Southern California - Liquid Cycling Team

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

Wasn't this going to be your option, as I recall? :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

This isn't going to be a self-fulfilling prophecy, is it? ;)

No, my usual issue is forgetting something important (like bottles or food) and remember when it's too late to turn around and still make it in time, so I'll be making a checklist the night before.

Joy, is option 4 for people doing the ride? No matter, Starbucks is expensive and not free trade anyway.

Yeah, I showed up at a crit once, having forgotten water. Fortunately, I ran into Jeff there, and he loaned me one.

Joy, is option 4 for people doing the ride?

Nope. I'm a poser. :D

Weather looking great for this ride!

Joy, aren't you on SAG duty?

Joy, aren't you on SAG duty?

Only if that means Suckingdowncoffee And Goofingoff

No SAG needed for this ride, but you might want a broom wagon for next week.

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'm not familiar with the area so what would be easiest? Anybody going to be in LF gear or what should I be looking for to find you guys?

I'm not familiar with the area so what would be easiest? Anybody going to be in LF gear or what should I be looking for to find you guys?

This picture (http://www.shprung.com/sfvbc/img/408-1208-840470.jpg) shows (l-r) me, Brian, Mark's son, and Mark, who are all scheduled to be on the ride.

I'm not familiar with the area so what would be easiest? Anybody going to be in LF gear or what should I be looking for to find you guys?
If you're going to be coming over the mountain, you could stop by my place in Pasadena and we'll carpool there. PM me if that appeals to you.

This picture (http://www.shprung.com/sfvbc/img/408-1208-840470.jpg) shows (l-r) me, Brian, Mark's son, and Mark, who are all scheduled to be on the ride.
That really doesn't tell much since we're all bundled up and helmeted. Why not go by the way most of us know each other anyway? Vance will be on a black and white Token, I ride a debadged Litespeed, Mark is on a red Kuota and his son is on a red Specialized. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I'll be starting the ride with my yellow wind vest.

*edited

Vince currently rides an ancient single speed,

I can't wait to meet him, and his sweet ride. By the way, I will be on a black and white carbon Token.

I can't wait to meet him, and his sweet ride. By the way, I will be on a black and white carbon Token.

Vince is your evil twin.

I can't wait to meet him, and his sweet ride. By the way, I will be on a black and white carbon Token.
ok smart@$$, I fixed it :p

Glad to hear your bike is back. I was starting to worry that your flat last weekend was the cycling gods telling you not to climb on a single speed with your old and tired knees.

If you're going to be coming over the mountain, you could stop by my place in Pasadena and we'll carpool there. PM me if that appeals to you.




*edited

Thanks for the offer but I'm still not 100% sure I'll be there yet. My wife wants me to go to some Xmas party for her work tomorrow and is not exactly thrilled I'm driving down to Santa Monica to ride my bike instead. Then there's the whole getting up at 4:00AM to make it down there in time. :eek:

Anyway, as of now I'm planning on being at Crescent Bay Park at 7:30AM. I'll be riding a yellow Giant TCR, white helmet, white sunglasses, and not sure of the jersey yet - depends what's clean. :D If I'm not there don't wait for me.

I'm not familiar with the area so what would be easiest? Anybody going to be in LF gear or what should I be looking for to find you guys?

Easiest is parking right at Crescent Park, but, it's $6 (I think--no promises :D).

I don't think any of us have a team kit yet (mine & AJ's are on order--probably February+ :( ). Jeff Dinkin, team cap'n, does have one. I would hope he'll be in it.

I ride a red Kuota. AJ rides a red Specialized. Brian, a titanium something-or-other (Merlin?). Vince/Vance...well...you know.

OK, if you don't go, have fun at the party. My wife had hers today, but family is not invited. They actually have it during business hours and call it a "mandatory meeting" even though this one is at a western themed restaurant with half of them riding a mechanical bull after too much booze.

Brian, a titanium something-or-other (Merlin?).
Litespeed. Remember the Lynskey sticker on the chainstay, and he worked for Litespeed. Granted it's the only sticker left, so "something-or-other" described it quite well. :D

Oh, and TCR: you're talking to a couple of people who frequently wake up around 4/5am to commute to work by bike. Little sympathy from us for the wake up time.

alrite.. im still debating if im gonna go... im kindaa nervous because im not sure if i ever held a pace like that before for that kinda distance.. since im the official nooob.. but i guess i just gotta go try it rite? otherwise ill never know...

look for me in the way back... super back of the pack on either the look or cervy.... or i should bring my GMC DENALI ROAD BIKE... :D

Definitely bring the denali :D

If my son can do it--you can too. Besides, we won't drop anybody for good. We'll regroup.

damn so i show up like 20 mins late.... hoping that people wouldnt be gone.. and of course people were gone... i was by myself... wasn't to sure of the route they were headed... rode around a little bit can came home....

aaakkkk actually made the journey out.. i was up early.. but i underestimated the time it would take to drive to SAMo..... oh welll looks like ill seee people at the next ride...

hope everyone had fun

It was indeed a lot of fun. Josh made it out to shepherd his flock. Jeff (cat 4 capt?) was there. And Tommy, another Liquid veteran. Thanks to Mark for organizing. Was great to meet TCR and 1loudz, both strong riders and good guys. Good to see Brian, as usual. We even ran into Joy and Speedee.

Sorry you missed out, dips, but it looks like there will plenty of opportunities going forward. I think Team Liquid is for real!

Ohh...I'm so sorry you missed us, dips. Hope you didn't have too far to travel for naught. :(

Good little ride. Palos Verdes was pretty neat. The Western side was a little busy with traffic, although not too bad in the morning. The southern/eastern side was great...somewhat narrow roads, twisty descents & climbs, pretty cool.

We set a good little pace. Not overpowering, but not relaxing either. The first 30 miles up to PV were pretty tame, vertical-wise, and my son was doing great. Even the climb up to PV, he still held in there, off the back a bit, but not out of contention. We took a quick stop at a Starbucks, to empty bladders, etc...and then the climbing began. This got him. But he recovered nicely on the downside into Manhattan Beach. However, one last little climb did him in. I rode alongside and tried to shelter him from the wind back to the start.

Ryan looked strong, and Ron looks like he can climb well (look for Vance's opinion here :D) with some seriously long legs. I'm sure we'll do okay out there. Nice riding with y'all. (Vance--I really liked the frame. Lookin' good.)

We even ran into Joy and Speedee.

We were sent to spy on you, ordered by the high command. Unfortunately, our leader was waylaid by a rogue government agency on Catalina. Survelliance photos to come...

We were sent to spy on you, ordered by the high command. Unfortunately, our leader was waylaid by a rogue government agency on Catalina. Survelliance photos to come...

And on a related note, you looked surprisingly healthy and unencumbered by knee pain... I think all the injury talk is a smoke screen. All part of your race strategy, I presume.

Liquid rules, La Grange drools!

Liquid rules, La Grange drools!

You're just jealous because we're better at posing than you guys.

Six hours = <50 miles = three coffee shops + a vegetarian cafe.

We rawk.

I just got home! UGGHH, traffic sucked coming home!

It was nice to meet everyone and put some real names and faces to screen names. Josh seemed like a really down-to-earth cool guy. It was nice of him to come out. AJ did awesome!! Vance looks like he can climb well and should definitely think about doing Boulevard (2/2/07).

Next time I'm down there I'm gonna have to pick me up one of those fancy smancy beach houses with a view of the ocean. :D


We were sent to spy on you, ordered by the high command. Unfortunately, our leader was waylaid by a rogue government agency on Catalina. Survelliance photos to come...

So that's who that was taking the picture. I thought we were already attracting fans. :D

It was nice meeting everyone. Glad TCR could make it out and that Josh could lead the way. We tried to form a rotating paceline on the way back, but it took us a while to get it anywhere near smooth. We'll work on that, I'm sure. I have to say, it's easier to keep a steady paceline on a fixie on a flat velodrome. So Mark, are we still climbing Big T next Sat or do we really need to push it back a week?

I think Jeff, Ryan & Ron were talking maybe GMR or something as it's just a bit closer to Ron :D

I might have to do wife-damage control and stay home, unfortunately. We'll see. Maybe I can get my car back somehow :rolleyes:

You're just jealous because we're better at posing than you guys.

Six hours = <50 miles = three coffee shops + a vegetarian cafe.

We rawk.


<laughs>

I think Jeff, Ryan & Ron were talking maybe GMR or something as it's just a bit closer to Ron :D

I might have to do wife-damage control and stay home, unfortunately. We'll see. Maybe I can get my car back somehow :rolleyes:
Well that's not too far for me, but I have to be home by 2 to get ready for her uncle's holiday party.

actually i was already in samo... stayed with a friend but had my bike... and i was up 530 am... and ate and everything.. but freakin DUETS was on TBS and i dunno why but i was freakin drawn into the damn movie.. and by the time i looked up it was like a quarter to 8 and when i headed out and got there it was like 8:17 and there was no one in sight....

FREAKKIN DUETSS.... that movie sucked too.. damnnnit...

Oh my... miss a training ride for Huey Lewis? Mark, what are the demerits associated with that egregious offense?!?

We're definitely looking at a D- on this assignment, Vance, with a loss of at least 15 participation points!

:D

We should see if a mod can change the title to "Liquid Cycling Team" and Mark can edit the OP for current information on upcoming events.

edit: Wow that's service! I didn't even send a report or anything.

Okay, changed.

We're definitely looking at a D- on this assignment, Vance, with a loss of at least 15 participation points!

:D

well at least it wasn't over THE NOTEBOOK... wait actually.. i think it rather be over the notebook....

well at least it wasn't over THE NOTEBOOK... wait actually.. i think it rather be over the notebook....

Hey dips, I think La Grange is looking for new recruits. ;)

Speedee and I were doing team recon in PV when we see this secret invasion force riding past us on PV West. So we tailed the evildoers for awhile and caught them in the act of planning their nefarious schemes. Notice the WMD cleverly disguised as a normal-looking Starbucks bag... And I don't know what kind of weapon Brian was wielding (oh wait, that's a finger).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2311/2115115601_95743ea3d5.jpg

So we reconnoitered at the secret lair of the Forces of Good (notice the patriotic color scheme - go USA!) where we ingested the special elixir that makes us fast and lets us recover quickly.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/2115706232_65ec6ac3b6.jpg

:roflmao:

Too funny. Only, I would have put the word "hot" in smaller font under "evil." ;) :D

Also, you look too cute in your La Grange jersey, Happy.

Hey, you have "evil" covering my best feature. :rolleyes:

You have lots of best features. I'm keeping the raw photos for my special "collection." ;)

BTW... Definitely amateur posers here. I had to call out a couple of times to get everyone to look. Experienced posers can smell a camera within 10 feet and would work it almost instinctually. You guys need more practice.

Your spy camera will not be allowed on any more Liquid secret training rides. And you and Greg have new names:

http://www.classicmedia.tv/assets/circles/boris-natasha.gif

nice

no one will see me coming undercover as my new persona!

the panda!

Your spy camera will not be allowed on any more Liquid secret training rides.

You're just frightened because I discovered what you really do after you tell Dorothy you're going to "go ride." Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me.

For a small fee.

P.S. The Panda Knows!

OK Mark... I'll stop derailing your thread now. Sorry!

OK Mark... I'll stop derailing your thread now. Sorry!

I can't imagine it any other way, Joy. :)

My wife walked by as I was looking at the pic so I had to explain why the word "evil" was over all of us. lol

She's not too impressed with the shorts of the kit, pointing out that it frames the package like French swimwear. I explained to her that it's meant to look good on the bike and not while standing, but she made the point that it would look silly on the podium. My only response to that was to show her the Polish national team pic :D

My wife walked by as I was looking at the pic so I had to explain why the word "evil" was over all of us. lol

She's not too impressed with the shorts of the kit, pointing out that it frames the package French swimwear. I explained to her that it's meant to look good on the bike and not while standing, but she made the point that it would look silly on the podium. My only response to that was to show her the Polish national team pic :D

Ohhh...you're gonna get us all in trouble somehow...I can feel it coming...

:D

I tried to say their biggest mistake was using a light red on their shorts, and my wife said "No, their biggest mistake was not wearing underwear"