Sacramento Tweed

What A Ride! (And the video to prove it!)

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:11:00 +0000

It doesn't always take me a couple of weeks to sum up a ride, but I wanted to wait. Here's why:

Just sent to me yesterday. What wonderful memories, courtesy of It's a Gas Productions.

Thanks so much to everyone that made this ride a smashing success: Gioia Fonda and her crew from Pink Week; Ed Rae from Brompton; Rick Mahan from One Speed, Olivia from Bows and Arrows, Gina from Revolution Wines, Bryan from Doughbot, and Rob from Pangaea Two Brews Cafe. And most importantly, all of you. Big hugs all around!

I'll be getting additional posters printed, and the extra tweed buttons should be made soon; if you made it all the way to Pangaea, then you got a button! Make sure to let me know if you didn't get yours: they're awesome.

I'll be keeping in touch with you through occassional posts via Facebook over the holidays, and into the Winter/Spring; as most you know, we're having a large international bicycle show here in Sacramento the first weekend in March, and I don't want anyone to miss the opportunity to see it. Let me know if you're interested in volunteering!

Have a wonderful time during the holidays, and we'll see you all next year for the Seersucker Ride!

The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:42:00 +0000

I spoke with Ed Rae (the American distributor for English-made Brompton Bicycles in the United States) yesterday, and he confirmed he would be making the trip down from Portland to attend the Tweed Ride! He'll be bringing several bicycles for people to try out at Pangaea, along with the new jacket Brompton is selling. Try to guess the color of the bike he'll be riding!

Haven't heard of Brompton? It's the perfect "last mile" solution for many commuters, as well as a terrific urban bike (although we do have friends that have tried a bit longer journey.) You can read the review from our own EcoVelo here.

Maybe this will jog your memory (stylish hats optional!):

Much thanks to Ed for making the journey to show us these great bikes!

One Week To Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:09:00 +0000

Here's some last minute things to consider about the upcoming ride:

1. Weather: it looks like we've got a 50-50 chance of rain on the 13th, and please note that we'll meet at One Speed and East Portal Park regardless of the weather; if it's really bad, I'll shorten the route, but we'll still head over to the three wonderful places I've selected--and you should too! Remember, this is a Tweed Ride, and tweed is a pretty weatherproof fabric. Pretend you're in England! (Ask Owen if you need help.)

2. Traffic Niceties: It goes without saying that one of the more pleasant aspects to this ride is that we always strive to respect all traffic laws and other users of public roads; this means, for newcomers, we always stop at stop signs and traffic lights, give cars appropriate space to get by, and try as best we can to stay in bike lanes or a single lane on a multi-lane road. Helmets are not required for those over 18, but remember: this is not a ride sanctioned by anyone except the Gods of Tweed. We've never had an accident (well, except for a scraped knee), and we want to keep it that way. Ride safe!

2.5. Lights: Bring them!

3. Clothing and Bikes: I'd encourage you to please read back a ways on this blog, but the short answer is this: this isn't a testament to fashion, it's a costume ride; we love to see people dress up, and we love to see neat classic bicycles, but none of this is ever required to ride with us. It's all about riding a bike in and around our beloved Sacramento at a leisurely speed, trying some new places to eat and drink, and meeting new friends. Don't stress if you can't find a tweed outfit: just wear something you feel comfortable in, and I guarantee you'll fit in just fine.

4. Pink: try to wear some! :-))

See you on the 13th at One Speed!!!!

The Ride Route!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:49:00 +0000

View The Pink Ride, November 13, 2011 in a larger map

A Case of NAHBS!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:58:00 +0000

I'm so excited about the upcoming Tweed Ride; we've got a great route, some great food and drink, and a bit of color to help us get through the day! In addition, we'll have several special people riding with us that help to make Sacramento a wonderful city in which to ride a bicycle.

One of them, Paul Skilbeck, is the Media Director for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, and has been most helpful in bringing the show here; we talked a bit today about NAHBS, and he wanted to let us know that we'd be part of his weekly newsletter! Go Tweed! (Of course, it never hurts that he's British!)

The show is going to be held early March of 2012 at the Convention Center, and will be quite a feather in the cap of all Sacramentans, Tweed and non-Tweed alike; the average show has a couple hundred custom bicycle builders (including our own Steve Rex!), an equal number of vendors (Brooks!), is attended by several thousand enthusiastic cyclists, and brings millions of dollars into a local economy! Make your plans now!

The 2011 Fall Tweed Ride Poster!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 03:15:00 +0000

Courtesy of the amazing Jen Postlewaite:

Fall 2011 Tweed Poster

The Pink Ride!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:14:00 +0000

It's that time of year again (and boy, is it ever easier to write about this when it's 65 and cloudy outside versus 85 and sunny), and so...The Tweed Ride 2011 is on!! This year, we're combining our forces with a local artist, Gioia Fonda, and her Cause célèbre, Pink Week! More information to follow, but this is going to be really fun!

On Sunday, November 13, at 9am, we'll meet at Rick Mahan's OneSpeed restaurant on Folsom Blvd. for the optional (yep, optional: we know how late some of you like to sleep in!) breakfast; at 10:30, we'll be at East Portal Park for some coffee and additional festivities, with the ride leaving at 11:30.

The route will be a little longer than the Spring, with fewer interuptions: we'll be leaving the park and head through Sac State, go over the Guy West bridge, and ride the Bike Trail until the turnoff right before Del Paso; from there, we'll go over the old railroad bridge and back into midtown for a stop or two, and then wind up at a special place where you can look at bikes new and old, and check out the newest from Brooks.

We should be done by 5pm, but bring your lights just in case. Many more details to follow!

This One Felt Different...

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:20:00 +0000

...and that's a very good thing.

Erin and I went home last night to deconstruct the event and, as always, were left with a sense of wonder as to how amazing our community is; even though the turnout was smaller than we had anticipated (Pride Weekend in SF? The heat? The ride moved back three weeks created scheduling conflicts? Have we jumped the shark? Lol!), there was a feeling of joy in the air, of people connecting and re-connecting, of moving through space and time via a personal wayback machine: our beloved bicycles. Ultimately, the smaller numbers--I'm thinking 90 to 100 came, instead of the possible 200 I anticipated--made this a much more intimate and relaxed event than we've ever had before.

As for myself, listening to the band play while enjoying a popsicle and walking on lush grass among the large, green trees while watching our group enjoy themselves is a memory that will be with me a long, long time. This ride felt slower, more gentle, than those in the past, and it was wonderful to close my eyes and feel the vibe; all the time, energy, and expense it took to organize the ride pales in comparison to that feeling, and it serves to remind me of why we do this: we love Sacramento, and we love the people who live here. Good times can always be found if you know where to look.

For those who attended, for those that provided treats or a safe (and air-conditioned!) harbor, for those that shared their musical talents, we are so humbled and so appreciative to know people like you.

Let's do it again this Fall, shall we?

Rick

Hats....and The Map!!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:55:00 +0000

Hey, if anyone would like to buy a hat for the Ride (we did!), go see the good folks at The Village Hat Shop at 123 K Street in Old Town; tell them you're with the "Tweed Ride" people, and you'll get 10% off your purchase. Nice people, really, and say hi to Vicki for us!

For those folks who need to check out the route, here's a map for you:

View 2011 Seersucker Ride in a larger map

One Week To Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:32:00 +0000

Well, folks, though it might be a little warmer next Sunday than we'd like (although if the forecast is right, 86 degrees and sunny ain't too bad for us Sacramentans, is it?), everything is a go for an amazing ride. As is our wont, here's an update to fire up the troops and provide a bit more information...

Food:
If you're contemplating on bringing your own picnic basket, then wonderful; but if you'd rather let someone make it for you, why don't you give the good people at Revolution Wines a shot: here's a link to their menu, and if you'd like to pre-order (always a good idea with a large group), write to simonemckinley(at)revolution-wines.com and put "Tweed Food" in the subject line. You will not be disappointed!

Also, if you haven't heard by now, while enjoying the picnic we'll be offered exquisite popsicles from Fat Face, a new eatery in town at the new Bows and Arrows location, and cupcakes from Icing on the Cupcake! Also, the Alkalai Flats will be playing at the picnic, so this is one picnic you won't want to miss! Also, if you have horseshoes, a croquet set, or anything else (Badminton, anyone?) go ahead and do it! We'll be at the picnic for an hour and a half, so we'll have time for all sorts of fun and games! Don't forget to bring a blanket!

Route:
It's getting tough to get a bunch of folks through midtown streets safely and happily, but I think we can do it! I don't want to commit to a map (depending on the turnout, we'll take different streets), but we'll cross Broadway at 24th, and Land Park Drive at Vallejo. If it's in the eighties, temperature-wise, we'll head down Riverside to where the Sacramento River trial starts and go to the Crocker Museum where Q street begins; if it's too warm, or if we get a little behind on time, we'll head down Riverside to R street, cross over the freeway, then do the Q street thing. Easy, right? From the Crocker, we'll head up N street to 16th, take a left, and go to L street and our hosts at de Vere's. Good times! Remember, we want everyone to obey the traffic signs and the rules of the road--it's important for us to have all riders finish the ride safe and sound!

That's it! If you have any other questions, send us a note, and we'll see you all on the 26th!

Rick

Why Fight The Inevitable?

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:11:00 +0000

Well, why fight it, indeed! I've been looking at the weather reports like a hawk for the last couple of days, and have come to the conclusion that, sadly, rain is going to be an issue; if not for the day of the ride, then at least for saturating the ground that we had planned to picnic on. So...we're rescheduling. The new date for the Ride will be on Sunday, June 26th. Everything else will be the same: we'll still meet at Revolution Wines/Temple Coffee at 11 in the morning, we'll still be going to Land Park for a wonderful picnic (and hopefully, the musicians and treat makers will still be able to be there!), go to the Crocker afterwards for a beverage and a tour around the museum, and later go to de Vere's pub for a pint or two.

Thanks for your patience about this; of all the things I needed to worry about when putting this ride together, the last thing I was concerned about was the weather. But there you have it--and I do hope everyone who could come on the 5th will be able to do so three weeks later!

See you on the 26th!!

Rick

Need A Bike For The Ride?

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 23 May 2011 23:32:00 +0000

As many of you know, I'm the sales rep for Public Bikes in the Sacramento area, and I'd like to offer a special on the bikes upto and including the day of the Seersucker Ride: 1o% percent off, plus free shipping! If you need it for the ride, please let me as soon as possible, no later than this Friday, the 27th.

If you're interested, drop me a line at tweedsacramento@gmail.com, and I'll get back to you promptly--we've got a complete range of bikes at Hot Italian for you to try out!

Thanks!
Rick

Ever Wonder....

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 23 May 2011 15:54:00 +0000

How our musicians will tote their instruments around? Wonder no longer! Many thanks to Chris Harvey and the Alkali Flats!!

The Seersucker Poster!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 23 May 2011 15:23:00 +0000

Courtesy of Brian Clifton, resident mad genius of the graphic art set: download a copy for your office or favorite watering hole! Thanks, Brian!!!

Seersucker Ride Spring 2011

Two Weeks To Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:04:00 +0000

Hi, everyone! Hope you're as excited as we are about the ride! So far, it's been a beautiful Spring, and here's to hoping the 5th will be equally so!

As far as updates go, here's the newest news:

Route: As previously mentioned, we'll be meeting at Temple Coffee/Revolution Wines at 11 in the morning, and the Ride will leave at 12; from there, we'll be heading over to our favorite spot in Land Park to enjoy a picnic (see below!), live music (the Alkali Flats and the Freebadge Serenaders!), games (bring your Croquet and Horseshoe sets!), and (hopefully--still working it out) some gourmet treats from local vendors!

From there, we'll jump on the Sacramento River Trail and head over to the Crocker Art Museum, enjoying a glass of wine in the cafe and checking out the new addition; we'll be there long enough (about an hour) for you to enjoy a walk through the museum (regular rates apply) and see what all the excitement is about!

Afterwards, flushed with pride over our city's new cultural landmark, we'll head over to DeVeere's Irish Pub to finish the Ride by enjoying a pint or two while listening to some more live music! What could be better?

Food: Like last year, Revolution Wines and their executive chef, Simone McKinley, is offering box lunches exclusively created for our ride; everyone raved about them, and we're looking forward to ours! Here's the menu:
~Chicken, Apple, Cheddar, Watercress Wrap: sub in Chioga beets for veggie.
~ Roast Beef, Chipotle mayo, Red Onion, Aparagus on Ciabatta: sub in Yukon Gold Potato for veggie.
~ Asparagus, English Pea, Roasted Red Bell Pepper, Goat Cheese Quiche.
All lunches are $8, and it's best to order yours soon! Contact them at: simone (at) revolution-wines.com.

Tidbits: If you need to get your bike tuned up before the ride, please go to one of our favorite shops: Edible Pedal, Whitworth Cycles, College Cyclery, or The Bike Business; they're small, they're local, and we love them.

If you need last minute alterations on your clothing, we couldn't love Amanda Carroll any more even if we tried; her shop, DUSO, is currently at Edible Pedal, and she can be reached at: yeaduso@gmail.com.

Gentlemen, if you need a haircut before the Ride, we recommend Anthony's; if you haven't been there before, give them a try-- it's a wonderful experience.

Clothing and Bikes: Remember, this is a "costume" ride, not a "fashion" ride. It's fun to dress up, but that's not the point of why we're doing this; rather, it's to bring different members of our cycling community together in the spirit of inclusiveness and conviviality, which means we don't care about what you wear (although please wear something appropriate for warm weather--no heavy tweed, please!), or what you ride. All we want is that you wear a smile, and ride what you're happiest riding.

It'll be a wonderful experience, and we're so looking forward to sharing the day with all of you.

Rick

The 2011 Seersucker Ride Is On!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:47:00 +0000

It's time, isn't it? March turned out to be wetter than wet, April brought us a baseball tease (our contact left her job suddenly, but we'll be doing something with the River Cats later this Summer), May is filled with May Is Bike Month wonderfulness, and so we're left with...June! (Which is still part of Spring, for those keeping score!) Initially, we thought the 19th would be good, but a friend happily pointed out that was Father's Day, so the 5th it is!!

So here's what's going on as we speak: we're having The Seersucker Ride on the 5th of June, meeting at 11:00 am in the parking lot of Temple Coffee/Revolution Wines on the corner of S and 29th streets; at noon (Revolution will be offering box lunches as before--more info coming) we'll head over to a park for a lovely picnic with games, music, and perhaps a gastronomic surprise. Afterwards, depending on the temperature, we'll go for a ride, stop at a watering hole or two, and then bid everyone adieu. Good times!

About the temperature thing: I was caught completely unprepared to have the heat jump twenty degrees in three days last year, and, as the song says, I Won't Be Fooled Again; this time, I'll encourage everyone to dress appropriately (think tropical), encourage rehydration (however one wishes to do so), and have the length of the ride adjusted accordingly. No matter if it's 77 or 107, we're going!

As always, we'll be obeying all traffic laws, riding as courteously as is expected of all Tweedsters, and proving to the world that Slow Is Beautiful.

Cheers!

Thank you. All of you.

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:25:00 +0000

Erin and I have been mulling over how to approach writing about our being part of Sacramento Magazine's "People of the Year" article; we've gone through several stages of response, from "uh, sure", to "well, they've obviously set the bar pretty low", to "actually, this is pretty neat", to finally winding up at just feeling humbled by the whole thing.

It's worth noting that when we started this endeavor a year and some months ago, our intent was to find like-minded people--we were still new to living in Midtown, and really didn't know anyone here--and after reading about the Tweed Ride in Boston, we thought it would be perfect for Sacramento. It turned out that we were right about that, but more importantly, it ultimately turned out to be perfect for us, too.

We've met people that have become dear friends, people who have opened up their hearts, offered their skills, and added their perspective in a way that has enriched our lives immeasurably. Needless to say, without creating this ride, we're unsure if any of this would have happened, and we're so grateful for everything you've done to make our lives richer, fuller, and happier. What a great community we are, and thank you all.

Rick and Erin

What a great day. What a great group of people.

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:55:00 +0000

Well, well; living this close to the ocean (and yes, ninety miles away is considered close) means you can't always depend on what the weather folks say, huh? The Gods of Tweed really came through for us, and I hope everyone had as lovely a day as we did.

Thanks to all our hosts: Kupros Bistro, Revolution Wines and Temple Coffee, The Shady Lady, and Hot Italian; also, a special shout-out to the beautiful people from Rickshaw Bags for coming out from San Francisco to ride along, feel the Sacramento bicycle vibe, and show us first hand what beautiful bags they make. I don't know about you guys, but I'm hanging on to my tweed buttons forever!

If anyone is interested in getting a limited edition Sac Tweed bag, please drop me a line--I'd love to be able to have more of these adorn our riders!

That's it until the next year--the Seersucker ride will be sometime this Spring. Until then, be safe and have fun.

Rick and Erin

Rickshaw Bags!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:03:00 +0000

Limited Edition Bags, complete with the Sacramento Tweed logo, will be available for sale (at a 10% discount!) at Hot Italian on the day of the ride. We're giving two of these away, so don't forget to get a raffle ticket at the start of the ride--and yes, you must be present to win! Representatives of Rickshaw will be on hand to answer questions and show you their line of wonderful, can't-live-without-them bags!

The Rain Ride?

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:26:00 +0000

First, the good news: we don't have to worry about getting overheated in our lovely tweed clothes this year!! Now, for the harsh reality... it looks like we'll be rained on. Blah.

So, what to do? Well, I would remind riders that it's a tweed ride, and tweed is wonderfully, remarkedly resistant to wet weather...that's why it's an English thing! So, yes: we're still going. With a few alterations to the route.

Let's go and still meet at Kupros for breakfast at nine--everyone still has to eat--and from there, head over to the parking lot by Old Soul at 10:30; instead of riding to the Capitol, we'll go straight to Revolution Wines to hang out for a while and enjoy the box lunches you've hopefully ordered by now! (If you didn't order one previously because of a glitch with the "shipping and handling" aspect of Paypal, try again--it's been fixed.) From there, we'll head over to the Shady Lady, and from there, to Hot Italian--so no big changes there. So the stops will be the same, and the conviviality will be the same, but the ride will be much shorter, and slightly wetter! :-)

Bring something to cover your saddle while you're not on it!

Questions?

Nine Days To Go.... Ride Update!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:26:00 +0000

This looks like it's going to be our best and biggest ride ever! Since we're only a few days from the ride, I wanted to share some updated information with you:

1. The Ride will not be meeting at the Bike Kitchen; instead, due to the anticipated large number of riders, we'll be meeting at Old Soul Coffee, located in the alley on the block of midtown between 17th and 18th, and Capitol and L Streets (they have a large parking lot adjacent to their shop). If some folks don't get the message, don't worry: we'll have people standing by at the Bike Kitchen to re-direct riders--Old Soul Coffee is but three blocks away!

2. ~~The weather should be wonderful~~! As of this morning, the 10-day forecast is partially cloudy in the morning, followed by sunshine throughout the afternoon; temperature will be in the mid-60's. In other words, a perfect day for a bike ride!

3. What to bring, and what to wear: I encourage you to head back aways on this blog to see what others have done in the past; take a look at pictures, cruise the used clothing stores in town, and find something that fits your style! Remember, this isn't a "popularity contest" sort of ride--wear whatever makes you the happiest!

As to what to bring, make sure your bike is in good working order, some warm clothes (see above), and something tasty to enjoy during our picnic lunch (I recommend the box lunch at Revolution!)

4. Don't forget to pick up a raffle ticket before the ride begins! We'll be giving away a few prizes while enjoying the pizza at Hot Italian, but you'll have to be present to win!!

5. Remember, during the ride, we obey all traffic signs and ride courteously at all times; one of reasons this ride has been so successful is that we're always riding slow, responsible and happy--and I don't see any reason to change that!

6. Sunset on the 21st is at 4:49 p.m. Meaning, let's remember to bring our lights (headlights and taillights) for the ride home; nothing is more important to us than your safety. Period.

Let's have a great ride, and if any of you need additional information, please send me an e-mail! (Link on the sidebar.) Next update wil be about....prizes!!

Rick

Sneak Preview!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:37:00 +0000

Shhhh! Don't tell anyone, but some goodies are coming our way!

Yummy Treats! (Lunch Edition!)

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:25:00 +0000

Some of you know of Revolution Wines because you've (a) been on our first ride last year and remember the wonderful time sitting in their courtyard and blissfully sipping a glass or two in the sun, (b) had the experience of drinking their fanastic wine in another, but equally happy setting, or (c) all the above! (Hopefully, it's (c)!)

Well, they're back! Joe and Gina have offered to open their doors once again, and this time, in their new location at 29th and S Street! Since they now have both a fine kitchen and a fine chef, they're going to offer a Box Lunch for the Tweed Ride! Ordering lunches will be through their website (go here for dining choices and payment through PayPal), and if you don't have access to PayPal, give them a call (916.444.7711) or ride your bike over to check the place out and order. Please have your order in by the 19th so they can plan accordingly! We'll have a few of each lunch available for those that forgot to order, but they'll go fast--so don't be left out!

Also, as an enticement to throughly enjoy the picnic, Revolution is offering a 10% discount on any bottle purchased while we're at the premises! Yay! Also, they're having their Grand Opening the whole weekend of the Tweed Ride, so head on over and take a look!!

Don't Delay! Order your Box Lunch Today!

Yummy Treats! (Breakfast Edition!)

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 05:41:00 +0000

As most of you know by now, we love to enjoy a pre-ride breakfast; it just kinda starts the day out right, with a filling meal and a little something to wash it down with, caffeinated or...not!

To that end, we're going to try out Kupros Bistro on 21st Street, between L and Capitol for brunch; they're going to open an hour earlier than usual, at 9 a.m., so come on in and try out their fantastic food!

Their menu for your perusal:

The Poster!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:11:00 +0000

One of our own riders, Jen Postlethwaite, has created an absolutely fantastic poster for this month's ride! I'm getting them made today, and you'll be seeing them all around town soon!