The Holiday Season is upon us This year we are planning on riding through the best decorated neighborhoods of the South bay. if you have suggestions for neighborhoods we should go through please post them below.
Remember while we will be enjoying the lights of these neighborhoods we should bring our own lights to share with them. and show them how bike party rolls! Feel Free to decorate your bike with lights.
Also we will be doing a Canned Food drive. at the START of the ride so Bring a CAN!
if you haven’t yet joined our announcements list please use this link to subscribe to the bullhorn list. so you will be notified of upcoming testrides
scott
November 24, 2010
anyone have leads on where are great places to get lights, etc. for your bike?
for example last year some got battery powered LED christmas lights and strung them up on their bikes. looked festive and made them more safer cuz motorists and other cyclists could see them more easily.
does anyone work at any stores, bike shops, etc, where bike party members could get discounts on buying things like this? (or on rechargeable batteries, etc)
Stan TheMan
November 27, 2010
Walgreens and the like had 6 foot, battery operated mini light strings that worked perfect. Check the shelves with Christmas lights carefully as they come in a little 3″ by 3″ box that is easy to miss. String them around the outer rim of your wheel (using tape to attached them to spokes) and it makes a continuous streak of light when you roll.
garywfrank
December 6, 2010
Michaels has battery operated led christmas lights . 20 lights 3 aa batteries. about $9
sanjosebikeblog
December 6, 2010
Target and similar stores have the small battery packs as do more places this year from what Ive seen this year…they work really good but make sure they are well taped on your bike as they are not very durable…if your lucky you can find the ones that blink…
high cadence
November 24, 2010
one word: ebay
btw, love the photo!
scott
November 24, 2010
w – yes, definitely an option, i was also thinking of any local shops. yes, for battery powered LED xmas lights we’re probably talking Target, but maybe some local chains or local small stores have something interesting too.
we have far too many riders with NO lights whatsoever and far too many who have lights that might be ok as “TO BE SEEN” lights but they totally suck at being “TO SEE” lights.
any help in both of those categories are cool.
plus there have been studies that monkeylectric quotes that state it is the side view of a bike that needs to be lit up to. so adding lights on this is not just win-win, but perhaps something that can be used year round!
high cadence
November 24, 2010
yeah i understand bro, many riders don’t understand the value in having lights on so they can be seen at night, especially when riding solo. it’s hard to convince them when our streets, for the most part, are well lit and, there are hundreds of other riders with lights…
scott
November 24, 2010
yea, but hopefully they start riding solo on their own… then there’s no strength in numbers. btw, i know at least 2 accidents happened bike on bike cuz of bikes w/o lights. good thing it wasn’t tangling with cars.
Rapid Robert
November 25, 2010
Often I’ll be riding with a large group and, just to make a point, I’ll shut off my Magicshine headlight and the whole group is in the dark. I like to do this when there’s a minimum of street lighting available. It’s usually VERY dark there, and when the light comes back on, I usually hear at least a couple hearty “thank-yous” for the photons.
I can’t say enough good things about those lights. Last friday in the driving rain the “high” setting gave plenty of light on the wet street in front of me. This is where that amount of light is really necessary, when the water reflects the vast majority of your light up and forward like a mirror and the street below sends very little of it back toward the rider. Riding on a wet street with this light on “high” is like riding on a dry street with it on “low”, which is plenty adequate for seeing the road.
CyciumX
November 25, 2010
Hey, I’m a huge fan of MagicShines too, but this very second is a bad time to be promoting them:
http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4_41
The ones on Ebay and DealExtreme are the same Mfg…. my suggestion are the flashlights they sell @ Costco. Around 200 lumens and run on AAA batteries and about 20 bucks for 2. Buy a suitable mount and thats leagues above most for far cheaper.
E.OCHOA
November 24, 2010
willow st between meridian and lincoln ave. AND Minnesota Avenue / Newport Avenue THEY HAVE NICE DECORATED HOUSE!!!!!
Donna
November 24, 2010
Definitely Willow Glen, the area between Meridian, Lincoln, Willow, and Minnesota is awesome for viewing Christmas displays. As far as lights, Michaels craft store is a good place for LED battery operated lights. With their 40% off coupon, you can get a set for around $2.50.
route scouter
November 29, 2010
donna – please suggest how to get that 40% off coupon from Michaels. didn’t see it on the newspaper ad or online. signed up for the email list, but still no 40% off coupon. thank you.
Ian
November 29, 2010
according to my wife they have 40% discounts in the weekly paper.
TimC
November 29, 2010
I checked Michael’s and they had white LEDs with 10 lights. No other colors were on display. With that discount, though, the price is nice.
Stan TheMan
December 13, 2010
Sunday’s Mercury News has the Michael’s adds – with all the other store’s color adds.
whispersiren
November 24, 2010
This website might be useful for deciding a route:
http://www.lightsofthevalley.com/
whispersiren
November 26, 2010
Does anyone know if Vasona Park’s Fantasy Lights Drive (in Los Gatso) is free for cyclists? They only mention prices for cars on the website.
Ian
November 27, 2010
the lights show in vasona dosen’t allow bikes (lame i know)
Billy Cool
November 25, 2010
Santana Row!
Glacier Dr between Cherry & Jarvis!
Sunnyvale – Tangerine Dr (http://www.severex.com/xmas.html)
Auntie Social
November 25, 2010
I usually buy about $10 of glow sticks from the dollar store. That gets you lots and lots to make cool bike art with and they’ll last you all night.
Alicia
November 26, 2010
I would be ridiculously happy if you guys came down Santana Row. Sadly I’ll be stuck working that night, but if the group came down the row, I’d at least get to watch you go by!
Here’s hoping…
Spliffer
November 26, 2010
Last year’s route was spectacular.
Especially when we serendipitously encountered that brass band and all the carolers and such pre-holidays surprises.
I wouldn’t mind repeating a portion of that route. That ride fired up Bike Party’s dormant Christmas spirit and led to lasting holiday cheer.
-But I am also psyched about the FOOD DRIVE.
This is an outstanding way to give back to our community with love from the Bike Party faithful.
This food drive is a great way to close this year-2010, with an “outstanding gesture” to our South Bay Community with “concrete action” by contributing to Food Banks that service those in need.
Let’s make it happen my bicycling brethren.
Let’s end this year with a massive Bike Party display of unmatched generosity.
It only starts with “one unit” can of food from every bicyclist and builds to bags and barrels of food to feed folks and lessen the “misery index” over the holidays.
Let’s get with it Bike Party!
moo
November 26, 2010
Christmas in the Park – a great follow-on to November’s Thanksgiving in the Ark!
Tyler
November 26, 2010
Omfg, this. I can’t wait for this ride, it’s going to be something special. I get out of school for break that day, and the timing of bike party and the beginning of break could not be any better. I’m ready to bike in the cold with my Christmas spirit with all my friends and fellow bike partiers! I would like the ride to go through Evergreen, but I’d rather bike through somewhere that has some serious christmas spirit than just lights and boring people. Gotta put hella lights on my fixie >:D
whispersiren
November 26, 2010
Agreed! Last years Scarf Ride was my first ride and most favorite! What a great route with, like Spliffer said, so many beautiful holiday surprises like the carolers, brass band, giant reindeer, amazing lights and those fun holiday decorations on Dry Creek Rd!
For those looking for lighting ideas check out the Bike Party Wiki site:
http://wiki.sjbikeparty.org/wiki/How_to_light_your_bike
Might be fun to lash a few jingle bells on bikes too.
Stan TheMan
November 27, 2010
Picatorial step by step of how to install a string of Christmas lights on your wheel.
http://lightsonabike.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html
TimC
November 29, 2010
Just checked the Coleman Target and they had a fairly large selection of battery powered LED Xmas lights. The strings are 6 to 7 feet long with 15 or 18 lights. Several colors available. Some twinkle. Takes 3 or 4 AA batteries Prices range from 6 – 8 bucks.
Gimme some garland and I’m ready to ride.
TimC
November 30, 2010
While we’re on the subject of lights on bikes, I happened by the 99.9 Cent store on San Carlos the other night and to my surprise, found that they had three different types of bicycle tail lights, each for a buck. Just for the heck of it, I bought one of each and found that, for the money, they worked pretty well.
The store also had bike headlights, which I can only assume are pretty crappy, but they’d be better than riding in the dark.
My Big Idea: I’m going to buy a dozen of each (head and tail lights), load them with the required batteries, and on the night of the Party offer them to lightless riders for $3 each or a head/tail set for $5 (to encourage full compliance), passing on a portion of the profits to BP.
If anyone else wants to do the same, we’ll be making the Ride a bit safer for everyone.
Thoughts?
Cameron
December 2, 2010
Home Depot had LED flashlights five for $5 last time I was there. I tried attaching one to handlebars and it worked better than I expected. I made a cushion by folding up six inches of old innertube, and tied the flashlight on with a couple of cable ties.
squirtdad
November 30, 2010
Watched last years go through Willow Glen and enjoyed. Hope to ride this years with my son. Lot’s of lights in Willow Glen/rosegarden.
you might want to consider a ride the loops throught those areas and with a couple of jump in/ jump out places….. you might get a bunch of riders who don’t want to do the distance. and I know it’s bike party but bit if kid friendlynes might be cool for a Christmas light ride.
David S
December 5, 2010
If I may take a guess at the theme… Given the coincidence of the Tron 2.0 premier night and the bike party, it’s gonna have to be Light Bikes! Don’t get cut off!
ryan
December 6, 2010
Oh man, I can’t wait to see the awesome artwork for this month…
sanjosebikeblog
December 6, 2010
cant wait!! is it goin round the lit up neighborhoods like last year? I’m thinkin my bike setup will be the “Elf” meets the “Griswold’s”…hhmmmm…
Spliffer
December 6, 2010
While we are on the subject of “LIGHTS”: I saw at AUTO-ZONE one hour ago — miniature flashlights that can be used as headlights — two for $5 special.
It caught my attention because they are equivalent in size and quality to the one I use on my bicycle.
The beam is powerful and comes equipped with three AAA batteries.
This is quality at a very reasonable price folks!
This is a potential solution to our problems with “bike-ninjas” in the very dark winter nights.
Check it out at your local Auto-Zone store.