Why Santa Barbara?

Performance vs. Fixie

Paradise Found

Our family is in town this week for a wedding and the big decisions are always "Where should we stay? and "Where should we ride?"

I say live like a local for a week and enjoy an authentic Downtown Historic Cottage in the heart of Santa Barbara. Paradise Retreats offers guests full immersion into the Santa Barbara lifestyle.

From downtown we recommend the 7-mile Santa Barbara Mission Ride that will wind you past the Santa Barbara Mission, Museum of Natural History and the historic Arlington Theater on State St.

If you prefer elegance and privacy, shoot high with a Riviera Retreat in the sky.

The Riviera Retreat is perfectly positioned for starting an intense 48-mile ride up the famed Gibraltar Road loop.

Give us a shout and we'll deliver road bikes to your vacation rental for free!

Bicycling jumps 16% in Santa Barbara

Since 1997, Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition has collected data on bicyclist presence and behavior at intersections mostly within the city of Santa Barbara. The 2009 survey was just completed on June 18, and it tells us that bicycling is increasing significantly:

• Compared with four prior years, bicycling has increased by 16%
• 3,861 people on bicycles were counted at 25 intersections this year
• 13,356 people were counted over four prior years at those same 25 intersections—an average of 3,339 per year
• 21 of 25 major intersections had an increase or no change.

All across the country, communities are reporting increases in the number of people bicycling. Several factors have been ascribed to the change in behavior—the higher cost of gasoline, the recession, an increasing awareness of emission-caused climate change, and a quest for fitness.

Add in increased government and business efforts to encourage sustainable transportation, plus community and advocacy groups and we'll have a revolutionary behavior shift.

Become the path

Buddah says, "You cannot travel on a path until you become the path itself."

And that's just what inventors of the concept LightLane have taken into their own hands.

LightLane was originally created for a "commuter bike for the masses" design competition. Even though the concept did not win, the response was overwhelming, encouraging the inventors (one is a mechanical engineer and the other an industrial designer) to continue development.

The LightLane uses high powered laser beams mounted to bicycle seat posts. Preliminary research shows the LightLane's performance in real world situations is best when lighting conditions are at their worst, improving safety in critical biking situations.

Preliminary Design Specs include:

• High Visibility DPSS Green Lasers
• Super-Bright Red LED’s
• 3-Hour Run time on rechargeable Li-Ion battery
• Robust universal attachment bracket
• Compatible with universal mobile-phone charger standard
• Patent Pending
  

Prototype Video

Swim, Bike, Run: Santa Barbara Tri

The countdown for the Santa Barbara Triathlon Aug 21-23 has begun. Registration is open and training is underway.

The annual Long Course includes a 1 mile swim, 34 mile bike ride and a 10 mile run.

Check out SB Bikes To-Go's favorite Triathlon Training blogs and free resources:

• Endurance Nation with Coach Rich Strauss
• First Endurance
• G-blog
• Training Bible with Joe Friel
• Training Peaks
• Tri-California

While you're in Santa Barbara be sure to check out SB Bikes To-Go favorite accommodations, libations and activities page, click here.

One night only: University Club of Santa Barbara

For one night only (never before and not again) the historic University Club of Santa Barbara (1332 Santa Barbara St) will open its door to the public to present the Areno Collection at a special event on Thursday evening June 4th.

Joseph Areno's "East Beach Volleyball - Santa Barbara"

On view will be the Club's existing Areno collection along with over 50 never-before-displayed oils, sketches and watercolors. Sip, savor and delight in the regal setting. Contact: Chrissy Deferville, 805-966-0853 ext 13 / Chrissy@uclubsb.org

Eat, drink and be merry

Eat, drink and be merry at the Downtown Art & Wine Tour this Thursday, May 28th.

The tour offers locals & visitors an opportunity for leisurely strolling between downtown art galleries to see the latest exhibits, taste dishes from downtown restaurants and sample wines from top Santa Barbara County vintners.

Tickets are $55 and proceeds benefit the 2009 57th Annual Downtown Children's Holiday Parade. Tickets are available Downtown Organization office at 27-B De La Guerra Street or at the Arlington Theater Box Office. For more information, click here.

Galleries:
3D Studio Gallery ~ Brooks Institute Gallery 27 ~ Bryant and Sons Jewelers ~
Casa de la Guerra ~ Churchill Jewelers ~ Contemporary Arts Forum ~
Eden ~ The Frameworks & Caruso Woods Gallery ~ Patty Look Lewis Gallery ~
Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro ~ Restaurant Roy

Restaurants:
Bella Dolce ~ bouchon santa barbara ~ Café Shell ~
Coast Restaurant and Bar ~ Coffee Cat ~Elements Restaurant and Bar ~
The Greek House Cafe ~ Left at Albuquerque ~ Los Arroyos Mexican Restaurant ~
The Melting Pot ~ Neo Chase Restaurant & Lounge ~ Paradise Cafe ~
Pascucci ~ Pastavino ~ Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro ~ Restaurant Roy
Seagrass ~ Sojourner Cafe ~ State & A Bar and Grill

Wineries:
Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards ~ Artiste Winery ~ Brander Vineyards ~
Buttonwood Farm Winery ~ Carina Cellars ~ Carr Vineyards & Winery ~
Consilience & Tre Anelli Wines ~ Gleason Refugio Wines ~Kalyra Winery ~
Presidio Vineyard & Winery ~ Santa Barbara Winery ~ Summerland Winery ~
and Hollister Brewing Co.

SB Bike Week is Here!

It's time to gear up and go! The bicycle flags flying on State Street in Santa Barbara announce Bike Week, a week full of community bicycling events that are coordinated by the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition.

Since 1999, the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition has brought an ever increasingly robust Bike Week of exciting bicycling events.

Check out the 2009 activities Santa Barbara Bike Week below and join us for a great week.

For a detailed list of Santa Barbara Bike Week activities, click here.

May 14, UCSB Bike to Work Day, sponsored by UCSB. At UCSB, on the
bikepath up from Goleta Beach for breakfast food, drinks, and raffle
prizes. 7:00-9:00 AM. Details from Jamey Wagner at 893-5475.

May 15, Bike Week Kick Off, sponsored by Bici Centro. Starts at 6:30 PM,
with band Oso playing at 7:00. Donation requested. Bici Centro, 601 East
Montecito Street, Santa Barbara.

May 16, Newcomers Ride, sponsored by the Goleta Valley Cycling Club.
Nobody will be left behind on this free, leisurely ride.
Meet at Java Station, 4447 Hollister Avenue, 9:00 AM ready to pedal.
Contact ride leader Doris at cyclebug@aol.com with questions.

May 16, Children's Festival, sponsored by the Family Service Agency.
This festival offers variety of sports and art activities,
including bicycle helmets at the COAST booth.
It's at Alameda Park in Santa Barbara, 11:00AM-4:00 PM.

May 16, Beer and Bikes, unsponsored. A ride for those 21 and over.
Meet Chase Palm Park Carousel, 223 East Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara, at 2:00 PM.

May 16, BBQ and Bike Show, sponsored by Bici Centro and Santa Barbara Bicycle
Coalition.
Bring and display your classic or radical bicycle.
4:00 PM at Casa de la Raza, 601 East Montecito Street, Santa Barbara. Donation requested.

May 16, Bike Films, sponsored by WheelHouse.
This will be a showing of the Green Shorts video contest entries that relate to bicycling,
and other films. At 9:00 PM, WheelHouse, 528 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara.
Free admission.

May 19, Bike to School Day, sponsored by COAST.
Events are being arranged at individual South Coast and Solvang schools.
Contact South Coast coordinator Kim Stanley-Zimmerman at ksz@linkline.com,
or Solvang coordinator John Padfield at jpadfield@mac.com.

May 19, Old San Marcos Ride, sponsored by Goleta Valley Cycling Club.
Meet at the swimming pool parking Lot across from 1030 North San Marcos and
enjoy a workout up Old San Marcos Road. Ride at 5:00 PM.
For details, phone Robert and Brigitta 448-0636.

May 20, Santa Barbara Bike to Work Day, sponsored by the City of Santa Barbara.
This annual event is 7:00-9:00 AM.
Bicycle there for free food, drinks, prizes at State and De la Guerra.
Info from Sarah Grant, 897-2669.

May 20, Ciclovias and Sunday Parkways, sponsored by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.
This web-based seminar will take place from 12:00 noon to 1:30 PM
at a Santa Barbara location to be determined.
Individuals interested in crafting a street celebration like those that started in Bogota,
and elsewhere should attend. Info from Sarah Grant, 897-2669.

May 20, Off Road Shore Ride, sponsored by Goleta Valley Cycling Club.
Meet at the Java Station, 4447 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, and enjoy a
non-technical offroad ride through Hope Ranch, More Mesa, and Campus
Point to Ellwood and back. Ride starts at 5:00 PM. No climbing or
descending, Less than two hours, and 16-17 miles. Contact Jurij at
cyclezen@hotmail.com for details.

May 20, Ride of Silence, unsponsored.
This ride will commemorate those lost or injured in bicycling crashes in our area.
The ride was started in Texas in 2003, and has since grown to over 250 locations worldwide.
It's a slow, 12 MPH silent ride of about 6 miles,
starting at 7:00 PM at De la Guerra Plaza, Santa Barbara.
To learn about the movement, look at www.rideofsilence.org.

May 23, Bird Refuge to Goob Loop Ride, sponsored by Goleta Valley Cycling Club.
Meet at the Bird Refuge in Santa Barbara,
and ride the Gobernador Canyon Loop north of Carpinteria.
Ride starts at 9:00 AM.

May 24, Java Station to Farmers Market Ride, sponsored by Goleta Valley Cycling Club.
Meet at Java Station, 4447 Hollister Avenue, Goleta,
and ride to Goleta Farmer's Market in the Calle Real Marketplace.
Ride starts at 9:30 AM. Bring your recyclable bags.