People and Events

Marathon bicycle trips have become quite the thing, and we’re not talking about a jaunt down the Strand to have breakfast in Hermosa Beach.

Some time back there was that research biologist seen strumming down the coast on his way around North and Central America on a bike shaped like a guitar. Another guy passed through town on an around-the-world-in-circles trip, attempting to navigate every arena ever used for Olympic Games. And then there’s that Save Mono Lake group, which each year swipes some water from a reflecting pool in downtown L.A. and pedals several hundred miles north to return it to the big pond from which this city steals its water.

Well, two pair of around-the-world cyclists crossed paths here Friday. Thangavelu Srinivasrao, 27, and Rajasekaran Gnanasekaran, 26, who are from India, say they have covered 37 countries in three years “to promote World Peace and Nuclear Disarmament.”

Meanwhile, Claude and Francoise Herve, 36 and 32, who are studying “the culture, the different religions of the world,” were visiting from France after two-wheeling through a mere 36 countries since 1980. But they were slowed down a bit in New Zealand by the birth of a daughter, Manon, now 6 months old and along for the ride.

The American variety of this type of traveler was perhaps typified by an industrial spray painter from Lomita who stashed his dog, Mitzie, in the saddle bag and set off on a cross-country trip, vowing to set some sort of world record and sell T-shirts on the way. But that was on a motor cycle.

We may not be doing very well in competition with the Japanese these days, but don’t let anyone tell you that Americans are not fine-tuning their more important skills.

A three-week beehive hairdo contest kicks off today at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. The finals are April 15 at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, home of the Valley Girls, who may not be waiting in line for this modeling assignment.

The biggest-and-best competition is being sponsored, for some reason, by a soft drink company.

Two days later, a “lite” cat food is kicking off its nationwide Fit Kitty contest here, featuring a well-known muscle man “personal trainer” and actually offering $5,000 to some feline that looks good in a sweatband. No word on whether the creatures must be named Heather.

The Rodeo Drive Rolls-Royce man has found a way--or perhaps another way--to profit from his run-in with Beverly Hills meter maids.

To mark the first anniversary of his being cited for keeping his showy car out in front of his gallery all day, David Spellerberg plans to parade 100 Rollses through the streets today. In his circles, he notes, “You meet a lot of people who have Rolls-Royces.”

Spellerberg says he also will hand out “Beverly Hills Public Nuisance” citations to people who commit such crimes as trying to return fake Louis Vuitton luggage to the Louis Vuitton shop. Or who park an unattended Yugo overnight.

The profit part, aside from publicity value, comes into play with his announcement that he has trademarked the words “Beverly Hills Public Nuisance.” And will have something to sell.

He might take note from neighboring Hollywood, however, that trademarking a name can sometimes prove to be its own nuisance.