Spandex and helmet-wearing cyclists dominated the Capitol as they circulated from booth to booth after valeting their bikes at BikeFest 2009.

As part of a monthlong celebration of bicyclists and Bike to Work Day on Thursday, bike vendors, transit companies and biking teams from around the area set up shop on the steps of the Capitol to inform and encourage both avid and potential cyclists of the benefits of biking and how to get involved in Sacramento's growing bike scene.

"Bike Fest is a great way to promote health and wellness in the community and I'm always happy to see so many cyclists adding up their miles...," said Jennifer Lemos, a representative for Sacramento County Parks and Recreation who attended BikeFest. 

To hydrate and cool down hot and hungry bikers that rode to the festival, Hagen's Orange Freeze and an ice cream station were on hand to give out treats in exchange for printouts of miles logged on bike during May. Cyclists were able to rack up miles by registering at mayisbikemonth.com.

Davis Mayor Pro Tem Don Saylor and Roseville City Councilmember Jim Gray (pictured at podium above), the public faces of Sacramento's month-long bike campaign, presided over the festivities and encouraged Sacramentans to keep on biking.

Natomas Bike Shop provided free bike safety checks, tested brakes, pedals and filled tires with air if needed. Cycle shops, the Bikes and Bites rental company and Trek bike company booth along with more than 40 other vendors hawked the latest and greatest products to fulfill a cyclist’s every whim.

Walking organizations got in on the action too, with organizations like WalkSacramento spreading the message that transportation via bike or foot is not only better for the environment, but is a much healthier alternative as well.

"Forty years ago, around 40 percent of children walked or rode their bikes to school. Now it's only 12 percent," said Terry Preston, the streets project coordinator for WalkSacramento.

The organizers of May is Bike Month set a goal of individual cyclists logging 1 million miles. Schools and employers have been challenged to set goals and exceed them, and awards will be handed out to those who've achieved and surpassed their goals by month's end.

Sacramento is not the first or only city with residents opting to leave their cars at home. There have been been Bike to Work Days for more than 50 years in different parts of the country, according to Erik Johnson, the Public Information Coordinator for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG).

SACOG organized Bike Month and all the surrounding events along with the help of the region’s transportation organizations.

As of Thursday, 6,808 registered cyclists in the Sacramento region have logged more than 740,000 miles with 10 days left in the month to reach the goal of 1 million.

Those who attended went home with complimentary bicycle lights from Spare the Air, maps of local bike routes and, perhaps most importantly, a feeling of camaraderie among fellow bicyclists coming together for a greater Sacramento.

All images taken by Jonathan Mendick