By Leo Postovoit
Laissez les bons temps rouler! Which is Cajun French for “Let the tood times roll!” Sums up this month’s theme of Mardi Gras. Let’s all have a good time while being safe, legal, and courteous (see How We Ride!). We share the road with other traffic. Helping cars roll through smoothly makes the ride more enjoyable for everyone. Please remember to turn down the volume when riding through residential areas late at night.
Information on the route and more after the drop …
BIRDs
BIRDs are our wonderful volunteers that attempt to keep everyone on our rides safe. Please be respectful of their directions and thank them for all of the effort they put into the ride. If you want to help out and make your mark on Bike Party, please join the BIRDs at the volunteer cicle prior to the start of the ride.
Volunteer Circle
Volunteer Regroups are now marked on the map if you want to get plugged in come by and introduce yourself
Ravens
Ravens are the elite group of BIRDs that make sure we leave no trace behind by cleaning up after the party at regroups. They are essential to keeping the party going. If you see any of them with a trashbag collecting your trash, please thank them and if you are so inclined please join them! They are a really cool bunch. Please bring trash bags and help us leave no trace.
How We Ride
If you follow these eight rules, Bike Party will be safe and a positive place for riders, drivers, pedestrians, and the community.
Route information
- Printable Turn by Turns and Map
- Zoom-able Online Map (Use the Printable Turn by Turns for correct directions)
Feeder rides
Feeder rides are a great way to get to Bike Party They allow you to make great friends and get to know people who live near you. They also make it super easy to get back home as a group as most folks ride home with the group they arrived with. You save the planet and save on parking while getting a little bit more exercise. It’s all good.
- NSJ/Santa Clara — Led by Ian from Rivermark – Meet in front of Peets – Leaving at 6:15 (please RSVP in the comments)
- SCU/Santa Clara — ??
- East SJ — Led by Cree H. from Carl’s Jr. at Alum Rock and Jackson. Leaving at 6:15pm SHARP, and will meet with the Downtown SJ feeder ride.
- SJ Downtown — Led by Justin from the Children’s Discovery Museum. Leaving at 7:00pm. Route uses mostly multi-use paths
- Campbell — Led by Ed from the Water Tower in downtown Campbell. Leaving at 6:30pm (please RSVP in the comments)
- Willow Glen — ??
- Los Gatos — Led by Leigh from Nob Hill Foods at the corner of LG Blvd and LG-Almaden Road. Meet at 6:45pm, roll at 7:00pm SHARP.
- Your neighborhood? (let us know in comments below if you want to lead a ride)
gh
February 12, 2012
Were and when do we meet up for east san jose
Ian
February 14, 2012
someone has to lead a preride for it to happen
so propose a time and location and folks will find you 
Tanya
February 16, 2012
when is bike party passing through SCU? we want to join in the fun!
Kim grass
February 14, 2012
What one is the river mark meet leaving?
Ian
February 14, 2012
probably about 6:15 or so it’s nearly 13 miles to the start from rivermark
Let me know if you plan on pre riding with us.
Jared
February 15, 2012
Ian, I’m planning on joining the pre-ride.
Ian
February 16, 2012
Awesome! see you there
JustinT
February 14, 2012
Pre Ride from DTSJ.
Meet: In front of Children’s Discovery Museum.
Leave at 7p.
Pre-ride: 6 miles – mostly on trails.
There is also light rail along the way in case your late or cant make it in time.
TY
RideNaked
February 15, 2012
im rollin wit you, homie
FixedGear
February 16, 2012
I will be there!are we going to be on the trails the whole way to the Bike Party
JustinT
February 17, 2012
Here is the Route for the DTSJ pre-ride.
http://on.fb.me/zuI2hU
It’s mainly trails with a few connector streets. Any other route would extend the ride to 10 miles in length. The trails gets us there in 6 miles.
The good thing about this Pre-ride route is that it follows along the light rail in case you get tired, lost, or arrive late.
See Ya Soon in Front of Childrens Discovery Museum.
chocolaterobots
February 17, 2012
See you there!
Jay
February 17, 2012
Are the trails being taken tonight from the DTSJ and ESJ feeders going to be paved?
Ian
February 17, 2012
The 87 Bikeway is paved… it’s not the smoothest but it’s paved
Craftsman
February 14, 2012
Thanks Justin for leading the downtown ride.
JustinT
February 15, 2012
My Pleasure, Crafts!
Rider 44
February 15, 2012
Spoke Card Scavenger Hunt
Hi All,
Before I begin, HUGE PROPS to the artist, Leo Postovoit, for making the awesome ride art this month. Very very nice!
I made some spoke cards but an in-law party came up so I can’t ride this month.
So to get them to you I made something and gave it to a co-worker to ‘hide’ somewhere in San Jose.
If you ride to the southeast corner of Hillsdale & Jarvis in San Jose you will see a power pole next to the traffic signal control box.
Stapled to that power pole is a ‘lost dog’ sign with the cards behind it.
In the off chance there is more than one ‘lost dog’ sign there, here are some hints as to which one it is.
The name of the dog would be on a short list of googled ‘Cajun dog names’.
The picture of the dog is near the top if you do a google image search for ‘mardi gras dog’.
The phone number would match a google search for ‘New Orleans Zoo’
It has the Cajun French phrase we all just learned.
Help yourself, it’s a scavenger hunt!
JustinT
February 15, 2012
Oh Yeah? haha Sounds Fun!
Randy
March 1, 2012
I got a single sheet/printout from under Gumbo’s poster…is there a next step?
Randy
Leigh
February 15, 2012
YES! I got me some spoke art Mardi Gras style! I rigged the “sign” so that others can get theirs.
Rider 44
February 15, 2012
Excellent! If the last person could ‘leave no trace’ and dispose of the ‘sign’ properly, I’d appreciate it.
I was hoping this would be fun for people. I’ll see if I can recruit some other co-workers that live in other parts of silicon valley so we can continue to do things like this.
Cree H.
February 15, 2012
Pre Ride from ESSJ to DTSJ Preride
Meet:Carls Jr at Alum Rock and Jackson
Leave at 6:15pm SHARP.
Pre-ride: This will be a slow paced ride. We will be going to the DSSJ pre ride.
The reason for meeting up with the DSSJ Pre ride is is because we are pretty much taking
the same route so why not meet up with more people and have a funner time.
REMEMBER TO BRING LIGHTS AS THE TRAILS ARE PRETTY DARK.
There is also light rail along the way in case your late or cant make it in time.
JustinT
February 15, 2012
Sounds like a good plan. We’d love to ride as deep as possible haha…
If I may make a quick suggestion. Carls Jr is a nice central place on the EAST and a good meet point though what about Mexican Heritage Plaza? Its right down the street from Carls Jr. and it has free patrolled parking? Either way, It’ll work out fine and I look forward to the group up DTSJ!
BTW TY for leading the Preride from ESSJ!
Cree H.
February 15, 2012
Imma stick with Carls Jr but thank you for the input. The pre rides that I have led most people dont bring their car but who knows. Look forward to meeting with you guys
justint
February 15, 2012
Sounds good. Carls Jr. it is
See you Friday.
Leigh
February 15, 2012
Pre Ride from Los Gatos
Meet: 6:45 and roll out@ 7:00 sharp in the parking lot at Nob Hill on LG Blvd.and LG Almaden Rd.
6.5 mile ride to the Mardi Gras BP start at Oakridge
Affordable Treasures is the costume shop next to the Jack in the Box across the street from Nob Hill. Get some sweet Mardi Gras stuff and BEADS for cheap. They close at 7:00.
Kevin Viegas
February 15, 2012
Ride from SJ Diridon Cal-train Station/ The Palms!
Roll: 6:45ish
Hit up Delmas Market for…
well… you know!
hit up the station from the front turn around & look for The Palms/ Palm Trees!!!
SJ/DownTown Ride to the Start
Oakridge Mall Wheels Hit the Street @ 8:00pm
JustinT
February 16, 2012
Kevin,
Per our conversation offline … you’re going to meet with us at Children’s Discovery Museum right? 7p
Maxim
February 16, 2012
when is the route info will be reliesed ?
Ian
February 16, 2012
it’s posted now…
Carlos & Carlos Jr..
February 16, 2012
My son and I would like to attend our first bike party tomorrow. Is there a place to meet in Campbell?
rideNude
February 16, 2012
BIKEPARTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYyyyy
Leigh
February 16, 2012
@Carlos and Carlos Jr.. Ed is leading a pre-ride from the water tower in downtown Campbell..look at the details above^^^
Leigh
February 16, 2012
While We Danced At The Mardi Gras 2:28 Pete Fountain Best Of Pete Fountain Jazz
Leigh
February 16, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oYrlWoJt-Q
Daisy
February 16, 2012
at what time does the route pass through SCU? thank you!
nick
February 17, 2012
@Daisy, you’ve really got to read the post to see what’s going on. : ) Tonight’s BP ride does NOT pass through SCU at all – it’s a suggested feeder ride meet-up location. Do you want to lead a feeder ride for your other SCU friends to Bike Party? Post it here so others can join! If you left SCU @6:30, you should be able to make it over to the downtown feeder ride at CDM that leaves at 7pm – just roll down Park, turn right at Woz.
Pb
February 16, 2012
What is the usual speed of the bike party? Is it riding or cruising I’ve never been on one but I’ve seen them riding downtown and. BY Santa Clara university trying to get my girl to try it out with me.
nick
February 17, 2012
Pb/Lead – it’s pretty slow, but it depends on how many folks show up. The biggest rides (when we get thousands of riders in the summer) are REALLY slow, like <8mph. Some of the winter rides cruise a little faster, especially if it's raining, but probably never really tops 12mph. The rides are comfy and welcoming for all riders – including beginning riders on cruisers, people pulling big heavy trailers, and all the rest.
Daisy
February 17, 2012
Nick, thank you so much for your response! I didn’t realize how much further south the bike party is this month. Do you think it will pass by SCU next month, on March 16? I guess you won’t know until much later when the route is decided? I don’t think we are going to be able to make it this time :/ It sounds like a great time, though. Have fun! Thanks again.
JustinT
February 17, 2012
Daisy,
The start point in the south is right next to the light rail station. Catch the Light rail near the Arena DTSJ.
Either that or catch a smaller bike party called a preride that leads everyone to the main party.
Closest preride to you is at the Childrens Discovery Museum which leaves at 7p. Hope it helps you get to the MARDI GRAS BIKE PARTY!!!
nick
February 17, 2012
Dan’s leading an SCU feeder ride from the SCU library at 7pm sharp! FB event: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/244590318958383/
Pb
February 17, 2012
Great because right now I only have a single speed. Cruiser rolling thanks for the info.
The Casual One
February 17, 2012
@ed – assuming I’m not running late… I plus 1, intend on meeting you at the water tower.
It’s gonna be a slow ride, right???
Cha Cha
February 17, 2012
Totally bummed that I can’t make it but might just try to make it to the re-group at Capitol.
JustinT
February 17, 2012
DTSJ pre-ride route.
http://on.fb.me/zuI2hU
It’s mainly trails with a few connector streets. Any other route would extend the ride to 10 miles in length. The trails gets us there in 6 miles.
The good thing about this Pre-ride route is that it follows along the light rail in case you get tired, lost, or arrive late.
See Ya Soon in Front of Childrens Discovery Museum @7p then we head to the Main Start Point!
nick
February 17, 2012
There’s lots of crazy in that on.fb.me link above, including a facebook pass-thru and a new-route flag. All you want is this:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/69390728/
JustinT
February 17, 2012
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/69390728/
Maybe bc I was logged in to MMR it didnt give me the hassle. TY agn.
matt
February 17, 2012
Ed- you can count me in for the Campbell feeder. Thanks!
ccbiker
February 17, 2012
Can I join a feeder ride ust on the way back to campbell?
ccbiker
February 17, 2012
Can I join the campbell feeder ride on the way back?
Carl
February 17, 2012
Hey Justin, after bike party would you be heading back downtown?
Carl
February 17, 2012
Let me know please I need someone to bike back with to Downtown.
JustinT
February 17, 2012
Ill be headed back DTSJ. Though Im not sure if we’ll go back to the start, I may leave from the third RG as its closest to DTSJ… unless the party is too good to leave haha… Find me at the 3rd RG. Ill be the one with the joust poles tied to my bikes
Either way there’ll be groups at both spot that will head DTSJ.
pizzasfortires
February 17, 2012
Really want to ride…this is my old stomping ground!!!gotta clear the evening ASAP
mqmurilmi
February 19, 2012
Hey, is anyone in SJ planning to go Santa Cruz BP next weekend?
cr
February 21, 2012
Was bummed I missed this ride. You guys rock. I just wrote a review on the SJBike Party. Check it out
http://www.thedribble.com/2012/01/16/a-bike-party-in-san-jose/
I hope to go on the next ride.
C