First Intergenerational Ride for Bike Week

Information below is the announcement preceding the 1st Annual Intergenerational Ride, May 12, 2012. Thanks to all who participated to make the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 rides safe and fun. No ride is scheduled for 2016.

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Below is the announcement prior to the 2012 ride.

For tales from the day (2012 Intergenerational Ride), click here.

On Saturday, May 12, 2012, at 10 a.m., an Intergenerational Bike Ride for all ages and abilities will take off from Fort Ord Dunes State Park. The ride is a new event for Monterey County Bike Week and is co-hosted by the First Presbyterian Church of Monterey and Fine Wordworking.

          Riders will meet near the parking lot at Fort Ord Dunes State Park (see specific departure area in the photo gallery below).  This allows for a departure point on a section of Monterey County’s Class I (no motor vehicles) bike/multi-use trail system that is less heavily traveled, yet still includes scenic coastal views. The trail here features three paved lanes:  a striped two-lane path for cyclists, with an adjacent lane for pedestrians.

Recumbent rider Leo Kodl paused momentarily in the pedestrian lane to snap this photo of “Bike Heaven”–part of the fabulous Class I path that can be enjoyed by May 12 riders.

Everyone is welcome

            All non-motorized wheels are welcome, including bicycles, trail-a-bikes, tandems, recumbents, and bike trailers.  Wheelchair travelers are also invited, as are walkers or joggers, including those accompanying young tricyclists.   If they wish, riders may be grouped with others according to desired pace and destination.  Riders are free to set their own pace, and all are invited to reconnect as one group for a brown bag lunch at 12:30 p.m.

Bike community support

            Experienced riders will be on hand for support, and local bike community leaders–including Darius Rike, president of Monterey Off Road Cycling Association (MORCA)–will be available to answer questions about local bike clubs and activities. 

Safety? Ask an expert

        League of American Bicyclists certified instructor Frank Henderson will be participating. Bring your safety questions along to ask of this local expert.

Got flat? No worries!

         A mobile bike mechanic will also be on hand for this event, tending to anyone who might require assistance with a flat tire, tangled chain, or other unexpected need for minor, on-the-spot maintenance.  This complimentary service will be provided courtesy of  Mark Roth of Sports Center Bicycles, Seaside. 

Be part of the fun: Disabled access

            While this is planned as a biking activity, anyone can celebrate Bike Week by sharing the fun.  Those who are unable to travel the trail are invited to join the group for lunch.  Just off the Fort Ord Dunes parking lot, there are benches with a stunning view of the coast, and a scenic boardwalk with signs about the area’s natural features.  A disabled accessible port-a-potty is located at the north side of the parking lot.

What to bring

           Your bike, of course! (If it’s a little rusty, you may want to take advantage of the annual special at many Monterey County bike shops.  A $10 safety inspection and minor tuneup is offered through May 13; click here for details.)

           Dress in layers, and for possible fog or wind.  Sunscreen and sunglasses are advisable. Bring a brown bag lunch for yourself, and drinking water for your ride.  Helmets are required by law for riders under age 18.   (Click here for California bike laws and safety tips.) Because there are few picnic tables, you may wish to bring a ground cloth to sit on at lunchtime.

Bike-and-ride tips to reach event

            Those not bicycling to reach the event are encouraged to see the bike-and-ride section at www.BicyclingMonterey.com for tips on taking your bike aboard a Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) bus or personal vehicle.  If taking an MST bus to a stop near Fort Ord Dunes, you may wish to refer to MST #16  route map.

Carpooling

            Carpoolers—allowing space for bicycles on or in vehicles—may gather at the First Presbyterian Church rear parking lot, leaving at 9:30 a.m. for Fort Ord Dunes.  The church is located at 501 Eldorado, Monterey (up the hill behind Jack in the Box).  Phone the church office, 373-3031, or Mari Lynch, 375-6278, for more information.

Driving direx

           Drivers coming from Monterey on Highway 1:  (1) Take Lightfighter exit.  (2) At second light, turn left onto 2nd–you’ll see signs for MIRA, Marina High School, Panetta Institute, District 4 Supervisor, and FT ORD DUNES STATE PARK.  (3) At second stop sign on 2nd, turn left onto Divarty.  Keep following the FT ORD DUNES STATE PARK directional signs.  (4) At first stop sign on Divarty, turn right.  Follow signs to park entrance.

Been a while since you’ve biked, and need some inspiration?

For a gallery of elder cyclists, click here.

For “Generations of Cycling,” a Salinas-area family of cyclists, click here.

From the Greatest Generation to Generation AO, come ride May 12!

Jay Bartow, Pastor Emeritus and Mark Peake, Pastor at FPCMonterey.org

About First Presbyterian Church of Monterey

First Presbyterian Church takes the Biblical admonition to be caretakers of the Earth seriously, from the solar panels on its roof to the bicycle rack at its front door. The church, which includes an on-site preschool and an Octoplus group for 80+, is known for strong intergenerational relationships, celebrated with such activities as intergenerational theatre productions and a range of fellowship events.  First Pres was a founder of the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Project (I-HELP) and continues as a supporter of I-HELP and other projects to meet community needs. Besides traditional and contemporary Sunday services, the church hosts the Monterey Meditation group monthly and conducts Taize prayer services throughout the year. Mark Peake serves as pastor, since 2010. Jay Bartow, pastor from 1974 until his retirement in 2011, is Pastor Emeritus.  www.fpcmonterey.org

For more about the church on this site, including tips on bicycling to First Pres, see “Eco-wisdom of a bike-friendly faith community.”

About Fine Wordworking

Fine Wordworking was established in Monterey in 1981 by Mari Lynch and provides writing, editing, and related services. Nationally renowned in the book industry since 1987, Fine Wordworking is also a collaborator and consultant on a variety of projects, including website design, branding clarification, and community service endeavors. In 2009, as a public service, Mari founded BicyclingMonterey.com and created the HER Helmet Thursdays project, whereby businesses and organizations offer discounts to bicyclists in a partnership to help sustain the environment and economy.   www.finewordworking.com 

Questions? 

Contact Mari Lynch, 831-375-6278.

More Bike Week events

For additional Bike Week events see http://www.tamcmonterey.org/bikeweek/ for Monterey County, and www.bike2work.com for the Monterey Bay Tri-County (Monterey-SanBenito-Santa Cruz) Region.

Click here for Monterey County Bike Week May 7-13 schedule.  Scroll to the end of this post for printable Bike Week materials.

Fort Ord Dunes State Park–May 12 Intergenerational Ride

 

Directly below is the

ride departure area. 

Meet here at 10 a.m.

Adjacent to the parking lot are the picnic tables shown below, which is where people will gather to take off for rides at 10 a.m.

At lunchtime (12:30), to expand seating here for eating and visiting, you may wish to bring a groundcloth–or if coming by cargo bike or with a bike trailer, or by motor vehicle, perhaps bring a lawn chair.

Not far from the parking lot is the picnic area shown below–a good spot where children can play hopscotch or do (water-soluble) chalk art, while adults linger to visit over lunch.

A lot of people driving on Highway 1, or biking on the old bike path most visible from the freeway…

…don’t realize there is a “bike freeway,” AKA “bike heaven,” just below!

Yes, it’s true:  You’re looking at bike and pedestrian lanes, no motorized vehicles allowed!  That’s why many people call it a bike freeway or  “Bike Heaven.”

(Click on image to enlarge.)

To learn more about the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail network, click here.

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 Click here for more Monterey County Bike Week (May 7-13, 2012) activities.

Click link directly below for a printable PDF, in English, of Bike Week schedule.

2012 Bike Week – 5×7 schedule postcard – English

Click link directly below for a printable PDF of Bike Week poster (front side)  in English and Spanish.

2012 Bike Week – English and Spanish Poster

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Click here for more Spanish-language biking resources.

First published 3/22/12