Keep LA Beautiful

Los Angeles is one of a kind.  Once you leave the salty breeze and turquoise waves, it loses the obvious characteristics that easily classify a city as beautiful.  Some folks have LA far down on their "Favorite Cities" list if it even makes the list.  There loss is our gain.  If you're like us, you look beyond surface level and see the dynamic beauty that can only come from this city. Our City.  Multi-cultural, diverse, eclectic, and in need of some better bike infrastructure...We love it all.  Sitting in the grass watching the sunset over Echo Park Lake, the bright colors and hand-painted signs from salvage auto part stores, the smells corralling from sidewalk vendors in the evenings if you're in the right neighborhood: THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE LA BEAUTIFUL.  Sometimes we all need a little reminder to look up and see the beauty.  And we happen think the bike seat is a great way to soak it all in.  We hope you do too!

The "Keep LA Beautiful" Series starts in September.  For this first ride, we are going to knit a beautiful bike route to connect LA inner city parks together, traversing from East LA to Koreatown.  Starting with the once glamorous East Lake Park, now known as Lincoln Park, and ending at historic West Lake Park a.k.a. MacArthur Park, we'll add in several other greenish brown canopies and open spaces into the tour as well.  When the route is finished it'll be between 10-11 miles and also include some big hills around Elysian Park and Echo Park.  It may be a sunny September Sunday too.  We will be making several stops to take in the view and rest but with less "tour-guiding" than our first few rides. This ride will be an advanced ride and space will be more limited than the Downtown and Hollywood Rides, so definitely grab your ticket early.  We want you to have fun and come back on another ride so please heed our warnings :).  No beginners please. No cruiser bikes.  Bikes must be in good riding condition and facial hair must be well groomed. Just kidding on the facial hair.  Please note that this ride is a one way ride.  You'll want to build a route to get home from Beer Belly, which is also conveniently located near the Wilshire/Western Purple Line Metro station.  That's how we are getting home.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

2:30pm: Barbara's at the Brewery (620 Moulton Ave #110, Los Angeles, CA 90031): Meet/register/sips and bites/meet new friends

4pm: Depart promptly on two wheels

6:30pm: Beer Belly (532 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020)  Bike PARTY!

Skill Level:  Moderate to Difficult.  Cruiser bikes not recommended. Some hills, traffic, and longer distance.

Length of Ride: 10.5 miles

Parking: If you need to drive to the ride, there is free street parking at the Brewery Lofts.

What to Bring:  Bike in good working order, water, ID, moo-llahh $ for food, bike lock and lights. Helmet optional.  Toothpick, 35cents for a phone call, and a bandaid just in case.

Tickets:  Pre-purchase tickets below.  If any remain, you can also register the day of at Barbara's

BIG THANKS to our Bike-Friendly partners for this ride!!  Barbara's at the Brewery, New Belgium Brewing, and Beer Belly!