Southern California - Long Beach International City Bank Marathon?

I have been without a car for 5 years, been commuting via bike for 3 years... and I finally convinced my wife to get a bike. :love: She got a little hybrid 2 weeks ago. This a.m. she emails me with this bike marathon.

She still hasn't mastered starting from a complete stop- something that scares me in traffic (we mostly just ride on the ocean path)-= she's slow and wobbles (we will get her adjusted this weekend- she's top heavy I think). She's not slow, but not fast, either. Has anyone done this thing and thought it wasn't for a newbie? She's my wife and I don't want her to get hurt... Frankly I have never done one either, but I wouldn't think twice about entering. thanks.

I did it two years ago, I got there early and rode at a relatively fast pace, so had no problems, but while I was returning I saw the beach cruiser crowds going and that did not seem like a place I'd want to be in. I was going at close to 20MPH and I suppose that group was at 10 or maybe even slower. Depending on how fast your wife is, she may have to ride with that group.

Also, not sure where you are coming from, but Long Beach during marathon is a parking mess, you may have to park pretty far away and cycle your way to town and out.

I did it last year and had a great time despite having to deal with the "cruisers" all over the place. I am not at all fast but I know how to ride a bike. The event is a straight free for all unless you are privileged to raise$$$ to get an Amstrong Jersey and start at the front of the pack. There were so many cyclist that no one cared about the other until one fell. "Passing on the left" meant nothing. People did not care. The course is extremely easy with very slight hills. Both you and you wife should have fun if you take it easy and don't try to rush through the strand on the beach.
As for the parking, forget it. It is a zoo. Take the train or do as the other poster mentioned, park far and cycle in. Have fun and don't forget to cheer on us marathoners.

I did it once over 7 years ago. For a new rider, its fun riding on the streets of Long Beach. On that particular day it was overcast and drizzling. This made the pavement a bit wet, more in some places than others. There was this steel plate on the road and I felt the slipping due to the drizzle but was able to keep the bike straight.

I was told to watch out for pile ups. To avoid I stayed to one side, like the far left of center. It was not all flat roads. There was some brief risers like over the waterways. As long as she knows how to shift down, it will be ok.

In any riding, you gotta watch where you're going. There's a tendency in a large mass of riders to just follow the crowd. But if that crowd is made up of mixed experiences, you need to be careful. After the first two miles, the crowd will thin out and it will be easier.

Did the ride last year, was fun, but OH SO SLOW. My friends and I were a little late so we were lined up at the back, took us a long time to get clear of the cruisers. Watch for the seams in the bridges, they can cause pich flats. Just take em at an angle and you will be fine. Last year I came across a group of riders that all pinched flatted on one of the seams and I even saw a taco'd wheel.

Have fun, be safe, and bring winter gear! Its cold right there that early.