Newest articles on The Sacramento Press written by John Boyer

Bike theft, Its flourishing and prospering in Sacramento

2012-02-03T15:40:53Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bike Swap in Fremont Park this Second Saturday

2010-04-06T19:53:06Z

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

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

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

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

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

See you there

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

Womens Hoops, Why we should care.

2010-02-08T19:57:15Z

While the Sacramento Kings try to figure out how to put up Ws, the Sacramento State women's basketball squad are turning heads with a 6-game winning streak - a Sac State record.

First-year head coach Jamie Craighead has found the chemistry needed mid-season to make a run for the playoffs with an uptempo offense and a swarming back court press that forces strings of turnovers for the opposing team. More than that her team seems to carry out her leadership without question. In return everyone can shoot! Simply put - this is real TEAM sports with everyone being an offensive threat.

Senior guard Ashley Garcia has won player of the week in the Big Sky conference with impressive stats with key assists and buckets in crunch time. She was once told she would never be a starter by her former coach Dan Muscatel who resigned following a dismal record.

If the Sacramento Bee is the opinion leader of Sacramento team sports, it's a men's only club. Too often Sacramento State women's basketball has been if reported at all, found on page 15 with not more than two paragraphs at best.

Think global and support local, Go Hornets!

Wilie Weir comes to Sacramento

2010-02-07T19:40:14Z

Famed author from Carmichael Willie Weir has booked 3 shows for next week at REI. The world traveller by bicycle puts on a fine show that combines humor, drama and inspiration. The timing is perfect as Sacramento suffers through its economic woes. Willy brings answers to the dilema of how one can travel on the cheap.

When Willie gets on stage its clear his objective is to create pedal powered world travelers with every breath. The fear mongering intention that makes up the Media world of today is overmatched when it comes to Willies message. We have all heard it before, the family member who tells you "oh you mus'nt go there! Its too dangerous!" Simply put Willie Weir is a native treasure to Sacramento.

Shows are Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Very entertaining so dont miss it. Proceeds go to 3 fine nonprofits; SABA,the Sacramento Bike Kitchen and The Mustard Seed Spin

http://www.willieweir.com/

An old friend as an agent for change

2008-11-04T06:52:03Z

Steamers of Old Sac is pulling out an old friend to get the product out . If you see a bright orange Dutch delivery bike with big baskets for and aft full of salads,panini and homemade soup consider this the next revolution will not be motorized. Human power and the beautiful creation known simply as the bicycle, team up once again to save the day. Yep you got it. Steamers is going green and bringing to your workplace fine foods and drink to your door without fossil fuels. You will now be able to say I did something today for mother earth and the survival of mankind. Think I'm kidding? Think again. China now owns us financially and they did it with a population that uses the bike as its main source of transport.

'Just chew on that factoid a moment while you wash it down this winter with Steamers hot carmel cider. Riding your bike of course.