Of all the bike rides that go down in our city each year, few boast the rah-rah-hometown flavor of the LA River Ride.
"Rah-rah-hometown flavor" is a compliment, of course. Rare is the event that truly possesses it, but the LA River Ride brims with good feeling and connecting-with-community-ness. The reason for the nice vibes is in the name, of course; the ride, or rides, rather, focus on the LA River, an artery that deserves more ardor than it typically receives.
The 2011 LA River Ride is on Sunday, June 5, and, as in years past, there will be several rides. The Century is the biggie, which is no surprise, given its big name. Those who'd like a long ride but not quite that long might try the Park to Playa to Park route, which goes from Griffith Park to Long Beach and back. There are also several family rides that keep closer to Griffith and its environs.
There are some updates on parking this year -- it looks tight -- but figure once you get on your bike and past all that, you'll be near the river and birds and all that nature that we tend to dismiss and/or take for granted.
So here's to lending our river some love, and getting some fresh air and exercise in the process.
