in properly!”

La Grangers Brian Crommie and Tom Hill found this area during a cycling trip that included the Maratona delle Dolomites, staying at a local hotel called Funivia. As Lee says, they completely undersold it. The Funivia is a family-owned hotel that focuses on cycling tourism in the summer and skiing in the winter. Simple but modern, they offer an affordable daily rate that includes bike services (bike garage & kit washing) & half board (breakfast & dinner). The owners & staff are passionate about cycling and eager to have one enjoy their stay.

We were also fortunate to have the support of a local tour company, Stelvio Experience. Over the years, we’ve used these guys to provide guide and SAG services for all the epic climbs. While these rides can be done solo, what a relief to have a van waiting for you with water, food, or a fresh kit. Keep in mind, we always start in Bormio, and while there are no “dirty” miles, basically any place you go involves 5-6k of climbing, and easily as much as 11-12k, in usually around 60 miles.

This year travel was complicated by the uncertainties of rules and regulations surrounding COVID, but upon arrival we could relax and focus on riding! it turns out that we were the first Americans to stay in the hotel since COVID hit last march. People we’ve come to know over the years were very happy to see us, and with a smaller group we were able to do more exploring of the lesser know roads and venture on a few gravel rides. Gravel riding is being taken up with great enthusiasm by locals and there are so many trails and roads to discover hidden valleys or secluded refugios. Returning to town rewards you with great food, beer, coffee, & gelato. What more could you ask for on holiday.

I look forward to returning.

 

IN THE NEWS
Los Angeles: Biking While Black

 
 

The “BIKING WHILE BLACK: How Safe Are Black Lives Bicycling?” Short Documentary Project is an impactful and insightful process of gathering the narratives of community constituents, grassroots advocates, CBOs, and city agencies around the topic of Black Lives bicycling in Los Angeles!

The interviewees were asked questions on the topics of traffic violence, police enforcement, infrastructure disenfranchisement, and racial profiling that has led to even death in some cases.

The population this project and documentary aims to speak to is anyone who believes BLACK LIVES MATTER whether they be bicycling, walking, using public transit, driving, and or moving around in public spaces exercising our human rights.

Produced and directed by Yolanda Davis-Overstreet, M.A.

When should bad air quality keep you from riding outside?

 
 

With California wildfires raging, it can be confusing knowing when to ride outside. Is training outdoors safe when the AQI is high? What is the AQI? From Training Peaks, here are the answers to your most pressing air quality questions — including when to exercise indoors.

Read the full article here.

The AQI is the Air Quality Index, a measurement of particulate matter and pollution in the air. Generally, the beaches have better air quality due to onshore air flows and the mountains and inland areas tend to hold in pollution due to geography and industrialization. Before your next ride, see what the AQI for Los Angeles is here.

Support Our Sponsors

 
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skratch-dog.jpg
 
 

Bike Improve

REMINDER: The Wahoo fitness product sale at Bike Improve is going on now! 20% OFF pedals, cleats, GPS head units, smart trainers, and more. Visit them today and grab your deals while they last!
Wahoo Fitness website

Skratch Labs

Interested in sports and exercise nutrition? Skratch Labs is looking for a local Brand Ambassador. Make your own hours, get paid, have fun, and share Skratch products with athletes at local events.
Get full details here

 

New and Returning Members

Please welcome our new members who joined in September 2021!

  • Keyvan N., Arsen A., Lisa G., and Ian B.

  • And a hearty welcome back to returning members: Stephen K., Jonathan J., Palle J., Michael H., Brian P., Elie B., Casper C. and Family!

Welcome, everyone! We are happy to have you.

LG Event Calendar for October

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 October!

  • October 7-10 – Sea Otter Classic

  • October 13 – LG Board Meeting

  • October 17 – CBR #6

  • October 23 – SCNCA ITT Championship

  • October 30 – The LG50 RIde

  • October 31 – SCNCA ITT Championship

Have an event you would like to add? Send a request to Sam at sam.selfridge@lagrange.org

2022 La Grange Board of Directors Election Results

La Grange is pleased to announce your new and returning members elected to serve a two-year term on the VCLG Board of Directors. Velo Club La Grange congratulates those elected and thanks everyone who voted. Elected listed in alphabetical order.

Bill Birrell
Jan Datomi
Jaycee Cary
Robert Yates

View the entire VCLG Board of Directors

 
Bill Birrell

Bill Birrell

Jan Datomi

Jan Datomi

 
 
Jaycee Cary

Jaycee Cary

Robert Yates

Robert Yates

 

Your 2022 Velo Club La Grange
Board of Directors

 
 
 

Board Election Candidates

Here are the candidates for the La Grange Board Election beginning September 18, 20201.

PLEASE VOTE!

(candidates listed in alphabetical order)

 

Bill Birrell

Club Member since 1993. La Granger of the Year 2009.

I’ve been passionate about cycling since watching Eddie Merckx in the 1968 Olympics. My orange Schwinn Varsity soon gathered dust because in Rye NY there was no one to ride with. I rode on and off through school, but never found a steady group of similarly motivated riders. I finally found my jam when Bill Mock rode up next to me on San Vicente and told me of the club rides. He sold me a “blobby” jersey out of the back of his Honda after my first Friday ride and I was hooked. Claude Innocente found out I was a studio executive and recruited me for the board in the mid-’90s to help him negotiate sponsorship deals. The deals with Helens and Robert Forster PT proved to be longstanding pillars of the club’s success. Through Claude, I met Raymond Fouquet and learned of the old world heritage of Velo Club LaGrange. Years later I put together a crew of Edgar Burcksen (editor) and Bill Pitcher (cinematographer) to make The Ride, a documentary about the roots of the club. If you haven’t seen it, please check it out on the club website. On the bike, my engine proved to be more of diesel than an F1, so I focused on ultra events: doubles, Furnace Creek 508 (DNF), and then discovered the TransAlp. I wanted to help other cyclists achieve their potential and I earned my USCF Coach certification. Mark Thomas and I held bike handling clinics to help folks keep the rubber side down. My coaching led to co-founding with Bob Rasner Grand Masters Cycling, an off-shoot of VCLG. 

I want to be a board member once again to help the club help our members. Cycling takes us to so many wonderful places, leads us to meet so many fascinating people. The isolation of the pandemic has underscored my experience that the social aspects of the club keep all of us coming back. "See you at the ride tomorrow" is strong medicine. My goal is to enhance the way the club gives back to its members and honor the traditions that made Velo Club LaGrange what it is today. I hope to have the opportunity to serve you.

 
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Jaycee Cary

I submit myself for re-election to the La Grange Board of Directors. It has been my honor to serve the La Grange membership in a variety of positions over the years. There is no doubt that this is a lot of work, but I volunteer my time and energy to La Grange because I want this club to be vital, valuable, and great. Raymond’s legacy deserves nothing less. This only happens if we all invest our passion and enthusiasm. I will continue to vigorously support the La Grange efforts of inclusion, equality, competition, and community and will lead with transparency, fairness, and integrity. Thank you.

 
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Jan Datomi

I’ve really enjoyed my time on the La Grange board, and I am kindly requesting another term. For me, La Grange represents the things I enjoy the most, fitness, fun and community. My goal as a board member is to provide members with as much fun and value as possible. Seeing members enjoy and feel challenged by La Grange events is what makes being on the board so worthwhile for me. I have been fortunate enough to have been president of La Grange these last six months, and would love to continue on. I believe I process the organizational skills to help keep La Grange moving forward. Please take the time to vote and please help me continue to work for La Grange by voting for me. Thanks.

 
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Jonathan Rios

Jonathan is an avid cyclist and triathlete. As a relatively new member of La Grange, he was hooked after a full summer of racing on the LG Race Team and participating in two parts of the LG Cup. The cycling community is very strong and La Grange represents the pinnacle of bringing people together over a mutual activity.

Outside of the world of cycling, Jonathan is a skilled nonprofit professional specializing in fundraising for the arts and works directly with boards of all scopes and sizes. He hopes to bring his nonprofit expertise to La Grange to ensure the continued success of the club while continuing to to engage our membership at all levels. Beginning on October 1st of this year, he will also begin a three year term on the Board of Directors of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras.

 
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Robert Yates

Though covid is still ever-present in our lives and group activities, I have really enjoyed being able to contribute to the board and the club. I am proud of the work we did with the town hall on stopping AAPI hate, and more recently thoroughly enjoyed supporting our members by sagging the LG50 ride. As the world becomes more "normal" and steps out of Zooms and more into the real world, I would love the opportunity to continue giving my time and energy to the board, the club, and its members.

Now that I am back in LA, and I am able to settle more into my role, I look forward to sharing some of the invisible burdens the more established board members carry that keep the club running smoothly.

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