Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "cycling"

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.

Rootstock Presents the River City Record Hop Featuring DJ Slimm Buick

2011-10-02T23:47:54Z

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 selected volunteers.

A bike ride from Citrus Heights will kick off the night, weather permitting, departing from Rosie's Country Kitchen, 6233 Auburn Boulevard, CA 95621 at 6pm, with at least one stop along the route (approximately 8 miles).

For more information, or to volunteer, contact rootstockevents@aol.com or visit RiverCityRecordHop.com or call Mike at 916-796-6551.

Disclosure: I am the DJ.

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>>

Follow TeamSacPD's Twitter>>

Team SacPD gearing up for RAAM

2011-06-17T07:15:48Z

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 this is their first major undertaking. “As the name of the team may suggest, we are all police officers here in the City of Sacramento. While our day-to-day jobs vary from patrol officer to the Chief of Police, we do share one hobby… cycling! When we heard about another local team (Donate Life) who participated in the event, we decided to see if we, too, could compete in this incredible race. When we later learned that there had never been an all-police team, we were sold. It didn’t take long before we had assembled a team, picked a worthy cause (to recognize and pay tribute to fallen officers) and started preparing for the epic ride. We have no idea how this adventure will end, but we welcome you to share the journey with us,” the team states on their website.

Per RAAM, Racers must traverse 3000 miles across 12 states and climb over 170,000 vertical feet. Teams will ride 350-500 miles a day, racing non-stop.The 2011 race will be the 30th edition of RAAM.

Chief Braziel states, “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. Starting June 18, 2011, the Sacramento Police Department Cycling Team will be the first law enforcement team ever to compete in the Race Across America. The race is a 3,000-mile bicycle race from California to Maryland.”

You will be able to track the teams live location and progress via the “My Athlete Live” interface. On the right, you can scroll down to the teams and select “Team Sacramento Police”. Their GPS tracker will appear on the interactive map and the timeline that also shows the elevation they are racing at.

Our Kati Garner is embeded with TeamSacPD and will be with them for the entire race. As we can, we will continue to bring you regular updates on the team’s progress and developments.

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.

Capitol BikeFest: photos

2011-05-20T03:49:42Z

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 started the SVVA earlier this year in order to raise awareness and funds to construct an outdoor bicycle racing velodrome in the Sacramento region. Dean stated, "I'm building our velodrome from the inside out, one relationship at a time." The SVVA sponsored the Savage Sprints indoor bicycle roller races earlier this year at Hot Italian, the only restaurant in California awarded with the “Bicycle Friendly Business Award” from the League of American Bicyclists.

John Boyer of the Edible Pedal bicycle food delivery service was named the 2011 Bicycle Advocate of the Year.

Lorena Beightler of Sac Cycle Chic advocated for practical cycling with style from her booth decorated with photos from the Vélo & Vintage bicycle fashion show (link to earlier Sac Press photo essay).

Vélo & Vintage bicycle fashion show: photos

2011-05-09T19:34:38Z

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.

Tricia Hedahl, Executive Director of Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA), made her runway debut.

Vélo & Vintage is one of the first events of the month for the Sacramento region's “May is Bike Month.” The venue for the show is fitting since Hot Italian is the only restaurant in California awarded with the “Bicycle Friendly Business Award” from the League of American Bicyclists.

Bike Month kicks into high gear as The Bicycle Film Festival hits the Sacramento area later this week. The Savage Sprints series, sponsored by the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association returns to Hot Italian for one night on Friday, May 13th. And the 2nd stage of The Tour of California rolls into Sacramento next Monday, May 16th, with the pro riders favoring an altogether different kind of cycling fashion.

Photos: Sacramento Roller Racing 2/6/2011

2011-02-11T10:50:27Z

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.

Sacramento Roller Racing: A Photo Essay

2011-02-01T07:49:49Z

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 participants at our first event, the momentum is building for a velodrome in the Sacramento area,” says organizer, Dean Alleger. “Our next event on January 23rd has also attracted Team USA World Cup sprinter, Kevin Mansker.”

Free racing will take place every other Sunday starting at 4pm on January 9th at Hot Italian Pizza & Panini Bar. The fastest 20 men and 20 women will be guaranteed entry to the Championships on March 20th, which include cash prizes and merchandise.

A Fun-Raiser to Benefit A Chance for Bliss Animal Sanctuary

2011-01-04T19:47:42Z

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 Animal Sanctuary
WHAT: Choose your ride: 30 mile personal best or 3.1 mile fun ride
WHERE: Start and finish @ Trailhead Coffee & Cycling Lounge:
2210 Taylor Road
Penryn, Calif.
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at 10 a.m.
HOW: Register online http://www.achanceforbliss.com/events/register-bike-for-bliss.html or call 916-663-9121 to register by phone (register day of event at 9 a.m. at Trailhead Coffee & Cycling Lounge)

Cost:
$25 ages 17 and up
$15 kids ages 6 – 16 (children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult)

Donation is tax deductible.

Supporting Resources
-USA Today story on A Chance for Bliss: http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2010-06-02-chance02_CV_N.htm#uslPageReturn

-Trailhead Coffee & Cycling Lounge: http://www.coffeeandbikes.com

-A Chance for Bliss: http://www.achanceforbliss.com

About A Chance for Bliss Animal Sanctuary
A Chance for Bliss is a unique, non-profit animal sanctuary that cares for senior and special needs animals, as well as those that are facing end-of-life circumstances. We are committed to the care and welfare of our ‘residents’ on an extraordinary scale, and once at the Sanctuary, each resident remains until they make their transition.

About Trailhead Coffee & Cycling Lounge
Trailhead Coffee & Cycling Lounge is the combined vision of Jerry Cannon and Rob Johnson, owners and cycling lounge enthusiasts. From racing bicycles at the professional level, to working for pro teams in international cycling races such as the Tour Du Pont & T-Mobile International, the Trailhead crew is ready to answer cycling questions or join in on a discussion.

Having done the management thing for that – whisper – corporate coffee giant up north, the Trailhead crew knows coffee and the coffee obsession. We are dedicated to the lounge environment, which allows us to create a proper pulled espresso or a coffee the way our customers want it. Our Trailhead blend coffee is roasted to our specification and we bake our famous "TRAILHEAD BARS" fresh daily. Visit us on twitter.com/trailheadcoffee and facebook.com/coffeeandbikes.

Lori Bertelli
Bertelli Group Public Relations
(916) 216-2968
lbertelli@bertelligroup.com

Disclosure: Lori Bertelli (Bertelli Group Public Relations) is the media contact for this event.

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.

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.

Triathlon team overcomes obstacles for Eppie’s Great Race Saturday

2010-07-16T02:15:32Z

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.”

It wasn’t until Cooke was training in Colorado last year at the Olympic training camp that he realized he missed being part of a team.

“I’ve been away from organized sports for so long that I kind of forget how special the team dynamic is,” he said.

Cooke began searching online for teammates for Team TFO. He found fellow teammate, Jon Bik, 37, who is a leg amputee runner and former U.S. triathlon champion in the amputee division.

Matt Strugar-Fritsch, 28, is the only whitewater kayak racer in northern California, Cooke said. He is also a paraplegic hand cyclist, but will be paddling in the race.

Cooke said he is excited for the race and attributes his inspiration to start Team TFO to his training in Colorado.

“I think when you get injured and you’re used to being active, all of the sudden, you can’t be. It’s just a complete lifestyle change,” he said. “I miss that kind of competitive spirit. Everyone has the same mindset, the same goals. You’ve got that support of your teammates to push you. They raise the bar to help you achieve your goals.”

This is the first time Eppie’s race will see Team TFO. Cooke said he wanted to bring awareness to the disabled community, which is why Try for Others is sponsoring four other teams for a total of 15 people.

“This year I kind of wanted to bring all the people that I know are doing cool stuff in the community and get them all out there in full force,” he said.

Cooke, who trains almost daily, said he lives by the John Wooden quote, “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

Cooke has been skydiving, paragliding and skiing — anything to be outdoors and out of his wheelchair. He said he feels it is a necessity for disabled people to be active to better their health.

“I never really feel like I’m racing against other people; you’re just always racing against yourself, trying to reach your own potential,” he said. “It’s so satisfying when I set a challenge and I’m able to complete it.”

Eppie’s Great Race funds will benefit Sacramento County Therapeutic Recreation Services — which supports mentally and physically challenged individuals. The race itself will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday at William Pond Recreation Area Park (located on Arden Way) in Carmichael. Friday is the last day to register.

For more information on the race or the Friday kickoff party, visit thegreatrace.org.

Photos courtesy of Dominic Cooke.

Pro cyclist book signing at Fleet Feet

2010-07-10T03:36:30Z

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 and make it to the 2008 Olympics and write about it,'" Bertine said. "I was shocked!"

Nearly 70 people at Fleet Feet were eager to hear her story, chat with other athletes and vendors, and munch free burritos.

Ernest and Erin Duarte, both multisport participants, were soaking up the atmosphere. Erin, 35, is preparing for her first triathlon race Saturday at Rancho Seco Park. With two daughters, 5 and 7, finding time to train has been one of the more difficult aspects of the competition.

"I'll train when I can, and she'll train with her group when she can," Ernest said.

"My family's been really important because they realized this was something I wanted to do, so they were very supportive," Erin said, noting that her parents watched the girls while she trained.

Pat Sweeney, co-owner of the store with wife Jan since 1997, said that meet-and-greet events build the popularity of endurance sports. When a friend told him Bertine's story, Sweeney said he thought it would be great to host a book-signing along with the usual social gathering.

"Rather than just do her, let's have her be in our triathlete get-together," he said.

Mike Gates, sponsorship director of Sacramento Triathlon Club, said that having the group represented at events promotes triathlon and fosters a sense of community.

"We're a network of people trying to help everyone learn the sport," he said.

Gates encourages all ages to explore the sport and said increasing its visibility through stories such as Bertine's helps.

Vendors at the event included Ikon Cycles, Total Body Fitness and Xtreme Sports ID.

Bertine encouraged aspiring athletes.

"When it comes to things like sports and, in particular, endurance sports, the participation is the reward," she said. "Whether you start at 10 or you get into it in your 40s and 50s, there's nothing wrong with that."

A figure skater in her youth, she turned professional in that sport until she went to college and pursued running and rowing on a scholarship. She evolved into a triathlete as a graduate student at the University of Arizona, where her affinity for cycling began to grow.

"When I started this project I had no idea I would ever fall in love with cycling as much as I did," Bertine said.

And then ESPN came up with its big idea for the athlete.

The network wanted its readers and viewers to see how difficult it was for someone to get to the Olympics. Bertine settled on cycling as her best shot to break into the Beijing Games two years ago, but fell short. Undiscouraged, she has set her sights on the London 2012 Summer Games and is currently following a strict racing schedule.

Bertine races for TriSports Cycling/Eclipse Racing team in the United States. Internationally, she races for St. Kitts and Nevis, a two-island nation southeast of Puerto Rico that she will represent if she qualifies for the 2012 Olympics. She has dual citizenship with St. Kitts and Nevis and the United States. Read her brief biography here.

You can find information on purchasing "As Good as Gold" here.

Photos by Marissa Mortimer.

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.

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.

Thank you for your service, Wounded Warriors

2010-05-17T20:33:49Z

150 soldiers were introduced to sports designed specifically for individuals with disabilities, illnesses and injuries recently during a Thank You For Your Service event at the River Cats Independence Field.

Brave soldiers who sustained disabilities while serving this nation and are now working to return to active duty or transition to civilian life will be introduced to sports and recreational opportunities specifically designed for individuals with disabilities.

It featured demonstrations and hands-on experience of U.S.Paralympics-sanctioned sports, including Basketball, Cycling, Swimming, Javelin, Shot-put, wheelchair softball, rock climbing and Discus.

Mark Wellman of Truckee brought his adaptive climbing wall to introduce Warriors to rock climbing. Wellman is a nationally acclaimed author, filmmaker and motivational speaker. Despite being paralyzed in a mountain climbing accident, Mark has inspired millions to meet their problems head-on and reach for their full potential. A two-time Paralympian and former Yosemite Park Ranger, Mark's NO LIMITS philosophy encourages individuals to adventure into new horizons; to go beyond the seeming unreachable. He and his crew work with vets across western USA.

Wellman has scaled Yosemite’s’ granite monoliths, including El Capitan and Half Dome and served for several years as a park ranger, after sustaining a spinal cord injury.

This gentleman used one arm only to reach the top of the wall.

The bell is rung at the top.

Participants in this event were from Washington state, Oregon and California. Thank you for your Service was hosted by the City of Sacramento Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Access Leisure, Paralympic Sport Sacramento Club and the Community Based Warrior Transition Unit California.

For more info, please visit: www.accessleisuresac.org

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

More photos from the Amgen Tour

2010-05-17T17:46:34Z

The first stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California ended with a three-lap circuit in downtown Sacramento. These photos were taken at the corner of 18th and P Streets.

Three members of the HTC-Columbia team lead the pack around the corners of downtown Sacramento. Team member Mark Cavendish won the first stage after a powerful sprint to the finish line.

Racers sprint into the four-block stretch on 18th Street.

Lance Armstrong, right, maneuvers around a corner among the riders in the first stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California.

Riders lean sharply as they pass through one of the turns in the circuit in downtown Sacramento. After the pack of riders passed, specatators felt a blast of wind created by the speed of the cyclists.

Photos by Ron Nabity.

Late crashes mar otherwise peaceful stage 1

2010-05-17T15:49:30Z

If you're the best sprinter in the world, your competition doesn't matter. Marc Cavendish, who won six stages in the 2009 Tour de France took his winning ways to Sacramento in the first stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California. His rivals however, were slowed by a crash during the final few kilometers heading up to the finish. Tom Boonen and some of the other chief green jersey contenders hit the pavement and wound up bruised and battered as they crossed the finish line.

Lance Armstrong and heavy favorite three time Amgen winner Levi Leipheimer finished unscathed and received the same race time as all riders in the main peloton. The yellow jersey will be decided on a different day, but one thing is for certain--Cav remains unstoppable on any sprint finish.

Mayor Kevin Johnson presented the stage winner with a poster of Sacramento and much to the delight of the audience, followed traditional podium protocol by giving Cavendish a kiss on the cheek. The crowd, which was estimated in excess of 100,000 lined the streets of the capitol visiting vendor tents and poured out into midtown businesses on what would otherwise have surely been be another lazy Sunday afternoon.

While most of the race glory belonged to stage winner, Cavendish, Davis native and PhD student in Mathematics, Paul Mach rode a small breakaway capturing the king of the mountains jersey and will be wearing the polka dot vest into his hometown where the race starts, Tuesday. It was great to have a local presence on the podium--an honor clearly relished by Mach who himself was not certain he would ride in the Amgen until shortly before the race started.

You can check out Mach’s first hand account of the race at his blog http://paulmach.com/

Cavendish takes lead in Sacramento's First Stage of Amgen Tour

2010-05-17T00:34:08Z

Mark Cavendish, HTC-Columbia, donned the first leader's jersey of the Amgen Tour 2010 in Sacramento today. Following in second place was JJ Hado, Saxo Bank; third place - Alexander Kristoff, BMX Racing Team; fourth place - Robbie Hunter, Garmin Transistions and Jonathan Cantwell, Fly V Australia.

Cavendish is fifth from the right as the tour travelled down Jackson Rd before reaching Folsom Blvd and the final leg of Stage One that ended at the State Capitol.

Traveling at a good clip along Jackson Rd, Maarten Tjallingii (Rabobank), Chad Beyer (BMC), Mark De Maar (United Healthcare) and Paul Mach (Bissell) had lead for most of the race.

Lance Armstrong (far right) zipped by.

Unidentified group of racers.

Heading down Jackson Rd before the big push into Sacramento.

Support vehicles follow behind the racers.

Father and son got lucky by grabbing a discarded water bottle and cup tossed by racers.

Tomorrow, the tour leaves Davis, CA to begin the second stage.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

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

Cycling is great until it's not!

2010-05-13T16:24:29Z

Do you remember the feeling of riding a bike for the very first time? I do.

I can recall the feeling of freedom, of gliding through the air under my own power, of the wind rushing past my hair and face. That was a magical feeling that can only happen once – the first time I learned to do something. But more than that, it is one my best childhood discoveries and memories. My entire body was uplifted and carried magically through space and time, and I felt that the whole world was mine and mine alone, until I crashed because I didn't know how to stop the bike.

Do you remember the first hard crash on your bike, leaving your knees bloody and your palms numbed and bruised from hitting the pavement? I most certainly do and still have a scar on my knee to show for it. I was 11 when I learned how to ride a bike and still have not mastered the art of bike riding.

Cycling is pleasurable, until it's not, as I'd like to say about most things in my life. It is like that, isn't it? Something is good until it's not anymore, but it definitely has the potential to be good again. Take bike safety, for instance. One moment you are riding along, not a worry in the world, and the next thing you know a truck pulls a left turn and swipes you off the bike lane, dumping you on the sidewalk, and there you splay and squirm in pain while the offender takes off. Well, this didn't happen to me, but to my brother-in-law, and luckily another motorist came along to rescue him.

If you are an avid cyclist, then you'd have your shares of injuries resulting from a driver's inability to share the road or see you in the bike path or in the gutter, eking out a space for yourself.

It's not easy either when a cyclist stays in traffic to make a left turn at the intersection when the light sensor does not pick up the weight of the bike, or drivers not being mindful of cyclists and not seeing them.

I am NOT an avid cyclist. In fact, I am somewhat of a fair-weather cyclist, as I have observed that most Americans are – are we not? I don't see hordes of bike commuters like in China or Vietnam here in Sacramento, not even in Midtown where it is so hip and popular, and not even in Davis where there are more cyclists per capita. Would I like to ride more? You bet I would, and who wouldn't?

But here lies the problems for me. According to City-Data.com (http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Pocket-Sacramento-CA.html), residents in my Pocket/Greenhaven neighborhood travel an average of 35 minutes each way to work. Mass transit and bike routes are intermittent and incomplete, lowering my desire to ride my bike and lifting the thing onto the bus racks, and hopefully getting to work in West Sacramento an hour and a half later versus a 15-minute drive from the Pocket.

According to the City-Data's pie chart of transportation modes to work, a whopping 76 percent of commuters drive alone (I was one of the guilty ones). About 15 percent of commuters carpool, 2 percent get there by bus and the remainder work from home and fall into the "others" category.

What about riding bikes to the grocery stores and on weekends to neighborhood coffee shops where the traveling is a mere two miles?

It's fairly safe in the Pocket neighborhood, just as long as I don't venture to Freeport Boulevard or spend too much time on Florin Road, riding to my bank for instance – which has no bike rack.

"Frivolous expenditure!" I can just hear the bank's execs or property managers barking their displeasure in the board room. Once there were two of us cyclists standing in front of the bank, sharing a laugh that we could lock both of our bikes together since there are no bike racks or structures to lock our bikes to.

Since May is Bike Month, I am venting and saying that walking and biking on the south side of town, as is with most places in Sacramento, can be a bit undesirable at best, and this perpetuates the vicious cycle of car dependency. Our city's infrastructure engineers and developers have not made this area walkable or bike-friendly, with the exception of the exclusive gated communities along Pocket Road.

I am stopping now at an intersection in Midtown, watching the invincible cyclists riding up on my passenger side and blow through the red light. They usually look so free and effortlessly disappear behind a sea of brake lights. I seldom witness this but it still makes me cringe every single time that I do!

I admire and envy their athletic ability and riding skills, but I know that a car can easily open a door and send them flying without helmets before they can brake or swerve. It is beautiful to watch them ride, until it's not, until some careless drivers talking on their mobiles suddenly veer to score a parking space for the Second Saturday Art Walk. My teenage son is an avid cyclist, and I am keenly and painfully aware of the risks he takes every day he goes on his rides.

It really hurts when someone goes down! Can we just please share the road, pay attention, and be courteous to one another? I am both a driver and a cyclist and really would love to feel safer out there when I ride my bike. And when I drive, I'd really love it if the cyclists, when in doubt, make sure they are visible and make eye contact with me. I can use some work on this myself, and I am just sayin...

Since I am a cartographer, and a founder of Cartography for Nonprofits, (http://cartographyfornonprofits.org/) I've made a map called Safe Bike Map and invite you to collaborate with me on this civic project at: http://bit.ly/8YtOiB. Help me map the dangerous areas for biking, suggest alternatives for cyclists, and reccomend improvements to the city and county (Mapping Tutorials included). Please pass on your cycling's tips and tricks so we can survive riding on the streets of Sacramento. I am including in my article some pictures of the White Bike on L Street, recently displayed in memory of William Detore, who died in a biking accident. I sincerely hope that we Sacramentans won't ever have to see this bike again around town.

Here are some helpful links for cyclists and pedestrians.

www.sacregion511.org/videos/freedom-to-mobility/

sacbikekitchen.org/

www.sacbike.org/

www.peopleforbikes.org/

www.railstotrails.org/

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.

Tour of California's inaugural Grand Prix event set to roll into Sacramento

2010-05-06T03:12:01Z

The Amgen Tour of California returns to Sacramento, bringing even more cycling competition to the Capitol in 2010. This year, Project Sport, the company behind the San Francisco and San Rafael Twilight Criterium races, and the Sacramento Sports Commission have teamed together to add the Sacramento Grand Prix.

The inaugural Grand Prix event will run in conjunction with the Tour of California competition, which will feature seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. The Grand Prix will act as the precursor to the May 16 Tour event, beginning at 11 a.m. the same day.

The addition of the Grand Prix is an effort to extend the tour's festivities and bring out more fans.

"We're trying to create events for the community," said John McCasey of the Sacramento Sports Commission. "We're excited to roll out the Grand Prix and hope it can be an annual event."

While the men's field is currently sold out with approximately 150 riders participating, tour officials said they are especially excited about introducing the women's field, which will include about 50 riders, believing the Grand Prix to be "the perfect form to do it."

"Sacramento is awesome in terms of biking," said Emily Kachorek. "It's exciting to have so many fans, the whole vibe, the atmosphere." Kachorek, residing in Sacramento, rode for the University of California, Davis, Cycling Team from 2000-2002. She will be joined in the competition by fellow female Sacramento cyclist Heather Pryor, among others.

Participating in the male competition, Ryan Parnes from Davis spoke of the event from the fans' perspective. "This is a fantastic opportunity for spectators," he said, "the race is so fast and so technical."

Riders will be competing for a $6,000 first-place prize for the women's competition and a $4,000 first-place prize for the men's.

The Grand Prix is 1.4 miles long and will loop around the Capitol, duplicating the Sacramento portion of the Tour of California route, held at 3:45p.m. The event begins and ends on L and Eleventh streets, covering Ninth, N and 16th streets as well. Afterward, the public are invited to ride the competition route in the Sacramento Community Ride. The free event is open to all ages, and will feature Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson who will participate in the ride.

Ryan Dawkins, president of Project Sport, explained the goals of the Grand Prix.

"(The Sacramento Grand Prix will feature) local-level champions, elite, and up-and-coming stars who will race in the Tour (de France)," Dawkins said. "There aren't many high-profile events able to garner media attention, top-end prize money and get top riders," he said. The Sacramento Sports Commission and Project Sport hope the 70,000 fans in attendance last year for the Tour of California will return, and enjoy the festivities leading up to the day's main event.

"We have the community interest, the police on board, a route, and finally someone with expertise (in how to run a major cycling event)," McCasey said. "Our hope is that this will be the start of a big deal."

Due to the both competitions' routes, certain areas downtown will be subject to road closures. For more information on the tour route, road closures and parking, visit www.cityofsacramento.org and/or the Amgen Tour of California website.

Photo 1: Project Sport president Ryan Dawkins

Photo 2: Cyclists Ryan Parnes, Heather Pryor, Emily Kachorek and Peter Graf

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.

"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.

Practical Cycle officially opens

2010-04-03T03:46:23Z

Practical Cycle bike shop opened Thursday in Old Sacramento.

On Friday, Tim Castleman and his son, Cassidy, were busy unloading a shipment of at least 35 Worksman bikes at the store at 114 J St.

The grand opening will be held on April 22, Earth Day. But fans of Worksmans and electric bikes already have started stopping by to talk about their favorite rides, Cassidy said.

The shop has bikes made in the United States for sale and for rent, as well as accessories. They include Pedego electric bikes and Worksman models such as cruisers and two-person side-by-side trikes.

The Castlemans said they expect bike rentals to pick up as word gets out that Old Sacramento once again has a rental shop. And once spring really hits.

"As the weather warms, we're looking forward to seeing crowds of people renting these bikes," Cassidy said, "and getting out on the bike trail."

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.

Whole lot of love

2009-09-28T22:02:32Z

The fifth annual Mustard Seed Spin was held yesterday on the American River Trail with guest speaker Mayor Kevin Johnson showing his support for the need to take care of our children and keep what safety nets we do have in place from disappearing.

The fundraiser benefited Mustard Seed School for homeless children of all ages. The ride featured area kids riding for their less fortunate counter parts and showing grit riding in temperatures well into the nineties.

The goodwill and the social responsibility on display was breathtaking not to mention the smiles on the young riders determined faces.

Mayor Johnson reminded us we all needed to step up and pitch in the best we can during the hard economic times ahead.The Sacramento Bike Hikers a local recreational cycling club was well represented with heavy support on all ends.

Velo Cab a pedal powered cab company owned by Marc Christianson was giving free rides while Cycling for Hope repaired bikes nonstop.

All in all an awsome display of caring for ones fellow man on display. No controversy just a whole lot of love. This fact makes me shudder to think why there were no other media outlets covering such good news.

John Boyer

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

VSP Vision Care, American Diabetes Association and Team Type 1 - Cycling for a Cause

2009-04-03T22:33:44Z

VSP® Vision Care and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are having a 24-hour spin-a-thon to raise awareness about diabetes today, April 3. Their goal is to bring attention to diabetes for 24 hours since people with diabetes have to live with it 24/7. Teams participating in this event will include VSP, the ADA, Hewlett Packard, Intel and Sutter Health.

Team Type 1’s Kyle Rose was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 16. Kyle came down with a strep throat that lingered, and it was his family eye doctor who suggested he get tested for diabetes. High blood sugar levels landed him in the hospital for four nights, and he was diagnosed with diabetes. After hearing the news, he did his best to return to a new normal routine. Kyle heard about Team Type 1, a team of amateur and professional cyclists and tri-athletes living with type 1 diabetes, and was moved by the team’s mission. He’ll be racing for Team Type 1’s 2009 team in the Race Across America (RAAM). The son of an international couple, Kyle grew up splitting his time between Idaho and France. “As a boy, I watched the Tour de France pass by my front door, but had no idea I would one day be cycling in the Race Across America,” says Kyle. Kyle volunteers at a number of camps and events, supporting others with type 1 diabetes throughout the year. “In retrospect, I can honestly say that everything works out for the best. Being diagnosed with diabetes gave me a purpose.” His goal is to continue working with organizations that focus on improving the lives of people with diabetes.

Come by VSP today to meet Kyle Rose and to sign up for the ADA’s Sacramento Tour de Cure, which will take place on May 2. You can also register on the ADA’s website at www.diabetes.org/rosevilletour. Enter the promotion code “VSP” to have the registration fee waived. Each person who registers for the Tour de Cure during the spinathon will be entered to win a brand new mountain bike.

Armstrong's Stolen Bike Returned

2009-02-19T03:14:45Z

At a press conference held at the Public Safety Center on Freeport Boulevard, Sacramento Police confirmed that cyclist Lance Armstrong's bicycle, stolen on Sunday, February 15, has been returned by an anonymous citizen as of 10:30 this morning.

The bike, which was identified by serial number, was described by the spokesman as being '"in good condition," despite being delivered with the wheels detached from the frame. Police do not believe that the bicycles were specifically targeted by thieves. A police spokesman said, "Our one concern was that the bike would be discarded," once the thieves realized the identity of the bike's owner.

Police declined to comment on the identity of the citizen who returned the bicycle, saying that the while the "Good Samaritan" who returned the bike did provide details, the police department would not be discussing the particulars of the case due to the ongoing investigation. It was confirmed that the citizen who returned the bicycle is not a suspect.

As of this writing, police are still searching for two additional bicycles from Team Astana, which were stolen along with Armstrong's. Initial reports that three additional bikes were stolen proved to be incorrect, as one of Team Astana's missing bikes was discovered to have been misplaced and had been sitting in hotel storage.

Police allowed that they did have multiple suspects, but refused to go into further detail, again citing the ongoing investigation. A police spokesman described the department's attitude as hopeful, saying "We are actively following leads," but cautioned against early speculation.

Sacramento Police were flooded with calls from media outlets and cycling enthusiasts from all around the world, and officers patrolling downtown were stopped and advised by concerned citizens actively looking for the stolen bike.

That the high-profile theft took place in downtown Sacramento was described as an 'unfortunate circumstance' by police.

Armstrong is expected to receive his bicycle in 24 to 48 hours, although at the press conference police stated that they had not been in direct contact with Armstrong's Team Astana.

Crawl…Flash…Spokes, It’s Bikeramento Week!

2009-02-12T02:14:33Z

Last night was an amazing meandering ride from Downtown through Midtown for the 1st Annual Bikeramento Crawl.

Set the scene of a moving banner from sanctuary to sanctuary in the light rain. It all begins with the religious experience of a cup of mojo at Temple Fine Coffee & Tea.

The loose Bikeramentans gather and awkwardly introduce themselves to the team. It’s to be expected. Who are these bike-crazy folks, these Spokes People, who believe that they can influence city planning and have fun doing it?

Ah….soak up that caffeine. A fine whiff of a single origin espresso parting the perfect foam of that cappuccino. David Barton shows up with the sharp photographer for Sacramento Press. And the adventure begins.

The energy builds, spreading the word to random cyclists biking over for meetings and everyday items, creating a chance run-in with Panama Bartholomew of the Planning Commission.

Australia, and barista extraordinaire from the emerging Chocolate Fish Coffee down the street, check.

Scotland, skydiver and cyclist, check.

Eco-activist, check.

State workers and Bay Area transplants, check.

Gear up to travel over to Brew It Up where Sacramento Press opens the tab and buys the ragtag Bikeramentans a round of beer. Mmmm…house-brewed Vanilla Stout. More creative capital joins the crew. We hear whispers of city-wide capture the flag driven by online clues.

Off we go into the wild night yonder, hustling to Butch N Nellie’s Coffee House at 19th and I Streets for Muddy Dublins, Guinness with a shot of espresso, and Dublin Floats, Guinness with 2 scoops of chocolate gelato. It’s a mad nightcap as a large group adds on to the fun and night lights flicker onto the bikes, like quirky fireflies amidst the dewy darkness.

Onward to DeVere’s Irish Pub. It’s our poor waitress’ lucky draw, her first night on the job serving Bikeramento. A flawless delivery as Sacramento Press hurls a round of Washington Apples for the 20 of us gathered, followed by a roundhouse of beers and a few small plates to soak it all up. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” as we toast our sponsors.

Time slows down as we enjoy the jovial sounds of a full crowd. The lamb sliders linger on the tongue and bid us adieu into the rain once more.

Last call to Rubicon Brewing Company on 20th and Capitol Avenue next to The Waterboy Restaurant. We run into friends, associates, and more Bikeramentans. Thank goodness for open-faced meatloaf sandwiches drizzled with mushroom gravy. Another crowded house on a wintry Tuesday night, the perfect ending to Crawl home for bedtime stories and foamy dreams.

The Bikeramento Banner travels from post to post like a wise, wandering gypsy at home wherever it lands against the cityscape, signifying the temporal nature of each stop combined with the cyclical energy of moving forward together as an evolving urban wheel .

It’s 10 minutes to the next event, the bicycle flash mob on Wednesday evening. Find the answer online at Bikeramento.org.

Bikeramento Week Launches on the Pedals of the Amgen Tour of California

2009-02-10T01:23:21Z

SACRAMENTO, Cal. - FEBRUARY 9, 2009 - A local group of bicycle advocates launch the 1st Annual Bikeramento Week from Feb. 9-14, culminating on Valentine’s Day with a race day watch party at 18th and L on the patio of the Buckhorn Grill during the Amgen Tour of California, the largest bicycle race in the United States.

Each day this week, the team offers a different bicycle-friendly event to highlight Sacramento’s potential as a bikeable community to both visitors and locals alike.

By attending events, participants can win a pair of tickets to the Bikeramento Patio during the Amgen prologue on Saturday. The group wishes to raise awareness of bicycles as a transportation norm. “This is a great way to connect to the average Sacramentan about harnessing bicycle culture to create a strong and green Sacramento economy during this difficult downturn,” says co-founder Lorena Beightler.

From Monday’s Bicycle Safety Night at the Bicycle Kitchen in Midtown to Tuesday’s Bike Crawl to 5 different night spots on the grid, Bikeramento invites active participation to show people how easy it is use the bicycle as core transportation for everyday life.

“Our goal is to educate by connecting bikeability to having fun,” remarks co-founder, Brian Fischer of midtowngrid.com. “However, the larger intention is to introduce two core ideas, Sac Sunday Streets and the Velobahn.”

“It’s all about making the change that we can and Sac Sunday Streets would create community among pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, and other alternatives to the car,” insists Beightler.

Bikeramento proposes to shut down a major Central City street from spring through summer similar to the efforts of San Francisco, Portland, Montreal, and New York. Beightler continues, “It would be a place for everyone to be active and safe on a Sunday morning and help people understand that streets can be used for more than driving.”

What the heck’s a Velobahn? It is Sacramento’s modern and eco-friendly answer to the Autobahn, so coined by Ricardo Robles of Bikeramento. “It embodies Sacramento’s goal to be a green city by proposing a realistic investment in infrastructure when the city’s budget is in a crunch,” comments Robles.

The Velobahn would become a national emblem of bicycle tourism at a time when it’s necessary for the small businesses to attract new business to the Central City’s still vibrant core.

“Sacramento Press had to jump in as a sponsor of this event, because we’re asking people to think outside the box and that’s how our economy can become more dynamic and creative,” proposes Nicholas Walsh. “We’re already a bike-driven workforce and office space.”

Another sponsor, Capsity Offices, will become the city’s 2nd installment of “The Sac Rack,” a signature bicycle rack and piece of functional urban art offered by the City of Sacramento.

“Ultimately, this a great way to involve people in imagining Sacramento’s possibilities while most cities are just trying to survive,” pontificates the group’s webmaster, Dan Fisher. “Why stand still when you can keep the wheels turning?”

The week climaxes with Friday’s 1,000 Spokes of Light, a community ride through Midtown and a fundraiser to purchase bicycles for children who otherwise cannot afford one starting with Oak Park, since it’s adjacent to Midtown.

“A green economy should stimulate health and fitness, affordable transportation, environmental justice, and great economic development,” summarizes Fischer.

For more information on the week’s events, visit the group’s web site, www.bikeramento.org.

Contact Information:

Lorena Beightler, lorena@sactivist.com, 916-606-5010
Jeff Louie, jeff@sactivist.com, 916-849-7871

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

Sacramento Pipeworks- more than just a climbing gym

2009-01-14T01:35:00Z

Anyone who has driven out of the grid via 16th street has probably noticed a large red brick building lined by cypress trees with a neon sign hanging from the corner. This building is the home of Pipeworks, a fitness center and climbing gym.

Pipeworks is a part of Touchstone Climbing & Fitness, which runs four other gyms in the Bay Area. Touchstone was founded by Mark and Deborah Melvin in 1995 with the opening of Mission Cliffs in San Francisco, setting a standard for future indoor climbing facilities.

Pipeworks opened in Sacramento six years later and continued to set standards by offering full fitness facilities as well as world-class climbing. Upon entering, one might be overwhelmed by the immense 40-foot climbing walls that greet him/her.

But after a short walk around, it becomes obvious that there is something for everyone -- from hardcore climbers to cardio kick-boxers. Yoga lovers are treated to multiple classes per day, six days per week.

All of this is included in the monthly membership fee, as is membership to all Touchstone facilities.

Most members would agree that there is a different social atmosphere in Pipeworks than can be found in any typical corporate gym. I asked the general manager, Vaughn Medford, about this and he agreed, citing the "Golden Rule" as a major contributor. He and his employees treat the gym's visitors just as they would like to be treated.

He explained that there is a personal connection between Pipeworks and its members that doesn't exist at other gyms. There are no forced contracts and they are flexible with members who might have missed a deadline for cancellation, etc.

Member feedback is accepted and sincerely considered. As Vaughn said, "This isn't my gym as much as it is for the people who come here."

This respectful interaction leaks down to the members themselves. The "creepy gym vibe" does not exist at Pipeworks. Certainly every woman who has ever felt the silent stare while working

People respect others' intentions of simply working out or climbing, and conversation remains on the friendly level. People are approachable and encouraging, which definitely helps with new climbers who might feel intimidated by the more experienced.

Pipeworks' focus on the "Golden Rule" extends beyond its property line. Support of the surrounding community is an important aspect of the gym's management. Vaughn explained, "Being involved in our community is one of the four corners of our mission statement."

The gym works with WIND Youth Services (www.windyouth.org) and Mustard Seed School (run by Loaves and Fishes), both programs for homeless and at risk children, inviting them to climb on a regular basis.

The cycling club at Pipeworks collected 30 bikes which were donated to Quinn Cottages, a transitional housing community located across the street from the gym's parking lot. Discounted memberships are also offered to Quinn Cottages and other special groups.

Also important to Pipeworks is the local climbing community. Touchstone works to strengthen this community through competitions which are hosted by each of the five locations. These competitions are free to members and represent a great chance to meet fellow climbers. Free pizza and beer and gear giveaways typically cap the night of a competition.

Pipeworks also hosts meetings of a local climbing advocacy group, CRAGS. CRAGS works to protect nearby climbing sites as well as expand access for climbers in closed locations.

So, next time you pass that large, red brick building, think about stepping inside and asking for a tour. The staff is friendly and eager to answer any questions that you might have. As added incentive, new members can sign up with no initiation fee through the end of January -- a savings of $100. Check it out.

Help is on the way; The grand opening of the new Sacramento Bike Kitchen

2009-01-02T18:01:00Z

Its party time come this Second Saturday. You see the Sacramento Bike Kitchen has a new center and we are throwing a grandopening party. The Bike Kitchen otherwise known as SBK is a nonprofit org(501(c)3) with the intention of keeping you on your bike and more importantly creating more advocates who create a more bike friendly community, one bike at a time.

Heres how it works. For a small fee you can have someone show YOU how to fix and maintain your bicycle. A sort of teach a man to fish philosophy. We survive on donations such as unused bikes and bike parts. Unused, tools, and bike stands are gladly accepted as well. 2 hats we are wearing is the recycler and educational center for all things cycling. We are made up of bike advocates who simply want to accelerate the bike boom in Sacramento. Less cars and more bikes will make Sacramento a happier place to be.

Safety classes, how to fix a flat, as well as how to adjust your brakes will be part of our tools in creating a better biking Sacramento. Your old parts will be recirculated into your community, creating affordable quality bikes on the streets which will intern create a demand for new bikes and so it goes. The only people that should fear us are the big box store owners who sell poorly made bikes that are not even fitted to the rider. (boy do we have stories)

Our new building is at 1915 I street, on the tracks between H and I The space is well, spacious with high ceilings. The exterior is Ivy covered industrial with a big roll up door.

So come to our grand opening this Second Saturday. Refreshments will be available. We only ask you to ride your bike and if you would like to, donate to the common good a bike that is just gathering dust . We will find someone who badly needs a good affordable mode of transport. Our help is yours.

See you at the party.

go to www.sacbikekitchen.org for more info

Old Sac a destination and meeting place for cyclists

2009-01-02T17:51:23Z

Working downtown out of Old Sacramento I am noticing a significant rise in bike traffic here. Be it a meating place and/or hub for riding the American River bike trail. Many do not know that this gem known as the American River Bike Trail ends or begins here depending on your POV. Rumours on the club scene are an organized ride from Old Town Folsom to Oldtown Sacramento are being planned.

It behooves the planners for old town to cater to cyclists as they bring cash and credit cards to old town. Cyclist by and large are quiet adding to Old town ambiance, dont polute and love Oldtown charm. Steamers coffee, a popular destination and resting spot for area cyclists have no outdoor seating as the price for permits are too steep at this juncture.

Why are the powers that be making it so hard on the businesses of oldtown to draw in tourism? There are also a few choice vacant buildings that wouldbe perfect for a bike shop. Anyone interested let me know here.