Claremont Offers Cyclists More Than Just A Good Climb

CLAREMONT, Calif., May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyclists in Southern California are already very familiar with the Village in Claremont, Calif., as a key starting and finishing spot for a strenuous road circuit along the Glendora Ridge Road through the San Gabriel Mountains. With the Amgen Tour of California coming to Claremont for the first time this spring, cycling enthusiasts worldwide will discover the charm and elegance of this Los Angeles County hideaway.

Claremont will host the start of Stage 7 of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California on May 21, 2011, a nearly 100-mile ride that is expected to begin near the city's historic train depot, climb close to 10,000 vertical feet in elevation, and finish near the ski resort town of Mount Baldy. Amateur cyclists seeking to experience the same road course as the professionals will find Claremont to be an ideal wake-up-and-ride starting point or an evening dine-and-stay experience.  Local cyclists will usually complete the circuit by riding down Mt. Baldy Road into Claremont.

Claremont's five hotel choices range from economy to upscale. Options include the Doubletree Hotel Claremont on Historic Route 66, and the Hotel Claremont and Tennis Club near Interstate 10. The budget-minded cyclist will appreciate the Claremont Lodge or Howard Johnson Express Inn Claremont south of downtown, while the boutique Hotel Casa 425 offers upscale accommodations in the heart of the Claremont Village.

Claremont features more than four dozen cafes and restaurants across a wide range of cuisines, including many locally famous eateries that cyclists and racing fans will appreciate discovering.

A few minutes walking distance to Harvard and Yale avenues from boutique Hotel Casa 425, early morning risers will find locally crafted pastries and coffee at popular Claremont eateries or enjoy midday noshing at local brunch spots peppered throughout the village.  

Claremont is home to a variety of international cuisines and restaurants, while nightlife reigns at numerous hotspots at the College Heights Lemon Packing House  (532 W. First St.), in the Village and throughout the Claremont Public Plaza.  

Cycling fans seeking accommodations during the Amgen Tour of California weekend, May 21-22, are advised to book rooms as early as possible, as Claremont tourism officials expect the city's 450 hotel rooms to sell out.  

Located just 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, the City of Claremont prides itself on being a showcase community in Southern California. Its tree-lined streets, Village shopping districts, five distinctive hotels and spas, and stately college campuses have made it a destination for tourists and locals alike. More information about dining and staying in Claremont can be found at http://www.claremontchamber.org/Visit.74.0.html and http://www.thevillageclaremont.com/.

SOURCE City of Claremont