Bike Week in Santa Barbara County

An hour before we kicked off our 2006 Bike Week of activities with our annual Celebration dinner, the sun broke through the clouds, giving us a superb view of the ocean and wharf. From the Chase Palm Park Center, we overlooked Santa Barbara's beachway path with an ongoing procession of people biking by, confirming our dedication to fitness and sustainable mobility.
At our Celebration event, we had 56 people join together for drinks on the patio, a catered dinner, and bicyclist awards from us and Assemblyman Pedro Nava to Mayor Marty Blum, Dan Henry, and the Goleta Valley Cycling Club. Finally, we were regaled with tales from Willie Weir about his recent bike tour in South East Asia. Willie's message: on your bicycle, you can access places off the tourist tracks and meet some truly wonderful people.

People gather before dinner and an evening of entertainment at our Bike Week Celebration on May 13th.

We were pleased this year to be joined by Mike Fasth from Open Air Bicycles, Barry Kroepelin from Bike Gear Bike Gear, and Channing Hammond from Old Man Mountain. In addition, Grant House from the Santa Barbara City Council, and Keith Coffman-Gray, chairman of SB City's Transportation and Circulation Committee, attended our Celebration.

City Councilman Grant House (with cap) performed the ribbon cutting with Baron and Cecile Corpuz, and their three children.

All afternoon on May 14, bicyclists streamed through the newly-opened Café de Velo bicycle shop in Santa Barbara. City Council members Roger Horton and Grant House attended the opening, as did many members of the Bicycle Coalition and our guest Bike Week Celebration entertainer Willie Weir.
While their online Renaissance Cycles business will continue to be their mainstay, owners Baron and Cecile Corpuz believe in bicycling as a sensible means of transportation and recreation, and they have accordingly opened the Café de Velo to reflect just that.
Bike to School Day drew hundreds of kids on bikes to South Coast schools on May 16th. Thanks to many Bicycle Coalition members and COAST for organizing this important event.

City Councilmembers Helene Schneider and Grant House smile at Santa Barbara's Bike to Work Day, May 17th.

It was followed by Bike to Work Day on May 17th. We managed to attract six new members at our booth in Downtown Santa Barbara, and at a stop near the Obern Trail entrance to UCSB. Downtown, City Councilmembers Helene Schneider, Grant House, and Brian Barnwell showed their support for bicycling by pedaling to the event. Thanks to Dru van Hengel and Jamey Wagner for organizing the respective Santa Barbara and UCSB events.
On Friday, May 19th, there was a Bike-In Movie behind the Mercury Lounge in Goleta. Organized by Matt Wilhelm and Dawn O'Brien, the cult film Return of the Scorcher was shown for free, followed by a ride.

Matt Dobberteen and Debbie Castanha fit bike helmets on youngsters at the Children's Festival on May 20th.

Finally, we worked with COAST and the Kiwanis Club to sell 72 low-cost bicycle helmets for kids at the May 20th Children's Festival in Santa Barbara. Unfortunately, helmet demand exceeded supply.
In times of growing energy costs and American obesity, the humble bicycle can be the solution to both challenges. We thank all those who have helped make our Bike Week the vehicle for raising awareness of all.

Bike Week 2006 was being brought to you by us all. It was a week of activities by and for us good people who bicycle. Our Bike Week flags again flew on State Street in Downtown Santa Barbara. Here's the list of Bike Week events that we enjoyed during May 2006.
May 11, 18 and 20, Bicycling Skills for Women, sponsored by our Bicycle Coalition. We offered a three-day course for women, taught by women. The first part was indoor biking instruction, from 5:30-8:30 PM on the 11th. The second part was basic repairs, from 5:30-8:30 PM on the 18th. The third part was on-road experience, from 1:00-5:00 PM on the 20th. They were held at 630 Garden Street, in Downtown Santa Barbara. Instructor was Dru van Hengel at 564-5544 or at CycleSmart@sbbike.org.
May 13, Newcomers Ride and Monthly Meeting, sponsored by the Goleta Valley Cycling Club. Bike ride started at 9:00 AM at Anna's Bakery, Camino Real Marketplace, Goleta. Monthly GVCC meeting followed at 11:00 AM at Girsh Park. Details from Doris Phinney, phone 968-3143.
May 13, Jesusita Trail Maintenance, sponsored by the Santa Barbara Trails Alliance. The South Country trails needed maintenance, so other Trails Alliance members went to work. They met 8:30 AM, Cater Water Plant on San Roque Road, Santa Barbara. Information at www.sbtrails.org/Trails.
May 13, Bike Week Celebration, sponsored by the Bicycle Coalition. World cycling tourist Willie Weir was the featured entertainer offering us his tales and adventures in South East Asia at this catered dinner event at the Chase Palm Park Center, 236 East Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara. It started at 6:00 PM and included bicycling awards. Learn about Willie at his site www.willieweir.com.
May 14, Ribbon Cutting Ride, sponsored by the Goleta Valley Cycling Club. Members met for optional breakfast at Costco's Camino Real Cafe at 10:00 AM. Bike ride started at 11:00 AM to Café de Velo (see below) for ribbon-cutting ceremony with City Councilman Grant House at 1:00 PM. Details from leader Hildy Hoffmann, phone 964-0802.
May 14, Café de Velo Opening, sponsored by Café de Velo. Baron and Cecile Corpuz opened their gift to Santa Barbara, a gathering place for community bicyclists offering bike talk and complementary coffee. Formerly named "Bici Sports," they decided to bring a social aspect of their principal business Renaissance Cycles, an internet source of vintage bicycles and components. 615 East Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara. Opening hours 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM. Ribbon cutting ceremony with City Councilman Grant House took place at 1:00 PM.
May 16, Bike to School Day, sponsored by COAST. Events were arranged at individual South Coast schools. Bike rodeos and bicycle safety instruction were offered at participating schools prior to Bike Week. Coordinator was Kate Bechtel.
May 17, Bike to Work Day, sponsored by UCSB and the City of Santa Barbara. Both locations hosted events 7:00-9:00 AM. In Santa Barbara, bicyclists enjoyed free food, drinks, prizes at State and De la Guerra Streets. At UCSB, cyclists who mounted the bikepath up from Goleta Beach received food and prizes.
May 19, Ride In Movie at the Merc, sponsored by the Mercury Lounge and Matadors Bici Club. Bicyclists who went to the lot behind the Merc enhjoyed a free showing of Return of the Scorcher, the1992 film that first used the term "critical mass" and led to an international movement of Critical Mass rides. Movie started at 9:00 PM, ran 30 minutes. Mercury Lounge, 5871 Hollister Avenue, Goleta. Read about the film at www.tedwhitegreenlight.com/scorcher.htm.
May 20, Swing'n to Montecito Bike Ride, sponsored by the Goleta Valley Cycling Club. Meeting time was 9:00 AM at the Java Station, 4447 Hollister Avenue. Ride to Montecito. Details from ride leader Suzanne Michaud, phone 683-1808.
May 20, Children's Festival,, sponsored by the Family Service Agency. Our Bicycle Coalition teamed up with COAST to help children more safely walk and bike to school and other destinations. We helped sell and fit low-cost bike helmets 11:00 AM-4:00 PM, Alameda Park, Santa Barbara. Details at the Family Service Agency site www.fsacares.org/spotlight.htm.
May 21, Annual Tribble Memorial Ride, sponsored by the Goleta Valley Cycling Club. Met at the Mission Rose Garden, Santa Barbara, at 10:00 AM. Cyclists rode Mountain Drive to Padaro Beach Grill, returned along a coastal route. Details from ride leaders Laura and Don Newman, phone 687-2588.