Southern California - Liquid Cycling Team

I see. What's wrong with 58mm tubulars?

They're great. And not a bad price. But I'm sticking with clinchers.

I don't get why so many people are racing clinchers now. imo tubulars ride more smoothly, have less rolling resistance, and are easy to control if they flat.

They're a pain in the ass.

They're a pain in the ass.

Well said!! :D

I was at Barrio Logan when this guy's front tubular rolled off his wheel through a turn. He somehow stayed upright and nobody else went down (amazing!). But, scared me off 'em for awhile.

Okay, we're trying to organize some rides (hopefully regular) for the team (Cat 4/5s at this point). My initial thought is that we need to know where everyone lives, so we can find a centrally located starting point (if possible). So far, we're looking at December 15, 22 & January 5 for rides. If these dates sound good, we'll need some routes from that area.

I'd also like to do a team meeting to discuss goals, plans & strategies, etc...make it into like a brunch or something. As I get more details (currently waiting on a response), I'll let you all know.

Boy...quoting myself...am I desperate or what?

I've gotten the go-ahead. After looking at the location of all the Cat 4/5 members, it looks like Santa Monica would be the most centrally located start point. Alternatively, Pasadena/Glendale might be a good starting point as well. Here's a tentative schedule:

Dec 15 -- Sat ride, 50-70 miles, varied terrain, zone 1-2
Dec 22 -- Sat ride, 50-70 miles, 2 or 3 steady & long climbs (i.e.: Little T/GMR, etc), zone 1-4
Jan 5 -- Sat ride, team training, skills: criterium, paceline, finishing leadouts & sprints
Jan 5 -- Brunch, Team meeting (planning for the year, review SCNCA/CBR calendars, etc)

Any suggestions?

Here's a tentative schedule:

Dec 15 -- Sat ride, 50-70 miles, varied terrain, zone 1-2
Dec 22 -- Sat ride, 50-70 miles, 2 or 3 steady & long climbs (i.e.: Little T/GMR, etc), zone 1-4
Jan 5 -- Sat ride, team training, skills: criterium, paceline, finishing leadouts & sprints
Jan 5 -- Brunch, Team meeting (planning for the year, review SCNCA/CBR calendars, etc)



I can probably make one of those dates but too much driving for all 3. Pasadena is closest for me.


Any suggestions?
Glendora, Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley. :D

I can probably make one of those dates but too much driving for all 3. Pasadena is closest for me. I'd recommend the Jan 5th team meeting, then. Although it's not planned to be a long ride, it will be very valuable to team members.

Glendora, Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley. :DGlendora's definitely a possibility. Apple Valley? Uh...you're the only one out there. Sorry :o Nearest other rider is Pasadena or myself in Santa Clarita :D

They're a pain in the ass.
I agree with that, but it's also a pain in the ass to clean a greasy chainring cut or pick assphalt out of your skin when you went down and took half the pack with you because you couldn't stay upright on your flat tire. (This coming from a person who has yet to flat at a race :D ) I will say I feel much more confident cornering on tubular. They just seem to transition from vertical to lean so smoothly, while clinchers seem to have a defined difference.


Dec 15 -- Sat ride, 50-70 miles, varied terrain, zone 1-2
Dec 22 -- Sat ride, 50-70 miles, 2 or 3 steady & long climbs (i.e.: Little T/GMR, etc), zone 1-4
Jan 5 -- Sat ride, team training, skills: criterium, paceline, finishing leadouts & sprints
Jan 5 -- Brunch, Team meeting (planning for the year, review SCNCA/CBR calendars, etc)

Any suggestions?
I plan on making most of these even if I don't race (trying the puppy dog eyes tonight as a final effort).

For Dec 22, I already have a Big T route mapped out on mapmyride. It's actually quite similar to Vertical Bob's Turkey Day Ride, but starts at my house. If you want, I'll modify it a little so it starts at the Rose Bowl and includes Lida and Chevy Chase for some "warm-up" climbs and brings it to around 60 miles.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/pasadena/783047336

For Dec 22, I already have a Big T route mapped out on mapmyride. It's actually quite similar to Vertical Bob's Turkey Day Ride, but starts at my house. If you want, I'll modify it a little so it starts at the Rose Bowl and includes Lida and Chevy Chase for some "warm-up" climbs and brings it to around 60 miles.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/pasadena/783047336

Yeah...if you could modify it: start/finish at Rosebowl and add on about 20 miles, that's be good. Any chance of including a second climb somewhere? La Tuna maybe?

Sure, no problem. Lida was going to be the first climb with an optional second climb up Chevy Chase before Big T, but it might be better to get the larger climb out of the way first as you mentioned. I could easily work La Tuna and/or the backside of Chevy Chase into the way back to the start.

If its not raining....look for me out there....wave as you pass me!

If its not raining....look for me out there....wave as you pass me!
On Dec 22? Either way, you'd have to tell me what bike you'll be on and what color helmet and jersey you'll be wearing. Ask Will, I'm terrible with names and faces.

If its not raining....look for me out there....wave as you pass me!

You should join us :)

Opps.... I guess I need to read previous posts.:rolleyes:...I will be there tomorrow and sunday...but might be around there then as well....I actually have always wanted to try Big T...maybe markaj and I will join for part of that...

Those Rudy Project glasses seem nice, but still pretty pricey even with the pro deal. Anyone have any experience with them?

Those Rudy Project glasses seem nice, but still pretty pricey even with the pro deal. Anyone have any experience with them?

I have the Rydons...I love them...have the perscription insert....3 lenses
Mirror black/polorized for very bright days, the new photochromatic for cloudy to bright days and clear for night...easy to change lenses...
The club price is pretty good for the frames...but the extra lense prices are awesome....I paid almost double for a set of lenses
They also have a $15 replacement for scratched/damaged lenses....
and are local (OC or SD I think) so they turnaround is fast...

Okay, you talked me into it. :)

Now if I can just decide which frame... 4 or 5 on my short list!

May I suggest a block of stone for your frame? It won't break on you and it'll give me a chance on the climbs :D

Those Rudy Project glasses seem nice, but still pretty pricey even with the pro deal. Anyone have any experience with them?

Okay, you posted this at 11:45am this morning. So, you finished the Rose Bowl loop in record time. Congrats. May I ask what happened to you after I saw you at the start? You didn't pass me on La Tuna like I was expecting, unless you did it so fast (aka, the Flash), I never saw you.

('Nother new nickname for ya. Previous: The Vance. Now: the Flash :D )

Mark, by frame I meant sunglasses frame. No new bike frame til I get a job. :)

This morning: I got a flat on Glenoaks (why they insist on riding down that glass and debris filled road, I have no idea). And no one stopped. And since I was on the rat bike that I never ride, I didn't realize I had taken the tire lever out of the saddle bag. You should have seen me struggling to get the tire off with no lever. By the time I managed it, there was no way I was catching you guys, so I just did my own thing back home. It hasn't been my week. :p

Aawww, man. I'm sorry. I had no idea anybody dropped off before the climb. I have a whole kit and a nice pump and CO2. I wish I'd known. Okay, Road Racing 101 (even though it wasn't a race): ride near the front :p and let out a "Flat!" shriek so everyone knows :D

Sorry 'bout that. Hope next week is better.

Vance, most skewers can be used as tire levers.

I ride that stretch of Glenoaks as part of my commute. It's a real testament to my Ultra 2000 tires. Nothing special, but I get very few flats on them.

Here's a tentative schedule:

Dec 15 -- Sat ride, 50-70 miles, varied terrain, zone 1-2
Dec 22 -- Sat ride, 50-70 miles, 2 or 3 steady & long climbs (i.e.: Little T/GMR, etc), zone 1-4
Jan 5 -- Sat ride, team training, skills: criterium, paceline, finishing leadouts & sprints
Jan 5 -- Brunch, Team meeting (planning for the year, review SCNCA/CBR calendars, etc)



Hey, is the Dec 15 ride a definite? If it is I'll plan on being there. Please keep me posted. Thanks.

Hey, is the Dec 15 ride a definite? If it is I'll plan on being there. Please keep me posted. Thanks.

Yeah...they're all definite. Details just need to be worked out: route, starting location, distance, etc... :D

I'll post details here as well as send out an e-mail to everyone on the team who might not frequent BF.

I plan on having 3 routes to choose from for Dec 22 by Monday. If you want 60 miles to feel like a century, we could do Redbox :D

I also plan on being there for Dec 15th, celebrating the beginning of my holiday vacation!!!

Liquid Fitness Ride
Saturday, December 15, 2007

Hope this isn't too late notice, but here it is:

Time: 8:00am
Start: Santa Monica. Crescent Bay Park, corner of Bicknell Ave & Ocean Ave. Parking is available with 2 options:
Crescent Bay Park $6 (according to the Santa Monica Parking website) or Marina Del Ray (dock 52 has Free parking)
Distance: ~61 miles
Vertical Gain: 2,977 ft.
Who: Liquid Fitness Riders. Specifically, this is meant to be a get-to-know-you ride for the Category 4/5 riders from the team.
But, other riders from Liquid Fitness (racers or non) are definitely welcome.
Pace: This is a zone 1/2 (flats) to 3 (climbs) ride. It's purpose is to help everyone get familiar with eachother. Expected speed would be 20-22mph on flat ground.

Route: The route is largely flat until reaching Palos Verdes at which time we will encounter one long climb and many smaller ones. We will be taking mostly streets so as to avoid bike path users. On the way back, we'll consider these intervals :D We'll make one quick detour up to the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix course in order to reconnoiter in case someone has never seen it.

A route map can be downloaded from bikely.com (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/91061). Cue sheets will be provided at the start.

(Many thanks to HappyTime for her help in designing the route with my many requests. What a trooper! Hope to see her out there soon.)

(Many thanks to HappyTime for her help in designing the route with my many requests. What a trooper! Hope to see her out there soon.)


You're very welcome, Mark.

Although I might get spanked by my new clubmates for assisting "the enemy", ya know. :p;)

You're very welcome, Mark.

Although I might get spanked by my new clubmates for assisting "the enemy", ya know. :p;)

You should defect. Actually, nothing wrong with belonging to two teams, is there?

But I do belong to two teams. (I'm still with the LA Tri Club.)

But I do belong to two teams. (I'm still with the LA Tri Club.)

Oh, AND I just remembered that you DID sign up for Liquid. So there you go.

Oh I did, didn't I?!

Must be my tri background. I just have to do everything three ways.

Must be my tri background. I just have to do everything three ways.

The cool kids do it 4 ways.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000024YFY.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I'm too old to be cool. I'm happy to be tepid.

Did someone say threeway???

Brian = perv

Liquid Fitness Ride
Saturday, December 15, 2007

Hope this isn't too late notice, but here it is:

Time: 8:00am
Start: Santa Monica. Crescent Bay Park, corner of Bicknell Ave & Ocean Ave. Parking is available, however I do not know if there is a fee (feel free to chime in anyone).
Distance: ~61 miles
Vertical Gain: 2,977 ft.
Who: Liquid Fitness Riders. Specifically, this is meant to be a get-to-know-you ride for the Category 4/5 riders from the team.
But, other riders from Liquid Fitness (racers or non) are definitely welcome.
Pace: This is a zone 1/2 (flats) to 3 (climbs) ride. It's purpose is to help everyone get familiar with eachother. Expected speed would be 20-22mph on flat ground.

Route: The route is largely flat until reaching Palos Verdes at which time we will encounter one long climb and many smaller ones. We will be taking mostly streets so as to avoid bike path users. On the way back, we'll consider these intervals :D We'll make one quick detour up to the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix course in order to reconnoiter in case someone has never seen it.

A route map can be downloaded from bikely.com (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/91061). Cue sheets will be provided at the start.

(Many thanks to HappyTime for her help in designing the route with my many requests. What a trooper! Hope to see her out there soon.)

What's the expected turn out? Gonna have to get up a wee bit early to make it down there by 8am but as of now I plan on being there.

At this point, I'm not sure yet. There's a list of about 10-15 names on the "Team" roster, and then there are a few people here on BF who aren't into racing but may show up anyway...Hard to tell. Probably around a dozen, I would guess. Regardless, if anyone is planning on racing with us, it would be valuable.

I'm in for sure if you want to start a list.

Brian = perv
So what's new?

I'll be rolling around PV that morning, so I'll probably see you guys up there at some point. Starbucks at the corner of Hawthorne/PV West has a patio that is primed for some serious posing. :D

I'll be rolling around PV that morning, so I'll probably see you guys up there at some point. Starbucks at the corner of Hawthorne/PV West has a patio that is primed for some serious posing. :D

What happened to Dr's orders?

What happened to Dr's orders?

I'm not supposed to do any load. However, with my 34-27 I can spin up anything <7% without much effort. I just go pokey slow.

I'm not supposed to do any load. However, with my 34-27 I can spin up anything <7% without much effort. I just go pokey slow.

Well...okay. But no hurting yourself (wagging my finger)

List of riders planning on being there:

Mark (me)
AJ (my son)
Jeff
Vance
Brian
Charles
TCR (Ron?)
1loudz

There are still about 12 more that I have not heard from, so we'll see.

List of riders planning on being there:

Mark (me)
AJ (my son)
Jeff
Vance
Brian
Charles
TCR (Ron?)

This kid is going to show me up soon... and the rest of you are next!

This kid is going to show me up soon... and the rest of you are next!

Granted, I'm the Dad, but I was admiring his pedaling form Saturday. He just spins away. When his body matures some more, his leg muscles come in (so to speak), he's going to climb like a banshee as well.

Liquid Fitness Ride
Saturday, December 15, 2007

Hope this isn't too late notice, but here it is:

Time: 8:00am
Start: Santa Monica. Crescent Bay Park, corner of Bicknell Ave & Ocean Ave. Parking is available, however
I do not know if there is a fee (feel free to chime in anyone).

Looks like 2 options for parking:

Crescent Bay Park $6 according to Santa Monica Parking website or
Marina Del Ray Dock 52--Free parking

(Original post is updated with this information.)

I plan on being there.

So options are:
Park for $6 and be ready at the start
Park for free early and ride 5 miles to the start
Run late, park free, and jump on the ride at the 5 mile mark :D

So options are:
Park for $6 and be ready at the start
Park for free early and ride 5 miles to the start
Run late, park free, and jump on the ride at the 5 mile mark :D

You forgot option 4:
Drink coffee and eat pastries at Starbucks in PV and wait for everyone to show up.