Sunday June 5th - Los Angeles River Bike Ride - free for children under 12 - and adults can volunteer 4 hours to ride free

After 15 MILE FAMILY RIDE
Have you ever seen Los Angeles River up close?   Our family, with our cub scout pack, took a guided walk along parts of LA River.  We have also gone bird-watching at Sepulveda Basin which would be flooded in the event of a huge flood like the one along Mississippi River now.

On June 5th, Sunday, at 10am, children can register to ride free on a 15-mile family ride along the LA River bike paths with an accompanying adult on a special event! There is a $50 fee for adults and anyone over 12 to ride, but if the adult is willing to volunteer for 4 hours, you and your family can not only ride free, but also enjoy a free lunch and get a free T-shirt plus have all the fun and joy of volunteering, knowing that you have helped a good cause :)   You can email Martin Lopez-Lu at  martin@la-bike.org or RRvolunteer@la-bike.org ro call him at (310) 210-4865 to volunteer.   He especially need early-morning volunteers to come at around 5am or 6am to help set up, but he also needs volunteers to greet and welcome back the riders.  "You'll get free food and beer all day, a wonderful goodie bag and t-shirt, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are a part of the bicycle movement and more broadly, moving your city in the right direction for everyone."  Well said, Martin!

 If you aren't interested in riding at all but would like to volunteer, then come out for as long as you can, and enjoy a free lunch  and get free tshirts, and, as Martin puts it, "we can use all the help we can get!"  Here is the 2011 page: http://la-bike.org/riverride  and how you can find out what you can do to volunteer!

VOLUNTEER FOR THE RIDE:

Over 100 volunteers needed. Find out HOW YOU CAN HELP.
http://la-bike.org/events/los_angeles_river_ride_volunteer.html

11th Annual Los Angeles River Ride, June 5th 2011

March 8, 2011 Event

Sunday, June 5, 2011 - Riders doing the longer rides start as early as 7:30am, but the 15-mile family ride starts at 11am, with registration starting at 10am.  You can pre-register ahead of time.  Choose from 100miles, 70miles, 50 miles, 36miles, 15miles and a ride for the Kids. After the ride, browse the Expo, enjoy great food, live music and win prizes including a brand new bike! KIDS RIDE AND ACTIVITIES END AT NOON. PARENTS, YOU NEED TO REGISTER YOUR KIDS. THE RIDE IS FREE BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. PLEASE PRE REGISTER SO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MANY KIDS TO PLAN FOR. HELMETS REQUIRED  All registration proceeds from the ride go to making LA County a Better, Bike-able Place to Live.

15 MILE FAMILY RIDE
This ride is perfect for families as the entire route is on a dedicated bike path on the river. For ages 7 and up. Kid's 12 and under ride for free thanks to Paramount City Parks and Recreation. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration starts at 10:00 a.m. Ride starts at 11:00 a.m. Park in Griffith Park.  The 15 mile starts at the same place, stays on dedicated bike paths and turns around at Crystal Park.
KIDS' RIDE AND FUN FAIR **
This year the Kid's Ride is FREE thanks to Paramount City Parks and Recreation. The ride will introduce young children to important bike safety lessons through fun, interactive activities. Kids 6 and under will practice their riding techniques on a festive bike loop. Bikes and trikes are welcome - all riders must wear a helmet. Prizes and t-shirts for all registrants. Registration and festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. to allow families the option to also join the Family Ride at 11 a.m. Park in Griffith Park.

Kids' Ride - festivities start at 10:00 AM and end at noon. If families are participating in both the kids' ride and the family ride, participate in the kids' ride first, then join up with the family riders. Kids will learn about bike safety and enjoy other activities. This is a very short ride, entirely within the start/finish area of the River Ride and appropriate for youngsters with training wheels. Riders over 9 years of age should probably ride (with an adult) on the 15 mile family ride.

Here's some relevant FAQ:

Should I bring my own water bottle?

Yes, this year Sparklett's is donating 5 gallon water bottles for participants to refill their own water bottles with at each pit stop. If you don't have a water bottle, we will have a limited number of re-usable water bottles available for purchase at the starting line.

Do I have to register before the ride?

No, you can do a late registration on June 5th at the start area in Griffith Park. However, there is an extra fee for late registration.

Registration opens at the following times
Century (100 miles) - 6:00 AM
70 mile & Half Century (50 Miles) - 7:00 AM.
36 mile ride - 7:30 AM
15 Mile Family Ride and Kids' Ride - 10:00AM.

Do I have to pre-register my child?

Yes, children 12 and under are free, but in order to plan for all the kids we need to have an accurate head count. Also, parents must sign a waiver on behalf of their children.

Do I have to ride with my child?

Children riding 15 miles or more must ride with a parent or other adult guardian. Adults and/or guardians riding with children must also register for the ride. Parents bringing their children to the kids' ride and activities don't need to register, but must stay at the event with their children.

All Rides start at The Autry Center, enter the LA River Bikeway at the 5 freeway overpass/Autry Museum and proceed downstream (south).  15 Mile Family Ride: Riders begin the ride just like the above rides. At a park approximately 5 miles down the River, riders will enjoy a pit stop then return to the Autry Center via the same route and exit the bike path near the Autry Museum area, and you're home. See route slip on the day for final details and last minute changes. 

15 Mile Family Ride - Fast paced riders will complete the 15 miles in less than 1-1/2 hours. Families with kids (and those of us who enjoy a leisurely bike cruise) should expect a 2-3 hour ride.

Kids' ride in the parking lot - The kids' ride takes 10-20 minutes. Stay to enjoy the festivities.

15 Mile Family Ride - The 15 Mile family ride is a lovely ride around beautiful Griffith Park and along the LA City LA River Bikeway in the Glendale Narrows. The ride is entirely separate from city streets, except for the area in Griffith Park itself.  Percentages are as follows: Bike Path: 50% (7.5 miles), Griffith Park: 50% (7.5 miles).    The Kids' ride is 100% flat and 100% separate from car traffic.

The 15 mile family ride is very flat. (It does feature two very small easy uphill sections at bridges: Alex Baum Bridge at Los Feliz and the Riverside/Figueroa.)  

How old do I have to be to ride the River Ride?

Kids' Ride: Minimum age for the Kids' ride is 2 years. Beginners with training wheels may have a difficult time on this year's grassy, off-road one mile course. Riders over 6 years old are not recommended for the kids' ride.

15 Mile Family Ride: Minimum age for the Family ride is 6 years. Riders over 10 years old are recommended for the 15 Mile family ride. All family riders under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

70 and 50 and 36 Mile: Minimum age recommended for the 70 Mile ride is 14 years. All 100, 70 and 50 Mile riders under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

To learn more about LA RIVER, check out these sites:

Friends of LA River (http://folar.org/)
http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/fieldguides/lariver/
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/01/local/la-me-river-20100729


To register, go to this link for instructions:

http://la-bike.org/events/los_angeles_river_ride.html#reg

For more info on flora and fauna of LA River, leave me a comment with an email address and I will send you several links.  SEE YOU AT LA RIVER at Griffith Park on June 5th.