Winter 2013 Pedal Press - Marin County Bicycle Coalition

Volume 15 / Issue 1 WINTER 2013
SAFE CROSSING 101: YES!
BETTER ACCESS TO TRAILS

733 Center Blvd., Fairfax
CA 94930 • 415-456-3469
www.marinbike.org
STAFF
Kim Baenisch, Executive Director
Tom Boss, Membership Director
Bob Trigg, Administrator
Andy Peri, Advocacy Director
Alisha Oloughlin, Planning
Director
Erik Schmidt; Off-Road Director
April Spooner; Volunteer and
Activities Coordinator
Wendi Kallins, Safe Routes to
Schools Program Director
Laura Kelly, Safe Routes to Schools
Volunteer Liaison
Peggy Clark, Safe Routes to
Schools Project Coordinator
Gwen Froh, Safe Routes to
Schools Teen Program Coordinator
James Sievert, Safe Routes to
Schools Instructor
Volume 15 / Issue 1 WINTER 2013
Wendi KallinS’ Climate Ride
see page 5
CONTENTS
President’s Message.......................................... 3
Tour de Marin 2013............................................ 3
2013 MCBC Board Election.............................. 4
Safe Routes Director Tackles
Climate Change.................................................. 5
How I Travelled to School
When I Was a Kid.............................................. 5
Tennessee Valley Pathway Open.................... 6
DIRECTORS
Maureen Gaffney, President
Mark Comin, Vice President
Don Magdanz, Secretary
Ian Roth, Treasurer
Philip Brewer
Chris Hobbs
Jennifer Kaplan
Fred Morfit
Scott Penzarella
John Vipiana
TENNESSEE PATHWAY OPEN
see page 6
Roll Models: Forrest Fennel.............................. 7
Better Access to Trails in State Parks............ 8
Women on Wheels Workshops...................... 9
China Camp Day Use Fee Program.............. 10
MCBC Supports Fee Program......................... 11
ADVISORs
Mark Birnbaum
Joe Breeze
Tom Hale
Deb Hubsmith
Jim Jacobsen
Patrick Seidler
Julia Violich
PEDAL PRESS
Editor: Tom Boss
Copy Editor: Connie Breeze
Design: Jeremy Thornton
Contributors: Tom Boss, Ernest
Chung, Peggy Clark, Miguel
Farias, Forrest Fennel, Maureen
Gaffney, Wendi Kallins, Cheryl
Longinotti, Don Magdanz,
Alisha Oloughlin, Andy Peri,
Erik Schmidt and April Spooner
GOING DUTCH
see page 12
BIKE GEAR REVIEWS
see page 18
Going Dutch.......................................................12
Bike Locally Challenge Wrap Up................... 14
Basic Street Skills Classes...............................16
Safe 101 Crossing: Yes!.....................................17
Bike Gear Reviews.............................................18
Safe Routes Walk to School Day...................20
Membership......................................................20
Cover photo by Miguel Farias
Back cover photo by Peter Oppenheimer
2

President’s Message
When I was first born into the world of bike advocacy,
I told myself I’d quit when I found I was
spending more time talking about the riding of bikes
than actually riding bikes. That milestone is well behind
me at this point, and yet I continue. Why? Why not go
for that ride instead of to that meeting? Why not B-17
vs. budgets? Why not ride Alpine Dam vs. talk about
someday riding Alto Tunnel? Because this is how it
gets done. The collective efforts of Marin County’s
bike-minded people are the reason I can ride from my
house in Larkspur to San Rafael via the Cal Park Hill
Tunnel, the reason my bones no longer rattle riding
through Samuel P. Taylor Park, the reason mountain
bikers will soon be able to ride Bills’ Trail.
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition, Access 4 Bikes,
Marin Cyclists, the Bicycle Trails Council of Marin, the
NorCal High School Mountain Bike League—all of
these organizations and many others, through the
tireless efforts of their boards, staff, volunteers and
members, are making the differences they want to
see in the world—right here at home. Want to get
kids off the couch and into nature? Volunteer with
NorCal. Hate seeing kids driven to school? Get with
Safe Routes to School. Want more trails to ride? Get
active with A4B and MCBC. Got no time? Donate to
the MCBC. We know how to turn your cash into paths.
Speaking of cash, I was honored to receive on behalf
of MCBC a $6,000 check from the Marin Cyclists at
their annual holiday party at Jason’s Restaurant in
Greenbrae. For the past several years, the MCBC has
been one of three beneficiaries of the funds raised
from the Marin Century. We are eternally grateful for
this generous donation—thank you Marin Cyclists!
In case you missed our Annual Fund Campaign, I
am here to alleviate your fear, guilt, and self-loathing
with this news: It’s never too late to give your financial
support to your favorite non-profit organization, the
Marin County Bicycle Coalition. Our programs are
funded by a combination of membership dues, feefor-service
contracts, grants, and donations both small
and large. Members of our Spoke Society—donors who
give at the $500-plus level—are a vitally important
part of our ongoing success. If you sign up at the Spoke
level by April 1, you’ll get to lead the Tour of California
peloton across the Golden Gate Bridge. Okay, that’s
not true. But you should become a Spoke anyway.
Happy New Year to you and yours. I hope to see
you on the road/trail/path.
– Maureen Gaffney, MCBC Board President
Tour de Marin 2013: Sunday, May 26
Join the Marin County
Bicycle Coalition and
Whole Foods Market
on Sunday, May 26 for
a 40-mile ride through
scenic Marin and then
watch the final stage of
the Tour of California in
the afternoon. There will
be great food all along
the ride, including fine
gourmet cuisine from
Marin artisan cheese
and bread makers!
You’ll roll past Big Rock, see redwood groves and
horse stables, and take in a feast at the Nicasio energizer
station. This year’s route will include a trip around
the Frank Lloyd Wright Marin Civic Center and through
China Camp State Park, where you’ll see rolling oak
covered hills, green meadows and a salt marsh.
All ride levels welcome, no one is left behind. The
ride will be well supported, with ride leaders, sweepers,
course marshals and SAG (support and gear) wagon
courtesy of Mike’s Bikes.
Tour de Marin proceeds will help MCBC’s efforts to
expand Marin’s bicycle network with safe bike lanes,
pathways, bridges and tunnels.
All riders get a goodie bag filled with great snacks
and swag, and a supported ride complete with SAG
and energizer station. The first 300 people to register
will receive a 2013 Tour de Marin T-shirt. After the ride
we’ll gather at the San Rafael Whole Foods Market for
food, drink and socializing!
WHAT: Third Annual Tour de
Marin, a 40-mile ride around
scenic Marin County
WHEN: Sunday, May 26,
2013 – 8:30 am
WHERE: Whole Foods
Market, San Rafael at
340 3rd Street.
Sign-up for the ride today!
Registration includes food,
t-shirt, swag bag and ride
support.
Registration fee: $50
$40 Early Bird Special:
Sign up before March 3 and
get 20% off!
3

2013 Timeline
Friday, February 15: Director
Candidate Statements are
due (see directions below).
2013 MCBC Board of Directors Election
Month of March: Ballots
sent to members and votes
submitted.
Annual Meeting on
Wednesday, April 3: Each
director candidate will have
the opportunity to make a
3-minute presentation. Final
votes will be collected and
counted, and winners will be
announced at the meeting.
The hours and location of
this meeting will be posted
as the meeting date gets
closer.
If you are interested in being
a Director Candidate:
1. Review the Director
Responsibilities @ www.
marinbike.org/ Contacts/
Board/Responsibilities.
shtml
2. Review our Bylaws
for more info on how
the Board of Directors
operates @ http://www.
marinbike.org/About/
MCBCBylawsOCT06.pdf.
3. Notify Kim Baenisch,
MCBC Executive Director,
of your interest at kim@
marinbike.org or 415-
456-3469 x 1#. She will
schedule a meeting for
you with members of
the Board Development
Committee to further
explain the responsibilities
of Directors, and provide
the Candidate Statement
instructions.
4. Submit your Director
Candidate Statement by
February 15, 2013.
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s (MCBC) Board
Development Committee welcomes candidates
for election to our Board of Directors. This is a rare
opportunity to work with an influential team of community
leaders and help shape the future of cycling
in Marin.
The Board of Directors is the governing body that
provides direction and oversight for the MCBC’s scope
of activities and is committed to the MCBC mission
statement, “to promote safe bicycling for everyday
transportation and recreation.”
Directors have a mixture of professional backgrounds,
which keeps our perspective fresh and
balanced. All candidates are welcome; however the
Board Development Committee encourages those who
would bring perspective and experience in:
• County government relating to cycling or
pedestrian infrastructure
• Government and contract law
• Public works engineering
• Direct marketing
• Finance
• Fundraising
We are also looking for:
• Parents
• School Administrators
Directors must be current MCBC members as
of March 1, 2013. If you are not yet a member of the
MCBC, please join now at http://www.marinbike.org.
MCBC is in its 15th year and is one of the most
influential cycling organizations in the nation. MCBC
works closely with members of the greater cycling
community, governmental and intra-governmental
organizations, and fellow non-profit organizations
focused on cycling-related activities.
MCBC is an incorporated non-profit membership
organization with 11 Directors, each serving a 2-year
term. Staggered elections are held each year at an
annual membership meeting in April.
The MCBC Board of Directors typically meets
bimonthly on the third Monday of each month from
6 to 8:30 p.m. Directors attend the monthly meetings
and are involved on MCBC committees and other
activities such as fundraising, events, advocacy, share
the road, and special projects.
Serving on the MCBC Board of Directors is a
rewarding way to share your talents to improve bicycling
and the quality of life in Marin County. We look
forward to your candidacy.
– MCBC Board Development Committee
(Photo: 2012 MCBC Board of Directors.)
Electrical Contractor /
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Electrical / Lighting Design
Residential / Commercial
Home Integration
Tele / Data Communications
Renewable Energies
Fire Systems
Security
ELECTRICALLYCONNECTED
DENIS SOLAN
ph 415.497.4248
fax 415.626.1317
denis@electricallyconnected.net
4

Safe Routes Director Tackles Climate Ride
By Wendi Kallins
I
’m no athlete. I didn’t even start biking on a regular
basis until I started Safe Routes to Schools 12 years
ago. So why, at age 60, am I preparing to ride the
300-mile Climate Ride this coming May? Call me
crazy, but I’m tired of hearing all the Climate Change
deniers who stick their heads in the sand even as Super
Storm Sandy sweeps in and devastates the eastern
seaboard. As the glaciers melt and the sea levels rise,
I feel that I need to do something to raise awareness
on this issue. Yes, I know, Safe Routes to Schools is
doing a lot to educate school children and encourage
them to reduce their carbon footprint. But my heart
told me to reach out even more. Besides, it’s a great
excuse to get in better shape. Biking, after all, is my
fountain of youth.
The ride begins near Eureka in the midst of Northern
California’s majestic redwoods. From there we
travel along the coast, soaking in expansive ocean
views and coastal bluffs. On the fourth day, we pedal
inland along the Russian River to cruise through
California’s famed Wine Country, considered some
of the best cycling in the US. The final day is an epic
ride through Marin and across the Golden Gate Bridge
to reach our final destination, San Francisco. Sound
like fun? Then join the MCBC team and ride with me.
http://www.climateride.org/
Climate Ride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
that organizes fully supported, charitable bike rides to
support sustainable energy solutions, bike advocacy,
and environmental causes. Each year, Climate Ride
holds two week-long events: Climate Ride NYC-DC
and Climate Ride California. Climate Riders must raise
funds in order to participate. Proceeds from the ride
benefit a collection of environmental and bike-related
non-profits. Riders can choose to direct their fundraising
to a non-profit of their choice. I’m raising funds to
support MCBC and 350.org – the premier organization
fighting Climate Change.
Please support Wendi’s
efforts by making a donation
on her Climate Ride web
page. No contribution is
too small!
Join MCBC’s Climate Ride
team here.
How I Traveled to School When I Was a Kid
In September the Safe Routes to Schools program sponsored an essay contest on all of the Marin Patch sites
asking respondents to tell us their story of how they traveled to school when they were young. The winners
got $100 gift certificates to select restaurants throughout Marin. We had so many great entries to our essay
contest that it was hard to pick the winners. We have some great responses. Here is one of our favorites:
I watched the seasons
come and go
and the creek levels
rise and fall.
I remember the
crisp air and crunch
of the fallen leaves
that blanketed the
streets in autumn.
Winter brought
numb hands that
appreciated the ski
gloves and watery
eyes. Spring was sublime: the welcome floral smells and
the pockets of warmth I hit as I pedaled along. Summer
warm mornings promised that summer vacation was
around the corner.
All throughout those years, I remember the rattle
of the planks of the wooden bridge as I rolled across.
I remember slowing across that bridge when the
frost made the crossing treacherous, never falling.
I remember watching the raging water of the winter
storms from the safely of that sturdy bridge and the
catfish lazily trolling the bottom in the low waters of
spring.
But mostly I remember the confidence, independence,
and self reliance I earned riding to and from
school. Also the appreciation for seeing what was
important outside me: something greater than me
and something lovely that so few people seemed to
stop and appreciate.
– Kathleen Hiatt Cutter, San Anselmo-Fairfax
5

Tennessee Valley Pathway Construction Complete!
The pathway from Shoreline to
Mill Valley–Sausalito.
MCBC thanks past
Supervisor Annette
Rose, the late Supervisor
McGlashan, Supervisor
Sears, and many dedicated
Tam Valley residents for
their support in making
this project a reality.
Although the official ribbon cutting celebration
has yet to take place, the newest section of the
Tennessee Valley Pathway, from Tennessee Valley
Road to the Mill Valley Sausalito Path, is now available
for use! The pathway includes a signalized crossing of
Shoreline Highway at Tennessee Valley Road, which
is expected to be operational by the end of February.
This new section of completely separate-from-traffic
pathway serves to connect the existing Tennessee
Valley Pathway at Coyote Creek Bridge (Phase I) to
Marin’s North-South Greenway.
Phase Two construction was postponed last year
in order to avoid the nesting season of the endangered
California Clapper Rail. Phase One, completed in June
of 2012, included the placement of a new 100-footspan,
bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Coyote Creek
on the west side of Shoreline Highway; and the construction
of a cantilevered boardwalk along Coyote
Creek between the Tam Community Services District
(TCSD) Log Cabin and Marin Avenue.
To ensure that this newest section of pathway
remains accessible during high-tide events, a beautiful
wooden raised boardwalk was constructed. Given
the environmental sensitivity of the project area,
the boardwalk’s 12-inch-diameter wooden piles were
vibrated into the ground, thus avoiding the impacts
of excavation. The project required environmental
clearances from the Regional Water Quality Control
Board (RWQCB), Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE),
Department of Fish and Game (DFG), National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), San Francisco Bay Conservation
and Development Commission (BCDC) and
Caltrans. Also, a biologist was required to remain on
site during Phase Two construction.
The Manzanita Connector Pathway, currently
under construction, will provide pedestrians and
cyclists with a spur pathway from the Mill Valley-Sausalito
Pathway near Frantoio Restaurant to Shoreline
Highway, near Highway 101 and the Manzanita Park
and Ride lot. The Connector Pathway required the
purchase from Caltrans of a sliver of property that
runs adjacent to the Larkspur Hotel. The combined
$4.6 million Tennessee Valley/Manzanita Pathways
project was funded by the Non-motorized Transportation
Pilot Program (NTTP), Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and Transportation for
Clean Air (TFCA) funds. MCBC sends special thanks
to past Supervisor Annette Rose, the late Supervisor
McGlashan, Supervisor Sears, and many dedicated
Tam Valley residents for their support in making this
project a reality.
Marin County Bicycle Coalition
Pedal Press
Making a Difference.
At Bank of Marin you’ll bank with
people who share your same values
and commitment to the community.
We invite you to get to know us.
www.bankofmarin.com | Member FDIC
6

ROLL MODELS: Forrest Fennel
orange, full-suspension Huffy—not quite the BMX
bike I wanted, but ahead of its time nonetheless. As a
student at Deer Park School, I witnessed the pioneers
of mountain biking converting their ballooner types to
bikes with gears. Cycling is important to me because it
has always been a part of my life, it is so simple, quick
and easy, it allows me to have a fun workout, to get out,
see our beautiful environment and be independent.
How long is your bike commute and why do you like
bike commuting?
I feel it is important to
volunteer with MCBC
and the Friends of China
Camp because it is a rare
opportunity to give back,
to do some good and meet
new people along the way.
– Forrest Fennel
My bike commute to work is 5 minutes. In fact, I’ve
timed it—it takes me longer to drive. Most often, the
bike rack is the best parking spot you could ask for at
work, or anywhere for that matter.
Meet Forrest Fennel: a volunteer, member of the
MCBC, and biking enthusiast. Forrest volunteered
to do trail maintenance at China Camp on January
27th with the MCBC. I asked Forrest to share a
little bit about himself and tell us why volunteering is
important to him.
Why do you enjoy volunteering with the MCBC and
why do you feel its important?
Why is being a member of the MCBC important to
you?
Being a member of MCBC is important to me because
it brings a broad group of diverse, talented people
together with a common vision, to promote biking in
Marin. Only together as a whole can we accomplish
so much. I think there is a lot of power in that. Happy
to be a part if it.
Interview by April Spooner.
I feel it is important to volunteer with MCBC and the
Friends of China Camp because it is a rare opportunity
to give back, to do some good and meet new people
along the way. People with common interests, biking
and enjoying the wonderful environment we are so
fortunate to call our home. It was apparent, when we
did the trail work at China Camp that day, that when
we all get together as a group, we can all accomplish
so much.
What type of cycling do you enjoy the most? And
your fave place to ride?
This time of year I am gravitating away from the road
bike and doing more and more mountain biking, I like
exploring Mt. Tam but I especially enjoy riding China
Camp. If anyone is interested, the Marin Mountain
Bikers Group on Meetup.com has been riding China
Camp every Thursday at 3 pm.
Favorite spot to visit post ride?
TREK DEMO 3/16
TUNEUP SALE
Post ride I really think it’s important to refuel and rehydrate,
so usually I like to just go straight home and cook
a fresh organic vegan meal [and have] lots of water.
Why is cycling important to you? And how long have
you been a cyclist?
Growing up in Fairfax, I have been riding since 1978,
when I was six. That’s when my father bought me an
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7

Better Bike Access to Trails in State Parks
MCBC fully supports the
decision to open Bill’s
Trail for multiple use,
and we look forward
to working with State
Parks and environmental
and equestrian groups
to ensure safe and
harmonious sharing
of the trail by all.
California State Parks has recently issued two
important environmental documents that promise
to improve opportunities for mountain biking on
trails in state parks, within the County and statewide.
In late September, the final environmental impact
report (Final EIR) for a project to add cycling to the
allowable uses of Bills’ Trail in Samuel P. Taylor State
Park in West Marin (currently limited to foot and
equestrian use) was released. Cyclists are eager to
have access to this beautiful 4-mile route that climbs
up from Devil’s Gulch—a tributary to Lagunitas Creek
hosting high-quality spawning habitat for endangered
coho salmon—to the summit of Barnabe Peak at almost
1500 feet of elevation.
The trail, constructed in 1988 and named for two
longtime State Parks employees, features seven bridge
crossings and multiple switchbacks. It connects to
Barnabe Fire Road just below the summit for a quick
return to Devil’s Gulch. Riders can also connect via
the fire road to other roads and trails around the San
Geronimo Valley for longer loops.
The Final EIR for Bills’ Trail specifies a number of
safety and erosion-control measures to be installed
on the trail. These measures, at an estimated cost of
$350,000, are expected to mitigate potential impacts
to other trail users and the environment from the
“change-in-use” decision. State Parks hopes to receive
grant funding to make the improvements in the coming
months and then formally open the trail to bikes. MCBC
fully supports the decision to open this trail for multiple
use, and we look forward to working with State Parks
and environmental and equestrian groups to ensure
safe and harmonious sharing of the trail by all.
The Bills’ Trail change-in-use process was begun
in 2009, and included two Draft EIRs preceding the
525-page Final EIR. Although it is now complete and
we anticipate a successful outcome, the process was
time consuming and costly, particularly for a single
trail of just four miles in length. To avoid having to
face a similar situation each time a change-in-use
project is proposed for a trail in its system, State Parks
in 2011 initiated preparation and review of a systematic
process for considering changes to road and trail
uses statewide. The draft program environmental
impact report (Draft Program EIR) for this process
was released in October 2012.
The Draft Program EIR comprehensively evaluates
the impacts that can be expected from making
numerous changes to trail regulations for non-motorized
uses in California State Parks. Changes include
allowing multi-use situations (similar to the Bills’ Trail
project), conversion of roads to trails, re-routing of
trails to reduce environmental impacts, and other
modifications. The Program EIR is an important step
forward that will allow State Parks to more effectively
plan and implement trail projects to improve access by
mountain bikers to state park units around California.
MCBC will continue to provide input to State Parks on
the change-in-use process initiative, and will keep our
members and supporters informed about the latest
developments.
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8

Women
On Wheels
Workshops
2013
Mark your calendars for the popular Women
on Wheels series, which will be back this coming
spring and summer. This series is designed
specifically for women and taught by women.
The workshops help women increase their
confidence and develop skills they need to
enhance their cycling enjoyment and reach
their goals.
Learn:
• The foundations of road and path riding
• How to be more comfortable riding in traffic
and climbing and descending hills
• How to be prepared for the inevitable and more
Participants can sign up for one class, or sign
up for three or more and get a discount.
For more information go to http://www.
marinbike.org/Education/WOW/Overview.
shtml
$40 ($35 for MCBC members) per class
$115 for three sessions ($95 for MCBC members)
$150 for four classes ($125 for MCBC members)
$185 for five sessions ($155 for MCBC members)
Workshop Dates
Saturday, May 11
Century/Endurance Ride
Preparation
A workshop to help prepare for century rides.
Thursday, May 16 and Thursday, July 11
Basic Street Skills
Learn the rules of the road and tricks
of the trade.
Thursday, May 23
Bike Maintenance
Basic adjustments and fixes.
Saturday, June 8
Bike Handling
On-the-bike exercises to improve your ability
to navigate with confidence.
Saturday, July 13
Gearing and Hills
Learn to climb and descend those hills
without fear.
The classes have
something for
everyone. I was
one of the least
experienced in
the hillclimbing
class, but I didn’t
feel left behind.
– Lynn MacDermott
9

China Camp Day Use Fee Program –
Why Charge for Trail Use?
By Ernest Chung,
Chairperson, Friends
of China Camp.
Photo courtesy of Bay Trail
By now many of you have learned about the new
day-use fee program at China Camp State Park.
The park is charging fees for the use of trails for biking,
hiking, running and horseback riding. While the
program is still very new, we have already received
strong support from many mountain bikers. Most of
the annual passes sold since the beginning of the year
have been to mountain bikers – thank you!
Understandably, we have also heard many questions,
concerns, rumors, and, yes, complaints about
the fee program, also primarily from mountain bikers.
These include:
➤ ➤ “Why do I have to pay for the use of the park?
Isn’t the State paying already?”
➤ ➤ “A trail use fee sets a dangerous precedent –
it will encourage other parks to do the same,
and the State will be even less willing to fund
its parks!”
➤ ➤ “Why should mountain bikers pay more than
hikers and runners?”
➤ ➤ “Are you using the fees to hire more rangers
to enforce the trail fee program?”
➤ ➤ “Are the fees used to change the trails and
make them less fun to ride?”
While we know we will never have everyone’s
support for trail fees, we do have the obligation to
share with the community why the fees are needed
to operate and maintain China Camp.
First, some background on the state parks in California:
In the past, 90% of the parks’ funding came
from the State’s General Fund – funds from our taxes.
Today, less than 30% of the parks’ budget comes from
the General Fund. The resulting shortfall has created
a continuing reduction in park staff, a backlog of over
$1.4 billion in park maintenance, and partial closure
of many parks. In 2011, California State Parks (CSP)
announced the planned closure of 70 parks by July 1,
2012; China Camp was one of the 70.
With tremendous support from many in our community,
foundations and other organizations, Friends
of China Camp (FOCC) raised over $300,000 in 2012,
and used the provisions of Assembly Bill 42 to become
the operator of China Camp as of July 17, 2012. As
operator, we at FOCC are responsible for paying all
expenses to keep the park open. We receive no funding
from CSP or any other State or federal agencies.
(We are currently seeking matching funds from CSP
as provided for in the recently signed Assembly Bill
1478. However, this is a one-time situation and will
not provide ongoing funding.)
As China Camp is a busy park in a densely populated
area, with camping facilities and complex and
ageing infrastructure, we were advised that we would
need law enforcement and experienced maintenance
support. We decided to contract with State Parks
to provide one ranger/peace officer, two seasonal
park-visitor aides, and one year-round and two seasonal
maintenance workers. Their roles are all supplemented
by many dedicated volunteers; FOCC has
no paid staff of its own. With expenses for utilities,
supplies and materials, contract services, and a modest
amount for contingencies, it costs about $500,000
every year to keep the park open.
While FOCC was successful in our fundraising
efforts last year, we know it would be unreasonable
to ask our donors and members for financial support
to keep the park open year after year. We also realize
that the park would be on stronger footing and less
subject to economic and budget cycles if it could support
itself financially.
Use fees are quite common for many local, state
and federal parks, and China Camp has always charged
for the use of the park. As at most parks, day use fees
at China Camp have in the past come from parking
fees. The park has also charged for camping and for
the use of picnic sites for special events.
But China Camp has a serious challenge in funding
itself with parking fees: North San Pedro Road, a Marin
County roadway, passes right through China Camp,
10

China Camp Day Use Fee (cont.)
and most park users – including the majority of mountain
bikers – have parked legally along that road and
have not had to pay anything for the use of the park.
So while the park is very popular, it has collected only
$40,000 or so in parking fees per year, far less than
other parks with fewer users. Tomales Bay State Park,
for example, collects more than twice that amount.
Many of the park’s supporters have tried to help
solve the problem of low revenues from parking. The
two most popular suggestions are: 1) restrict parking
along North San Pedro Road, and 2) charge for parking
along the road. We have explored both possibilities
in some detail with Marin County officials, since the
county controls the road and implementing either
proposal would require its approval and support.
Charging for parking along the road would be the
more difficult option of the two to implement, as it
would require the County to collect parking fees and
provide the proceeds to a park belonging to the state.
We would have had to develop a legally acceptable
means to receive these funds, and overcome the opposition
that many community members have to the
County funding a state park.
The two suggestions have another drawback: Since
mountain bikers constitute the largest single group of
park users, they could easily avoid the fees by simply
parking elsewhere and riding into the park. Not only
would we then not generate the desired revenues, but
we would also risk creating congestion in the streets of
our neighbors, something of great concern to County
officials.
Facing these complications, we also explored other
possibilities, including some based on new technologies
for collecting parking fees electronically. But
invariably we came to the same conclusion: parking
revenue needs to be complemented with a trail fee
program.
While trail fees are new to state parks in California,
they are not new to other parks and trails. Many of us
have long supported the successful trail fee and pass
program at Camp Tamarancho here in Marin. In fact,
our trail fee program is patterned after Tamarancho’s,
and Friends of Tamarancho provided much helpful
assistance to us. We also worked closely with Marin
County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) and a number of
the NorCal high school mountain bike coaches when
we designed the program. Their input was invaluable.
Under Assembly Bill 1589, all state parks in California
have been asked to develop and implement plans
to increase the collection of user fees. With today’s
State budget reality, it is simply impossible to keep the
parks viable without greater support from park users.
One of our goals was to make the fee program
affordable. For frequent park users, we offer modestly
priced annual parking and trail passes. For daily park
users, parking remains just $5/day, one of the lowest
fees for a state park in California. The difference in day-use fees for bikers/equestrians
($3/day) and hikers/runners ($2/day) is an acknowledgment that most hikers/runners
typically only use a small portion of the trails, while cyclists tend to ride greater
distances in the park.
It is too early to gauge how successful the fee program will be. We hope in a year
or two it will generate around $150K a year, about 30% of the park’s operating cost,
and be a significant component of our revenue stream. Other sources of funds will still
have to make up the other 70%.
We are gratified that many mountain bikers have embraced the trail fee program.
For example, one rider wrote to tell us, ”The new pass system is a great idea and a way
to improve the park. I ride at the park on a regular basis and love it. I will try to spread
the word on the new passes and hope to be part of a better and safer China Camp.”
We also know we still need to gain your support. Let this be clear: China Camp and
FOCC support mountain biking at the park. I became a mountain biker at China Camp
after moving to Marin in the late 1990s. I came back to help save the park from closure
because of the many memorable moments and great friendships I had developed there.
We understand China Camp is an important place for mountain biking.
Together with our partners – MCBC, Access4Bikes, NorCal high school cycling teams,
and IMBA – we pledge to work closely with mountain bikers and other users. We will
organize regular public forums to share our plans about the park, and seek your input.
Better yet, join us and volunteer your time and energy. Together, let us make China
Camp better for all, for years to come.
MCBC Supports Fee Program
Trail use (foot, bike and equestrian) and parking fees have
been announced for China Camp State Park by Friends
of China Camp (FOCC). FOCC is a non-profit, volunteer-run
organization that has raised more than $250,000 to prevent
the park from being closed as California State Parks had
proposed in early 2012. FOCC has been managing the park
since July 2012. The fees are part of an effort by FOCC to
raise the funds necessary to meet annual management costs
for the park of approximately $500,000.
Annual and day-use passes, good for a 12-month period
from date of purchase, are now available via website at www.
chinacampstatepark.org. They will also soon be available at four electronic pay
stations to be installed at the park. Fees are as follows:
Activity Annual Fee Day-use Fee
Parking $60 (Includes One Trail Use Pass) $5
Hiking/Running $35 Family/ $25 Individual $2 Per Person
Cycling/Equestrian $55 Family / $35 Individual $3 Per Person
MCBC supports FOCC’s fee program as an important source of funding to
keep China Camp State Park and its popular trails, including some of the best
legal singletrack in Marin, open. We recognize that maintaining the park is costly
and we encourage cyclists to purchase their trail-use passes as all park users are
expected to do.
11

Going
Dutch
by Cheryl Longinotti
What is it like to cycle in the Netherlands, a country
famed for its separated cycling paths? How
did the Netherlands achieve the highest bicycle mode
share and the best safety record in the world? These
were the questions I hoped to answer when I signed
up for a three-day cycling study tour conducted by
David Hembrow. Before he and his family emigrated
to the Netherlands, David was a cycling advocate in
Great Britain. His blog about Dutch cycling, which
he has been writing since 2008, reveals a wealth of
information that a native Dutch person would just take
for granted. My expectations for the tour were high.
I was not disappointed. With seven other participants,
my tour group was small but diverse. It
included cycling advocates from Brazil and the UK
and also some people who just wanted to ride. When
we weren’t riding and viewing cycling infrastructure,
we shared meals and talked cycling in the very comfortable
B&B that David had reserved for us.
The study tour dispelled many misconceptions I’d
had about Dutch cycling. First among these was that
cycling had always been central to the Dutch transportation
system. In fact, the Dutch have had some
separated cycle paths since the 1930s but they were
limited to country roads and main routes between
towns and villages. Post-WWII, prosperity brought
greater numbers of motor vehicles. Cars gained dominance
in the streets and also in the minds of traffic
engineers, so by the 1960s planners expected city
development and mass motorization to lead to the
disappearance of bicycling as a significant factor in
transportation (Dutch Bicycle Master Plan, 1999).
The ANWB (General Dutch Cyclists Association),
which had advocated for cycle paths before WWII,
essentially became an automobile association. During
this period, Amsterdam constructed no bicycle paths
or lanes of any significance in its city center.
What turned the tide?
The very rapid increase in motorization led to a
marked deterioration in traffic safety. Traffic fatalities
doubled from 1950 to 1970, and a significant share of
these deaths (15%) were children. One victim was the
child of a respected journalist, who wrote a series of
articles in the early 1970s headlined “Stop de Kindermoord”
(Stop Child Murder). This powerful message
became the name of a grassroots organization that
protested publically and built coalitions of people aiming
to improve public transport, control pollution, and
save historic city centers from redevelopment.
The political will to create a safe road environment
galvanized at a critical time. Although cycling had
declined dramatically, its mode share never dropped
below 20%. There remained enough political clout
for localities to promulgate something akin to a Complete
Streets policy: “All traffic participants have equal
rights.” In 1973, the Arab petroleum-exporting countries
embargoed oil shipments to the US and Western
Europe. In response, the Dutch instituted car-free Sundays.
The experience of travelling on streets without
threat of cars became available to all.
Advocates organized a new cycling union and in a
clever stroke named it the Erste, Enige, Echte Wielrijders
Bond (First, Only, Authentic Cyclists’ Union), the
name and its associated acronym ENWB an implicit
criticism of the ANWB auto association. The ANWB
sued and the name had to be changed (today it’s
Fietsersbond) but the activists won priceless publicity
and gained 6,000 members in one year.
According to the Dutch Bicycle Master Plan, local
advocacy efforts led the way and eventually bicycling
became an integral part of national transportation
policy. In the 1980s, the national government funded
model infrastructure projects to evaluate their impact
on safety and mode share.
What began as a focus on children has improved
the cycling environment for all. The overall traffic
fatality rate in the Netherlands is one-quarter what it
was in the 1970s. In 1973, 450 children died on Dutch
roads. In recent years the annual toll has ranged from
15 to 20.
12

GOING DUTCH (cont.)
Seeing—and cycling—what the Dutch have accomplished
in less than 40 years gave me hope for improving
the cycling environment in the US. Building political
will is difficult, but who can oppose safety? The same
conditions that provoked change in the Netherlands—a
tragic safety record—exist here. An American child age
1 to 14 is more likely to die on the hood or windshield
of a car than by a bullet from a gun. Yes, cars kill more
children than guns. The risk is actually greater in suburbs
than in urban areas, and most of the deaths are
child cyclists or pedestrians, not passengers.
Marin has provided national leadership in working
to create a cycling environment safe for all. Marin resident
Wendi Kallins founded Safe Routes to Schools,
which has grown locally to 52 schools and grown
nationally through the Safe Routes to Schools National
Partnership, which is led by Marin’s Deb Hubsmith.
MCBC helped the County secure 25 million dollars in
National Transportation Pilot Project funds. The fruits
of this work are evident. Weekday cycling in Marin
has increased 172% since 1999. Yet there are still
many people in Marin who will not bicycle because
of perceived and real risk.
In the second installment in this series, I’ll discuss
Dutch culture and infrastructure design. Why is Dutch
cycling so safe that 80% of the population cycles at
least once a week and virtually all riders cycle without
helmets?
The same conditions that
provoked change in the
Netherlands—a tragic
safety record—exist here.
WE RIDE
WE CARE
Carter M. Zinn
Andrew Davies
Marin cyclists representing
Bay Area cyclists since 2003
THE
415.292.4100
zinn-lAW.COM
FIRM
13

MCBC’s program
encourages novice
cyclists to try biking
for local trips
Tamara Muizelaar
Viktoryia Wise
Bilkis Bharucha
Brown Family
Bike Locally Challenge Wrap-up
Back in May, 2012, MCBC launched its third Bike
Locally Challenge. We developed the program to
encourage novice cyclists to try biking for local trips to
work, school and for errands; and to highlight the many
new additions to Marin’s bicycle network, including
the Lincoln Avenue Pathway and Cal Park Tunnel.
A panel of bicycle commuters picked six individuals
and a family to take the 2012 Challenge. Thanks to a
contribution from Specialized Bicycles, we were able
to put our six individual riders on brand new Globe
bikes; and Yuba utility bikes contributed a Mundo
cargo bike for our family team. Each rider had their
own mentor (personal bicycle trainer) to help plan
routes and show the ropes of bicycle commuting.
Each rider received a Timbuk2 gift card (courtesy of
Timbuk2) so they could purchase a bag to carry their
stuff. They also received Garmin Edge 500 GPS units
and a Strava Premium account to track their mileage,
and our Marin Bicycle Map to plan their rides.
In May our winners began the six-month Challenge,
in which each rider needed to accumulate 300 miles of
saddle time and earn an additional 150 points, which
were awarded for trip types and for documenting their
rides in the media and social networks. Ultimately they
needed 500 points each to earn the bike.
We ended up with an incredible group for this
Bike Locally Challenge. They were enthusiastic, the
group was diverse and they all strived to meet the
challenge goals so they could keep their bikes. We
had a human resources director, a student, a prepared-foods
manager, a manufacturing technician, a
senior planner and a high school counselor. Over the
course of the six-month Challenge our riders overcame
obstacles, discovered new places and gained respect
(Left) Brian Jones
from friends, co-workers and strangers as they pedaled
around the county. And they drove their cars less too!
We met with the riders this January to learn what
each gained from the program. Here’s a bit of what
we heard:
Bilkis Bharucha wanted to get out of her car for
commuting, but wasn’t confident she could ride a
bike 20 miles from her southern Marin home to work
in northern Marin. She feared going over the steep
and narrow Camino Alto grade, but with the help
of her mentor and a Basic Street Skills class, Bilkis
overcame these obstacles and was rewarded with
a sense of accomplishment. She says “Now I’m just
happy I can ride without thinking about it too much
and I can have a long ride and come back and still be
normal. Before [the challenge] I wouldn’t have been
able to do anything for the rest of the day. Now I can
get over the Alto hill and come BACK over it and go
home and still be ready to go out.”
Anil Comelo concurred, saying “the first couple of
times I was afraid to go even five to six miles fearing I’d
get stuck somewhere and have to walk home with the
bike, but now I do thirty miles and it’s not a big deal.”
The Brown family discovered that their cargo bike
fostered sibling bonding. When the Yuba Cargo bike
first arrived their son would ride his sister around and
around the block. The sister was very reluctant to ride
a bike on her own, but after being hauled around on
the Yuba she gained the confidence to learn how. Their
parents share one car and use the Yuba to supplement
trips. One day dad was using the car and mom needed
to go to the grocery store. After thinking about
her dilemma, she realized that she did in fact have a
car –well, a CARgo bike. That was the moment that
14

Anil Comelo on riding his bike to work for the first time…
“Coincidentally, today was the first meeting of a eco-group at work which is designed
to help attendees reduce our carbon footprint. I learned that Marin residents have
a carbon footprint that is the largest in the world (even larger than the average US
resident). Yikes!! The important thing is that I am taking steps to reduce my footprint
while getting a little exercise.”
Viktoriya on riding around town…
“Everywhere I go people comment on how awesome my Specialized Globe bike is.
‘That’s a beautiful bike,’ they say and then I tell them all about how I got it from MCBC
and what I am doing with it. Great way to meet new people.”
Greg Bernson on his favorite new bicycle accessory…
“I love the Garmin GPS. Not only does it tell me how far, how fast, how many minutes…
it tells how many calories! Round trip commute Fairfax to Mill Valley = 1635 calories !”
BIKE LOCALLY (cont.)
(Right) Anil Comelo
it all came together for her and she realized that her
perspective on making local trips by bike had changed.
They’ve set a family goal to take a camping trip by bike.
When the participants were asked about the worst
challenges, there was consensus around the grueling
physical aspect of bike commuting, at least at first.
Viktoriya loves her Globe, but is challenged when she
takes public transit, as the bike’s weight and fenders
make it difficult to place on bus and ferry bike racks.
Most of our riders were uncomfortable riding at night,
which became an issue towards the end of the challenge
as the days became shorter.
The high school counselor, Tamara Muizelaar,
started out strong, but as school started at the end
of the summer she struggled to squeeze in the rides.
As a result she was not able to earn enough points
within the 6-month period to earn her bike, so we
took it back. JUST KIDDING. We’ve extended her
challenge so she can make up the points and keep the
bike. MCBC staff members plan to join Tamara on her
final Challenge ride this month.
All in all, our 2012 Challenge riders had a great
time and gave MCBC two thumbs up on the program.
We’d like to thank Specialized Bicycles and Yuba utility
bikes for contributing the bicycles. We couldn’t
have done it without them! We’d also like to thank
Garmin, Timbuk2, Strava and Light and Motion for
their contributions; and Rahman Law PC for sponsoring
the program. Lastly, we’d like to thank Mike’s Bikes,
Tam Bikes and Village Peddler for building the bikes
and maintaining them throughout the course of the
Challenge.
Read about the 2012 Challenge in the words of the
riders at http://bikelocally.wordpress.com. Here are
a few great blog quotes to inspire you:
Eileen Brown on discovering the Corte Madera Creek pathway…
“The views of Tam and surroundings are gorgeous, the car-free silence, interrupted by
the sound of flowing water as the tidal creek emptied into the bay made for a magical
few moments. I sat on a bench eating a snack, feeling very grateful for all of the forward-thinking
folks who spent, hundreds, maybe thousands of boring hours indoors
in meetings, talking with politicians and organizing the bicycling community so that
someone like me can ride safely and feel like a kid on Christmas morning.”
Bilkis Bharucha on a ride into San Francisco…
“After taking my shiny new Globe bike (that I named the Silver Arrow) out for a ride
with my mentor, Jeff, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to bike part way over to an
appointment I had in San Francisco. I had a Garmin and was able to track my speed.
Down on the Crissy Field path, I even topped out at 15mph!!!! (For like 5 seconds, but
still.) I made it to my appointment in time, and not even sweating.”
Brian Jones on the longest ride of his life (so far)…
Last week I rode from San Rafael through the Cal Park Tunnel around Paradise Drive,
through Mill Valley and Sausalito down to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The
Garmin clocked me at 43.6 miles [roundtrip] with 1,166 ft of elevation gain. My legs
were sore for the next couple of days, but it was so worth it! Oh and it was Fleet Week
so I happened to see the Blue Angels fly overhead which was pretty damn cool!
The Brown Family on trip to the dentist…
“The other day, I had a dentist appointment, and my daughter had an orthodontist
appointment. We went on our Yuba Mundo and had lovely conversations, as I kept my
kid close to me and safe. At the end of the trip, I was pretty tired, but it was a good tired.
A satisfied tired, not a stressed out, grateful we made it home in one piece kind of tired.”
Tamara Muizelaar on a return trip home after lunch with friends…
“I have to admit I was a little anxious to get back on the road not sure what to expect
going back. The hills seemed more daunting and the Marin wind was starting to pick
up. Thinking about it now puts a smile on my face because I made it up all the hills just
fine. The wind was annoying but I dealt with it just fine. And, of course, I was slow, slow,
slow going up the hills…but who cares?! At least I made it up them!”
Greg Bernson on a once-in-a-lifetime excursion...
“Rode to Fort Baker to watch Endeavour fly over the Golden Gate Bridge. Pretty amazing.
The second best part of the ride was NOT sitting in traffic trying to get back to Mill Valley.”
15

Basic Street
Skills ClassES
Drive Your Bike!
Know the Rules
of the Road
Registration:
$40.00 non-MCBC
members
$30.00 MCBC
members
Advance registration
is required.
You can register online,
email streetskills@
marinbike.org,
or call MCBC at
415-456-3469 8#.
2013 Class Series Started Up in January
In addition to learning how to drive your bike in traffic, you can learn about winter cycling
accessories and clothing that will keep you drier and more visible. Bravo to those cyclists
riding in the rain!
If you’re new to cycling or need a road rights and responsibilities refresher, come to the next
Basic Street Skills class. Find out:
➤➤
Your rights and responsibilities on the road
➤➤
How to make yourself more visible and predictable
➤➤
Why and when cyclists “take the lane”
➤➤
How to avoid traffic tickets and the fines that go with them!
The Marin County Superior Court grants fee reductions for bicycle traffic infractions.
A bicycle traffic infraction fine will be reduced to $50 after attendance of a complete
Basic Street Skills class.
2013 Class Dates and Locations
The following classes will be conducted at the
Marin General Hospital Conference Center,
250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae
➤➤
Thursday, March 14, 2013, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
➤➤
Thursday, May 16, 2013, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
➤➤
Thursday, July 11, 2013, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
➤➤
Thursday, September 12, 2013, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
➤➤
Thursday, November 14, 2013, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
16

SAFE 101 CROSSING:
YES!
For the next several
months, with your help,
MCBC will be working
hard to ensure that a new
overcrossing is included
as part of the project.
Your support is vital in
getting the TAM Board
to vote to replace this
key feature in Marin’s
North-South Greenway.
The Greenbrae Corridor Improvement Project is
currently in its environmental review phase with
much controversy. Recent public meetings have drawn
members of the public raising a wide range of concerns
about the project. MCBC members and supporters
have been among those raising concerns about the
project.
At issue for MCBC is the removal of the existing
Lucky Drive bicycle/pedestrian overcrossing, which,
under the current project plan, must be removed for
the freeway project to be completed. MCBC has been
working hard to mobilize our members to urge the
TAM Board to make the project safer for cyclists and
pedestrians crossing Highway 101 by adding a new
safe and separated crossing of Highway 101 as part
of the project.
While the project includes many great bicycle/
pedestrian improvements, MCBC and more than 1150
members and supporters who signed our petition
believe that a replacement of the separated crossing
facility is vital for safe bicycle/pedestrian movement
across Highway 101, for this and future generations.
Under the current plan, cyclists and pedestrians would
need to use the existing Wornum Drive undercrossing.
The problem is that when this project is completed
there will be three new freeway onramps/offramps
connecting to Wornum Drive, creating a gauntlet of
cars and trucks for cyclists and pedestrians to navigate.
“It’s totally unacceptable for MCBC to support
new facilities that will make cycling more dangerous
than it currently is, especially for such a key connector
across Highway 101,” says Andy Peri, MCBC’s Advocacy
Director.
At the January 24 meeting of Transportation
Authority of Marin (TAM), over 30 MCBC supporters
joined together to urge the TAM Board of Commissioners
to replace the overcrossing with a separated
crossing when the project is built.
A new overcrossing will encourage (rather than discourage)
cyclists and pedestrians to travel in the area,
and will help promote active, nonmotorized transportation
for this and future generations. The loss of the
existing overcrossing without the replacement of a
separated crossing over Highway 101 is inconsistent
with several policies in each of the general plans of
County of Marin, the City of Larkspur and the Town
of Corte Madera. These policies include: prioritizing
options for improving bicycle and pedestrian access
across Highway 101; prohibiting thoroughfares that
divide the community and requiring that design circulation
facilities minimize disruption of neighborhoods
and communities; encouraging attractive alternatives
to the use of single-occupant automobiles; and
a Countywide goal of 20% of all trips to be made by
walking and bicycling by the year 2020.
While no official decisions were made regarding
the overcrossing at the January 24th TAM meeting,
the board had its first opportunity to hear directly from
the public on this specific issue. Public comment was
also taken at a meeting hosted by TAM and Caltrans on
January 29th. About 300 people attended that meeting,
where similar concerns were raised regarding the
need for a safe and separate crossing of Highway 101.
For the next several months, with your help, MCBC
will be working hard to ensure that a new Highway
101 crossing is included as part of the project. If you
haven’t already done so and you’d like to help support
this effort, please join the over 1150 people in
signing our online petition by visiting http://www.
surveymonkey.com/s/5J3R29S. Your support is vital
in getting the TAM Board to vote to replace this key
feature in Marin’s North-South Greenway.
To learn more about the project background, please
visit our campaign website.
17

BIKE
GEAR
reviews
by Tom Boss
Eric’s Eccentric Eno Single Speed Hub
Easy conversion from geared bike to a single speed
When I placed my order for a Retrotec mountain
bike frame four years ago, I considered going
with a single-speed version. If you’ve ever ordered a
beautiful handmade frame from a local builder you’re
probably familiar with the issue. At the time I needed
gears, so I had builder Curtis Inglis place a derailleur
hanger, shift cable braze-ons and a standard bottom
bracket on the custom built frame.
From time to time I’d regret not having gone with
a single-speed version. So following my recent acquisition
of a new geared bike, I had the opportunity to
turn the Retrotec into a one-speed. However, with the
frame having originally been built for gears I needed
to find a chain-tensioning solution. The Eno Eccentric
Hub was the answer.
Eccentric systems rotate the axis point, allowing
you to add chain tension without moving the wheel
forwards or backwards in the dropouts. They’re commonly
used on motorcycles and on bicycle bottom
brackets. But White Industries found a way to build
this feature into a wheel’s hub, and it’s pretty cool!
This eccentric rear hub allows the rider to adjust
the chain tension by simply rotating the elliptical axle
ends up and back in the dropouts. As the hub rotates
back, the chain is pulled into tension. You then lock
the beefy axle bolts down and you’re set. This system
also allows you to adjust the bottom bracket height
to be lower or higher depending on the direction in
which you rotate it. This was an advantage for me as
the bottom bracket on the Retrotec was a little high
for my riding style.
The hub is the perfect solution to the problem and
it’s a work of art as well. It comes in shiny polished
aluminum or a Darth Vader black. And best of all, it’s
made right here in the U.S.A, in Petaluma.
Chub Hub Single Front
Fat, lightweight hub makes
for a stronger wheel
The first time I saw a Chub Hub I thought “what
the heck is that and what’s the advantage?” The
appropriately named Chub Hub is built by The Hive,
which also hails from Petaluma. The hub is an eloquent
design. A large, tapered carbon fiber tube is capped
by aluminum flanges bonded with epoxy to make a
lightweight hub. The result is a hub that’s many times
bigger then a standard front hub, but lighter too. At
160 grams, it’s as light as a Chris King front hub.
Okay, but what’s the advantage of this hub?
The large carbon tube supports big flanges (where
the spoke connects to the hub); they’re 77.0mm wide
on the disc side and 59.0mm on the drive side. The
large flange enables a wheel builder to use shorter
spokes, because the distance between the hub and
rim is shorter. This increases the wheel’s torsional
stiffness, making for a stronger wheel and the oversized
disc side flange minimizes spoke stress under
braking. And it saves a tiny bit of weight because the
shorter spokes weigh less.
I have noticed the difference in wheel stiffness
now that I have a Chub Hub up front. My front wheel
tracks better through rough patches. This is especially
helpful if you still have a standard, quick-release style
suspension fork on your bike. Anything you can do to
increase stiffness on your bike’s front end will result
in better performance.
The Chub Hub is a great example of form plus
function. It stands out and it works well.
18

Timbuk2 Snoop Camera Messenger
Compact, but big enough to carry essentials when mobile on a bike
Timbuk2 is synonymous with messenger bag. For
decades the San Francisco based bag manufacturer
has been creating colorful, functional bags for
bicyclists. Now they’ve expanded their reach into the
world of photo bags with the Snoop Camera Messenger
series.
The Snoop Camera Messenger has a similar look to
Timbuk2’s popular messenger bags, but with refinements
for the digital photographer. For example, the
bag has a removable padded shell to protect your
camera, dividers to separate your gear and a slim
see-through pocket on the front for easy access to
memory cards.
There are three sizes (XS, S & M) to accommodate
different needs. For this review we received the XS,
which is the smallest Snoop. It holds an SLR camera
and an additional item, such as a second lens or flash.
The XS also has a slot in the back to hold a tablet
computer. The larger Medium can carry more camera
accessories and a full-sized laptop computer. All three
sizes have a padded shoulder strap with Timbuk2’s
Memory-adjust True Fit cam buckle, and the Small
and Medium include straps to hold a tripod.
As editor of the Pedal Press, I use this bag often
when out on assignment. It is compact, but big enough
to carry the things I need when mobile on a bike. The
black and silver bag is attractive and at the same time
inconspicuous, which gives me piece of mind when I’m
riding around with a Canon 5D and iPad.
We Are Lawyers Who Ride
Let Us Fight Your Fight
personal injury • professional malpractice
www.rahmanlawsf.com
Contact us for a free consultation
415.956.9245 or info@rahmanlawsf.com
369 Pine Street, Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94104
Active members of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, the Marin Co. Bicycle Coalition
& the East Bay Bicycle Coalition.
Follow our Two Wheeler Blog at http://bikelaw.tumblr.com
This does not constituate a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
19

Safe Routes Walk to School Day
Annual Member
Meeting April 3
Bike to Work Day
May 9
TOUR DE MARIN
MAY 26
BECOME AN MCBC MEMBER
or Join Online:
www.marinbike.org
Name (first)
(last)
Street / PO Box
City
Zip
Phone (day)
(evening)
e-mail
How you heard about us
• $40 Regular • $60 Family • $100 Century • $250 Tour de France
For Century members and above select your t-shirt size: S M L XL
• Do not share my name with other organizations
Make checks payable to: Marin County Bicycle Coalition, P.O. Box 1115, Fairfax, CA 94978
Credit Card #
Exp. date
Signature
I want to volunteer!
• Attending public meetings
• Advocacy in your town
• Data entry
• Events
• Newsletter/poster distribution
• Phone calling
• Safe Routes to Schools
• Share the Road
• Trail/land stewardship
• Staffing an information table
• Valet bicycle parking
• Other
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