Pedal Press Fall 2010 by Tom Boss

VOLUME 12 / ISSUE 4 FALL 2010

BIKE FASHION ISSUE

2010 BIKERS BALL BICYCLE FACILITY SUCCESSES SEE PAGE 8

PO Box 1115, Fairfax CA 94978 • 415-456-3469

Volume 12 / Issue 4

FALL 2010

www.marinbike.org STAFF Kim Baenisch, Executive Director Tom Boss, Membership Director Jo Ann Richards, Volunteer & Activities Coordinator Bob Trigg, Administrator Deb Hubsmith, Advocacy Director David Hoffman, Director of Planning Andy Peri, Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator Wendi Kallins, Safe Routes to Schools Program Director Laura Kelly, Safe Routes to Schools Project Coordinator Peggy Clark, Safe Routes to Schools Project Coordinator Aviva Joseph, Safe Routes to Schools Teen Program Coordinator Gwen Froh, Safe Routes to Schools Teen Program Coordinator Frances E. Barbour, Safe Routes to Schools Instructor BOARD MEMBERS Maureen Gaffney, President Scott Klimo, Vice President Ian Roth, Treasurer Don Magdanz, Secretary Matt Adams Jerry Edelbrock Terry Graham Stephen Hesson Vince O’Brien Alexander Price Tom Woolley ADVISORY BOARD Mark Birnbaum Joe Breeze Tom Hale Deb Hubsmith Jim Jacobsen Patrick Seidler Julia Violich PEDAL PRESS Editor: Kim Baenisch Copy Editor: Connie Breeze Design: Jeremy Thornton Contributors: Tom Boss, Tim Brennan, Peggy Clark, Paris Dowd, Gwen Froh, Maureen Gaffney, David Hoffman, Deb Hubsmith, Wendi Kallins, Janet Lourenzo, Jo Ann Richards

IN THIS ISSUE

Bicycle Facility Successes

Board Presidency �� 3

SEE PAGE 18

Rocky Birdsey Match Donation �� 3

Bikers Ball �� 3 Marin Century Rest Stop Review ��4 Biketoberfest �� 5 Cyclocross �� 6 Advocacy Updates ��7 The Nacirema Tribe – Investigating Transportation ��8 Anna Garfink �� 9 Chronicles of a Camelbak Virgin �� 10 Smith Optics V90 PIVLOCK MAX �� 11 Bike Parking �� 11 Mission Workshop Vandal backpack ��12 Brooks B-17 Saddle ��13 SR2S Green Ways Award Winners �� 14 Free Bike Education Classes ��15

Bike Product Reviews SEE PAGES 11 –13

Biking in Jerusalem �� 16 2010 Bicycle Facility Successes �� 18 Bike Fashion on Marin’s New Pathways �� 18 MCBC Spring Bike Sweepstakes ��23 Competition ��23 Join MCBC ��24 MCBC Store ��24

Green Ways to School Awards SEE PAGE 14

Fashion Shoot Thanks................................24 Cover photo by Miguel Farias. Campagnolo Heritage Stretch Piquet polo, Rapha Touring shorts, Timbuk2 King of the Mountain Messenger Bag. (Northgate Promenade)

Board Presidency The MCBC Board has elected a new President. After four years of able and inspiring leadership from Jerry Edlebrock, Maureen Gaffney has taken on this role, which she describes as “an honor, a privilege... and a heck of a lot of work!” Please join Maureen and the rest of the Board in thanking Jerry for his outstanding commitment to the cycling community in Marin.

Maureen Gaffney holds up live auction bikeat last year’s Bikers Ball. Maureen is the organizer of this year’s ball.

Come CELEBRATE at the BIKERS BALL Come celebrate another successful year of cycling advocacy with the MCBC at the “Bikers Ball” on Saturday, November 13th, from 7:00 until 12 midnight at Ristorante Servino in Tiburon. Doug McConnell of Open Road TV and Bay Area Backroads will be this year’s Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneer. Live and silent auction items are rolling in. We’ve got some past favorites—a Western Spirit Cycling Adventures trip for two, in-home Thai Dinner for four, high-end road bike from Mikes

Bikes, top-o-the-line mountain bike—and some new items. You’ll want to warm up your auction arm! Beer, wine and appetizers will help us dance (and shop) the night away to the live tunes of Vinyl who “blend old-school funk, Latin, reggae and R&B into signature grooves.” Check them out at http:// www.vinylgroove.com/index.php. Tickets for the event are $65 for members, $75 for non-members and can be purchased on our website at www.marinbike.org. Buy yours today!

MCBC Donors Matched Rocky Birdsey’s $9000 Donation for Better Bicycle Facilities

B I K E R S B A LL N O V E M B E R 1 3 , 7- 1 2 p m

Servino Ristorante, 9 Main Street, Tiburon Marin County Bicycle Coalition SPONSORED BY:

In June we heard the news that four male cyclists were injured in San Francisco by a rogue driver who was responsible for a hit-and-run collision with each of them. The Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s longtime advocacy supporter, Rocky Birdsey, was furious. He took action and so did many others. Rocky had previously pledged $1000 this year to support MCBC’s work that has helped create miles of new bike lanes, wide shoulders, re-surfaced roads and separated pathways, including the planned opening of the traffic-free Cal Park Tunnel, for cyclists in Marin. But this outrageous, horrific road-rage incident inspired him to donate another $9000 in a Matching Donation Offer to improve Marin County’s bike facilities. The gift was contingent on matching donations received by July 31. Thanks to the generosity of over 40 people and organizations, we met (and beat!) our goal to match Rocky Birdsey’s $9000 grant. We received $9165 in generous donations! You can read more about why Rocky supports safe cycling in the Ross Valley Reporter. MCBC thanks Rocky for his fabulous donation, and we also thank the many contributors who donated matching funds. You are helping to keep MCBC focused on the bike advocacy that makes your streets safer!

DONORS: Above Category A. Edward Bartshire Ben Berto Mark and Bev Birnbaum William Blackford Robert Branick Patricia Callahan Thea Cary Henry Corning Rebecca Crandall Thomas Crowell Emily Dean Maureen Durnell Jean and Greg Fidler Weine Frans-Kohn and Family Maureen Gaffney David Gavant Marty Giblas Steve Giondomenica Janet Haley Kim Harmon Marcus Hays

Linda and Peter Hoch Karen Jaber Michael Jones Kay Karchevski Harvey Katz Lee Larsen Jay Linderman Gordon Mac Dermott Robert Morris Sean Nolan Blair Peterson Deirdra Rogers Michelle & John Rutledge David Sams Michael Samuels Specialized Bicycles Benjamin Sun Marc Vendetti Courtney Weaver Elibu Welber Cindy Winter Jacqueline Zimmer Jones

Marin Century Nicasio Rest Stop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rave Reviews

Again this year, MCBC was invited to host the Nicasio rest stop during the Marin Century, feeding and aiding more than 2000 riders. This year the Century was held on August 7. MCBC volunteers opened their rest stop earlier than in the past, and were ready and waiting with a wide variety of food and drinks provided by Marin Cyclists, sponsors of the Marin Century.

MCBC recruited 42 members through the 2010 Marin Century, including 28 new members. We also had a great time at the Friday night registration event at the Vallecito School campus. That event provided us with an opportunity to educate cyclists about sharing the road with our Ride Right video and the benefits of supporting MCBC.

Twenty-one MCBC volunteers worked at the Nicasio rest stop and all had a great time. Praise flowed in every direction, from captains praising our volunteers to participants praising the Marin Cyclists for a well-organized event. Everyone appreciated the bicycle mechanics provided by Sunshine Bicycle Center, and the food was perfect as usual.

Thank you, Marin Cyclists, for putting on another great bicycle event! We look forward to 2011.

Biketoberfest Rolls into Fairfax, Saturday, October 16, 2010 Handmade bike show and brewfest now offers race, rides, outdoor movie, and more! The Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Access4Bikes present Biketoberfest Marin, an all-day celebration of the bicycle held in Fairfax, Marin County’s premier cycling destination and the cradle of the mountain bike. The festival offers something for every cyclist. There will be beautiful handmade bicycles on display, celebrity group rides for road bikers and mountain bikers, a cyclocross race (Lion of Fairfax), a brewfest featuring 30 beers from 20 West Coast brewers, and an outdoor screening of KLUNKERZ in the evening. In addition, there will be live music, a family fun zone and amazing food! Admission is free. Tickets for beer tasting are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the event, and include a commemorative 8 oz. Biketoberfest glass. Proceeds benefit bicycle advocacy in Marin County. Beer Tasting tickets are on sale now!

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KLUNKERZ OUTDOOR MOVIE– mountain bike documentary screening with introduction by some of its stars GROUP RIDES – Road ride with Alison Starne, mountain bike ride with Joe Breeze and Charlie Kelly, Luna Chix ride, and NorCal High School ride. FAMILY FUN! – Slide, Jumpy, Little Rollers, face painting, teen band and “Breakfast with “Enzo” LIVE MUSIC – Tony Magee and the Dogtown Ramblers, Phillip Der Stein Quintet and Dgiin FOOD – Pizza Politana, The Fabulous Frickle Brothers Pickles, Venga Paella, The Juicery, Donna’s Tamales, Brittany Crepes and Galettes and the Sausage Booth

WHEN: Saturday, October 16, 11 am to 6 pm (Group Rides: register at 9:30 am. Ride rolls at 10 am.) WHERE: Fair-Anselm Plaza parking lots, 765 Center Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930 (next to Java Hut and Iron Springs) INFO: www.biketoberfestmarin.com 5

Cyclocross by Tim Brennan

Tim Brennan works at Paradigm Cycles in San Anselmo, visit him at the shop for all your Cyclocross needs. Photo courtesy of John Sieber. View his other Cyclocross photos here.

Cyclocross involves what looks somewhat like a normal road bike, and it is one of the most exciting and spectator-friendly types of racing anywhere.

As summer turns to fall and the road-racing season winds down, the next season for many racers is one that many recreational cyclists haven’t heard of: cyclocross. Cyclocross involves what looks somewhat like a normal road bike, and it is one of the most exciting and spectator-friendly types of racing anywhere. The races are short, from 30 to 60 minutes. The courses are also short—laps are usually 6 to 10 minutes—so the crowd gets to see lots of action. The sport of cyclocross, or “cross” as it’s known, began around the early 20th century in France. It was developed to give road racers some fall/winter training. Since the courses incorporate both pavement and dirt or grass, plus barriers and running sections, the riders got a workout in handling skills as well. In a few short years other northern European countries got in on the game. Belgium, Holland, and the Czech Republic are now cyclocross powerhouses. The international governing body of bicycle racing, the UCI, officially recognized cyclocross in 1950, and world championships have been held ever since, around the end of January. It’s not unusual for 15,000 beer-fueled Belgian or Dutch fans to show up at their local races every weekend from October through January. Ten or 12 high-caliber races take place in the two-week period around Christmas and New Year’s. The pro racers have fan clubs numbering in the thousands. These rabid supporters will follow their favorites all over Northern Europe during the fall months. A cyclocross bicycle is similar to a road bike, with drop handlebars and narrow-rimmed wheels. The tires are somewhat larger, usually around 32mm wide compared to a normal road-bike tire of 23mm wide. There are many different sculpted tread designs for varying course conditions. To fit around the bigger tires and to provide extra

clearance for mud and grass, cross bikes use cantilever brakes, much like those on the original mountain bikes. This season, the UCI has legalized disc brakes for cross racing; it will be interesting to see how many racers make the switch. Gearing is similar to a road bike, with a double chainring up front, usually 39/46, and depending on the course, an 11/23 or /25 cassette in the back. Most pro and elite racers will use mid- or deep-section carbon rims just like a road racing bike, with tubular tires inflated to only 25 psi. Traction and a smooth ride are very important. A top-level cross bike will weigh virtually the same as a road-racing bike. Many are right at the UCI weight limit of 6.8 kilos, or 14.9 pounds. The United States has many hotbeds of cross racing. The Pacific Northwest and New England have historically had some of the largest and best attended series in the country, if not the world. The Bay Area has also been cross-crazy for many years. In fact the first US national championships in cyclocross were held in Berkeley in 1975. Currently, cross series are held in the Bay Area, Sacramento and the Santa Cruz/Monterey area, with other races held all over Northern California from October through December. If you’re interested in trying a race or just getting out to see some of the best racing around, check out the Northern California CX calendar. The best race for Marin locals is the Lion of Fairfax, taking place this year on Saturday, October 16 at White Hill School in Fairfax. It’s on the NCNCA calendar. Check it out! The premier cross race series in Nor Cal is the Bay Area Super Prestige Series, presented by Pilarcitos Cyclesports. It’s a six-race series that draws the fastest racers from all over the western states. The schedule is located here.

Pilot Program Update By Deb Hubsmith, Advocacy Director Marin County’s Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program is bearing fruit, in the form of new bike lanes, pathways, street crossings and sidewalks throughout Marin. Under the federal transportation bill authorized in 2005, Marin County was provided with $25 million to construct and promote a non-motorized transportation network and measure how these improvements increase walking and bicycling. During 2010, we’ve seen the construction of many new improvements for bicyclists including the new Los Ranchitos bike lanes (which were celebrated with Supervisor Susan Adams), and the new Alameda del Prado bike lanes (which were celebrated with Board of Supervisors President Judy Arnold). This fall, two new, key projects on the North South Greenway will open: the Lincoln Hill Pathway (parallel to Highway 101), and the long-awaited Cal Park Hill Tunnel, which will provide a direct, flat connection between San Rafael and the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. The County is currently installing bicycle-detector signals at dozens of intersections throughout Marin, making it easier for bicyclists to cross streets. San Anselmo recently completed two lighted pedestrian crossings on Sir Francis Drake. Other cities, including Mill Valley, Fairfax and Larkspur, are in the process of making improvements. Studies are being completed

by other towns and by the Transportation Authority of Marin for future projects, including the Central Marin Ferry Connection project and the continuation of the North-South Greenway to create access to the Sausalito Ferry Terminal. About 70 percent of the Pilot Program projects not only help bicycling and walking, but also provide improved access to transit stops. The goal of each project is to help more people choose options other than driving cars. This in turn improves levels of healthful physical activity, reduces pollution and makes for safer, more livable communities. This fall, the County and the Transportation Authority of Marin are conducting evaluations on roadways and pathways to count the number of people walking and bicycling. Over the past ten years, Marin has seen a 118% increase in bicycle commuting. With these new facilities, MCBC expects the numbers to continue to grow. Because this is a federal program, telephone surveys will also be conducted this fall, interviewing randomly selected Marin residents regarding modes of travel—so if you get the call, don’t hang up! The Marin County Bicycle Coalition thanks the County of Marin for managing the Pilot Program, and appreciates all of the hard work that the County, TAM and the cities have enacted to create an expanded network of walking and bicycling facilities. Ride on!

Vote YES on B Support Climate Protection and Mobility The Marin County Bicycle Coalition urges you to vote “YES” on Measure B on the November 2010 ballot. Measure B is important for supporting climate protection and programs that benefit bicycling, including Safe Routes to School, Complete Streets, and funds for pathway maintenance. If approved by at least 50 percent of Marin County voters, Measure B will authorize a $10 annual fee on motor vehicles registered in Marin County. This will generate new and stable local funding (about $2 million per year) for transportation improvements in Marin County ONLY. The funds will be administered by the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM).This is funding that the State can’t take away and that Marin needs to maintain streets and pathways, support transit, and reduce congestion and pollution. State and federal funds supporting transportation are continually insufficient to meet the needs of our

local communities. Marin is also being challenged to meet new laws enacted around climate change with mandated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It is imperative that we address climate change aggressively and give people many different ways to travel that are better for the environment, including bicycling, walking and transit. The MCBC urges a YES vote on B this November.

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The Nacirema Tribe – Investigating Transportation, is a satirical comment on Americans’ cultural addiction to cars in the face of the financial challenges of owning them and the growing awareness of climate change. Nacirema (American spelled backwards) was first introduced in 1956 by Horace Miner to examine modernday North American cultural behavior. Miner’s strategy is used by anthropologists and sociologists to look at various behaviors in our society with detachment, allowing self-reflection. Paris Dowd, a junior at Drake High School, wrote the essay for her summer Anthropology class at College of Marin. In an effort to influence a long-awaited mode shift, she shows the absurdity of our gas-guzzling habits.

Their legends foretell of a disaster called Gnimraw Labolg (Global Warming) where the sun will burn hotter in the sky, the weather will change suddenly and drastically, and huge floods will wipe out many of their coastal towns and cities resulting in immeasurable death and displacement.

THE NACIREMA TRIBE – INVESTIGATING TRANSPORTATION The Nacirema (American spelled backwards) tribe of North America remains to be a culture shrouded in mystery. Until now, the extent of anthropological research has only investigated the tribes’ bizarre and disturbing body rituals. In this account of my time spent with the Nacirema, I will divulge the many oddities that are woven into their culture, and shed light on their peculiar beliefs. Transportation plays a monumental and essential part to members of the Nacirema tribe; it is interconnected to almost every part of their culture. The most common type of transportation is the ‘Racsub’ (car + bus spelled backwards) which the Nacirema believe was a gift from their ancient god, Ford. The Racsub comes in many different shapes and sizes although the most common appearance resembles a very large animal: rectangular shaped with hard, various colored hides, an elongated snout and extremely peculiar legs (round ones that roll around and around when in motion). When the Nacirema people want to ride their Racsub they do not mount it, but instead open holes in the side of it and climb inside. The interior is hollow, presumably carved out, with cushioned ‘taes’ (seat spelled backward) and elaborate carvings and markings on the front end. The Nacirema believe that the markings are necessary to have a comfortable and safe journey within the Racsub. A circular object in arms length of the sacred taes is attached to the front and controls the Racsub while it is in motion. However, only people of proper age and learning are ever allowed to sit in this sacred spot. Before an individual is allowed to sit in the sacred taes and control the Racsub, they must complete a right of passage. Completion of these tests brings the individual a step closer to becoming a full member of society and is a much-anticipated step for young adults around the age of 16. Sharing the secret ways of controlling the Racsub was primarily passed down directly through

by Paris Dowd

family members in the past, and they would take full responsibility in instructing the young adult with helpful knowledge. However, in modern times, the young adult is instructed by a Racsub priest who critiques their mistakes. Absolute perfection is demanded because the Racsub is viewed as being very powerful and potentially deadly to both the controller and others. Once all the requirements are met, the young adult is awarded their Timrep (permit spelled backwards), allowing them all rights over the sacred taes and controlling the Racsub. This also signifies their advancement in society. However, the Racsub is culturally connected to much more than just the right of passage; it is also a representation of status within the community. You are considered a person of great success and wealth if you acquire a very beautiful Racsub; it is even more impressive if it is personalized (color, appearance etc). And the more Racsub you obtain, the more status and wealth you have. The leaders and highly influential members of the Nacirema tribe are even honored with spacious Racsub accompanied with personal Racsub controllers. On the other hand, the poorer members of society might have an old, malfunctioning Racsub, or even none at all. These people must survive on communal transportation, or disgraceful walking. In very recent years, the Racsub has fallen under scrutiny from many of the most revered and learned members of the community. The Srosseforp- Cifitneics’ (Scientific Professors spelled backwards) are the tribe’s teachers and wise people who impart their wisdom to the majority of Nacirema people. Occasionally, a subculture Nacirema tribe member argues against the widely accepted legends, but the majority of Nacirema people believe that the use of the Racsub is connected to their culture’s destruction. Their legends foretell of a disaster called Gnimraw-Labolg (Global Warming) where the sun will burn hotter [continued on next page] 8

…they are bound only for misery, failure and extinction [continued from page 8] in the sky, the weather will change suddenly and drastically, and huge floods will wipe out many of their coastal towns and cities resulting in immeasurable death and displacement. The Nacirema appear an irrational and almost suicidal tribe because even though many people believe in the connection between destruction and the use of the Racsub, they still continue to use them. Not only is the Racsub believed to be the cause of their doom, the Nacirema must also pay special tribute to it at a minimum of once every week. The Nacirema people do this by guiding the Racsub into an Enilosag (gasoline backwards) Temple where they halt the Racsub next to an individual prayer shrine. They then disembark and touch a series of markings on the prayer shrine before taking the long snake-like tube and inserting it into a small hole in the side of the Racsub. Through the tube, a special pungent, colorful liquid is pumped into the Racsub until it is pleased with the offerings. Great lengths are completed to attain the special liquid since it comes from deep underground. The Nacirema people

talk about devastating accidents where the powerful special liquid leaked into the surrounding land killing thousands of animals, but still the liquid is under high demand. In exchange for the essential liquid, the Nacirema people leave behind many offerings at the shrine to please their gods and hopefully delay Gnimraw-Labolg. However, sometimes the Enilosag Temple offering is not enough to appease them. Many Racsub need to be taken annually to high priests to be blessed when they are malfunctioning, and even more often when they need to be specially cleaned. All this is evidence of the enslavement the Nacirema have to their revered Racsub which inevitably will cause their demise. Like many great civilizations in the past, the Nacirema seem unable to extricate themselves from their immediate, personal desires and myopic worship at a time when astounding evidence is calling for a change for global good; therefore, they are bound only for misery, failure and extinction. It seems that I have been observing the slow decline of the Nacirema culture as opposed to their evolution.

Anna Garfink, Drake Intern, Makes Big Contribution Next we used Anna’s reporting skills and had her prepare interviews with the six Bike Locally Challenge riders for the local press and for bike blogs. Anna’s interviews can be found here. Anna also helped organize a few events, including the commuter workshop that we held in August. Anna was great to work with. She was a big help and she learned a lot about what MCBC does in the few months we had her as a part-time employee. Something tells me we’ll see her again in the future, either as a dedicated volunteer promoting bicycling, or maybe as an MCBC staff member. In early July, MCBC acquired a summer intern from Sir Francis Drake High School as part of the Marin County School Career Partnership program. Anna Garfink came with two bonuses: she is a big-time cyclist and she worked for the school newspaper. Right away we knew we had an enthusiastic, capable temporary employee at our disposal. Anna came on board just as our “Bike Locally” campaign was getting into full swing, so it was natural to have her help promote the program. She started out by researching ways to promote the Facebook Page that we created for the campaign. Anna helped triple the number of fans over the course of just a few months and helped prepare a contest to drive even more traffic to the page.

Thank you Anna!

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The Chronicles of a Camelbak Virgin Although I am an expert water-bottle bike handler, I was pleasantly surprised to find how much more I could drink through this blue tube. I’m talking about a long, slow, cool drink of water… more volume than I have ever managed from any water bottle.

by Janet Lourenzo I was so excited to have the opportunity to use and review a new 2010 Camelbak 100-oz capacity hydration pack (called, mysteriously, The Don). I’ve always wondered what the big deal was with all those tubesucking riders. Thanks to MCBC, I now have a chance to take a long ride without thinking of the next watering hole. Despite being a very experienced rider, I had never used a Camelbak. So The Don and I were set to embark on a maiden voyage together.

Day One I picked up my pack on the way home from a road ride, and just threw it on my back. Well, my first mistake was not considering proper setup, even for an empty pack. My camel was riding too high on my back, and I couldn’t even fully lift my head to see the road ahead. Luckily a bike shop was nearby so I stopped to get some expert adjustments—especially the correct placement of the sternum strap for a girl —OUCH! Next, my naturally curious mind led me to the Internet. I just had to know why this pack was called “The Don.” Well, my best guess (Camelbak isn’t saying) is that it’s named for a valley and a river, both called Don, outside of Toronto, Canada. The Don Valley has a trail system of extreme technical roller-coaster-like singletrack, with wooden tracks and steep climbs and descents, mostly off camber. Since this Camelbak was designed with the Freeride community in mind, I will ultimately test drive The Don on an epic mountain bike ride. But, first things first…

Day Two Don and I had to do a dry run today because there was a slow leak in the bladder. While waiting for a new bladder, I took to the local trails on a hike out to Kent Lake. I packed the bag with lunch, a water bottle, extra clothes, jacket, and video and digital camera (in the water-resistant media pocket). It still had lots of room. I was glad to have this day to get used to having the load on my back and tweak the many straps. I counted 12 straps, including hip, sternum, shoulder, helmet storage, and compression straps, and loads of compartments. Although Don was trying to think of everything, I could not get access to my things without removing the bag or asking a fellow hiker to dig out my Luna Bar. But most of all, I needed to get used to this sweaty-back syndrome! Ewwww! I’ll admit I felt like a donkey or a Sherpa, but maybe things will fall into place once I’m on the bike. Note to small torsos: This pack is long and it may tend to ride a little high, especially if you are under 5’5.

Day Three Now, with the 3-liter bladder juiced up with cold, fresh water, I continued the break-in period with one more hike, this time up the Tamalpa Trail to the top of Mt. Tam. I wanted an opportunity to dial in the drinking process without being on a bike and dangerously fiddling. Although I am an expert water-bottle bike handler, I was pleasantly surprised to find how much more I could drink through this blue tube. I’m talking about a long, slow, cool drink of water… more volume than I have ever managed from any water bottle. As the bladder drained, I found the sloshing water inside disconcerting and felt the bag riding up again, but the bag performed well on a long, hard day out. It’s time to RIDE! 10

REVIEW: Smith Optics V90 PIVLOCK MAX Cycling Sunglasses By Tom Boss

Smith strikes the right balance of form and function Earlier this year I came across a downed tree on the Goldman Trail at Camp Tamarancho. People were already walking around the tree, creating a new trail, so I decided to remove the tree and cover up the new trail with its limbs. After I finished I reached up to my helmet visor to grab my sunglasses and realized they weren’t there. I looked around and found them smashed on the trail. I had been wearing my helmet while moving the tree and I forgot to take my sunglasses off. I learned a lesson. And, I now needed some new sunglasses. Fortunately Smith had just sent MCBC two pair of V90 Optics, one as a prize for our Spring Sweepstakes and one to test out. The Smith V90s ($139) are a wrap-style sunglass with interchangeable lenses. They come in a nice zippered case with three different sets of mirror optics (that is, lenses): Bronze, Ignitor (rose shade) and Clear. I find myself switching often among the three. I tend to wear the Bronze on daytime rides, the Clear in late afternoon or evening, and the Rose when I’m wearing them around town and want to look disco! I have to admit, this is the first pair of bike-specific shades I’ve found myself wearing for other occasions. They’re very stylish. I’ve tested these glasses while riding my road bike and my mountain bike. The Bronze shade is just about right for most daytime riding. The sunglasses are well ventilated, so I rarely get steam on them, and the airflow is superb as well. No teary eyes. The nose guard keeps the wrap shade off my cheeks and away from my brow, which helps keep sweat from dripping down the shades on those warm days. The glasses are very comfortable. They rest securely on my helmet when I place the arms in the vents.

The system to switch out the lenses is pretty quick and intuitive. You simply swing the arm up 90 degrees and detach it. To connect another pair of lenses you hold the arm up in the 90-degree position, line up a teardrop-shaped tab with the hole at the upper corner, and swing the arm down horizontally. There’s an audible click, letting you know the arm is locked to the shade (you also need to swap out the nose piece). I’ve probably done this a hundred times so far and they system is as solid as it was on day one. I also discovered an advantage to the PIVLOCK system when I accidentally rammed the sunglasses into a shelf (they were on my helmet visor again.) Pieces went flying and I thought “oh great, another pair of shades ruined.” But the lens had simply popped off the arm. They snapped right back together, no damage done. I have discovered that the coating scratches somewhat easily, so I suggest extra care when handling. However, with three different optics included I’m not complaining.

MCBC’s Bike Parking Service

October

The MCBC’s valet bike parking service proves to

November

be ever popular. Valet bike parking allows event participants to avoid traffic congestion and the typical search for parking, leave their locks at home, arrive feeling refreshed, and the service eliminates haphazard parking of bikes on sidewalks where they can interfere with pedestrian access. MCBC’s 2010 valet bike parking sponsors are Marin Sanitary Service and Fairfax Cyclery.

Bike Locally Challenge is on Facebook

Saturday, 16: Biketoberfest, Fairfax

Saturday, 13: Manor Winter Fair, Fairfax

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Ride To These Local Events! 11

REVIEW: Mission Workshop Vandal bicycle backpack By Tom Boss

A well-thought-out bag from a group of Chrome expats While there are a few cities that can claim they are more bikefriendly than San Francisco, no US city can claim more bicyclemessenger bag and backpack manufacturers. First there was Timbuk2, followed by Chrome. More recently other bag makers have flourished, including Rickshaw Bagworks, Freight Baggage and Mission Workshop. Mission Workshop is a new bicycle bag & accessory company located in the Mission District. A few of the key people behind the new company got their chops working at Chrome Bags, so these guys know what they’re doing.

Dimensions - Compact Measures - 15’’ x 21’’ x 6’’ Volume - 1,800 cu. in. / 30 L / 6.75 Gallons Dimensions - Expanded Measures - 15’’ x 21’’ x 12’’ Volume - 4,000 cu. in. / 65 L / 15 Gallons

Mission Workshop sent MCBC a Vandal backpack to review. I was immediately impressed with the aesthetics of the bag. It has a clean, layered look that hides its expansion capabilities and it comes in some very pleasing colors. The Vandal is also lighter than my Chrome Ivan Rolltop, which is of comparable size. However, I wondered if this lightweight bag would hold up to heavy loads and daily use. I unbuckled and unzipped the many compartments and at first I questioned the redundant vertical pockets. There are four of them, three of slightly differing lengths and one expandable one in the middle. “Am I ever going to use all of these pockets?” I thought. The answer came as soon as I took the bag out for its first spin. I decided to take it shopping. First I loaded up the small outer vertical pocket with my bike and computer accessories, such as lock, tube, bike tool and power adapter. I put my laptop in the next, slightly taller vertical pocket, and I placed some mail and folders in the tallest pocket (also the slimmest) close to my back. That left the expandable pocket free for groceries.

Electrical Contractor / C-10 HIC 823538

Electrical / Lighting Design Residential / Commercial Home Integration Tele / Data Communications Renewable Energies Fire Systems Security

ELECTRICALLYCONNECTED

At the store, I loaded up a grocery cart and headed for the checkout line. All of my groceries fit perfectly in the bag’s large expandable pocket. This compartment has lots of features to accommodate different kinds of loads. A weather-resistant zipper keeps the compartment compact for everyday use. Unzip that compartment and it triples in size. Two adjustment straps provide compression for your load, and an inner zippered pocket allows you to keep stuff from falling out, assuming you don’t need to have anything protruding out the top. Drain holes at the bottom of the large compartment will let liquid pour out the bottom rather than stay inside getting everything wet. Instead of having a rolltop, the Vandal has a large flap on top with a long elastic compression strap, which you can cinch down to hold almost anything in place. You can roll this flap up if it’s in your way. The bag was sent without a waist strap, but you can order one as an accessory. The backpack has a flat, thin, internal frame that does an adequate job of holding the pack’s shape and keeping objects inside from poking you in the back. The padding and ventilation system is a little lacking; I’m guessing that was a choice to save weight. That said, I have yet to try any backpack that doesn’t leave the back sweaty after a decent ride. I paid for my groceries, threw the Vandal on my back, and adjusted the straps. It was time to ride with it fully loaded. While the load was heavy, it was evenly dispersed and did not shift around. The wide, padded shoulder straps helped make carrying the load comfortable. A few days later, Team in Training dropped off 2000 flyers at my house for the Bike to Work Day bag stuffing. I decided to try to haul four heavy boxes down to the office, three miles away. While the backpack could handle the heavy load (40 to 50 pounds, I’m guessing), all that weight on my back made it uncomfortable to ride. A bag of this size allows you to pack a heavier load than you may be physically able to carry. The Vandal exceeded my expectations. Mission Workshop has in my opinion found the right balance of function and form. If you’re looking for a large, versatile backpack to carry your stuff while you ride your bike, The Vandal is a good choice. If you don’t need a cargo-container-size backpack, Mission Workshop also makes a smaller version called The Rambler.

DENIS SOLAN ph 415.497.4248 fax 415.626.1317

denis@electricallyconnected.net

REVIEW: Brooks B-17 Saddle By Tom Boss Can they really be that comfortable? A rider begins a 12-month quest for the answer. I find myself choosing to go on longer mountain bike rides these days. I think it’s because I find them reminiscent of days in my youth, backpacking in the Sierra. Back then I’d go out for five to six days, hike 60 miles and see a variety of places and terrain. These days I am unable to commit a whole week to a backpacking trip. However, I’ve discovered that a 40-to-50-mile bike ride over the course of six hours gives me a similar satisfaction to those backpacking trips. The only unsatisfying part of these long rides has been the soreness of my derriere upon return. Recently I was with a friend when he purchased a Brooks B-17 saddle for his touring bike. I had never thought about putting a Brooks saddle on my lightweight mountain bike, but with my friend’s purchase, something clicked. I realized that with these long rides I am essentially bike touring on my mountain bike. Maybe a broken-in Brooks saddle would solve the pain in my ass. Brooks is probably the reason bike seats are called saddles. John Brooks founded the company in England in 1866 as a maker of horse harnesses and leather goods. As the story goes, the unfortunate death of Mr Brooks’ horse in 1872 led to a stroke of inspiration. Unable to afford another horse, he borrowed a bicycle so he could commute to work. He found the seat incredibly uncomfortable, and he started constructing his own comfortable leather saddles for bicycles. He filed for his first bicycle-saddle patent in 1882. For years many bicycle aficionados, especially in the bike-touring discipline, have been praising the comfort of a well-broken-in Brooks saddle. At the same time many people who’ve tried a Brooks have been unable to reach comfort bliss; they complain that a Brooks saddle is hard the day you buy it and stays that way. I contacted Brooks and asked if they’d send me a saddle so I could answer the question once and for all—for myself. They obliged and in July I received a very handsome box containing one brown Brooks B-17 Narrow saddle to test over the next 12 months. This is the first of a series of reports I will make on the experiment. After taking a few photos of the packaging I mounted the saddle on my bike. First observation: I am fortunate enough to ride a Curtis Inglis Retrotec 29er mountain bike, which has curved twin top tubes and a two-tone paint job. The Brooks saddle looks great on my bike! I’m not sure it would look at home on, say, a carbon-fiber Specialized Epic. For aesthetic-minded riders, this is something to consider when deciding if a Brooks is right for your bike.

Immediately following installation I read the care instructions; I also searched the internet to find advice on how best to break in the saddle. I found consensus around Brooks Proofide leather saddle treatment, so I stopped by my local bike shop and picked up a can. I treated the saddle bottom with a generous application to protect the underside from water and grime. Then I applied a lighter coating to the top of the saddle and wiped it off with a chamois 15 minutes later. Second observation: I’ve flipped my bike over twice since the Brooks has been on my bike, once for a trailside repair and once to remove the rear wheel. Both times the beautiful saddle finish got scuffed up. Nothing an application of Proofide can’t hide, but I highly recommend covering the saddle before turning your bike over, to protect the finish.

TO BE CONTINUED… Watch the MCBC Facebook page for updates on my Brooks B-17 experience, and look for my next report in the Winter issue of the Pedal Press.

Now that the saddle was mounted and Proofideafied, it was time to start riding and breaking in that thick, hard leather. I did a series of short rides, with a Proofide application every other ride. Then, just six days after mounting the B-17, I did the July MCBC Fun Ride, a 53-miler. Guess what happened? I received my first bona fide saddle sores. I really have no one to blame but myself. I shouldn’t have been so naive in thinking I could somehow skirt the break-in period and have a plush Brooks Saddle right out of the gate. To the saddle’s defense, I’ve since ridden it quite a bit more, and I am happy to report no saddle sores following the 48-mile August MCBC Fun Ride. However, it’s not what I would call comfortable at this point.

Tim P. Cooper, CFP® 415.391.6644 Financial Advisor SPECIALIZING IN: • 401(k) plans for small business and self-employed individuals • Conversions to Roth IRA 550 California Street, Suite 700 San Francisco, CA 94104 Securities & investment advisory services offered through Financial Network Investment Corporation, member SIPC.

Safe Routes to Schools Announces First Annual Green Ways to School Winners

Loma Verde

Wade Thomas

The Transportation Authority of Marin’s Safe Routes to Schools program is pleased to announce the first annual Green Ways to School winners. Nine schools will be receiving cash awards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by generating Green Trips to school: students walking, bicycling, taking the bus, or participating in carpools.

model by biking to school from her San Rafael home three times a week. Loma Verde increased its Green Trips in 2010 by 15%. This included a 12% increase in carpooling. They increased Green Trips during the “Go for the Green” spring contest by 14%.

Green Ways to School is a new campaign of Safe Routes to Schools that launched in January 2010. Funded through a grant from the Marin Community Foundation’s Climate Change Initiative, the campaign consists of a new web-based SchoolPool trip-matching program, and contests and promotions that encourage students and their parents to find and use Green Ways to School. Safe Routes to Schools succeeded in increasing Green Trips to school countywide by five percent in the 20092010 school year, reducing annual vehicle miles traveled by 635,000 miles and decreasing 270 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Participants in the new SchoolPool program increased Green Trips even more, by 16%. That’s the equivalent of decreasing the number of single-studentoccupant motor-vehicle trips by one trip per week. The program has three categories of cash awards: Green Ways to School Awards for outstanding achievement in increasing green trips in the 2009-10 school year; Program Achievement Awards for outstanding achievement in increasing green trips since the school originally entered the Safe Routes to Schools program; and SchoolPool Awards for schools that had the highest participation in the online SchoolPool trip-matching program. The cash awards are provided through the Marin Community Foundation. The top Green Ways to School award of $2000 went to Loma Verde School in Novato for the highest increase in green trips in 2009-10. Loma Verde principal Eileen Smith, office secretary Jennie Pardi and team leader Michelle Camicia combined forces to promote green and active trips to school. Eileen Smith acted as a role

“We are so honored to win this award,” said Loma Verde principal Eileen Smith. “It reflects the commitment by staff, parents and students to increase green trips to school. Safe Routes to School provided Loma Verde with resources for motivating the students and tallying green trips by classrooms. Their support has been phenomenal. We are committed to continue increasing green trips by encouraging all families to walk, bike or carpool to school. Thanks to the Novato Unified School District, our bicycle area was upgraded this summer, providing us with a paved, gated space for bicycles.” The first place Program Achievement Award of $1000 went to Old Mill School in Mill Valley for the highest percentage increase of Green Trips since it joined the Safe Routes to School program (in 2003). Old Mill’s school site council developed a “15 Minutes to School” campaign by proposing to open up steps and pathways near the school to enable its students to walk to school in 15 minutes or less. Over the years, successive team leaders have developed their own contests to encourage more students to walk to school. Since 2003, Old Mill School has increased Green Trips by 38%; they have increased walking and bicycling to school by 26%. During the Go for the Green spring contest in 2010, they recorded 59% Green Trips . Two School Pool Achievement Awards of $500 each went to Dixie School in Marinwood and to Brookside Upper School in San Anselmo for generating the highest percentage of signups to the new SchoolPool trip matching program, 29% and 30% of their student population respectively. This fall a $500 award, provided through a donation from Kaiser Permanente, will be [continued on page 15] 14

SR2S Green Ways Winners continued from page 14

FREE

BICYCLE

EDUCATION

GAIN CONFIDENCE RIDING ON MARIN’S ROADS & PATHS

STREET SKILLS for CYCLISTS • Tuesday, October 19, 2010 Sausalito Parks and Recreation, Sausalito Old Mill

given away to the school that generates the highest percentage of SchoolPool sign-ups by the middle of October. Parents can sign up at www.SchoolPoolMarin.org

AWARD WINNERS Green Ways to School Award KK 1st place: Loma Verde Elementary School, Novato KK 2 nd place: tie: Manor Elementary School, Fairfax, and Wade Thomas Elementary School, San Anselmo KK H onorable Mention: Coleman Elementary School, San Rafael; Ross School, Ross; Laurel Del elementary School, San Rafael

• Tuesday, November 9, 2010 Mill Valley Community Center, Mill Valley • Tuesday, January 18, 2011 Marin General Hospital , Greenbrae • Wednesday, March 23, 2011 Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae Class Times 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Please register in advance

TO REGISTER FOR CURRENT CLASSES, LEARN OF ADDITIONAL 2011 DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS: www.marinbike.org streetskills@marinbike.org • 415-456-3469, 8#

Program Achievement Award KK 1st place: Old Mill Elementary School, Mill Valley

These workshops are implemented by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition in their ongoing effort to improve bicycle safety in Marin County. Funding is provided by the Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program, administered by WalkBikeMarin (www.walkbikemarin.org).

KK 2 nd place: Tam Valley Elementary School, Unincorporated Mill Valley

American sign language interpreters and assistive listening devices may be requested by calling 415-499-6172 (TDD) or 415-499-6528 (voice) at least 72 hours in advance. Paratransit is available by calling Whistlestop Wheels 415-454-0904. For bicycle and bus routes please contact 511.org or 415-817-1717.

KK 3rd place: Brookside Lower, San Anselmo KK H onorable Mention: Marin Primary and Middle School, Larkspur; Lagunitas School District, San Geronimo; White Hill Middle School, Fairfax

SchoolPool Award KK 1 st place: tie – Brookside Upper Elementary School, San Anselmo; Dixie Elementary School, Marinwood KK 2nd place: Mary Silveira Elementary School, Marinwood KK Honorable Mention: Edna Maguire Elementary, Mill Valley Awards were based on student tally surveys from fall and spring, measuring all green modes and comparing specific modes; performance during the spring contest; and participation in the SchoolPool tripsharing program. For more information contact Wendi Kallins at 488-4101 or Laura Kelly at 456-3469 ext. 2#. 15

Biking in Jerusalem

Clockwise: A cyclist rides through one of the narrow streets in Jerusalem’s Old City. A makeshift cargo bike has seen years of service. Metal sculptures on the road leading to the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem.

by David Hoffman

I’ve been watching bicyclists climb a long hill from a low-lying area to the upper neighborhoods. The road is fast and narrow, and the cyclists sometimes ride the sidewalk, dodging mothers with wheeled shopping baskets, young children, and joggers. The cyclists struggle up the hill— it’s hot and humid here, making the extra exertion that much greater. In the center median are colorful, oversize metal silhouettes of bicyclists and pedestrians in poses of effortless cycling and walking ease. I see a bicyclist dressed in a long black coat, curls of hair hanging from the sides of his face. A broad black hat is bungeed to his panniers, which carry books, a computer, and the assorted objects that help him get through his day. I am in Jerusalem, Israel. And I am witnessing the birth of a bicycling boom. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about and helping design and promote great bicycle facilities in Marin County, and part of this work includes understanding how bicycle facilities are built in other parts of the world. Places like the Netherlands are legendary for their bicycling infrastructure and incredibly high ridership. The Netherlands are both colder and wetter than Marin County, so they must be doing something right! Jerusalem too, is in the middle of a transportation revolution.

The King of Rock and Roll. Israeli style.

For the most part, bike paths are still something of a novelty in Israel. Bike lanes simply do not exist. Tel Aviv has a couple of wonderful multi-use paths, which teem with cyclist families and commuters. A multi-use path

in Haifa runs through a largely industrial neighborhood, but sees only the occasional cyclist or pedestrian. A new pathway is being built around the perimeter of Jerusalem. I heard about the Jerusalem pathway when I met one of its project managers, Ze’ev Temkin. We met in his office not far outside the city limits, right next to a café dedicated completely to the late King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. It was a surreal morning. First, talking with Ze’ev about the explosive growth of both transportation and recreational bicycling—attempting to use my fractured Hebrew while he communicated in only slightly less fractured English. Then, having breakfast at the Elvis Diner. The diner has thousands of Elvis pictures, statues and memorabilia. An all-Elvis soundtrack is piped in through the overhead speakers. Folding bicycles are very popular in Israel, especially in urban areas, where they are used primarily for transportation. Prohibitions about bringing bikes into your work area seem to be relaxed. A fair number of inexpensive mountain bikes are used for transportation. Jerusalem is very San Francisco-like in its topography, with some low-lying areas surrounded by steep and long hills into the neighborhoods. Countless folks ride from the city center out towards the neighborhoods by shifting into low gear and slowly cranking up the hills. Higher-end bikes and Lycra-clad athletes are still somewhat rare. I BIKERS BALL 2010 saw a few of them on the roadways between municipaliThe Marin County Bicycle Coalition is heading back ties, riding on the shoulders of the road where cars fly by to Servino in Tiburon on Saturday, November 13, to atcelebrate more than 100 kilometers hour (about Marin’s 62 miles another successfulper year of making per hour). For these riders, seemingly, the heat, cars, rides safer and a heck of a lot more fun. Stay tuned and humidity aren’t a deterrent to logging your miles. for details regarding whose music you’ll be dancing to, what fabulous auction items are onathe and Most cars in Israel are European; fewblock, US-made what special guests might be in store. cars dot the road. Overall, cars are small and under16

Biking in Jerusalem continued

powered relative to what Americans are used to. SUVs do exist, but they are a minority. One-lane or two-lane roundabouts are the norm at most intersections. Bicyclists don’t seem to have any trouble navigating the roundabouts. Israel has a European-style traffic light system with five phases: green, flashing green for a few moments to indicate a pending change to yellow, yellow, red, then a combo yellow and red that indicates a pending change to green. When the lights are in the yellow-red phase drivers lean on their horns to ensure that you’re well underway by the time the light signals green. Despite the urgency with which most drivers seem to take to the road, I witnessed very few instances of drivers behaving dangerously around bicyclists. Given the strife and tension that Israelis experience in their day-to-day lives due to the political environment, I was surprised to see drivers behaving with such civility around bicyclists. Children take to the streets in droves. They sometimes ride to school. I saw some banners posted on street lights and utility poles, promoting walking and biking and imploring parents to drive carefully around the neighborhood and schools and to watch for students on bikes. It looked similar to the “Street Smarts” program being run in Marin County. Could Israel be ripe for a version of Safe Routes to School? Israel is looking to reduce its dependence on oil for transportation. Gas is priced much higher than in the US; translated into dollars, it’s about $6.60 per gallon. In Israel, an American SUV with a 20-gallon tank would cost $132 to fill up. Companies such as Better Place, an electric car company, were born in Israel. Better Place now has major offices in Israel, Silicon Valley,

and Europe. Public transportation is cheap, easy, clean, and efficient. Lots of people take the bus. (Remember the bus bombings in Israel? Attacking the public transportation system in Israel has a significant impact on people’s ability to get around.) Bus Rapid Transit is now being embraced. Jerusalem is in the middle of building its first light rail system. There’s a high-speed train between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, similar to the one that California will be building in years to come. In all cases, bikes are welcome. My sense is that Jerusalem, like most of the rest of Israel, is on the edge of embracing bicycling as a legitimate form of transportation. Recreational bike use is high, and transportation bicycling is on a very rapid rise. The facilities and roads haven’t caught up to the demand being placed on them by bicyclists, but that will likely soon change. While there is no national advocacy group for bicycling, neighborhood and city groups are beginning to form. Like the MCBC, they are pushing for newer and better facilities that aren’t designed solely for cars.

Left: A cyclist takes a break along the multi-use path in Tel Aviv. Right: Children on bikes are everywhere!

My sense is that Jerusalem, like most of the rest of Israel, is on the edge of embracing bicycling as a legitimate form of transportation. ... Like the MCBC, they are pushing for newer and better facilities that aren’t designed solely for cars..

Weatherproof Expandable Backpacks

2010 Bike Facility Successes By Tom Boss, MCBC Membership Director

Left: MCBC Kit –Voler Club Raglan Jersey and Peloton shorts; Camalbak Vantage 35; Bike: Deuter Trans Alpine 30. Right: Zoic Projeckt jersey in picante and Thread short. Photos by Miguel Farias. (Dias Ridge trail)

fa·cil·i·ty noun: Something (as a bicycle path) that is built, installed, or established to serve a particular purpose MOST COMMON BICYCLE FACILITIES: Class I Bike Path Totally separated from traffic (Lincoln Hill, Northgate Promenade). Class II Bike Lane – Separated from traffic by line on the road; usually between 4 and 6 feet wide with a 6-inch-wide white stripe between traffic and bike lane (Los Ranchitos, Alameda del Prado). Class III – Share the road with traffic. Signage and Sharrows alert motorists that you have a right to use the lane (4th Street San Rafael, San Anselmo Avenue). Multi-use Trail – A trail that is shared by hikers, bikers and equestrians.

Often cyclists ask, “what are the benefits of MCBC membership?” When you mention “bike map” or “discounts” people get that, because it’s something tangible. But when you say “new facilities” you often get a glazed look: People either don’t know what that means or they don’t see how they directly benefit. However, the work MCBC does advocating for new facilities is the biggest advantage of MCBC membership, and we’ve had some pretty impressive facilities open in 2010.

a bicycle. We hope you enjoy getting to know your new bicycle facilities a little better. We also hope that you’ll be inspired to join MCBC or renew your membership.

The year started with the opening of the Los Ranchitos bike lanes, which connect the Northgate Mall with the top of Lincoln Hill. In May, the Northgate Promenade bike path was officially dedicated. It runs along Las Gallinas Avenue in front of the Northgate Mall. Also in May, San Anselmo Avenue was repaved and Sharrows were installed, and the new multi-use Dias Ridge Trail was officially opened. In August we saw the opening of new bike lanes along Alameda del Prado. By the time you read this story you should be able to ride the new Lincoln Hill Pathway, which connects the top of Lincoln Avenue with Mission Street on a totally separated bicycle freeway. I call it a freeway because it has overhead lighting, overpasses, a tunnel and large signs pointing out the exits. We thought it would be fun to take photos along these new facilities with cyclists wearing some stylish bicyclespecific apparel. That’s right, all the clothing you’ll see in these photos was designed to be worn while riding

Zoic Laney longsleeve V-neck T and Outlier Daily Riding pants in black. (Dias Ridge Trail)

Bicycle Fashion on Marinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Pathways! Photos by Miguel Farias

DOL Active Wear Skirt and Luna Eclipse jacket. (Northgate Promenade)

My Alibi Halter Cami and Pedal Pusher Capris. (Lincoln Hill Pathway)

My Alibi Halter, Teardrop, and Strappy Camis with Pedal Pusher Capris with Bloomers. (Lincoln Hill Pathway)

DOL Active Wear Skirt with Pedal Panties. Bike: Boogie Bike. (Northgate Promenade)

Sheila Moon Cotton Rowan Jacket and Riding Trousers.

Helmet: LAS Istrion; Campagnolo Heritage Stretch Piquet polo; Rapha Touring shorts; Campagnolo TG System Heritage Glove; Vittoria 1976 Cycling shoe; Bike: Bianchi Via Brera. (Northgate Promenade)

(Lincoln Hill Pathway)

Zoic Projeckt jersey in picante and Thread short. (Dias Ridge Trail)

Outlier 4Season OG pants in slate gray and Merino T-shirt in gray. Adidas Original Sambas; Timbuk2Swig backpack. Bike: Masi Speciale Commuter. (Northgate Promenade)

Mike’s Bikes Capo “The County” jersey. (Dias Ridge Trail)

Hincapie women’s wool long sleeve base layer (topaz) and Luna Moon Buggy shorts.Timbuk2 messenger bag. Bike: Marin Bikes Kentfield FS Step-Thru. (Northgate Promenade)

Luna Marla Di-Da short sleeve top and Hincapie Tour LT jacket. (Northgate Promenade)

(Lincoln Hill Pathway)

Twin Six “Brew Pub Alpe d’Huez” T-shirt and Zoic Posh Short.

Twin Six “I Heart” T-shirt and My Alibi Simple Skirt. Dahon Folding Bike.

Sheila Moon Bo Peep dress.

Sheila Moon Stardust Go Go Skirt with Lingerie Liner.

MCBC Spring Bike Sweepstakes MCBC proudly announces the winners of the 2010 Spring Bike Sweepstakes »»

»»

In an effort to increase membership last spring, we automatically entered anyone joining or renewing their MCBC membership in a drawing for eight great gifts. In two months MCBC recruited 399 members, 198 of whom were new members! We’d like to thank everyone who helped push membership over 1500 during this membership-recruitment effort. Here are the winners of the prizes.

»»

»» »»

»»

GRAND PRIZE – Jamis Commuter 4 bike – Gordie MacDermott Easton Mountain bike wheelset – Mary Beth Culler

MCBC’S CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Light and Motion Vis 360 Commuter helmet light – Madelyn Kahn, MD Rickshaw Commuter messenger bag – Ben Thompson Smith Optics PIVLOCK® V90 MAX Sunglasses – Pali Cooper, DC Timbuk2 bag – Amil St. Augustine Light and Motion Vis 180 Commuter Tail Light – Jeff Colin Camelbak 2010 H.A.W.G. NV – Sean Braniff

Win a Custom Laptop Messenger bag! Answer these three questions correctly and enter a drawing for a Timbuk2 Custom Laptop Messenger bag. Valued at $205, this one-of-a-kind messenger bag is made with Vinyl shine in colbalt and bronze. Comes complete with a laptop compartment and a shoulder pad. Visit their website and create your own custom design! Clue: the answers can be found inside this issue. 1. What kind of bike did Gordie MacDermott win in the Spring Bike Sweepstakes? 2. Which Safe Routes to School contest did Loma Verde School win? 3. Which tribe, which investigated transportation, was described by student Paris Dowd?

Name

Phone

Address

Mail this form to MCBC, PO Box 1115, Fairfax, CA 94978 or email your answers to joann@marinbike.org. The drawing will be held on November 20 at the Cranksgiving ride.

City

State

Zip

Thanks to Timbuk2 for contributing our Pedal Press contest prize. 23

MCBC STORE

FASHION SHOOT SPECIAL THANKS!

Visit our online store for these items.

MODELS: Julie Gleason, Sheila Moon, Mathilde Keiser, Christopher Keiser, Abbie Durkee, Sofia Hamilton, Kate Courtney, Leigh Etheridge, Karen Tomczar, Rona Hung, Mary McDermott, Gabe Byrne, Chris McNally, Delanie Kern, Rob Spear, Cammie Urban, Dan Sankey, Tom Boss

The MCBC jerseys - $69.00

PHOTOGRAPHER: Miguel Faris CLOTHING: Sheila Moon, My Alibi, Outlier, Zoic, Rapha, Campagnolo, Mike’s Bikes – Capo, MCBC – Voler, Hincapie, Luna Sport Gear, Pedal Panties, Timbuk2, Twin Six, Adidas, Camelbak, Deuter

MCBC Map - $12.00 A must-have resource for anyone riding in Marin!

Men’s and Women’s Tee

BIKES: Marin Bikes, Dahon, Boogie Bike, Masi

shirts - $25.00

Biketoberfest – October 16

Bikers Ball – November 13

BECOME AN MCBC MEMBER Name (first)

www.marinbike.org

I want to volunteer!

City

Zip

Phone (day)

(evening)

e-mail

How you heard about us

• $40 Regular • $60 Family • $100 Century • $250 Tour de France For Century members and above select your t-shirt size: S

• Do not share my name with other organizations Make checks payable to: Marin County Bicycle Coalition, P.O. Box 1115, Fairfax, CA 94978

Signature

or JOIN ONLINE:

(last)

Street / PO Box

Credit Card #

Cranksgiving – November 20

Exp. date

• Attending public meetings • Advocacy in your town • Data entry • Events • Newsletter distribution/mailing • Phone tree calling • Safe Routes to Schools • Share the Road • Staffing an information table • Valet bicycle parking • Other