February 2023

LA Chinatown Firecracker

From PasadenaNow.com

If you’re an avid bike rider looking for a challenge, mark your calendar for Feb. 18 and 19.

The 45th edition of the annual L.A. Chinatown Firecracker Run (LACFR) this year includes a 40-mile bike ride, whose route runs through Pasadena.

The LACFR is one of the largest and oldest running races in the United States, with a history dating back to 1978.

This year, the event organizers have added the 40-mile bike ride to the race weekend.

The bike ride is starting and ending at the Chinatown Plaza on Broadway.

“The new route goes through Downtown LA, The LA River, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, South Pasadena, El Sereno and Lincoln Heights.”

“We start in the historic Chinatown with a backdrop of City Hall, ride past Los Angeles State Historic Park, Autry Museum, LA Zoo, LA Equestrian Center, Bette Davis Park, Verdugo Mountains, JPL/NASA, Christmas Tree Lane, Eaton Canyon and much more,” the event page read.

For more information about the bike route and registration, https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/LosAngeles/LAChinatownFirecracker

Cyclists will ride through some of the most scenic streets in the San Gabriel Valley, including Linda Vista Avenue, Woodbury Road, New York Drive, Huntington Drive, Sierra Madre Boulevard, Mission Road, and Altadena Drive among others.

Each registered participant will receive a commemorative 2023 Firecracker race bib, an ultra-soft commemorative short sleeve t-shirt, a finisher medal and a Goodie Bag.

Participants and their guests will also get to experience the Lunar New Year Celebration in the heart of historic Chinatown. The event kicks off with a lively opening ceremony featuring traditional lion dancers and the lighting of 100,000 firecrackers.

After the race, participants can head to the Firecracker post-race expo to browse the vendor booths and enjoy the new Chalk Art Festival and Boba Garden.

Even if biking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other events to participate in at the LACFR this weekend.

Lace up your running shoes and join in on the 5K or 10K run/walk, or bring your little ones and furry friends for the 1K kiddie and PAW’er dog run/walk.

Photo by . c on Unsplash

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ArroyoFest would turn the Pasadena Freeway into a cycling and walking paradise — at least for a Sunday morning

From TheEastsiderLA.com

By Robert Fulton

Imagine the Arroyo Seco Parkway closed to vehicular traffic, flooded instead with pedestrians and cyclists, if only for a few hours. Sounds like a wild idea, right?

Well, you might be surprised to learn that the exact same scenario played out two decades ago, and a regional organization is looking to replicate the experience later this year.

In 2003, Occidental College Professor Robert Gottlieb organized the first ArroyoFest, which closed the Pasadena Freeway to motor vehicles for a few hours, letting cyclists and walkers takeover the major artery connecting Pasadena and Downtown L.A.

This year, the community organization ActiveSGV is spearheading the effort for a second ArroyoFest in October.

“Everyone I’ve encountered who was at the event speaks about how magical it was,” said Wes Reutimann, the Special Programs Director with ActiveSGV, who missed the original ArroyoFest. “It really left an indelible imprint on folks.”

The plan is to close the 110 to traffic from approximately Avenue 26 just north of the 5 Freeway to the highway’s terminus at Glernarm Street in Pasadena. The six-mile stretch would remain open for four hours on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 29 to cyclists, skaters, and pedestrians..

Reutimann says the event aims to promote different forms of mobility, raise awareness about the 83-year-old parkway — one of the nation’s oldest freeways — and educate the public about environmental and health issues.

City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez authored a resolution supporting ArroyoFest, but it still needs to be approved by the City Council.

Photo by Howard P on Unsplash

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Radical, Cheap, BANNED! | Did The UCI Ruin Road Bikes Forever?

Si & Ollie are back for another edition of retro vs modern, this time riding the Giant MCR, a road bike so forward-thinking it was banned by the UCI. With a carbon monocoque frame design, it was the original mass-produced aero road bike back in 1997. We pitted it against a modern Pinarello F to find out just how fast this retro aero machine is compared to today’s engineering.

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CicLAvia—The Valley – February 26, 2023 at 09:00 AM

CicLAvia—The Valley

On Sunday, February 26 (rain or shine!), we’re opening up Sherman Way connecting Canoga Park, Winnetka, and Reseda for a 5-mile stretch of open streets. Jog, ride, bike, skate, run, walk, skateboard, spectate, and enjoy the route however you want. Our routes are welcoming to people of all ages and abilities!

Be sure to join our email list so you don’t miss any event news and updates. Check out our article on Local Gems so you don’t miss anything on or off the route!

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2023 set to be year of bike bargains, according to retailers

From CyclingWeekly.com

BY JAMES SHRUBSALL

Lots of stock vs a dip in demand means potential bargains as industry attempts to right itself post-covid

If you’re in the market for a new bike this year, you may have picked the right time to buy. At least that’s what  industry commentators and retailers are predicting, and the theory looks to be playing out across stores and suppliers worldwide.

Most obviously Specialized’s recent “we made too many” sale, which saw major price drops on a huge range of machines, pointed to a need for retailers to move stock.

Equally, Evans Cycles (opens in new tab)is currently popping out some serious discounts on a wide range of 2022 Cannondales, with plenty of sizes available.

We also spoke to a raft of retailers, most of whom were reluctant to go on record who say these aren’t isolated instances and that 2023 could be the year of the bargain.

Henry Silvester of Silvester Brothers Cycles in Farnborough, was one willing to speak up. “The market is so saturated, there’s so much stock about,” he tells CW. “And I think also dealers like us, and I’m not speaking for every dealer, but definitely us, there was quite a lot of pressure for us to take stock when it arrived last year. We did take what we could.”

The reasons for the glut are multi-faceted. Big orders placed during covid are now being fulfilled, both at supplier and retailer level. While we’ve we’ve hit a global cost of living crisis, and the empty days of covid lockdown that begged to be filled with leisure pursuits are now gone.

All that, according to many of those in the industry we spoke to, is adding up to a lot of bikes and a lessening of demand.

“If you’re going to buy a bike, this year is going to be your year,” predicts YouTuber GC Performance – a cycle shop worker himself.

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Ride Uphill Faster: Pro Climbing Tips From Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio is one of the best climbers in the Women’s WorldTour. She has won mountain summit finishes in some of the world’s biggest races, leaving the likes of Annemiek van Vleuten and Anna van der Breggen in her wake. Manon visited Ashleigh in Girona to take a deep dive into the art of riding uphill and learn how to climb like a pro!

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6 commuter bike accessories I couldn’t live with out

From BikeRadar.com

Deputy editor Jack Luke on his essential kit for any commuter bike

Cycling to work comes with many benefits – it will save you money, it’s good for the environment, it’s beneficial for your physical and mental health, and is usually faster.

While any bike can be used for commuting duties, it’s worth buying (or building) a dedicated commuter bike if it’s a regular fixture of your working week.

A specific commuting bike prevents wear on your pride and joy, and you’re more likely to fit dorky practicality-boosting accessories without the fear of abuse from friends.

That final point is critical – carefully selected accessories are what separates a run-of-the-mill bike from a true super commuter.

If you’re setting up a commuting bike, these are the six must-have accessories that will make your ride more enjoyable, safer and, in the long run, cheaper.

1. Mudguards

I’ve said this many, many times before, but life is simply too short to ride without mudguards.

The best mudguards keep you and your bike dry, prolonging the life of consumable parts and boosting morale.

You are much more likely to commit to riding year-round if you know you’ll arrive dry(ish). It also usually negates the need to change clothes when you arrive at work.

Provided they’re installed well, full-cover mudguards will last for years of rattle-free service.

2. Cargo-carrying capabilities

There’s nothing wrong with carrying your stuff in a backpack but, if you’re a regular commuter, it’s worth investing in some kind of luggage system for your bike.

There are many ways to carry stuff comfortably on your bike, shifting weight off your back.

Pannier bags mounted to a rack are good for heavier loads. If you only have a small amount of stuff, a little handlebar-mounted basket will suffice.

I prefer a large platform-style front rack with a basket. A custom-made bag then fits inside this.

This is a better option for me, because I don’t like the ‘tail wags the dog’ sensation of riding with rear-mounted panniers (particularly on a flexible frame). I like being able to see my stuff when riding, too.

I also think this setup looks cool – and I’m a fashion victim. Make of that what you will.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

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Sign Up for Rapha’s Inaugural Bikepacking Yomp Rally (for Free)

From BikeRumor.com

There’s just something beautiful about a rally. Take the race component out of a long-distance group ride, and what are you left with? Just a collection of people on bikes enjoying the scenery, the company, and the sheer joy of pedaling.

That’s the idea behind Rapha’s inaugural Yomp Rally: a 375-mile California gravel course that winds from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles starting on May 5, 2023.

“The concept is simple: complete the course in five days or fewer at your own pace, on your own or with your friends. Rapha provides the route, a celebratory send-off, one checkpoint, a bag transfer, and a warm welcome when you arrive in Los Angeles. The rest is up to you,” the company stated on the event’s web page.

60 percent of the Yomp Rally is on roads. For that reason, Rapha recommends a crossover, bikepacking-type build like a drop-bar gravel bike with good clearance, or a hardtail mountain bike with low-profile tires. In a similar vein, Rapha suggests gearing for long climbs while carrying loads. To complete the course in the required five days, you’ll need to average 75 miles and 8,000 feet of climbing per day.

Rapha athlete Dillion Osleger designed the course. Osleger is a scientist, environmental advocate, and trail builder in addition to the time he spends in the saddle. So rest assured, he paid close attention when dropping map pins.

“The route you will have traveled is not new. It is a reverse of the path the Spanish Padres took in 1769 to create the California Missions, which could have been noticed all along in Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, New Cuyama, and Santa Paula. The ecosystems you traverse — desert and coastal sage, high pine forests, and mountain chaparral — can all be seen in the construction material of Chumash baskets and Catholic Churches across the central coast. Every inch of land once belonged to the Chumash Indians, and their influence is still felt in supporting many of the projects that steward these roads and trails. Sooner or later, everything old is new again,” he said.

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Cycling Heaven | Girona Uncovered With A Cycling Superstar

In the first video of a new Girona Uncovered series on GCN, Hank visits Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, one of the world’s best climbers, who currently rides for AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step. They chat about life as a pro cyclist in Girona, Ashleigh’s Rocacorba Cycling business and community, and then head out for a ride up the epic climb from which it takes its name.

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The Best New U.S. Bike Lanes

From PeopleForBikes.org

By: Martina Haggerty, PeopleForBikes’ senior director of local innovation

With more protected bike lanes and low-stress bike networks being built across the country than ever before, we had a tough time picking this past year’s best new bike lanes. While numerous projects deserve recognition, we rounded up the top nine projects worth emulating.

9. Marin Boulevard Bikeway
Hoboken and Jersey City, New Jersey

In November, Jersey City and Hoboken completed construction on the Marin Boulevard and Henderson Street bikeway, which was first called for in the “Let’s Ride JC Bike Master Plan” as a way to better connect the two cities. The expansion of CitiBike into Hoboken also increased demand to ride between the two cities, says Mike Lydon of Street Plans, who worked on the project’s design. In 2022, CitiBike’s most popular route was between Hoboken Terminal and Jersey City’s Hoboken Avenue and Monmouth Street, which saw a total of 5,500 bike share trips. With the completion of the Marin Boulevard project, those rides can now be made entirely on protected bike lanes.

The bikeway is separated from traffic with plastic curbing and flexible posts, and it includes a textured painted surface that makes the bikeway more visible and improves traction. As a “quick build” project, the cities chose to move forward with somewhat temporary materials to expedite the project and improve safety, something that wouldn’t have been feasible with more permanent materials that require sidewalk reconstruction and drainage work, not to mention a longer timeline. According to Lyndsey Scofield, senior transportation planner of Jersey City, this approach “provides us with more flexibility to iterate on the design over time as we learn what works well and what could be improved.”

8. Broad Street
Providence, Rhode Island

After being declared one of Rhode Island’s most dangerous streets, Providence worked with the local community to reimagine Broad Street with protected bike lanes, bus islands, and crosswalk improvements. While balancing the needs of local businesses, bus riders, and people walking and biking, Broad Street now serves as a key component of the city’s Urban Trail Network, improving safety and accessibility for some of the city’s poorest and most diverse neighborhoods to jobs and opportunities citywide, as well as access to three major urban parks and multiple regional trails. Space for the bikeway was created by removing a wide center turn lane, which also helped reduce speeding along the street.

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