Sunday, September 7, 2042
Bike for it Sacramento! A blog dedicated to promoting bicycling as a lifestyle choice
Hi and thanks for stopping by. My names Mark and Im the author of this blog. Bicycling is a passion I have had for many years and recently I decided to start this site.The goal of this site is to create an open forum on how bikes can be used safely and effectively for all of the residents of Sacramento and the surrounding communities.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Bicicultures Road Show at the Davis Cycling Hall of Fame was an epic event. Bicycling experts and practitioners gathered from around the world to share their academic work and experiences with the bicycle to an audience of their peers. Covering topics as diverse as the effects of bicycling on creative writing to the application of GPS technology on bike culture-building the conference offered a distinguished panel of speakers. The video transcript of the event should be available online at Davis public access television shortly and I will include a link then. Here is a letter I wrote to the conference attendees this evening,
Professor Susan Handy, Adonia, Sarah and all attendees, volunteers, sponsors and friends, Thank you so much for the privilege of experiencing your work and perspectives on bicycles. I am strengthened by your accomplishments and continued dedication to the study of a device that plays a central role in my life. Since Sarah asked that we save personal anecdotes until after the conference I thought I would do that now as a way to discuss the direction or focus a future conference might take.
The questions you inspired for me with your presentations were truly a gift. I found value in every speaker's perspective and experiences with cycling. Here a few of the ideas I have become interested in pursuing as a result.
We have an opportunity as those involved in the education system to discuss at a future meeting how and where bicycling and its practice might fit into a college curriculum. What would be the goal of a bicycle focused class? What principles and ideals would be instilled? How and where would the knowledge be reproduced? Would it be as free as a bicycle?
As Bicycle Advocacy has evolved over the last generation the work and direction of advocacy groups has also evolved. The change of leadership as advocates entered lobbied-for local government positions has rendered some of advocates previous roles unnecessary. What new roles should advocates embrace to fulfill their organizations mission? what programs have others used to promote biking, what works, why? How is the success of programs quantified and qualified? .
Finally, The business that is the bicycle informs all of our perceptions and experiences with cycling but is seldom discussed in relation to advocacy issues. The corporations that enable and inform the dream of a bike boom have a considerable influence on shaping dominant problem definitions surrounding the practice of bicycling. How does the industry affect public policy? In what ways do local bicycle businesses shape public discourse on bicycling?
Thanks again for the inspiration, hope to hear about your good works soon,
Mark Vanveenendaal
sacbike.blogspot.com
P.S If you are still reading, thank you. A story occurred to me on the 20 mile ride home from the conference today and I have to relate it. The novel Snow Country features the character Shimamaru a man in 19th century Japan who is a scholar of Ballet, even though he has only read about them. I was reminded of him and his academic pursuits and drew many parallels including bicyclists love affair with European traffic control. How do we know what we know about bicycling? Are we relying on perspectives of bicycling that are similarly remote? The only question really is, is it ballet to you?
Professor Susan Handy, Adonia, Sarah and all attendees, volunteers, sponsors and friends, Thank you so much for the privilege of experiencing your work and perspectives on bicycles. I am strengthened by your accomplishments and continued dedication to the study of a device that plays a central role in my life. Since Sarah asked that we save personal anecdotes until after the conference I thought I would do that now as a way to discuss the direction or focus a future conference might take.
The questions you inspired for me with your presentations were truly a gift. I found value in every speaker's perspective and experiences with cycling. Here a few of the ideas I have become interested in pursuing as a result.
We have an opportunity as those involved in the education system to discuss at a future meeting how and where bicycling and its practice might fit into a college curriculum. What would be the goal of a bicycle focused class? What principles and ideals would be instilled? How and where would the knowledge be reproduced? Would it be as free as a bicycle?
As Bicycle Advocacy has evolved over the last generation the work and direction of advocacy groups has also evolved. The change of leadership as advocates entered lobbied-for local government positions has rendered some of advocates previous roles unnecessary. What new roles should advocates embrace to fulfill their organizations mission? what programs have others used to promote biking, what works, why? How is the success of programs quantified and qualified? .
Finally, The business that is the bicycle informs all of our perceptions and experiences with cycling but is seldom discussed in relation to advocacy issues. The corporations that enable and inform the dream of a bike boom have a considerable influence on shaping dominant problem definitions surrounding the practice of bicycling. How does the industry affect public policy? In what ways do local bicycle businesses shape public discourse on bicycling?
Thanks again for the inspiration, hope to hear about your good works soon,
Mark Vanveenendaal
sacbike.blogspot.com
P.S If you are still reading, thank you. A story occurred to me on the 20 mile ride home from the conference today and I have to relate it. The novel Snow Country features the character Shimamaru a man in 19th century Japan who is a scholar of Ballet, even though he has only read about them. I was reminded of him and his academic pursuits and drew many parallels including bicyclists love affair with European traffic control. How do we know what we know about bicycling? Are we relying on perspectives of bicycling that are similarly remote? The only question really is, is it ballet to you?
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Bike Party Sacramento May Spring Fling Turn List and Route Map
Heres's the Turn List and Map for our May 3rd ride! Enjoy!
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in California
BikeParty Sacramento
May 3rd “Spring Fling” Ride
Or Sacbike.blogspot.com
Here's the route for
the BPS “Spring Fling”
Start at the entrance
to Clunie Pool in McKinley Park leaving at 8pm
Turn right onto
McKinley Blvd
Turn left onto 32nd St
Turn right onto B St
Turn left onto 33rd
St follow the road
Left turn onto Elvas
Ave Watch for Cars!
Continue onto 56th St
Party Stop! Tupelo
Coffee
Please be respectful
of our neighbors and don’t litter
Turn right onto H St Watch for Cars!
Turn right onto 53rd St
Turn left onto F St
Turn right onto 50th
St
Right turn at C St
Left turn at 51st St
Left turn at Reid Way
Left turn at Fallon
Lane
Right turn at Brand
Way
Party Stop! Bertha
Hinschel Park
Please be respectful
of our neighbors
Continue onto Aiken
Way
Left turn onto Meister
Way
Left turn onto 41st St
BEFORE Compton's Market
Right turn onto E St.
Right turn onto San
Antonio Way
Continue on San
Antonio Way across McKinley Blvd
Left turn onto 36th Way
Left turn onto 39th St
Right turn onto 37th St
Left turn onto F St
Right turn onto 38th St
Right turn onto J St Watch for Cars!
Arrive at Bonn Lair
BikeParty Sacramento May 3rd 2013 Ride
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in California
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Deep Meditation and Other Side Notes for Bike Touring
Riding the Old Stagecoach Road, a bicycle trip along the California coast.
I was getting a little antsy around the house the other day and I decided to take off for a little ride down to Santa Cruz. My first step in preparing for my ride was a visit to Google Earth and a closer look at the trip I was thinking of.Being very familiar with highway 1 the main road between San Francisco and Santa Cruz I knew there are certain parts of the road that are nerve wracking in terms of car traffic. I wanted to avoid these areas and find an alternative route that was less dangerous and more serene. I noticed on the map a road that seemed to bypass Devil's Slide by cutting across San Pedro mountain. I searched Google for Old San Pedro Mountain Road and found this blogpost http://bikeit.tumblr.com/post/2803042928/old-san-pedro-mountain-road
I found the entrance to the road and made my way to the summit and down the other side to Montara. The road alternated between asphalt gravel and dirt and was unpredictable in where the paving would start and stop. The windward side was definitely in a poorer state and was almost entirely hard pack dirt. After Montara I picked my way south about 20 miles until I reached the Stage Road off of highway 1. This road winds back into the hills and makes another climb as high as the San Pedro mountain climb. I arrived in San Gregorio after a while and pressed on a second climb
to the town of Pescadero. I arrived at around 3 pm and ate an early dinner at the Pescadero Country Market. I stocked up on supplies at their country store and headed the last 7 miles to the Pigeon Point lighthouse. http://norcalhostels.org/pigeon
I arrived at the hostel just in time to see the sunset and passed out completely by 7pm. I had ridden 60 miles in about 10 hours. The next day I started out early and stopped of at Ano Nuevo to look for Elephant Seals on the beach. I didnt see any so I continued on the last 25 miles to Santa Cruz. I reached Davenport by 10 am and stopped for breakfast at the Whale City Cafe. After eating I climbed back on and pumped out the last 11 miles by noon. I arrived in Santa Cruz and got a cup of coffee at Cafe Pergolesi an hour later I was on the 17 metro bus heading to the San Jose train station. After leaving Caltrain in San Francisco I arrived back where I started at 3pm Sunday.
Want to do this ride? I can help, I am happy to answer any questions about the riding, equipment or logistics of this trip or any other you might be dreaming of. Let me know where you are planning on riding to.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Hey Bicycle Rider!
Studies show that more people riding bicycles increases safety for all bicyclists.
We as cyclists must support each other and actively encourage people to ride.
Sacramento is a great place to bike for any trip. Why not enjoy it with folks who feel the same way? Why not join a club that promotes biking in Sacramento and provides its members with resources like education as well as entertainment and an opportunity for public service? Let's have a discussion about how a club like that would serve you as member. What would you like as a cyclist to support your riding?
Join the discussion at:
And post your comments
Join our Facebook page:
And like the group
Find other cool stuff on bicycles here:
And say hi
Thanks for Giving me a little of your time I hope you have a happy and healthy holiday and enjoy the 25th Appetite Enhancement Ride
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