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It’s getting to be near that time once again! Our 26th ride approaches on Friday, November 20th!
Test riders and planners have been working hard to fine-tune the details, and we have some exciting developments:
Hellyer Velodrome track party before November's Bike Party!
- Get ready to go farther Southeast than we’ve gone before! Remember, cars aren’t the only things that run on Capitol Expressway! What if the “Auto Mall” were instead a “Bicycle Boulevard” or a “Pedestrian Parkway?” I’m sure we would find lots of Waldos there!
- Come out to an amazing pre-party thrown by San Jose Bicycle Club at San Jose’s Hellyer Velodrome, a unique piece of South Bay cycling history! See the flier for details – the main Bike Party ride WILL stop by this location, but AFTER the event. This means if you go to the Velodrome early, you don’t need to go to the main start. Conversely, if you go to the main start on time, you will miss the Velodrome event.
- Bring a can of food (or more!) to the ride! With unemployment and foreclosure rates at historic highs, many San Jose residents need extra help this year. Amazing Bike Party volunteers are rising to the task, organizing a food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank! Volunteers will be out at the main start and probably at the pre-ride starts as well to collect much-needed non-perishable foods.
- Remember two things about getting to the ride:
1) As usual, there will be NO convenient car parking near the start location. If you’re carpooling, plan to park a mile or two away and ride to the start.
2) Do NOT plan to ride VTA Light Rail or buses to the ride start – they will undoubtedly be full to capacity and any strain on VTA’s system by Bike Partiers only pushes ordinary riders off and makes us look bad. Please join one of the pre-rides (from downtown or Campbell) or ride independently. - Finally, as the winter season comes upon us, it’s worth reminding each other: Bike Party always rides, rainy or clear!
Get your bike tuned (be sure to see our get ready to ride page), your Waldo costume ready, and your non-perishable food packed! See you Friday!
Erik
November 14, 2009
Its gonna be a great ride… Get your bikes ready to ride….Lets Go…
tanner
November 16, 2009
Everyone please bring 1-2 cans to your startpoint! Can you imagine if each of our 4000 riders brought a can? “BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH BICYCLING” Long live Bike Party.
p.s. Get some knee warmers cause you don’t want your knee cartilage to freeze on a long ride.
Have fun you gais!
testrides
November 16, 2009
Does anyone have any road signs that we can borrow?? From the new reflective orange diamond shaped signs you see on the freeway to traditional wood or metal construction signs? (latter pref with lights)
If you have any other construction tape, anything reflective, etc. that would help as well.
(needed at the start and other locations)
If anyone has a truck available that could help with the distribution of these signs this Friday (or Thursday night?) that is great too.
If you have a friend of a friend that may have access to any of the above, please ask around now.
Please email asap to sjbp.prerides@gmail.com
Thanks!
testrides
November 16, 2009
Some comments for riders –
1) You really, really are safer and will enjoy our rides with both a headlight and taillight. The Planet Bike Beamer 1 set is a good starter set. There are many, many others…
Hopefully we can add some links to the website so some of our bike store friends can give discounts!
I’d recommend stronger lights to “see,” not just a cheap LED to “be seen.”
There will be some sections of road that will only have street lights on one side (not ours) and one stretch where there are NO streetlights whatsoever for 1/3 mile or so.
2) With some extra gear, fall riding can be just as much fun (or more) than summer riding. Light jackets and pants you use for snowboarding can work well as well as all purpose gloves.
3) If you need to pull over and stop, do so carefully, but NOT abruptly. And never slam on your brakes if it’s not absolutely needed.
This ride will have two places where some (many?) riders may want to get off of their bikes and walk. No shame in that. That’s what sidewalks are for.
But no riding your bikes on sidewalks please.
4) It’s all of our rides – please look and ask how you can help! You’re all welcome to “step up” and make SJBP better each & every ride!
5) Have fun! Bike Party!
thoreauly77
November 17, 2009
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_13803378?source=rss&nclick_check=1
here here!
Ed
November 17, 2009
Hey, does anyone know where to get some good rain gear for bike riding at a resonable price?
Wuss912
November 17, 2009
ed halted had a bunch of tyvek overalls / bunny suits for 1$ each…. pretty hard to beat that price.
Spliffer
November 17, 2009
So many good tips and information in these comments.
I am so psyched about the Food Drive to benefit 2nd Harvest. I will be carrying ten extra pounds of food to donate, so I will feel so much lighter when the ride begins
I am so proud of the SJ Bike Party community for stepping up in this season of Thanksgiving, during tough economic times, to contribute in a BIG way to help folks facing difficult situations.
I am really touched and I hope our brethren & “sisthren — if you will — step-up and make this drive a resounding success.
But if any of you can’t.
Don’t worry. My two friends and I will be donating enough for about 30 people.
Bike Party you are truly about COMMUNITY and we love you for it.
What an absolutely brilliant idea!
Ryan Smith
November 18, 2009
Super props to everyone who’s work hard to put this together. The volunteer effort has been fantastic and this is going to be a great ride.
Brian Hundley
November 19, 2009
Is there some reason that there can’t be a synopsis explanation of the event as to start time and more clear explanation as to where to meet to ride to the start point. I have maneuvered through your whole website mining most diligently and have garnered only tidbits of info. Does the main ride begin at 8 pm or the pre-party? There’s no meeting place on the map for the ride from Downtown San Jose to the start, only a time, but where do we meet? I can’t just trust my feelings and use the force to figure this out! I’ve never ridden in a “Bike Party” how about a little hand holding!
nick
November 20, 2009
Please check the main page at http://www.sjbikeparty.org/ – it seems you’ve been routed to an older post.
We’d love to hold hands, but we’re a small bunch of volunteers (always need more!) scrambling to get everything done, so it’s not perfect. Main ride begins at 8pm from Capitol Buick…but the pre-rides from downtown or Campbell begin earlier: it depends where you’re coming from and when you’re free.
nick curtner
November 20, 2009
where is the bike party on downtown san jose starting? cesar chavez park or what????
nick
November 20, 2009
Downtown SJ’s starts are both at SJ Repertory Theater. (Not Cesar Chavez like I originally said here – oops!) Thanks for pointing out the omission!
Weather update: Not looking so bad – quite possibly dry & cloudy with a calm breeze, which would be the best possible!
http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/95136?begHour=18&begDay=324
nick curtner
November 20, 2009
ok thanks bro