LA Circuit Pics, circa 08 (via Rob)

The classic Bubba Fist pump:

Ian 2nd place finish:

Stratton:

Cat 4 boys:

More:

LA Circuit, circa 07

The Pack -- out in the wind

It's a looong backstretch...

Pulling the field to keep the pace high into the wind -- don't do this

My favorite photo of all time -- courtesy of Josh Horowitz's article in pez on what not to do in a race.

What the finish looks like -- one big mess

Crit tactics

Gentlemen,

As I sit here thawing from a 28º, 30 mile ride (that's all I can do before the water in my bottles freezes solid), I'm thinking of all the racing that's yet to start for me here on the East Coast. One of the things I do regularly is check up on Rashan Bahati's blog. Of special interest to me is the 2nd to last paragraph. Give it a shot, let me know how it goes. Meanwhile, I'll be flying the LG colors starting in late March at Milport RR in Eastern Pennsylvania. Blow their logs off kids, particularly this weekend in Nevada.

Andres

Who says the new shorts aren't transparent?

Last year...
The new "and improved" kit...

Race Reporting

Team,

I've really appreciated the race reports that came out in he last couple of days. In fact, race reports and photos are some of what I love most about being part of this team.

Here's just a quick reminder about the format, and also where we should be sending the reports.

Format:

Subject Line: [date][event][category]

Email:

[event]
[location]
[brief course description]
[cat]
[field size]
[who raced]
[places - top finisher sends the report, so for ex: Me (3rd), Rob (6th), Gary (10th), Haus, JT, etc (pack), Marc (dnf - sorry, Marc :)]

(you can abbreviate this if necessary, but the essentials are the where, cat, and who finished. A lot of times you won't know where everyone finished, but you can usually wing it)

Report:

[a description of what happened. Your description can be funny, clinical, brief, long winded, bizarre, poetic... just keep it clean please]


Where to send it:

From now on, send race reports directly to the "VeloClubLaGrange@yahoogroups" mailing list. If you are not on that list, you can sign up via the "lagrange.org" website.

Race Results:

Also, for top 10s, podiums, and wins, please fill out the race results form online at lagrange.org. Last year we had very few results posted online, and if we are going to be a dominant racing club in the future, we will need to do this.

Thanks is advance,
Matt

NoCal

Pine Flat Road Race is Feb 15th this year, kids. Best race I've ever done. Stunningly beautiful, and it has an uphill finish (Alan). If someone has a spare 58cm bike, I'll hop a plane from Philly to Fresno. 

Happy Holidays from the chilly East Coast!

Andres

And their off

January and February Who's Racing

Fill in the form to let your teammates know where and when you plan to race.
form


See Results

Club / Team License info.

2009 racing licenses are now on sale! Renew on line

For the New guys:
On the USCF license forms fill in the following:

CLUB:
Velo Club La Grange Westwood - SANTA MONICA, CA

TEAM NAME:
Kahala LaGrange notice the missing space, between La and Grange.

Last year we had a number of "teams" that were counted separately. As a result, we lost some points as a club to, "La Grange", "Kahala", "Velo Club LaGrange" etc.
The team name is " Kahala LaGrange " it has NO SPACES for the team name.

Application for Racing License (No faxed or e-mailed applications accepted.)

Welcome to the new year of racing.

Editing you club license data.

Editing your racing license info https://www.usacycling.org/myusac/index.php?pagename=mypage

Brown Sugar

The after party LG banquet


Brown sugar from Marc Thomas on Vimeo.2

Calendar updated 2009

We have the 2009 SCNCA update added to the Google calendar. Look for the calendar link on the right nav Or it's at the very bottom of our blog (scroll down).
All of you (Team LG), should have access to adding or changing events on the calendar. If you're running a ride and want to publish it to the group, please feel free to add it in yourself.

If you'd like you can import it from the link here. It's in an iCal format and, will go into outlook, or... whatever you use daily. Download This iCal calendar with this link
MT

Also courtesy of Mark Loftus, we have a Google Map of each of the 58 events for 2009 event to Google maps

Thanks Mark!

Spooky Cross

Santa Barbara 'Cross

Elings Park, Santa Barbara... end of last week.

It's a big park with all these trails wrapped around it. A little too technical for cross, but mighty fun at the top, with intersecting trails and whoop-di-doos. I ran into some Platinum dudes riding full carbon mountain rigs. Awesome.

rush hour

Two Blue Trains leave different Santa Monica trailheads heading toward each other. When and where do they meet?

Train Mountain Bike starts from Bayliss and travels 70 mph up the 16% max grade of Westridge Road. Then LG kits look great on dirt as they hit all the notable singletrack spurs and are amazed by the views and open space inside LA.

At the same time Train Cyclocross, traveling 66 mph, starts up Sullivan Fire Road. They spin to win and practice run-ups when a good embankment reveals itself. Sullivan Ridge tests their climbing prowess on their narrow tires but they reach the top with ease.

When do the two trains meet? How far from each trailhead do they meet? More importantly, how surprised are they when the two run into each other? And who was holding the camera?

To solve this problem, we'll use the distance formula:
rate x time = distance,

and then look in the back of the book for the answers...

Train Blue Cross approx. 5.6 miles
Train Blue MTB approx. 6.4 miles
Time of picture: 7:32AM

Thanks to Matty D for holding the camera.
He'd like to remind you that if you aren't on the AM dirt ride, you don't know what you're missing no matter what flavor your knobbies are.

We could all use a little more of this kind of morning traffic.

.

Vuelta Ex-Pat

In my opinion, the best highlight of the '08 Vuelta... but since it is not televised and I haven't seen any other highlights I would not rely on my objectivity.

1 day 'til CX racing

THINGS TO BRING
1) A list of insults to yell at your friend while he races
*no insults at the ladies please
2) Fat, yet skinny, tires
3) A dress - if you're into that sort of thing
4) A helmet is probably a good idea
5) Cross bike (or Field bike as they're sometimes called)

Destroy your safe and happy life before it is too late: Race Cross.

Work and life bum me out but not today,
tomorrow is the start of cross season.

The Art of Cross is the official name for the first event and it is appropriate because Cross is equal parts this and this. As dudes will show up in plum smugglers nothing is predictable. I won't be lining up, instead just trying to avoid the bummer life. Just prevent this tragedy called "cross" from infecting your family, otherwise you're loved ones may start wearing costumes to more than just bike races.