3rd Annual Sonoma County Bike Expo

The Sonoma County Bicycle Expo (formerly the Northern California Bicycle Expo) is your destination for all things bike! Produced by Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition and presented by Rabobank, this celebration of bicycling returns to Santa Rosa on August 19th for the third year in a row. With new features, great new partners, excellent food and drink, and new and returning vendors, the Expo promises to be the best yet.

“The Expo offers something for everyone from those new to biking to racers to custom bike super-geeks,” says Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition Outreach Director, Sandra Lupien. “Even people who haven’t ridden a bike since childhood will enjoy our Expo; it’s a great place to pick up that bicycle you’ve been thinking of getting.”

Once again, the Sonoma County Bicycle Expo will feature an array of vendors offering new and used bicycles, parts, gear, clothing, and accessories. Exhibitors will represent an array of community groups that work with Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition to make Sonoma County the best place to ride a bike. Those looking to participate in a great ride this fall might just find what they’re looking for, too.

Speaking of rides, the day begins at 8:00 a.m. with the annual Ride About Town. This free, inclusive, family-friendly ride highlights Santa Rosa trails and roadways. It starts and ends at the Expo site. My Friend Joe and Whole Foods Market will provide complimentary coffee and breakfast treats, respectively, to those who join the Ride About Town.

Fun Bike Unicorn Club and Whiskeydrunk Cycles will show off their latest amazing art bikes

OneLove BMX returns to perform astounding BMX tricks and stunts all day

Street musicians and performers will share their talents throughout the Expo

New Belgium Brewing, the Expo beer sponsor, will host a “chill space” featuring do-it-yourself silk-screening, comfy chairs, and a giant Connect Four game. One lucky person will take home a limited edition New Belgium Brewing cruiser!

And, that’s not all! Custom bike geeks and those with a competitive spirit will marvel at these new features at the Sonoma County Bicycle Expo:

Velogenesis is an exhibition of Northern California custom bicycle frame builders who will work together to build bikes on-site. Viewers will witness bike building from start to finish (including a bamboo bicycle) and a couple of lucky winners will take home custom bikes (raffle tickets will be for sale at the Annadel Mountain Bike Race on August 18th, and before at the Expo site from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.). Participating builders are: Bruce Gordon Cycles (Petaluma), Calfee Design (La Selva Beach), Inglis & Retrotec (Napa), Paragon Machine Works (Richmond), Raphael Cycles (San Francisco), Rebolledo Cycles (Glen Ellen), Soulcraft (Petaluma), and Sycip (Santa Rosa).

Small World Fat Tire by Bike Monkey features racing all day on 2nd Street. Choose your race level. The Expo is the day after Bike Monkey’s Annadel Mountain Bike Race, so fat tires are where it’s at. In the words of Bike Monkey: “as far as racing culture goes here, we’ll be favoring tutus over skinsuits. If your socks have to match your sidewalls, that’s cool, but just expect to catch some heckling for it. Nothing is sacred, which is pretty much the only thing that’s sacred.”

An array of food vendors will meet everyone’s lunch needs, and we’ll be pouring New Belgium Brewing beer starting at 11:00 a.m.

Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is thrilled to welcome Rabobank as the presenting sponsor of the 2012 Sonoma County Bicycle Expo. “As a community bank that sponsors a professional cycling team,” says Ronald La Bruzzo, bank Vice President and Manager, “Rabobank views the Sonoma County Bicycle Expo as an ideal way to give back to our local cycling community. We’re looking forward to a great day.”

Additional sponsorship is provided by Sonoma County Whole Foods Markets, Santa Rosa Cycling Club Ravenswood, New Belgium Brewing, St. Francis Winery, and BikeParners.net.

Event Details:
What: Sonoma County Bicycle
Expo
Features: Vendors, food, exhibits, bike ride, racing, bike building, raffles, free valet bike parking

When: Sunday, August 19th, 2012, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Ride About Town at 8:00 a.m.)

Where: Santa Rosa, California, E Street between D & E, and the parking lot at E and 2nd Street

Admission: Free

Info: www.BikeSonoma.org/expo; 707-545-0153; events@bikesonoma.org
Vendors: www.bikesonoma.org/vendors
Volunteers: events@bikesonoma.org; 707-545-0153