Allen Jones, of Epic Planet video fame, gives us an update on the road trip he and his wife Liz just completed.
epicPLANET's 2011 Spring Filming Tour is complete and it was an action packed four weeks and over 5,000 miles of driving.
In mid-March epicPLANET Producer/Director, Allen Jones and Production Manager/Wife, Liz Jones, headed across our southern tier of states to film some new epicRIDES titles for their growing customer base.
Their first stop on the trip was Houston, TX, were they visited and rode to Epic Texas Hill Country with Vivian Dunlopan epicRIDES devotee and Spinning® instructor at Lifetime Fitness at CityCentre. Vivian leads a great virtual cycling class at an amazing new facility.
Leaving Houston and driving the LONG way across Texas through El Paso and then on to Tuscon for a couple of days. Here Allen visited with Spinning® Master Instructor Lori Pro, another epicRIDES enthusiast.
Then on to San Diego to hook up with epicRIDES customer/collaborator Mike Henderson and cyclists that were going to star in two epicRIDES productions filmed there.
Mike and his wife, Crystal, were kind enough to host a great pre-production dinner for the San Diego Epic Riders the Saturday before filming commenced. Thanks to them both and particularly Mike for organizing the cyclists and routes!
On Sunday, March 27, Mike and Allen filmedParalympian David Lee riding a gorgeous California coastal route from Oceanside to La Jolla along a busy but gorgeous coastline. David Lee, is a world-class hand cyclist and has competed extensively, including in the Beijing Olympics.
The next day Allen "Spun" with epicRIDES customer, Kimberly Hicks, the owner of Cycle City Studio in Vista, CA. Kimberly led the class on the Epic Tucson - Saguaro East ride. Allen loved the class and Kimberly's AV setup!
Then on Wednesday, March 30, the crew filmed San Diego's Great Western Loop with cyclists Ginger Crutchfield, Adam Beck and Brian Brillo. This iconic ride in the mountains and canyons west of the city is extremely popular with locals and for good reason: it's gorgeous, most of the route is on quiet country roads and, with many great climbs and technical descents, it's quite challenging and epicPLANET can't wait to get to editing this one!
On to Claremont, CA and the filming of the route for the dramatic 7th stage of this year's Amgen Tour of California and L'Etape du California - the climb of Mt. Baldy.
epicPLANET put this ride together with the terrific encouragement, assistance and support of Mark Beckett (husband of Spinning Instructor Shirin) of Claremont, who not only recruited a great group of cyclists but also hosted a wonderful pre-production dinner at their house on Sunday, April 3rd.
epicPLANET filmed the Mt. Baldy climb starting in Glendora on Tuesday, April 5, on what proved to be the best weather day of the several days we were in the area. The riders included: Priscilla P.C. Calderon, Elia Meza, Andrew Bosco, Josh Kerr, Gary Tran and Ernest Villalon. A great team of cyclists!
They are now editing this ride with plans to release it in time for the actual Tour stage date of May 21.
Later that week Allen spun with Shirin Beckett and class at Pedal Spin Studio in Claremont. What a terrific class Shirin leads! Great music, great guidance and great people!
Leaving Claremont, Allen and Liz started their journey back with a quick trip to Sacramento and some scouting in the Napa region. Maybe they will film Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo route next time?
Then on to Moab, UT for additional ride scouting that area and the two National Parks there, Arches and Canyonlands. Their thinking this could be a possible Spring Tour 2012 location?
After Moab, they "blasted" back to Florida, driving 1,600 miles in three days and managing to skirt the worst of the Texas wildfires!
Allen and Liz wanted to send enthusiastic thanks to everyone they worked with and met along the way. It was an EPIC experience for them both!
You can join the "Epic" conversation, hear about new epicRIDES releases and special offers on their web site.
Host of the Indoor Cycle Instructor Podcast - the #1 Internet radio show for and about Spinning / Indoor Cycling Instructors and Cycling Studio owners.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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John,
Great stuff here. Have ridden some in Napa. Would make a great virtual ride.
I’m not sure what is newer, virtual riding or my indoor cycle instructor certificate but, I’ve always kind of wondered, if the DVD is playing why do you need the instructor.
Perhaps there is room at the ICI conference for a one hour session on teaching or taking the virtual ride to the next level. I’d go, so thats one.
What do you think?