What a glorious bunch of holiday lights tonight!  Tonight’s ride might not have too many superlatives for it – it certainly wasn’t our longest or shortest in distance, it was neither the best-attended or sparsest (around 950 counted at Central & Westfield), BUT it was quite possibly the best received!  Sidewalk observers and passers-by were in fine form tonight, with holiday cheer shared amongst all.  Our ride encountered literally hundreds of amazing holiday decoration displays, including one on Glen Eyrie that included an entire brass band!  Neighbors didn’t seem to mind the traffic jam for this impromptu block party – this was a piece of San Jose community at its best.

Thanks to the incredibly thoughtful route planners and the many, many BIRDs who helped to direct cyclists at complicated turns.  Tonight seemed to prove that perhaps being a BIRD isn’t a patch or a qualification, but a job anyone can step into at any time.  Thanks to those who jumped right in where needed and helped make the ride great – THAT is the down-home Bike Party community spirit.

One reminder:  bike lights make an excellent holiday gift for casual cyclists and regular riders alike, and if tonight’s ride is any sign, this valley’s cyclists could use a LOT more bike lighting.  Remember, be safe, follow the law, and ride confidently!

Happy Holidays!

We have a neighborhood-focused ride full of holiday lights this month.

There are a few important things to remember:

• Arrive on time!  Wheels hit the street @ 8pm!
• Light up your bike!  It’s dark, it’s the holidays, DO IT.
  
• Please don’t forget to follow the “How We Ride.” Make this a successful ride by keeping fellow riders, pedestrians, and cars happy and safe on their commute.  We don’t want any crashes or $400 tickets.
• Bring a canned food item or two to be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.

The route for the event is here: Scarf Ride Route Map.

Please print (1-10+) these out before the ride:

• “Visual” Turn by Turn Map (thx RR!)
• “Traditional” Turn by Turn Directions

The starting and ending point of the ride is 101 Paseo de San Antonio Walk – by the SJ Rep. Please do NOT park at the starting location.

Volunteers needed! Meeting @7:30pm (prob towards the SJ Rep box office)

Its cold outside, so so cold so we are having a scarf ride!! This is an easy “costume,” and you have NO excuses not to dress up.  We want to see that scarf fly like a flag!

Because of the season, we are pushing the ride up slightly earlier.  Wheel’s will hit the street at 8 PM.  That means, get there early!!!

Sneak peek of route and starting location:

• The ride will start and end in downtown SJ.  As always, the exact starting location and route will be announced a day or two before the ride-perhaps earlier!
• The route will include a nice tour of lots of lights throughout the town (tentatively dt SJ, Willow Glen, Rose Garden, Campbell and more…)

Getting There:

• If you must use VTA, get there early.  Light Rail fills up quickly.  Take Light Rail early to downtown San Jose for dinner.
• If you need to park, park using the downtown SJ parking map, the orange lots are the cheapest. Or park at Tamien CalTrain and ride in; it’s only about two miles.
• If you are taking a train, the San Jose Diridon Station is the closest, but Tamien CalTrain Station has free parking – station list and map
• Ride your bicycle to the starting point! We will be announcing pre-ride meet ups with the route.

Other Important things to remember:

• We are having a can food drive.  Bring a can, bring ten!! Help out those who need it this season
• We are starting early-don’t forget it!!
• If your bicycle/clothing is ill prepared for the cold wet winter weather?  Winterize it.  Join us for a great time at our Winter Wonderland holiday party two nights before Bike Party and get an extra SJBP discount that night only!
• Refresh yourself and your friends of the “how we ride” and bicycle laws.

Take a break from this week’s glorious rain riding to come celebrate Bike Party’s 2nd anniversary!

Like the idea of having a regular bar night with discounts for bicyclists? Come out to support Tuesday Bike Night at Campbell’s Sonoma Chicken Coop – this might be the last night for this event unless it gets enough support to continue!

Tuesday Bike Night

Sonoma Chicken Coop
downtown Campbell
(Yelp review & map)
7pm – 10pm

Look for other bicyclists near the entrance (left of the stairs, near the bar).  If we’re not inside, we’re probably out back in the parking garage checking out someone’s bike – just walk straight through past the bathrooms.

Sheltered bike parking is available in the garage behind the restaurant.

Join SJBP as we ride our bicycles to the movies!

See you there!

San Jose Bike Party has teamed up with the amazing Silicon Valley Bicycle Coaltion (the folks that brought you just about every bike trail, lane, facility, and legal right you have in this county) to promote this amazing FREE Bike to the Movies series!

Details

Where:  Camera 12, downtown SJ

When:  Thursday, 11/12
Tickets starting @ 6pm,
Doors opening @ 6:30pm,
Movie starting @ 6:45pm

Cost:  Totally free!

Ride with us!

Bike Partiers have 3 places to meet around the area if you want company to ride to Camera 12.

Click the links for MapMyRide route links.  Be sure to arrive to the start before the “leave” time to get to the movies on time!

• Ride from Campbell (6mi, meet @ Campbell & 1st, leave @ 5:45pm)
• Ride from Oakridge Mall (8mi, meet @ Thornwood & Winfield, leave @ 5:30pm) *Updated Start Time* – this route also goes through Willow Glen
• Ride from Alum Rock (6mi, meet @ Alum Rock & White – Lick High, leave @ 5:45pm)

Volunteer!

We need volunteers to help make this event great!  Volunteers, of course, will have guaranteed tickets without waiting in line.  Please sign up on this handy-dandy volunteer spreadsheet!

First time?  Need a refresher? Check How We Ride!

We have something a little different this month, so don’t get scared!  We are starting the ride from 3 different locations.  (Yay, close to your house!!!)  The ride will then converge and everyone will ride together.  Many neighborhoods and many types of riders make up San Jose Bike Party, but together we ride as ONE COMMUNITY!

Find the Best Starting Location for You!

Where do you live?

1. Downtown SJ – join a pre-ride to a meetup point (@ Cesar Chavez park, 7pm)
2. East/Alum Rock Leg Start (@ McKee & Capitol, 8pm)
3. South/Oak Hill Cemetery Leg Start (@ Tully/Curtner & Monterey, 8pm)
4. West/Campbell Leg Start (@ Winchester & Campbell, 8pm)

(The route links are posted in each starting points descriptions.  Regroups are indicated by water on each map. Each route ends exactly where it started)

Tune your radio to KSCU 103.3 FM during the ride!

That’s right, one of our very own volunteers, Kipp (also the promoter of the Tuesday Bike Nights at Campbell Sonoma Chicken Coop) will be broadcasting on-air LIVE during the Bike Party!  Tune in to KSCU, at 103.3 FM, and program your phones to call in:  408-554-KSCU (554-5728).

1.  Downtown SJ Pre-ride Start

Meet at 7:00pm at Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park.  This ride will leave at 7:05. Be there on time!!

Pre-rides from downtown will ride to the South/Oak Hill Cemetery leg start (about 3 miles), East/Alum Rock Leg Start (about 4 miles), OR to the West/Campbell leg start (about 7 miles).

If you arrive late to Cesar Chavez park, just ride down Market to 1st St which becomes Monterey Rd – you can turn Right [corrected] into the Plant Shopping Center just before Curtner/Tully, which is the Southeast/Fairgrounds leg start.

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2.  East/Alum Rock Start

From many neightborhoods...one community!

Meet at 8:00pm at the Mervyn’s Parking lot at Capitol and McKee.

Route Map for East/Alum Rock leg start – This is the MapMyRide link for the entire route, starting at this leg’s start, joining with the rest of the ride, to the finish in downtown, and back home to the leg start.

Print your route here:  3-column PDF route directions! (print 2-sided)

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3.  South/Oak Hill Cemetery Start

Meet at 8:00pm at The Plant shopping center at Monterey and Curtner/Tully.

Route Map for South/Oak Hill Cemetery leg start- This is the MapMyRide link for the entire route, starting at this leg’s start, joining with the rest of the ride, to the finish in downtown, and back home to the leg start.

Print your route here:  3-column PDF route directions! (print 2-sided)

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4.  West/Campbell Leg Start

Meet at 8:00pm at Campbell Community Center at Winchester & Campbell.

Route Map for West/Campbell leg start- This is the MapMyRide link for the entire route, starting at this leg’s start, joining with the rest of the ride, to the finish in downtown, and back home to the leg start.

Print your route here:  3-column PDF route directions! (print 2-sided)

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