States with the lowest levels of biking and walking have higher traffic fatalities and chronic disease
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Dancing and Mardi Gras spirit in Long Beach
Folks danced and cyclists riding beautiful vintage bicycles got in to the Mardi Gras spirit, thanks to the fantastic cadence of the Jordan High School drum corps. We tapped our feet and rocked out.
Lee Tracy took this great shot of Bernard and Karen of Cyclone Coaster. They both enjoy lindy hop and other early dance styles.
While there were plenty of vintage bicycles, several of us from Long Beach Cyclists with newer bicycles joined in the fun as well. The air was filled with twinkling bike bells, a-hooo-gah horns and much laughter.
The recent afternoon Mardi Gras sidewalk parade started near the Aquarium and, to the delight of all onlookers, danced its way to Parker’s Lighthouse. It was a noisy, happy hour of fun. Belly dancers, music, umbrellas, raz and ma-taz, echoes of Brazilian carnaval and tastes of New Orleans.
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Wanted: Higher Standards for kid items
A few years ago I discovered that I fit into most “outdoor” kids clothing. I would rummage through the racks at REI, Big 5 and Sports Chalet. Back than, I was the lady in the kids section that you were jealous of. Not because I had kids and was looking for cute zip-0ff pants for my toddler, but because I was paying half as much as you did in the adult section!
It was a good life until….
The dream came to an end. I realized that the kids section wasn’t holding a torch to the high quality and well fitted adult section. Now, when I walk into the store (head hung low) I head straight for the good stuff in the adult section. Why don’t they make the kids selection as amazing as adult clothes so that I can go back to paying second hand price for new stuff!
Leave it up to bikeportland.org to relate my story to bikes.
“He’s not careening down the side of a mountain — he is getting around by bike in Portland like many other civilized citizens do.”
Cycling Long Beach in Style—The Tweed Ride
by Lee Tracy
“Where are you guys going?” asked the lycra-clad road cyclist as the Cyclone Coaster bicycle riders pedaled through Belmont Shore side streets.
“Everywhere,” replied a cap-clad cyclist riding a vintage bicycle.
And while we didn’t go literally everywhere, we went around a lot of Long Beach, and in style.
Every month, Long Beach Cyclists has a great ride, and this month was no exception. We teamed up with the Cyclone Coaster for their first annual Mustache and Tweed Ride. Around 100 cyclists, many with classic vintage bicycles, enjoyed the beautiful sunny day.
The ride started, as so many good things in Long Beach do, with good coffee, and great company, at Portfolios.
One reason that folks come from far and wide to the Coaster rides, which happen the first Sunday of each month, is to enjoy the huge array of classic bicycles—many pre-World War II in vintage.
Fittingly, the Ride began by cycling down to 1st, and then heading East through Bluff Park, passing houses as old as many of the bicycles.
One needn’t dress to the nines to enjoy a good bicycle ride—you can wear most any clothing and cycle— but on a Mustache and Tweed ride, we’re reminded how perfectly well-dressed ladies and gentlemen and cycling go together.
After riding through the backstreets of Belmont Shore, we headed down the Long Beach Bike path, where the dozens and dozens of cyclists formed a winding snake that slithered down the beach.
By the Belmont Pier we took a break and enjoyed the scenery and conversation.
Back on the bike path, we encountered a section still flooded from the previous day’s thunderstorm—the brave souls pedaled through, while the rest of us rode around it.
Not all the riders were human—two dogs accompanied their human companions on the ride. This one had the best eyewear on the ride. By far. Dogs love going along on bike rides – it’s easy to train them to ride in a basket, backpack or trailer.
At last, we arrived at the Rainbow Harbor lighthouse.
The lighthouse was a perfect place for a break, with gorgeous views of the Queen Mary and the downtown Long Beach skyline.
At last, we found ourselves at the Pike in Alamitos Beach, where many riders enjoyed a great lunch to end the ride. Every month’s Long Beach Cyclist’s ride is a new adventure, and you never know where you’ll end up. But rest assured, you’ll have lots of fun with great people.
You can see more photos of the February 2010 Tweed Ride in Long Beach, California, organized by Long Beach Cyclists and Cyclone Coaster. Check out the photos by Lee Tracy posted at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yoshiyahu262/.
Also, check out the photos by Michael Bos at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46493017@N04/4342352351/in/set-72157623261435211/
March Weekend Cycle-Camping Tour
Amanda and several cycling friends are planning a special Long Beach Cyclists event that will take place to and from (and in and around) San Luis Obispo.
Drop whatever you’re doing right now, and click to the page where Amanda tells us all about it: www.bikecamptrain.blogspot.com.
Bike… Camp… Trains! In mid-March, cyclists from Long Beach will travel by train to and from San Luis Obispo for a weekend of cycling and camping in the beautiful SLO countryside. To participate, you are asked to RSVP by February 26. The ride itself will take place March 26-28.
To RSVP and to communicate with Amanda, (and to view and click on the poster), click on the above blogspot link.
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Traffic Skills 101 for cyclists in mid-February
The next Traffic Skills 101 course taught by League-certified Cycling Instructors (LCI’s) is scheduled for February 17 and 20. You need to register in advance. The February course will meet at CSULB Pyramid Annex, (Atherton, between Bellflower and Palo Verde).
For details and to register online, click EDUCATION at the top of the longbeachcyclists.com web page.
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Bicycle Co-op in Long Beach—The H.U.B.—Feb 8
Great news! Our friends with Pedal Movement are starting up a bicycle cooperative called the H.U.B. Congratulations Graham Baden!
The first Pedal Movement meeting at the H.U.B. will be Monday, February 8 at 7:00 pm. Click EVENTS at the top of the longbeachcyclists.com page for details, for a map, and for contact information.
The H.U.B. bicycle cooperative is being created from scratch with volunteer labor—you are invited to pitch in!—in a lot and building across the street from the Pacific Coast Highway station of the Metro Blue Line.
At the February 8th meeting, Graham invites all to participate in the planning and roll-up-your-sleeves work of making it happen. The agenda includes volunteer hours, clean-up procedures, leadership, project direction, and 2010 planning.
Long Beach Cyclists February Ride—Tweeds, Feb 7
Sunday, February 7, at 10:00 am, Long Beach Cyclists joins Cyclone Coaster for a Tweed Ride. This means we will share a fun, slow-paced ride with cycling friends. Cyclone Coasters mostly drive vintage bicycles—the Tweed Ride will be quite a show! You’ll want to be dressed in your tweeds, wool knickers and old-fashioned best. But dressed up or not, and driving a vintage bicycle or not, show up ready for fun. We will meet at Portfolio Coffee House on Fourth at Junipero, and we will depart at 10:30 sharp, bicycle bells ringing.
Trophies will be awarded for Best Tweed Garb-and-Bike Combo, for Best Beard, for Best Mustache, and for Most Creative Undergarments.
Click EVENTS at the top of the longbeachcyclists.com web page and scroll to the February 7th entry of the calendar to see a map of how to get to Portfolio. You can find the Tweed Ride blog page at: http://lbtweedride.blogspot.com/
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Long Beach Cyclists meeting at Jax—Feb 3
Long Beach Cyclists meeting — Feb 3 at Jax
Long Beach Cyclists meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:17 pm. Hope to see you at our next meeting… and at any or all other events. Click EVENTS at the top of the page to view our calendar and a map of how to get to Jax (corner of Bellflower and Spring).
Note that many of us cycle together to the meeting from near the shore. We depart Orange and Second Street at 6:30 pm.
Discounts for cyclists, Friday, Feb 5
Support local bike-friendly businesses.
On the first Friday of every month, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, many Long Beach cafés and restaurants offer lower prices to customers who show up on a bicycle and dine in. To participate, we are asked to show our helmet or bike lock key.
Lunch Breaks for Cyclists is part of the Car-Free Fridays initiative coordinated by the City of Long Beach (as promoted by BikeLongBeach dot org) in which all people are encouraged to bike to work, one day per month at the very least.
The current list is based on the participants list found at bikelongbeach.org, and an almost identical list published in the current District Weekly.
