• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
Dana Point Times
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
Dana Point Times
No Result
View All Result

Bike for Life: Dana Point Grand Prix Looks to Encourage Racers of All Ages to Stay On, Return to Their Bicycles

by Dana Point Times
April 27, 2018 5:01AM
in SPORTS & OUTDOORS, Sports Headlines
Bike for Life: Dana Point Grand Prix Looks to Encourage Racers of All Ages to Stay On, Return to Their Bicycles
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Zach Cavanagh

The Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling returns for its 12th edition on Sunday, April 29, and while the event continues to grow in size and prominence, the focus remains at home.

“Every year we’ve gotten bigger and bigger,” Dana Point Grand Prix executive director Russ Ames said. “Biggest one-day criterium event in America. That doesn’t really belie what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to build the community.”

The kids’ events at noon on Sunday are at the forefront of that community building.

“We’re expanding the youth part of it,” Ames said. “We’re expanding our partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley. They’re an integral part of the course. We’re trying to convey the message that cycling isn’t just for kids. It’s an endeavor you can do for the rest of your life.”

Ames called it “Bike for Life,” and it’s one of the big aims of the Dana Point community cycling foundation.

Entering its fourth year as part of the kids events, the Grand Prix will hold a race for specially capable athletes. The children will race on specially constructed bikes, and just like all the kids races, any child under the age of 12 can enter for free.

Participants in the kids races will get a T-shirt and a participation medal made from a recycled bicycle chain.

“That’s the thing we’re trying to convey. We’re all equal,” Ames said. “We don’t need to push being a winner on these kids. We just want these kids to get on bikes.”

That goal of getting kids riding and expanding the culture of cycling is something that Ames hopes kids can do to lead their parents and other adults back to a bicycle.

“When we learn to ride a bike, we learn the front of our sidewalk,” Ames said. “When we took the training wheels off, you learn the whole street or the neighborhood. Then you hit 16, and you get a car and move on to college, a career, the rest of your life, and people leave their bikes behind.”

“We’re trying to bring it back. It’s okay to start riding again, and to ride with your kids. You pick up these endeavors you did as a kid with this new enthusiasm.”

Those that haven’t dropped their bike and continued to push in cycling will be shown off in the professional races later in the afternoon.

While the Grand Prix has grown into an international race with teams registering from new countries each year, Southern California racers will still be on display.

“It’s really cool to have these international athletes,” Ames said. “But what the Dana Point Grand Prix is built on is the locals. We want to showcase their abilities. They’re young and they don’t have any big events to showcase them. This is a showcase for them to be recognized. Maybe a bigger pro team will see the results and want to take a look at them.”

The Grand Prix will showcase local racers and local businesses.

Part of the aim of the Grand Prix is bringing a big event to Dana Point’s Lantern District, and the race has partnered with several local restaurants for meals and outdoor seating along the race route.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: 2018 Dana Point Grand Prix of CyclingbicycleBicycle RacesBikeCriteriumCyclingDana PointDana Point Grand Prixdana point grand prix of cyclingFeaturedGrand Prixracing
ShareTweetPin

Dana Point Times

Related Posts

Planning Commission Approves Short-Term Rental Program

Dana Point to Enact STR Program Inside, Outside Coastal Zone

February 8, 2023
City to Begin Tree Replacement Efforts at Del Obispo, Sunset Parks

City to Begin Tree Replacement Efforts at Del Obispo, Sunset Parks

February 8, 2023
Toll Brothers Holds Public Workshop on Bus Yard Site Apartment Project

Toll Brothers to Discuss Victoria Blvd. Apartment Project at Coffee Chat

February 7, 2023
Dana Hills Girls Water Polo Earns No. 4 Seed, Three DHHS Teams Slotted in CIF-SS Playoff Brackets

Dana Hills Girls Water Polo Earns No. 4 Seed, Three DHHS Teams Slotted in CIF-SS Playoff Brackets

February 6, 2023
Next Post
On Life and Love after 50: Three Widowers, Divorced Man Ages 60-90 Comment on Dating

Guest Opinion: On Life and Love after 50 by Tom Blake

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

DP Times Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get the DP Times delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Dana Point Times
  • San Clemente Times
  • The Capistrano Dispatch
  • DP Chamber Directory

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.