Issue 147: Early Spring 2018

Prologue

As winter has quickly come and gone, spring presents itself as a season of opportunity. We are excited to see new events make their debut in the 2018 calendar. One such notable ride is the Sagan Fondo, with two events in both Northern and Southern California. Speaking on why he chose the Golden State as a venue, Sagan confessed, “I love California and am never there long enough. My time in the Tour of California is some of the best of my racing season. I try to come here as often as I can. Not only does California provide some of the best roads and most beautiful scenery in the world, the warmth and friendliness of its people are second to none. I really feel at home whenever I’m there.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Speaking of the Tour of California, spectators will be treated to a start for the men’s race in Downtown Long Beach this upcoming May 13th. Following many of the same turns and straights as the Long Beach Grand Prix, the action will be up close with excellent spots for watching the battles on bike, throughout the course. You can catch the rst stage of the women’s race on May 17th in Elk Grove.

For those that call California home and are looking to get away, as Sagan points out, the bar is high for finding suitable adventures. Continuing our ‘Beyond’ series of international explorations, Kelley O’Toole found one such area and documents her cycling and agri- tourism experience in Tuscany, Italy. As the man behind the lens on this tour, I can attest to the beauty and warmth found throughout this region of Italy. The culture is much more accustomed to sharing the road with bicycles, and the ubiquitous Italian cafe with a range of ride-fueling options are welcoming to cyclists and travelers of all stripes. For those looking for historical enlightenment, look no further than the 500 year old cathedrals and 1000 year old castles dotting the landscape like Starbucks locations in Orange County. Now is the time to plan your late summer or early fall tour to this destination.
If your knees are hurting just thinking about riding up and down all those hills, Rick Schultz reminds you that knee pain isn’t normal and shouldn’t be a part of your ride. He details a common but often overlooked reason for knee pain, and we’ve already found one member of our team who has benefited from this adjustment. Read more in this issue’s Ask the Coach on page 6.

Richard Duquette brings a report from the trails of northeastern Arizona with an epic version of agri-tourism stateside. With a focus on wilderness survival and MTB, this may be just the ticket for someone looking to do something different, but not wanting to take on the logistics of bikes overseas. Additionally, this months Legal Cycling column details the Duquette Law Firm’s top 10 ways of how not to get ‘doored’, the term for running into an opening door by an unaware driver parked adjacent to a bike lane. Very common in coastal California, the list is informed by the 40 years of practice he has defending cyclists who have been injured (and killed) by drivers. The list is worth reading, even for the seasoned road warrior.

With all the exciting opportunities for cycling for 2018, we must acknowledge the horrific tragedy that befell the Tour of Palm Springs earlier this year. A driver traveling more than 100mph killed event participant Mark Kristoferson, 49, of Lake Stevens, Washington and critically injured Alyson Lee Akers, 50, of Huntington Beach, California. The driver is being charged with vehicular manslaughter and was released the next day on bail of $75,000. According to Riverside County court records, he had been ticketed for speeding 4 times since 2015, 3 of which occurred in 2017. Driverless cars can’t come soon enough.

See you on the route. Stay Safe. Peace.

Chris Reynolds | Editorial Director