FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch7, 2014
Tom Wixon
Phone: (559) 934-2132
E-mail:
West Hills Metric Century Cycling Event Set for April 12
An exciting new cycling event is coming to Coalinga April 12. The West Hills Metric Century covers nearly 100 kilometers (approximately 61 miles) and is expected to attract bicycle enthusiasts from the entire Fresno and Kings county regions. There is a shorter ride as well as a “fun” ride, and riders start and return at the West Hills College Coalinga campus, where they’ll have lunch in the campus café.
WHCC President Carole Goldsmith, an avid cyclist, will participate. She’s excited about the event and said “we’d like to see this become an annual event and grow to be a fundraiser for scholarships and other student needs at the college.” Co-sponsors are the college and the Fresno Cycling Club.
Al Graves, a WHCC instructor and an active member of the cycling club, is coordinating the event in Coalinga. The route will take riders up Los Gatos Creek Park Road, past the oil derricks and fields and through winding hilly terrain to the San Benito County line and back.
Online registration is now available. A $25 fee will be charged for participation in either the 61-mile event, 17-mile “fun” ride, or 40-mile “mini-metric” tour.
The college will provide secure “valet” bike parking or storage, three rest stops, and the after-ride meal which will feature tri-tip beef, chicken and a full salad bar served cafeteria-style. In addition, special gift bags will be given to the first 100 participants to register online. Some of the gift bags will include additional prizes ranging from $20-$250 in value, including dinner and an overnight stay for two at Harris Ranch Inn and Restaurant.
Online registration will continue until 11:59 p.m. on April 9, 2014. To register online, go to
Riders can sign in at the event on April 12, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., on the west side of the campus on Highway 198/33 (Elm). The century ride will start at 7:30 a.m., the mini-metric will begin at 8 a.m., and the “fun ride” will start at 9 a.m. All riders must be on the road by 10 a.m.
Full SAG support will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. while rest stops will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch in the college café and patio will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional lunches for non-riders can be purchased for $12.50 each.
The shorter “fun” ride will traverse the flat lands just north and west of the community of Coalinga, passing farm lands, oil fields, the West Hills College Coalinga “Farm of the Future” with its new rodeo arena and stock facility. Riders in the mini-metric will venture an additional 13 miles up Los Gatos Creek Canyon to the County Park and back. Metric century riders will continue another 8 miles beyond the park to the San Benito County line and back.
“The last three or four miles of the metric century ride before reaching the county line will offer deceivingly-tough 8 to12 percent grades,” said committee member Tom Kulikov.
The blanket $25 charge for this event is meant to cover expenses; any proceeds above and beyond expenses will benefit equally the Fresno Cycling Club and West Hills College Coalinga.
West Hills College Coalinga is located at 300 Cherry Lane in Coalinga, California. For further information, contact Al Graves by phone at (559) 934-2789 (office) or (559) 284-0787 (cell) or email him at
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