Local Cycling News

GHOST TREE RACING TO CO-HOST NEXT TWILIGHT RIDE
Starting at 4:30 p.m. on February 17, 2010

MONTEREY, Calif., February 9, 2010 – Bicycle enthusiasts have discovered what motorsports enthusiasts around the world have known for over 50 years: the 11-turn circuit at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is not only challenging, but the perfect place to pedal, climb and descend safely. Where else can a rider go to experience a perfectly maintained road surface, and not have to worry about cars, road hazards and pedestrians?

There are 12 Twilight Rides scheduled for 2010 and the next will take place Wednesday, February 17 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., beginning in the paddock area located in the interior of the circuit. The start time is an hour earlier than usual to allow for the early winter sunset. Light & Motion (cycling lights) will be joining the Twilight Ride to assist the cyclists with demo lights and local cycling club, Ghost Tree Racing will be co-hosting the event.

The Twilight Rides are informal and the 2.238-mile track will be open to all levels of cyclists, including children. The cost is $10 per rider and a portion of the proceeds is donated to charity.

If threatening weather cancels the February 17 Twilight Ride, it will be rescheduled for Wednesday February 24 at 5:00 p.m. A media alert will be sent out by 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 17 if the weather is inclement. Cyclists may call the main office at (831) 242-8201 for further information.

The remaining Twilight rides for 2010 include March 17, April 14 (pre-Sea Otter Classic), May 19 (with the American Le Mans Series), June 16, July 21 (with the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix), August 11 (with the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion), September 15, October 20, November 17 and December 15.

Ghost Tree Racing (GTR) is a recreational cycling club that promotes cycling fitness, racing and safety on the Monterey peninsula. Based in Pebble Beach, GTR hosts weekly rides and promotes the AT&T Pacific Grove Butterfly Criterium.

Light & Motion has been pioneering state-of-the-art portable lighting systems for 20 years. In 2008 they launched a line of LED bicycle lights, the lightest, brightest and most reliable lights available worldwide, which are designed and built right here on the Monterey Peninsula.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was established in 1957. The world-renowned raceway has been operated since its inception by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP), a not-for-profit 501C(4) corporation. Each race season, SCRAMP donates its net proceeds to the volunteer groups that help put on the races.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s world-class 2010 racing schedule includes the American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patron May 21-23, the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix featuring MotoGP World Championship July 23-25, the Pre-Reunion August 7-8 and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 12-15.

2010 Amgen Tour of California

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com - 2010 Amgen Tour of California, Stage 3, which starts in San Francisco and finishes in Santa Cruz on Tuesday, May 18.

 

Echelon Gran Fondo

GTR is going to be riding the Livestrong-benefiting Echelon Gran Fondo. If you are not familiar with Gran Fondos, these are rides/races with European origins. They run long courses with huge fields-- from 1,000 to as many as 10,000 riders.

While many riders choose to just ride Gran Fondos for fun, there are timed competition sections within them, and the lead groups put down a serious stage-race-like pace. Still, there is the typical course support of a normal charity ride.

This particular Gran Fondo takes place on some wonderful roads in the Napa Valley. The timed section is a hillclimb up out of the Valley and over to Lake Berryessa. I've attached the course map.

I personally am riding the 60-miler, because I want to try to run up front, and I don't think I can do that with the century distance. I urge you all to sign up and join me. We'll get a team hotel and we can bring wives and children along as well.

Here is the Ghost Tree Racing registration page:

http://echelon.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=337492&team=3636306

Go there, click "join our team" and sign up. Registration is $25 and then you have to raise a minimum of $125 (or just pay the donation yourself). But if you raise more, there are some great awards-- including a Garmin 705 or 500.