Another wonderful ride has carried us to our bedtimes, and asleep with pleasant memories of gliding down gentle grades we go.

Tonight’s ride harkened back to days past in Bike Party lore, with a ridership count of around 600, approximately a sixth of October’s ride and a number we haven’t seen since April.  Apparently the rumors that San Joseans are too weak for drippy or cool weather remain true – we’ll have to find a way around that before we manage to steal Portland’s throne as biking mecca of the West.

The highlights of our ride tonight showed off some of the things we’ve all come to love about Bike Party – the wonderful soundsystems, the mix of new and experienced riders, the many pre-rides and dedicated volunteer work to put up signs and stage a food drive, the parking garage fun, and the wonderful remark on the return trip up Almaden Expressway:  “I smell ham!”  (It really did smell like ham, and some riders really were excited.)  In short, it was the Bike Party many of us love most – zany, personal, communal, friendly, diverse, inclusive, participatory, and unpredictable.

Post your stories and comments!

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!

I know you’re excited, so here’s the freshly-planned March Bike Party Route Map!  (It sends you to MapMyRide.)  Update 3/18:  This route (at version 4) is now complete and accurate!

Major destinations include downtown Willow Glen, Oakridge Mall, Almaden Expressway, and South First Street.  Mileage is moderately increased from last month – up to around 16mi/26km.  The regroups are really evenly spaced, from around 2.5 to 3.5 miles between.

To see the turn-by-turn directions, scroll down to the 5th comment!