Eastside Velo Club

We’re back! Time to ride that bike and get in shape this spring and have a great summer in 2008 on the bike. Here is some information about us, about last season, and about what we are planning for this year.

Who?
Eastside Velo is a bicycle club registered with United States Cycling Federation, a part of USA Cycling. The club is registered with the State of California as a not for profit association and is registered with the Internal Revenue Service in a similar status. The club was first formed in 2001 with a nucleus of 20 riders, growing to 60 active participants by 2006. In 2007 the club grew to 150 during the course of the summer.

What?
In 2007 we staged 11 supported rides of generally 100 miles with 35 and 50 mile options available. The average ride attendance was 50 per event. Total attendance in supported rides was approximately 550. Supported rides feature feed stations every 25 miles approximately, signage on the highway, mechanical repair equipment and a rolling SAG vehicle available for rescue or repair. Usually the event will offer a significant lunch or alternatively riders will meet at venues such as the Whoa Nellie Deli, establishments in June Lake, Mammoth, or Bishop.
We also had a number of regular Saturday rides, starting from Footloose at 9:00 and we found that a lot of out-of-town riders are discovering the region as a Mecca for road riding and it was fun to ride with these folks and to meet them.
Our signature ride of the year was the Pamper Pedal, an event designed specifically for women, supported by the men of Eastside Velo. The event featured a 40 mile ride, descending 4,000’ from Mammoth Lakes to the Mill Pond Park in the Bishop area. In its first year this ride attracted 65 riders and we plan to develop this event significantly in 2008.

Sierra Fall Century
Eastside Velo is the USCF club of record for the Sierra Fall Century Ride in early September. The club provides significant volunteer support and labor for the event which draws some 700-800 riders to the Eastern High Sierra for a 100 mile ride with only one stop sign.

Community Service
We supported several community causes to the tune of almost $2,000, including St Jude's, Mammoth Middle School bike program, the AIDS ride, an Ironman athlete attending the event in Kona and 4 club riders who raced the Everest Challenge in September.

Social Events
Four social events in 2007 averaged 50 members per evening in attendance. Locations include Restaurant Skadi, Footloose, Clocktower and Alpenrose. In 2008 we plan to offer a similar program of social events, as shown in our calendar below.

Communication
We publish an email newsletter twice-monthly from April through October. Our web site, www.eastsidevelo.org is being developed as a communication tool for both members and out of town visitors alike.

Club Uniform
We are developing a professionally designed jersey, vest and shorts club uniform for release June 1 2008. Uniform items are available to club members slightly above cost and to the general public through Footloose Sports at retail prices.

Advocacy
We work with local media as well as the Town of Mammoth Lakes Parks and Recreation to promote cycling in our area. We are a member of Mammoth Trails, an advisory group for MLTPA in Mammoth Lakes. We also work closely with Sierra Cycling Foundation to advocate with governmental agencies for improved facilities in the Eastern High Sierra.

Committee
President: John Armstrong
Treasurer: Barbara Phillips
Secretary: Jeff Byberg
At Large: Shirley Seydel, Jim Pettigrew, Scott Busby.

We will have elections at our first social gathering of the year, April 15th at Restaurant Skadi. Members who would like to stand for a position on the committee should contact John Armstrong at jala@gte.net. Last year a slate of officers was proposed and voted in unanimously at the first meeting.

Calendar of Events
We have proposed a list of 10 supported club rides covering distances of 25 to 50 to 75 and 100 miles. The distance you ride is up to you and the courses chosen lend themselves to variable distances depending on your stamina and experience. We attempt to find scenic roads, with as little traffic as possible.

Mixed in with the Eastside Velo events are other rides promoted by partners such as the Tour Beneath The Peaks on May 3, put on by the Bishop High School Broncos Football Program headed up by Coach Bill Egan. Email Bill at gardenofegan@verizon.net for details on his ride.

The Sierra Fall Century is staged by another partner, Sierra Cycle Foundation and is a major event attracting over 700 riders in early September. We support the event with volunteer labor and in return the club receives a grant from the foundation. Go to their website at www.fallcentury.org for details and sign-ups.

Entry in Eastside Velo events is included in your annual dues. Partner events require a separate entry.

Dates: 2008 EASTSIDE VELO RIDE CALENDAR 2008

•4/15/2008 TUE Season Kick-Off. Social Evening at Skadis: Drinks at 6:00 and meal at 6:30

•4/20/2008 SUN Earth Day Opening Ride: Meet at Bishop Park 9:00. Ride to Mill Pond, Round Valley, Gorge & return

•4/26/2008 SAT Proof of Life: Climbers Special. Meet at Bottom of the Sherwin Grade @ 8:00. 3 climbs

•5/1/2008 THU Footloose Sports converts to bike shop for summer!

•5/3/2008 SAT **Tour Beneath The Peaks: 8:00 Bishop High School, Fowler Street.30, 50, 100 mile options

•5/4/2008 SUN **Clean-up on Benton Crossing Road. 10:00 Meet at Whitmore Field

•5/14/2008 TUE Footloose Women's Tech Night. 6:45 Footloose. Clinics specially for women on care of your bike

•5/18/2008 SUN Pamper Pedal: Departs 9:00 from Footloose, ride to Mill Pond. Highly supported Women's ride

•6/1/2008 SUN Crowley/Wild Rose / Return. 60 & 30 mile options + BBQ. Departs Pettigrew's House 9:00

•6/15/2008 SUN Bridgeport: Bridgeport to Sweetwater Summit, return and Twin Lakes Return. 44,70,90 mile options

•6/29/2008 SUN June Lake Loop: Leaves from June Mt Parking Lot @9:00 to do loop. 35 miles.

•7/13/2008 SAT **Markleeville Death Ride: Club members often attempt the 125 mile ride with 16,000' of climbing

•7/20/2008 SUN Pie Ride: Based at Crowley Community Park. Leaves Mammoth @ 8:00, Crowley @ 9:00

•8/3/2008 SUN Lee Vining / Sage Hen: Leaves from Augie Hess Park in Lee Vining.40 & 60 mile options

•8/17/2008 SUN Reverse Century: Leaves from Whitmore Ball Field @ 8:00. 35, 50 and 95 mile options

•9/6/2008 SAT **Fall Century: 30, 50, 100 mile options. Departs Whitmore Field @ 7:30. Supported feed, lunch and BBQ

•9/21& 22/2008 **September 20&21: Everest Challenge

•10/12/2008 SUN Keough Ride: Leaves from Keough Hot Springs @ 10:00

**non-EastSide Velo Rides/Events inclluded for informational purposes

April Events
Season Opening Night: Tuesday April 15 at Restaurant Skadi!
Doors open at 6:00 for drinks and we will sit down for a meal at 7:00. It’s a good excuse to have a fantastic meal at the best clubhouse in the world and to meet everyone after a long winter of wind, snow and skiing. We will talk about the program for the year, our new jerseys, and elect our committee for 2008. We have a few of our old uniform items still on sale and we would like to clear them out before our new outfit arrives at the end of May. Details of the Pamper Pedal ride will be provided. We want you to pay your dues for the year so if you do not mail them in before, please bring your checkbook for this evening at Skadis. See you there!

Earth Day Opening Ride: Sunday April 20
In conjunction with Earth Day celebrations we will stage our season opening ride, beginning from the Bishop Park at 9:00. The ride is hosted by Barb Phillips. The route will be to head out towards Mill Pond, Round Valley, the Bottom of the Grade, the Gorge, and back to Bishop. Ride options are 25 miles and 50 miles. Feed stations will be at Mill Pond and Gorge Road. Please email Barb at dphillips.dpbp@verizon.net to confirm your attendance. Deadline for sign up is April 17.

Proof of Life Climbers Special: Saturday April 26
“Proof of Life” is certainly an action movie starring Russell Crowe, and for some reason Dennis Phillips either named his ride after the flick, or else he instinctively feels one has to climb more than 10,000 feet to feel truly alive. It’s a nice ride, lots of options, and the feed station is at the center of everything at the BOG so it is easy to abandon the tour at anytime. Meet at Gorge Road and be ready to ride at 8:00. First climb is up Pine Creek, above Rovana, and then its on to the Pipeline Road, followed by the Old Sherwin Grade. Like we said, whenever you’ve had enough, turn around and coast back to the car. Barb and Dennis Phillips put on the ride so tell them by April 23 if you are coming at dphillips.dpbp@verizon.net .

Tour Beneath The Peaks: May 3
Bishop Broncos has put on the Ride Beneath the Peaks for 6 years now and they do a really good job. Coach Bill Egan, his wife Maggie, and the coaches and players host the start/finish area and two feed stations which supports 30. 50 or 100 mile options.

Pamper Pedal: May 18
Last year, Jeff & Lesley Byberg came up with a new idea at our calendar meeting in March and by the time of our May 5th committee meeting it was a monster of a concept that had gathered momentum and was on its way, baby! Brilliant thought: Arrange a ride for women, have the men take care of every little detail, and then execute beyond everyone’s wildest dreams. Well, it turned out to be a pretty good first date and 57 women had a super ride. Features of the 2007 event included:

• Lingerie on wheels, including thongs, boas, bikinis and just about every other slinky attire we can imagine.
• A photo gallery of mostly men taking pictures of glamorous women draped all over the Footloose entrance
• Police escort to clear the intersection of Meridian and 203
• A rose pen at sign in
• Complimentary chamois butter
• Rolling support from Doug, Dave and Dennis
• Espresso and cookies at McGee with Cabana Boys to take care of the bikes
• A push for the last rider all the way up the Crowley Lake hill
• Studs from the Bishop Chippendales at the top of the old Sherwin Grade handing out delicacies
• Chef Brian Doi preparing high class, hors d'oeurvres served to the ladies by men in aprons at Mill Pond
• Frozen grapes, sushi, desert
• Awards ceremony with a podium boy
• A bus to take riders back to Mammoth.

Well, that was last year. We are doing it again this year and it’s going to be even better. This year's ridership will be limited to 100 ladies. Details to come from the Bybergs.

Dues for 2008
Attached below is a document for you to complete and to mail to us with your dues for 2008. The annual dues are unchanged for the 4th year in a row at $35.00 per person! Please send us a check along with your contact details and sign the release document.

Thanks for being an Eastside Velo member.

See you on the road.

-John