The third annual Ride the Valley Together event attracted more than 100 bike riders to Sallee Park in San Jacinto to ride together through the valley’s streets, March 21. The unifying event was launched when a parent suggested that Boxing for Christ Coach David Flores partner with the Soboba Bike Crew to ride with the youth.
“When I saw what these young men had done to bring the community together, I wanted to be part of it to make it an annual event,” Boxing for Christ Founder Sonia Ramos said. She and Vincent Arres, SBC Vice President, collaborated to create a free event for the whole community to come together.
“The event is mostly a bike meet-up centered around good food, music, and good vibes,” Arres said. “It is really about bringing people together. We are grateful to everyone who has stepped up to support, donate, and help make the event possible.”
Riders and others were greeted at the park with donuts, Danishes and orange juice at 10:30. Volunteers were on hand to do some serious cooking to treat riders to a filling lunch of tacos, chicken, carne asada and fish with rice and beans after their return. Each rider was awarded a medal for participating. Sonia Lamas with LAMAS Housing Project, a Hemet-based nonprofit, served snow cones and Cynthia Rodriguez brought some delicious cookies from Cynthia’s Sweet Treats.
“Our goal is to bring the community together in a healthy way,” Ramos said. “We want the community to come together and meet people and have a good time. It takes a village to raise these youth and the community and business leaders have shown that they care about the youth in the community.”
She said many of the kids from Boxing for Christ participated this year, some on bikes and some on scooters. “That is why we try every year to give away more bikes,” Ramos said. “There are a lot of kids that don’t have bikes, so they use their scooters, but when they win a bike the next year, they are happy and ready to go on the new bike.”
Arres said e-bikes are allowed as well. “We do encourage our more experienced riders to keep an eye out for fellow riders and help make sure everyone stays safe and together,” he said.
The Ride the Valley Together pedaled off from Sallee Park in San Jacinto, rode out past the Hemet Public Library near Latham Ave. and State St. and then to the Gibbel Park Skate Park on Devonshire Ave. in Hemet before riding back to Sallee Park, where Boxing for Christ is headquartered.
“What I enjoyed most was seeing the community really show up for each other,” Arres said. “Seeing the lowriders, families, kids, businesses (big and small), and riders from different areas all in one place. We had a few small tire issues, but overall, it was a smooth ride. We were getting honks from drivers all through the city showing love—good vibes—and it felt good seeing people get out of the house in a healthy way and just be together.”
Arres gave a big shoutout to San Jacinto Mayor Crystal Ruiz, Mayor Pro Tem Clarisa Sanchez, and Councilmember Valerie Vandever. “They rode the entire ride like champs, and it meant a lot to have leadership out there riding with the community,” he said. “Huge thank you to the San Jacinto City Council as a whole, and to everyone who came out and took the time to spend the day with us.”
Other riders included Wolf Jones, who participated last year as well. He said it’s always been an amazing time for him and his family, who joined him riding last year. “Although this year I was riding on my own, my family followed behind in our car but still enjoy the festivities and the family-friendly environment.” After attending local school with some Soboba Tribal members, he said it was like a full-circle moment to be riding with them as adults now.
Kenny Gonzalez is involved with the Soboba Bike Crew and was glad to be part of the ride for the third time. “They are my good friends,” he said. “We met about four years ago riding bikes and our friendship grew from there. This year’s highlight was seeing the kids riding their bikes with mom or dad or other family members. “It was awesome; it brings the community together,” Gonzalez said.
The Soboba Bike Crew is active all year long, usually meeting two or three times a week. The club started with about nine members and has grown to 20-plus when everyone is out riding together. Charles Resvaloso serves as SBC President, but Arres pointed out that if the leaders aren’t available, other ResLyfrz will step up and run it so everything keeps moving and the group continues riding. Arres said the growth has been amazing to see. He also has seen many families on and off the Soboba Reservation buying more bikes and getting involved. Co-hosting the annual Ride the Valley Together is such a great extension of what the club does.
“We never thought that this event would grow the way it has,” Ramos said. “Now it’s up to Vincent and me to keep this event going every year.” Arres said they are proud of what they are building.
“The kids had a great time receiving medals and prizes and I loved seeing the smiles on everybody’s faces,” Ramos said. “And having city council members involved in the run and the mayor helping was great.”
San Jacinto Councilmember Valerie Vandever has participated in this event since its inception and loves the community outreach and seeing young and old riders come together. She said a highlight was seeing the kids’ faces when they won raffle prizes, including brand new bikes.
“It just gets bigger and bigger every year,” Vandever said. “I am able to ride my heart out and hang out with my community and enjoy the event. The mayor and mayor pro tem also showed up this year, so it was the first time I didn’t ride alone.”
The city advertised the event on social media and through word of mouth.
“It means a lot to see the growth and support around something that started small and continues to bring people and families together in a good way,” Arres said. “Support has continued to grow from the community since the very first ride. It started with the support of our families and Sonia’s family’s support, and from there more people continued to step in. People have been offering to be part of it because they share the same vision and goals of growing something healthy and positive for the community.”
Arres and Ramos are grateful for the businesses, individuals and groups that stepped up to donate and/or participate in this year’s event. They were SEDC/Roadrunner Express, San Jacinto Unified School District and the SJUSD Parent Center, San Jacinto City Council , Hemet Elks Lodge, Soboba Casino Resort, Valeous Law, Familia Car Club, HCSB, LAMAS Housing Project, Native Avenue, Fina Blend, Sevilla Portrait Studios, Chef Anita Morillo from Soboba Kitchen, Ladies are Optimists of Hemet, Orozco’s Taco Man (food vendor), Mike Saenz, Mia Basquez and Bianca Machado.
“We also want to shout out to the other bike crews/teams that came out and showed love, including Cruisin’ & Brew, Block Heads, and Los Frijoleros BMX, along with other local riders,” Arres said. “Some even donated merch and shirts for the raffles for the kids, which was really thoughtful.”
More information can be found on Instagram at res_lyfrz and on TikTok under SBC@reslyfrz. For information on Boxing for Christ, please visit https://boxingforchrist.com.
