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

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

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 is celebrating Earth Day its Grand Opening in Old Sacramento today. Tim Castleman and his son, Cassidy, are teaming up to sell, rent, and service electric and Made in USA bicycles and tricycles. After being shocked by the tragic events of 9/11, and inspired by a life threatening battle with prostate cancer, Tim set out to make a difference in the world. “I decided to put it all on the line and follow my heart, instead of just trying to survive.” "Practical Cycle is different than traditional bike shops,” says Cassidy, a 23 year-old business student and solar professional, “Our mission is to make cycling more practical for everyday people. No spandex… No funny shoes… No pro

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

Tim Castleman had a big response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. He felt so sad, disappointed and angry that he changed his life. He started developing a hemp-based biofuel system and fought for legalization of hemp in Arizona to help end U.S. dependence on fossil fuels. He began a national "Drive 55" campaign to lower Americans' gas consumption and reduce carbon emissions — an effort turned into a documentary. And he organized two "Peace Trains" to Washington, D.C., to promote rail travel. "My interest in biofuels led me to understand the real problem isn't that we need another source of fuel. We need another source of energy," said Castleman, 51. "The real problem is we