DEC 2006

SoCal's Annual New Year's Day Ride Is Coming! Celebrate the new year with hundreds (or thousands!) of other cyclists. Info including start time, location, route, and previous ride photos. More ».

Specialized Holiday Card! 12/14/06 - For a boost of holiday cheer, check out the moving and musical Specialized Holiday Card (presented in Adobe Flash format). Be sure to watch the whole thing and read the credits at the end. And if you like the music, use the "Download MP3" link to make it your very own.

Amusing Cycling Video: Freeride Guterbiker 12/11/06 - Freeride Guterbiker showcases the mad freestyle skills of a guy who, among other impressive feats, wallplants a tree and rear-wheel bunny hops a river. The video is set to the song "Going the Distance" by Cake. Notice the guy has no saddle on his MTB! See it on YouTube »

Amgen Tour of California News 12/11/06 - Specific route and race details for the 2007 Amgen Tour of California have been revealed. More »

December Club Rides DEC 03 - Palos Verdes DEC 10 - Laguna Canyon DEC 17 - Spyglass/Turtle Rock DEC 24 - El Toro DEC 25 - Newport Coast DEC 31 - Ridgeline

NOV 2006

L.A. Kings Thornton Also Health Net Pro 11/24/06 - Scott Thornton is a left wing on the Los Angeles Kings NHL hockey team, but did you also know he's a former cycling pro? During last year's inaugural Tour of California, Thornton signed a one-day "contract" with Health Net p/b Maxxis. At the time, Thorton was in the Bay area as a member of the San Jose Sharks. ADM writes more about hockey and cycling and has the full Scott Thorton article in his blog. Go »

USA Cycling & United Airlines Untied 11/11/06 - In an e-mail message to members on Friday, USA Cycling announced the end of United Airlines sponsorship support. One of the biggest member benefits of the sponsorship was "Bikes Travel Free" vouchers. Members could request up to two per year and use them to travel with their bikes, avoiding the extra fee usually charged by the airline. The 16 year relationship ends this year, however, all United Airlines bike vouchers with an expiration date of January 31, 2007 will be honored. Also, USA Cycling members with a 2007 license can still request their allotted bike vouchers, but they still expire on January 31, 2007.

Velo Allegro Party 11/07/06 - There's an unconfirmed rumor floating around that Velo Allegro borrowed an Oktoberfest Pedal & Serve Beer Wagon for the club's party last Saturday night.

November Club Rides NOV 05 - Laguna Canyon NOV 11 - San Diego NOV 12 - San Clemente Meets returning SD riders NOV 19 - Spyglass/Turtlerock NOV 23 - Whittier Short Thanksgiving Day Ride NOV 24 - Corona Del Mar NOV 26 - Dana Point

OCT 2006

Club Photo This Saturday 10/19/06 - Velo Allegro's Club Photo will be taken this Saturday, Oct. 21. Al Crawford will also take photos of the group as it rolls down PCH and to the Hammer Zone. Please wear your 2006 club clothing.

Don't Wait to Exhale 10/16/06 - If you're lifting weights like many cyclists this off-season, head the advice from an article in the L.A. Times. Don't hold your breath while lifting weights. It could potentially increase the risk of glaucoma. Full article »

Hawaiian Holiday Party Velo Allegro's 2006 Holiday Party is taking a hawaiian theme. Members' invitations for the Saturday, Nov. 4 event are in the mail, along with an awards nomination form and a 2007 Membership Form. Contact Ross if you haven't received your invite by Oct. 06.

Velo Allegro Introduces "Membership Only" for 2007 10/03/06 - In response to requests by riders interested in the benefits of Velo Allegro but not necessarily a jersey, the club has added a discounted "Membership Only" option to the 2007 Membership Application. Get it here »

Amusing Cycling Video: Tour de France DK 10/04/06 - Tour de France DK starts out with TdF photos and Queen's "We Will Rock You" music. It then goes into some Euro-techno beat and a language we don't understand, but the pictures suggest they're bashing Landis and Phonak for alleged drug abuse. Oddly amusing. See it on YouTube »

2007 Club Applications Now Available Looking for information about Velo Allegro? This website is a good start! Read what we're ABOUT, then find out when our next RIDE is so you can join the fun and check us out. If you like what we're doing, join the club by completing a membership form and contacting a club officer or catching up with us at our next meeting (see below for meeting info). va_member_app_2007b.pdf - 72k

October Club Rides OCT 01 - Jamboree Long OCT 08 - Dana Point OCT 15 - Palos Verdes OCT 22 - Spyglass/Turtle Rock OCT 29 - Whittier

SEP 2006

Dana Point City Won't Ban Cyclists on PCH 09/25/06 - Last week, the Traffic Safety Subcommittee of the Dana Point City Council decided unanimously to recommend to the full Council that they NOT enact the proposed ordinance banning cyclists, pedestrians, and other human powered transportation users from using the roadway and shoulders on PCH. Continued »

Interbike 2006 Kicks-Off Today 09/25/06 - Interbike 2006 starts today with the annual OutDoor Demo at Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City, NV. The indoor portion of the show, the International Bicycle Expo, runs Wednesday through Friday, September 27-29 at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. As in the past (2002, 2004, 2005), VeloAllegro.org will be there bringing you news and photos. Check back later this week! More info: Interbike.com »

Velo Allegro T-Shirts Are Here 09/18/06 - Show everyone you belong to the "Velo Allegro Cycling Team" by wearing our new club T-shirt. The shirts come in sizes of S, M, L, and XL and are available for $10.00 each. Quantities and sizes are limited. Contact Ross Gagnon to secure this must have item.

Sunday Ride Change 09/08/06 - The Sunday rides for 09/10 and 09/24 have been swapped. A triathlon in Crystal Cove on 09/10 would make it difficult to get past the area that day. Ride schedule »

September Club Rides SEP 03 - Palos Verdes SEP 04 - Newport Coast SEP 10 - Spyglass/Turtle Rock Laguna Canyon SEP 17 - Mystery Tour SEP 24 - Laguna Canyon Spyglass/Turtle Rock

AUG 2006

Thank You For Attending the UPS Criterium 2006 Sunday, August 06, 2006 2006 Race Results NOW POSTED! 2006 Race Photos!

Ricky Shorts - CBR State Crit Champ, Chris Berryhill - UPS Crit Winner 08/30/06 - Ricky Shorts is Velo Allegro's newest state champion by winning the CBR Criterium State Championship Crit,, 50+, at Costa Mesa on 08/20. Chris Berryhill also did the club proud with a win on home turf - the UPS Criterium, Cat. 4 race back on 08/06. Congratulations to Ricky and Chris!

Amusing Cycling Video: Cycling Dog 08/21/06 - The cycling dalmation in this video needs just nine more races to upgrade to Category 4! See it on Yahoo Video »

Tour de Poway - Sunday, 01 OCT 2006 08/30/06 - One of Southern California's premier fun bike rides is rapidly approaching. Courses provide an opportunity for all types of cyclists, 104 mile century, 62 mile metric century, and 44 and 18 mile courses. More info - tourdepoway.com »

Tommy Robles - 2006 Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix Champ! 08/17/06 - Velo Allegro's Tommy Robles out-foxed and out-sprinted a completely full Elite 2 field to win last Sunday's Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix! Tommy gets his winner's jersey and is joined on the podium by Gary Scott (Team Velocity) and Aron Gadhia (Kahala/LaGrange). Great Job and Congratulations, Tommy!

Our Son Might Be Using Drugs 08/17/06 - Check out this political cartoon titled, "Steroids and the Tour", by artist John Cole, Scranton Times-Tribune, 12 August 2006. See more John Cole cartoons »

Amusing Cycling Videos 08/11/06 - CRAZY BIKE - We spotted this "Crazy Bike" video and were humbled by the handling prowess of the female rider. Our only question is, can she corner and sprint, too? See it on Google Video »

Bob Roll's View on Landis 08/08/06 - "The newest American Tour de France champion has run afoul of the anti-doping establishment in Europe, just as Lance Armstrong had done -- both through no fault of their own. Their most egregious discretion being much better at racing a bicycle than their European contemporaries..." Read the full story at OLNTV.com »

UPS Criterium Delivers! 08/07/06 - Thank you for attending yesterday's UPS Criterium. Results are now posted and photos are coming soon! See UPS Criterium Race Results » Race Photos Are Coming In! UPS Criterium Race Photos by Larry Aronat / LA Sports Photography UPS Criterium Race Photos by Mitchell Clinton » UPS Criterium Race Photos by Kenny Brant »

Flyer Revised AGAIN for UPS Criterium - Sunday, August 6 08/01/06 - Yesterday we posted a new race flyer for the UPS Criterium with two changes but now must retract one of them. The 40+ category will run as originally posted, as a 3/4 age category race. It will not be open to categories 1 or 2. The entry fee for the Women's 1/2/3 race remains lowered from $28 to $23. Get the current flyer » Velo Allegro continues its tradition of growing women's competitive cycling by making the UPS Criterium part of the Women's Cycling Challenge. More info: WomensCyclingChallenge.org »

Flyer Revised AGAIN for UPS Criterium - Sunday, August 6 08/01/06 - Yesterday we posted a new race flyer for the UPS Criterium with two changes but now must retract one of them. The 40+ category will run as originally posted, as a 3/4 age category race. It will not be open to categories 1 or 2. The entry fee for the Women's 1/2/3 race remains lowered from $28 to $23. If and until we update the flyer, the original one is now linked again. Women, we assure you the lower fee will be accepted. Get the flyer » Velo Allegro continues its tradition of growing women's competitive cycling by making the UPS Criterium part of the Women's Cycling Challenge. More info: WomensCyclingChallenge.org »

August Club Rides AUG 06 - Velo Allegro UPS Criterium AUG 06 - Laguna Canyon AUG 13 - Laguna Canyon AUG 20 - Dana Point AUG 27 - Spyglass/Turtle Rock

JUL 2006

Flyer Revised for UPS Criterium - Sunday, August 6 07/31/06 - A new race flyer is now available for this weekend's 2006 UPS Criterium. Two changes have been made: The entry fee for the Women's 1/2/3 race has been lowered from $28 to $23 and the 40+ category has been changed from 3/4 to 1-4. Get the revised flyer » Velo Allegro continues its tradition of growing women's competitive cycling by making the UPS Criterium part of the Women's Cycling Challenge. More info: WomensCyclingChallenge.org »

Exclusive Tour De France Photos by Al Crawford 07/28/06 - Photographer, VA member, and 2006 Tandem TT Champ, Al Crawford, has shared with us his photos from this year's Tour de France. This first set of nine is from the 57 km individual time trial on Saturday, July 22, from Le Creusot to Montceau-les-Mines. See all the photos »

L.A. Times Features JAX Bicycle Chain 07/26/06 - Today's Los Angeles Times' Business section has a front-page article, "Owner's Balancing Act", featuring former Velo Allegro sponsor shop, Jax Bicycles, and owner Dave Hansen. The article uses Jax to illustrate the mostly independent nature of bicycle shop ownership and the challenges of running a multi-shop operation while trying to stay in touch with the customer. Also mentioned is Helen's Cycles, another multi-store chain here in SoCal, and Performance, the only national chain with a continually growing presence in SoCal. Full Story From L.A. Times »

Long Beach Will Host 2007 Amgen Tour of California Finale 07/19/06 - "On February 25, 2007 a champion will be crowned in Long Beach!" reads the banner hanging inside Smooth's Sports Grille in Downtown Long Beach. Inside, Long Beach's city council members and staff, representatives from the Amgen Tour of California and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), local media and others gathered to hear the official host cities announcement and specifically to celebrate that Long Beach will be the final destination of next year's tour. Story continued + photos »

Giro D'Italia - A Giro Del Gelato! 07/19/06 - We were catching up on our magazine reading and there in the middle of BusinessWeek (June 26, 2006) was an article titled "Tour Del Gelato". Adventure-travel company Ciclismo Classico offers the Tour Del Gelato complete with visits to the best gelaterias of Italy, all-you-can-eat gelato, gelato-making lessons, all while you try to ride your gelato calories away during the 15 day, 750 mile cycling tour. The company offers many other types of trips and locales that you can browse at ciclismoclassico.com.

Mike and the Bike - Tour de France For Kids 07/10/06 - Based on the popular book and music CD by Grammy Award-winning guitarist, Michael Ward, the site mikeandthebike.com delivers the thrills and excitement of this year's Tour to kids (or kids at heart) everyday throughout July. The site is full of colorful information, pictures, and video. It entertains and promotes active lifestyles through cycling while encouraging kids of all ages to discover activities and sports to participate in and enjoy their entire lives. The site's partners include OLN and Trek Bikes. There's a video greeting from OLN TV tour commentator Paul Sherwin, a Lance Armstrong audio book introduction, and a contest to win a brand new bicycle from Trek Bikes. Check it out »

Ted's Manhattan Cycles Grand Opening 07/07/06 - Ted's Manhattan Cycles is having its grand opening on Saturday, July 8 @ 10 AM and you're invited to stop on by for hot dogs, cold drinks, and the ocean breeze. Ted's is in the former Tri-Zombies spot at 110 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in Manhattan Beach. Use this flyer to save 10% in July. Tell 'em Velo Allegro sent you!

Voler / VeloWear.com Savings Use savings code JUL3EM to save $10 on a purchase of $100 or more or $20 on a purchase of $200 or more through the end of July at VeloWear.com. Yet another great value brought to you by VeloAllegro.org.

Save 15% On Your Next Voler/VeloWear.comOrder! Get a15% Team Discount on all items purchased through VeloWear.com. Team member must first register for this discount by clicking here. Yet another great value brought to you by VeloAllegro.org.

July Club Rides JUL 02 - Shady Canyon/Portola JUL 04 - Newport Coast Independence Day JUL 09 - Laguna Canyon JUL 15/16 - SPECIAL: San Diego (for those doing the "Double") JUL 16 - San Clemente JUL 23 - Spyglass/Turtle Rock JUL 30 - Palos Verdes

JUN 2006

Club Meeting Date Change 06/30/06 - Club meetings are usually the first Monday of each month, but since July's first Monday is the 3rd and many people will be away for the Independence Day holiday, the meeting has been moved to Monday, July 10. More meeting info and location »

Save 15% on PowerBar Products Order 06/29/06 - Receive 15% off your next order of PowerBar products through Road Runner Sports. Visit their website, www.roadrunnersports.com, or call 800.551.5558 and use source code RMM-06004. Offer expires 31 DEC 2006.

UPS Criterium - Sunday, August 6 06/20/06 - The official race flyer for the 2006 UPS Criterium is now posted. The race will be held Sunday, August 6 and is presented by Velo Allegro and Long Beach Elite. Take a look at the flyer - come out and race! » Velo Allegro continues its tradition of growing women's competitive cycling by making the UPS Criterium part of the Women's Cycling Challenge. More info: WomensCyclingChallenge.org »

2nd VA Clothing Order Is In 06/20/06 - The second clothing order is in from Voler. Call Robbie McGinnis to arrange for pick-up (562-547-5836).

Southern California Bicycle Expo 06/14/06 - We were doing a bit of clean-up on the site and realized that our photos from the Southern California Bicycle Expo from 2005 were uploaded but never made it up and linked. We've now posted the photos and appropriate links but can't seem to find the related story info anywhere. Oops. We can tell you from memory that the Expo, held at the L.A. Convention Center, was kind of small and that we heard afterward both vendor and consumer attendance was down significantly. Apparently, this may have been the Expo's last year, because we didn't hear about the event for this year and a check of the event website says there is no date or location for the event in 2006. Check out the photos »

MAY 2006

Interbike Opens Attendee & Exhibitor Registration for 2006 Expo 05/17/06 - Attendees who register before August 18, 2006 will receive show credentials and expo information prior to the show and avoid additional on-site registration fees. As in the past (2002, 2004, 2005), VeloAllegro.org will be there bringing you news and photos. More info: Interbike.com »

Al Crawford & Laura Lindgren Win State Time Trial Championship 05/17/06 - Al Crawford and Laura Lindgren teamed up, as they have so many times in the past, to win the SCNCA Mixed 90+ Tandem State Time Trial Championships this past weekend at Lake Los Angeles. With a time of 50:49, Al and Laura were decisive winners, 3:04 ahead of the second place team (Buck/Gibson). Photo by Eric Smith / RedbikePhoto.com

Shimano Issues Voluntary Recall of Front Quick Releases 05/17/06 - Shimano American Corporation announced a voluntary recall for select front quick releases. Shimano has identified a potential safety issue concerning the quick-release (QR) that is fitted to front hubs and wheels of certain road and off-road bicycles. Only silver-colored QR skewers purchased or received after Nov. 1, 2005 are affected. Black skewers are not subject to the recall. Also QR skewers that have a small round sticker placed on the backside of the lever are not affected by the recall. The recall affects many 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace, XT and XTR hubs, and Dura Ace front wheels, including some Sport Dynamo hubs. More info from Bicycle Retailer »

Women's Cycling Challenge 05/17/06 - Velo Allegro continues its tradition of growing women's competitive cycling by supporting the Women's Cycling Challenge. Next series races: San Luis Obispo Criterium (June 04), Cedar Sinai Grand Prix (June 25). More info: WomensCyclingChallenge.org »

Bike To Work Day Is Thursday, May 18 05/12/06 - The week of May 15-19 is Bike to Work Week and Thursday, May 18 is Bike to Work Day in L.A. County. Get healthy, avoid traffic, and save gas money by riding your bike to work. Pledge your support online and then enjoy free perks: On May 18 cyclists ride Metro FREE and Metro is co-sponsoring pit stops with refreshments and free give-aways. More Info At Metro.net/BikeToWork »

Clipper Fan Knows Suffering, Rides Bike To Games 05/12/06 - Today's L.A. Times has an article in the Sports section about Carl Cook, a long time Clipper fan who's homeless, has season tickets, and rides a Trek Classic beach cruiser from Marina Del Rey to Staples Center for every game. Read "Clipper Fan Along for Ride of His Life" »

Helmet Fit & Bicycle Safety Tests 05/03/06 - The May/June issue of the Auto Club's magazine Westways has two brief but relevant articles about bicycle-related safety. The first is about proper helmet fit for children, although the same tips apply to adults. No matter your age or size, proper helmet fit is key to getting proper protection. Get "Helmet Fitting Tips" here. The second article mentions the Auto Club's Bicycle Safety Testing Unit. This mobile unit of experts and tools holds events to inspect and make minor repairs and adjustments to bicycles as well as reviews safety rules. Most events are held at schools. In May and June, events will take place in local areas like La Mirada. For information, call 714.885.2082. Keep in mind, good, reliable bicycle maintenance and advice is always available nearby at Velo Allegro's two sponsor shops, Main Street Cyclery and La Habra Cyclery.

APR 2006

Velo Allegro's Tommy Robles continues his assault on cycling with a 2nd place finish in the Sea Otter Elite 3 Circuit Race (07 April 2006)

Another Amusing Cycling Video 04/27/06 - Check out this video of a guy downhilling on a mountain bike at 172 km/h. Then, watch as this daredevil (idiot?), wearing an aero helmet instead of a full-face motorcycle-style helmet, takes a major spill when his front fork breaks off. The video is narrated in Japanese (we think?) but this "ouch" transcends any language.

Women's Cycling Challenge 04/27/06 - Velo Allegro continues its tradition of growing women's competitive cycling by supporting the Women's Cycling Challenge. This competitive cycling series kicks off with Barrio Logan Grand Prix and San Luis Rey Road Race on May 6 & 7. In addition to races, there will be a Weekend Social to introduce the series and a discussion session for feedback. More info: WomensCyclingChallenge.org »

"You can live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be a hundred." - Woody Allen

Ride Schedule Change 04/12/06 - There is a change to the ride calendar this month affecting April 9 and16. We will ride Santiago Canyon April 9 and Spyglass/Turtle Rock on April 16 (Easter). Because Spyglass is a shorter ride, it will work better with family and church commitments on Easter. The Santiago Canyon ride is the same basic route and direction as the Como St group ride. We will be doing this on our own with our usual departure time of 7:30. Though the Santiago Canyon ride is longer than usual (about 90 miles) it will be fun and a good opportunity to get those base miles.

CSC Cutting Jobs, Costs 04/04/06 - Locally-based Computer Sciences Corp. (NYSE:CSC), title sponsor of Team CSC and Official IT Partner of the Tour de France, announced today it is exploring a potential sale of the computer services company and will cut 5,000 jobs as part of a restructuring plan to save $450 million. CSC, based in El Segundo, California, has a global work force of about 80,000. The restructuring will involve work force reductions of about 4,300 this fiscal year and 700 more in 2008. CSC said a majority of the cuts will occur in Europe. Significant to cycling is whether CSC will continue to be the title sponsor of the team as it has been since 2001. There is no indication yet if Team CSC or its riders like Ivan Basso, Fabian Cancellara, Bobby Julich, Studart O'Grady, Jens Voigt, or David Zabriskie will fall victims to CSCs cost cutting moves.

MAR 2006

Amgen Tour of California February 19-26 03/21/2006 - Allan Crawford has sent more of his excellent photos from the Amgen Tour of California. Give 'em a look! Prologue - Stage 1 - Stage 2 - Stage 5

2nd VA Clothing Order of 2006 03/21/06 - A second clothing order is being placed with Voler. If you're interested in getting jerseys, shorts, and other gear, use the 2006 membership form to indicate your selections and mail it in with your payment by Friday, March 31. The order will take about six weeks to process - it should be in the middle of May.

Regular Weekday Ride Listing "Springs" Into Action 03/21/06 - The Velo Allegro weekday ride listing is now back to usual after having been in winter mode the last few months.

Velo Allegro Go-Kart Racing - March 11 03/02/2006 - If you have never enjoyed the thrill of go-kart racing, or if you have and you know how much fun it is, Velo Allegro members are invited to race at Dromo 1 in Orange on Saturday night, March 11. Dromo 1 provides the most serious kart racing experience you will find short of owning your own kart and taking it to the local track. You suit up and race against others on a fun and challenging indoor track. We plan to meet at Dromo 1 (Katella Avenue and Main Street in Orange) at 8 P..M. Each race is about 15 minutes and costs $25.00. Most members will probably do two races. If you are interested, please RSVP to Frank Said at 323-974-3736.

Club Meeting Update - Location Moved 03/02/2006 - The next club meeting, scheduled for Monday, March 6, has changed location to the Crab Pot Restaurant at 215 Marina Drive in Long Beach. We pass it everyday as we leave the Marina on our way to Seal Beach and PCH (and no, it's not Joe's Crab Shack). The club will sponsor some appetizers and we'll have a special menu and server to take care of us. Old Meeting Location: Murphy’s Pub, 4918 E 2nd St., Belmont Shore, CA 90803, (above The Belmont Gym)

Amgen Tour of California February 19-26 03/02/2006 - Congratulations Floyd Landis! The Amgen Tour of California is over but we have these great, exclusive photos from Allan Crawford to remember it by. EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS Courtesy of Allan Crawford Prologue Stage 5: San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara Full race recap, video and more at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

FEB 2006

Roger Millikan Memorial St. Valentine's Day Criterium - Sunday, FEB 12 02/08/2006 - The Roger Millikan Memorial St. Valentine's Day Criterium is this weekend. Buzz Long reminds us about the man whom this race honors. » Full Story

More Funny Cycling Videos 02/01/06 - The link to the commercial promoting mobile phone video for Proximus/Vodafone died. We found the video on Proximus' website, but only in French and Dutch. Here's a link to the French version. WARNING: Big file (~14MB)! In our search, we also came across this funny clip where two cyclists crash each other out on a narrow bridge, and then an angered spectator finishes one off by throwing him over!

Mountain Lion Sighting in Turnbull Canyon 02/01/2006 - A mountain lion was recently sighted in Turnbull Canyon, Whittier, CA. The last sighting, about 3 weeks ago, was at noon. The mountain lion was observed standing in the middle of the main fire road. Cyclists (road, mountain, etc.), hikers, and residents are encouraged to be very aware of their surroundings and recommended to remain with a partner or group while in the Turnbull/Rose Hills area. » Learn more about mountain lions.

Amgen Tour of California February 19-26 02/19/2006 - The Amgen Tour of California is on! EXCLUSIVE PROLOGUE PHOTOS Courtesy of Allan Crawford Prologue PROLOGUE RESULTS (SUN 19 FEB 2006) Today, Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) won the 1.9 mile prologue, completing the distance in just 4 minutes and 53 seconds. Bobby Julich (CSC) is second, 5 seconds back, and George Hincapie (Discovery Channel), third, one more second behind. It's an American sweep of the podium today, but the U.S. also fills the fourth and fifth spots, too, in Floyd Landis (Phonak) and David Zabriskie (CSC). TV SCHEDULE Catch race coverage every night on ESPN2. All times are Pacific Standard Time (PST) Sunday - 19 February @ 10:00 PM Monday - 20 @ 11:00 PM Tuesday - 21 @ 10:00 PM Wednesday - 22 @ 10:00 PM Thursday - 23 @ 10:00 PM Friday - 24 @ 10:00 PM Saturday - 25 @ 10:00 PM Sunday - 26 @ 10:00 PM Full race details are at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Amgen Tour of California February 19-26 02/01/2006 - The Amgen Tour of California is now less than three weeks away! The full race route, schedule, and listing of teams and the rest of the info you want is at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

JAN 2006

VA 2006 Clothing Is Here 01/22/06 - Velo Allegro's 2006 clothing has arrived! Contact Robbie McGinnis (not too early, not too late) at 562.547.5836 to arrange for pick-up.

Construction Updates 01/12/06 - The new bridge on PCH as part of the /Bolsa Chica Lowland Restoration Project is open. Two traffic lanes are open in each direction but shoulder space remains tight due to cement barriers and ongoing project work. The entire project is to be completed by August 2006. General project information is here. The part of the Orange County Water District's Groundwater Replenishment System program that closed a portion of the Santa Ana River Trail and created a detour through neighborhood streets from Garden Grove Boulevard to Edna Park is NOW FINISHED (since June 2005). This project continues to require other temporary closures along the trail. It is expected to be completed by mid- or late-2006. Detour information is here, general project information is here.

Amgen Tour of California February 19-26 01/12/2006 - The Amgen Tour of California is just over a month away and the excitement is growing! Teams, routes, and the rest of the info you want is at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. Get priority seating and preferred viewing for this historic event when you buy a UCI World Cup Classics 3-day ticket package through Velo Allegro's Group Discount. See UCI WCC info below.

UCI World Cup Classics January 20-22 ADT Event Center @ Home Depot Center 01/12/2006 - THE WORLD'S TOP TRACK CYCLISTS COME TO OUR BACKYARD! GET DISCOUNT TICKETS + AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA PRIORITY! The UCI World Cup Classics is a 3-day competition of the top professional track cyclists in the world. World-class cyclists from over 30 nations will be competing on the lightning-fast track of North America's only indoor velodrome. Don't miss the speed, action and intensity of track cycling at its best! Individual tickets start at $18.50 and 3-Day packages at $60.00! TAKE ADVANTAGE OF VELO ALLEGRO'S SPECIAL GROUP RATE FOR DISCOUNTED TICKETS & AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA PRIORITY. Call Jacene Dimson, Account Executive @ AEG (213.742.7198) and mention "VeloAllegro.org" for discounted group rate tickets. Buyers of 3-day packages are eligible for priority seating and peferred viewing for Amgen's Tour of California! More info @ AEGTickets.com.

Happy New Year! Annual Ride Fast, Mildly Damp. 01/03/2006 - The SoCal Annual New Year's Ride went off as scheduled despite a drenching of rain the night before. The wet ground and prospect of more rain appeared to put a dent in attendance (both riders and enroute spectators), but there were still well over 200 cyclists as the ride made its way down PCH. And it never rained on the group. The ground was mildly wet but drying most of the way. Accidents appeared limited to a few low-speed slideouts on the slippery river trail crossover bridges. The group kept a brisk pace throughout, fine on wide roads but risky on the narrow river trails. As in years past, someone at the front didn't know the way and the group put in a few extra miles after missing the left on Trabuco in Lake Forest. The pace at Bolsa Chica, the final stretch headed back on PCH, kicked up to 35 MPH leading to the finish. The remaining 30 or so riders jostled and sprinted for Demon Winter Racer glory. Did you take photos? Send them to us and we'll post them.