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

A new, family, friendly event will take place in October, offering dance and bicycling for fitness and fun. The bike ride is free, and the dance is also free for those age 12 and under. Rootstock Presents the River City Record Hop, will be a Weekly All-Ages Western Swing & Rockabilly Dance Party, held every Thursday night beginning Oct. 6 from 7-11pm at Country Club Lanes, 2600 Watt Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95821. DJ Slimm Buick of San Francisco (://www.slimmbuick.com/DJ.html) be spinning classic 45 rpm records for dancing and listening enjoyment, with the bowling alley and all of it's facilities open, to the public as well. Admission is $5 for age 13 and over, but will be FREE for selecte

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

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

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

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 mecha

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 va

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,

Oceanside, CA | Part of Team SacPD (Sacramento Police Department's new cycling team) arrived in Oceanside Wednesday evening for registration in the Race Across America (RAAM) event. Six people affiliated with Team SacPD headed to Oceanside Wednesday in two vans; fourteen more crew members and racers traveled Thursday to join them. The relay teams for RAAM will start on Saturday at Oceanside Pier. Other RAAM races began Tuesday. The race finish is in Annapolis, Maryland between June 24th and 27th at the City Dock. Fourteen additional Team SacPD members head to Oceanside Thursday. You may have never heard of “Team SacPD” before, and with good reason; the team was recently assembled and thi

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, th

The Capitol BikeFest, part of the Sacramento region's "May Is Bike Month" festivities, took place on the east steps of the California state Capitol at lunchtime today. The event was sponsored by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), its transportation management organization partners, and the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA). SABA volunteers provided free bicycle valet parking for the event. The event included many participants of Bike To Work Day, along with local bicycle club members who made the event a stop on their group rides. Dean Alleger, CEO/Executive Director of the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association (SVVA), was named 2011 Cyclist of the Year. Dean s

The 2nd annual Vélo & Vintage Fashion Show was held at Hot Italian Saturday night in Sacramento.  The show is as much about bicycles as fashion. Lorena Beightler of Sac Cycle Chic founded the event to highlight "urban cycling as a smart, stylish and fashionable mode of transport." Kari Shipman of Juniper James organized the event with Beightler. Models attired in vintage clothing sourced from local boutiques rode a variety of vintage and newer bicycles into the restaurant and onto the runway. Each of the ten models showed three different looks ranging from "daytime" to "night" and ending with a "crazy" look that included a wild mishmash of styles, smeared makeup, and plenty of attitude.

Photos from the February 6th Savage Sprints Roller Races, a fundraiser for the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association at the Hot Italian pizza and panini bar in Sacramento. The event was held during the Super Bowl and was billed as the "Sooper Bowl Schmooper Bowl." Participants were encouraged to wear costumes.

12 photos from the January 9th and 23rd Savage Sprints Roller Races. [text below is from: http://sacvalleyvelodrome.org/?p=109] Press Release – Savage Sprints Fundraiser for Sacramento Valley Velodrome January 18, 2011 Press Release SAVAGE SPRINTS FUNDRAISER FOR SACRAMENTO VALLEY VELODROME The Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association is holding a series of stationary bike races, or Roller Races, to raise awareness and funds to build an outdoor bicycle racing track called a velodrome in the greater Sacramento area. Supporters are hopeful considering the strong support from the local bike community and area businesses. “After a solid turnout of more than 100 supporters and 40 race parti

Trailhead Coffee & Cycling Lounge announced today the First Annual Bike for Bliss benefiting A Chance for Bliss Animal Sanctuary. Registrants will enjoy Trailhead’s own signature coffee and energy bars before and after the ride. “Bike for Bliss is our way of helping our neighbor, A Chance for Bliss, and giving back to the community,” said Rob Johnson, co-owner and cycling lounge enthusiast, Trailhead Coffee & Cycling Lounge. “We want to be a regular gathering establishment for our community, and getting involved with A Chance for Bliss is a way to meet our neighbors and give everyone a fun day for a good cause.” WHO: Trailhead Coffee & Cycling Lounge Fun-Raiser for A Chance for Bliss Ani

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 Wisc

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 t

 Dominic Cooke was a normal college student athlete until a car crash his senior year paralyzed him. It doesn’t stop him however, from hand cycling in a triathlon. Cooke, 30, was injured when he was 22 years old. His athletic ability and passion for helping other hurt athletes is what made him start “Team TFO” this year for the 37th annual Eppie’s Great Race. TFO — which stands for Try for Others — is a nonprofit organization Cooke created in 2005 to aid injured athletes. “I played rugby before here in Sacramento at Jesuit High School and then at UC Berkeley,” Cooke said. “I was getting a lot of phone calls from injured rugby players. We help them with their immediate medical needs.”

 For the past several years, Fleet Feet Sports at 2311 J St. has held athlete meet-and-greets at which runners, cyclists and triathletes can swap stories, meet vendors and motivate each other. Such was the agenda Thursday night when professional cyclist Kathryn Bertine met with local enthusiasts to sign copies of her book about her quest to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Her book, "As Good as Gold," details her quest to qualify and to motivate Sacramento's multisport community. Bertine was making a living as a writer and had done some freelance work for ESPN when the station offered her the opportunity of a lifetime in 2006. "(ESPN) called me up and said, 'Hey, we want you to try

"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 EcoVe