Southern California - NEWBIE 09 River Ride

yes almost 10pm day before heavily contemplating this one, one for the weather and second because I just read its mostly on city streets. Ive never biked more than 20 miles at a time wondering if I can handle the half century, also any feedback as far as the event itself? safety? events? etc etc! feedback needed STAT!!

Get some sleep, eat a good breakfast, drink plenty of water and have fun...

Lots of the ride will be on the river path

Do it!

It depends on which ride you do but for the most part the ride is along the river. I concur with what Alicestrong said.

Save our money, do it for fgree any other weekend. COme down to the SART for a nicer trail and ride. Lots of places to park along the trail. A Stadium is one and a 25 mile roundtrip to Huntington Beach. SO many riders you'll think you're on an organized ride. Then progress to a further start point. Maybe Imperial and the 91 for a 42 mile roundtrip. Always lots of riders. Why pay money to do the samething available any other weekend?

Save the money and buy yourself a IN-N-Out t-shirt. They are much better than the junk passed out on organized rides. Well I'm thinking they are as I can never get the right size to wear from an organized ride. Size small t-shirts don't fit us XX guys!:mad:

hey mr Beanz! lol can I get more info on this??

+1 for Beanz

I may go for the big party and food after...not sure yet.

+1 for Beanz. 50 bucks to ride on a trail that I do weekly? I'm sure it goes to a good cause but I can think of a better cause for my 50 bucks--me.

I don't get a chance to ride the River Trail that often, but last week I did this (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2866580)...

There were three of us. It was fun.

I came back from volunteering at the 70 mile turn around and I am very impressed by the number of riders who turned up. There were a lot more than last year so it seems like cycling is really growing. What was not impressive were the greedy cyclists. I know that it takes a lot to fuel up the body but not as much as I witnessed today for such a short distance. We served SKIPPY PB and J sandwiches, bananas, oranges, Clif Shots, Clif Bars and Powerade. The food was for all riders not just for the first 20. The guys who came in first ate and took more than their bodies and jerseys could hold. The ride wasn't all about them. It was about everyone. There were many more who were coming after them. We ran out of bread so there were no more sandwiches left. The slower riders came looking for snacks and there was nothing left. We felt bad but had to put blame on their greedy predecessors. Some of the riders rode 35 miles to the turn around and hung out for 45 minutes snacking on that crap. "Get back on the bike and go home, you'll miss the tailwinds guys" is what we felt like telling them. Some of those clowns made their heavy rounds 3 or 4 times. This is not right. I have volunteered and completed rides myself and never have experienced such greed. To top it off, it was mostly from men. Very inconsiderate and unfair. Think of others before you take the entire load.

If your talking about doing the LA river ride, I would say follow Beanz advice. The return trip was horrible, took about 45 minutes to get onto the Metroline.

I don't know what I did wrong, but I bonked at Maywood and returned to Griffith Park in the sag wagon. Depressing, since the mileage to that point is less than half my typical Sunday distance! And, of course, I felt just fine by the time we got back to GP.

sag wagon?????????? you mean you needed a ride back? And these rides BEANS is talking about I need more info!!!!!

My son and I rode the 50 miler today, and rest stops were well stocked with fruit, granola bars, and powerasdde. I haven't been on too many of these group rides, (a few Acura Bike Tours, the Tour De Sewer, and the Volkswagen LA Fun RIde), but the River Ride seems to be one of the better organized ones of the bunch. Its too bad that a bunch of inconsiderate clods scarfed up the snacks at the 70 mile turn around - I guess they had to get their $50 worth one or the other. . . Thanks to all the volunteers who turned out today for the River Ride; they don't get a lot of credit, but really deserve it for the great job they do.

BTW we did the 50 miler in just over 4 hours, (including stops). Not bad for a 50+ Clyde on a 35 lb. hybrid!!

sag wagon?????????? you mean you needed a ride back? And these rides BEANS is talking about I need more info!!!!!


I have a whole thread on the trail, and more. "SART Journal 2009". Should be right around this one on the front page of this forum. Open it up and take a look at all the peoples!:D

FOr only $25, I'll let you ride on the trail. For another $5, we'll take you up GMR!:roflmao2:

It's 30 miles one way, 60 round trip. Nice trail, nice area (mostly) Lots of friendly riders and a few bad ones!:D If I see you, I take your pic and post it in the thread (free of charge).

You can see the trail as you pass over it on the 57 at the A stadium area.

The thread, lots of people. Different speeds, sizes, shapes, big ones, little ones, even kids with polka dots!:D
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=498643

I don't know what I did wrong, but I bonked at Maywood and returned to Griffith Park in the sag wagon. Depressing, since the mileage to that point is less than half my typical Sunday distance! And, of course, I felt just fine by the time we got back to GP.


What the heck!:eek:...Maybe someone bumped your brake caliper and could be dragging on the rim? Maybe a slow leak? Happened to me before . One doesn't realize it till one has a back ache, and totally tired!:mad:

Bike was fine, I was taking it easy. But it just wasn't the day for this ride. Wrong breakfast? Not enough breakfast? Too long a delay between breakfast and the start of the ride? Taking the OTC sleeping aid the night before? Who knows?

Bike was fine, I was taking it easy. But it just wasn't the day for this ride. Wrong breakfast? Not enough breakfast? Too long a delay between breakfast and the start of the ride? Taking the OTC sleeping aid the night before? Who knows?


Eek! That's too bad.

At least you had the sag support there when you needed it...

I came back from volunteering at the 70 mile turn around and I am very impressed by the number of riders who turned up. There were a lot more than last year so it seems like cycling is really growing. What was not impressive were the greedy cyclists. I know that it takes a lot to fuel up the body but not as much as I witnessed today for such a short distance. We served SKIPPY PB and J sandwiches, bananas, oranges, Clif Shots, Clif Bars and Powerade. The food was for all riders not just for the first 20. The guys who came in first ate and took more than their bodies and jerseys could hold. The ride wasn't all about them. It was about everyone. There were many more who were coming after them. We ran out of bread so there were no more sandwiches left. The slower riders came looking for snacks and there was nothing left. We felt bad but had to put blame on their greedy predecessors. Some of the riders rode 35 miles to the turn around and hung out for 45 minutes snacking on that crap. "Get back on the bike and go home, you'll miss the tailwinds guys" is what we felt like telling them. Some of those clowns made their heavy rounds 3 or 4 times. This is not right. I have volunteered and completed rides myself and never have experienced such greed. To top it off, it was mostly from men. Very inconsiderate and unfair. Think of others before you take the entire load.

Good for you to volunteer. I know several people who helped out. I probably will next year. So much goes into this ride...

You guys get a party, right?

Alice- I don't know anything about a party. I would not mind having a slice of pizza and a salad.

Alice- I don't know anything about a party. I would not mind having a slice of pizza and a salad.


LOL! Yes...they throw parties for the volunteers...:)

Edit: this was last year (http://lacbc.wordpress.com/2008/06/21/lacbc-volunteer-party-and-social-come-out/)...

I just completed the my first century this at the LA River Ride. While I agree with Beanz, I appreciated the organization and well-spaced food. I did training rides of 60-75 miles before Sunday, and I never had problems with cramps or bonking, but I started fighting cramps around 35 miles. I don't know if I would have had problems on my own, but those regular stops with more substantial food than GU gave me time to massage out some cramps and walk off some of the more painful cramps. Plus, drafting gave me a break as well. I did try to take a turn at the front, too, when I was able to hold up.

But I think the size of the century (a couple hundred riders?), and the fact that most of us got bunched up on the city streets due to a train, really reinforced my fear of large groups. I was nervous just trying to stay away from the middle of the group!

The volunteers that I met were great. They tried to keep everything stocked up, and they were friendly. I only wish there was more ice, but that's a minor detail...:)

dc

They were all wonderful to me!!

Definitely will do it again. This is a fun easy ride that appears to benefit a tangible cause (Completion of the LA River Bikeway). Plus they have a beer/wine garden setup at the finish!

The 100mi route is kinda funky tho. It has you doing laps that loop up and through the park to pad the route to make 100. I think they should add the milage onto the Belmont Shore leg instead of having us do laps at the start. And as is, we ran short at the official finish forcing us to do another lap.

I dunno about the 'greedy' thing. Seems to me if you put on a party its on YOU to make sure there's plenty of goodies no matter what! Bananas and PBJ. Sheesh. Heh heh.

Next up for us is going to be the 'short' 126mi option of the LA Wheelman's Grand Tour out of Malibu. Maybe we'll see some of you out there.

They were all wonderful to me!!


Any of these folks (http://www.jointhecycle.blogspot.com/) look familiar?

Yes and no (my brain wasn't fully functional by then). The JTC women at Maywood were *very* solicitous of me and I *really* appreciate that!! And I'm insanely jealous of their cross-country tour plans and wish them all the best!!!