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international, love for our planet, ride on

“A bike can make all the difference in somebody’s life” -Hans Rey

December 9, 2010 1 Comment

I had not heard of Wheels4Life before. I enjoyed reading about the goals this group has formed to contribute and fundraise for a great cause, providing an efficient and access to school and multiple othe locations for everyday use indeveloping countries. I thought it was a nice cause for change and benefit of this planet and us as citizens of this world, so thought I’d share it with you all

(From Josh’s email) Founded by mountain bike legend Hans Rey, W4L is hosting an auction selling off 10 dream mountain bikes to raise money, which in turn will go toward buying bikes for developing nations. Wheels4Life is a great charity that provides much needed transportation to closed off pockets of the world, but for more information check out their website at www.wheels4life.org 

A link to this video was also included in his note:

From their page: About Wheels4Life

Wheels4Life is a non-profit organization that provides bikes for people in developing countries who really need them. Often these people live in very primitive and remote areas with no access to public transportation. The closest school, doctor or work-place might be 10 or 20 miles away. In developing countries, children use bicycles to get to school, adults use them to get to work, and health care workers use them to access their patients. Without a bicycle, children can end up uneducated, families can be without enough income to survive, and illnesses are left untreated. Wheels4Life provides the life-altering mobility of a bicycle to make the daily necessities accessible. The gift of a bicycle can work miracles.

So, there are a few auctions left this month that you can participate in, if you are interseted. Not sure how many of you are into Mt. bikes, but these look pretty sweet.

Auctions

Auction 4: 12/6 – 12/12: Focus First XC and Titus El Guapo 
Auction 5: 12/13 – 12/19: Focus Raven and Titus Rockstar 29
Check out more info on the auctions and bicycles here: Bid on a bike. Change a Life»

*Cross posted with collab-blog Change your life. Ride a bike!
OK, that is all for now. Now off to riding a bike =)

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Supermarket Street Sweep – SMSW 2010!!

December 8, 2010 11 Comments

The Supermarket Street Sweep 2010, SMSW 2010 took place this past Saturday at noon here in San Francisco. Two awesome bike ladies Kacey and Jenny Oh, are the wheelwoman power rangers behind this operation alongside photographer Koshi and many volunteers.

“The Supermarket Street Sweep is an annual bike race that benefits the San Francisco Food Bank! For the past four years, hundreds of participants have zipped around the city to local supermarkets and brought back thousands of pounds of food to donate to this wonderful charity.” –supermarketstreetsweep: about 

This year I decided I was mentally ready to participate in this. As a lone wolf I often times am, I stopped by a few of years ago, but got a little intimidated (bike wise) by the cargo bikes, thinking I couldn’t carry much or deliver a big load of stuff. But then I saw some pictures later and learned furthermore about it, +I could totally do a food-bank fundraising alley-cat style ride, and so I was stoked to join this year!!

 posters for delivery

The 2 posters I gave as my contribution for the prices this year, were safe+dry and ready for delivery. Mandatory coffee stop before showing up at noon was a must. I even had a breakfast burrito. Extra bike fuel was necessary this morning.

 
Here is the complete map. Approx 14.8 miles
and the day went like this:
pamela
pamela! her set is here: link
reesie
reesie stopped by to take some snaps =)
chicas
chicas.
Katie got first place in the race on road bike. woo!
check-in
Nio and everyone, ready to check-in
jenny y kacey
Jenny y Kacey
jd y sasha
Jeremiah y Sasha
best socks!
mark had the best sox
where to go
and ready
cupids
set
take off
go!
1st stop: Safeway. The first stop was 4th and King and didn’t take many photos, I was still figuring and things around, bought some beans and canned food.
spoke card
spoke card
 
 
2nd stop: CALA foods. Heading from the SOMA to Hyde and California was the most fun because I knew I’d rn into the sea of red. Santacon was crawling around civic center and I knew my beloved Polk street would be plenty of entertainment. Never fails.
Route: 4th> Townsend> 7th> Market> Grove> Polk> California
 santasland
santasland
 more rice
Buying more rice and reading chisme magazine.
cala pit stop
CALA pit stop. 
 
 
 
3rd stop: Safeway. Heading to Webster and O’Farrell from California street, was all downhill. I liked that. Off to the Safeway between Japantown and the Fillmore. That safeway was packed. 
Hyde (big wheeeee!!> Geary> Polk> Macallister> Webster
webster y o'farrell
Safeway in the fillmore
frenchie parking
Frenchie parking. I took some time to stretch and drink lots of water.
new amigos
new amigos
These guys and their epic balloon swords, mostly from the Eat Bay, were super nice y encouraging =)
3rd stop: Rainboooow. Going from the Fillmore to the Mission was super easy, flat and the traffic was quiet serene. Once I got to Rainbow I thought I’d get myself a really fresh drink as I was super uber thirsty. Given that a place like Rainbow has all kinds of hippie cool drinks, I knew I’d find something fun. I was imagining maybe cilantro water? ha aa, well better yet, I got me some coconut drink with lime juice. Wattttt. Fantastico.
>Webster> Page> Gough> Mission> 14th> Folsom
I'm too happy for this place
oh rainbow. it’s so heavy up in here.
I was so happy my sudafed had almost entirely kicked in (I had been fighting with nasty ear flood feeling allergies) I decided to take a photo. When I set-up the timer of my silly happy moment, some guy working there gave me the dirtiest look. You know what, I don’t care what kind of philosophical dark day you are having mr. Nietzsche guanabee of the Mission. Now move over boy, while I go continue to overfill my mixte basket.
dingding and off I go!!
panda on 16th
This is somewhere on 16th. It started to sprinkle just a little bit, then it stopped.
4th stop: Smart and Final. Getting from Rainbow, to the Bay Shore blvd. I decided to go around the dogpatch to hit less traffic lights and mini hills and opted to take 3rd.

This one I wasn’t sure I could do out of memory, as I had already done the whole ride without a map, but if my memory served me right, I remember passing by this Smart and Final many times on multiple random rides. I thanks my good memory.

This was perhpas my favorite spot of the route, as I got to talk to a middle schooler that asked the group about what we were doing. I continued to talk him and his mom for a little bit and it was just a very nice moment. I told him I could totally see him on a bike and he got really shy, it was cute.

This was the stop I learned from my neighbor loaders, that if you have a goal of making a top cargo load, this is the time to do it. Makes sense since it is closest to the final point. Everyone had such crazy big loads and I even saw a trio of guys gobblyish walking down Oakdale because their bikes were just so overloaded. Dammmn awesome!

>14th> Rhode Island> 16th> 3rd> Evans> Toland> Oakdale
at the smart and final
dirty rice
mi buddy dirty dave
john's 315lbs!
John’s 315lbs! guaooo – this champ got 2nd place for cargo.
jiffy basket
jiffy basket
heavier items went in the basket, the pasta and such went in the backpack.
tonka trucks IRL
IRL Tonka trucks, riding on César Chávez heading back to the dogpatch

 

Final stop: Food bank. Pennsylvania and 22nd is where the Foodbank is. In the above little map is the red + black square. Getting there and delivering the tiny load of mine felt great, at this point I wish I could carry more, but 10lbs on my back is max, and the rest go in the basket. My intentions and will were gazillions of pounds however. It was super fun to see so many people and their loads. I chatted with most throughout the ride as I decided to do join up alone, I didn’t have a group or any of my girls with me.

Often I like doing stuff alone. And no matter what, you are always surrounded by good people.

jeremiah's load of buckets
load of buckets
dad and son duo
dad and son duo. Cooper was the youngest rider and such a fantastic trooper =)
miz jenny oh
yes finish!! checkin back in with Jenny
oh hai
oh HAI!
weight line
weight delivery line
deliveries into the food bank
my load
finito
check sheet
I may have not hauled a tremendous big load but at least I can proudly say I did the whole thing sans map.
damn RIGHT I ride the hell out of this city.
–
sasha
Sasha hauled an impressive 80+lbs in her everyday bike. That’s rad!
Mind you I think having a bike covered with heart-shaped stickers helps… =)
Afterparty: Rickshaw bagworks. Prizes, pastries, party on. Yes. Food from TaKorea and beer from 21st amendment. Nice and nice.

Rickshaw bagworks is located on 22nd street near Minnesota.

everyone luvs steven
Everyone loves Steven
He won the 1st place in the men’s road alleycat race, before the finish line was even open. Classic.
Rickshaw bag afterparty parking
rickshawlands
mike giant posters
hallo
matthew's new moonie hat
matthew won a beanie
foto chisme
foto chisme
ties and lycra
the boys
haaaay
the ladies
I was very happy and inspired to see the ratio of women quite high throughout the day. 
My ladies are super badass!!
smsw
raffles
mi poster has an owner!
mi poster has an owner! swoon ♥
– – –
Here is a foto I really liked, fueling myself with the AM power bfast burrito +not a surprise with coffee in hand…
Taken by Adam:
20101204122916 Cupid Coffee
Cupid Coffee (C)TyrellVoightKampff
SMSW 2010 Riders
SMSW 2010 Riders (C)jkoshi
Me and frenchie!!  
This photo was taken by Koshi, and you can view the complete set of all riders awesome rideres here: SMSW 2010 Rider Portraits
 
—- 

OK, that is all — thanks to the awesome volunteers, participants and organizers for making this happen. And come all next year, it is fun and the best feeling + great way to spend a Saturday on your bike around the city hauling food, for a good cause.

♥xxo.meli
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Pac hills.

October 26, 2010 5 Comments
sup bitches
Hills and views, wanderlusting edition

Back in early September, I still had the temporary saddle, and had no shame on walking a block or two around these nasty hills. For those of you outside the City, and those of you who never go or explore neighborhoods near Pac-Heights, here is a little map love:

VIA PACIFIC HEIGHTS

Streets: arguello>sacramento>presidio>jackson>fillmore>pacific>polk

It is actually quite easy to get from anywhere in the Richmond to say, North Beach via Pacific Heights. The City views are so nice on a clear day/night, just beautiful becuase it is so high up. I was thinking maybe I’d run into all these women that live around here (Diane Feinstein, Nancy Pelosi, Danielle Steel, Jessica McClintock) and take them for a bike ride, image that?!… he heeee.
Do any of you do this side of town as a regular ride? fun, work, daily commute or route? do tell.

Right as I was riding past the park, I spotted someone taking pictures and thought, not many tourists hike up here on bikes (though, you’d be surprised!) and a nice casual dapper hat, I was convinced he was a local and I knew him or was about to — and it was Chris!
I happened to be riding on Jackson, on my way from the Western Addition and heading towards North Beach. What a pleasant surprise =)

ran into Chris! 
oh HAI

Here we are at the northwest corner of Alta Vista park, where you can see plenty of foofie dogs and lots of dog walkers as well as the Bay, and parts of the City skyline. We chatted for a bit.
I never run into anyone much at all in Pac-Heights nor riding through Laurel Heights, but we both weren’t surprised at all, Chris, a wanderluster of the City himself, was also on a roaming kick and had just descended Twin Peaks.

Chris y yo en Alta plaza park

I really enjoy chatting with Chris, our conversations could go for hours in many – many cultural, political, and community affairs.
You might know of him by the sound of his bike and the rythm of his bike bells decorated by the little coconuts around the city. Or his books.

Chris runs the ‘Cycles of history‘ tours-series benefitting Shaping SF.

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Purple day.

October 20, 2010 No Comments

http://www.glaad.org/spiritday

Spirit Day honors the teenagers who had taken their own lives in recent weeks. But just as importantly, it’s also a way to show the hundreds of thousands of LGBT youth who face the same pressures and bullying, that there is a vast community of people who support them.
Purple symbolizes ‘spirit’ on the rainbow flag, a symbol for LGBT Pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978.

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Los events: Tomorrow Wednesday is Lynne’s SFBC Climate Ride Fundraiser

August 17, 2010 No Comments

Wednesday August 18th:
Lynne's SFBC Climate Ride Fundraiser

Info provided from Lynne:

Along with the rest of SFBC’s Climate Ride Team, I am hosting a fundraising event in the form of a shopping party at Sports Basement, 1590 Bryant Street btwn Alameda and 15th, Wed Aug 18, 6-8pm. There will be free beer, wine, music and a raffle – possibly with a bike.

20% of all purchases will go to support SFBC’s Climate Ride Team. (Please note the usual Sports Basement 10% SFBC discount will not be in effect during the fundraiser.) 40% of all the SFBC Climate Ride Team will go back to SFBC. So so far we have raised nearly $12, 000, so we expect to net SFBC a fair chunk of change.

If you are in need of any equipment, clothing or accessories for biking or any other activity, please consider coming out to the party. Or just drop by and have a beer and wish us well.

Lynne Howe | Climate ride donor drive »

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Spare the Air Bay Area – Video contest, submit by September 30th!

August 17, 2010 No Comments

I received an email from the Bay Area Air and I have never done video, but this seems like a pretty fun contest to enter and posted this so many talented video city dwellers out there like you should all enter!
Video is open to not only open to those of us on bikes, but anyone that walks, uses public transit. Good luck!

In an effort to get Bay Area residents more excited about doing their part to Spare the Air and to educate them about clean commute alternatives, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is running the “Commuter Chronicles” Video Contest from August 11 through September 30.

To enter, Bay Area entrants should submit a 60-second or less video explaining why and how they Spare the Airduring their commute, whether it is by carpooling, taking public transit, telecommuting, biking, walking or doing something even more creative. Contest prizes include a folding bike, a $250 FasTrack pass and $100 Starbucks gift cards, and 10 $100 Clipper passes.

from Spare the Air Bay Area] :
Bay Area Air Quality Management District Launches the
Spare the Air “Commuter Chronicles” Video Contest

Prizes Include a Folding Bike, a $250 FasTrack Pass and $100 Starbucks Gift Card
and 10 $100 Clipper Passes

WHAT: The Bay Area’s 7 million residents take more than 3.5 million car trips a day, which is the single largest source of pollution in the Bay Area. Much of these car trips are 2 miles or less, a short distance that could be walked or biked.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District invites Bay Area residents to share their commuting story in a short video for a chance to win one of three commuter-friendly prizes:

· Grand Prize: Dahon Mu Uno Folding Bike ($579 value)
· First Prize: $250 FasTrack pass and $100 Starbucks gift card
· Second Prize: One of 10 $100 Clipper passes, for use on AC Transit, BART, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit and Ferry and all Muni vehicles

Entrants should explain in 60 seconds or less why and how they Spare the Air every day during their commute – whether it is by carpooling, taking public transit, telecommuting, biking, walking or doing something even more creative. Contest entrants must register for a YouTube account (if they don’t already have one), post their video on YouTube and send the Air District a message via the Spare the AirYouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/SpareTheAirBayAreafor a chance to win.

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love for our planet, ride on, the states

United bikes of water.

May 25, 2010 No Comments

Found this Facebook page from blog reader and soon-to be bike & water awareness super star: Brittany App. Good luck in your endevaours and please join their efforts!

Water Pressure – Brittany App Cycles Coast to Coast for WaterAid’s Photos
Brittany App & Garrett Russell will cycle across this massive continent in the Fall of 2010 to raise awareness of our Global Water Crisis, and to raise funds to provide fresh water to those who need it most.
Facebook page»

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