We’re helping make the Motherlode a safer, enjoyable place to ride a bicycle.
Author: mlbcrob@gmail.com
Chairperson of the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition, BikeValleytoSierra Outreach Manager and Caltrans District 10 Bike Pedestrian Advisory Committee Member
CalBike developed the website BikeValleytoSierra.com to promote bike tourism in the northern San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Foothill counties to the east. The website has attracted 435 followers who have received news articles and updates about every other week, on average, for the last two years. This is an audience of community leaders and bicyclists who have expressed interest in and support for this effort.
To maintain this audience and keep the momentum of interest garnered so far, the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition (a project of the California Bicycle Coalition Education Fund) will sponsor the website indefinitely, and coordinate the maintenance of its content.
Contributors will be bicycle advocates from organizations throughout the five county area, business development and tourism bureau officials, and others as recruited by the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition.
Happy holidays! The new year is just around the corner and it’s time to celebrate what the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition and our partners have accomplished during 2021, and what we look forward to achieving in 2022.
Last January 2021 we created a monthly bike riding calendar with bike events for the year and an advocacy agenda. Due to Covid, our monthly bike rides and events were cancelled but the Board met bimonthly by Zoom.
As we ride into 2022, our top priorities are to advocate for improved biking conditions on our public roads; encourage all residents—kids and adults—to ride bicycles for transportation and recreation; and to promote our region for road and mountain biking.
What We Accomplished
Membership and Partners
Our current membership is 23 members who represent biking in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne counties. Our new bike business partners include all local bike and recreation businesses: Bear Valley Adventure Co., Bear Valley Bicycles in Arnold, Gateway Adventure Co. in Copperopolis, Mountain Pedaler Bicycles in Angels Camp, and Sonora Cyclery in East Sonora.
Welcome BearValley Bicycles in Arnold
Ride & Walk 4 Art
In 2021, the annual bike and walk event we coordinate for the Calaveras County Arts Council as a fundraiser to support the arts in Calaveras public schools had over 150 cyclists, despite it being a “no frills” event due to Covid restrictions and with a last minute change of venue from New Hogan Reservoir to the Valley Springs Elementary School parking lot. It’s true that when one door closes, another opens; our 2022 Ride & Walk 4 Art found a new starting point at the Jenny Lind Veterans Memorial Park in Valley Springs, with more parking and a better venue for our returning Chicken-in-a-Barrel lunch.
We want to thank our Coalition volunteers for their work to make Ride & Walk 4 Art a success. We could not present this premiere Calaveras biking event without them! An early bird registration discount of $5 at Ride & Walk 4 Art is open from now until January 1. Register at www.rideandwalk4art.com
Bike Riding Tourism Study Outreach Virtual Meetings
This was the final year of Caltrans’ Bike Riding Tourism Study that included numerous Zoom meetings with San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Calaveras and Alpine Counties to discuss bike riding safety, destinations, road conditions, and public and government support. The final report for Bike Valley to Sierra was completed, sent to Caltrans District 10, and has been shared with all local transportation agencies.
Community Outreach
Thanks to funds from the CalBikes Education Project, we’ve continued to expand our website, www.bikevalleytosierra.com to include news about cycling in the Mother Lode, surveys to our members, and even videos!
MLBC Logo
The logo design process is always a long journey. We continue to solicit ideas; a few designs are included in this letter for your feedback.
Park Tool Grant
We submitted a $1,000 Park Tool Community Tool Grant to be awarded a bike stand and tools for bike service support at our events. Winners of the Park Tool Grant will be notified in January 2022
Bikeway Trail Projects Recommend in Bike Riding Tourism Report
Sierra Railway Trail
We assisted Cole Przybyla, Tuolumne County Innovation and Business Director, submit to Caltrans an Innovative Concepts Proposal to complete an engineering plan for a Bikeway from Jamestown to Sonora. This proposal was not selected for the first round of support. However, it did spur a meeting with Caltrans District 10, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the Tuolumne County Transportation Council, Tuolumne County Public Works, and the president and vice president of the Sierra Railway, and resulted in a commitment by Caltrans to assist in submitting an Active Transportation Plan in their 2023 cycle.
EBMUD Pipeline Trail
We presented the Bike Valley to Sierra Signature EBMUD Pipeline project to the seven member board in late November. The president of the board discussed the project with the EBMUD General Manager and wrote to us, saying “What a great idea!” A meeting coordinated by the San Joaquin Council of Governments, the San Joaquin County Bike Coalition and the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition is scheduled for mid-December to discuss our next steps.
EBMUD Mastodon Prehistoric Bikeway
Death Ride Rest Stop Team
Nikki Grimes led a team of volunteers at the Lake Alpine Turn Around at the 40th Death Ride. And then, the Tamarack Fire cancelled the ride. What you might not know is Nikki and her team were at Lake Alpine bright and early, ready to stamp rider bibs and assist riders.
Alpine County Chamber of Commerce Recently Shared…Watch for Special Death Ride New Years Eve Announcement at the links below.
We participated in the California Dream Ride in October 2021. This virtual ride allowed us to feature local bike riding infrastructure, safety issues, and popular cycling destinations. We raised $140 that supports the CalBike Education Fund which allows us to operate as a bike advocacy organization. The fundraiser is still accepting donations. Use this link to contribute:
Finally,
The first Caltrans District 10 BIke and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2022.
Sonora Cyclery
2022Plans andBike Riding
MLBC Membership Drive in May 2022
Tuolumne and Calaveras Bike Rodeos May 2022
Safe Route to School Day October 2022
2022 Monthly Rides Calendar Weekdays/Weekends Published in January 2022
Read my magazines on Flipboard @robwilliams3994
Blog motherlodebike.org
Ride along with us on Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, or the Motherlodebike website to stay updated on our latest news
Twitter @MLBCRob
Facebook, Motherlode Bicycle Coalition and Bike Valley to Sierra
I am the founder and chairperson of the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition and I am asking for your help to support CalBike, California’s statewide bicycle advocacy organization.
CalBike is the leading advocate for cycling and walking in California. This non-profit works to increase cycling and walking opportunities along the roads of California. They work with communities to create safe spaces for walking and biking. They work with legislators to create bike-friendly policy. They work with transportation departments to build safe streets. CalBike advocates for equitable, inclusive, and prosperous communities where bicycling helps to enable all Californians to lead healthy and joyful lives.
Close to home, CalBike recently completed a report that identified 4 signature projects in the Motherlode that can be used as blueprints to make cycling and walking part of our rural communities.
This October, as part of CalBike’s Dream Ride Challenge, I rode my bike along popular Gold Country roads to support CalBike, I created a Dream Ride Fundraising Campaign to raise $1,500.
If you’re reading this letter, it’s because you love biking in the Motherlode and are interested in improving access along the roads and future trails you love to ride. Your contribution will support CalBike as they work to improve biking for all.
Ride & Walk 4 Art is one of the most beautiful bike riding events in West Calaveras County. Riding the foothills in March is a fantastic experience on rural roads that runthrough brilliant green pastures and oak lands blooming with wildflowers. On a clear day cyclists can expect beautiful views of Mt Diablo, Sierras and the Central Valley along the 100 mile route.
The Judge Rounding Poloma Road
The ride starts at a new venue this year, the Jenny Lind Veterans Memorial in Valley Springs. This new central location provides greater access to parking. This year we’re bringing back the our fully-stocked food and water rest stops manned by experienced volunteers as well as an excellent chicken-in-a-barrel lunch with all the fixin’s after the ride or walk.
Cyclists can choose from three rides—a 30-mile ride, a 45-mile ride, and an all new 100-mile ride that follows the 45-mile route but adds four out-and-back hill climbs that branch off the main route. Customize your ride and select one or all four hill climbs!
The bike ride starts and finishes in Valley Springs and the 45-mile loop takes cyclists around Pardee, Camanche and New Hogan lakes. Cyclists who opt to add the CenturyRide routes can choose to cycle Poloma, Stoney Creek, South Hogan Dam Roads and Gwin Mine to Middle Bar Bridge. New this year, Ride 4 Art Ambassador’s will escort participants out of town to Poloma Road and along all hill climb options.
The CenturyNew Gwin Mine to Middle Bar Bridge Option
Three bike shops will proved mechanical assistance along the route: Mountain PedalerBicycles from Angels Camp, Bear Valley Bicycles from Arnold, and Jackson Bike Shop from Jackson. Friendly, on-the-road support will be available as well; the Calaveras Amateur Radio Association will help monitor cyclists and walker safety with vehicle support using two way radios and SAG Trucks.
No matter what ride you choose, please self-assess your abilities. Typically, an average cyclist can finish a century ride in 7-8 hours, though that always varies on your skill level and how much time you spend off the bike during the course of the day. Road safety control will be available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the day of the event. Lunch will be served from noon to 3 p.m. After 3, there will be boxed lunches available at the end of the course.
If you ride parts of the ride prior to RideandWalk4Art Don’t forget to stay in touch on Facebook, Instagram, and our Strava club.
For more information contact Rob Williams at 209/273.8009 or mlbcrob@gmail.com
