The 43rd annual Davis Double Century was held on Saturday, May 19. The afternoon temperatures ranged in the mid-80′s, and when riders arrived at the Resurrection rest stop on Highway 20, many were getting quite hot. Using a variety of methods including a garden sprinkler can, a hose, a spray bottle and ice-filled tube socks, volunteers helped cool the riders.

Posted from Clearlake Oaks, California, United States.

A photograph of CSUS student Arlene Sasse remains attached to a light pole at the entrance to the university in Sacramento. Sasse was killed on her bicycle in the early morning hours of April 1, 2011 in a collision with a car as she crossed J Street at the entrance to the campus.

From the Hammerin’ Wheels Bike Club website: Wednesday evening at 6:45 p.m., cyclists will gather at Fremont Park at the corner of 16th and P Streets for “The Ride of Silence”. This is in conjunction with an event held throughout the United States and North America to honor cyclists who have been injured or killed, raise awareness toward cyclists and ask that everyone share the road.
The local ride will take cyclists to the intersection of J and H Streets at Carlson Drive, where previously two “Ghost Bikes” were located at the sites of fatal automobile / bicycle collisions. The most recent accident involved California State University, Sacramento student Arlene Sasse, 22, who was hit by a car while crossing J Street in the early hours April 1, 2011. Although the “Ghost Bike” is gone, a photograph of Sasse sitting in a chair playing the guitar is still attached to the light pole at the intersection.
For more information about the ride, go to this link at the Hammerin’ Wheels website.
By the way, the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates will be holding a special “members preview” of the new SABA Carlson Corridor Bicycle Friendly Design at a meeting at the Presbyterian church at the intersection on Thursday evening, May 17. For more information about the meeting go to the SABA website or contact amy@sacbike.org.

Posted from Sacramento, California, United States.

A warning painted on the bike trail alerts trail users to watch for snakes.

I noticed about a week ago someone has been painting alerts to watch for snakes on the American River bike trail. The paintings appeared and then most of them were painted over or removed (I assume by Parks Dept. employees).
Springtime is when snakes begin appearing on the trail. Consider this entry by Robin Donnelly in her book, Biking and Hiking the American River Parkway.
“As you travel the Parkway in springtime, you might see a snake sunning in the path. After its winter hibernation, it is absorbing heat from the warm surface in order to hunt longer at night. Snakes “hear” through vibrations picked up from their underbelly in contact with the ground, as a result, it is likely they will know you are there and move out of the path.”

Posted from Rancho Cordova, California, United States.

A group of cyclists, some of whom are part of the SACOG after work workout ride group make their way along the American River bike trail last month.

Plenty of cycling news in The Bee over the weekend. On Friday, reporter Tony Bizjak focused his entire “Back Seat Driver” column on May is Bike Month in Sacramento. On Sunday, in the Forum section of the paper, former executive director of the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, Walt Seifert, authored a column listing his top 10 steps to making Sacramento a cycling Shangri-La.
“So why don’t we lead the nation in the share of trips made by bike? Why do cities like frigid Minneapolis and puddle-prone Portland outbike Sacramento?” Siefert asks.
Also on Sunday in the Travel section of the paper, Bee contributing writer, James Raia, penned a walk-up to the Amgen Tour of California headlined, “Plenty to eat, drink and do along Tour of California route.”


Posted from Sacramento, California, United States.

In the photo above, Sacramento Wheelmen bike club members Bob Backer, left, and George Koch, right, listen to T.J. Windmiller, a mechanic at Mad Cat Bikes, (on stage above and in the photo at the left) explain how to change a flat tire at the the May is Bike Month kick off event at Fremont Park in Sacramento on Tuesday.

Several hundred people came out to Fremont Park for the official launch of Bike Month. There were free bike safety checks, raffles and presentations on subjects like how to properly lock a bike and how to change a flat tire. As of 2 p.m., 5,371 bicyclists had pledged 1,049,187 miles, according to a news release from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. This is the eighth year volunteers, public agencies, businesses, and bicycling enthusiasts have partnered to promote bicycling as part of May is Bike Month, according to SACOG. All trips by bicycle count, whether a ride to work, school, shopping, or for recreation in the region which includes El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.

Posted from Sacramento, California, United States.