It's hard to fault the city of Sausalito for trying to raise money for its charities during this year's Tour of California. It's just that it costs motorists $6 to drive across the bridge these days, so charging a select group of VIPs $500 each for the thrill of pedaling a bicycle across the iconic span (on the roadway itself) seems to send the wrong message at the wrong time.

This is not business as usual... California has dropped its budget chain, unemployment is spinning faster than a runaway fixie on Lombard Street, and the dopers in Detroit still haven't figured out the world doesn't need a new fleet of gas-guzzling SUVs.

There's an opportunity here, and sadly we're missing it. Instead of opening the bridge to a small peloton of bib shorts with deep pockets, why not close the bridge to motor traffic both ways for two or three hours and allow cyclists to cross the span for the regular $6 toll. Imagine thousands of cyclists of every kind, young and old, riding together through that Golden Gate as a symbol we need to change our priorities. And by all means give the money to the charities.

Now I understand closing the bridge, even for a short period of time, is a logistical nightmare with an economic impact. And it's true that cyclists can ride across the bridge perimeter most days of the year, but this is different. If it wasn't, Sausalito wouldn't think they could charge $500 for the experience.

It's ironic that sharing a bridge could be the perfect metaphor for sharing the road. I wish someone had thought that through before I did.

Bikes to Rwanda

We interrupt the regularly scheduled programming for a few minutes to give something back. I'm lucky to have a lovely wife, comfortable home and resources to indulge my passion for cycling. In the grand scheme of things, selecting the right kit just doesn't rank that highly.

When I was in Portland at the recent Oregon Manifest I had a chance to speak with Clara Seasholtz, Executive Director of Bikes to Rwanda. The program sells heavy-duty cargo bicycles to the workers of Rwandan coffee collectives at a highly-subsidized cost (I think they refer to it as a micro loan). She spoke about the organization's mission with passion and pragmatism focusing on the long term goals of self-sufficiency and sustainability, that means building maintenance shops, providing tools and ensuring that bicycle owners meet their payment responsibilities. This is non-profit, but it's not about giving away bicycles.

The basic formula seems to be working and producing a number of unexpected outcomes. Many of the growers are women and culturally Rwandan women don't ride bicycles. That hasn't stopped them from purchasing the cargo bikes and leasing them out to male workers. In fact there's been a flourishing entrepreneurial business around the bicycles for use as taxis when they're not hauling up to 350 pounds of coffee beans. Clara sees all this as wonderfully encouraging.

I asked her if they had plans to expand the mission to other applications or countries, and she explained that they've just scratched the surface of the coffee workers needs, and that's where the focus will remain.

Today's commute was one of the great days that arrive unexpectedly. A brisk, sunny day with dramatic white clouds and a strong tailwind for the journey home. Encouraged by the following wind, I thought about hauling coffee and figured I could lend a hand. I've got a hundred dollars headed for Bikes to Rwanda. Here's the Paypal link to make a donation. Hope you'll join me.

Donate to Bikes to Rwanda online through Paypal

Bikes and Builders    Gallery

Background. Every cyclist and every driver in the U.S. should be required to spend time in Portland. At 5pm Friday I stepped out of the Oregon Manifest show onto N. Weidler Street on my way back across the river to the aptly-named Hotel Deluxe. I don't think I moved for the next twenty minutes as a constant stream of commuting cyclists rode by: young and old; male and female; on all manner of bikes.

Commuting year round in the bay area I'm lucky if I see half-a-dozen cyclists coming or going on my South bay route (and that's during the summer months). In Portland there were that many cyclists stopped at every red light. It was an amazing sight and an inspiring glimpse of how transportation should be working everywhere.

It's no wonder then that Portland and the North West has such a rich bike builder culture. I met stock analysts, librarians, big company escapees and backshop mechanics at the show, and they all wanted to turn their passion for the bicycle into their day & night job.

There was Sean Chaney at Vertigo Cycles who took a class in titanium welding and hasn't looked back. His beefy cross design sported massive bowed chainstays and unique top tube ports for internal cable routing. Per local custom the bike was unwashed.

Dave at Velvet Cycles works in steel when he's not working the stacks. In addition to a sweet Track bike with kryptonite green cranks, seatpost, handlebar and hubs, there was an off-road fixed rig with what I called "Suicide" seat stays (pic) that showcase his refined hand-filing skills. The stays look great, like they'd been cut from bar stock, but Dave will be testing them for durability before declaring them a regular starter.

Joseph Ahearne's bicycles, complete with elegant racks were standouts with stylish touches like the celtic headtube badge, double top tube, two-tone paint, fenders and gracefully arcing handlebars.

333Fab is Maxwell Kullaway and Bernard Georges of Seattle. The team builds race bikes in steel and titanium, with a judicious use of carbon where appropriate. Slate Olson was riding his 333fab singlespeed in the Cross Crusade that Sunday... I'll take that as a ringing endorsement.

Of all the materials employed by the craftsmen at the show, none was more surprising and intriguing than wood. Renovo's R2 road frame (pic), available in a variety of woods was notable for it's blend of old school material and high-tech manufacturing. And there was the Wheel Fanatyk's gorgeous, luminous Ghisallo wood rims (pic). Available to accept tubs or clinchers, these wheels are reputed to smooth out the worst road surfaces. They certainly were pretty.

I Want those Wellies

Vanilla and Sacha White were in the house with several bikes including the offshoot Speedvagen - brand cross bike that graced the Edge Composites booth at Interbike. Light, fast and unquestionably durable, Speedvagen is really the only way to satisfy your taste for Vanilla with the full-custom waiting list stretching out five years (and for the foreseeable future closed to new orders).

Rapha's Fall/Winter Line Offers Refined Perfection

The new offerings from Perren Street merit much more attention than I'm about to give them here, but fear not, with so many pieces on the way to the Velodramatic wardrobe, there's plenty of time and miles to give them the coverage they deserve.

I count myself lucky to have met and spent time with Graeme Raeburn, the latest addition to Rapha's design team. Graeme expertly walked me through the nuances and refinements of the collection, and there's an impressive number of them to catalog.

I've already admitted the Winter Gilet was my favorite piece; a no-questions acquisition that's going to see lots of action as the weather turns cooler. Five pockets, shaped tricot collar, quiet softshell fabric with Hytrel® membrane and a cut that marries comfort and style are what makes this undeniably pro.

The same fabric finds an equally compelling deployment in the long-awaited softshell winter gloves (pictured above) and here. I'd ordered these last winter but Rapha's quality control czar rejected them as substandard. Now they're back, production issues have been resolved, and they're definitely worth the wait. The light softshell fabric provides a second-skin fit with just the right amount of compression. I slipped on the medium and for a moment considered running for the door. Patience. I can wait a week or two more for supple, sniper-padded, leather and softshell bliss.

While I wait for the gloves, I'll be enjoying the tailored minimalism of the Fixed Jacket, but I'll save that report for another post, this one has run its course.

Team Slipstream Chipotle's David Zabriskie has the beginnings of a worthwhile campaign to educate cyclists and drivers about our mutual rights and responsibilities on the road.

Yield to Life advocates greater awareness and tolerance from motorists with some common sense safety tips and an invitation to give cycling a try themselves. It just might change their lives, and save ours.

I'm looking forward to the media campaign that's in the works, and hoping David has some high-profile success on the bike to ensure it gets the corporate support necessary to make an impact.

A $50 donation gets you a Y2L T-shirt and Y2L stickers. I'm going to put my money where my mouth is, hope some of you reading do too.