2011 El Roble Bike Marathon...

They were there riding, riding bikes of all variety. There were road bikes and mountains bikes, hard tail and full suspension, there were single-speeds (maybe even fixies, I didn't pay close enough attention), mixtes and hybrids. They rode laps around a decomposed granite running track - as many laps as they could within a twenty-four hour period, from noon on Thursday to noon on Friday. Their dedication in this endeavor would raise funds for the Claremont Chapter of the American Red Cross. They are eighth grade students at El Roble Intermediate School. Friends, family, teachers, and other supporters were there as well, to track their laps, cheer them on, and provide encouragement. 

This year's edition of the Bike Marathon was the 34th (the PE teacher behind it has been involved for the past 23 years, I believe she said. She was just as enthusiastic as the kids, that's some dedication). Only students who meet certain academic requirements, including writing a special essay, are able to participate. The riders are split into groups so that there are not too many on the track at any one time, and ride in eleven one-hour sets with one hour breaks in between. In other words while group A is on the track for an hour, group B rests, and then they switch. There is a longer break for dinner, and a tent city on the infield, so that students can get some rest during the night. Even so, lights are set up around the track so that laps continue to be accumulated through the dark hours. I stopped by near the completion of the third set / start of the fourth, and noticed that some of the riders were topping 60 laps for each set they had previously completed. Pretty good. Not to put any pressure on him, but the boy, my son, says he will be gunning for the record next year when it is his turn to give it a go.

if you think that guy on the left looks rather old for a student, you would be right. my understanding

is that he is a former student who came back to surpass his old mark

Awesome cause everyone. You all deserve a round of applause, at least, for your efforts. 

All photos on photobucket.

Some Claremont Bike News...

The new Citrus Regional Bikeway through town is pretty much complete except for a dedication ceremony. Nothing like nice smooth, fresh pavement:

view to the west along 1st Street

view to the east along Bonita Avenue

It is essentially a bike lane with a special name designation, though it does traverse the city east to west, and connects to the regional Pacific Electric Trail on Claremont's eastern boundary. If Pomona and La Verne to the west were to get on board and continue the route through, the Citrus Bikeway could become a nice additional to a regional system. The signage is pretty clever, up close it is clearly a bicycle wheel, it could be a half citrus, orange to be exact.


El Roble Intermediate School's Bike Marathon is fast approaching. This is an annual event in which the schools 8th grade students, who meet certain academic requirements, ride laps during a 24 hour period around the school track to raise funds for the Claremont Chapter of the American Red Cross. This years edition will be the 35th year of the event. Over the past 34 years more than $150,000 have been raised. The students take pledges for donations to be paid per lap. The final three practices are this week. Link to last year's event is here.


Finally, I have neither read, nor heard of any bike to work day events this year. Last year's event, co-sponsored by the city and Metro, was a very social affair, well attended, and I think everyone appreciated the effort and the chance to meet other bike commuters. Hopefully, the other two big cycling events this month, the L'etape du California and the Tour of California, have not run the coffers dry, and there will yet be a commuter event. For update see here.


Finally, finally, and speaking of L'etape du California, it will be held this approaching weekend. You can sign up any time leading up to the event, over 1300 people have done so already, and the special event jersey is sharp looking.

Bike marathon follow-up...

While many people in California rode their bikes to work today, there was at least one group who rode their bikes as work, so to speak. By the time I made it over there after work, the El Roble Intermediate School students participating in the Bike Marathon were three hours into their twenty-four hour fundraiser, and many of the riders had completed more than 160 laps already. Various strategies were being employed; some students were riding in groups, chatting as they went, others seemed to be pacing themselves for the long night ahead, while still others were going to hammer along until they could hammer no more. Helpers, family, staff and riders who were not riding at the time kept busy cheering on the riders circling the track. Flood lights have been set up around the track to hold back the darkness, and a tent city has sprung up on the infield. There will no doubt be some tired students by the time the event ends tomorrow afternoon, but I think they will be satisfied, and rightly so, with their efforts and what they have accomplished. Not sure what I am talking about? Check my earlier post here.

El Roble Intermediate School Bike Marathon...

8th grade students at El Roble Intermediate School have been gearing up (literally) for the 34th Bike Marathon which raises funds for the Claremont Chapter of the American Red Cross. Over the past 33 editions more than $150,000 have been raised. This years Marathon ride will take place May 13 and 14. About 40 students are selected through a screening process which includes writing essays and gpa minimums. Funds are raised by pledges for laps completed. Awesome, humanitarianism at its best; kids riding bikes to benefit others.