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MIND IF I SCRATCH YOUR FRAME? Mark Reden, one of the club's photographers extraordinaires, uncovered this shot of Los Angeles' East Side Club ca. 1896. The 1890s experienced a cycling craze unmatched until the last decade, but a few things have changed since then - we've gone from top hats to helmets, riding is no longer segregated by gender, race, or anything else, and somehow we've picked up an obsession with how our machines look. What's maybe more interesting is how things haven't changed - a bunch of people out enjoying a sunny day and each others' company. Full-length coats reveal it was likely a ride start in December or January, and to the right of center is a young boy who will probably ride along on Dad's lap. Other details defy explanation - some riders seem to be carrying clubs, and what's with the ginormous bowties? |
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Welcome to the SFVBC Web site. We are a recreational road bike club with about 500 members. We offer a variety of rides every Saturday and Sunday, and if you're visiting LA and happen to have your bike along, we offer some of the best riding in SoCal. Please come out and join us.
-Randy Lawrence, Ride Director email
More Ride Info | Club Meetings | How to Join |
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January 28 - Hollywood Hype - Our urban rides are really fun.
February 4 - Val Verde Rides - If you've never been to Val Verde, well, you haven't lived.
February 19 - Trip To Burbank - A longer Sunday ride to a fun stop at Porto's Bakery.
March 3 - Agoura Corridor Rides - The #3 ride is a great way to step up to a ride of this length.
March 17 - Monte Nido's Revenge Rides - Difficult but not too long. Some great hills close to home.
March 25 - Fargo Fight or Flight - The LA Wheelmen put on this annual hill climb of the steepest street in LA. rumor has it that some SFVBC'ers will climb it.
April 7 - Tour Of Two Topanga Tops - The Two Topanga rides are probably are highest quality rides for that length that we do.
April 21 - Off To The Races - You've heard this before... Andy Shaker created this ride. You must do it!
April 28 - Urban Ride Day - Almost all of our rides today head "Over the hill." These urban rides are really fun.
- Randy |
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In this blog, our Ride Director offers a glimpse into his cycling stream of consciousness.
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Website comments/suggestions?
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START LOCATION: Northwest corner of Nordhoff and Etiwanda in Northridge (CSUN Parking Lot B1) Note: parking on north side of Nordhoff no longer available*
START TIME: 8:00 AM sharp (unless otherwise specified in Remarks below)
Map to Ride Start | Weather Forecast | Link to this section
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| Date |
Ride |
Miles |
Elev. (ft) |
Rating |
Ride No. |
Hits |
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Remarks |
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| JAN 28 SAT |
EL CAMINO REAL RAMBLE |
25, 47 |
562, 1,195 |
1, 2 |
168, 169 |
36, 42 | |
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HOLLYWOOD HYPE |
51 |
1,589 |
3 |
501 |
73 | |
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THOUSAND OAKS |
66 |
3,545 |
4 |
837 |
64 | |
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SANTA ROSA CENTRUY |
98 |
3,363 |
5 |
832 |
50 | |
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| JAN 29 SUN |
RIDEGUY'S MYSTERIOUS TOUR |
27 |
453 |
1 |
130 |
38 | |
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Note:
- Helmets are required on all SFVBC rides
- Do not ride with ear buds in both ears
- Minors welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian
- To download route slips, click on the corresponding ride number above. Slips are in PDF format, and are available online 1 week prior to the ride.
- To download detailed maps and elevation profiles,
click on the ride elevation. The link will take you to RideWithGPS.com, where you can also download Garmin .gpx and .tcx files (click on the Export tab).
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You may park your bike at the side of the road, just like a car. T True F False Answer |
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One of the factoids which occasionally appears in the above section is the following question: Riding two abreast on California roads is illegal. True/False? The answer I provide is True except under certain conditions, an answer which was challenged in an email from a member recently. After quoting an attorney's popular bike law blog, the member wrote:
"...In summation, he labels California an 'Implicitly Permitted' state, meaning, the state does not explicitly prohibit or permit side-by-side riding. Therefore, it is a right that has not been taken away...Cyclists in California are not required by law to ride single file."
Being a stickler for accuracy it sent me searching for a definitive answer. Among ambiguities and outright falsehoods (see the Wikipedia entry) I came away with a more-or-less practical understanding of how the law is interpreted - and misinterpreted. The most complete accounting in one place is here.
To summarize: the member is absolutely correct in that there is no explicit prohibition on riding two abreast. That, however, does not mean it's not implicitly prohibited in certain circumstances. To complicate matters, what the law says and enforcement can be unnervingly divergent - CA police have been quoted as saying, "Single file is the law" (incorrect) and CHP has even issued a statement pledging to enforce it similarly. To those who view this as an intolerable wrong in need of righting, by all means fight your ticket all the way to the state Supreme Court, and when you prevail SFVBC will erect a bronze likeness of you in Parking Lot B1.
As a guide to members who are not interested in arcane legalities I suggest you read the law itself below, then ride with common sense. If you don't go out and block traffic to make a point or otherwise act like a jerk you should be fine. The applicable law:
"21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
- When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
- When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
- When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
- When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized. "
And that is the ultimate, excruciatingly comprehensive, and final word on the subject. Maybe. - Carl |
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