From the Field: CNCPT TAKES ON THE LA INVITATIONAL
From the Field: CNCPT TAKES ON THE LA INVITATIONAL
Words: Alvin Escajeda
Los Angeles' history of grassroots racing and riding events is as expansive as its urban sprawl. From alleycats to running races, coaster brake hill bombs to midnight criteriums, Team Dream’s Los Angeles Invitational this past weekend added its name to that long list. Part-yard sale and part-car show, Team Dream decided to add a mass start ride to its 5th Edition, drawing a much larger crowd than anyone expected.
A sold-out field of 200 lined up before the sun was up on a scorcher of a Saturday to take on 3 different routes, all appropriately named after the amount of ice cream you would want after finishing. The Single Scoop of 36 miles, Double Scoop of 56 miles and the Triple Scoop of 65 miles, all with elevation either matching or surpassing their mileage with 2 zeros added to the end. With summer temperatures predicted on this fine May day, several riders opted for an early start, while the majority lined themselves up behind Sean Talkington’s VW Squareback Wagon for a neutral roll out at 7 am.
It’s not often we get the whole CNCPT Team together for an event (the last time being Midsouth in March) so we were stoked to get to spend the day together. While the Invitational brought in a lot of out-of-towners, it was the local legends that had the benefit of riding 100% of the course during previous rides. After all, it was all in our backyard, the Angeles National Forest, and if you’ve familiarized yourself with the famous #lasucksforcycling tag on Instagram, you’ve definitely seen photos of where we were headed.
The ongoing joke of the hashtag was on full display during the Invitational, showcasing a few of the best road and gravel climbs and descents the San Gabriel Mountains have to offer. Mount Lukens, Grizzly Flats, Telephone Trail and Mount Wilson Toll Road were the dirt sectors along the route for the Triple Scoop, with my personal favorite being the Mount Lukens climb and Grizzly Flat descent. A 4-mile fire road with an almost 2,000’ ascent up to Grizzly Flat, a double track rocky and ripping descent back to Hwy 2. While most of these roads are individually good and challenging on their own, combining them into one big loop was something most never do, so it was a nice challenge on a spicy day.
A new addition of trail, or should I say recently renovated section, called Telephone Trail is a prime example of how the money raised for LoweLifes RCC during this event helps restore, rebuild, and maintain trails in the Angeles National Forest. What was once an overgrown, sketchy, and rocky foot path is now a technical singletrack trail bridging parts of the forest that would otherwise be connected by riding on the highway.
The route 70% road 30% unpaved, which is typical for dirt riding in LA, especially if you start from in-town like we did at The Cub House. Long sections of road between the dirt sectors gave some respite, but it wasn’t long before the climb on Upper Big Tujunga took its toll on riders in the afternoon sun, reaching a peak of 96 degrees. A short descent between long ascents then back to the inclines. This time would be the last up the iconic climb up to Mount Wilson Observatory. Relief would set in at the top, knowing that Crust Bikes would have a party aid station before the long descent, and with 48 miles and 8,500 of climbing up to this point it was much welcomed.
We were welcomed by an enthusiastic crew serving up burritos, cold drinks, and shots of tequila before the 9-mile descent down Mount Wilson Toll Road. The longest descent of the day, and arguably one of the harder ones on the course, left the invitees feeling fatigued hands and the heat of the day increase with every foot of elevation lost. Looping around from cool, tree-covered side of the fire road to the exposed city facing side felt like someone opened an oven door.
The views were incredible, and another reminder of how #lasucksforcycling. With the final decent out of the way, it was a chill cruise downhill back to the Cub House, soft pedaling all the way, and thinking about smash burgers & cold drinks. I was greeted by none other than Bobby Wintle, who wasn’t too hugged-out from Midsouth to give me a big squeeze and hand me an “I DID IT” patch.
And we did do it.
Team Dream did it, The Cub House did it, the volunteers did it, all the sponsors did it and all the riders did it. They threw a hell of an event, and this was only day 1 of the weekend extravaganza! So if you haven’t already added this to your calendar you should because “EVERYONE’S INVITED!!!”
Check out the ride.
Words: Alvin Escajeda
Los Angeles' history of grassroots racing and riding events is as expansive as its urban sprawl. From alleycats to running races, coaster brake hill bombs to midnight criteriums, Team Dream’s Los Angeles Invitational this past weekend added its name to that long list. Part-yard sale and part-car show, Team Dream decided to add a mass start ride to its 5th Edition, drawing a much larger crowd than anyone expected.
A sold-out field of 200 lined up before the sun was up on a scorcher of a Saturday to take on 3 different routes, all appropriately named after the amount of ice cream you would want after finishing. The Single Scoop of 36 miles, Double Scoop of 56 miles and the Triple Scoop of 65 miles, all with elevation either matching or surpassing their mileage with 2 zeros added to the end. With summer temperatures predicted on this fine May day, several riders opted for an early start, while the majority lined themselves up behind Sean Talkington’s VW Squareback Wagon for a neutral roll out at 7 am.
It’s not often we get the whole CNCPT Team together for an event (the last time being Midsouth in March) so we were stoked to get to spend the day together. While the Invitational brought in a lot of out-of-towners, it was the local legends that had the benefit of riding 100% of the course during previous rides. After all, it was all in our backyard, the Angeles National Forest, and if you’ve familiarized yourself with the famous #lasucksforcycling tag on Instagram, you’ve definitely seen photos of where we were headed.
The ongoing joke of the hashtag was on full display during the Invitational, showcasing a few of the best road and gravel climbs and descents the San Gabriel Mountains have to offer. Mount Lukens, Grizzly Flats, Telephone Trail and Mount Wilson Toll Road were the dirt sectors along the route for the Triple Scoop, with my personal favorite being the Mount Lukens climb and Grizzly Flat descent. A 4-mile fire road with an almost 2,000’ ascent up to Grizzly Flat, a double track rocky and ripping descent back to Hwy 2. While most of these roads are individually good and challenging on their own, combining them into one big loop was something most never do, so it was a nice challenge on a spicy day.
A new addition of trail, or should I say recently renovated section, called Telephone Trail is a prime example of how the money raised for LoweLifes RCC during this event helps restore, rebuild, and maintain trails in the Angeles National Forest. What was once an overgrown, sketchy, and rocky foot path is now a technical singletrack trail bridging parts of the forest that would otherwise be connected by riding on the highway.
The route 70% road 30% unpaved, which is typical for dirt riding in LA, especially if you start from in-town like we did at The Cub House. Long sections of road between the dirt sectors gave some respite, but it wasn’t long before the climb on Upper Big Tujunga took its toll on riders in the afternoon sun, reaching a peak of 96 degrees. A short descent between long ascents then back to the inclines. This time would be the last up the iconic climb up to Mount Wilson Observatory. Relief would set in at the top, knowing that Crust Bikes would have a party aid station before the long descent, and with 48 miles and 8,500 of climbing up to this point it was much welcomed.
We were welcomed by an enthusiastic crew serving up burritos, cold drinks, and shots of tequila before the 9-mile descent down Mount Wilson Toll Road. The longest descent of the day, and arguably one of the harder ones on the course, left the invitees feeling fatigued hands and the heat of the day increase with every foot of elevation lost. Looping around from cool, tree-covered side of the fire road to the exposed city facing side felt like someone opened an oven door.
The views were incredible, and another reminder of how #lasucksforcycling. With the final decent out of the way, it was a chill cruise downhill back to the Cub House, soft pedaling all the way, and thinking about smash burgers & cold drinks. I was greeted by none other than Bobby Wintle, who wasn’t too hugged-out from Midsouth to give me a big squeeze and hand me an “I DID IT” patch.
And we did do it.
Team Dream did it, The Cub House did it, the volunteers did it, all the sponsors did it and all the riders did it. They threw a hell of an event, and this was only day 1 of the weekend extravaganza! So if you haven’t already added this to your calendar you should because “EVERYONE’S INVITED!!!”
Check out the ride.