Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "bicycle"

Bike theft, Its flourishing and prospering in Sacramento

2012-02-03T15:40:53Z

They come into the bike shop with eyes darting from corner to corner. You can actually feel their fading hope that at any moment the stolen bike that gave them so much pleasure or secured them a swift passage to their livelihood will miracuosly show up. Then without a hello or how are you, the tragic mental record of loss unfolds. With their face quivering they often confess of the ommision of forgetting to lock up their trusty steed.The carelessness and absent mindedness is afterall a part of modern day life.

If the loss makes them just plain mad the next reaction is to get another bike to make up for the loss but this time its going to be invisible to the common bike thief. the uglification insues as the pain of loss is too great. In hopes to fool the thieves, one often camouflages their next steed by buying a black bike with low grade components or plastering it with so many loud angry stickers that the idea of stripping off all that vinyl would waste the bike theives time and delay the next hijacking of someone elses prized steed.

I dont have the figures of bike theft in Sacramento as they are not attainable. You see 9 out of 10 people never file a police report. Perhaps it is just apathy or a hope if they just forget the loss quickly the pain and aching will go away. But I do know the figures from my shop and I will tell you they can reach as many as 5 in a day. My passion is to get people on a bike and to eliminate car trips from the city streets and replace them with happy trips via the bicycle. That said you can understand how this crime collectively takes a serious toll on not just me but all of us who see Sacramento a better place to live when bicycling becomes a common way of life.

This week alone 2 people I know had 4 and 3 bikes taken at the same time out of back yards and garages. We may have a very organized effort here in strip mining Sacramento of its biking way of life.

As a community we must get tireless about locking up our bikes with not 1 but 2 locks, a cable AND a Ulock of quality. Here is a good article on how to lock up to keep bike thieves moving on to the uneducated fellows "at risk" bike.

http://www.sfbike.org/?theft_locking

It is the hope of this writer to create a tight knit community that puts the bike thief into his own apathy until he gets the help he needs to contribute on a positive level.

Disclosure: yes! I shamelessly sell bicycle locks at Edible Pedal Bike shop and delivery.

Sacramento velodrome project: Pedal fast, turn left

2012-01-08T22:40:58Z

For anyone who ever wanted to take cycling to a new level in Sacramento – or see some exciting bicycle track races – a local group has the answer: build a velodrome.

A velodrome, for those not yet immersed in the world of bicycle racing, is a stadium with a 250-meter oval race track – banked at 25 to 45 degrees – where cyclists race at speeds up to 50 miles per hour in front of nearly 1,000 spectators in the stands.

Most velodromes have track lengths between 150 and 500 meters, according to local cycling coach and bicycle mechanic Dean Alleger.

And, since there are only four velodromes in California (Carson, Encino, San Jose and Los Angeles) – and 22 in the nation – Alleger and a group of cycling enthusiasts want to build one for the Sacramento region.

“I would like to see a place for kids to learn and train,” Alleger said Friday, “and where people can go to see some great races and to ride in some great races.”

Alleger started the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association in 2010 as a nonprofit organization with the goal of raising $4 million to construct and operate a velodrome for local cyclists of all ages and abilities.

A location has already been found – Granite Park near Power Inn Road – and Alleger has raised more than $20,000 for the project. He has even started collecting race bikes to use as rentals for racing in the future velodrome.

Alleger said he sees the project as the start of something big in Sacramento, and a way to get young people into a sport that could – one day – take them to the Olympics.

“We’d host racers from beginners all the way to world class,” Alleger said. “It would be a chance to get kids who really don’t have much to do to learn something exciting and develop skills in a great sport.”

Alleger said, in cycling, the peak age for a professional cycling racer is between 25 to 35 years old, but anyone can learn to ride – and race.

“There would be beginner sessions (at the velodrome) for people to get oriented with the track,” Alleger said, “and there would be sessions for racing. Anyone can do it that wants to give it a try.”

The Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association wants to capitalize on enthusiasm for cycling by hosting national cycling competitions, training adults and youths in track cycling and educating the public about bicycling and fitness, according to a press release Thursday.

As part of the effort to promote the idea of a velodrome, Alleger’s Savage Sprints – an organization that provides cycling coaching and training – has hosted a series of stationary bike races at local bicycle shops and at Hot Italian restaurant at 16th and Q streets.

According to the release, about 1,500 cyclists belong to the more than 50 cycling clubs in the Sacramento valley, and more than 6,700 people in the Sacramento area rode 1.35 million miles during “May is Bike Month.”

“People here ride bicycles – lots of people, lots of bicycles,” Alleger said. “A velodrome would be a big draw here.”

The board of directors at the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association includes Kevin Hedahl, a senior accountant with the American Red Cross who was a collegiate national track champion; Carrie Lo, an investment analyst at a state agency who raced for McGuire Real Estate; Michael Sayers, a two-time member of the U.S. World Championship cycling team; and Larry Wolff, a local cardiologist who has two national track cycling titles and a third-place finish in a world championship race to his credit.

Lo said an important factor in having a velodrome is the focus on fitness.

“Cycling draws people of all ages, shapes and sizes,” Lo said Friday. “A velodrome provides a way to challenge ourselves and our youths to become better in many ways. It’s about getting kids to channel their energy in a new way, or learning something new or just challenging ourselves to get better at something.”

Lo said there have been efforts to get a velodrome in Sacramento in the past, but a variety of hurdles and red tape prevented the idea from getting anywhere.

“One thing different this time is (we are) developing interest at the grassroots level,” Lo said. “We want corporate sponsors, but we also want it to be built from the ground up so we have plenty of community support.”

Hedahl said having a velodrome is also about community.

“People enjoy coming together and watching velodrome racing,” Hedahl said. “We’re kind of like NASCAR – we go in circles and turn left, and it appeals to everyone. If you like cycling, you get to see some great races. If you don’t like cycling, you get to see some fantastic wrecks. Everyone wins.”

Hedahl said the track racing bikes are fixed-gear bikes – that means no brakes – so a sudden stop means a wreck.

“We can’t just stop pedaling after the race,” Hedahl said. “We pedal slower.”

Hedahl said it’s not an expensive sport to get into – but cost is relative.

“I had a friend that built up a bike to race for about $400,” Hedahl said, “and GT makes some cheap track frames that you can pick up used for about $75. Just add wheels and you’re ready to go.”

But, as with anything in cycling, Hedahl said, the price can get steep if you let it.

“You can get a custom Steve Rex frame and spend up to $3,000 or get a carbon fiber frame and spend up to $10,000,” Hedahl said. “Some pros out there spend $3,000 just on a wheel.”

But the price of the bike isn’t the point, Hedahl said. It’s about doing something fun and exciting.

Alleger said that, once financing is in place, the entire velodrome project could be up and ready for racing in about 120 days.

For more information about the velodrome project, visit the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association website.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Expanded bike share program to launch early next year

2011-12-17T01:19:08Z

Midtown’s Ride Your Own Way bicycle share program wrapped up its six-month trial period this week with an average of 20 bicycle rentals per week and plans to significantly expand it under a private company in 2012.

“I think the bike share is a really great program to have in Midtown,” said Midtown Business Association Streetscape Program Manager Niki Fay. “It obviously gives people a way to get around businesses quicker and easier, and the environmental benefits are great.”

The bicycle share program launched in June and provided two locations with six bicycles each that were rented to riders via automated systems. Similar programs are successful in cities such as Washington, D.C., Montreal and Paris.

After a six-month pilot program that saw some vandalism and bicycle theft, MBA and business partners concluded that the system should expand, but under the control of a private business.

The new business, named The Last Mile, will launch in the first quarter of 2012, said founder Aaron Zeff, who also co-owns Priority Parking – which housed the kiosks for the pilot program.

“We learned a lot from the MBA trial, and since MBA doesn’t have the funding ability, we thought we’d try it as a private enterprise to come up with a bike share that would be complementary to our customer base as well as something good for the community.”

The program will use smartphone applications to allow riders to take a bicycle from one area and ride it around the city, dropping it off at any other location, Zeff said. There are plans to have 30 locations with 10 bicycles each, but they will be rolled out slowly throughout the year as the bugs get worked out.

The app will work similar to the way in which Zipcars are rented, he said.

Pricing – though not final – should be around $1 per hour and $10 per day, Zeff said.

“The idea is to promote short use of the bike to get to a destination,” he said. “We don’t want to be competition to a bike rental company for recreational bikers.”

He added that he thinks this is the first program to be privately funded and operated in the country. Most bicycle share programs receive government subsidies or infrastructure, and the end cost of the bicycles can be $6,000 each.

“We’ve drilled that down to under $1,000 because of our system not having infrastructure other than bikes and existing parking facilities,” he said.

Unlike heavy steel bicycles in other cities, bicycles from The Last Mile are all-aluminum three-speeds with internal hub gearing.

The major problems during the pilot program, according to Ikon Cycles owner Adrian Moore – who purchased the bicycles to be used in the pilot program – was that they were targets for thieves because they were not overseen.

To combat that issue, the bicycles will now be housed in parking garages with attendants as well as businesses, so someone can always see them.

“Theft was not a surprise,” Moore said of the pilot program. “The system was not good enough to prevent it.”

Ikon Cycles, near 23rd and J streets, will be one of the early businesses to host a bicycle station in 2012, Zeff said. Another place will be Mexican restaurant Zócalo, where Priority Parking handles valet services, and riders will be able to hand their rented bicycles off to the valets for safekeeping.

“If you have an Internet connection, you can put (a station) in your store,” Zeff said. “It’s a universal locking system, and it’s essentially an iPhone or Android app.”

Initially, the stations will be located in the downtown and Midtown areas, and expansion throughout the city is possible, including stations for college students at Sacramento State.

The Last Mile is named after the problem many users have when using public transit – how to get the first and last mile to their destinations if they are not located near a bus or light rail stop, Zeff said.

With the initial 30 locations to be rolled out slowly, he added that it’s a good opportunity to let the free market influence something for the public good.

“It’s up to the consumer to decide if they want it,” he said.

Fay said she expects the program to be popular, especially with the bicycle culture being a large part of Midtown life.

“The first benefit is how it makes it easier for Midtown residents and visitors to get around town,” she said in an email, adding that other benefits include the air quality of having multimodal transportation and solving the problem of how public transit commuters get from their stops to their final destinations.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Ikon Cycles moves to larger Midtown location

2011-12-13T05:19:45Z

The 3-year-old Ikon Cycles bicycle shop recently relocated from its 18th Street location to a new spot on J Street, finishing construction last week.

Owner Adrian Moore, originally from Portland, came to Sacramento in 2004 and shortly thereafter decided to open a shop similar to the ones in his hometown.

“In Portland, there’s a lot of fiercely independent local stores,” he said. “I think of this shop as being like some of the locally owned ski and snowboard shops.”

The original location, 1126 18th St., was a 500-square-foot space, and Moore said some were skeptical that he could fit a bike shop inside, but it worked well.

Deciding to move to the new location, at 2318 J St., took the shop from what Moore called the best corner in Sacramento, but it meant a space about three times the size for the same price.

“It’s not quite as good for visibility, but it’s a high-traffic area, and I’m hoping as things get better, the foot traffic picks up, too,” Moore said.

The first thing customers see upon entering the shop is a large pipe sculpture Moore created. Coming out from the left wall, the PVC pipes stretch to the ceiling and branch out like a tree, and many have LED light fixtures in red, white and green – the colors of the Italian flag.

“We sell a lot of Italian products in here, so that made sense,” Moore said.

The industrial look to the space is complemented by bamboo benches suspended from the ceiling. A trio of bicycles are set up in the corner to provide state-of-the-art training to cyclists preparing to race or keep up their skills through the winter months.

“The trainer stations are amazingly popular,” Moore said. He added that unlike the more rudimentary Gold Sprints, where riders pedal a stationary bicycle for all they’re worth, the trainer stations at Ikon Cycles accurately simulate terrain, steering, wind resistance and a number of other factors, and video screens in front of the riders give the feel of a virtual tour of some of the famous cycling areas in the world.

“They have a lot of the major climbs, and they have several stages of the Tour de France,” Moore said.

Moore said his shop includes an eclectic mix of bicycles and gear, adding that customers can get everything from introductory bicycles all the way up to professional-grade cycles hand-built in Italy with carbon fiber frames.

“One thing we do that really no one else is doing is custom-fitting you for your bike,” he said, adding that an adjustable bicycle frame allows him to determine the proper size bicycle needed for a customer.

“If you’re riding for four hours, the fit of the bike will really determine whether you keep riding or whether you hang it up in your garage,” he said. “If you’re not comfortable on that bike, you’re not going to ride it.”

A seating area in the front of the shop underscores what Moore said is his priority when it comes to running a business – customer service.

“The only way to survive is by really being there for the customer,” he said. “We give them a place to sit, and we spend probably eight hours with a customer buying a bike before we ever get any cash handed to us.”

Kimio Bazett, co-owner of The Golden Bear bar, said he is a customer of Ikon Cycles and thinks the shop has a personality to it.

“The emphasis on people’s comfort and the feeling of welcoming is something you don’t really see too much of these days,” he said. “Having the living room lounge area where people are encouraged to hang out and get a feel for the place is better than the feeling of ‘buy something or get out.’ ”

Bazett said he bought a used bicycle and took it into Ikon Cycles for a tune-up, and he’s been going back for the past year and a half.

“Adrian (Moore) is part of this new breed of Sacramento entrepreneurs,” Bazett said. “I actually believe he’s not chasing the dollar, but he’s chasing the vision. He’s more interested in the aesthetic and the experience than he is about the bottom line.”

Moore said he enjoys being a part of the community, and he was the purchaser of the bicycles for the Midtown Ride Your Own Way bicycle share program.

Ikon Cycles is open 10:30 a.m. to at least 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 2318 J St.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Bicyclette: Helping women bicyclists learn bicycle repair and maintenance

2011-12-09T04:01:26Z

Bridging the gap between male and female bicycle enthusiasts, female mechanics at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen are helping women learn the technical skills needed to maintain and repair their own bicycles.

Bicyclette is an after-hours session hosted by Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen, located at 1915 I St., that is exclusive to women, transgender and female-identified people, according to Andrea Havelaar, 37, outreach coordinator for the shop.

The free session is held from 6 - 9 p.m. every third Monday of the month.

"In our society, there is the tendency for guys to do things for a woman instead of thinking that she has to do it for herself," mechanic Robin Evans said. The Midtown resident has been working as a bicycle mechanic for three years at Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen.

Through Bicyclette, Havelaar said, women will gain the bicycle mechanic skills and the confidence to make them more comfortable coming to the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen's regular hours.

During the three-hour session, the first hour is usually dedicated to a mini class on a specific bicycle repair or maintenance skill such as fixing a flat tire or brake adjustments, and the remaining two hours are devoted to hands-on work.

Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen is a nonprofit bicycle shop that offers low-cost bicycle maintenance and training to members. As a community-run organization, all workers and mechanics are volunteers. They are funded through $5 daily shop fees or $50 yearly memberships, according to the shop's website.

Havelaar said that the patrons will do the same activities as they would during normal hours at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen – the mechanics will show them how to do maintenance and repairs on their bicycles. Tools are provided at the shop.

"We get college-aged women, middle-aged women with their nieces and even older women in their 60s," Havelaar said.

Bicyclette was created to encourage more women and female-identified bicyclists to come to the shop and learn bicycle maintenance and repair who might be otherwise apprehensive because of a male-dominated bicycling and bicycle mechanic scene, Havelaar said.

"I don't want to make it sound like our normal shop hours are not ideal for female or transgender to come to, because we do get women all the time, it's just not as many as men," Havelaar said. "Some women tend to learn better from other women, and I found that with myself. That was one reason why I wanted to do this and to get this started."

Evans explained that since women in general have longer legs and shorter torsos, a shorter handlebar or a shorter bicycle stem might be some of the parts women need to change on their bicycles for a better fit.

"A lot of times, bicycles were originally made to fit men," Evans said. "In order to have a comfortable ride, you might need to change things up a little bit."

On Sept. 19, the first Bicyclette, 12 patrons attended, which is a lot considering there are only two female mechanics who offer technical assistance: Robin Evans, 29, and Shannon Southwood, 34, both Midtown residents. The last two meetings had only three to four who attended, Havelaar said.

“Our male staff is also very supportive of Bicyclette as they would also like to see more female mechanics and more females getting into cycling in general,” Havelaar said.

For more information on Bicyclette, visit www.sacbikekitchen.org.

Bike & Build Coming to Davis

2011-07-27T18:54:15Z

On August 8, a team of 32 college students from across the country will arrive in Davis, CA on bicycle. Not an unusual sight for such a bike-friendly town. However, these cyclists are traveling with Bike and Build, a non-profit that organizes cross-country bicycle trips which benefit affordable housing groups. Each team member raised $4,000 on their own to participate in this trip.

The South Carolina team left Charlotte, SC on May 23 and is quickly approaching the Sacramento area on bicycle. Their trip has taken them through from coast to coast, through 13 states, stopping in Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Oregon to build homes for families in need. The trip of 4,143 miles officially ends in Santa Cruz on Thursday, August 11.

One member of the team is Ramon Martinez from Fresno County, now a student at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. After graduating from high school, Ramon entered Sacramento State University on a scholarship. As a student, he volunteered with Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and eventually managed the Food Assistance program. This is where I met Ramon and volunteered alongside him bagging groceries and serving the community. Ramon later decided to volunteer for a year of service through the AmeriCorps NCCC program. After finishing his commitment to AmeriCorps, he transferred to Viterbo. While he is a student, he is also volunteering in various programs. He completed two major service trips this year to Louisiana and South Dakota.

Ramon is majoring in Sociology with minors in Spanish and Latin American studies. He is deeply committed to service groups and non-profit organizations. His goal for the next summer is to study abroad.

Please consider joining me to celebrate Ramon’s accomplishments of building and biking across the US on August 8 at 6pm for a barbeque and celebration at the United Methodist Church in Davis, CA. You can meet many other Bike and Build participants, including Sacramento native Sarah Spezia, and hear their stories about what it’s like to bicycle across the country, making stops along the way to help others.

United Methodist Church
1620 Anderson Road
Davis, CA 95616

Disclosure: Pat McManus is a fellow volunteer at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Bike share program stumbles and evolves

2011-07-19T00:18:35Z

Sacramento’s Ride Your Own Way bike share program suffered a setback when three bicycles were stolen earlier this month, but organizers said they are going forward with an updated system, and new bicycles will soon be ordered.

“Someone stole a credit card and used that to check out the bikes,” said Midtown Business Association Executive Director Rob Kerth. “We’ve made some changes to how people have to validate the credit card, so we’ll be able to tell if it’s the right person.”

The program, which launched June 11, allows bicycles to be rented from one of two kiosks in Midtown – one at the Priority Parking lot at 16th and I streets and one at the Priority Parking lot at 27th and J streets. Renting a bicycle is free for the first 30 minutes, and a $2 per half hour charge is applied after that, and bicycles must be returned to their original spots once the riders are done with them.

“It’s great for people who want to use bikes to go shopping or go to lunch or things like that,” said Adrian Moore, owner of Ikon Cycles and purchaser of the original 12 Bianchi Milano eight-speed bicycles.

Click here to read a previous in-depth story on the bicycle sharing program.

The program was set up as a six-month pilot to determine the feasibility of doing it on a larger scale, similar to programs in Montreal, Paris and Washington, D.C.

“My first impression of it is that it seems to be working pretty well,” Kerth said. “It’s maybe (getting) a little less (use) than what I’d thought, but we’ve yet to hit our stride.”

Kerth said there have been 43 bicycle rentals, and several of those have been from return users. Saturdays are the most popular days for the rentals, but he said people use them every day.

The average checkout time is about two hours, and Kerth said feedback has been positive, with people saying the system is easy to use and affordable.

“We’re looking forward to when we start having more kiosks, assuming it goes well and people like it,” Kerth said.

Moore said he is happy with the amount of usage and said there would have been more rentals had the service not been shut down for a couple of weeks following the theft. The shutdown was so better theft countermeasures could be put in place.

One of the countermeasures is to only allow two bicycles to be checked out on one credit card at a time.

Currently, the bicycles at the J Street location are back and available for checkout, while the I Street station’s bicycles are still in storage until the three stolen ones can be replaced.

“We’re just waiting on the check from the insurance company,” Moore said.

Moore added that he thinks the theft was not a trend, but more of an isolated incident.

“We went three weeks without a single theft, and we had no vandalizing of the bikes or parts stolen off them,” he said. “It’s just one (person) that sort of ruined it.”

If theft continues to be a problem as it has been with personal bicycles in Midtown, Moore said there are other options to counter the threat.

One option is to set up a subscription-based service, which would cause lag time from when people initially sign up to when they can check out a bicycle for the first time.

Another option, he said, is to partner with the city and install kiosks in parking garages where a guard is on-site 24 hours per day.

“They already have someone paid to be there, and they will probably be willing to give up one parking spot for the bikes,” Moore said. “That’s a route that would be easy to do and would prevent vandalism and theft.”

And that’s why Ride Your Own Way is still in its pilot phase, Moore said.

“That’s the whole point in doing this,” he said. “We might lose a little bit, but we learn tons.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Local Adventure on a Schwinn Tango Tandem.

2011-07-05T02:44:13Z

July 2011/Edition1 – Three Japanese places barely on your radar.
Location – Downtown 10th, 11th &12th Streets, between Broadway & R.

Summer is here. It’s hot. Tomato plants are hitting their stride – if you listen hard enough you can practically hear them growing inches by the hour. But it’s still early for the Early Girls, and it’s too hot to cook. So, time to take the cruiser for a spin and see what we can find.

R Street has new restaurants and is usually hopping. The city is repaving this neglected corridor and restoring the historic rail. (If only they would put a trolley on it.)

What's this? The new Shoki Ramen House!

Their first location off 2nd Ave near Crepeville always has a line out the door – definitely a sign of good food (and limited seating). This place specializes in ramen noodles which I like better than udon noodles. And there's no fish involved. These folks focus on one thing and do it well … reminds me of Tampopo – a Japanese “spaghetti western” from the late 80s. A look at the short menu and moderate prices ($8) assures me Shoki– like the movie – doesn't take itself too seriously. I slurped the noodles loudly and enjoyed every miso-flavored bite.

Back on the bike, we cruised to Fremont Park and found we had worked up a thirst. So we headed for the best snow cones in town – Osaka-Ya at 10th and V. The window on the left serves up the colorful cones and various other frozen treats. You may wait a bit, but the secret of their success is the fresh ice shaved-to-order. Inside the shop you can fine a variety of Japanese foodstuffs. Osaka-Ya’s other unique offering is authentic mochi – sweet rice paste stuffed with sweet fillings such as peanut butter (not ice cream).

We continued south on 10th street toward the city cemetery -- always a meaningful place for a bike ride and full of lively twists and turns on narrow lanes. We made our escape from the land of the inliving, exiting onto Riverside and ran into Yorozu Oriental Gifts (next to Target). This shop has been here since the 50s and is the place for all things Japanese: dishes, chop sticks, origami kits, cards, dolls, kites, books, magazines, etc.. I bought a carp wind sock called a Koi Nobori and tried on a pair of wooden geta (sandals). Browsing slowly through the store I almost thought I was in Tokyo for a moment ... it was a great way to end a local adventure on a hot afternoon.

Until next time, keep it low and slow…

RAAM UPDATE: Team SacPD on final push through the Appalachians

2011-06-24T19:26:29Z

Team SacPD is on their home stretch. “Group B is on the way to meet group A for our final day of racing. On the way to the finish line!” was sent out on the team’s Twitter feed Friday morning.

Having cycled just over 2,820 since Saturday afternoon’s start, Team SacPD has just 176 miles to go, however, embedded photographer Kati Garner stated, “…the last day of RAAM is not an easy ride for the racers…..they are in the Appalachians, full of ascents and descents for miles and miles.”

Team SacPD is the first all police officer team in the history of Race Across America (RAAM), fully comprised of police officers from the Sacramento Police Department doing the race on their personal vacation time with a goal to bring support and recognition to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

“The Sacramento Police Department is embarking on a unique adventure that will bring national attention to the nearly 19,000 law enforcement officers who have been killed while protecting the communities of this nation,” Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel stated.

The Chief further stated, “On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 53 hours. As a racing member of Team SPD, I encourage you to help us at the Sacramento Police Department honor America’s law enforcement officers as we work to commemorate the sacrifice of our fallen comrades.”

As the team rides their final leg Friday, the time clock is shadowed by their passionate mission. Todd Carr, crew person, stated “it is stressful because of tough navigation, little sleep and the climbs. This past week has taken a toll on our racers. We can’t see the end of the tunnel because we have major mountains in our way.”

As the team members trade off in the relay, they’re able to get messages from the crew members who are monitoring their Facebook and Twitter feeds. You are able to cheer them on through this last leg by messaging them directly.

TeamSacPD’s Twitter: CLICK HERE>>
TeamSacPD’s Facebook Fan Page: CLICK HERE>>

Meet the entire team volunteer support crew at their RAAM web site>>

RAAM UPDATE: It's all downhill from here

2011-06-21T06:49:28Z

It’s all downhill from here… so to speak. Monday, in the Race Across America, Team SacPD concurred their highest elevation climb of the race. With their climb to nearly 11,000 feet above sea level Monday, the team has climbed a total of 55,952 vertical feet since the start of the race Saturday.

From this point, the majority of the race is downhill except for a few smaller elevations climbs later in the race.

At the time of this posting, the team is skirting the southern part of Colorado and is about half way across the state. At this point they have traveled almost 1,030 miles and have about 1,969 miles to go.

The only significant challenge reported today was a racers blown tire shortly after the start of the day.

RAAM UPDATE: Team SacPD has strong second day

2011-06-20T07:14:00Z

Sunday was a long but rewarding day for Team SacPD in their second day of Race Across America. The team traversed north east through Arizona and at the time of this posting they are just north of Tuba City heading toward Utah.

Team SacPD is now 33 hours into the race and have traveled over 615 miles. They have climed a total of 32,744 vertical feet and are presently around 5,000 feet above sea level and will reach around 11,000 feet in this assent.

The day was not without challenges. Early in the day one of the riders wasn't feeling well and had to sit out several relay rotations, but later returned to the race reportedly doing well. The same van that broke down Saturday developed mechanical trouble again Sunday near Sedona, Arizona, forcing the team to shuffle some crew and gear around.

Overall, the crew and team remain strong and in good spirits. They have aproximately 2,381 miles to go.

RAAM Update: Team SacPD starts strong Saturday afternoon

2011-06-19T06:10:01Z

Team SacPD, started the Race Across America (RAAM) Saturday afternoon. Starting from the pier in Oceanside, they already peddled over 170 miles with just under 2,830 to go at the time of this post. They have cumulatively climbed 8,789 vertical feet and reached a top elevation just over 4,000 above sea level.

The team is now commencing a stretch in the race where over the next 750 miles they will ascend to an elevation of over 10,000 feet above sea level. Until they reach that elevation, they will be on a consistent climb with few brief downhill breathers.

Shortly after the races start, one of the teams vans with relief riders on board, broke down with radiator issues. “1st crisis! One van died…. We will be flexible and work through it,” the team stated on their Facebook page.

And they're off... Team SacPD starts trek across America Saturday

2011-06-18T20:19:36Z

Oceanside, CA | Team SacPD starts pedaling across America, a 3,000 mile trek, at 2PM today and will end in Annapolis, Maryland.

The first all police team to compete in the Race Across America (RAAM), Team SacPD, entirely comprised of officers from the Sacramento Police Department, assembled in Oceanside over the past few days, prepping and taking care of last-minute details heading into the big start at 2PM Saturday in Oceanside.

Team SacPD is riding to raise awareness of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. “The eight member SPD Team will raise money and bring media attention to the National Law Enforcement Memorial, Washington DC. Working with the hundreds of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies along the route, Team SPD will honor law enforcement officers killed by carrying their names, visiting local and state memorials, and encouraging media coverage of our efforts,” Chief Rick Braziel stated.

Friday the team was busy with preparatory activities: Chief Braziel and another officer were interviewed for a documentary of their RAAM experience, per embedded Maverick Photographer, Kati Garner. Teams also went to see the first part of the race and posed for team and individual photos. Participant support vehicles were inspected yesterday as well as their bikes, shoes and helmets for safety.

For more information about Team SacPD, read their bios and learn more about their mission, you can visit their site here>>

Follow Team SacPD’s progress here>>
locate Team Sacramento Police in the category dropdown menu on the top right.

More photos from Friday>>

TeamSacPD's Facebook Page>>

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Bicycle sharing up and running

2011-06-15T00:15:20Z

Sacramento’s bicycle-sharing program in Midtown commenced at 4 p.m. Friday. Riders can rent bicycles for free for 30 minutes, and for $2 per half hour after that at automated kiosks.

The program is a six-month pilot that is privately funded. At the end of the pilot, organizers will determine if and how it should expand.

Currently, two locations are set up – one in the Priority Parking lot at 16th and I streets, and one in the Priority Parking lot at 28th and J streets.

For the full Sacramento Press story, click here.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Bridge over tracks to connect Curtis Park, Land Park

2011-06-14T00:53:50Z

Residents will get a chance to see the design of a planned pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the railroad between Curtis Park and Land Park Wednesday night.

The city’s project team will give a construction update at the Sierra 2 Center for the Arts and Community, 2791 24th St., at 6 p.m. ~~6:30 p.m~~ . Wednesday

The bridge is designed to give pedestrians and cyclists safe access over the railroad tracks from the light rail stop at Sacramento City College near the intersection of 24th Street and Sutterville Road.

“Currently, pedestrians and bicyclists must use Sutterville Road to travel between Curtis Park and the light rail station,” according to a Department of Transportation newsletter. “This multi-lane, high-speed roadway makes walking and bike riding a risky and inconvenient way to travel.”

Click here to see the city's map of the area.

According to the newsletter, the elevated track crossing will be 12 feet wide, with concrete railings and access shields to give riders and walkers enough space for safe two-way traffic.

Engineers will be able to begin the design phase in July, when the environmental phase is completed. A grant of $500,000 was received from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, and no funding is coming from the city’s general fund, which is currently $39 million in the hole as City Council attempts to balance spending and revenues.

Sacramento Department of Transportation spokeswoman Linda Tucker said the project is a candidate to receive Proposition 1B funds from SACOG.

“The city should succeed in getting the money to build it,” she said in an email Monday. “It’s really a ‘feel-good’ project that will get students and RT riders from Point A to Point B in the safest, most direct fashion.”

The design phase is expected to be completed in 2012.

Currently, the design includes using both ramps and staircases to access the elevated crossing. Ramps will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and stairs might have small ramps incorporated into them that would allow cyclists to push their bicycles up the stairs if they don’t want to use the longer ramps.

The approach ramps are 400 feet long on either side of the 300-foot span over the railroad tracks.

The project goes back to 2006, when a feasibility study was funded as the city looked to link the already pedestrian-oriented Curtis Park and Land Park neighborhoods and provide better access to public transit, according to Tucker.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Editorial Note: A correction has been made to this story after it was published. The incorrect information has been struck out and the correct information has been added.

Seersucker Ride by Sacramento Tweed June 26

2011-06-04T00:05:03Z

About 200 people are expected to don seersucker clothes for the upcoming Seersucker Ride by Sacramento Tweed, where a bicycle ride, a picnic and culture will intersect.

The ride was delayed from this weekend to June 26 due to unusually wet weather.

“I love that it allows people to come together and meet each other,” said organizer Rick Houston. “Lots of people in town are interested in cycling ... and this gives everyone an opportunity to meet.”

The riders will meet at 11 a.m. June 26 in front of Revolution Wines and Temple Fine Coffee and Tea at 29th and S streets.

Riders bedecked in their finest seersucker outfits – summer is (usually) too hot for tweed, after all – will assemble, though seersucker is not required.

“We’re not a fashion ride, we’re a costume ride,” Houston said, adding that the idea was hatched in London in 2009 before spreading to Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Sacramento. “The emphasis is just to have a really good time.”

“Even if Sunday turns out to be a gorgeous day, with us having a picnic, we don’t want the ground to be all wet,” Houston said.

The ride will leave 29th and S at noon June 26 and head to William Land Park, where the hour-and-a-half to two-hour picnic will be held. Cupcakes from Icing on the Cupcake and gourmet popsicles from Fat Face will be available, and local band The Alkali Flats (for music samples click here) will play, Houston said.

Riders will then take the riverside trail to the Crocker Art Museum, Third and O streets, where a group rate of $8 per ticket has been worked out, and the courtyard will be open to bicycle parking. Finally, the ride will conclude at de Vere’s Irish Pub, 15th and L streets.

The ride is free, and for those who don’t want to pack a picnic lunch, Revolution Wines is opening an hour early to sell sandwiches to the cyclists.

“It’s great exposure for us, and it’s a unique, fun thing,” Revolution Wines co-owner Gina Genshlea said. “The whole thing is to be part of the community and be a part of something everyone enjoys.”

The ride is not strenuous, and in other events over the past two years, people have come who have not been on a bicycle in 15 years, said Erin Houston, Rick Houston’s wife.

“The ride is free, and it’s open to everyone,” she said. “We try to make sure that at all of our stops people can bring their kids, and we have a wide age range as well as families and single people.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Bicycle-sharing program coming to Midtown

2011-06-02T01:21:12Z

Sacramentans will soon be able to borrow bicycles in Midtown for free – if they’re fast – or for a nominal fee as a group moves forward with a pilot bicycle-sharing program that will launch by June 11.

Starting small with just 12 bicycles for a six-month trial, Ride Your Own Way allows anyone with a credit card to rent a bicycle from an automated station, which organizers say is perfect for the Midtown and downtown lifestyle.

Renting a bicycle is free for the first 30 minutes, and a $2 per half hour charge is applied after that.

“I see this having many uses,” said Rob Kerth, Executive Director of the Midtown Business Association, which is a partner in the endeavor. “Folks who don’t have a bike but don’t want to deal with parking at lunchtime would be a perfect example.”

Similar programs are in place at other cities, including Washington, D.C., and Paris.

The pilot program will run for six months, after which it will be evaluated, according to Kerth, who added that no concrete date for the evaluation has been set.

“If people get behind it, we’ll definitely grow it, but if they yawn and walk away, probably not,” he said, adding that there are no plans to scrap the program after six months.

If the program grows, he said he can also see having rental stations at light rail and bus stops, which office workers commuting on public transit could use to ride to their offices, where they would be able to drop the bicycle off at a nearby station.

For now, cyclists who rent at stations located within the Priority Parking lots at 28th and J streets and 16th and I streets must return the bicycles where they picked them up.

Watch the video below, where Kerth explains how the system works.

The $200 authorization is not charged to your credit card, but is only on hold until the bicycle is returned, at which point the actual cost is charged.

Kerth said he has used the system in Washington, D.C., which he described as very extensive, with more than 50 rental kiosks.

The idea was floated within the city of Sacramento as many as 10 years ago, according to City Councilman Steve Cohn, but it was never officially proposed.

Cohn said he was again looking into a similar program a year ago, but on a larger level, and finding a sponsor proved difficult.

“It’s kind of a pilot program to see how it works and can maybe grow into something similar to Washington, D.C., and Paris,” Cohn said. “If it’s promising, it can grow. Obviously, we’d like to add more downtown and closer to the Capitol and City Hall.”

As the program grows, Cohn said it makes the most sense to focus on the central city, but he can also see it expanding to the farther reaches as well if it is embraced by the community.

The Bianchi Milano eight-speed bicycles were provided by Midtown bicycle shop Ikon Cycles, 1126 18th St.

“I had some extra money and I thought it was kind of an investment in Sacramento,” Ikon Cycles owner Adrian Moore said. “I’d like to see a private entity be able to run it and profit from it, but the reality is there really is very little profit in bike share programs.”

Moore said he expects the six-month program to help determine if it’s feasible for a private business to run it, but he said it makes sense to partner with the city or have a nonprofit organization run it.

“I’m just afraid that if it’s run only by a private company, and it goes away, that it will never come back,” he said.

Currently, there is no city money in the program.

Moore bought the bicycles on close-out from Bianchi for $4,000, including accessories, he said, and the MBA spent about $3,000 in construction costs at the sites, which were donated by Priority Parking, Kerth said. He added that Curb Systems donated the equipment at the sites that holds and releases the bicycles.

Cohn said he thinks the city would be willing to donate some of the public right of way spaces it controls to future kiosk locations, but he doesn’t think a private entity alone will be able to run the program on a large scale.

Kerth said partnering with the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments or Regional Transit would make sense, and they might be able to write grants for the program.

“It wouldn’t take very much at all to keep this going,” Kerth said. “Sacramento is great bicycle country. We have tree-lined streets, it’s flat and the weather is great for it.”

He added that Sacramento has an air quality problem, and for every person who would ride light rail from Folsom and grab a bicycle from a convenient station, it would save a roughly 40-mile commute and cut down on traffic and parking congestion.

Moore, originally from Portland, said he hopes a program like this one can work with zip cars and other infrastructure projects, including the planned downtown bicycle lanes, to make the city less reliant on cars.

One concern with the program is bicycle theft, which is a significant problem in the area.

Currently, the bicycles are being modified to prevent theft, and locks might or might not be provided as the program moves forward.

“It’s difficult with the locks,” Moore said, adding that locks have been purchased and will initially be included with the bicycles, and renters will be able to set their own combinations.

“I’m not sure that’s going to work as it goes forward,” he said. “We’ve got a lot to figure out in the six months, but I can see it going to a lock rental system too, especially if we could get a vending machine company to donate to us.”

For helmets, riders are encouraged to bring their own, but Moore said he will be renting them out of his shop for a low rate, possibly around $3 per day.

The program in Paris, which is coming up on its fourth anniversary, has proven very successful, according to a March press release from city officials.*

Since its inception, bicycles have been rented close to 100 million times, according to the release, which adds that in that time, riders have traveled enough to circle the world 8,000 times, save 44,000 tons of CO2 emissions and burn calories equivalent to 10 million hamburgers.

*Editor’s note: Press release translated from French by Brandon Darnell.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Registrations now open for BIke Kitchen's third annual scavenger hunt

2011-05-28T01:01:13Z

The Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen is pleased to announce that registrations are (finally) open for the third annual "Hunt the Grid" bicycle scavenger hunt. This year's hunt promises to be the best yet, with more prizes, more teams, and more clues to suss out and items and places to hunt for! Test your knowledge of midtown and downtown and your eagle-eyes against the Bike Kitchen's volunteer huntmasters!

That's not all; Hunt the Grid III will segue into a special fifth anniversary Second Saturday party at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen! After five years of operation across two Sacramento locations, a tremendous group has come together to wish the Kitchen well on its next five years. The Alkali Flats and Cooper McBean will be coming back to play at the nonprofit shop, and Duder Manor will be showing off some wonderful art. And New Belgium Brewing, superhero brewery of the first Hunt the Grid afterparty, is back with plenty of beer to quench after-hunt thirsts and one-of-a-kind promotional materials like their mobile silk screener!

To register a team for the scavenger hunt, e-mail register@sacbikekitchen.org with the name of your team and team members.

All prospective hunters must be 18 years or older to play, limit four per team.

In a nod to the sluggish economy, the registration fee this year is $10 per team, due at sign-in.

Each team will need a way to carry small items around on bike and a digital camera or phone and are encouraged to bring sunscreen and water.

Registration and sign-in start at 1:00 PM at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen (1915 I Street); the hunt begins at 2:00 PM and ends at 5:30 PM.

The SBK Fifth Anniversary Second Saturday party starts at 6:00 PM.

All proceeds from the Hunt the Grid scavenger hunt and Fifth Anniversary party will benefit the 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen, an organization dedicated to providing low-cost do-it-yourself bicycle maintenance to all bicyclists and prospective bicyclists in the Sacramento area.

Bike food delivery service opens retail store

2011-05-27T00:32:36Z

Bicycle food delivery service Edible Pedal has opened a Midtown retail store with an emphasis on helping new cyclists, repairing bicycles and providing locally produced gear.

The shop opened Jan. 1 in the Alley between L Street and Capitol off 17th Street, next to Old Soul Co. Originally, Edible Pedal was solely a food delivery service.

“This is the perfect location,” said owner John Boyer. “We get a lot of foot traffic through here, and people are taking the time to look at the (business) signs and see what’s around them. When they drive down the major streets, you don’t really get that.”

The first products for sale were bicycles on consignment, and it expanded from there. Business now includes bicycle gear, used bicycles and numerous items made by local artisans with cycling themes.

“We really want to include the community in the shop and have this be their shop,” Boyer said.

Locally produced items include wallets made from tire inner tubes, bicycle saddle bags and clothing repurposed for cyclists.

Amanda Carroll is a seamstress who lives in Sacramento and designs the clothing that riders can wear that doesn’t get caught in chains and other moving parts, Boyer said.

Carroll said she was getting burned out doing alterations on other people’s clothes. She and friend Brad Gleed, who works at the shop, hatched the idea of repurposing existing clothing for cyclists.

“He told me some of the things he wants as a cyclist, like pockets and adjustments for pants, and I interpreted his ideas and ran with them,” she said. “It rekindled my interest in sewing.”

Repurposing existing clothes has always been an interest of hers, she said, and she likes the idea of reusing them.

“It’s been great,” she said. “I’ve never had my clothes up in a shop before, and they have been so generous with the space and encouraging me to make more things, and I get a lot of good feedback.”

To visit the website of her company, Duso, click here.

Boyer said business has been good, and more people are getting into cycling, especially in Midtown.

Taking sustainability a step further, Boyer said he organizes rides to nearby farms on weekends, and riders can set off at a gradual pace to enjoy the scenery as well as pick up farm-fresh produce grown locally at places like Soil Born Farms.

With commuters’ and tourists’ needs in mind, Boyer said the shop also provides repair services to bicycles.

Boyer repaired bikes for four years at The Bike Kitchen before starting Edible Pedal, and he said he likes to keep older bicycles on the road.

“We fix bikes, and we refit them to add baskets and make them more usable for people who want to take them to get groceries or commute to work,” Boyer said. “We’re not anti-car, but we prefer using the car less.”

He said another benefit to the baskets is that they allow riders to use them for travel and camping.

An overnight cycling/camping trip is scheduled for June 25 at Negro Bar on Folsom Lake, and Boyer said to check the website for details on a workshop beforehand as well as event details when they become available.

Bicycles in the store go from $125 for a basic ride to $3,000 for a slightly used custom bicycle.

“Whatever it is, you’re getting a good value for it,” Boyer said. “We’re not here to gouge anyone.”

Meredith Shippam, a 24-year-old barista at next-door Old Soul Co., said her boss bought her a bicycle when the shop first opened, and the shop has provided great service to her.

“Anything you need, they take care of,” she said. “I also like that they have free bike valet, so you can have them lock up your bike instead of chaining it to some random fence somewhere. It makes me feel better about leaving it.”

She added that she likes that they bring a passion for cycling to the area.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Amgen Tour of California coming to Sacramento

2011-05-11T00:57:43Z

Some of the world’s top bicyclists will be racing into Sacramento Monday to finish the second stage of the sixth annual Amgen Tour of California at the Capitol.

Racers will enter Sacramento from the northern city limits on Sorrento Road to Main Avenue, then head to Highway 160, where they will then enter the central city on 12th Street, according to Department of Transportation spokeswoman Linda Tucker. For the race route and road closures, click the interactive map below.

View Amgen Tour of California Route in a larger map

“You’ve got the opportunity to watch some of the best athletes in the world ply their trade,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, which owns the race. “It’s free, and that’s one of the great things about cycling.”

The race is one of the largest in the world, Messick said, adding that it joins the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia in notoriety.

Racers are in 19 teams of between 13 and 30 riders each, and Messick said they are typically the same teams that will race in the Tour de France, which takes place in July.

The overall champion is the rider who completes the approximately 800-mile course from Lake Tahoe to Southern California in the least overall time, and there are also winners of each of the eight individual stages.

“It’s a great opportunity to see the incredible diversity of terrain you have in the state of California,” Messick said. “It never fails to amaze me.”

Messick said he the race will traverse mountainous terrain as well as flat land and urban areas.

Riders will be entering the circuits around the Capitol around 3:15 or 3:30 p.m., Messick said, and once the stage is completed at the Capitol, there will be an after party.

The event consistently draws more people each year, Messick said.

“Cycling clearly is continuing to grow every year,” he added. “More people participate, people buy more bikes, and we think it’s fantastic because cycling is an extraordinary activity and a great mode of transportation.”

Local riders can get a chance to ride with riders of the Liquigas-Cannondale team by showing up at 10 a.m. at Mike’s Bikes, 1411 I St., according to Manager Brian Durling.

“It’s the (squad) that’s not racing that day,” he said. “Everyone can come. It’s a mellow-pace ride that’s going to leave at 11 (a.m.) and ride up the bike trail for 15-20 miles and be back here in Sacramento to watch the finish.”

Durling said the tour being in town always generates buzz and excitement about cycling.

“Since it started coming here, we see more and more people excited about it every year,” he said. “It’s definitely good for business.”

Durling said it’s hard to quantify how good it is for business, with May being Bike Month and the weather improving, when people typically tend to buy bicycles anyway.

“I’m excited they have some Northern California mountain stages where they’re actually in the mountains instead of rolling down the foothills or the SoCal coastal mountains,” he said.

When it comes to Sacramento, Durling said it is interesting to see them riding through the streets in person, as opposed to watching other cycle races on TV. “We see them riding on the roads we ride on,” he said.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Drawing America by Bike: Cycling through the recession

2011-04-19T00:23:41Z

With a string of dead-end jobs taking him nowhere despite having a master’s degree from Rutgers, Eric Clausen decided to ride his bicycle around the country, documenting what he sees and the people he meets through sketches.

“New York is kind of a terrible place for young artists,” the 26-year-old Clausen said. “There’s plenty of art to look at, but there are almost no opportunities. I was kind of miserable and decided to just hit the road.”

He sold almost everything he owned and started in Brooklyn on Sept. 5. He arrived in Sacramento this weekend.

A run-in with a bicycle gang, a fall that cut his arm so badly he had to stitch himself up and a night spent in an improvised shack are a few of the stories he tells in his blog, Drawing America by Bike.

His blog drives the primary funding for the trip, and with a budget of $20 - $30 per week, he said he almost has enough to finish out the journey's remaining seven months.

“If they send me $5, I send them a postcard,” Clausen said, adding that the link to the donation page is on his blog.

He travels light – with three sets of clothing, a few sketchbooks, a metal box of pens and pencils, an iPhone and a few other odds and ends that fit in a backpack smaller than many college students lug for a single day of classes.

“I spend a lot of nights camping, and I find some places through Couch Surfing and Warm Showers, a site like that for cyclists,” he said.

Clausen arrived in Sacramento on his way to Carson City and Reno, after which he will loop back to the coast and head north.

“This is one of the coolest places I’ve been,” he said Monday afternoon. “It’s got a great bike and art culture, and the drivers are really good and make way for you.”

He said bicycle lanes are far more frequent on the West Coast, and the drivers are more aware of cyclists.

Clausen made a stop in Sacramento because he was contacted by Mike Flanagan, owner of local music label Bad Current Records.

Flanagan found Clausen’s blog and started reading because it was something he’d wanted to do, but didn’t think would be practical.

“It’s such an undertaking just to think about doing that,” Flanagan said. “Just to even be able to figure out how you’re going to map something like that and take a year to bike around the States, it’s impressive.”

Flanagan, who knows what road life is like from a musician’s standpoint, offered Clausen a place to stay and shower.

“I trusted him, and he seemed like a good guy,” Flanagan said. “I know that it’s nice to have a place to stay, since you don’t want to have to pay for a hotel just to use a shower and some other amenities. You can’t afford it.”

Clausen joined Flanagan and some friends at Luigi’s Slice in Midtown and spent a lot of time biking around the city Monday afternoon.

“It’s amazing how easy it is to get around here,” Clausen said.

When it comes to sketching, Clausen said he rarely draws the touristy locations, preferring to sketch people and oddball objects he spots on the road.

“I drew some of Joshua Tree (National Park), but I usually just draw interesting people I meet,” Clausen said.

In the photo above, Clausen drew a couple of cyclists he came across in Los Angeles. One woman rode with a birdcage on her handlebars, and a man had a chainsaw stuffed into his backpack.

Oftentimes, Clausen arrives in a town without knowing where he will sleep, but he’s learned to ask about campsites at police stations and from other “bike hobos.”

That was how he met a newly formed bicycle gang in Tennessee.

“I saw these guys out in a front yard,” he said. “They had bikes, and as I got closer, I saw they were all wearing the same thing – army fatigues with cut-off sleeves and jeans shorts and combat boots or flip-flops.”

They had just purchased their bicycles a few days earlier, and they invited him to stay with them – and he eventually spent the night in one of their cars, which was full of fast food wrappers and half-burned incense sticks.

Looking back on seven months – and 7,700 miles – Clausen said the initial challenge was the physical demand of traveling 70 - 110 miles per day, but the later stages of the trip demanded more mentally than physically.

“I don’t listen to music when I ride because I want to hear the cars,” he said. “I end up playing games and making up songs as I ride.”

He also counts things – like alligators in the Florida Everglades. Over a period of an hour and a half in December, he counted 230 alligators sunning themselves.

He said he calls his girlfriend for normal conversation, since he otherwise ends up having the same basic conversations over and over with people he meets on his travels.

The trip will eventually be the basis for a graphic novel he wants to publish, he said. It will be expanded from his blog, which is typically short since he writes from his smartphone.

Having reached the halfway point of the trip, he said he doesn’t think about the future and the uncertainty that lies ahead.

“Almost nothing in my life is certain,” he said. “I’m just enjoying the trip. I always knew I wanted to take a trip and see America, but I never thought that trip would be on a bike.”

Clausen leaves Sacramento Tuesday and said he expects to be in Carson City on Wednesday. To see him describe his route and a little bit of his travels, watch the video below.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @brandon_darnell.

More bicycle access coming to downtown

2011-04-13T23:25:28Z

Downtown Sacramento is going to get more bicycle-friendly over the next year and a half, as the City Council gave the nod for the Department of Transportation to begin planning more bicycle lanes for downtown streets Tuesday night.

“The intent of the project is to create bike lanes on some of the most traveled downtown streets,” said Ed Cox, the city’s pedestrian and bicycle coordinator.

The project will be completed in two phases. The first phase involves painting bicycle lanes on a number of streets that are already wide enough to handle the bikeways without losing any lanes or parking spaces, Cox said Wednesday.

“We’re looking at J Street, I Street, Ninth Street, Fifth Street, 10th Street and Capitol Mall,” Cox said. “We’re essentially repainting them to include bike lanes.”

The second phase will involve removing one lane of vehicle traffic from some one-way streets and painting bicycle lanes on both sides of them.

The streets being considered for phase two are Fifth, Ninth, 10th, G and H.

Cox said the bicycle upgrades are going to be very similar to the way Midtown is set up, and with the project being in its earliest phases, no comprehensive traffic flow studies have been completed.

“Based on preliminary assessments, it seems the streets we’ve chosen will not be badly impacted by taking away a lane,” Cox said.

The funds allocated to the project at the City Council meeting Tuesday night amount to $629,000 of Measure A transportation funds. None of the money will come from the general fund, which currently faces an estimated $35 million - $40 million shortfall.

According to the staff report, the addition of bicycle lanes downtown is in line with the city’s long-term goals as decided in 2002.

The project’s timeline is not set, but Cox said he hopes the design will be done in time to piggyback the project on the city’s annual street maintenance so there is no extra construction for drivers to navigate.

That annual street maintenance – which typically consists of sealing or re-laying asphalt – typically takes place in the summer.

Cyclists questioned downtown by The Sacramento Press Wednesday afternoon were in favor of the project.

“I was just thinking about bike lanes,” said Charles Davis-Burkes, who was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk of Fifth Street between J and I streets. “I was wondering what would happen if I got in trouble riding my bike on the sidewalk here, but my knee hurts, and I don’t feel comfortable riding on the street with it like that.”

He added that he thinks designated bicycle lanes would be a safer option than riding among the cars.

Cyclist C. Bradfield said he would feel safer with designated lanes downtown.

“There’s always danger,” he said. “Most of the drivers are pretty polite, but some idiots will all but run you down.”

Bradfield said he is a “big bike advocate” and uses the lanes whenever they’re available.

The bicycle lanes will give added safety and promote using bicycles downtown, said Downtown Sacramento Partnership Marketing Director Lisa Martinez.

“I think in general the Downtown Partnership is very supportive of encouraging people in the central city to use multimodal transportation – on foot, in a car and on a bicycle or public transit,” she said.

She added that being able to share the right of way between cars and bicycles will be better for the city in general.

“This is a good step in getting Sacramento to be seen as bike-friendly and really being able to have that as an amenity,” she said.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO SACRAMENTO FOR MAY IS BIKE MONTH

2011-04-12T22:00:52Z

The Bicycle Film Festival (BFF), a celebration of bicycles through film, art, and music, returns to Sacramento for a second year in it’s 11-year history on May 12th–14th. Originating in New York City, the festival added California’s Capital City last year to its roster of 40 global cities, including Amsterdam, London, Milano, and Tokyo. For 2011, BFF Sacramento is expanded to include an additional night of films and activities.

Featured in Vanity Fair, The New York Times, Vogue, Dazed, TIME Magazine, MTV, and every notable international and national bicycle magazine, the BFF brings together many creative communities, including fashion, music and art as well as various bicycling communities – including fixed gear, BMX, and road cycling – over a shared passion for bike riding.

“I’m stoked we’re bringing the Bicycle Film Festival back to Sac, where we had such a huge turnout last year,” stated BFF Founder and Director Brendt Barbur. “Sacramento is a perfect city for BFF due to its love of the arts and music and rich cycling heritage. The bonus of coming back to town the same time as the Tour of California makes for an awesome weekend for bike lovers.”

The expanded three-night schedule opens Thursday night, May 12, at the New Crocker Art Museum. The epicenter for BFF Sacramento will be Fremont Park at 16th and Q Streets in Midtown Friday and Saturday (see schedule below). There is no charge for admission for the BFF and free valet bike parking is provided by Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA).

Thursday, May 12 – Crocker Art Museum

Opening Party presented by Sierra Nevada 5:00 - 7:00 p

Bike Shorts (films) 7:00 - 9:00 p

Friday, May 13 – HOT ITALIAN/Fremont Park

Savage Sprints 6:00 – 9:00 p

Feature Films 9:00 p - 10:30 p

After Party presented by Red Bull Music Academy at the Sol Collective

Saturday, May 14 – Fremont Park

Trick Competition presented by PedalHard 4:00 – 7:00 p

Music In the Park 7:00 p - 9:00 p

Feature Films 9:00 p - 10:30 p

After Party presented by HOT ITALIAN

BFF Sacramento 2011 is presented by HOT ITALIAN, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, MetroPCS, and SMUD. For more information, log on to www.bicyclefilmfestival.com

About the Bicycle Film Festival: In 2001, Brendt Barbur, Founder and Director, was compelled to start the Bicycle Film Festival after being hit by a bus while riding his bike in New York City. Instead of being deterred by this experience, it inspired him to create a festival that celebrates the bicycle through music, art, and film. 250,000 people worldwide are expected to attend this year.

Electric Bike Shop opens

2011-01-03T09:05:03Z

A new East Sacramento shop is offering commuters an alternate method to get to work or run errands around town – electric bicycles.

Mike Majors opened The Electric Bike Shop at 3644 J St. on Dec. 11.

“No one really knows much about them,” Majors said. “There are other stores that sell them here in town, but they don’t market them much.”

Majors sells electric bicycles that come complete with batteries, electric motors and pedals, so riders can either use them as standard bicycles, electric motorbikes or a combination of the two.

“I like to ride mine with the pedals, but if I get to a stop sign, I’ll use the throttle to get up to speed when I take off,” Majors said.

Federal law requires that electric bicycles not be considered motor vehicles, so there is no need to license them like motorcycles or cars.

Four or five years ago, electric bicycles cost about $5,000, according to Majors, but the prices have come down, and he sells electric bikes for as low as $500 and electric scooters for as low as $300.

“It’s not an alternative to a bicycle,” Majors said. “It’s an alternative to a car.”

Majors, whose background is in civil engineering, said he has always been a bicycle enthusiast and enjoyed riding to work, but considered himself fortunate in always having a locker and shower at his job sites.

“With these, you can ride to work, save money on gas and not have to deal with parking,” he said. “It’s a green option to your commute.”

Majors said his ultimate goal is to get a sound business footing before franchising the store in about five years to set up shops throughout the Central Valley.

“Most bike shops cater to bike enthusiasts,” he said. “They don’t cater to the commuter. This is going to be something huge, especially with gas prices always going up.”

Majors will hold his grand opening in conjunction with the Second Saturday Art Walk on Jan. 8.

In keeping with the theme for his shop, antique bicycle art work by Lucas Himovitz will be on display.

Majors said business has been good so far, but he is really looking forward to the warmer months, when he hopes to get a lot of traffic from people frequenting the adjacent Big Spoon frozen yogurt shop.

Nine-year-old Cooper Carinci rode his bicycle to Big Spoon recently and stopped outside Majors’ store.

“I really like it,” he said. “We need another bike store around here.”

While Cooper was riding a traditional bicycle without a motor, he said he thought a motorized bike would be “pretty cool,” and added that he’d be interested in one.

“I’d ride it to school,” he said.

The Electric Bike Shop is open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, but Majors said he will expand the hours during summertime.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Tips for deterring bicycle thieves

2010-12-05T16:54:50Z

Bicycle theft in Sacramento’s central city is an ongoing problem, but cyclists can take steps to minimize their chances of becoming victims.

“People come in here every day telling me their bikes got stolen,” said Simon Garcia, assistant manager of City Bicycle Works at 2419 K St. “Every day. I’m not exaggerating.”

The obvious tip for keeping a bike from being stolen is to lock it up, but it isn’t that simple, according to Garcia.

“I consider all locks deterrents,” he said. “(But) if someone wants the bike, the lock won’t stop them.”

Having said that, he added that some locks are better than others, and U-locks like the ones pictured below are the best easily transportable locks for securing a bicycle.

He said a 50-pound steel chain and lock would be stronger, but they are not easy to carry around.

Midtown resident and cyclist Caitlin Mee said some U-locks with cylindrical key holes can be opened by thieves armed with Bic pens.

Garcia said that was a problem on some brands of U-lock produced about five years ago, but new locks are built more sturdily.

“A quality lock these days will not have that problem,” he said.

U-locks cost between $40 and $45 at his shop, Garcia said, and cheaper locks are available as well.

Cable locks are less expensive, running close to half the cost, but Garcia said they are more susceptible to thieves armed with bolt cutters or even a really good pair of scissors.

“With the right tools, anybody is going to cut through it,” he said.

Even bicycle racks at City Hall recommend against using cable locks, as pictured below.

With all locks being deterrents to theft, Garcia said there are ways to make bikes less-appealing targets to criminals.

Those include locks that bind the seat to the frame and pins that go through the wheels and lock so thieves can’t undo a quick-release mount and walk off with a piece of the bicycle.

“The key is to lock as much as you can,” he said. “Run (the lock) through the frame and the rear wheel, and if you can, take the front wheel off and run the lock through it as well.”

According to police, there are other steps to take that will help prevent bicycles from being stolen.

“Try not to leave it in areas that aren’t well-traveled,” said Sgt. Norm Leong, spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department. “Try to keep sight of it as much as possible. The reality is that if someone wants to get it and they’re good enough, they’re going to get it.”

Garcia recommended taking bicycles inside overnight.

“If you can avoid leaving it outside overnight, the chances of a theft go down drastically,” he said.

Leong said bicycle theft is a crime of opportunity, and if your bicycle is stolen, he said it is important to file a police report either online or at one of the police stations so your bicycle can be returned if it is recovered by police.

When police stop bicyclists, they check the serial numbers to see if it has been stolen just like they do for license plates on cars at vehicle stops.

In that case, Leong said, police will contact the rightful owner.

If a report has not been filed, but police determine the bicycles were stolen, the recovered bikes go to one of several places.

“We have programs that help disadvantaged kids within city schools,” Leong said. “Some go to auction, some go within the department for various functions, and some go to other cities’ departments that can use bikes. Others go to the Bike Kitchen as donations.”

Garcia added that though bicycle theft is a problem, it shouldn’t stop people from having them.

“It’s a good sport,” he said. “Don’t let the evil out there deter you.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Facebook page shines light on Midtown bike thefts

2010-11-29T08:10:32Z

Midtown resident Sheila Wages treasured her brand-new bicycle – a seven-speed cruiser her boyfriend had put a lot of effort into picking out for her. She kept it in her back yard, from where it was stolen in August.

Wages started a Facebook page for stolen Midtown bicycles within the next couple of days.

“It started out as a joke,” she said, adding that the Facebook page has since taken on a life of its own, where users will post details of their stolen bikes and possible places to look out for them.

“When my bike was first stolen, I didn’t realize what an epidemic (bike theft) was,” Wages said. “You’ve got to lock them up and take them inside if you can.”

According to Wages, one of the posters on the Facebook page had locked a bike up to a tree, which thieves cut down to steal the bike.

“I didn’t know how serious it would be when I started it,” Wages said of the Facebook page. “At the time, I was just messing around and posting pics and info.”

Recently, the site, which currently has more than 230 friends, started seeing a lot more activity, and Wages said she is considering starting a Facebook Groups page as well as a photo gallery of stolen bicycles, and generally working as something of a virtual neighborhood watch program.

“It might take quite a bit of work,” she said. “I’m open to suggestions on what people would like to see.”

Midtown resident Caitlin Mee had a bicycle stolen several years ago, and she takes every precaution to keep her current bicycle from being stolen.

“I had a big, heavy beach cruiser I left locked up at a Midtown business when I was living in Natomas,” she said.

The shop was broken into, and her bike was stolen. She said it had been given to her by her dad, and it had sentimental value.

“I really would like to still have it,” she said.

Her current bicycle used to belong to her grandfather, and she said she rides it to Davis for exercise, but she is always afraid it will be stolen.

“I don’t take it anywhere unless I can keep it in my sight,” she said. “It’s the most frustrating thing. This is a lot of people’s mode of transportation. It’s like getting your car stolen.”

Mee said she likes the “whole neighborhood watch feel” of the Facebook page, and she thinks it’s a good way to spread awareness of the problem and help serve as a deterrent to would-be thieves.

“I still haven’t given up hope on finding my bike,” she said.

Wages and Mee both filed police reports when their bicycles were stolen, and Mee said she is frustrated with the lack of police investigation into the issue.

Sacramento Police Department spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong said Sacramento has high levels of crime, and other crimes such as murder, felony assault, auto theft and robberies take priority.

He added, however, that police do what they can to stop the crimes, and the department uses “bait” bikes to catch thieves as well as public outreach to help owners protect their property.

“We had thefts happening at sheds in East Sac, and we took a proactive approach,” Leong said. “We went out and showed people their bike’s serial number and did engravings for them.”

Leong said that filing a police report without knowing the bicycle’s serial number or being able to provide a description that makes a bicycle unique makes it very difficult for police to solve the crimes.

Serial numbers are typically located on the bottom of the bicycle’s frame and can be read when the bike is turned upside down, he said.

When cyclists are stopped by police, officers run the serial numbers through computers the same way license plates are during a vehicle stop. If the serial number shows it is stolen, police contact the rightful owner.

“We get a lot of people saying, ‘I know it’s my bike,’ but if they can’t prove it, there’s nothing we can do,” Leong said.

Check back next week with The Sacramento Press for an upcoming article on ways to protect your bicycle from theft and what to do if your bicycle is stolen.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Pedal Hard opens

2010-11-02T01:21:43Z

A shop called Pedal Hard opened Friday in Midtown, becoming the newest addition to Sacramento's growing bike scene.

Sacramentans Tom Hoang, 27, and his buddies – identical twins Robert and Tom Johnston – have launched the city's only single-speed and fixed-gear bike shop and clothing boutique.

The idea was to create a skate shop vibe for a bike store, said 28-year-old Robert Johnston.

"We want it to be a place for people to hang out and talk about bikes," Hoang said.

Hoang and the Johnston twins got into bike culture just a few years ago after discovering fixed-gear bikes. The niche was already big in cities such as San Diego, Portland, Chicago and New York and the entire state of Wisconsin. Now it's growing faster in flat-terrained Sacramento than many other cities.

"I love riding. I love bicycles," Johnston said. "It gets you back in touch with the joy you had when you were a kid."

They initially ran an online bike part delivery business making free deliveries as far away as San Jose and San Francisco. Now they've turned the online business into a laid-back little store, where they primarily make custom road bikes and upgrade bike components. They set up a couch, a bench, a small TV set and classic Nintendo for customers inside the shop at 1703 T St.

The trio spent a month rehabbing a roughly 600-square-foot store that housed a Chinese herbal shop until about two years ago. Bike frames and wheels now hang from a wall. Urban street clothing including jeans, flannel shirts, jackets and caps line another wall decorated with a graffiti mural of the store's name. Clothing lines include Ambiguous, Shine Clothing, Immigrant Village Clothing and Construction Destruction.

They're self-taught mechanics who've built all their own bikes. They'll also sell used bikes and used bike parts, convert old road bikes into fixies or single-speeds, and track down vintage parts. Later, they’ll also sell BMX gear.

The store will carry two main bike brands, Eighth Inch and Leader Bike USA. Custom bikes will average $500 to $1,200. They can build Eighth Inch Scramblers for $400 and will soon start selling 1980s converted road bikes for about $200.

"We want to hook people up the way we are," Hoang said.

Hours are 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon - 4 p.m. Sunday. Pedal Hard can be reached at 801-5545.

Bike around town? Free classes will help you tune up your skills

2010-10-08T16:48:28Z

Bicycle riding on the road is as complex as driving on the road. Anyone that wants to be more confident riding on the street will enjoy the Urban Cycling Skills classes on October 19, 23 and 30 at Bicycle Chef Bicycles, 32nd & N in Sacramento.

The instructors are certified by the League of American Bicyclists, which designed the course. The information is presented in three sections so students can absorb the information, study the manual and practice the skills. Don Bortel, a bicyclist who took the class in July says, “I got something from all three sections. The combination of printed materials, off-bike instruction, and on-road practice have made me a more confident and skilled cyclist.”

The first class covers basic bicycle maintenance, bike and helmet fit, equipment, clothing, and safety gear: Classroom instruction includes rules of the road; reasons for crashes and how to avoid them, bike security and route planning. On the street, cyclists learn to bicycle safely and predictably, communicate with motorists, practice hazard avoidance skills, lane positioning and how to cycle safely through intersections.

The class is free, funded by a grant from SACOG and coordinated by the Sacramento Transportation Management Association. Students that complete the nine-hour class receive a certificate from the League of American Bicyclists. Diane Miller, who completed the none-hour course, said, “We tend to forget (if we ever knew) the best strategies to ride safely in traffic. I didn't think it would need nine hours, but there was so much great information, I’m still reviewing the manual and practicing the skills.”

Register or learn more by contacting Marilyn Bryant at sactma@surewest.net or 916-737-1513, or visit: www.smart-cycling.org

Erik Johnson is the government and media affairs coordinator for SACOG.

Locals gear up for Gold Sprints indoor bicycle races

2010-10-01T23:29:11Z

As Sacramento’s bicycle scene continues to grow, be it among fixed-gear aficionados in Midtown or hardcore racing fans, a decades-old indoor cycling sport is gaining popularity – Gold Sprints.

“It started out 50, 60, 70 years ago,” said Dean “Dino” Alleger, a mechanic at Rex Cycles, 1811 E St. “It had two fixed bikes and a big clock with wires, but now it’s all digitized.”

Alleger said the basic premise of Gold Sprints is that racers use fixed-gear bicycles mounted without their front wheels while the rear wheels rest on rollers. When the race starts, racers “pedal like crazy” for 500 meters or one kilometer, and the computer keeps track of who wins.

“Gold Sprints are all indoors, and there’s very little danger – you’re not riding your bike in the streets,” Alleger said.

The racing event will be a permanent fixture at Spin Burger Bar, set to open in mid-November, and Alleger will also be running Gold Sprint races to raise money for the building of an outdoor bicycle racetrack in Sacramento.

“Gold Sprints are geared toward the masses,” Alleger said. “Anybody that’s into bikes and drinking beer will love it.”

While some take a serious approach to the races, Alleger said most riders use it as an opportunity for a good time and a fun way to settle a grudge match in front of a cheering crowd.

“I would say it’s definitely getting bigger,” said Brian Durling, manager of Mike’s Bikes, 1411 I St. “Up in Portland, it’s pretty large.”

Mike’s Bikes has held Gold Sprint tournaments in the past, and Durling said they have always been popular.

“There’s typically a beer-chugging competition before you start the race,” Durling said. “Every time we’ve held them at our stores, it’s gone over really well.”

The Peak Adventures bicycle shop at Sacramento State, 6000 J St., has also held Gold Sprint races in the past.

“It’s awesome for friends just to compete,” said Head Bicycle Mechanic Rad Beauton. “It’s a lot safer than mashing down the road really fast.”

Beauton said he enjoys the competitive nature of it the most, but still prefers actual outdoor riding.

“It’s not something I’d put down on my calendar to do, but if I was out and saw it, it would be fun,” he said.

Alleger said he hopes the draw of Gold Sprints will help raise funds to build a permanent outdoor velodrome racetrack.

“The main reason we started was to build a velodrome track here in Sacramento,” Alleger said. “The closest one is in San Jose. It would be big for the cycle community here.”

Alleger said velodrome racing was a really big sport at one time, but the popularity died off and has recently seen a resurgence in popularity at the grassroots level.

Velodrome tracks are steeply banked oval racetracks.

“There used to be a couple hundred of them, but now there’s only 24 in the country,” Alleger said. “But they’re popular. I was at a race in Washington, and the stands were packed.”

Alleger, a licensed cycling coach, said velodrome racing is another sporting opportunity to youths ages 10-18 as well as older enthusiasts.

He’s in the process of filing paperwork to start a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising the approximately $1 million he said he expects it will take to build a velodrome track here.

In addition to the approximately $10 fee he expects to charge racers to participate in Gold Sprint tournaments, he said he hopes to get donations and partner with the city of Sacramento to make the track a reality.

“It’ll happen,” Alleger said. “How fast? Who knows? But I’m not going to stop.”

To contact Alleger, click here.

Photos courtesy Mike’s Bikes, Sacramento.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Vintage Bike Swap Meet at Sacramento 6 Drive-in Sunday the 12th

2010-09-10T22:10:20Z

You’d look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two. Or any bike for that matter.

Hobbyists, collectors and vendors alike will be gathering in tandem at the Sacramento 6 Drive-in from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 12. for the Sacramento Cycle Swap Meet.

A huge variety of new, used and vintage motorcycle and bicycle parts and accessories will be available for sale at low prices. The Bike Corral will be open for riders to show off their own bikes and for browsing through the vendors’ wares, including spare parts, tools and other bike-related paraphernalia.

The event is at the Sacramento 6 Drive-in at 9616 Oates Drive. For more information or to reserve a vendor space, contact Topping Events Inc. at (800) 962-9785 or aaronharty@gmail.com.

Hands Across the Sand: NO to offshore drilling. YES to clean energy.

2010-06-27T08:09:08Z

A group of conscientious citizens joined hands for fifteen minutes in River Walk Park yesterday to send a clear and simple message:

NO to offshore drilling.

YES to clean energy.

My dad and I closed Practical Cycle and pedaled over there to participate and offer a solution to America's destructive addiction to cheap oil. We brought two Pedego Electric Bikes and two Worksman Tricycles with us and gave out free test rides.

We believe that riding a bike instead of driving can help America declare energy independence, stimulate, our economy, cut pollution, conserve resources for future generations, and prevent disasters like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ironically, there was a car show taking place at the same time featuring oversized, classic gas guzzlers. My dad rode through the show spreading our message and reported that one in ten was supportive will the rest of the herd effectively said, "Drill, baby drill!"

Hands Across the Sand is a national movement to oppose offshore oil drilling and champion clean energy. The idea is to draw human lines in the sand against the threat oil drilling poses to our coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife, and fishing industry.

For more information, please visit www.handsacrossthesand.com.

Seersucker Ride Keeps Cycling Stylish

2010-06-12T03:33:44Z

"Here is to camaraderie, lugged steel, and plus fours. Here is to the (truly) social ride. Here is to tippling from hip flasks, maintaining a leisurely pace, and flaunting with style."

The quote from Sacramento Tweed's blog reflects the invitation the group extends for bicyclists to join a jovial "Seersucker Ride" June 27.

Sacramento Tweed, founded by Rick and Erin Houston last November, is an inclusive group that organizes bike rides emphasizing the activity as a social and leisurely event.

Ride organizers include Chris Tafoya; Lorena Beightler, creator of Sac Cycle Chic; Jim Brown, communications director for California Bicycle Coalition; Brad Gleed; and Alan Barnard, creator of EcoVelo.info.

Sacramento Tweed has organized four bike rides since its inception, all with a theme of wearing tweed. This ride's theme fabric is seersucker, a thin cotton fabric.

Participants don't have to wear the theme fabric, the Houstons said. It was cool enough to wear tweed in past rides, but since weather might be hot during the upcoming ride, cyclists are welcome to ride any type of bike and wear what they are comfortable in.

"(You could wear) linen, gingham, any of the lightweight fabrics," Rick Houston said. "A light skirt, sundress, anything that makes you feel handsome and pretty and yet cool in the heat of summer. If people want to participate they can, but we want to warn people it's going to be 90 degrees outside and I don't want people showing up in a three-piece wool suit."

The ride is tentatively planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., embarking from Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen. The route has yet to be determined, but will likely cover about eight miles. Stops occur about every few miles at restaurants, bars and parks. The ride will take a lunch break at Fremont Park for a picnic and croquet.

"Don't worry about what you're going to wear," Beightler said. "It's a slow ride. We let the wind go through our hair and we smile."

"It's an awesome way to enjoy the city, and it's a wonderful city to bike in," Brown said.

The ride is part of a movement called "Cycle Chic" and stems from the original January 2009 "Tweed Run" in London. The trend moved quickly through large cities including San Francisco, Chicago, Portland and Boston.

"It fills a niche that hasn't been addressed before," Erin Houston said. "There's lots of opportunities for recreational cyclists. (Tweed rides) fill a gap between social and fun. It reaches out to every kind of bicyclist."

About 150 people attended each previous Sacramento Tweed ride. The Houstons made clear their concern for participants' health.

"Stay in the shade, drink lots of water, don't overdo it, and if you feel bad, then stop," Rick Houston said.

The Seersucker Ride is likely the last for the foreseeable future. The Houstons will move to attend to family matters for an undetermined time. They are not sure if they will continue tweed rides when they return.

"This will be the end of Sacramento Tweed for a while," Rick Houston said. "If someone wants to take up the torch, we'd be happy to help them."

Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen is located at 1915 I St.

Photos:

1) Participants in a previous Sacramento Tweed ride. Photo by Alan Barnard.

2) Sacramento Tweed riders gathering at the capitol. Photo by Alan Barnard.

3) Participants in a previous ride. Photo by Lorena Beightler.

4) Participants in a previous ride. Photo by Lorena Beightler.

5) An enthusiastic participant in a past ride. Photo by Alan Barnard.

Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

Practical Cycle: Cycling Made Affordable

2010-06-07T06:25:41Z

Our mission at Practical Cycle is to make cycling more practical for everyday people.

To better serve this purpose, we have decided to expand our product line in an effort to make cycling more affordable. Practical Cycle is now proud to offer 3G Bikes starting at only $189.

The world is shrinking and today's highly competitive, rapidly changing global economy demands that we quickly adapt to the marketplace and embrace change. As a small business, we feel that one of our greatest strengths is our flexibility and ability to think on our feet.

Over the past few months we have learned that many people simply cannot afford a Made in USA Worksman or Pedego Electric Bike. (Probably because they spend so much money on their automobiles.) We have also had numerous requests for something similar to a Pedego only without the motor.

3G Bikes is the final product of many years of hard work, life experiences, and dreams of founder, president and designer Gary Silva. Gary strives to design and build the most comfortable, stylish and affordable recreational bikes in the world. He is passionate about his work and it shows in his designs!

3G Bikes are designed with the rider in mind. From design, to concept, to final product, Gary ensures they are safe, handle and perform well, and are masterfully crafted. They are ergonomically correct and fully adjustable, so the you can find your comfort zone while maintaining a powerful pedal stroke.

Learn more about 3GBikes at PracticalCycle.com/products.

Visit Practical Cycle in Old Sacramento for a free test ride.

My day at the Amgen Tour of California

2010-05-17T21:29:54Z

It was an exciting day in Sacramento as Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California (ATOC) rolled through. It kicked-off in Nevada City and returned to the river city with cycling's biggest superstar and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong (seen above).

The Tour de France is the world's premier cycling tour. The ATOC is the Tour de France of North America. Besides Armstrong, the free food and free schwag at the MBT (Shoes) Lifestyle Festival wasn't bad either.

I'm not a huge fan of cycling, but I'm drawn to the ATOC since I first went in 2008. Knowing that cycling's biggest star, Armstrong, would be in the race drew me back since I missed it last year. This could also be my last time seeing the race in Sacramento since I'm transferring to Azusa Pacific University in the fall.

I was planning on going to the ATOC just for the experience but I decided to help out KCRA's Leticia Ordaz as well. My internship with KCRA 3 ends this week.

When I arrived on 10th Street there were vendors as far as the eye could see. Crowds of people were streaming into the tents full of merchandise.

You couldn't walk anywhere without seeing a bicycle and many of the fans at the event were knowledgeable about the sport of cycling. Many of them took advantage of the free bike parking on the State Capitol grounds. It was a great atmosphere even before the race reached Jackson Highway.

Bob Hammond was one of the many fans enjoying the festival and he was glad that Sacramento was getting a taste of professional cycling.

"I really like the fact that it's drawing high quality, professional riders," Hammond said. "The city of Sacramento is really going to benefit. It sees a lot of people coming from everywhere, not only from Northern California but sees people from the western United States."

Local cyclist Luiggi Zuniga, who hails from Peru and recently won a local race with Team Kinetic Cycles was also in attendance.

"(I came) to see the top riders in the world riding around our lovely Sacramento," he said. "Lance Armstrong, of course, he's the best rider in the world."

At the festival activities ranged from buying official ATOC merchandise, taking a picture with Armstrong using a green screen, spinning a wheel to win prizes and keeping up-to-date with current race results at the Radio Shack tent.

I took advantage of anything that caught my eye. Signs, stickers, free samples, you name it, I grabbed one. I even got my body fat checked at the Herbalife tent. I tested at 15.6%, which is considered underweight. Not a surprise to me since I'm five-feet-nine-inches and weigh 156 pounds.

As soon as I heard that the cyclists were coming, I tried to make it back to the KCRA live truck, but the road had been sealed off. I made the mistake of going back to 10th Street when I should have stayed on the Capitol Mall and ran around the border of the route.

To get a decent view of the race on L Street between 10th & 9th streets I had to balance myself on top of a CVC pipe next to a palm tree. A fan's crazy idea for me worked and I got some great photos of the race as the cyclists zoomed by.

Unfortunately, you could hear the reaction of the crowd when U.S. national road racing champion George Hincapie and Belgian sprinter Tom Boonen both crashed.

Britian's Mark Cavendish of HTC-Columbia finished in first place with Argentina's Juan Jose Haredo right behind him for second place. The favored winner of the ATOC, Levi Leipheimer of Team Radio Shack, came in 42nd place and teammate Armstrong finished in 69th place.

Stage 2 started today in Davis, home of the United States Bicycle Hall of Fame, and ends in Santa Rosa. Even though it lasts less than a day, ATOC remains one of Sacramento's biggest events of the year.

From left to right: Paul Mach, Alexander Kristoff, Mark Cavendish and Maarten Tjallingii.

An Evening Of Bicycle Film Shorts

2010-05-17T04:40:38Z

The sights. The sounds. The smells. Oh my! The Bicycle Film Festival, held Friday through Sunday, was an exciting outdoor event.

Seeing tons of bicyclists flocking to Fremont Park for opening night was surreal. Hearing cyclists talk about their vintage bikes relayed the camaraderie they felt. And the smell of gourmet pizza was tempting as it wafted through the air. All ages strolled, many with gelato in hand, toward Fremont Park to get a seat before the show started.

The Bicycle Film Fest has been held overseas and across the nation. The event celebrates all things bicycle through film, art and music. The restaurant Hot Italian hosted the event's primary indoor site.

Brendt Barbur, festival founder, opened the event, telling the audience that Andrea Lepore, owner of Hot Italian, was the reason Sacramento was added as a festival site.

“We’re now in 40 cities and we’re holding our 10th anniversary in New York,” he said.

Then it was time for the show to go on. “This screening is a series of urban bike shorts that are all made by cyclists,” Barbur said.

The screening featured 16 film shorts from directors in the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Spain, Canada and the United States. The films were inspirational, informative and entertaining for cycling enthusiasts and noncyclists alike.

The shorts included:

“On Time,” directed by Ari Taub. It had a well-developed plot and pleased the audience, judging by the applause it received. It was about a bicycle messenger who experiences the dangers of riding. The character has to deliver a package by a set time and must accomplish the task despite many obstacles. If he does not succeed, there will be "explosive" consequences.

In “An Apology,” the Niestat Brothers were invited to do an expose on television show "Good Day, New York" about how easy it is to steal a bike. However, they decided to pull a practical joke. Viewers laughed at the directing duo’s untimely, yet humorous prank.

“Polo Manual” was about playing polo on bicycles. The film explained the rules, method and etiquette of the game. Director Brendan McNamee filmed many collisions and injuries. There were falls that made viewers cringe, but the short also elicited a few chuckles from the audience.

The dramatic musical video “What’s A Girl To Do,” directed by Dougal Wilson, received an enthusiastic response. In the one-of-a-kind short, ominous masked cyclists executed choreographed movements.

“Ski Boys,” directed by Benny Zenga, was an insightful look at the ingenuity of a few young men in rural Ontario. The film was dedicated to creating inventive and daring ways to put all items on wheels.

The audience cheered through “Macramento” by Colby Elrick. The Sacramento premiere featured Northern California cyclists John Cardiel, Squirrel and Ted Shred. The film highlighted much of downtown Sacramento’s landscape on a "ride-along" tour, with the cyclists performing incredible tricks.

Some people at the film festival said it rekindled their desire to ride a bicycle. For others, the films brought back memories.

“I saw 'Breaking Away' -- a famous bicycling film from the '70s -- while I was in college,” said Roger Jones, who lives in downtown Sacramento. “I read about this event in The Sac Bee and since I live in walking distance, I had to come.”

Leipheimer ready to repeat as Tour of California champion

2010-05-15T04:13:13Z

The Amgen Tour of California doesn't begin until Sunday, but Levi Leipheimer already is heavily favored to win.

"I think it will be a wonderful race," cycling commentator Phil Liggett said at a news conference Friday. "Levi Leipheimer will still win, but what the hell."

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong echoed that sentiment about the winner of the last three Tours of California.

"If I were looking at it like an analyst, I would say that Levi, Dave (Zabriskie) and Michael Rogers are the big three," Armstrong said. "I guarantee you that Levi will kick (Mark) Cavendish's ass on hills."

Cavendish would do the same to him on sprints, Leipheimer said under his breath. He noted that in previous years the race was held in February, but that professional cyclists' fitness is at a higher level in May.

Leipheimer pronounced himself "ready and here to win it again."

Andrew Messick, president of co-sponsor Anschutz Entertainment Group Sports, presented Mayor Kevin Johnson and County Supervisor Roger Dickinson with yellow jerseys. Johnson praised the tour for bringing $8 million to local businesses. He vowed to keep Armstrong's bike safe and promised never to wear spandex.

Armstrong's time-trial bike was stolen after the race prologue last year, but returned three days later. He said this year he would keep the bike in his hotel room, instead of in a trailer, where it was stored last year.

Leipheimer and Armstrong will be racing on the newly formed Team Radioshack, which Armstrong said is similar to last year's Team Astana. Six of that team's riders remain, two have changed. Armstrong said one of his goals is for his team to win first place.

"We're going to support Levi," he said. "It's like his Super Bowl."

For more information on road closures in Sacramento, visit: www.sacramentopress.com/headline/26944/City_readies_for_rolling_street_closures_and_thousands_of_spectators_this_weekend.

For a bird's eye view of the first stage and stage one information, visit this article: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/26951/Birds_Eye_View_of_AMGEN_Race.

To view team rosters, visit: www.sacramentopress.com/headline/26484/Amgen_Tour_of_California_teams_announced.

For stage maps and other information, visit amgentourofcalifornia.com.

The race will be broadcast on the Versus Network for several hours daily.

Photographs:
1. Left to right: David Zabriskie, Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Andy Schleck
2. Lance Armstrong
3. Phil Liggett, foreground: Levi Leipheimer (left), Lance Armstrong (right)
4. Mark Cavendish
5. Left to right: Andrew Messick, Kevin Johnson, Roger Dickinson
6. Fabian Cancellara
7. George Hincapie

Bikes Delivered to Fashion Show with Pedal Power

2010-05-08T17:44:21Z

Yesterday, Practical Cycle delivered two Pedego Electric Bikes to the Hot Italian for the Velo and Vintage Fashion show tonight. We strapped the bikes to a Worksman Front Load Tricycle, which has an amazing one-quarter ton load capacity! I marveled at how maneuverable it was as I pedaled from Old Sacramento, down K Street (walking through the mall), past the convention center, and through Capitol Park to the Hot Italian in Midtown. It feels good to get things done with pedal power! No oil spill required!!!

For more information about the Velo and Vintage Fashion Show, check out this awesome Sacramento Press article: http://sacramentopress.com/headline/26426/Velo_and_Vintage_on_Second_Saturday by Editor in Chief David Watts Barton.

Amgen Tour of California teams announced

2010-05-08T01:27:01Z

Amgen Tour of California teams were announced Friday morning. The roster includes seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong as well as Levi Leipheimer, winner of the last three consecutive Tour of California races, among others.

The Sacramento Press will continue to cover the Amgen Tour of California, which rolls through the city Sunday, May 16. This will include a pre-race press conference May 14 and race day coverage.

The following is a press release about the team announcement, via Bob Burns of the Sacramento Sports Commission.

The world-class roster of teams and cyclists scheduled to participate in the 2010 Amgen Tour of California has been announced by race presenter AEG. An internationally sanctioned, professional cycling road race, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will host 16 teams, comprised of 127 riders, from 23 countries for the fifth-annual race taking place May 16-23.

The 2010 Amgen Tour of California will bring an exceptional concentration of cycling talent to compete across more than 800 miles of the state of California from Nevada City to Thousand Oaks, home of race sponsor Amgen. Attracting an unprecedented field of riders from around the world, cyclists hail from countries as far away as Belgium, Finland, Spain, France, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden.

“We are proud of the powerful and talented group of international and domestic cyclists set to participate in the 2010 Amgen Tour of California,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “From Tour de France champions to Olympic medalists and world champions, this field is one of the best that has ever competed on American soil. The growing reputation of the Amgen Tour of California has resulted in a very accomplished field of cyclists, which should make for a great race.”

The field will include riders from well-known teams such as Team RadioShack, Team HTC-Columbia, Quick Step, Team Saxo Bank and Garmin-Transitions, who will all be competing to take the title in the overall team competition. Some of the notable riders planned to begin the race in Nevada City, Calif. on May 16 include:

Team rosters are subject to change.

Tour de France Overall Podium Finishers
Lance Armstrong (USA), Team RadioShack; first 1999-2005, third 2009
Andy Schleck (LUX), Team Saxo Bank; second 2009
Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack; third 2007

Tour de France Stage Winners
Lance Armstrong (USA), Team RadioShack (22)
Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team HTC-Columbia (10)
Tom Boonen (BEL), Quick Step (6)
Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Team Saxo Bank (5)
Stuart O’Grady (AUS), Team Saxo Bank (3)
Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Team RadioShack (3)
Jens Voigt (GER), Team Saxo Bank (3)
Heinrich Haussler (GER), Cervélo TestTeam (1)
David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Transitions (1)

World Champions
Lance Armstrong (USA), Team RadioShack
Lars Boom (NED), Rabobank
Tom Boonen (BEL), Quick Step
Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Team RadioShack
Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Team Saxo Bank
Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team HTC-Columbia
Tom Leezer (NED), Rabobank
Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Team RadioShack
Michael Rogers (AUS), Team Columbia-Highroad

Olympic Medalists
Lance Armstrong (USA), Team RadioShack
Theo Bos (NED), Cervélo TestTeam
Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Team Saxo Bank
Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team RadioShack
Bret Lancaster (AUS), Cervélo TestTeam
Stuart O’Grady (AUS), Team Saxo Bank
Hayden Roulston (NZL), Team HTC Columbia

Current National Champions (by country)
Michael Rogers (AUS), Team Columbia-Highroad, Time Trial
Tom Boonen (BEL), Quick Step, Road Race
Matti Breschel (DEN), Team Saxo Bank, Road Race
Lars Ytting Bak (DEN), Team HTC-Columbia, Time Trial
Andy Schleck (LUX), Team Saxo Bank, Road Race
Stef Clement (NED), Rabobank, Time Trial
Jeremy Vennell (NZL), Bissell, Time Trial
Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Team RadioShack, Time Trial
Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Team Saxo Bank, Road Race
George Hincapie (USA), BMC Racing Team, Road Race
David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Transitions, Time Trial

American Stage Race Champions
Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack), 2007-2009 Amgen Tour of California
David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions), 2009 Tour of Missouri
George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team), 2007 Tour of Missouri
Janez Brajkovic (Team RadioShack), 2007 Tour de Georgia
Tom Danielson (Garmin-Transitions), 2005 Tour de Georgia
Lance Armstrong (Team RadioShack), 2004 Tour de Georgia
Chris Horner (Team RadioShack), 2003 Tour de Georgia

The 2010 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 16 professional cycling teams. The seven ProTour teams compete regularly on the UCI’s ProTour race calendar, including the Grand Tours of Europe – Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España.

Pro Tour Teams

1.) Garmin-Transitions (USA)

Steven Cozza (USA)

Thomas Danielson (USA)

Ryder Hesjedal (CAN)

Robbie Hunter (RSA)

Thomas Peterson (USA)

Peter Stetina (USA)

Matthew Wilson (AUS)

David Zabriskie (USA)

2.) Liquigas-Doimo (ITA)

Francesco Bellotti (ITA)

Francesco Chicchi (ITA)

Davide Cimolai (ITA)

Manuel Quinziato (ITA)

Peter Sagan (SVK)

Ivan Santaromita (ITA)

Brian Vandborg (DEN)

Elia Viviani (ITA)

3.) Quick Step (BEL)

Carlos Barredo Llamazales (ESP)

Tom Boonen (BEL)

Kurt Hovelynck (BEL)

Kevin Hulsmans (BEL)

Nikolas Maes (BEL)

Andreas Stauff (GER)

Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL)

Maarten Wynants (BEL)

4.) Rabobank (NED)

Lars Boom (NED)

Stef Clement (NED)

Steven Kruijswijk (NED)

Sebastian Langeveld (NED)

Thomas Leezer (NED)

Paul Martens (GER)

Grischa Niermann (GER)

Maarten Tjallingii (NED)

5.) Team HTC-Columbia (USA)

Lars Ytting Bak (DEN)

Mark Cavendish (GBR)

Bernhard Eisel (AUT)

Tony Martin (GER)

Mark Renshaw (AUS)

Michael Rogers (AUS)

Hayden Roulston (NZL)

Tejay Van Garderen (USA)

6.) Team RadioShack (USA)

Lance Armstrong (USA)

Janez Brajkovic (SLO)

Christopher Horner (USA)

Levi Leipheimer (USA)

Jason McCartney (USA)

Dmitriy Muravyev (KAZ)

Yaroslav Popovych (UKR)

José Luis Rubiera Vigil (ESP)

7.) Team Saxo Bank (DEN)

Matti Breschel (DEN)

Fabian Cancellara (SUI)

Jakob Fuglsang (DEN)

Juan José Haedo (ARG)

Stuart O'Grady (AUS)

Andy Schleck (LUX)

Andre Steensen (DEN)

Jens Voigt (GER)

8.) BMC Racing Team (USA)

Chad Beyer (USA)

Marcus Burghart (GER)

Chris Butler (USA)

Mathias Frank (SUI)

George Hincapie (USA)

Alexander Kristoff (NOR)

Jackson Stewart (USA)

Simon Zahner (SUI)

9.) Cervélo TestTeam (SUI)

Theo Bos (NED)

Joao Correia (POR)

Philip Deignan (IRL)

Heinrich Haussler (GER)

Jeremy Hunt (GBR)

Brett Lancaster (AUS)

Oscar Pujol Munoz (ESP)

Dominique Rollin (CAN)

10.) Bissell (USA)

Rob Britton (CAN)

Daniel Holloway (USA)

Andy Jacques-Maynes (USA)

Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA)

Peer Latham (NZL)

Paul Mach (USA)

Jeremy Vennell (NZL)

Kyle Wamsley (USA)

11.) Fly V Australia (AUS)

Jonathan Cantwell (AUS)

Jai Crawford (AUS)

Benjamin Day (AUS)

Charles Dionne (CAN)

Aaron Kemps (AUS)

Bernard Sulzberger (AUS)

Jay Robert Thomson (RSA)

Phil Zajicek (USA)

12.) Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda (USA)

Jonathan Chordoff (USA)

William Dicknson (AUS)

Michael Friedman (USA)

Charles Bradley Huff (USA)

Jeremy Powers (USA)

Kiel Reijnen (USA)

Will Routley (CAN)

Bernard Van Ulden (USA)

13.) Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA)

Ryan Anderson (CAN)

Jesse Anthony (USA)

Dan Bowman (USA)

Alex Candelario (USA)

Reid Mumford (USA)

Neil Shirley (USA)

David Veilleux (CAN)

Scott Zwizanski (USA)

14.) SpiderTech Powered by Planet Energy (CAN)

David Boily (CAN)

Guillaume Boivin (CAN)

Lucas Euser (USA)

Martin Gilbert (CAN)

Kevin Lacombe (CAN)

Bruno Langlois (CAN)

Francois Parisien (CAN)

Andrew Randell (CAN)

15.) Team Type 1 (USA)

Davide Frattini (ITA)

Ken Hanson (USA)

Aldo Ino Ilesic (SLO)

Christopher Jones (USA)

Valery Kobzarenko (UKR)

Javier Megias Leal (ESP)

Thomas Rabou (NED)

Scott Stewart (USA)

16.) UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis (USA)

Christopher Baldwin (USA)

Matthew Crane (USA)

Marc De Maar (NED)

Max Jenkins (USA)

Karl Menzies (AUS)

Andrew Pinfold (CAN)

Rory Sutherland (AUS)

Bradley White (USA)

Stages for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California include:
Stage 1: Sunday, May 16 – Nevada City to Sacramento
Stage 2: Monday, May 17 – Davis to Santa Rosa
Stage 3: Tuesday, May 18 – San Francisco to Santa Cruz
Stage 4: Wednesday, May 19 – San Jose to Modesto
Stage 5: Thursday, May 20 – Visalia to Bakersfield
Stage 6: Friday, May 21 – Palmdale to Big Beak Lake
Stage 7: Saturday, May 22 – Los Angeles Individual Time Trial
Stage 8: Sunday, May 23 – Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Agoura Hills

For more information about the Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Photographs one and two credit Anthony Bento. Photographs three and four by Jonathan Mendick.

May is Bike Month Website is Quick and Easy

2010-05-04T01:52:20Z

After attending the May is Bike Month kick off press conference and ride last Saturday, I rushed home to register and log my bicycling miles online. I found the May is Bike Month website to be quick and easy. It also has a lot of cool features like commuter clubs, an employer directory, programs for schools, and you can even challenge a friend! If you live in the Sacramento region, please visit www.mayisbikemonth.com and help make this a Million Mile May.

I especially appreciate the May is Bike Month effort because it encourages people to actually use their bikes to commute and get things done. Since America's love affair with the automobile and subsequent addiction to cheap oil, bikes are often marginalized as mere toys that are used for exercise and recreation only. Most folks just don't seem to recognize bicycles and tricycles as tools that can be used to move people and things from point A to point B.

A great example of this destructive mindset is when some people visit Practical Cycle and learn about Pedego Electric Bikes, they ignorantly blurt out, "doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of riding a bike?" Absolutely not! There are many health benefits to riding, but its not always just about breaking a sweat. Sometimes you want a workout, and sometimes you just want to get where you are going quickly in comfort and style.

I commute ten miles each day from Howe Park to Old Sacramento. On a regular bike it takes about 45 minutes plus an additional 10 minutes to go to the gym for a shower. On a Pedego Electric Bike, it only takes 30 minutes and I can go straight to work without a shower. The electric motor helps the Pedego better serve its purpose, which is getting me to work.

It is my position that Pedego Electric Bikes help address some of the major objections that everyday people have to bicycle commuting including safety, hills, distance, health reasons, knee problems, aging, or the inconvenience of having to shower and change at work. Furthermore, if everyday people start looking at all bicycles and tricycle as transportation tools rather than recreation and fitness toys, then the Sacramento region could easily log a Multi-Million Mile May!

When Life Gives You Lemons...

2010-04-28T02:25:22Z

In 2006, my dad was doored while riding his bike on 15th Street. He broke his shoulder pretty bad, and ended up with all sorts of plates and screws holding him together. Life gave us lemons!!! We made lemonade though, and Practical Cycle was funded in part by the settlement from that accident.

So I took great pleasure in hand-squeezing 35 locally grown, organic lemons to make lemonade for our Grand Opening celebration, the first annual Ride for Earth. Then I loaded a cooler on the back of our old Worksman tricycle and hauled it about ten miles to Practical Cycle.

I believe that sometimes life's most difficult challenges can help us grow the most. Whenever I feel like things couldn't possibly get worse, I tell myself that this too shall pass, and perhaps even the darkest clouds do have a silver lining.

"Ride for Earth" Draws Crowd to Old Sacramento

2010-04-25T10:24:25Z

A diverse crowd of people gathered in Old Sacramento on Thursday to celebrate Earth Day and the Grand Opening of Practical Cycle. Riders of all ages and from all walks of life were drawn together to be a part of the first annual "Ride for Earth."

With a diverse crowd of people came a diverse crowd of bikes! Many riders brought their own bikes, and Practical Cycle let out its entire rental fleet of Made in USA and Electric bicycles and tricycles for free. There was even a Velocab and a high-wheeler replica!

The ride followed the Sacramento River to its confluence with the American River in Discovery Park. Afterwards, fresh-squeezed organic lemonade that was delivered by an old Worksman tricycle was served at Practical Cycle, and the Rubber Band played some good old-fashioned rock-n-roll.

"What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to spend some quality time with Mother Nature and good people on bikes," says Tim Castleman.

Celebrating cycling history and heroes

2010-04-24T01:25:15Z

The first bicycle was used as a replacement for a horse, required a saddle and was propelled like Fred Flinstone's car.

According to University of California, Davis, Bicycle Program Coordinator David Takemoto-Weerts, an early bicycle-like invention was a "Draisine," a 19th-century invention of German forest ranger Karl Von Drais, for whom the the proto-bike is named. Similar machines were tweaked by engineers until bikes evolved into what we use today.

Takemoto-Weerts helped facilitate the purchase of a Draisine, part of the Pierce Miller collection that U.C. Davis bought in 2000 for a little under $400,000. It is now one of the dozens of historic and modern bikes displayed at the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame, which will open Saturday morning in downtown Davis.

The mission of the organization, which has been in the process of moving from Somerville, NJ, for nearly a year, is "preserving the history and heroes of cycling in the United States," said Treasurer and board member Ray Cippolini. Besides being a museum, it's also a member-based organization and cycling and fitness advocate, according to its website.

Fourteen different cities were initially interested in hosting the Hall of Fame, but it was narrowed down to two: Davis and another city in North Carolina. U.S. Bicycling hall of famer and board member Ernie Seubert described why the Hall of Fame came to Davis.

"Davis won out because of its passionate (cycling) community," he said. "This is going to be vastly improved; we have the backing of the town."

That's evident when looking out the windows of the building onto Davis' Third Street, a major bicycle thoroughfare. The U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame sits in a three-story building, formerly a teen center, on one corner of Central Park, which is home to the Davis Farmer's Market. Near the park, the number of bicycle commuters seems to outnumber the cars.

In addition to featuring a range of historical bikes, some nearly 200 years old, the building also contains modern biking memorabilia, medals, photographs, trophies and unicycles. One room is filled with more than 100 plaques for the the 128 Hall of Fame inductees.

Inducting someone into the Hall of Fame is a two-part process, Cippolini explained. Inductees are nominated by a Hall of Fame committee, then voting takes place. Nominees may include former competitive cyclists from road or track racing, off-road riders (which includes BMX, mountain bike and cyclocross riders) and non-competitive cyclists who have contributed to the sport.

Then all the members of the U.S. Cycling Hall of Fame Board, which expanded last month to include the board of the Davis-Based California Bicycle Museum, vote for a nominee. So does every inducted hall-of-famer, and a number of journalists, Seubert said.

He and others noted their favorite piece of Hall of Fame memorabilia: Greg Lemond's bicycle and 1986 Tour de France yellow jersey. Lemond was the first American winner of the Tour de France and also ran a successful bicycle company, which is now part of international company Trek Bicycles.

Cippolini said his favorite items are in the exhibit on hall of famer Marshall "Major" Taylor, an African American track cycling champion who become an international cycling star even while facing racial prejudice. The exhibit includes Major's century-old bicycle as well as photographs.

"He was recognized at a time in this country when there was a lot of bias toward him as a person, but not toward him as an athlete," Cippolini said. "He was recognized for the great athlete he was, even overcoming the social bias at the time."

At 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Davis Mayor Ruth Asmundson and three Hall of Fame inductees will celebrate the Hall of Fame's opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Sunday morning, Davis will host the Amgen Breakaway from Cancer ride, which gives amateur riders a chance to ride a stage of the Tour of California. It will be led by American cyclist George Hincapie.

The U.S. Cycling Hall of Fame is located at 303 B St. in Davis.

"Ride for Earth" Practical Cycle Grand Opening Celebration

2010-04-22T08:31:52Z

Practical Cycle is celebrating Earth Day its Grand Opening in Old Sacramento today. Tim Castleman and his son, Cassidy, are teaming up to sell, rent, and service electric and Made in USA bicycles and tricycles. After being shocked by the tragic events of 9/11, and inspired by a life threatening battle with prostate cancer, Tim set out to make a difference in the world. “I decided to put it all on the line and follow my heart, instead of just trying to survive.”

"Practical Cycle is different than traditional bike shops,” says Cassidy, a 23 year-old business student and solar professional, “Our mission is to make cycling more practical for everyday people. No spandex… No funny shoes… No problem!!!”

Practical Cycle features electric bikes designed to make cycling more accessible to anyone who doesn’t ride now because of hills, distance, health reasons, knee problems, aging, or the inconvenience of having to shower and change at work. An electric bike is just like a regular bike with a built-in motor to provide additional power. Riders can pedal normally and only use the motor to help out on hills and headwinds, or use the motor all the time just to make riding easier.

Practical Cycle also offers a wide variety of Made in USA specialty cycles to fit the needs of virtually anybody, including electric and non-electric bicycles, tricycles, tandem cycles, vending cycles, hand-powered cycles, personal activity vehicles and more.

To celebrate their Grand Opening, Practical Cycle is offering a 10% discount on their entire inventory and free one-hour bike rentals until 5PM. At 7PM there will be a group "Ride for Earth" to Discovery Park. Everyone is invited and encouraged to bring their own bikes, but Practical Cycle will provide free rentals for the event. Afterwards fresh-squeezed, organic Lemonade will be served and The Rubber Band will perform live music at 8PM.

"Hunt the Grid" Bicycle Scavenger Hunt Returning to Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen

2010-04-20T20:11:01Z

Second Year for Midtown Non-Profit's Fun-Seeking Fundraiser

As part of Sacramento's May is Bike Month celebrations, the non-profit Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen will host its second annual "Hunt the Grid" bicycle scavenger hunt through midtown and downtown Sacramento on Saturday, May 8, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, hosted at the Bicycle Kitchen's shop at 1915 I Street, next to the railroad tracks.

"Hunt the Grid II" is a repeat of last year's wildly popular scavenger hunt that sent teams of four riders racing across the central city in a friendly competition of pedals and wits to seek out trinkets, images, and Sacramento landmarks both popular and obscure. Over one hundred participants signed up for the nonprofit bicycle maintenance co-operative's first fundraising event, and registration will be expanded this year.

In addition to special prizes from partnering businesses, this year's prizes will include branded clothing from the Bicycle Kitchen and lifetime memberships to the shop in addition to special prizes from partnering local Sacramento businesses like OneSpeed Pizza, Big Brother Comics, Old Soul Company, City Bicycle Works, Butch and Nellie's Coffee Company, and Sugar Plum Vegan Cafe.

After the scavenger hunt, the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen will open its doors for its monthly Second Saturday party, featuring bicycle-powered live music from Clan Dyken and Smoot Valley High, beer from local breweries, and art by the Kitchen's own Gina Disney.

Registration will begin at 1:00 PM on the day of the event. Due to a limited number of allowed participants, teams may preregister by e-mailing hunt@sacbikekitchen.org. A $10 registration fee per person will be due at registration time. Teams are limited to a maximum of four members. Participants must be over 18.

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The Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen is a volunteer-run, donation-supported community bicycle shop focused on offering low-cost bicycle maintenance and training to the Sacramento area since 2006. It provides a space, tools, and staff to those interested in performing their own bicycle repair, as well as selling donated used parts and bicycles, recirculating good bicycles and components back into the community.

Depot Bikes and Cafes Offers Opportunities for Sacramento Bicycle Commuters

2010-04-10T21:27:32Z

Depot Bikes and Cafes, a conjoined bike repair and retail shop, cafe and social area, plans on opening its doors at 431 I St, Suite 102, in mid-May.

This location sets the business at the convergence of the Sacramento Amtrak and Capitol Corridor train stations, SacRT bus station and Sacramento light rail stations. Owner Tim Fallis said he hopes the shop will foster a stronger trend of bicycle commuting and commerce in Sacramento.

Fallis' family has always been full of cycling enthusiasts. The business venture started as Fallis began reselling Strida compact bicycles independently from the manufacturer. His success pushed him to pursue opening a specialized bike shop, focusing on commuter and commercial-use bicycles.

Fallis contacted his sons Mike, who has made a career in food and wine sales, and Chris, who attended the United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, Ore. with his proposal. The brothers agreed to offer their services and together came up with idea of a cafe, lounge area and bicycle shop under one roof.

In his market research, Fallis found that similar businesses were popping up around the United States and Europe. Sacramento presented itself as a prime location.

According to the Bicycle Commuting Trend's survey from 2000-2008, Sacramento is No. 4 of the 70 largest U.S. cities in terms of population that commutes by bicycle daily. The Sacramento Capitol Corridor station is rated No. 1 from here to San Jose in terms of bicycle-to-train interaction.

Depot Bikes plans to offer a wide variety of services to this large and ever-growing population of cyclists. The shop includes commuter and commercial bike sales, bike rentals, indoor bike valet and storage, quick turnaround repair, cafe-style food and drink service, lounge area for train layovers and repair wait, a historical library of the Sacramento area and a map service for train and bus routes, bike trails, river access and downtown neighborhoods.

"Our main focus is to get people out of their cars as much as we can." Fallis said, "and to show them bikes are functional for commuters and commerce as well enjoyment."

Depot Bikes will be hosting a preconstruction party from 5-8 p.m. Saturday.The event is invitation-only, but local businesses, community members and other interested individuals are encouraged to contact Fallis for additional information.

For more details and contact information, e-mail: info@depotbikesandcafes.com

Bike Swap in Fremont Park this Second Saturday

2010-04-06T19:53:06Z

With May is bike month fast approaching, The Friends of Fremont Park and the Sac Bike Kitchen are teaming up to what looks to be Sacramento's first Bike Bazaar in the Park

Located between 15th and 16th and P&Q,the event looks to be a sure way to load up for the summer with lotsof 2 wheeled fun.

Be it building a commuter,grocery getter or Tweed bike,Townie this is an excellent opportunity in scoring hard to find parts and classics to round out your collection. Need a classic cruiser for second saturday? Mike from Vintage Bicycle Supply will be on hand with all your cruiser needs. Mike will be showing off his Velo Orange assortment of goods now in stock, Whit from Whitworth cycles is planning on having plenty of frames on hand if you want to start from scratch.

On the otherside of the coin if you have too many bikes not seeing the light of day than this is your chance to make good and spread some bike love.

All this bike love will make you hungry. Hot Italian is right across the street for culinary perfection in the form of Pizza, Panini and Calzone

See you there

http://fremontpark.net/2010/03/sac-bike-swap-in-the-park/

Sacramento to be part of 2010 Amgen Tour of California

2009-10-23T05:17:30Z

At about 9 a.m. Thursday, three-time Amgen Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer announced via a "tweet" that he was going to defend his title in 2010. It was part of a high-profile Twitter conversation started by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that went something like this:

"@schwarzenegger: Great news for American cycling fans and CA. The 2010 Amgen Tour of California will be better than ever. @lancearmstrong will you join us?

@lancearmstrong: Absolutely! @schwarzenegger, I've decided to ride the #Amgen Tour of California in 2010. Can't wait. What about you @levileipheimer?

@levileipheimer: I'll definitely be racing the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, defending my title."

Then at 4:30 p.m., the defending champion spoke at a press conference for the 2010 race at The Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento.

"It was a lot of fun being in the announcement today on Twitter, so I feel like I'm really a part of the race," Leipheimer said to a crowd of about 50, which included the mayors of Sacramento, Nevada City and Davis, and local legislators.

"Right from the fall of 2005, when we first announced the Tour of California was going to happen, I felt like this was something that I needed to be involved with, and I think that's been the secret to my success the last three years," he added. Leipheimer has won the last three Tours of California.

Mayor Kevin Johnson also expressed excitement that Sacramento be will be involved in the tour again. In addition to hosting the pre-race team presentation and gala on May 14, downtown Sacramento is where the first stage of the tour will conclude May 16, after a start in Nevada City.

"That allows us to have four or five days of activities and make it a really special weekend event," Johnson said. "We're going to have about 70,000 spectators that will participate over the weekend. This event brings in $8 million dollars, and that is very significant."

He also addressed last year's "hiccup": During the race, Lance Armstrong's time trial bike was stolen in Sacramento. The mayor joked that although the chief of police had promised tighter security, riders should bring their own locks, just in case.

Davis's Mayor Dr. Ruth Uy Asmundson and Nevada City's Mayor Reinette Senum said they were honored that their cities were part of the race as well.

A big change in the 2010 tour is that it will be held in May instead of February.

"We did it to showcase the state of California in a better way," said Andrew Messick, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group and tour director. "There's a lot of terrain you can't get to on a bicycle in the wintertime."

Moving the tour dates also means that it will overlap with the peak of the European cycling season. As a result, it is unclear whether Europe's top racers will choose the Tour of California over the Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy).

"There are probably some Italians who will end up going to the Giro, but I don't think that we're going to see any impact because of the two races conflicting," Leipheimer said. "(The Tour of California) is better preparation for the Tour de France in July."

Leipheimer, Armstrong, and most of last year's Astana team will ride together, but have moved to the newly-formed Team Radioshack. A 2007 Tour de France doping scandal, near financial collapse and a talent overload (three of the top four 2009 Tour de France riders) sent many former Astana riders elsewhere for 2010.

Tour de Sacramento

2009-07-07T04:47:37Z

The Tour de Sacramento kicked off today and will continue for three weeks of activities and ride-alongs around the Sacramento area.

The event coincides with the Tour de France. The three-week event in Europe is a world-famous race, but tour organizer Dawn Dais says that the Tour de Sacramento has a different feel to it. "We don't really want to encourage a competition. Its going to be super laid back and fun."

Dais has written a book called "The Noncyclist's Guide to the Century and Other Road Races," that details her training for a bicycle race and breaks down the process to encourage people of all backgrounds to participate in cycling.

Today, a bike safety check and a Safe Cycling Clinic took place at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen. The safety checks are sponsored by Ycycle.org and coach Myron Dong will be on hand to provide expert cycling opinions. "He is informed about safe ways to ride bikes. has real advice. and personalized coaching advice," said Dais.

People are encouraged to bring their bicycles to the Sacramento Bike Kitchen for maintenance and check-ups before the ride. If participants do not have bikes, Dais said renting bikes is also an option, "and you get a discount with the Tour de Sacramento."

The Tour is about bringing people together, and they don't necessarily have to participate, according to Dais. "Every ride we're going to be accepting bike donations with Cycles4Hope even if you don't want to ride."

The routes planned for the Tour vary in length and type. There will be day rides on standard bike trails that will be up to 12 miles long, and night rides through streets in places like historic Folsom. "The night time rides are more leisurely and about exploring the city," said Dais.

There will also be a "Grub and Crawl" ride, and for a $25 fee, participants can enjoy restaurant hopping, food tasting, and end the night at a popular night club.

"Cycling is just a really fun way to be active," said Dais. For her first book, "The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women," she recalls not having an enjoyable time training for a marathon. "I was expecting to find the same thing in cycling, but I enjoyed it. It's a flat route and not too strenuous. While you move you get somewhere. It's more of a destination type of thing."

She adds, "It's a lot cooler, hipster wise, than running."

Dais feels the cycling event will work well with the Sacramento community, because of the enthusiasm for bike riding in the area.

The Tour de Sacramento will take place from July 6 to 26. Registration for the event is free.

For more information about the event and registration, click the following link:
Tour de Sacramento

Bike Month rolls into Sacramento

2009-05-03T01:48:45Z

Dozens of bikers braved the pouring rain and biked from West Sacramento through downtown and midtown, ending their soggy ride at the Bicycle Kitchen on 20th and I. Ed Cox, City Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator led this group ride Friday, May 1 to kick off Bike Month, a month-long event which encourages Sacramento-area residents to try bicycling as a mode of transportation.

The ride followed a press conference in which Davis Mayor Pro Tem Don Saylor and Roseville Councilmember Jim Gray, co-chairs of the event, spoke about the importance of cycling. This event, sponsored by Sacramento Area Council of Governments and various transportation management associations and organizations, also encourages people to log their miles at mayisbikemonth.com to reach a goal of one million miles.

In addition to having events and promoting cycling, the Bike Month organizers have created pedal pools, which are described on the website as "a group of two or more cyclists who meet at a designated location and commute together." Another benefit of pedal pools is the safety and fun factors when riding with a partner.

"The Million Mile May challenge is intended to remind us how fun and easy a bike ride is and how many of us could use our bikes as an alternative to our cars," said Gray. Saylor challenged Gray and the Roseville city staff to ride more miles than Davis's city staff, to which Gray replied, "We will kick Don's butt."

However, Saylor had already ridden across the Sacramento-Davis causeway by the time the kickoff event began, while Gray drove his car from Roseville to Sacramento.

Linda Khiev of the bicycle advocacy group Bikeramento was in West Sacramento on her bike, and said of the event, "I love it, and I'm really excited to see lots of bikes on the road." She added that Bikeramento is still waiting for city permits to hold the event Sac Sunday Streets, which is a "monthly fitness-based and family-friendly event revolving around the soft closure of Capitol Avenue from 3rd Street to 28th Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Sunday from May through October 2009," according to a Sacramento Press article.

At the Bicycle Kitchen, Sacramento Press caught up with local bicycle advocate John Boyer, who works as a mechanic at Carmichael Cycle and Sacramento Bike Kitchen, owns a bicycle delivery service for food called Edible Pedal, and cycles to his job at La Boheme.

"I get excited when I see massive amounts of bikes. [At the Bicycle Kitchen] we want people to not be afraid of their bicycles malfunctioning," he said. Boyer mentioned that he has all the tools in his house to start a bike shop, but he's looking for a place to rent to open it.

Sacramento Press has registered as a team for the race to one million miles. If you work for Sacramento Press (especially the bike riders) please visit mayisbikemonth.com to log your miles under the Sacramento Press team, and if you work for a small office (less than 100) we challenge you to log more miles than we do.

Please see this link for Bike Month events in the downtown area. For more information visit mayisbikemonth.com.

Rainy Road Havoc for EMS

2009-05-02T02:40:42Z

Sacramento, CA
Friday, May 1, 2009

Sacramento EMS crews were kept quite busy all day Friday. Mild temperatures and start of a new weekend had many people out on the road, but add in rain with heavy traffic throughout the region and you’ve created a recipe for havoc on the roads. We caught up with Sacramento Fire engines, truck crews, medic rigs, and Sac Police on a couple of incidents today out of the many we heard being dispatched over the squawk box. As the rain poured down, fire crews made sure the scenes were safe and assisted as paramedics tended to the victims; and officers took statements and reports on wet notepads.

The first incident we encountered with EMS crews was a head-on collision on Elder Creek Rd, just east of Power Inn before the railroad tracks. The second incident was a vehicle vs bicycle and a secondary collision when another vehicle ran into the first. We were unable to get information on injuries; however, airbags deployed on both of the vehicles in the first accident, and the juvenile bicyclist was being treated in the back of the ambulance upon our arrival at the second incident.

These weather conditions are expected to continue throughout the weekend. With the decent temperatures expect lots of people out and about and heavy traffic conditions. With the sporadic cloud burst and periods of heavy rain, expect traffic delays. Consider leaving early so you can take your time getting to your destination safely. When we are in a hurry and potentially distracted, it greatly increases our chances to be involved in an accident. Not only do we put ourselves, our families and those around us at risk, we also put our local firefighters, paramedics and law enforcement at risk as they put themselves in harms way on the wet roads to tend to our injuries and take reports. Yes, it is their job, but wouldn’t it be nice if they didn’t have to do their job. Be safe as you travel around town this weekend.

Local cyclists to ride fixies in AIDS Lifecycle

2009-05-01T09:48:16Z

The statistics are staggering.

There are nearly 200,000 people currently living with HIV/AIDS in California.

In the United States, 1.1 million people have HIV.

Throughout the world, 33 million people live with the virus.

These statistics, taken from a number of sources, including the Joint United Nations Program on AIDS and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention also say that the estimated cost of treatment for a person with HIV is $20,000 dollars per year. Funding -- for services and treatment for those who have HIV/AIDS, not to mention prevention for at-risk groups -- is much needed.

A number of Sacramentans, including friends Danny Gutierrez and Douglas Vincent, will be doing their part by participating in the AIDS Lifecycle, an AIDS fundraising bicycle event which takes place May 31 - June 6. Each participant must raise a minimum of $3,000 for the race, which will cover 545 miles and stretches from San Francisco to Los Angeles Proceeds go to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

Gutierrez is normally a production manager for Java City Coffee Company, but he's been volunteering as a cleaner and organizing kids’ programs at the Sacramento Bike Kitchen, which educates people on how to perform their own bicycle maintenance. Vincent is currently an analyst for the state's Department of Corrections and rides 200 miles per week for fun.

Gutierrez and Vincent have known each other since "sometime in high school," are training partners, make up a fundraising team named Lugged Nutz, and are former band mates for the band Amber Inn. They have been riding together every weekend recently, trying to get in shape to complete the nearly 80-mile-per-day ride.

"On the weekends, Doug and I will take about 50-mile rides, so from about Old Town to Folsom and back," Gutierrez said.

They also plan to do a 100-mile day as part of their training. According to their blog, they are called Lugged Nutz because they planned on "doing this ride on vintage steel-lugged, fixed-gear conversions."

"Danny and I both started riding [fixed-gear bikes] because they're fun, Vincent said. "As far as riding around town, riding through the streets, they're a much funner mode of transportation. Danny and I both have this attitude that we would be more proud if we did it on a fixed gear, plus, the route we're taking - there aren't that many hills."

This means that Vincent and Gutierrez will not be able to coast, and must pedal constantly. However, the ride is very well supported with cars assisting riders on the road and booths full of drinks every now and then.

Also, anyone who does not complete the day's ride after 10 hours will be picked up and taken to the next campsite. Team Lugged Nutz does not anticipate the need for this service.

Still a month away from race day, the two have not yet earned the $3,000 that they pledged to raise before the race. "Times are pretty hard, and it's been hard for us to raise money, but we've had a lot of other support other than financial, which is great," Gutierrez said.

"The whole cause has really brought a lot of good out in people," he added.

Asbestos Press hand-printed posters while New Order Ink and Splash Promotion printed T-shirts for sale at a fundraiser the bikers are holding this Saturday, May 2. The $5 cover and all proceeds from T-shirt and poster sales will going to Team Lugged Nutz's race fund.

Saturday, May 2, at 8 p.m. five local bands, including Vincent's band Flounder and Gutierrez's band Exhale, will be rocking Lugged Nutz's fundraising concert at the Kennel Club. Donations will be accepted.

HLA to host Urban Cycling Clinic

2009-04-22T19:58:52Z

This Thursday, April 23rd from noon to 1:00 pm, HLA will be hosting a lunchtime Urban Cycling Clinic, presented by Erin Reschke of the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen. The clinic is intended to provide useful information both to beginners and more experienced urban.

This lunchtime presentation and discussion will address issues relevant to both seasoned commuters and new cyclists.

Topics covered include:
Legal rights and responsibilities
Positioning yourself in traffic
Common collisions and strategies to avoid them
Communication skills
Route Planning Skills
Necessary Equipment

HLA is located at 1050 20th Street in the MARRS building.

Please RSVP to echandler@hlagroup.com by Wednesday, 5:00 pm

Same drum, different 'beat'

2009-04-01T01:07:35Z

Downtown/Midtown Sacramento is awash with bicycle activity, and why not? Bicycles are the quickest and most efficient way to maneuver this metropolitan area.

The Sacramento Police Department realized this as well, and in 1989 established a four-person bike unit in the Downtown area to patrol the streets during business hours. Today this unit consists of 10 officers and a sergeant who patrol from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m., seven days per week. They cover an area of the city from Old Sacramento to 19th Street between H and N Streets.

Sergeant David Valdez spoke with Sacramento Press to shed some light on the role of the bicycle police in Sacramento. He has been a part of the bike unit for seven years, two as an officer and the last five as sergeant. He said of the bike unit, "We can sense and approach things better than an officer driving by in a car at 30 mph."

His sentiment is supported by the statistics. Sacramento's bicycle police boast the second quickest response time in the department, second only to the helicopter unit. He attributes this to the mobility of bicycles, especially their ability to get through and around heavy traffic that would otherwise slow a patrol car. Patrol bicycles are official police vehicles and are equipped with lights and sirens, just like a patrol car. They share the traffic exemptions that other officers utilize in responding to disturbances, such as traveling the wrong way down a street, running red lights as needed, and riding on sidewalks.

They work in tandems, patrolling downtown through rain or shine, or even hail. "Our only disadvantage is the lack of technology," said Valdez, citing the lack of computers and other gadgets that patrol cars are equipped with. Otherwise, the bike units have the full authority and abilities of any other police officer, including making traffic stops. They keep a vehicle parked at the K Street Mall in the event that a perpetrator must be transported, and are in full contact with car units in cases that require additional vehicles or backup of any kind.

A large concern for the bike unit lately has been the rise in popularity of fixed-gear bikes, said Valdez. Many of these bikes do not have brakes, which is an issue when approaching a red light. Valdez voiced his concern, saying, "They either skid and make a sharp turn, or they just blow right through the red light." He mentioned that brakes are required on bicycles, and that the bike unit is working to educate riders on the necessity for proper safety equipment.

Critical Mass, a bicycle proponent group that organizes rides though Downtown Sacramento, once posed an issue for Sacramento police and traffic safety. Initially the group would incur a large number of traffic tickets for infractions, but through education and cooperative efforts by the bike unit, Valdez said, "things are now good." The bike unit is managed by Central Patrol, which looks over other Sacramento metro units such as the equestrian, footbeat (officers without a vehicle), and marine police. While these units are currently sun separately, Sacramento PD is looking to combine them and is working toward cross-training between these departments.

While there is sometimes a general stigma against police, Valdez stated that these bicycle officers are "approachable, friendly, helpful, and accessible." He emphasized that they are here to help the community, and feels that being on a bicycle, rather than in a patrol car, allows them to interact more intimately with the people.

Next time you see officers on bike patrol, give them a wave and let them
know that we appreciate their presence in the city.

And for those who were wondering, bicycles require a white headlight that can be seen for at least 100 feet, reflectors on the wheels, pedals and back of the bike, and at least one handbrake that can bring the bike to a skidded stop on dry pavement.

The revolution will not be motorized!

2009-03-03T18:33:14Z

Around 20 bicyclists loiter around the fountain in the center of John Fremont Park at 16th and P Streets, resting on park benches or milling about to chat with other riders. A small group huddles around one park bench, where rider Danny Gutierrez is passing out t-shirts printed with an arresting graphic: a car, surrounded by a circle of bicycles, framed by the slogan, "¡La revolución no será motorizado!" -- "The revolution will not be motorized!" Another rider is passing out fliers with links to the Sacramento Critical Mass Google Group: groups.google.com/group/sacramentocriticalmass. It seems every time an anxious rider checks his watch, a couple more riders ride in from the Starbucks or Naked Lounge, on either end of the park.

The t-shirts excluded, this is how Sacramento's low-key version of the wild and eponymous San Francisco institution always seems to start. At 6:00 PM on the last Friday of every month, anywhere from a dozen to over one hundred riders converge on Fremont Park. This time, Barry, a grizzled Critical Mass veteran, gives a short speech about having fun and riding safely, and the riders start filing out of the park, towards 15th and P. Once on the road, they take off on an aimless and ambling tour of midtown. There is no set route; the group moves organically, turning as a flock, stretching across all three traffic lanes on 8th Street for a while, squeezing down to single-file to navigate past gridlocked cars on J, and lingering through intersections as "cover" for slower riders. Some riders peel away from the group, others spontaneously join the mass. All the while, riders are introducing themselves to each other, cracking jokes, shouting joyfully, ringing bicycle bells, blowing horns, and maintaining a party-on-wheels atmosphere. As the group makes its way through town, a few motorists honk angrily, but most seem to laugh, yell appreciatively, or, conditions permitting, even extend high-fives to riders.

Critical Mass in Sacramento has a rocky history. The first rides started in 2001, but petered out in 2003 under police pressure and after a couple of incidents involving vigilante motorists. The current incarnation started in April, 2007 and has convened monthly, rain or shine. Though the Sacramento Police Department, citing safety concerns, accompanied the rides in late 2007 and early 2008 (including one ironic incident where a police vehicle rear-ended, then arrested, bicyclist Eric Riggs), they have since decided to leave Critical Mass alone. The police scrutiny and a cold winter depressed ridership, but it is steadily rebounding.

Some riders ride to exert their right to the road as members of traffic, others to flaunt the benefits bicycles give over cars, and still others just to have fun. Though there's no dominant political message, just an appreciation of two wheeled transit, Critical Mass is a testament to the vibrancy of bike culture in Sacramento and the appeal of a casual ride through midtown with a few dozen fellow cyclists.

Images above are from the Febuary, 2009 ride. Pictures of past rides are available at www.nothingsharper.com/gallery2/main.php, with video clips at www.youtube.com/0geek0.

Sacramento Bike Kitchen to open on Furlough Fridays

2009-02-23T21:09:14Z

The Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen at 1915 I Street has decided to join the chorus of organizations offering free services to furloughed state workers.

According to a post on its web site, the SBK will open its doors from 10 AM to 3 PM on the first and third Fridays of the month, in addition to its normal midweek schedule. As a further incentive to pedal in for some bike maintenance, the normal $5 shop fee will be waived for furloughed state workers.

Professional Bikers Practicing in Sacramento

2009-02-13T21:45:52Z

Minutes after leaving the office today, a giant swarm of bikers nearly hit my car as they quickly turned the corner from 9th onto H street. They made their way up H street at about 20-30 miles per hour, before turning left again onto 16th.

I was far behind the small group, but when I caught up, I realized it was Team Rabobank, one of the teams in the Amgen Tour of California. Like a stalker, I stuck my head and camera out the window and snapped a few photographs from only a few feet away during the practice ride.

Rabobank, a Netherlands based bank is also committed to sponsoring the Tour of California for the next three years. Team Rabobank includes three-time World Champion Oscar Freire, two-time Vuelta a España winner Denis Menchov and current Cyclocross World Champion Lars Boom, making them strong one of the stronger teams in the race.

Later on, I continued down 16th, got onto highway 160, and exited Arden Way, where I saw team Type 1, but was not in a good position to take a photo. Did anyone else see a team practicing around town?

Lance Armstrong in Sacramento

2009-02-13T07:26:45Z

Lance Armstrong, contenders in the Tour of California, and hundreds of global media representatives filled Sheraton Hotel's conference room downtown. The riders, tour organizers, and other public figures such as Mayor Kevin Johnson and commentator Phil Ligget made statements to the frenzied media representatives.

A panel representing perhaps the strongest racing team ever assembled in the United States fielded questions, mainly expressing their excitement for the race, which begins in Sacramento this Saturday.

"It's an honor to have these professional cyclists here in Sacramento," said Mayor Johnson. "You'll see Saturday in Sacramento how thrilled we are. We are pleased to have been a part of this event the last three years."

"This year, because the prologue starts in Sacramento on a Saturday, we're going to generate 8.5 million dollars. People will be staying in our hotel rooms for five nights, 2500 rooms, and our local businesses, restaurants, shops and hotels are very thankful."

One main contender and winner of the inaugural Tour of California, however, was missing. Disqualified Tour de France winner Floyd Landis suffered from a bruised hip after a bicycle crash about two hours before the conference. Though he required medical attention, he will be fit to race Saturday.

Many questions were geared toward Armstrong, concerning his fitness level and past and present doping scandals, as well as his relationships with other riders. He said of his fitness level, "at 37 I feel just as good as 27."

As for questions about doping, Armstrong answered that he was "clean as a whistle". But more interestingly, he added "I'm on twitter, so you'll always know where I am. I think the key is transparency."

Most importantly, however, Armstrong made it clear that his participation in the ride is to raise awareness about cancer.

"Sometimes sensational news comes along and trumps old complacent stagnant news, like the number one killer in this country," he said wryly.

Armstrong mentioned that he was very happy to be riding with friend and Tour De France rival cyclist Ivan Basso, since the Italian recently returned from retirement as well. However, this will be the first time that Armstrong will be riding on a different team than George Hincapie, who refers to Armstrong as his "best friend".

Saturday's race will begin near Capital and 9th and end near L and 11th. Bikes and public transportation to the event are encouraged. The event is free. 75,000 people are expected.

Nice Racks Appearing in Sacramento!

2009-02-12T02:08:38Z

Sacramento's newest bike rack is just in time for this weekend's Amgen Tour of California. There it sits, on the corner of 19th and O, right outside of Zuda Yoga Center. The smell of fresh concrete, a green metal masterpiece, new paint - it's the real deal.

The Sacramento-themed bike rack, which has a depiction of a bicycle inside the State Capitol Building, was installed earlier this morning. The work of art already had a blue bike locked to it this afternoon.

Zuda's owners, spouses Anne Marie Kramer and Bill Prysock, had been actively "trying to get a bike rack installed" outside their business for approximately six months, said Yoga Coordinator Amanda Johnson.

Johnson added, "We are proud to have it since we have a lot of students who bike to their yoga class."

Recently, the Department of Transportation agreed to take over the issue of bike parking, and according to the Sacramento Bee, the city plans to install about 100 more.

Jerry Way, City Director of Transportation said to the Bee, "We are adding a good-looking parking asset that will accommodate no less than two bicycles at a time." He also said that in some cases they will be larger and hold more bikes.

Let's be bike savvy

2009-02-04T01:30:28Z

Sacramento needs to become more bicycle savvy in these days, today I was riding the Sac Press bike around and I had 3 cars make right hand turns right in front of me. One of these cars cut me so close to the point where I was forced to put my left hand on her car and push off the car as I take the turn with her. Had I not been able to do this or had I been a less experienced rider this could have caused a bad situation. The worst part is that I can see these people in there mirrors and they are clearly not looking or on their phone or something like that. We really need to work on this as a city cycling is on the rise in Sacramento and we need to be aware out there when we are behind the wheel. And to all you riders out there stay safe.

Building a new world with broken bikes

2009-01-17T19:17:33Z

The Sacramento Bike Kitchen (SBK) has been open for a week and the buzz is all over town. A DIY bike workshop that spreads bike culture with its unique approach to getting 'er done. Volunteers help YOU know your bike by showing you how to fix and maintain it. The result is that you are much more at cause over your 2 wheeled friend NOT the effect. Your affinity skyrockets for all things bicycling and simply cannot go anywhere unless it's on a bike. Well alright thats a little over the top but I hope you get my point.

At the kitchen we have a theory that most entry level bicyclists have had their hearts broken with the box store variety of bicycles that are not long for the dumpster. Poorly fitted and ill advised in keeping their bikes in working condition, most bikes from Walmart, Kmart etc. end up given away or even abandoned on the street. A once promising idea of going green filed away in the bad idea category of our memory banks.

We highly recommend one find a local bike shop and let them earn your business with their great service. Many come to mind like Steve Loebach from Carmichael cycles, Whit Brooks from the Bicycle Chef and Terry Cox from College Cyclery, just to name a few. These tireless experts can assist you in making your cycling goals come true. Others like Steve Rex can build a bike that's so beautiful you will never want to drive a car again.

The SBK is a nonprofit organization built on the goodwill of area bike enthusiasts. Our shop subsists or thrives on the donations of like minded folks that want to spread the idea that the bike is the most genius from for moving the body from A to B. We here have plans shoulder to shoulder with the local bicycle shops to increase the numbers of commuters that will make Sacramento the place it should be, a great place to live, work and play. A place free from noise polution, congestion, bad air and most importantly the disconnection from our fellow man. You see, a cyclist is more likely to wave at complete strangers on the road. He has so much fun he or she must share it with someone else!

Here at SBK our natural enemies are pollution, obesity, body apathy and doing nothing for the greater good. Our friends are all people who want to make a difference including those here at Sacpress who have given us the chance to blow our horn.

Please join us in making Sacramento the greatest biking city in California and then who knows what other goals we can tackle.

Portland and Amsterdam watch out!

John Boyer

SBK donations
1915 I street
(916)-442-3177

Donations gladly accepted 8-10am M-F and Wed,Thurs and Friday evenings 6-9PM

Alley Cat Racing in Sacramento

2009-01-15T00:39:40Z

Friday evening, you may have run into a crowd of cyclists pedaling their way downtown, uptown, and back again. The racing term for this group is a peloton. These rather enthusiastic riders were in the midst of the Sacramento Alley Cat bike race.

The Alley Cat is an unsanctioned bike race, checkpoint-to-checkpoint, where the emphasis is placed not on speed, but on knowing the layout of the city. Races are always open course, taking place in street traffic.

40 riders took off for the five checkpoints of the race which stretched from Lucky Lefty's on 16th Street all the way to West Sacramento and back.

Many others who came chose not to race, but remained at Lucky Lefty's, watching a bike-trick exhibition in the parking lot next door. Most people attending planned to go to the Sacramento premier of Macaframa, a feature-length film of track bike riding and tricks, being held at the Crest Theatre.

Alley Cat racing originated in the bike messenger community of Toronto in 1986, but it has since spread all over the world, with races being held from Atlanta to Australia, and of course, Sacramento.

While bike messengers are the driving force behind the production and organization of these races, non-messengers are free to enter and participate. Most participants ride fixed gear track bikes, and while most are welcoming to newcomers, some look down on people riding geared or single speed bikes.

The Alley Cat was largely organized by Lucky Lefty's, a streetwear boutique that recently opened up in the space formerly occupied by the Kehlet Typewriter company.

Are any of our readers bicycle racing enthusiasts? What do they think of this sort of bike race? Did anyone see the race or stumble into the midst of it?

Photos courtesy of Timothy Mar.

The Elusive Sacramento Bike Messenger

2009-01-08T21:42:47Z

A common scenario for a Sacramento bicycle messenger: I enter an elevator in one of the taller office buildings downtown. A thirty-something man in a very expensive suit and glistening hair enters with me, holding a laptop case and perhaps a Starbucks grande et cetera (cliché, but very true). A few seconds into the ride to the 23rd floor he turns to me with a smirk and says, “You a runner? A court runner?”
I glance back and say, “Sort of. I do a lot of court filings, but I work for an independent company rather than a law office. I’m just a general messenger.”
Despite the obvious clues (bike gloves, heavy-duty shoulder bag, short-bill cycling cap, some grease on my right calf), he asks, “So you ride a bike? You’re a bike messenger?”
Maintaining patience, I smile back. “Uh, yes. Yes I am.”
Still smirking, his brow wrinkles and he says, “Huh, that’s strange. Like the kind in San Francisco? I’ve never seen any here in Sacramento…”
At this I can only chuckle and shake my head a little, knowing that I’ve been delivering envelopes to his law firm on the 23rd floor nearly every morning for countless months. The elevator doors open and he steps out first, striding away without another word as if he had ridden all the way up here alone.

It would seem surprising that Sacramento doesn’t employ more humans on bikes. Being the political hub of the wealthiest state in the union makes for an incredible amount of legislative paperwork along with all of the obligatory legal malarkey carried out in private firms and various courts (these are our primary clients). And yet, the bike messenger population in Sac only fluctuates between about 13 and 24 people, split up between six or so companies. To give a sense of scale, for a brief time I worked at a single company in SF that employed over fifty people on bikes. I never even had a chance to meet all of my fellow employees while I was there. That one company could have handled two downtown Sacramentos with bikes to spare.

And it does make sense; 13 Sacramento blocks equals about a mile, so all of these courts and law offices and state departments are squeezed into a square grid two miles in diameter. The bicycle affords quite a bit more freedom of travel through a city environment than a car, which allows us to get from the reception desk at the top of a high-rise to another on the other side of the grid in well under 10 minutes. This ensures that the most time-sensitive rush delivery will most likely make it on time, which eliminates the need for separate crews of short and long-range riders, a common feature of messenger life in larger cities like San Francisco or New York.

Compared with these other places, Sacramento’s need for bicycle messengers is an entirely different beast altogether. The common assumption is that, like other cities, our bread and butter is hauling odd boxes and poster tubes with blueprints inside. But the average Sacto courier resembles a legal secretary far more than a cardboard packhorse. The majority of my deliveries throughout the day involve small envelopes and legal documents to be filed at the state and federal courts. Distributing information packets from lobbyists throughout the offices of congress in the capitol building is routine, and every messenger in town can be found, at some point in the day, standing at the civil filings counter at superior court, debating with a clerk on the particular department an action in a lawsuit must be received in.

Ironically, the lingo of the Sacramento messenger is typically the lingo of the lawyer and politician, which makes for an interesting juxtaposition since many of us do fit the gnarly, unkempt, post-apocalyptic description of the archetypal messenger and are able to carry out legal discussions with attorneys in elevators. However, this is rare; most of them just mention the heat of summer, the cold of winter, or ignore us, preferring to escape from the suit-and-tie over a cell phone call to a golfing buddy. Accepting this, I wait intently for my floor, several paper careers entrusted to my bag.

A CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE

2008-12-24T06:05:34Z

Greetings from City Hall.

I've been on the job for about two weeks now. Fortunately I was able to hit the ground running with the help of a 100+ community members that were part of my transition team. They included the director of the 40 Acres Art Gallery, the director of Regional Transit, faith leaders, and bicycle advocates. As you may know, my campaign slogan was "A City That Works for Everyone," and we've started out exactly that way.

One of the first products of the transition team's work is a policy paper on transportation, which you can view on my website, www.kevinjohnsonformayor.com. Its focus is to reduce traffic congestion and promote mass transit. I'd welcome your feedback. (More policy discussions will be forthcoming in future columns.)

In the interim, I'm also moving forward with several other initiatives designed to make city government more accountable and transparent. I've begun publishing my daily calendar on the city website (the first Mayor to do so) and am holding media availabilities every week. I'm writing here on sacramentopress.com, but also in several monthly community newspapers (such as "Inside the City" and the "Pocket News"). Watch for me every Monday morning on Fox40's "Mondays with the Mayor," and on News10 "talkback live" every Wednesday at 5 p.m., where you can ask questions live online. You can also hear me on KFBK every Wednesday at 3:30 with R.E. Graswich.

On top of that, I will have open office hours for any city resident at least one Saturday each month, and a "town hall" style meeting in each city council district every month. My goal is to be accessible, and to listen (and respond) to your ideas about how to make Sacramento a world class city.

When it comes to policy, we're also moving fast. I was able to line up the nation's premier municipal budget firm to begin an independent assessment of how our city can can deliver services better. And they're doing it for free!

I'm also pleased to report that we'll be adding 11 more police officers to Sacramento streets beginning in January. I worked closely with the Police Chief and City Manager to hire these new graduates of Sacramento's police academy to help reduce the city's rising crime rate.

I'll be writing more here about policy on a regular basis -- as well as expanding the city's website to include video and interactive features (such as an online town hall meeting). In the meantime, you can get the latest news on my website, www.kevinjohnsonformayor.com and http://cityofsacramento.org/council/Mayor/press-releases.html. I welcome your feedback and insight.

In the meantime, happy holidays!

Appetite Enhancement Ride

2008-11-28T06:43:47Z

Food, drink and riding bikes sums up the Appetite Enhancement Ride in a sentence.

This event has been taking place for over 20 years. This year was my first experience with the event and due to its traditional occurrence on Thanksgiving I only had a chance to be there an hour or so in the morning.

All it took was a quick ride over from our office at 431 I street, to the Towe Museum on Front Street. By the time we rolled up there were already a couple of hundred people there, scattered throughout the parking lot.

The spread was impressive; there were great looking, and tasting, pastries, coffee and even oysters.

People were working the crowd selling raffle tickets for $1 each. The proceeds went to charity.

The people attending the event were completely varied. There were middle aged cyclists in full cycling gear, bearded younger guys, people in wigs, and one uniting factor, a whole lot of crazy bicycles.

Many of the bicycles are pictured in the slideshow above. A few of the notable standouts were a high wheel bicycle and a bicycle welded to another bicycle for the purpose of supporting a mobile drum kit.

The mood was festive, people were talkative and the bikes were impressive.

Next year I plan on sticking around for the actual bike ride.

Did you attend the Appetite Enhancement Ride this year? Have you attended it in years past? Tell me about it in the comment section below.