Swami's Cycling Club: Guru News

August 2023

President's Corner

The cycling community lost a beloved member last month. Al Lopez, member of Swami’s and other cycling groups, is remembered by all for his ever-present smile, his companionship, and his ability to make those around him feel better just by being in his presence.

I hope you will all join us, in person on the ride celebrating his life, or in private remembrance, in honoring his memory and the spirit that he brought to all who knew him.

Mark Steele

8/2 Ride for Al Lopez

On Wednesday, August 2 at 9:00 am, all are invited to join in a ride celebrating the life of Al Lopez. The ride will meet at YMCA Magdalena Ecke in Encinitas (map) and will follow the EX-Y route #8, “Riding Rancho One," a ride of 24 miles with 1250 feet of climbing.

Afterward, the celebration will continue at the home of John Howard and Jodi Hays, 1705 Old Mill Road, Encinitas.

8/6 Social Ride

On Sunday, August 6, we're hosting our monthly Swami's Social Ride. It’s a conversationally-paced ride where you can meet long-time as well as new Swami’s members. You can check out all of the details here. A reminder: we now start and finish the Social Rides at Bird Rock Coffee Roasters in Bressi Ranch (map). Wear a Swami's kit from any year to get a free pastry and coffee or drink of your choice.

Tour de Force

The Swami’s Tour de France ride and viewing party on July 15 brought over 70 riders! Lilac and Couser Canyon were in all their beauty, and despite being in the middle of the summer, the weather was just right. Afterward at Rouleur we cheered on Jonas and Tadej while replenishing our caloric deficit with sandwiches from Moto Deli, desserts from French Corner, and drafts from Rouleur. Our sponsors Cadence and Rouleur provided memorable raffle prizes. Now that the tour and the party are over, we can't wait until next year!

Swami’s Velodrome Class Discount

After the successful Try the Track clinic in January, the San Diego Velodrome is giving Swami’s members another opportunity to learn or improve their track cycling skills, with a 50% discounted registration for the Wednesday evening series of track cycling classes! The class series will certify you for racing at the velodrome, but even if you don’t want to race, you'll gain new skills and have a lot of fun. The classes will be held on six Wednesdays starting August 16, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the velodrome (map).

Beginners as well as veteran track riders are welcome, and loaner bikes are available. Not only is track cycling a safe and fun activity on its own, but it will also refine your technique on road, gravel, and any other surface you ride on!

Swami's members can register at https://sandiegovelodrome.wildapricot.org/event-5322879 and use the code SWAMIS2023 when asked. If you have any questions, contact Pat Murray at pat.murray@sdvelodrome.com.

All About the Base

As many of you know, Camp Pendleton is no longer renewing base passes or issuing new ones, due to damage that the Visitor Center sustained during storms around the new year. Since then there have been only rumors, so we reached out to the office of congressman Mike Levin and were told that base passes will resume as soon as repairs to the Visitor Center are complete. The repairs are estimated to take six months and as of now, there unfortunately isn’t a scheduled start date. We’ll stay in contact with them and will keep you updated. In the meantime, the Swami’s LSD Camino del Rey out-and-back has become a popular alternative and our flattest, most Zone 2-friendly ride, so no matter how hard you rode on Saturday, come to Lofty Coffee La Costa on Sunday and do the LSD!

Save the Dates!

9/2 Rouleur Labor Day Ride
9/4 Cadence Labor Day Ride

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