It’s time to get your Santa suit on!

– the 5th Annual Santa Cycle Ride is Saturday, December 18th at 12 noon beginning at the Monterey Wharf. 

Meet up at Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey by 11:50 so we can organize and roll out at noon.

The group will ride along the bike path towards Pacific Grove, take a left on Asilomar Blvd., head up to Canterbury Woods to spread some cheer, and do a couple laps of downtown PG. Then it's back on the bike path with the final destination being Dust Bowl Brewing. We're planning on taking over the outside seating on the Del Monte Blvd side of the old train station. Park all bikes outside the patio leaning up against the low fence in the Del Monte parking lot. Members may purchase their own drinks from Dust Bowl and the Taco Truck will be open as well.

Support Fremont St. Mission for Homeless Women

One again this year, we’re raising funds on the Santa Cycle ride for Lois Varner and the Fremont Street Mission for Homeless Women, a charity that reaches out to local elderly homeless women.  Lois uses donations to purchase and distribute items such as blankets, gloves, warm socks, food cards, laundry cards, bus and gas cards to homeless women in the area. Her assistance is limited to $10 per week per person, so any funds we raise for her will impact a large number of women. We will ask Cycle Santa riders to donate what they can to help her Mission at the end of the ride.

Please join the VCM Board and members for our first Holiday Party since 2019! There will be live jazz, food, drinks, and great company.  The menu will be provided by 831 catering including fresh tacos with a veggie option. Raffle prizes, awards, and dancing.

December 11th from 6-9pm. at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. We will have a dessert table awaiting yummy contributions from whomever wants to show off their favorite Holiday sweet course (finger foods preferred).

Contributions to the bar are always appreciated!

Hello Fellow Velo Club Members,

You can earn $ for our club, some goodies for yourself, and help the Sea Otter Classic at the same time! Sea Otter now has an online sign-up platform for volunteers. We have two rest stop locations and will need 10 volunteers at each site. Information on how to sign-up was sent to all Velo Club Members last week on September 15th.

Hope you can help us make this happen!

Thank you,

Suzanne Kroeze

VCM Events Coordinator

2021 VCM SUMMER PICNIC – SUNDAY AUG. 29

JULY 31, 2021 MARK KAUFMANN LEAVE A COMMENT

Hello All! We’re looking forward to our first official IN PERSON VCM party in over a year. Welcome Back!

Our traditional Velo Club Summer Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August 29 from 2-6pm, for all members and guests who have been fully vaccinated for COVID 19.

The picnic will be held at the Coniglio Family House on Laureles Grade in Carmel Valley, as in recent years. There’s lots of room, a big grill, swimming pool, and even a shower for those who want to clean up after the morning rides.

THE PICNIC: VCM provides barbecued burgers, sausages, hot dogs and the fixings, as well as coolers/ice, plates and utensils and non-alcoholic beverages. BYO Beer, Wine or other alcoholic drinks. Also we ask that members bring salads/side, appetizers or desserts to share.

• If your last name starts with A-H bring an appetizer.
• If your last name starts with I-Q bring a dessert.
• If your last name starts with R-Z bring a salad or side dish.

THE LOCATION:  
Coniglio Valley House
437 Laureles Grade
Carmel Valley, CA 93924

THE RIDES: Long Ride – Big Arroyo Seco Loop. Start/meet at the Coniglio Family House at 7am, climb Laureles Grade, Hwy 68 to River Road, Arroyo Seco and back over Cahoon Summit into Carmel Valley (about 87 miles). Shorter Ride – Climb to Cahoon Summit (with Cachagua Loop option on the way back) ride leaving at 9:30. If you get back early, you can help set up the picnic or take a dip in the pool to cool off. 

VOLUNTEERING TO HELP SET UP/CLEAN UP
We need the following:

• 1 or 2 volunteers to help decorate for the picnic (Noon-2)
• 2 or 3 volunteers to help setup for the picnic (Noon-2)
• 3 volunteers to help on the grill (90 minutes)
• 5 or 6 volunteers to help with cleanup at the end (6-8pm)

RSVP via Evite  or Email (veloclub@vcmonterey.org) no later than August 22nd so we can get a headcount and know how much to bring.

If you’ll be riding that morning, please mention which ride in your RSVP comments.

Also, PLEASE tell us if you’re able to fill one of the volunteer positions needed to make the picnic a success, in your RSVP.

The Summer Picnic is free for VCM members. Non-members are welcome but we ask that they give a $10 donation to the club.

We look forward to seeing you at the Summer Picnic!!

VERNAL EQUINOX CENTURY CHALLENGE AWARDS

APRIL 24, 2021 TOMROLANDER LEAVE A COMMENT

We are pleased to announce the winners of the VCM Vernal Equinox Century Challenge Awards.

Each of the award winners is receiving a $25 Gift Certificate for the local bike shop of their choice.  Please congratulate these winners the next time you see them on the road!

 

Award Category	Recipient
Greatest Total Distance Ridden: 147.20 miles	Stanley Mellin
Longest Single Ride: 85.13 miles	Michael Burke
Highest Elevation/Mile Ratio: 111.61 ft/mile (7182 feet over 64.35 miles)	Bob Brigham
Best Wildflower photo (see below)	Ed Bredthauer
Best Story (read below)	Peggy & Jon Beard

VCM Spring Century STORY – Beard

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UPCOMING EVENTS – SAVE THE DATES

APRIL 24, 2021 TOMROLANDER LEAVE A COMMENT

1.       SECOND VCM Trivia Night — soon (via ZOOM)! Thursday May 13, 6:00 PM. ARE YOU GAME?

Back by popular demand – Lesley and Vanessa are cooking up another game we know you will want to play. Hope to see you there for good laughs and a good time!  Further details coming soon ….

2.       Summer BBQ Bash 
Sunday August 29 in Carmel Valley – IN PERSON  

2021 VERNAL EQUINOX CENTURY CHALLENGE

MARCH 4, 2021 TOMROLANDER LEAVE A COMMENT

WHAT?    Ride one of two spring centuries, either traditional or metric, in stages or all in one day.

WHEN?    Between Wednesday March 17 and Wednesday March 24, 2021.

WHERE?    Anywhere you like as long as it’s legal and you stay within the COVID-19 guidelines.

BE SURE TO:
    ● Record your stages
    ● Take some photos
    ● Count your flats
    ● Have fun
    ● Be safe

PRIZES FOR:
    ● Total distance
    ● Longest single ride
    ● Total elevation
    ● Best wild flower photo
    ● Most flats
    ● Best Story

Submit your ride details to: veloclub@vcmonterey.org by March 26, 8 p.m.

FIRST VCM TRIVIA NIGHT – TUESDAY 2/23 6PM – ARE YOU GAME?

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 TOMROLANDER LEAVE A COMMENT

Hello fellow VCM member!

Vanessa and Lesley have cooked up a game we know you’ll want to play.  They guarantee laughs … and who doesn’t need one?

FIRST VCM TRIVIA NIGHT
–          Trivia:  Covering 6 categories
–          Hostess:  Alexa Trebeka
–          Date:  February 23
–          Time: 6-8 pm
–          Place: any room in your house
–          Attire: comfortably dressed (at least from the waist up)
–          Food: BYOB and BYOF (snacks, takeout dinner, etc.) 
–          ZOOM STATION: https://zoom.us/j/93839318184

Please arrive at 6pm and no later than 6:15pm – after that you will not be able to take part as teams will have been allocated. 

Of course, partners will be on the same team.

There will be PRIZES!

If you need help with ZOOM let us know and we can arrange a test run. 

Hoping you will join in,
Suzanne Kroeze
VCM Events Coordinator

2021 VCM BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTION RESULTS

DECEMBER 19, 2020 MARK KAUFMANN LEAVE A COMMENT

As expected, it was a landslide win for the Velo Club Monterey Board of Directors slate.  Congratulations to President, Chris Swainson; Vice-President, Tom Rolander; Treasurer, Jack McKenna; Secretary, Keely Clifford; Director-at-Large, Suzanne Kroeze; and new Director-at-Large, Patrick Tregenza – who have all been elected to the board for 2021.

Also, by way of introduction if you don’t know Patrick, here is a short bio. He is clearly an example of local boy makes good!

Oh Salinas. It’s given us Steinbeck, salad, Kiddie Kapers, and, well, Patrick Tregenza. A second-generation Monterey County native, he ventured westward towards the Peninsula in 1978, only to find that it’s pretty much like Salinas except the land runs out. He decided to stay anyway, though he never forgot his roots, and so, to this day, he is able to identify nearly any vegetable field at 60 miles per hour. In between rides, Patrick operates a commercial food photography studio in downtown Monterey. His participation in Velo Club Monterey has inspired Patrick to increasingly feel that oftentimes two wheels are better than four, and that is why his garage currently houses 22 wheels, though only twelve are considered “his.”

Also, just a heads up, be on the lookout next week for another email with information on renewing your Velo Club membership for 2021.

Have a great Holiday Season and let’s hope for a 2021 where we can spend more time riding together.

VCM 2020 HOLIDAY PARTY AND CYCLING CELEBRATION

NOVEMBER 29, 2020 MARK KAUFMANN LEAVE A COMMENT

Sorry this event has been cancelled. Fall Century rides still on though so keep riding!

2020 Velo Club Monterey Holiday Party
and Cycling Celebration

While we can’t be together in person this year, your Velo Club Elves have put together a special Cycling Celebration this holiday. We’ve got two ways for you to join in the fun this year. Here’s how…

STEP ONE… Ride one of two Fall Century Rides between
Saturday Dec 5th and Saturday Dec 12th

It really is as simple as it sounds – keeping within YOUR COMFORT ZONE and remaining compliant with the Monterey County COVID guidelines – complete a century ride between 6am Saturday Dec 5th and 2pm Saturday Dec 12th.

The ride can be anywhere you choose, and you can make up the century in as few or as many stages as you like. As long as the total distance is 100 miles (Traditional) or 100km (Metric).

STEP TWO… Send us your ride details for a chance to earn prizes at the Holiday Party:

• Record your ride stages
• Take some p­hotographs
• Count your flats
• Have an adventure . . .

Why? . . . because there will be prizes for:

• Total distance
• Longest single ride
• Total elevation
• Fastest century
• Best Photo
• Most Flats
• Best story

Make sure you submit your ride details before 4pm Saturday, Dec. 12th so that we are ready to award those prizes and give space at the party for one or two stories you may like to share!

Details to include with your Century Ride submission:

• Century Choice (Traditional or Metric)
• Number of Stages­
• Total distance
• Total elevation
• Total time
• Number of flats
• Between 1 and 3 Photos
• . . . and of course, your NAME

Submit your ride details via email to: veloclub@vcmonterey.org

STEP THREE: Attend the VCM ZOOM Celebration Party (even if you didn’t do a Century ride) – Saturday December 12th, starting at 6:30pm.

Join the Party Saturday evening using the following ZOOM link:

• https://zoom.us/j/99507589379
• Please arrive at the Party at 6:30pm – arriving late will mean you will miss out!
• Before the Party, make sure you DOWNLOAD THE LATEST VERSION OF ZOOM TO YOUR DEVICE.
• Join the party by clicking the ZOOM link at 6:30pm on Dec 12th
• Do not join the ZOOM party using ZOOM through a Browser – Joining ZOOM using a Browser will not allow you to participate in some of the events we have planned.

NOTE: YOU DON’T NEED TO RIDE IN THE FALL CENTURY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ZOOM CELEBRATION PARTY.

Need help with ZOOM?

Join Chris Swainson for a ZOOM Workshop between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday December 9th using this ZOOM link:

• https://zoom.us/j/99951785747

PARTY ITINERARY – IMAGINE A DINNER PARTY

• STARTS 6:30pm – login using ZOOM and get comfortable.
  DON’T BE LATE
• Fun Activities . . . wait and see
• The Main Event
  • Club Announcements
  • Prize Awards
• Following the Main Event, we will create ZOOM Rooms for you to end the evening in – just like a regular House Party!

PARTY FOOD

We’ve arranged some special Holiday Party menus for Velo Club Members for that evening. Make a night of it by ordering and collecting your Party food at one of our participating restaurants.

 Aabha Indian Cuisine – Barnyard in Carmel

Power Lunch Box for Velo Club December 12 – $17.95 (before tax) Includes: Choice of two curries, Salad, Rice, and Butter naan.  Place your order BY WEDNESDAY DEC 9, and tell Aabha when you will pick up your order on Saturday Dec 12.

Bistro Moulin – Wave St. near Aquarium

Three course Holiday Prix Fixe Menu for Velo Club December 12 – $50 (before tax)  Place your order BY December 9 – You may also ask for wine pairing suggestions when ordering.

Il Vecchio –110 Central Ave., Pacific Grove 

Take Out – Special Dinners – Fixed Price – $19.50 Includes entrée choice and ‘insalata mista’ – artisan greens with marinated vegetables.

Melville Tavern – Washington St., Monterey near WorkHorse Bicycles 

Melville’s features a broad range of: Appetizers, Salads, Entrees, Burgers & Sandwiches, Pastas and Wood Fired Pizzas available for Take Out!

Click here for more details on all the restaurant menu items.

IMPORTANT STEP:  RSVP!

Please RSVP if you are planning on attending the PARTY by Dec 5th. Treat this as a dinner invite from friends – you would not just ignore it and not let them know if you were coming.  Be sure to tell us how many are attending if there will be more than one person attending from your location.

If we do not get enough RSVPs then we will not go ahead with the Party – it takes a lot of effort to put this on.

RSVP No later than 5pm Sat Dec 5th!

Click here to RSVP via EVITE

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) version – RSVP (B4 DEC 5) to let us know if you intend to join the party + ride a century between 6am Sat Dec 5thand 2pm Sat Dec 12 + record the ride stages + take photos + submit the details before 4pm Sat Dec 12th to veloclub@vcmonterey.org+ join the party at 6:30pm on Dec 12th.

We can’t wait to see your ride details and see you via Zoom on the 12th!

Any questions, email us at veloclub@vcmonterey.org