Southern California - Liquid Cycling Team

I will at least be at the camp for Sat and Sun. We'll see about Mon. Vance, wanna carpool?

I'm going to email Jared to try and figure out how many Cat 4 riders there will be on the team. There seems to be fewer combined categories now (the sport has grown, I assume) so if I'm a 4, Mark is a 3, and Vance and Ovo are 5s, I'm alone. Considering I'm not as strong as Vance or Ovo (yet), it would be weird racing a category up from them.

I already have a plan for the 5's.

I'm going to ride in the wind, up front, either attacking or off to the side away from all the noobs. I only need 10 races, I dont need to win them. If anything I will terrorize the field because they'll have to keep reeling me in.

I can't do the 5s for long, I don't want to crash with so many newbies. Too bad the season is over :(

TIme to train though

Just looking for people to train with. Anyone riding out/near Culver city?

I know there are a lot of clubs out there (I've ridden with most of them) but I am just looking for a bunch of people with the same mindset/agenda. Admittedly I'm not sure what mine is atm :)

Not really that close to Culver City. Vance is from Sherman Oaks, Oleg is from Reseda (?), Mark is Santa Clarita, and I'm in Pasadena. But we do a lot of rides out of Northridge if you don't mind a 30 minute drive.

I already have a plan for the 5's.

I'm going to ride in the wind, up front, either attacking or off to the side away from all the noobs. I only need 10 races, I dont need to win them. If anything I will terrorize the field because they'll have to keep reeling me in.

I can't do the 5s for long, I don't want to crash with so many newbies. Too bad the season is over :(

TIme to train though

In my experience the 5's tend to be pretty safe because they're all pretty wary of riding close and aren't as aggressive (and you can just stay away from anyone really sketchy). The 3's tend to be the worst because they all think they should be 2's.

I'm trying to get caught back up with this thread but you boys are all talking about racing and Cat this and Cat that. I don't race.

I joined this club thingy - did I join a racing club? :eek:

I'm trying to get caught back up with this thread but you boys are all talking about racing and Cat this and Cat that. I don't race.

I joined this club thingy - did I join a racing club? :eek:

bwahhahahahahahahaha.....

Now you're in trouble....

bwahhahahahahahahaha.....

Now you're in trouble....

:rolleyes: No, no...now YOUR in trouble. When you hear the sounds of a whole pack being taken out, you'll know who caused it. :p

Just looking for people to train with. Anyone riding out/near Culver city?

I know there are a lot of clubs out there (I've ridden with most of them) but I am just looking for a bunch of people with the same mindset/agenda. Admittedly I'm not sure what mine is atm :)

Yeah...this could make things difficult :D

I'm trying to get caught back up with this thread but you boys are all talking about racing and Cat this and Cat that. I don't race.

I joined this club thingy - did I join a racing club? :eek:
It's a club with various purposes. As a matter of fact, many racing teams are just a portion of a larger recreational club anyway. But it's kind of a "square is always a rectangle but a rectangle isn't always a square" kind of thing, meaning the club has to be registered with the USAC (got it right this time) for a rider to race under its banner. For example, we can't race for SFVBC because it's not a USAC club.

I'm trying to get caught back up with this threadSee...can't take a day off from BF!! :D

I joined this club thingy - did I join a racing club?Hhmmm...good question. Let me preface my answer by saying I am in no way a leader/organizer in the club and anything I say should be taken with a grain of salt (at least a 1-lb canister ;) ). I joined...just like you.

First, there is the "Liquid Fitness" club. Any and all are welcome to join :) I am hoping to start getting info from Josh (President of Liquid Fitness company--sponsor of Liquid Fitness club--and head dude of the club) regarding club activities. Of course, here in SoCal, there are oodles of bike-related activities already. So do we just add more to the mix? Was our previous club lacking in some area that prompted us to join Liquid Fitness? Only you have the answers to that, and they're undoubtedly different than mine. Of immediate benefit to us is the discounts with cycling products Josh has already arranged, and he is aiming to get more in the future.

Then, there is within the club, racers who go by the team name "Liquid Cycling". This is why I personally joined Liquid Fitness. I was looking for a better team presence in the races that I (already) do.

Now, in all seriousness, do you (or anyone else) think the club should be doing something specific? If so, what? I'm thinking perhaps starting with a monthly club ride to see how things play out. It's my understanding that Josh had envisioned this as a grass-roots club. So, maybe we could take initiative here. What d'you think? I know this will be interesting how this works out, given the <insert club name here> and BF rides and whatnot that are already in place.

(Let me apologize here and say that in initially posting this information, my intent was not to pilfer the rolls of existing clubs, but to disseminate information to anyone who was in a position similar to mine--looking for better opportunities--or was perhaps not even in a club.)

By the way, I met a person on the SFVBC ride this morning who is going to be racing Cat 5 with Liquid Fitness. His name is Steve, and I told him about the training camp so he can decide if he can make it. It looks like this will be a nice grassroots racing team.

Now, in all seriousness, do you (or anyone else) think the club should be doing something specific? If so, what? [/i]

Specifically, I want Josh to arrange a ride where all the hot men in spandex that I saw in the pics on his website attend. Pronto. And, the ride should be geared to my level and satisfaction. :D


You should know better, Mark, than to EVER ask me what I want when it involves men. ;):p

LOLOLOL Mary, I wish I had your quick whit! You're hilarious!

::Ahem::
<stoic voice>I will of course immediately pass on your suggestions.</voice>

My wife likes firemen, her friend likes cowboys, other women like policemen or construction workers. Mary and Joy are the elite few that would attend a club with go-go dancers in padded bib shorts!

With shaved legs.

Of course, Mary & Joy, most racers do shave their legs and also have wonderful physiques and muscular legs :nudge::nudge::wink::wink:

LOLOLOL Mary, I wish I had your quick whit! You're hilarious!

::Ahem::
<stoic voice>I will of course immediately pass on your suggestions.</voice>

What? You think I'm kidding???????? :rolleyes::p

Of course, Mary & Joy, most racers do shave their legs and also have wonderful physiques and muscular legs :nudge::nudge::wink::wink:

What? You think I don't already know that? :drool::drool::drool: :p

With shaved legs.
Oh yeah, forgot about that. I don't think I'm going to start shaving again, even as a Cat 4. I hear the hairs act like dimples on a golf ball and make you MORE aero :D

Of course, Mary & Joy, most racers do shave their legs and also have wonderful physiques and muscular legs :nudge::nudge::wink::wink:
The problem is she'll only be able to check them out for a few seconds and then watch them disappear into the distance.

The problem is she'll only be able to check them out for a few seconds and then watch them disappear into the distance.

Wha...? with her flirting? They'll all be drooling and going at a nice easy pace. And then of course, there's the crashes the flirting'll cause ;) :p

Wha...? with her flirting? They'll all be drooling and going at a nice easy pace. And then of course, there's the crashes the flirting'll cause ;) :p

Oh, you are so sweet, Mark. But not all men are so taken with me or my brand of flirting. So, I don't leave it up to chance. They WILL all go my pace as I plan to bring a bb gun. You know, "oh, oopsie, did I shoot out all your back tires?" <bat bat bat, purse lips>

Josh is going to LOVE me. :D

Oh, you are so sweet, Mark. But not all men are so taken with me or my brand of flirting. So, I don't leave it up to chance. They WILL all go my pace as I plan to bring a bb gun. You know, "oh, oopsie, did I shoot out all your back tires?" <bat bat bat, purse lips>

Josh is going to LOVE me. :D

He can't. He's not allowed to. He's married. Here's the story (http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/default.asp?pg=fullstory&id=2592).

Eh, a dedicated racer would not slow down for a super model bending over in a thing. Must be why I never won the State or National Championships.

They would be more than happy to take her on their recovery rides, though. Some of those guys actually need a reason to slow down then!

He can't. He's not allowed to. He's married. Here's the story (http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/default.asp?pg=fullstory&id=2592).
Great, you just got Mary to quit the club.

Great, you just got Mary to quit the club.
:roflmao:

Does the ringleader of this club ever visit SoCal BF?

If so, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!!!!!

(I just saw his birthday announcement on the LATC web site.) :D

It doesn't look like it, but then again maybe he's just too busy right now and will be back later.

I brought it up with the wife, and I think she's understanding, as long as I keep my priorities in check.

edit: nevermind, she's not keen on the idea. :(

Signed up! :beer:

Welcome!

BTW,

This morning, I met Josh and several other Liquid Fitness club members (about 9 of us all told) down in Brentwood. We held a brief "Skills Clinic" in a parking lot down near the beach in Santa Monica. Good time. I hope Josh does another and that you all can make it. It definitely made me much more comfortable on the bike. I'll try and practice these little exercises more often.

Exercises we did:

One-legged riding
Grabbing the heel of one foot with our hand to that side & pedaling, switching sides
Picking up water bottles from the ground while riding
Holding onto the shoulder of a rider next to us while we looked over our shoulders
Leaning into another rider while riding, hands in the drops
Last, we had a slow race--who would be the last rider to cross the finish line without riding backwards or sideways
Fun times :)

I've done some of those drills before.

I need your help now. My wife wants a proposal for my racing, including budget and time commitment. In order to complete that, I need to know what races cost these days (they were usually like $15-20 in my days). I already told her about 2 races per month between Feb and Sep, and that I'd get cost and a training schedule for her soon. So how does this sound for a weekly schedule? (keep in mind she only cares about time including stop lights and prep time, not intensity and such)

Mon: <1 hr recovery ride or light elliptical workout
Tue: 3 hr ride (40 miles hilly)
Wed: 1 hr ride (20 miles high intensity)
Thur: 3 hr ride (40 miles hilly)
Fri: rest day (no riding)
Sat: 5 hr ride (60+ miles)
Sun: 2 hr ride (30 miles)
Races will take most of the day, and will be in lieu of the regular ride

Budget: $150 for team uniform, $60 for license, $?? per race, <$300 for race wheels. The rest is bike maintenance which I would have needed whether I was racing or not.

Races last year were about $25 each, especially if I pre-registered :) The crits were almost always 45-minutes or less. Plus about 45-mins to 1-hour warm-up, 45-mins for gabbing/prize claim/etc.

Don't forget gas $$ for transportation.

As far as schedule...looks fine to me. Tue/Wed/Thu seem to be 3 days of hard work in a row. Too much, maybe? FWIW, this was my general schedule last year (of course, it changed week to week depending on if my target was a Saturday or Sunday):

Mon: 55-miles, w/7 sprints in middle 20 miles
Tue: Recovery Day, 20-easy miles
Wed: LSD 70-mile ride
Thu: Recovery 20 mile ride
Fri: Easy 40-miles
Sat: Easy 30-40 miles or race
Sun: Recovery 20-mile or race

Occasionally, I would also take in the Tues Rose bowl ride. Excellent workout that got me up to race speed. This would change my Mon/Wed rides.

As far as schedule...looks fine to me. Tue/Wed/Thu seem to be 3 days of hard work in a row. Too much, maybe? FWIW, this was my general schedule last year (of course, it changed week to week depending on if my target was a Saturday or Sunday):

Mon: 55-miles, w/7 sprints in middle 20 miles
Tue: Recovery Day, 20-easy miles
Wed: LSD 70-mile ride
Thu: Recovery 20 mile ride
Fri: Easy 40-miles
Sat: Easy 30-40 miles or race
Sun: Recovery 20-mile or race

Occasionally, I would also take in the Tues Rose bowl ride. Excellent workout that got me up to race speed. This would change my Mon/Wed rides.
I wouldn't say that's too much. My schedule is trying to be sensitive to time commitments with family. When I was teen with fewer commitments, I think I was doing 300 miles a week.
Mon: 15-20 mile recovery
Tue: 40-60 miles
Wed: 30-40 mils
Thu: 40-60 miles
Fri: 30-40 miles
Sat: 60 miles
Sun: 50 miles
Ahhh, those were the days

The wife put her foot down and won't let it up. I won't be racing :(

The wife put her foot down and won't let it up. I won't be racing :(

If you want to stay involved, I'll let you sponsor me. ;)

I'm worth too much. For $2 I expect a 5' parachute with my first, middle, and last name across it.

I might try to get her to let me do Conquer the Canyons in the "first timers" category unattached. Her biggest issues are the cost of the team kit ($150) and the distance I will travel for a race (because of the travel time which = time away from her)

when are the next meetings? i signed up but dont seem to see any socal/la meeting announcements? am i missing something here! thanks again!

Make sure you sign up for the Yahoo! Groups...that's how everyone stays in touch.

Mark, I can't find on the website where I can join the yahoo group. Do you know where that is or am I blind as a bat? :p

Sorry...you can subscribe to a multitude of Yahoo! Groups relating to Liquid Fitness by visiting this page (http://www.liquidcycling.com/members/egroups.cfm) on the Liquid Fitness website. There are groups from all over the US, with a couple overlapping, such as West, Southwest, etc...

A more direct route to the SoCal Liquid Fitness group?
Send a blank e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to this e-mail address:
LFSoCal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (mailto:LFSoCal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com) Then Josh will approve you subscribing to the list and away you go!

You can also post messages to the SoCal Liquid Fitness group by sending your e-mail message to LFSoCal@yahoogroups.com (mailto:LFSoCal@yahoogroups.com)

Here's a couple events coming up in the SoCal area:

11/10/2007 9:00 AM SoCal Cat 4 Base Training Weekend - San Luis Obispo
Day 1 - Los Olivos, Days 2&3 San Luis Obispo
Three Days of base training kicking off in Los Olivos on Nov 10th.
Contact: Jared Vest - jared.vest@gmail.com (mailto:jared.vest@gmail.com)


11/18/2007 9:00 AM Urban Cyclocross Race Presented by Liquid Fitness/1031 Market.com - Torrance, CA
Entradero Park in Torrance near Redondo Park
Cyclocross race presented by Liquid Fitness/1031Market.com. Please contact me if you can volunteer. All volunteers race for free.
Contact: Josh Horowitz - Josh@Liquidfitness.com (mailto:Josh@Liquidfitness.com)

Here's part of Josh's latest newsletter in case you missed it:

Greetings from the Pres

I can imagine you are all getting a little impatient, waiting for the much anticipated Ridley club bike sale to begin. Let me assure you that we have been working non stop to finally bring this thing to fruition and the prices are going to be fantastic!

We finalized a sponsorship deal with Shimano for some hot prices on their groupos as well as their Pro Line of time trial wheels (disc wheel and tri spoke). We've also struck a deal with American Classic so that all the complete bikes will be coming with their blazing fast, ultra light 420 wheels.

We've tried to open up as many options as possible so you can build the bike up the way you like it. For instance, you can upgrade to 58 mm Carbon Tubular race wheels or throw a new Wireless 2.4 PowerTap onto the rear wheel. When the store finally goes up (in about a week), check out our wares. If you don't see what you're looking for, simply call and we'll see if we can make it happen.

And let me just mention, one more time, how incredibly hot these Ridley bikes are. I'm not usually one to get too excited about bikes (a bike's a bike right?), but there just isn't anything else out there on the market like these. Every model is incredibly unique. And with riders such as Robbie McEwen, Frank Vandenbroucke, Cadel Evans and Chris Horner riding these bikes to victories in major European stage races, you know they're as functional as they are sexy.

Last Call for '07 Clothing

As we get approach the deadline for submitting our artwork to Pactimo for the 2008 clothing (sponsors, we need you now!), it is time to unload the final remenants of the 2007 clothing. Since the mark up is miniscule, we can't afford to offer a discount, but we hope that by helping us empty out our stock you will know that you are contributing to the ongoing welfare of the club. Plus, since the design is not going to change for '08 (just the sponsors), you'll know it won't be going out of style any time soon.

Here's what we've got. Send Pay Pal payment to Josh@LiquidFitness.com Add $5 shipping for every $100 you spend.

10 Microfiber Cycling Caps - $18 each
20 L/XLSock Guy Socks - $8.50
10 S/M Sock Guy Socks - $8.50
2 Medium Long Finger Champion System Gloves $35 each
1 XS Breckenridge Wind Vest - $67
1 XXL Evergreen Light Weight Jacket - $79
1 Medium Thermal Jacket - $150
1 Small Bib Shorts - $74

LAUSD finally contacted me and had corrected their mistake on the overpayment amount (they told me it was $2400 when I had calculated $1800), and now they are taking $250 off that for some reason I don't understand. Since we had stock piled $2400 to pay them back, we have about $800 left over now, which should allow me to get a team kit and USAC license plus something to appease the missus. But she asks, "what about the time you'll spend away from me?" How to I convince her? HELP!!!

Wow, Brian. You've got your hands full.

First: get her interested in riding? Not possible? welcome to my club :D
I'm sure you know all the arguments: emotional, psychological, physical well-being. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
At the very least, bring her to some social function rides, let her meet some people she'll like. Take her to family-oriented races, meet the other wives, kids. Out of 7 in my family, only two ride/race. But they all enjoy going to races. My wife makes a day of it--sight sees, etc... Then is around to cheer on Dad when he crosses the line.

You've no kids yet, you need to establish precedent here, or you'll never ride when kids arrive. :D

Tried to get her into riding (borrowed dad's mountainbike for a 4 mile trip), but she hates it. She wasn't at all interested in the "Wired to Win" gathering. I mentioned the sights she'll get to see, and reminded her that when we were dating she used to come out and support my auto racing. At least cycling is better for the environment and less expensive. I'll keep working that angle, but I do wonder how much time I'll have (if any) when the kids arrive. I'll probably be on a 3-5 year hiatus until they start school.

Oh, and it looks like you have 5 children?! I might have to keep her away from you, since she wants 4 and I only want 2.

She wasn't at all interested in the "Wired to Win" gathering.
I don't know anything about this event. Did you introduce her to some other racers and their wives?
Oh, and it looks like you have 5 children?! I might have to keep her away from you, since she wants 4 and I only want 2.[/COLOR]:) Well, at this point, my oldest two probably won't come to too many of my races/events, so it'll only be three--a nice compromise :D

Sorry...you can subscribe to a multitude of Yahoo! Groups relating to Liquid Fitness by visiting this page (http://www.liquidcycling.com/members/egroups.cfm) You can also post messages to the SoCal Liquid Fitness group by sending your e-mail message to LFSoCal@yahoogroups.com (mailto:LFSoCal@yahoogroups.com)

Thanks, Mark! I'll try one of those options. :)

I don't know anything about this event. Did you introduce her to some other racers and their wives?

That was the imax film at the Museum of Science. I thought you were there with your sons? I invited her to come along and meet the gang, and explained that the film was science related, but she wasn't interested in anything having anything to do with people who ride bikes. She has admitted recently that she is too hard on my riding, and that what really bugs her is the time I spend on the forums (which I have reduced drastically recently).