Save Saddleback Butte!

While you are adding the AV High Desert Cyclists’ Fall Century to your calendar, take a few extra moments and also add another event on September 28 and 29, 2012:

The Tour de Antelope Valley Bicycle Ride

This event is co-sponsored by California State Parks, the Poppy Reserve/Mojave Desert Interpretive Association and Antelope Valley High Desert Cyclists. All proceeds will go to the Save Saddleback Butte fund to help keep Saddleback Butte State Park open to the public. Both rides are “fun” rides (not races). Helmets and a signed waiver are required. Click here for information and registration form.

The State of California has targeted the park for closure on July 1, 2012. You can help the effort to save Saddleback Butte Park by giving your tax deductible donation to “Save Saddleback” through the non-profit Poppy Reserve/Mojave Desert Interpretive Association (PRMDIA) P.O. Box 1408, Lancaster, CA 93584

High Desert Cyclists’ Brunch Ride Series – Ride #3

Date: June 9, 2012
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Location: Santa Clarita, Lost Canyon Road Trailhead (see map)

Join the High Desert Cyclists for a fun monthly Brunch Ride starting this month in Santa Clarita at the Lost Canyon Road Trailhead.

Directions: Take the 14 Freeway south to the Sand Canyon exit. Turn right onto Sand Canyon, then an immediate left onto Soledad Canyon. Turn left at Lost Canyon Road. Go under the freeway and there will be parking on the right.

The ride will be at a comfortable pace. Beginners and families are welcome. Distance covered will be 17 miles. Road bikes and mountain bikes are fine.

We will ride to Mimi’s Cafe. Please bring money for your meal.

All riders must wear helmets and carry a spare tube.

No one will be left behind. For information, contact Michele at michelechavez@yahoo.com.

Register for the 2012 Fall Century

Mark your calendar for October 20, 2012!

You can find out details about the Fall Century here and register via Active.com.

View the Fall Century Flyer and Registration Form here.

High Desert Cyclists’ Brunch Ride Series – Ride #2

Date: May 12, 2012
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Location: Marie Kerr Park

Join the High Desert Cyclists for a fun monthly Brunch Ride starting at Marie Kerr Park. Meet in the Parking Lot on 30th St West near the basketball courts.

The ride will be at a comfortable pace. Beginners and families are welcome. Distance covered approximately 15 to 20 miles. Road bikes and mountain bikes are fine.

We will ride to brunch or coffee at a local restaurant or coffee house. Please bring money for your meal.

All riders must wear helmets and carry a spare tube.

No one will be left behind. For information, contact Michele at michelechavez@yahoo.com.

Obituary for Linda Pluss

Text of Linda’s Obituary:

Born December 10, 1937, and passed away March 29, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer. Her husband, Bob, was her best friend and her knight in shining armor – he was an amazing and devoted caregiver during her illness. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, and friend. She treasured her family and always made them a priority. She was a vibrant woman who approached all aspects of life with enthusiasm, optimism, and passion. Her achievements and involvement in the community were many, including helping victims of domestic violence with her involvement in the Valley Oasis Amigas. She earned her bachelor’s degree from CSUN in 1978. She enjoyed teaching senior fitness at the YMCA. At age 51, she began a new career and taught 4th grade at Mesquite Elementary School for 14 years.

Read the rest of this entry »

Brunch Ride Series 2012

Furnace Creek 508

Club vice-president Kevin “Wolverine” Walsh will be tackling “The Toughest 48 Hours In Sport” tomorrow morning! You can follow Kevin’s progress in this grueling 500+ mile race on www.the508.com.
From the website:
AdventureCORPS, an event production firm specializing in ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, will host the 28th Anniversary Furnace Creek 508 Bicycle Race on October 8-10, 2011. Founded by John Marino in 1983 and known as “The Toughest 48 hours in Sport,” it is the world’s premier ultramarathon bicycle race. This 508-mile bicycle race is revered the world over for its epic mountain climbs, stark desert scenery, desolate roads, and its reputation as one of the toughest but most gratifying endurance challenges available, bar none. The course has a total elevation gain of over 35,000′, crosses ten mountain passes, and stretches from Santa Clarita (just north of Los Angeles), across the Mojave Desert, through Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve, to the finish line at the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms, CA. Solo, two-person relay, and four-person relay divisions are offered with a field limit of app. 230 racers.
A good place to see the racers in the first leg of the race is on Johnson Road. Check the maps on the site for details.

Go Kevin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fall Century – UPDATE!

AV High Desert Fall Century
October 22, 2011

7:00AM start – Antelope Valley College

This annual ride is being held on October 22 this year. Featuring an exciting route with scenic vistas and very few stoplights or stop signs. If you’ve never ridden in the AV this is a perfect ride to get acquainted with the area. Wide open roads with light traffic are excellent for cyclists. There is a route for all levels of cyclists. Seasoned roadies will find the 100 miler to be a challenge and recreational riders will enjoy the shorter mileage rides.
Come on out and ride!

There will be 3 ride distances.

• 25 miles – flat ride – great for beginners and recreational cyclists.
• 62 miles – good amount of climbing with very scenic roads.
• 100 miles – The big one. This ride features extended climbing and will be a challenge for the fittest riders.


NEW RIDE START LOCATION!

Antelope Valley College – north east parking lot near 30th St. West and Ave. J-8.

We will not have pre-registration this year however we have lowered the price to just $25.00. The ride features full sag support, multiple rest stops, and lunch at the end of the ride. If you have any questions please email deeporbit@gmail.com. Thank you!

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Friday Morning Quad Buster!

I’ll be rolling from Marie Kerr Park at 7:30AM every Friday for some climbing workouts. I’ll be making a long round-about loop of the west side from the park to 70th St. West to the aqueduct and over Godde Hill. The route will feature climbs between 4.8% to 13%, and a quad smashing, chain breaking, frame creakin’ finishing grinder of 23% (don’t worry, it’s not very long!)
Total elevation gain is about 955 feet. Good times!

Where can you possibly find a climb of 23% in the AV? Ride with me tomorrow and you’ll find out!

Thanks!
Paul

Cyclocross Training

Meet at Marie Kerr Park, near the skatepark, every Tuesday at 6:00pm for
cyclocross practice. We’ll take a short road ride to an open area of the
desert with smooth dirt (a few bumpy sections to spice things up), sand, a
run up, tight turns, a loose off camber turn, and a few longish sections. Bring water and a patch kit just
in case. Email me if you have any questions. deeporbit@gmail.com

Mountain bikes very welcome! All riders are welcome. Cyclocross can improve your fitness and bike handling skills. Even if you’re not interested in racing cyclocross the workout is great. Road bikes would be overwhelmed by rocks and dirt however you’re welcome to come on over and check it out.

Helmets are required. No experience necessary! We’ll finish up between 7:00pm to
7:30pm depending on the enthusiasm of the group.
I will go over common topics such as dismounts, remounts, cornering speed,
avoiding flat tires, and anything else that comes up.