Bicycle Chef has temporarily closed until the business is transformed into Sacramento's first bike shop/microbrewery. Owner Christopher Davis-Murai, a longtime cyclist and chef, is currently hunting for a space where he can open a hybrid business that combines a full-service bike shop with a microbrewery and restaurant. The Land Park resident has been looking for a 4,000- to 6,000-square-foot building to lease or buy for several months. He put the entire contents of his East Sacramento shop into storage and closed the doors a month ago after being unable to find a space before the lease ran out at 3184 N St. Belgium and France have several bike shop/brew pubs. Davis-Murai has wanted to

During the Inauguration Reception across the street from us at the California Railroad Museum, we had many Jerry Brown insiders come check out Practical Cycle. We seized the opportunity to gain support for our proposal to present the Governor with a limited edition Styriette electric bicycle. Attorney Brian Oxman, counsel and longtime friend to Jerry Brown, was so intrigued and impressed with the idea that he took the time to send a letter to the Governor in support of our proposal. He was even so thoughtful as to send us a copy which can be seen in the images above. In the letter, he writes: Dear Jerry, It was so great to see you at the Inauguration and Reunion Party. After so many yea

Cycle Chic is a worldwide sensation that promotes cycling as a way of life and always puts style over speed. It all started in Copenhagen when Mikael Colville-Andersen snapped a photo of a fashionable cyclist and posted it online. The movement has grown exponentially since, spreading across the globe to cities such as London, Charleston, San Francisco, and of course Sacramento. The idea is to encourage more bicycle trips by presenting powerful images of beautiful people using bikes as transportation while wearing everyday clothing. Each picture posted by a Cycle Chic blogger serves as a "flash card," showing oil addicts just exactly how fun, healthy, cool, attractive, green, practical, et

A group of conscientious citizens joined hands for fifteen minutes in River Walk Park yesterday to send a clear and simple message: NO to offshore drilling. YES to clean energy. My dad and I closed Practical Cycle and pedaled over there to participate and offer a solution to America's destructive addiction to cheap oil. We brought two Pedego Electric Bikes and two Worksman Tricycles with us and gave out free test rides. We believe that riding a bike instead of driving can help America declare energy independence, stimulate, our economy, cut pollution, conserve resources for future generations, and prevent disasters like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Ironically, there was a car

Against the backdrop of Old Sacramento's historic architecture, participating Old Sacramento businesses will celebrate local art, wine, music and food every Second Saturday, 4-7:00PM. I have always considered Second Saturday to be a Midtown event. However, over the years I have also heard a growing number of complaints that Second Saturday was becoming less of an art walk and more of a party. Now Old Sacramento businesses including the Artists Collaborative Gallery, Cafe Americain, Delta King, Fat's Catering, Firehouse Restaurant, Skalet Family Jewlers, Steamers Bakery and Cafe, Taylor's Art and Soul, and Ten 22 have teamed up to bring "Art and Wine" to those who may be disenchanted with

Our mission at Practical Cycle is to make cycling more practical for everyday people. To better serve this purpose, we have decided to expand our product line in an effort to make cycling more affordable. Practical Cycle is now proud to offer 3G Bikes starting at only $189. The world is shrinking and today's highly competitive, rapidly changing global economy demands that we quickly adapt to the marketplace and embrace change. As a small business, we feel that one of our greatest strengths is our flexibility and ability to think on our feet. Over the past few months we have learned that many people simply cannot afford a Made in USA Worksman or Pedego Electric Bike. (Probably because th

After attending the May is Bike Month kick off press conference and ride last Saturday, I rushed home to register and log my bicycling miles online. I found the May is Bike Month website to be quick and easy. It also has a lot of cool features like commuter clubs, an employer directory, programs for schools, and you can even challenge a friend! If you live in the Sacramento region, please visit www.mayisbikemonth.com and help make this a Million Mile May. I especially appreciate the May is Bike Month effort because it encourages people to actually use their bikes to commute and get things done. Since America's love affair with the automobile and subsequent addiction to cheap oil, bikes ar

In 2006, my dad was doored while riding his bike on 15th Street. He broke his shoulder pretty bad, and ended up with all sorts of plates and screws holding him together. Life gave us lemons!!! We made lemonade though, and Practical Cycle was funded in part by the settlement from that accident. So I took great pleasure in hand-squeezing 35 locally grown, organic lemons to make lemonade for our Grand Opening celebration, the first annual Ride for Earth. Then I loaded a cooler on the back of our old Worksman tricycle and hauled it about ten miles to Practical Cycle. I believe that sometimes life's most difficult challenges can help us grow the most. Whenever I feel like things couldn't poss

A diverse crowd of people gathered in Old Sacramento on Thursday to celebrate Earth Day and the Grand Opening of Practical Cycle. Riders of all ages and from all walks of life were drawn together to be a part of the first annual "Ride for Earth." With a diverse crowd of people came a diverse crowd of bikes! Many riders brought their own bikes, and Practical Cycle let out its entire rental fleet of Made in USA and Electric bicycles and tricycles for free. There was even a Velocab and a high-wheeler replica! The ride followed the Sacramento River to its confluence with the American River in Discovery Park. Afterwards, fresh-squeezed organic lemonade that was delivered by an old Worksman tr

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 sho