Butte Bicycle Coalition

The Wildflower has grown steadily over the years to 4,000 participants.   About 3,150 ride the hills (Mildflower 65 and Wildflower 100), 750 ride the Flatflowers (no hill and either 30 or 60 miles) and 100 young cyclists ride the Childflower 15 on the bike path to Durham. The rides satisfy the three biggest desires of century riders – the challenge, the scenery and the food.

We combine tough climbs in the lush and fertile springtime with plenty of fresh fruits, fresh baked goodies (like streusel-date bars, banana-walnut bread, raspberry granola bars and raisin-nut energy bars) and a lunch spread that makes other century organizers scratch their heads. The rides have always included a dinner at the finish.

The 15 mile Parent-Childflower ride takes a bike path and quiet orchard road to the rest stop in Durham south of Chico. A Bicycle Safety Rodeo is held in conjunction with the Childflower Ride at the Durham rest stop. Childflower participants will leave the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds at 9 am for a flat 6 mile ride to the Durham rest stop.

Beginning at 10:30, the Bicycle Safety Rodeo will allow young riders to practice their bike riding skills in mock traffic situations.  Fun stations include: the “slow race”, the ABC Quick Check, Scanning, the Slalom, Demon Driveway, and Signaling. Certificates of completion and prizes will be awarded.   All Childflower riders are encouraged to participate. Childflower entry fee is $15/person and helmets are mandatory. 

For more information on the Bicycle Safety Rodeo, contact the Butte Bicycle Coalition at 530.345.7347.

All routes start and finish at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds (click here to see a map on how to get to the Fairgrounds).

REGISTRATION: The ride entry fee includes a large water bottle, bandanna map, Wildflower bag, all-you-can eat rest stops and post-ride dinner. This ride is limited to 4,000 riders. PLEASE NOTE: The pre-registration deadline is April 15, 2012.  Late registrations will be accepted at the $75 rate (or $15 for the Childflower) until midnight on Friday, April 20th.  Day-of registrations will only be accepted if there is still space available on the ride.

QUESTIONS? Chico Velo Cycling Club, PO Box 2285, Chico, CA 95927, Tel: 530.343.8356, Toll Free: 800.482.2453, Fax: 530.342.4646, Email: velo@chicovelo.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A two bicycling class series to teach you how to ride your bicycle with skill and confidence. Have fun while you learn the principles of safe cycling. Recommended for adults and teens 14 and over.

WHAT: 2-class series.
WHEN: Saturday April 14 & 21 from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
WHERE: OPT For Healthy Living
1311 Mangrove, Suite E – Chico, CA

NB: Limited class size, register now: (530) 345-7347
PHChico@sbcglobal.net

Visit us at : www.ButteBicycleCoalition.org

Thank you all and bike safe.

Karen Goodwin, MS
OPT for Healthy Living
1311 Mangrove Ave Suite E
Chico, CA 95926
530-898-5678 or 519-2646

Chico’s BIKE WEEK is coming up (May 6-10) and the BBC (Butte Bicycle Coalition) met yesterday at “OPT for Fit Kids” to start organizing it.  It also started planning its participation to other bicycle-oriented events coming up this Spring.  BBC will in particular revamp its “Bicycle Energizer Stations” program during BIKE WEEK with new features and new locations designed at providing better and friendlier (still !) support to some of Chico’s growing number of bicycle commuters.

The CHICO MUSEUM will open on March 1st and until November its first “CHICO ON TWO WHEELS” exhibit.  Any Chicoan who would like to display some interesting and / or iconing piece of bicycle history is encouraged to contact the museum ASAP at (530) 891-4336.

BIKE SWAP at the CHAPMAN TOWN BIKE SHED:  Ron Toppi is hosting again its popular Kids’ bike swap day on Sunday May 20 (11a-3p) with four Sunday 11a-2p “fix-your-own-bike” workshops on March 12 & 26, April 9 & 23 and May 14.  More details to be posted later.

A new Chico’s “TOUR DES CUPCAKES” is in the works with a likely announcement at this year’s CHICO WILDFLOWER CENTURY RIDE (April 29th).  Organized by Laurie Niles, the tour will have six stations offering … CUPCAKES of course – with the purpose of making participants discover some of the lesser known among Chico’s many bicycle routes.  More details to be announced soon.

The CRUISER-BICYCLE-RIDE-TO-NOWHERE will kick off this year’s Chico Bike Week on Sunday May 6 at noon.  Organized by Bryan Fox of BOB Radio, the event will call for a day of family bicycling and picnic enjoyment in Bidwell Park.  Music and various festivities will be programmed.  More details soon.

The ENDANGERED SPECIES FAIR will happen on Saturday May 5 and BBC will have a booth there to promote cycling and nature conservation.  Videos will be displayed on a bicycle video trailer set up.

BBC will meet again soon to hammer down details about these many upcoming bicycle events.  Interested in volunteering for any of these events ?  Contact Karen Goodwin at KGoodwin@csuChico.edu

Great meeting yesterday !  Here’s the recap thanks to Jen Harris and Billie Kanter!

BUTTE BICYCLE COALITION Minutes

August 29, 2011

Introductions: Carla, Teresa, Stacy, Laurie, Pete, Greg, Jennifer, Billie, David, Todd, Dennis, David, Karen

• Still waiting on tax exempt status approval-expecting to hear within 4 weeks
• Need to recruit new board members. Currently there are 5. Stacy and Teresa are interested,
• Funding is needed for various educational projects, Bike Chico, and we need to increase membership. Currently $390 in the bank and $950 at North Valley Community Fund.

• BBC is part of Annie B’s Drive (the North Valley Community Foundation) which started Aug 1 til the end of September. Donations can be made on line at www.nvcf.org. Donations are leveraged with Foundation money. How to spread the word? Guzzetti’s Gazzette. Other ideas?

• Laurie stated on Sept 15 from 6-9 at the City Plaza, @ TNM NVCF is hosting an event for those organizations on their Annie Bs list. BBC has a table. Need staff. Bring decorations—bike sculptures, posters/photos. Donors get a t-shirt. Todd, Stacy, David, Pete volunteered. Set up at 5:30 PM

• How to develop relationships with Bike Shop owners? Table this for later.

• Pete talked about 350.org which highlights climate change. Sept 24 (Sat) “Moving Planet” take action to fight climate change. Considering a family ride beginning at One Mile through the park ending at 5 Mile with a solar cooker demo by Todd. Would include cycling info among other material. David Grau’s group also interested.

–Carol Lams “Let’s Move group also involved in promoting 350.org. Karen to determine if Carol’s group wants to have their event on the 24^th also. Have a bike parade? Need to know if there is a permit required for this type of activity. Karen to check with Katie Simmons; Pete to check on available ?; Laurie to do PSA for KZFR and KCHO; Karen to look into waivers (Shirley Adams B+G) Need to promote the Oct 5^th Walk and Bike to School Day at this event.

• “Thank you 4 Riding Your Bike” ongoing campaign. Ideas:  stickers, bells (use as a membership thank you), tags on bike. Wording: “Thanks for riding your bike” (Bike Chico.org—check out our events” ‘Bicycling—pass it on” Use postcards by placing BBC sticker over “tell us your story” “See you on the Trails” “I’d rather be biking” “Keep pedaling”

How to affix? Where to put?

How else to use the leftover cards? Dragon Graphics owner may suggest a design. See if bike shops interested in paying for it and have their name on the back.

• Oct 5 Walk and Bike Day Jen: place public posters in key locations with statistics or cycling facts. Pete reminded us that we need School District and campus approval for signs. Karen will ask Suzy Tolen if we could update the Bike Chico art for Walk and Bike day. Todd suggested a “why it’s good to cycle” essay contest
• Dennis:  word of mouth was how he got his message out when teaching kids bike safety. He also suggested school newsletters. Karen suggested putting signs in a parking lot where the cars are parked. Billie suggested getting the schools to use their neon signs. Ask Kirk about butcher paper. Jen reminded all that signs need to be taken down after they served their purpose.

• Todd:  use the BBC website as a portal to receiving a disc from a business. Ideas:  like a “QR” code like Farm Star Pizza. Per Stacey this is a way to get a longer message out. Todd, encouraged reaching out to riders along a bike path. Todd suggested a bike mural; find an artist to donate the time.

Local celebrities, Chamber of Commerce campaign “Why I Bike?” is something Katie Simmons at Chico Velo has been working on.

• Bike safety tips inserted in the bike routes maps. Karen, Pete, Laurie did this for handing out during the WRECtacular event. Could the safety info be included in the revised map? (some is already)

• Website:  need help and ideas. Dave: chainlink. org (Chicago)—social network started by his niece for all things cycling oriented. Jen suggested recruiting a Chico State class to make the updating the website an ongoing project. Greg mentioned a need for an umbrella site for all things bike. Laurie and Greg to ask the City or the Chico State campus (note not clear on this)

Laurie stated once tax exempt, can use “wordpress” to update website. Wordpress is web-based software to maintain a site. A Bay Area agency assists non-profits to update their sites. Billie volunteered.

• Meet Dave Synder on Thurs, Sept 1 at 7 PM at no host dinner at Malvinas. Dave is the Exec Director of the California Bike Coalition. He will be at K & Ps on Tues and Thurs nights. If you want to meet with him during the day, contact the Goodwin/Hollingsworths.

• Have a Facebook presence.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Butte-Bicycle-Coalition/116846711668259 Friend us!

• CA Bike Summit in Los Angeles Nov 5. Anyone want to go? Karen might.

• 99 Corridor Tour—dates: Sept 7 and 9 at 8 AM. Billie and Dennis interested. Karen will contact Ron Baker to suggest these times.

• Pete is developing a bike curriculum to take to into the schools. Would like volunteers. Billie said she was trainable.

• General agreement to meet monthly on Mondays until further notice. 1200 Park might be better spot, though less tasty.  (Karen adds: OPT for Healthy Living is available! At 1311 Mangrove)

Notes by Jennifer Harris, Billie Kanter and Karen

Karen Goodwin, MS
Nutrition Education Specialist
OPT for Healthy Living (formerly OPT for Fit Kids),

Center for Nutrition & Activity Promotion
1311 Mangrove Ave Ste B
Chico, CA  95926
530-898-5678

Starting Monday, 20th the Shed will hold it’s first BICYCLE MAINTENANCE CLASS.

It is a 3 class series, each class is 1 1/2 hours in length. 6pm – 7:30pm

LOCATION:  the shed is located by CHAPMAN ELEMENTARY.

SCHEDULE:
Monday 20:  Gear and Brake Systems/Adjustments
Tuesday 28: Bearing Assemblies/Adjustments
Tuesday July 12:  Wheel Trueing (skipping the first week of July for vacations)

Bring your own Bike or work on a Donated Bike! Classes are on a Donation Basis.  Class is limited to 5 per/series so RSVP.  Thank you.

Ron
chapmanshed@gmail.com