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2024 Year in Review Video

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Join Lightning Velo!

We have a place for you in Lightning Velo. Whether you've been racing for years and are looking for some 23+ mph weekend rides or are new to group riding and want a safe and social way to exercise, you've come to the right place. We have hundreds of members from all over the greater Long Beach area that call Lightning Velo their (cycling) home. To get started:

Get Started: Join Us Today

Find Your Group

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A-Group 23+mph (might drop slow riders)

Fast, very tight double pace line. Usually 4 to 8 riders are in this group on Saturdays. B-Group riders are welcome to transition to A-Group. Announce your intensions and the group will try to hold you in. If you can't keep up for the whole ride then drop off and the B-Group will pick you up along the route. The Saturday A-Group and B-Group routes are the same. If you are talking then you have more energy, we will pick up the pace. Don't pull too long at the front; save some gas in the tank to hook on the back when you are done pulling.

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B-Group 19-22mph (no drops)

Fast and tight double pace line. This is our largest group of riders on Saturday. We roll out of the park a minute behind the A-Group on the same route. We roll into the coffee shop several minutes later than the A-Group.

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C-Group 15-18mph (no drops)

Somewhat fast and a little looser but still in a constant double pace line. This group varies from 6 to 18 riders. We start out at 16mph for about 4 miles then pick up the pace to 18mph. Our route is a little shorter than the A-Group and B-Group so that we can meet up at the coffee shop together.

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D-Group 10-15mph (developmental & destinations)

Once called "Surf Riders" this group is for the newer road rider. This group specializes in training riders in rules of the road, skills, safety, equipment, and nutrition. We embraces the "D"; Developmental, Destinations, Debris pickup, Diet, and Damn this is fun.

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E-Group (on-line rides using Zwift)

E-Group (evening on-line rides using Zwift)

Want to ride but the weather is bad or it is too dark? This is our newest group for people with Zwift accounts and trainer bikes. Contact Eric Hartman at Ride.A@lightningvelo.org to join the on-line meetup rides.

Find Your Day

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7:30am (8am Winter) SATURDAY Ride

7:30am SATURDAY Ride

Ride Start - 7:30am at Eldorado Park Library Parkinglot
2900 N Studabaker Rd., Long Beach, CA 90815
(During daylight savings we start at 8am due to low light and cold.)

There are four different routes that are rotated each week.
The A & B Groups ride the same route a few minutes apart.
The C Group route is slightly shorter but similar.
All rides end at Bogarts Coffee House at Seal Beach Pier.
Once a month the A & B Groups ride together.
Check out the RIDES page for details.

D Group and New Riders need to speak up when we gather at the park.
The D Group ride will be tailored to those who show up that day.
Once we get a regular set of riders we can preplan the routes.
Until then we may post the D Group ride just a few days ahead.

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8:00am SUNDAY Ride

Ride Start - 8:00am at Eldorado Park Library Parkinglot
2900 N Studabaker Rd., Long Beach, CA 90815

There are seven different A & B Group routes that are rotated each week.
There are six different C Group routes that are rotated each week.
All rides end at The Crema Cafe on Main St in Seal Beach.
Some rides have a midway stop as well.
Check out the RIDES page for details.

D Group and New Riders need to speak up when we gather at the park.
The D Group ride will be tailored to those who show up that day.
Once we get a regular set of riders we can preplan the routes.
Until then we may post the D Group ride just a few days ahead.

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8:00am MONDAY Recovery Ride

Ride Start - Eldorado Library Parkinglot 2900 N Studabaker Rd., Long Beach
36 mile route for all riders.
Pit stop at PTF (Potty Too Far) at PCH and Orange St., Newport Beach.
Ride ends at The Crema Cafe, Main Street, Seal Beach

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8:00am TUESDAY PTF Ride

Ride Start - Coyote Creek Bridge on San Gabriel River Trail, Long Beach
33 mile route for all riders.
Pit stop at PTF (Potty Too Far) at PCH and Orange St., Newport Beach.
Ride ends at The Crema Cafe, Main Street, Seal Beach

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8:00am WEDNESDAY PTF & GMR Rides

PTF Ride Start - Coyote Creek Bridge on San Gabriel River Trail, Long Beach
33 mile route for all riders.
Pit stop at PTF (Potty Too Far) at PCH and Orange St., Newport Beach.
Ride ends at The Crema Cafe, Main Street, Seal Beach

GMR (Glendora Mountain Road) ride starts at Encanto Park, Duarte
Roll out is 8:30am.
Some people drive to the park.
Others ride their bikes from Long Beach at 6:00am.

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8:00am THURSDAY PTF Ride

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8:00am FRIDAY Pirate Ride

Ride Start - Eldorado Library Parkinglot 2900 N Studabaker Rd., Long Beach
THIS IS A FAST RIDE AT AN A&B GROUP PACE.
Pit stop at PTF (Potty Too Far) at PCH and Orange St., Newport Beach.
Ride ends at The Crema Cafe, Main Street, Seal Beach

Fast

Lightning Velo started in 1988 as a racing club. We race regularly at El Dorado Park (Eldo Race Series, time trials, and Pasadena Senior Games). We have members who race regularly across southern California throughout the racing season. LV hosts one race a year, the GMR Challenge Time Trial, that climbs the famous Glendora Mountain Road.

Friendly

Monthly meetings of the Board always include some social time. All members are welcome to attend. Member non-cycling events are scheduled throughout the year as volunteers are inspired to organize.

Safe

All of our rides are structured group rides. We always ride in a double pace line. Some people find this rigid and confining and prefer a more free form group riding experience found in other clubs. But, for LV members, what draws us to this group is the Safety, Speed, and Comraderie we find in the Pace Line. Once you take a position, you stay next to your partner with front wheels even. You accelerate and decelerate together, hold constant with the group speed and almost never coast.

The formation helps us be safe internally so we don't cross wheels. A 100% downer. And it gives us a maximum draft. The outward appearance of our Pace Line is what keeps us safe with traffic. Drivers don't know what a straggly group of riders will do. But with an LV Pace Line we are easier for drivers to see and anticipate our movements. Imagine 18 riders in 2 rows of 9. Drivers see us as a cohesive unit and, usually, respect our space.