2022 LA Tourist Race #1

Our first event of 2022

Los Angeles has become a destination point for “underground” racing or as we like to think of it, having fun competitively. No race license, just show up on whatever bike you have and go. Race it, ride it or just be part of the before and after party, it doesn’t matter.

Mike, the brains behind the madness remains the most organized part of our experience. 2022 LA Tourist race 1 number pickup.

Mike, the brains behind the fun says this will be one of the easiest races to date. He also joked that the next two he has planned will only be harder with more remote checkpoints. The race starts at Let’s Ride Cyclery in Burbank, Ca on Hollywood way between the Chandler bike path and Magnolia Blvd. Also about half a block from the famous Porto’s Bakery.

THE FORMAT

We are back to the original scavenger hunt style of the race with four checkpoints. Since you can do the stops in any order with the only real set rule being you must start and finish at the Let’s Ride Cyclery & LA Tourist HQ in Burbank. The race starts at 8 am on Saturday, January 15th, 2022.

We have ridden most of the roads and trails on our route.

THE ROUTE

Our first stop will be our local gravel stomping grounds near the peak of the Verdugo Mountains (34°13’16″N 118°17’14″W). Next, we will head to Cherry Canyon for a water fillup and stop two (34°11’29″N 118°12’25” W).

We will then continue to what will be the most remote and difficult climb up to the Tom Sloane Trail in the Angeles National Forest (34°13’56″N 118°7’12″W). It will be just over 4000ft of climbing and about 10 miles to get there.

61.2 miles, 9,200 ft of climbing and a warning from Komoot (Includes a very steep uphill segment. You may need to push your bike.)

The last stop is in Griffith Park on one of our favorite road training loops (34°7’25″N 118°18’33″W). We will have to go off the paved path to find the book but a great spot to finish up the ride with a view of the famous Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory before making the short hop back to the shop.

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MBA editor Traece has agreed to join the fun too.

TROY’S BIKE CHOICE

It’s no surprise that Troy has chosen a bike with a Lauf Grit fork but he put it on a Lauf Anywhere, so really it’s now a Lauf True Grit. For wheels, he is using a set of Enve 3.4AR hoops. A set of Kenda Booster Pro tires in size 40mm bulge out to 42mm, and should be a good all-around choice. Inside the tires are a set of Vittoria tire inserts. For gears, a SRAM AXS WIDE 2x system. There is a 43/30 crankset matched with a 10-36t cassette.

Mike opens a fresh Moots that will get built in the next few days.

Everyone seems stoked to have perfect weather and hopefully an “easy” route.