Gravel Rides Are Here! Join Us for the Kickoff Event and Weekly Adventures

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new gravel ride series at Velo Club La Grange, led by Brian Perkins. Whether you’re an experienced rider or curious to explore gravel for the first time, this is a great opportunity to dust off your gravel or mountain bike, tackle new routes, and meet fellow cyclists.

Kickoff Event: Daylight Savings Gravel Loop

Mark your calendars for our kickoff event on Sunday, November 3rd, at 7:30am, starting at SVO (San Vicente & Ocean). Brian Perkins will lead the ride, and we have options for all levels:

Full Ride: 34 miles with 4,358 feet of climbing Strava Route
Shorter Ride: 20 miles with 2,454 feet of climbing Strava Route

This will be a no-drop ride, meaning no one gets left behind. There will also be SAG Van support at San Vicente Mountain Park (Nike Missile Control Site), providing limited nutrition, snacks, and water to keep you fueled.

Regular LG Weekly Gravel Ride Series

The fun doesn’t stop after the kickoff! Our regular weekly gravel rides begin on Wednesday, November 6th, at 6:30am, meeting at San Vicente & 26th. Each week, Brian Perkins will guide us on a different route, typically covering 20-25 miles with 2,000-3,000 feet of climbing.

Why You Should Join

These rides offer a fantastic way to connect with the La Grange community, improve your cycling skills, and enjoy the great outdoors. It’s also a perfect time to introduce new friends to the club and grow our gravel family.

More to Come

Stay tuned for additional news, including skills clinics and other events designed to support gravel riders of all levels. We’re committed to making gravel riding accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

A Special Thanks to Brian Perkins

We extend a big thank you to Brian Perkins for volunteering to lead the series and sharing his passion for gravel riding with the club. His dedication helps us bring new opportunities to the La Grange community.

Dear Velo Club La Grange Members,

It has been a wonderful experience serving on the board for the past two years. We have grown as a board and continue to encourage each other to be there for the members of Velo Club La Grange. I would love to continue serving as a board member for the club and be of service to its members. Thank you for your consideration.

Bodie Olmos

Dan Mitnick is an avid cyclist and long time LaGrange member who you can see pedaling the streets of West LA and beyond 6 and 1/2 days a week. He just completed his first 2-year term as a board member and was finally figured out how to be constructive. This former racer Is now more focused on commuting and bicycles. Joy for the community at large. I can still be see mixing it up on road and trails.

Dan Mitnick

Hello La Grange Club Members, it's been a great 2 years serving on the board. We designed a sleek looking kit, raised some money and rode a couple centuries for Bike MS as Team La Grange, and put on some fun LG50s and other events. I really like driving the van as long as I don't park it overnight in Santa Monica. Here to be your cheerleader, send you positive vibes, connect you to others, and get you moving! Go, go, go!

Lisa Goldfarb

Find me on Strava, Lisa The Lizard

Nominating Statement: Marco Fantone

Hello La Grange members! Some of you may know me as the ride leader for the Friday morning Marina rides or the person who organizes the Piuma Hillclimb each year and bombards your e-mail inboxes and LG Facebook page with reminders about the upcoming event. I also happen to have a rather sizeable collection of vintage La Grange jerseys that I love sharing with the club each November at our annual banquet! I’ve been a club member since 1997 and was president of Velo Club La Grange from 2009-2012. I’mproud to have been able to contribute to the growth and success of this club over the years. When Ifirst joined, La Grange was a club of just over 100 members with a small squad of racers. Back then,there was no Piuma Hillclimb, no La Grange van, no LG50 rides and no La Grange Facebook pagebecause………..Facebook didn’t exist back then! We are now a club of over 300 members with riders andracers competing in all types of cycling-related events.The success of La Grange is due to active collaboration whether it’s planning for the Piuma Hillclimb, anLG50 ride or assisting on the design of the next La Grange kit. I place a great deal of importance onbeing out on club rides and interacting with riders and racers in all clubs, not just La Grange. And alsobeing accessible by text and e-mail and having board meetings that are open for any club member toattend. The more we can bring people and ideas together, the better our club is. It’s that simple.And that’s why I would like to retain my seat on the La Grange board; to continue motivating bothcurrent club members and those new to our sport and our club to get involved and help make La Grangeas rewarding an experience as possible for all club members.

Marco Fantone

Hi, I’m self-nominating as I understand we wouldn’t have sufficient board members otherwise. This will be my third term as a board member. My goals as a board member have been to maximize the value of organization through responsible fiscal activities and active sponsorship recruitment. I have been successful at this and will stay the course. Quite honestly, serving comes with challenges but I enjoy the sport, our community of cyclists and how the club ties these together. I’m happy to make way to new leadership, but equally pleased to continue to serve.

Dan Funk

Hello La Grange! I’m excited to nominate myself for the Board because I’m passionate about increasing female representation and welcoming more women of all ages into our incredible club. Cycling has become such an important part of my life, and through La Grange, I’ve found not just a sport, but a community and support system. I’m eager to give back by helping to organize more social events like happy hours, dinner rides, and picnics, which will strengthen those bonds.

I’m committed to making the LG50 rides more inclusive, particularly for female and new riders, by establishing clear ride structures with multiple pace groups, ride leaders, and safety protocols—while still giving those who want to hammer the freedom and space to do so. By creating a more welcoming environment for strong female and new riders who may be hesitant to join due to perceptions about safety or the competitive nature of the rides, together we can reshape LG’s reputation as a club where they can feel confident and supported while pushing their limits—just as I have experienced myself.

After speaking with several long-term female members, I’ve found strong support for these goals. They emphasized the need for LG-sponsored no-drop women’s rides, more frequent outreach and recruitment efforts for women and new riders, and more organized and frequent social events to strengthen our community off the bike. Their feedback reinforces my commitment to help create a club where everyone feels included, represented, and supported. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure LG endures as a strong, recognizable cycling club with a lasting legacy of fostering elite talent and unforgettable experiences.

Tara Kriese

Gravel Rides Are Here!

Election Results 2024 Board of Directors

Board Nominations 2024

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