Winter Downhill Racing in SoCal

1 minute read

While downhill racers across the country waited for snow to thaw and ski-slopes to return to their summer shade of grassy-brown, SoCal racers have been enjoying the bluebird weekends in Fontana, racing in the Southridge Racing Winter Series. Organizers host a weekend of mountain-biking that have some participants choosing to camp for the two-day mountain-mash.

ByChris Reynolds
March 8, 2016

We stopped by on a Sunday to watch riders of all ages scream down the technical course while spectators scattered across the mountain wall to cheer riders on during their speedy descent. The summer brings temperatures in the 100’s to this inland region of SoCal, but a light winter-rain was enough to make the hills spring verdant and lush, a perfect backdrop for facing fear and chasing air. – VP www.southridgeusa.com

mountain bike rider gets ready to take off downhill on dirt trail in fontana

above shot of mountain bike riders racing in fontana

mountain bike rider races downhill dirt trail in fontana

landscape of mountains and houses in fontana california during mountain bike race

landscape shot of mountains in fontana with mountain bike rider in distance

mountain bike rider races downhill dirt trail in fontana with people cheering on sidelines

hero shot of mountain bike rider races downhill dirt trail in fontana

hero shot mountain bike rider races downhill dirt trail in fontana

action shot mountain bike rider races downhill dirt trail in fontana

the line of riders waiting to race mountain bikes downhill

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Chris Reynolds

magazine director, podcast co-host/editor

Dirt Training Tips for the Belgian Waffle Ride

ByMichael Marckx
April 27, 2017

The dirt has a special way of zapping the strength of even the most prepared riders because it’s often really soft and hard to maintain any kind of speed. Some of the dirt stretches are really long. Some of them are really rocky. Others are sandy.

9 minute read

2017 Cervélo Belgian Waffle Ride – Official Course Preview

ByMichael Marckx
May 14, 2017

Not unlike the Spring Classics, the BWR course has changed over the years and 2017 is no different. This year’s course is very different in many ways from the previous editions, but it does take its cues from the best sectors of previous years, as prescribed by the riders, and added in some new ones to create the best, most dynamic course yet.

1 minute read

(Mike Blewitt) Riding Through History at the Convict 100

ByThe BAT Radar
February 5, 2019

We don’t have passes across the Alps that Napoleon used and now have 8 lane motorways, or ancient smuggling routes between Salzburg and the Alta Valtellina which is now perfect singletrack. But we do have the Convict Trail, and you get right up close to it on the Convict 100.

1 minute read

Bikes From the 2016 Cervelo Belgian Waffle Ride and Suggestions for 2017

ByMichael Marckx
May 4, 2017

The best bike is really dependent on the rider’s skill and comfort in the dirt. The faster and more experienced riders will use their road bikes with 25 or 28mm tires, as this is a road race, not a gravel grinder.

1 minute read

Redlands Strada Rossa III: Recap From This Years Epic Ride

ByVictor Prestinary
April 11, 2016

The Redlands Strada Rossa III (RSR) is a newer addition to the Southern California cycling event roster, organized by the Inland Empire Biking Alliance.

2 minute read

SoCal FIXED Strong Beach Crit: Track Bikes & Asphalt In Long Beach

ByCody Lewis
April 11, 2016

The third installment of the SoCal Fixed Series took place on Sunday, March 13, and was presented by Throne Cycles and hosted by community leader Hector Morales Jr. The Strong Beach Criterium is a technical, 6-turn course that includes a hairpin turn and a roundabout. Racers must survive 40 minutes of surging breakaways and attacks before race officials announce on the megaphone that there are ‘5 laps to go.

2 minute read

A Luxury Weekend Gran Fondo in the Malibu Hills: Malibu Gran Fondo

ByChris Reynolds
April 11, 2016

The Malibu Gran Fondo took place this past March in beginning in Agoura Hills and succeeded in providing…

4 minute read

A Haute Route Choice: Should I Ride the 3 Day or 7 Day Event?

ByJohn Woodson
July 9, 2018

An Analysis to Help Choose Between the 3-day or 7-day Race Time and time again I am asked…

1 minute read

The Bikes You Missed at NAHBS 2017

ByEvent News
March 13, 2017

The North American Handmade Bicycle Show showcases some of the most talented bicycle builders from around the globe. We compiled a gallery of the studio shots of some of the most impressive, and interesting, bikes at this year’s NAHBS.

1 minute read

Phils Fondo Preview Ride: The Malibu Gran Cookie Dough

ByChris Reynolds
July 28, 2016

We experienced Phils Fondo when we spent some time with Cannondale rider Phil Gaimon in Santa Monica, along with chef Jeff Mahin owner of M Street Kitchen, during a preview ride of the routes they’re putting together for this fall’s Malibu Gran Cookie Dough.

1 minute read

Great Western Bicycle Rally: A Memorial Weekend Tradition in Paso Robles

ByBICYCLIST Staff
July 12, 2016

Paso Robles, CA–The Great Western Bicycle Rally has been a recurring Memorial Day tradition for bicyclists from all across California who descent on Paso Robles for Memorial Weekend. The four days of the festival include guided rides every morning and afternoon, route-maps for self-guided exploration of the central coast, and a multitude of family-friendly activities scheduled throughout the 4-day weekend.

2 minute read

SDMBA Archipelago Mountain Bike Ride Traverses North County Backroads

ByRichard Duquette
September 10, 2018

The San Diego Mountain Biking Association (SDMBA) annual membership ride, the Archipelago Ride aka “ARCH” ride, is best described as a mountain bike adventure through the backcountry of North County.

3 minute read

Fixed Gear Racing Photos and Results from the Second Race in the SoCal Fixed Series

ByBICYCLIST Staff
July 16, 2018

We returned to the SoCal Fixed Series on June 24th at Mt. San Antonio College for race #2 of the fixed gear competition. This time around racers were riding in the opposite direction from race 1 on the .65 mile criterium course, which created more of a challenge for riders fighting against a strong, summer headwind.

2 minute read

Race Schedule and Spots to Watch the Cervélo Belgian Waffle Ride in Action

ByBICYCLIST Staff
May 17, 2017

Fun for Riders and Spectators Will you be riding this year’s Cervélo Belgian Waffle Ride? While not all of…

2 minute read

Cycling Art On Display in Paso Robles at the Eroica California

ByChris Reynolds
April 16, 2017

Eroica California has always had an eye towards the culture and art of cycling. The event welcomed artist Miguel Soro Garcia, who discussed the inspiration and methods for his paintings. Eroica also featured collector Elizabeth Norris, displaying her collection of vintage posters.

2 minute read

Cervelo BWR 2016: CAF’s Truly Tough “One Arm” Willie Stewart

Bywilliestewart
June 10, 2016

“One Arm” Willie Stewart Finishes His Fourth Belgian Waffle Ride with the support of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Photography by Jake Orness.

1 minute read

Cervelo BWR 2016: The Worthy, Special Awards and Results

ByBICYCLIST Staff
June 9, 2016

Full results and award categories for the 2016 Cervelo Belgian Waffle Ride

2 minute read

2016 Amgen Tour of California – A Morning With The Professionals in Pasadena

ByVictor Prestinary
May 17, 2016

The second stage of the Amgen Tour of California presented by AEG was a healthy mix of climbing through the hills and valleys between South Pasadena, where the race began, and Santa Clarita, the race finish.

2 minute read

The Woodstock of Triathlons is Back for 2018

ByRichard Duquette
April 9, 2018

Head to the Wildflower triathlon for a well organized event, camp out, enjoy the fun times, and challenge yourself in one of the classic California triathlons. The 2018 Wildflower Experience runs May 4-6th at Lake San Antonio with offerings for team or individual competitions.

3 minute read

The Amgen Tour of California 2018, Coming To A California Road Near You

ByKelley O'Toole
April 17, 2018

The Amgen Tour of California returns to the golden state for a week of World Tour racing, an exciting event for cyclists in Southern California and beyond. The stage race features both a men and women’s competition that finishes in the capital, Sacramento. Spectating the Amgen Tour of California is a great opportunity to see some of the World’s greatest athletes battle it out on the roads of our gorgeous state.

3 minute read

The SoCal Winter Weekend: Gravel Clinics, Bike Demos and Season Planning

ByKelley O'Toole
January 30, 2018

Last weekend, Rick Schultz (Bike Fitness Coaching, Ask the Bike Coach) put together a free bike clinic on how to ride your first gravel event. Topics included discussions on rider and bike preparations, course routes, survival techniques and equipment selection.

2 minute read

The Sixth Annual Cervélo Belgian Waffle Ride (Trailer)

ByMichael Marckx
July 17, 2017

This year, the Belgian Waffle Ride offered up it’s sixth course in six years, with 12,000 feet of climbing, 41-miles of off-road across 17 sectors, headwinds in every direction, prickly desert heat and deep sand arroyos.

evening shot of fixed gear cyclists racing in long beach

1 minute read

Wolfpack Hustle Shortline Crit – Fixed Gear Racing in Downtown Long Beach

ByVictor Prestinary
July 12, 2016

Wolfpack Hustle’s annual Shortline Crit was held in Downtown Long Beach on May 3rd. The fixed-gear Men and Women’s race, presented by SCB sponsor Thomas Forsyth, is the second of three stages in the 2016 Unified Title Series.

2 minute read

Bike-A-Thon Fundraiser To Build A Mobile Farmer’s Market

ByKelley O'Toole
July 13, 2016

This August, SugarWatch will be hosting its inaugural Sunset Bike-A-Thon. The 15-mile ride will raise funds for SugarWatch programming and help the organization reach its goal of retrofitting a school bus to serve as a mobile farmer’s market.

9 minute read

Cervelo BWR 2016: METAL on Dirt

ByAndrew Danly
June 22, 2016

The Belgian Waffle Ride is a blank canvas. World famous, bigger, dirtier and more irreverent each year. The 2016 gauntlet tossed by its creative creator, Michael Marckx (MMX), traverses 145 miles, 11,000 feet of climbing and over 30 miles of dirt. It also draws 1,000 dirty fools ready to go all Jackson Pollock on that blank canvas.

9 minute read

Cervelo BWR 2016: Waffles, Ales And Countless Dirt Trails

ByMichael Marckx
June 9, 2016

The Belgian Waffle Ride files its teeth for no one, delivering special treatment in the form of sickly strung together sectors of dirt and pavement to all. Herein lies the tales of those who attacked, suffered or merely survived the 2016 BWR. — MMX

3 minute read

Cervelo BWR 2016: The Lone Wolf & Joshua Berry’s Road To Victory

ByJoshua Berry
June 9, 2016

The colors were softening, the end was near, and the moves were more subdued as I could no longer see or feel it all unfolding. I knew the sun was setting, and I knew I would get there before it had all gone dark.

2 minute read

The Ofrenda: A Tribute To Fallen Cyclists

ByKelley O'Toole
September 9, 2015

As a tribute to the fallen bicyclists, we’ve added the poster of the Ofrenda so that their memory may live on.

1 minute read

SOC16: HAIBIKE eMTB Race

ByChris Reynolds
May 5, 2016

Racers in the inaugural eMTB race make their way around the course at the 2016 Sea Otter Classic festivel held in Monterey. The event is the first of it’s kind in the US, though the bikes are raced extensively in Europe.

1 minute read

Wandering Photographer

SoCal Fixed Series Comeback Crit in Huntington Beach

ByChris Reynolds
March 8, 2016

The Comeback Crit was the kick-off event and the first of 10 comprising the SoCal Fixed Series. These events are for track bikes with fixed gears and no brakes that race on a closed, asphalt short-course.

2 minute read

World Cycling League World Premiere At VELO Sports Center In SoCal

ByKelley O'Toole
March 1, 2016

The World Cycling League will be debuting in Southern California at the VELO Sports Center in Carson March 18-19, 2016. The WCL plans to make this TeamTrak event spectacular with televised coverage, and epic racing that will fall in line with their focus to reignite U.S. excitement for velodrome racing

1 minute read

CicLAvia: Open Streets Event In Downtown Los Angeles

ByKelley O'Toole
November 4, 2015

Los Angeles holds the honor of hosting the largest community open-streets event in the United States, and this past month’s 5th anniversary of the event was no different. CicLAvia, a play on the South American tradition of closing streets to cars and only allowing human-powered traffic, brought out bicycles of all shapes and stripes. We saw the standard two wheel, the trusty three wheel, and of course the rare instance of one wheel. No human-powered mode of transportation was denied access, and we saw many paws on the road too. CicLAvia is THE example of how this type of event can be run successfully in a metropolis.

1 minute read

SoCalCross Velocity Cross: Racing At Prado Park

ByBICYCLIST Staff
November 4, 2015

October 18th was a beautiful day for cyclocross on the 2,000 acres of land at Prado Park in Chino Hills for the Velocity Cross race hosted by SoCalCross. The course was a rolling terrain of grassy fields, mixed with a little bit of dirt and asphalt, with 1 “step-up” and 1 barrier for the cyclists to conquer.

1 minute read

LA Velodrome Sprint Open

ByBICYCLIST Staff
September 28, 2015

Sprint Open at the Los Angeles Velodrome On September 12, we visited the Los Angeles Velodrome in Carson…

Wolfpack Hustle Civic Center Criterium 2015

1 minute read

Wolfpack Hustle Civic Center Crit Racing in DTLA 2015

ByBICYCLIST Staff
August 17, 2015

Situated in Downtown Los Angeles, the Wolfpack Hustle Civic Center Criterium lapped around Los Angeles City Hall with both geared and fixed events, the racing action was non-stop.

1 minute read

The 2015 Amgen Tour Of California Finish At The Rose Bowl in Pasadena

ByBICYCLIST Staff
May 17, 2015

The 2015 Tour of California ended in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl. The finish marked the completion of the 10th running of this spectacular event. It was a showdown of top riders from around the world including crowd favorites Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish. The race culminated in a tight finish with Peter Sagan taking the overall victory.

Winter Downhill Racing in SoCal

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