My favorite items for a comfortable and enjoyable ride
The refrain, "these are a few of my favorite things," runs through my head when I think about what I take along when touring by bike. I thought I'd share some essentials in case this helps you plan for your next ride.
Key Basics
Soma Mixte Step-through frame - providing easy access for mounting and dismounting. The Soma and Rivendell are the only steel frame women’s step-through bikes that can be found in the United States. It's a sad commentary on how the cycling market treats women riders and their needs, but at least we have a few options.
Brookes saddle - The best answer for a comfortable seat. Never use bike shorts again.
My helmet - Provides shade, protection, and a great place to display stickers of my favorite organizations.
Arkel bags - Carrying everything from the local grocery store and providing freedom from carrying loads on your back,to traveling down the California coastline.
Good Accessories
Hydroflask - Or any reusable bottle; one for water, one for coffee.
JBL speaker - Providing great tunes for every ride.
Mirror of any type - Always wise to keep an eye out for what’s behind you.
Bell - Letting others know you are coming by.
Odometer - To keep track of my savings, speed, and time. Every 100 miles on a bike rather than a car is approximately $70 savings.
Old inner tube - Great for tie downs and straps.
Yuba Child Ring - Perfect for the yoga practice as it provides a nice stretch and a reminder to stay aligned. Also wonderful for carrying extra passengers.
Flip Flop socks - Ride all year long in Flip Flops. Make a pea size hole for big toe and a bit larger for the rest. Give it a try - experiment and create your own.
Sweatshirt and bathing suit - Weather in San Diego can bring all possibilities.
A Wonderful Transformation for West Point Loma Blvd
Yay - I will finally be able to safely ride my bike down West Point Loma Blvd to get ice cream at 31 Flavors. And I can stop at Barons and Grocery Outlet for some groceries. And the next day, I might hit the bank and enjoy a yoga class. A short bike ride to local businesses is a great amenity for all of us.
I am truly grateful for the community of Ocean Beach and Point Loma for supporting this amazing opportunity to repurpose our streets as they are resurfaced. Many thanks also to Council Member Campbell for supporting a Class IV bikeway to provide a safe facility for all ages and abilities. Repurposing our streets as they are resurfaced is a very cost-effective approach to making our streets safer while providing an option for more people to bike, walk, and roll. And West Point Loma is a perfect example.
The segment along West Point Loma Blvd from Nimitz Blvd to Sports Arena Blvd will be going on a “road diet” or shall we say it is being transformed to accommodate all users of the road. Vehicle lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction but the choke points at the west and east end will not be changed, meaning all turn lanes towards Nimitz and Sports Arena/Midway will remain. Reducing the number of vehicle lanes will provide the space for a safe and comfortable bikeway, also referred to as a Class IV Bikeway or Cycle Track. The reduction of lanes will create traffic calming to foster safer driving behaviors. Speeds will be reduced but the average travel time through this corridor will be relatively the same (approximately a 4 second delay). This small few seconds is well worth the safety benefits for all. We applaud the City of SD for implementing a true Vision Zero Solution for Safety as the recommended treatment and support the City’s goals for safety to be a top priority.
There are other benefits to the neighborhood: home values will likely increase, parents can let their kids get to their neighborhood schools by foot or bike, and more people will be out and about visiting local business and being social. This all creates a more vibrant, healthy, and enjoyable place to live, work, and play.
Just in time for summer, our neighbors to the east of Nimitz, can now safely hop on their bike and safely pedal to the beach and best of all, they will not have to worry about parking a car. They will now have the best front row parking on the sand, all without contributing to traffic on Sunset Cliffs. I look forward to sharing smiles with new riders in the neighborhood. Thank you again, to all of you, for supporting a healthy lifestyles and a healthy future. Ride on…
Why I Ride - message from our new board president
Inaugural message from Nicole Burgess, new BikeSD board president.
If you know me, you know I love to ride. From near to far, in flips or Uggs, nothing
beats the beauty of pedaling for a cause.
Whether it’s pedaling for my groceries or to advocate for better bike infrastructure,
the best reward is for my mind, body, and soul.
Enjoying morning smiles, head nods, and waves among other riders, walkers, and
friends on the road while feeling gratitude for living in a beautiful city with amazing
views in all directions.
I ride to keep my body moving and in good shape while protecting and embracing our
beautiful environments. I immediately feel the stress being released as I begin to
pedal into the fresh air and can’t imagine a better place to be.
This all happens while going from one place to another. And with my new role as
President of BikeSD, it is my hope that I can inspire and create safe paths for
others to enjoy commuting by bike. Please join me and BikeSD on this adventure to
make San Diego a wonderful place to ride, live, and explore.
Ride more. Ride often. Ride with BikeSD.
Heartbroken Over a Stolen Bike
I know the feeling all too well: that awful, sinking emotion when you realize your bike has been stolen. It's never easy to have your personal belongings stolen, not least when it's your main mode of transportation. It is frustrating. It is a violation. And it is wrong.
There are many things that people that own bikes can do to prevent being a victim of bike theft. Bikes are an easy target for thieves. So it's up to you, the rider, to take extra care of your bike to ensure it is safe and out of reach from these sticky fingers.
Ten tips for bike security:
1. Do this right now: take photo and serial number.
Take a picture of your bike and the serial number. Keep this info on your phone or somewhere safe but make sure you have this info. You can enter this information on the website of the National Bike Registry (529 Garage) as well. You will need the serial number to report a stolen bike. The serial number really is the only way for police to find a bike's owner.
2. Ride your bike often.
The more you ride it, the less time they have to steal it.
3. Always keep your third eye on your bike.
Park where you can see it. Just because bike racks are around the corner does not mean you have to use them. Instead find a pole that is right out front where people can see it.
4. Use a good lock.
A cable lock is easy to cut and one should never rely on a cable lock to prevent a local thief. A u-lock (example: Abus Granite X) or folding lock (example: Abus Bordo) is recommended. Investing in a proper lock is a wise investment.
5. Add plenty of bells and whistles to your bike.
Deck out your bike and give it moxie. Extras on a bike create a paper trail for thieves. Thieves prefer an easy, clean bike and don’t want to deal with all the extras. Give your bike character and the perception that you are right around the corner.
6. Don’t leave your bike unattended for long periods of time.
Store your bike safely at your house. An unlocked bike on the side of a house is an easy target for bike thieves so take your bikes inside. If you are confined to a small space, consider your bike your best piece of wall art and hang it proudly over the couch. If you ride to work, encourage your employer to provide a secure place for bikes.
7. If your bike is stolen, report it to your local police.
This is so important and valuable. Creating a report is simple and can be done online in San Diego. If there is no report, then technically there was no bike stolen. Please make a report if your bike is stolen, otherwise no-one will know, enforcement will be limited, and bikes will continue to be stolen from our community. You will have a better opportunity to get your bike recovered if you can provide serial number. A police report will also be required if you decide to file an insurance claim as many homeowners and renters insurance policies will help cover the cost of stolen bikes.
8. Keep an eye out for your stolen bike.
Often your stolen bike never leaves your community. I have recovered a bike six months after it had been stolen and still check every black beach cruiser as if it could be my lost childhood treasure that went missing a few years ago. Be optimistic and look out for it. It may just come back to you when you least expect it.
9. Use social media to bring awareness.
Neighbors are your best allies. Post on Nextdoor, check Craigslist, and send to your social network. Creating signs stating "Reward for Stolen" work great. It did help me recover a stolen bicycle in Ocean Beach.
10. Bike share.
If you are still discouraged with bike ownership due to fear of it being stolen, or just haven't got around to replacing a stolen bike, I recommend bike share (such as Jump bikes). With the recent roll out of dockless bikes, there are more opportunities to enjoy our city by bike. With bike sharing, there's no need to worry about having a bike stolen, maintenance, or a lack of space to store a bike. It can be a wonderful transportation option for residents and a way to embrace all the benefits of a bike.
For the unfortunate ones that have been victim of their bike being stolen, I am sorry for your loss and understand the agony. Time will make it easier and realize that there are far worse things that can happen in the world. Hopefully you had some memorable rides on your bike. And that you're able to find it or replace your lost set of wheels to get you back on the road soon.
Keep your bike secure, enjoy the ride, and ride often.
Your Bike Friend,
Nicole
BikeSD Board Member