Bike Festcelebrates all thingsBiCYCEL M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 3 49 BIke Fest , created by the Napa County Bicycle Coalition (Napa Bike) is marked as a day of activities for all ages, cycling interests and bicycle aspirations. Napa Bike Fest is a free day-long, community-building festival that includes multiple rides, a bike swap meet, music from the Napa Porchfest musicians, great food and beverages, and a whole lot of tubes, tires, wheels, seats, helmets, bells and an array of bicycles right off the press and right out of the garage—cobwebs included. Drive, ride, walk or pick your transportation mode and head to the South Parking lot at 500 First Street, across from Oxbow Public Market. The ride event line-up is big this year: four types of rides starting with a Road Ride through Carneros, with a stop at Bouchaine Winery. For those who prefer the “fat tire,” a Mountain Bike Ride will be led by a host of local experts. A Cultural Heritage Ride by Bill Tuikka from Napa County Landmarks will lead a casual, cruiser-bike-friendly ride through downtown Napa, and teach the group about many of Napa’s historical buildings. And then there’s the most popular cycling event of Bike Fest: Kidical Mass, a fun-comes-first bike ride for kids and their families to learn about safe cycling. Kidical Mass is designed to educate bike-curious parents about safe bicycling with children, teach kids to ride safely, encourage biking to school, and increase the visibility of families biking on Napa streets. Kids will be able to decorate their bikes before the ride, and be rewarded with healthy snacks upon their return. One doesn’t have to pedal or break a sweat to attend Bike Fest, as there is plenty to experience such as the BMX Jump2Jump Stunt Show, a Track Stand contest, and the ever-famous Tricycle Obstacle Course. And amidst the live music, food and drinks, the Bike Fest Expo will showcase plenty of products to try and buy. The Bike Swap is certainly worth the downtown trip as it’s an excellent opportunity to clean out the garage of unwanted bike parts and bikes, and put some green in back in your pockets. All kinds of bikes welcome: old/new/road/vintage/bmx/mtb/fixed/retro. Ultimately Bike Fest was created to engage the community with cycling and be symbolic of Napa Valley’s progress toward becoming a “Bicycle Friendly Community.” Bicycling is considered the second most popular outdoor activity in the United States (after walking), and more than 60% of Americans say they would like more bike facilities in their communities. The numbers are even more compelling here, where Napa Bike is working diligently to create safer riding for everyone. Napa Bike’s BE BRIGHT campaign will be in full force for those who are keen to learn more about bike safety. (Napa Bike hopes that is everyone!) About Napa Bike Napa Bike, a non-profit, membership-supported advocacy organization focused on improving the bicycling environment for all residents, is striving for recognition of Napa County as a Platinum Certified Bicycle Friendly Community, as measured by the League of American Bicyclists. Only three other cities in the country have reached this level—Boulder, Colorado, Davis, California and Portland, Oregon. Formed in 2008, Napa Bike is built upon three key pillars—advocacy, education and safety. The Napa County Bicycle Coalition, designated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is a membershipsupported advocacy organization working to improve the bicycling environment and quality of life for all Napa Valley residents and tourists. Napa Bike represents all cyclists—recreational, students, families, racers and commuters—and offers various membership opportunities to serve such groups. For information about Bike Fest visit NapaBikeFest.org. • To learn more about the Coalition, visit NapaBike.org. What better way to spend a Saturday on your bike than with your family, friends or potential newfound friends you will likely meet at the Second Annual Napa Bike Fest on Saturday, April 27?
NVLife_MarApr_2013
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