Right now we are simply asking for year end donations, as this is the time of year for giving. Since every little bit helps, SFUR will be continually working on fun and interesting ways for its supporters to get involved. One such way is joining the recently launched McLaren Bike Park Founders Club. In the new year SFUR promises to step up our game with more exciting special promotion/fundraising events that can turn fun into money (TBA).

Why is it important to support SFUR?

Over the past couple of years SF Urban Riders has managed to create some great cycling opportunities for riders of all ages and abilities. Taking a moment to reflect,  a few standouts include: providing huge support toward the Interior Greenbelt/Mount Sutro trail system, hosting Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day annually, and working with SFRPD and the community to conceptually plan the McLaren Bike Park. SFUR has managed to produce good results while running on a lean budget. Now things change as SFUR looks to partner with SF Rec & Park on a large scale Capital Improvement project, a.k.a the McLaren Bike Park. Although grants will be applied for (and awarded) for the construction of the bike park, SFUR is responsible for raising funds to pay for much of the design and other documents and permits. That cost could reach $75,000-$100,000 to obtain a world class bike park. A small price for a bike park that will also serve as a venue for a variety of future bike events. It is important to note, that the funds SFUR raises locally is also part of the requirement to leverage the larger construction grants. So it’s time to start!

McLaren Bike Park conceptual design plans

Who is Donating? Specialized Bicycles (w/ Mike’s Bikes of San Francisco) awarded SFUR a Dealer Grant ($5,000) in July 2011,the  Single Speed Cyclo Cross World Championships recently hosted in Golden Gate Park raised $360 in November,  Gamut USA ($1,000) became the first to join the Founders Club just last week. Now we are spreading the news to our members and anyone else who wants to support a positive change in San Francisco’s youth bike culture… and already individuals have started showing their generosity. So far SFUR has raised over $7,500 toward our goal.

How to Participate:

Make secure On-Line donations of any size HERE

If you want to pay by check, please make them out to SF Parks Alliance, and note SF Urban Riders on the check. Mail to: SF Urban Riders c/o Dustin Smith, 221 Warren Dr., San Francisco, CA 94131.

75% goes directly to McLaren Bike Park Design and Development. 20% to the SF Urban Riders general fund for operating costs and youth programs. 5% to SF Parks Alliance, SFUR’s non-profit fiscal host.

For more info contact info@sfurbanriders.org.

Thanks for your continued support. Let’s make San Francisco a better place to learn modern bike skills!

Youth group ride in McLaren Park

TKMBD 2011 Event in McLaren Park

Youth Cycling programs are so much more than riding.

YOUTH INTRODUCTION TO MOUNTAIN BIKING  -  Course begins October 16th at Upper Noe Valley Recreation Center.

To Register –  CALL SF Rec & Park at   415-831-6800

Online Registration: is currently NOT WORKING. When it is functioning it will be listed under the ACTION SPORTS Activities.

Like any monumental undertaking, this is just the beginning of positive change for off-road bicycle recreation in San Francisco. SFRPD is already listening to, and working with SF Urban Riders on several projects like multi use trails and the much anticipated McLaren Bike Park. Although these larger projects will take time they will be worth the effort. In the meantime, SFUR is busy reaching out to the next generation of cyclists and bringing smiles to their faces. SFUR is confident that a successful SFRPD Youth Mountain Bike Program will be able to expand to other Recreation Center locations in 2011.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD

Official SFRPD flyer for the Youth Program - Introduction To Mountain Biking

Dan Schneider and Chris Ruedy inspect the Interior Greenbelt Trail Corridor.

Its been rumored about for quite some time, there have been community meetings, and there was even an emotional vote of approval from the SFRPD Commission, but nothing tells the story like a photo.

The long awaited Interior Greenbelt Trail project, or better known as the Stanyan Street trailhead, finally breaks ground on Saturday October 2nd, 2010. The project is a partnership with UCSF and SF Rec & Park since the trail corridor shares property lines. Visit the SF Urban Riders Volunteer Page for more details on getting involved in this exciting and historic project.

The Interior Greenbelt trail was originally established in the 1880′s when Adolph Sutro owned the land and planted the trees that would become the infamous Sutro Forest. At that time Cole Valley was farm land, UCSF had not been constructed, and the newest train stop was at Stanyan Street to bring visitors close to Golden Gate Park. In order for Adolph Sutro to get weekly laborers to his Nursery at Clarendon and 7th Avenue he needed a connecting trail, so he constructed it and made it into an official route. It went on to become another of Sutro’s amazing recreational gifts to the city he loved, only to be improperly managed and lost to the public in the 1950′s.

This project will take 6-9 months to complete, and thousands of hours of volunteer work. It will add approximately 1/2 mile to the current Mount Sutro trail system, and more importantly direct access to Mount Sutro from Stanyan Street and Cole Valley. This trail project also signifies the beginning of a dream to build a trail that will continue from the Stanyan Street trailhead all the way around Mount Sutro, continuing over to Twin Peaks, and then  down into Glen Canyon. Its a big dream shared by many open space organizations, and just One Big Reason why the cycling community needs SF Urban Riders to be at the big table and advocate to keep this dream accessible to bikes!

Please be excited for this NEW Trail Project, but be RESPECTFUL. Please do not try to use the trail during construction, as it has NO EXIT.  Local neighbors thank you in advance for your courtesy!

The best way to check it out is to VOLUNTEER at the monthly trail building party.

The best way to stay informed of all things Mount Sutro and Trails is the Sutro Stewards website:

This section the Interior Greenbelt trail has been closed to the public for 50 years

Chris Ruedy, Craig Dawson, and Bandit at one of the hidden Chert Rock outcrops that are waiting to become cool trailside features.

But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Come to China Camp State Park in San Rafael, CA for guided rides and professional skills clinics, bike demos, beer tasting from seven (!!!) local breweries, live music and a gourmet bbq from the Culinary Institute of America. All proceeds go to IMBA California’s advocacy efforts!

2010 Event Highlights:

• Guided Rides/Skills Clinics – beginner, intermediate and advanced
• Bike Demos – Marin, Specialized, Ibis, Scott and Santa Cruz
• Free Bike tune-ups
• Skills Progression Zone
• Gourmet BBQ
• Beer and Root Beer Garden
• Live Music from the Greenstring Farm Band
• Silent Auction
• Dirt Rag Photo Contest
• Local Hero Awards
• Shimano Youth Series Race
• Marin Bikes Gold Sprints

For the last seven years, this has been one of the best mountain bike parties in the bay area, if not the best.  We’ll see you out there.

Visit www.alesandtrails.com for more details and to purchase discounted tickets!

Join the Sutro Stewards, Nature in the City, SF Urban Riders, SF Rotary, One Brick, and all our partners and friends united for a better outdoors experience, for the biggest trail party of the year. Traditional work event in the morning…. but a much bigger celebration afterwards with prizes, pizza, beverages and genuinely great sponsors. Come and join us to work in a beautiful space.  Food and beverages will be served following work activities! Snacks by Clifbar! Pizza delivery!

Taps flowing by Oskar Blues Brewing (and by tap we mean hikeable, bikeable cans of delicious delight)

Scope of the trail & habitat work will be around Woodland Canyon restoring trail tread, and removing overgrown vegetation along the Fairy Gates trail and the upper Edgewood trail. Please wear adequate shoes and bring layers of clothing as the weather is unpredictable in the forest. Gloves, tools, instruction, and supervision will be provided.

Section A – Comprehension: Please read the following paragraph and answer the Questions Below:

Bike Build.  The Rotary Cub of San Francisco, Supported by Mission Creek Parks, Kinders BBQ, Sunset Scavenger, SF Urban Riders,Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco, Variety Children’s Charity and Playworks San Francisco .  All tools will be provided – but feel free to bring a few basics if you have a favorite. There are 100 bikes to build and that says something about what is at hand.

1. The Above Sentence would be improved with:

a) More information about the event

b) More information about the sponsors

c) More information about the bikes

d) Any information about the kids getting the bikes

e) All of the above

2. Pick the word that best completes the following sentence:

Mission Rock Park on Saturday Morning was filled with _________

a) bikes in boxes

b) Kids

c) SF Urban Riders

d) Parents

e) All of the above

3. Finish the following sentence:

SF Urban Riders ____________.

a) need dirt to show their passion

b) like bikes

c) like kids

d) use tools well

e) All of the above

ANSWERS, SECTION A – All, E, all of the above.

Section B: Arithmetic

Please solve the following.  Calculators are not allowed.

4. How many hours will SF Urban Riders need to build 117 bicycles?

a) 5

b) 6

c) 2

d) can’t be done in a day

e) my head hurts

5. (bonus probability question) – Please show your work for full credit.

What is the probability that 117 department store bicycles will have any structural problems beyond SF Urban Rider’s mechanical capabilities?

ANSWERS, SECTION B:

4) SF Urban Riders needs 2 hours to assemble 117 bicycles.  It could not have been done without 24 SF urban riders working hard – the 24 included Brad, Chris, Matt, Dane, Tom, Christy, Dawn, John, Dan, Jason, Wilson, Hector, Matt, Jon, Thomas, James, Zach, Gary, Al, and a few more non mentioned (sorry, we’ll get your name next time)

5) Bonus Answer: 0.854%  Only 1 bike did not go home with a kid.  Yeah…. that’s way, way upper percentile for wrenching on department store bicycles.  We are way above, outside, and backflipping over that curve.

Go ride your bikes now.  Report back Saturday, May 1st at 9am for trail building on Mt Sutro.  Usual Place.  Usual beer and pizza at noon forty five.

The Highbridge Project from y.a on Vimeo.

There was also the glorious moment of the planning commission revealing the data gathered from the last survey.  Another hearty thanks to everyone who took time to fill out the second survey.  Just look at these figures! The people have indeed spoken.

What’s that? Can’t read the text? Lets have a closer look.

So now we just need to keep pushing.  Within the hallowed halls of the great institution known as SFUR, which could easily be mistaken for a dive bar, we’re working to get a second draft of our bike park proposal submitted.  Then comes assurance that we can have a space to work with, then comes fundraising and building.  Then comes some sweet, sweet play time for you, me, and everyone who loves bike riding in the bay area, and many who do not yet know how much they (will) love it.

Many thanks, and if you have time, please fill out the second survey, located here.

Note that this survey is not as open ended as the first, and it is a little disappointing to not see any mention of a bike park within, especially given the results of the first survey.  Please take some time with the second survey to select the ‘other’ option and note how much you would appreciate a place for you and your children to ride bicycles off road in a structured environment.

We’re making progress on the McLaren Bike Park.  We’re gathering support and reviewing proposals to submit to the city.  Thanks to everyone who has already joined our McLaren Bike Park facebook page.  Thanks to everyone who has visited our new MBP page here on this site.  A very special thanks to everyone who signed our support petition and wrote a letter.

We’re also making a separate website just for this project.

Come by and visit us @ www.mclarenbikepark.org.

With enough voices, our momentum towards a bike park and mountain bike trails in McLaren and elsewhere will be unstoppable.  We really need everyone’s help to spread the word.  Tell people on facebook, tweet it out, send some emails, or just talk about it after your next big ride.

Jesse Gray of SFUR Overseeing Quality Assurance at the Old Navy Bike Build.

What a tremendously satisfying event this was!

Special thanks goes out to Playworks, a non-profit that is culturing and educating young people through quality unstructured play.

Playworks Executive Director  Ellen Goodman brought this unique concept to the Old Navy Regional Corporate  meeting held on Wednesday February 10th at the Hilton Union Square Continental Ballroom.

It quickly became a free for all with some surreal moments.

Over 450 Old Navy employees were surprised with a Team Building Challenge, in which each table of people needed to work together to build a bike. They were to employ the team building concept of ‘Step Up’ and ‘Step Back’, which reflect ones natural tendency to step up and take control, or step back and play the subordinate role. The idea was to have each person perform only one task so everyone would need to step up.

Not only did the Old Navy employees build the bikes, but they raised the $10,000 to purchased them as well. In total 120 low income and under served youth were gifted new knobby tired bicycles.

From a bike geeks perspective, this is where things got interesting. SF Urban Riders got a big shout out from  Playworks, introducing us as Quality Assurance, and then the group energizes in mass and storms to the back of the ballroom like it was the Amazing Race.  Lets just say the quality assurance came after the team building challenge was over. That is when the SFUR crew looked over every bike for fork & handlebar alignment, cable routing, tire pressure, and other sometimes comical issues one would expect from a massive group exercise.

The ultimate high came when the kids showed up to claim their  new rides. They were all from Cleveland Elementary in the Excelsior District and coincidentally real close to the proposed McLaren Park Bike Skills Area.

Now SF Urban Riders is working with the principal to follow up with more bike skills mentorship.

That is how it would work all the time in a perfect world.

Mark Your Calendar

Next Bike Build will be on Saturday April 24th and we can always use interested volunteers.:

More Details coming soon.