By Abel Gonzales
Spring has sprung and this month we will be celebrating the San Jose Sharks. Bleed teal or start growing out your beard for the Sharks’ Beard-a-thon. The Sharks are in the playoffs; the forecast for next week looks clear and the city of San Jose is planning on installing a bunch of new bike lanes.
This month’s first regroup will feature a special bicycle-powered concert, a stop on the Bay Rising Bicycle Music Tour. The leg-power of volunteer pedalers from the audience will be converted into electricity to run the sound system. Confirmed to appear are:
- Rupa and the April Fishes
“Combining the sensual lyricism of Latin American nueva trova with the rhythmic punch of cumbia and the theatricality of cabaret, the April Fishes’ sound is ecstatic and powerfully evocative.” – LA Times - SHAKE YOUR PEACE!
SHAKE YOUR PEACE! is a San Francisco-based band known for their ebullient live performances, radical ecological & social justice politics, and bicycle-based music tours.
Stay tuned for information on other activities at the first regroup!
Be safe, legal, and courteous (see How We Ride!). We share the road with other traffic. Helping cars move through smoothly makes the ride more enjoyable for everyone. Do your part to encourage good behavior! Also, 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.
Parking & Start Location
There is very little parking available at the start but there is a ton of parking available in downtown San Jose. If you must drive, please drive to one of the feeder rides and ride from there.
The start location’s address is 1500 South Tenth Street, San Jose CA, 95112
Route information
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 6:45 (please RSVP in the comments)
- SCU/Santa Clara — ??
- East SJ — Led by Cris H from Carl’s Jr, Alum Rock and Jackson. Leave at 7:15pm SHARP.
- SJ Downtown — ??
- Campbell — Meet at the Campbell Water Tower (300 Orchard City Drive) at 6:30pm. Leave at 6:45pm.
- Willow Glen — Led by Izzi G from Fresh & Easy on Bird and Minnesota at 7pm. Leaving by 7:30pm
- Los Gatos — Couch Bike leaving Los Gatos at 6:20pm. See comments for meet location.
- Your neighborhood? (let us know in comments below if you want to lead a ride)
Craftsman
April 15, 2012
Looks like awesome weather for the ride on Friday. Should be a great ride… And the Sharks are in the playoffs…Epic
Raul Gonzalez
April 16, 2012
Please help me in how to get the map for the route for this comming sharks ride on Friday the 20th. Thank you very much.
Ian
April 16, 2012
It hasn’t been posted yet. it will be posted on thursday night before the ride.
Vaness.S
April 20, 2012
Hi, will there be hills on this ride? Thanks!
Gino
April 18, 2012
@Raul Gonzalez, The ride route is posted thursday bro! Please read here…….
http://www.sjbikeparty.org
Pifate
April 20, 2012
Does anyone live in the East Side San Jose? It would be good to Ride with a group on the way home.
Justin T
April 20, 2012
There is an East Side Feeder postedon here somewhere i think they are meeting at Carl Jr on Jackson. Check it out.
Sammy
April 16, 2012
I don’t know why you guys always post the ride on Thursday before the even. A lot of more people whould go to this event if you guys posted the event earlier. I have a bunch of friends and family I need to plan of head of time for this event.
tallassmike
April 16, 2012
Hi Sammy,
Although the key guys decided to release the map on day before Bike parties. There is a good and bad reason towards all of it.
One being crowd control. However if you do notice. The Bike party people do teaser rides at least 2 times before actual Bike Party. If they wanted to plan ahead, they could take out 2-3 hours to ride a bike and check it out.
Also if it were passed out earlier. This would give all people of the like to plan ahead. From vengeful motorists, to disgruntled police presence who mandatory volunteer for the sake of the greater good to stop all the 911 calls they probably get on this day.
Everybody should know by now that it’s in the San Jose area, on the 3rd Friday of the month. I get enough time to figure out if I need to park or bike to the start at ease.
BillyCool
April 17, 2012
Hi Sammy, The ride always starts at 8pm so if peeps need babysitters, etc. they can still plan ahead. The ride will start somewhere near Downtown San Jose.
Sammy
April 17, 2012
Thank you for your response. I’ll need to try those test rides……
Sharks
April 16, 2012
BP Trivia: Of all the past start locations, where was the furthest start location from downtown SJ City Hall?
Townie Bill
April 16, 2012
Last month was a good distance from DT SJ. I’ll bite. Where was the farthest start location for the 3rd Friday San Jose Bike Party?
Craftsman
April 16, 2012
This month should be pretty close to Downtown. The ride is pretty local. Farthest starting point last from Downtown for test runs was the Flea Market, so shouldn’t be a big feeder ride, if there is one at all…
Rider 44
April 16, 2012
I’ll bite…
Townie Bill, you are so punny!
.
I don’t know where the furthest start was but that reminded me of this cool pic Ian posted to the flickr page.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iemmons/5443634028/in/pool-san_jose_bike_party
mqmurilmi
April 16, 2012
Was it Toy’s R Us, El Camino?
perlasum
April 17, 2012
How about the Formal Ride out in Sunnyvale, man that was a long night.
Sharks
April 17, 2012
I think you two are right.
The Formal ride started at the Toys R Us on El Camino Real and that is 8.2 miles from SJ City Hall as the crow flies.
That was a great ride. Beautiful route, beautiful attire…
Bad News
April 18, 2012
Sharks ride?
On 420?
You have GOT to be kidding me.
California STARTED the medical cannabis movement. Take some pride in that.
ride naked
April 19, 2012
theyre not gonna call it the pot ride.
even though it will be, lol
Spliffer
April 19, 2012
Go Sharks!!
Greetings, my bicycling brethren!
It’s such a nice feeling to awaken from my winter hibernation, and get back to the most fun crowd in the Bay Area, for the coolest event, that is; Bike Party.
Friday will be the warmest day of 2012. The Bike Party Community will be out in full force to re-connect with friends, and to celebrate the love bicycling.
My bicycle is tuned up, road worthy, and ready to roll.
I’ve been getting email inquiries, text queries, and calls from folks who are aching to reconnect with the Bike Party experience.
I am feeling the vibe of a fabulous and rousing start to the busy warm weather season.
The anticipation and excitement is palpable and building…
It’s spring with a über relevant theme ride and, it’s Bike Party time baby!
GO SHARKS!!!!
rene urquidez
April 19, 2012
BIKEPARTY. YA CANT WATE.TWO BANDS.
WIldMonteMan
April 19, 2012
YUP, I am going to say the Formal Ride in Sunnyvale was the furthest. and what a ride that was taking us all the way to Palo Alto. not to mention the helpful police presence that evening. awww, the memories
Jonathan McFarland
April 19, 2012
There needs to be more rides to the Peninsula area. It is way more bike friendly and just overall better. The ride through Downtown Mountain View and another one through Stanford University was the best!
ride naked
April 19, 2012
no, the ones through SouthSide were the best
JP
April 19, 2012
Agree’d. South Side San Jose is bike friendly. Really enjoyed the ride there in February.
RideNaked
April 20, 2012
actually if you ask me, the east side ones be goin full on ham
Izzi G
April 19, 2012
If no one has volunteered to lead the Willow Glen ride, I’d like to do it.
We can all meet at the shopping center on Bird and Minnesota where the Fresh’n Easy is at.
I’ll be there at 7 and take off at 7:30
Cris H.
April 19, 2012
Pre Ride from ESSJ to SJBP
Meet:Carls Jr at Alum Rock and Jackson
Leave at 7:15pm SHARP.
Pre-ride: This will be a slow paced ride.
Pifate
April 20, 2012
Where, specifically, is the starting point for the Pre Ride
Pifate
April 20, 2012
My Bad, I didnt read all the way through.
where-does-the-ride-start
April 19, 2012
hey, can someone post where the ride starts? I want to know without having to see the whole map
from reading the post above, im guessing it starts at the shark stadium… that right?
JustinT
April 19, 2012
Sharks practice arena… Its called Sharks Ice. Its near SJGiants Stadium DTSJ
ride naked
April 19, 2012
ohhh and theres a scale one block over where we can all weigh our bikes!!!
Izzi G
April 19, 2012
Well if no one is leading the Willow Glen ride, I’d like to lead it.
We can meet at the Fresh’n Easy on Bird and Minnesota at 7 and take off at 7:30
Bike Joust - ATNMS
April 19, 2012
And thats how its done.
Jared
April 19, 2012
Hi Ian, I’ll join you at Rivermark. What time are you planning to roll?
Ian
April 20, 2012
Awesome …
Planning on rolling out at 6:45 ish…
photowords
April 19, 2012
Anybody know where and when the two bands will be playing on Friday, 4/21/12? All I’ve seen so far is the announcement that they’re playing.
Thanks!
Fredy kruger
April 19, 2012
All the info is at the start of the page. The bands will play at the 1st regroup (see map for details) on FRIDAY 4/20/2012. Wheels hit the street about 8pm at the start (see map for details). My guess is we hit the first regroup about 30-45 mins later.
WIldMonteMan
April 20, 2012
my pre-ride? Coyote Creek Trail from Blossom Hill Rd to Tully. never see a car until Tully. then just look for the 420 smoke and follow to start point on 10th
San Jose Tweed Run
April 20, 2012
Go Sharks! Tally ho!
Tanner
April 20, 2012
^No hills. 2 overpasses. Shortest ride we’ve had in years.
Everyone, SJFixed downtown feeder. Meet at 6:45. Leave at 7:15. iMiNUSD Fixed Gear boutique on Paseo de San Antonio near PhilZ Coffee. Stop by the shop if you need lights or air.
Spliffer
April 20, 2012
Wow! We’ve got a perfect day for Bike Party.
The turnout should be awesome.
I just can’t wait to be in the sea of fun and friendly bicyclists!
It’s back to the uber-friendly, and all welcoming SJ Bike Party community.
It’s the great music, the great variety of food, the life-long love of bicycles that makes San Jose Bike Party: the “greatest party on wheels” in America today!
Come on out and celebrate this monthly classic right in our backyard my bicycling brethren.
Let’s continue to keep this all bicycling event safe and fun enough for families with kids — some with toddlers in tow — by following the rules of the road, clearly expressed in: (How We Ride!).
Bike Party forever!!
Jacquie
April 20, 2012
Meet LDV manager Stephanie at La Dolce Velo to ride to the ride start, 7:30 tonight. Come a little early to make sure your tires are pumped up and your lights work.
Couch Bike Dude
April 20, 2012
Couch bike shark leaving Los Gatos at 6:20!
moo
April 20, 2012
Leaving from where in Los Gatos?
Bad News
April 20, 2012
Any possibilities of a feeder from campbell? If not, were headed right to philz. If you wanna roll with, get at me mcnalgas@gmail.com
420 PROPER.
moo
April 20, 2012
There’s a feeder ride leaving from the Campbell Water Tower. See the feeder ride section in the post above.
Justin T
April 20, 2012
Though there is tons of room for bikes at SHARKS ICE there is limited parking.
DTSJ FREE PARKING PreRide
Meet – First Street and I-280 Parking Lot. Free Parking.
Leave – 740 Sharp.
jcool
April 20, 2012
Hey Justin it was great meeting u today. Thanks for stopping by. I hope u guys had a safe and fun ride. Jcool (jaes legacy)
Couch Bike Dude
April 20, 2012
I’m thinking of arriving at the Starbucks lot on Santa Cruz at ~6:10.
Tanner M
April 20, 2012
expecting 3,500 riders tonight. i’m calling it now.
Ian
April 20, 2012
so does that mean we’re doing a victory lap around C Chavez tonight?
perlasum
April 20, 2012
Can we get the start address up? or cross street. I know where the start is but, i see some confusion on fb. On fk its being clarified, but not everyone has a fb account.
Thanks,
jacky
April 20, 2012
Start address: 1500 South Tenth Street, San Jose CA, 95112
sanjosebikeblog.com
April 20, 2012
get pumped!…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaUxU_PItoc
jcool
April 20, 2012
Thanks for all the support. I had fun getting to know a lot of peeps out there. Jcool AKA Jaes Legacy…..
ryder55
April 21, 2012
Hey jcool, it was nice speaking with you. It was nice to finally meet you in person.
San Jose Tweed Run
April 21, 2012
Great to see Nick again as we were leaving Caltrain pitstop.
Wilson
April 22, 2012
Tanner – thanks for the lead out from iminusd on Friday evening. Alex and Christian from iminusd via Jeff – didn’t see you on the remainder of the ride, see you at Ride & Style SF next weekend. Although some claimed 3000, guesstimate would be 1800 in attendance. East Bay Bike Party enjoyed San Jose Bike Party!
bike tyres
April 30, 2012
So, how did things turn out? Hopefully it was a success for everybody?
Hunter
June 16, 2012
They did not follow your rules tonight. They were all over the road. Making bike riders look bad is not helpful. If one of you gets hit it will that persons fault for riding erratically.
Michael C
July 16, 2012
If any one wants to join I’ll be leaving from Central Park in the middle of Santa Clara, at the SC Community Center around 7:15 on Friday to bike to the Start Point.
I’ll be there from 7:00 to 7:15, riding from Central Park to El Camino down The Alameda to 10th street San Jose, then down 10th to the Stadium.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5563283
Michael C
July 16, 2012
Nevermind, this is really old. haha. whoopsie.