Dads on Wheels Set the Pace: Thanks to You All

Image by Meli of Bikes And The City

A salute to dads who bike with their kids

The men who shared their stories about biking with kids in our Dads on Wheels series are the kind of everyday leaders who help shape San Francisco into a better city. By their example they show friends and neighbors that bicycling is a real transportation option and a great way to spend time with the little ones. The responses of several to the question of what to tell other dads who think about biking with their kids say it all:

Seriously? Just do it (or at least try it). It's easy.

-- J.J. Strahle

If you're just starting, think of cycling as practical and efficient transportation, not sport.

-- Max Poletto

Do it! It's a great way to spend time with your kids and get some exercise to boost.

-- Doug Kadlecek

Try it. Start with a manageable goal.

-- Jason Beers

The sooner you embrace biking in NOPA, the sooner you realize you wish you had started earlier.

-- James Munden

Huge thanks to all the dads who participated in the series both here at BIKE NOPA and at Bikes And The City. (Great collaborating with you again, Meli!)

Check here for the Women Who Bike stories.

Dads on Wheels: James Munden, "Enjoy It While It Lasts"

Image: Meli of Bikes And The City

James Munden with Olive wearing her new green helmet!

A spin through NOPA on Fulton Street

One of the great things about biking in the neighborhood is how easily you can meet others and find fewer "degrees of separation" than you might expect. That happened for me when I met James Munden and his daughter Olive one morning while they were out for a ride. We chatted long enough to talk about this Dads on Wheels series. Later I learned that James had just started a new job with a good friend of mine who lives two blocks away.

How did you get started biking with Olive?
First of all, Bike or no bike, Olive loves wearing her new green bike helmet.

Up until a few months ago, Olive and I walked everywhere. We managed to purchase a second hand I-bert; a seat located between you and the handlebars, on Craigslist. Not that we have biked many times (yet), but I find that our bike excursions are unique to us and a real bonding experience. It's an opportunity to spend personal time with my daughter. As it only happens once in their life time and yours – it makes me realize writing these words, ‘I need to get out on the bike with Olive more than I do’.

When did you start biking with her?

Olive and I have been biking since she was 19 months old.

How often do you bike with Olive?

We bike at least once a week, on Fridays or the weekend. Up until recently, I did not have a California drivers license so being able to cycle with Olive allowed us to travel further afield. As much as I like our local parks, its great to be able to visit other children play areas normally out of reach when on foot. However on that note, Olive is happiest on the bike journey and not when we arrive at our destination…it’s a tantrum I can relate too for sure.

What’s the best part of biking together?

The one-on-one time with each other. As all dads know, it takes time for the little ones to leave their mother's side, and so the bike experience gives us a unique experience that I will never forget and I hope Olive, albeit in the subconscious, will never forget too!

What do you say to people who think San Francisco streets are too risky for kids?

The streets are always going to be dangerous, but compared to other cities, like London, the awareness of cyclists in San Francisco is pretty high with more bike lanes being introduced and a large group of bike enthusiasts and supporters spreading the word. However, putting all that to one side, tourists driving on the wrong side of the road can be scary!

What makes a street OK for biking with Olive?

Kids playing on the street is often a good sign that a road is safe. Also, since San Francisco is so up and down, the rare flat straight road can be very appealing (to me) too.

Is it harder getting a kid ready for trips if you’re traveling by bike?

Olive really enjoys biking so the getting ready bit is easier than doing other trips. It’s a simple equation, she has more fun!

How often do you bike on your own?
Five days a week traveling to and from work.

Any advice for dads who might start biking with their kids?
The sooner you embrace the activity of biking in the NOPA area, the sooner you realize that you wish you had started earlier. Enjoy it while it lasts as there will come a time when your teenage daughter or son doesn’t want to hang off your handle bars anymore!

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For previous BIKE NOPA posts in the Dads on Wheels series, check here. And find more dads on bikes at Bikes And The City.

Dads on Wheels: Craig Persiko's Family Bikes the City

Craig Persiko with daughter, Serafina, biking in the Castro

Craig, his husband, and their two kids stop at Sunday Streets in the Mission

Photo: Craig Persiko

Toby ready to cross the bridge on Sausalito ride Photo: Craig Persiko

BIKE NOPA and Bikes And The City: every Tuesday, more Dads on Wheels.

I met Craig Persiko in the Castro during an SF Bicycle Coalition streetside outreach event in June. For some reason, on that afternoon most of the bicyclists that passed by were parents with their kids. It was great to see him and his daughter having such a good time riding together. Say hello to Craig and his family.

How long has your family been biking?
My husband and I have two kids: Serafina, age 7, and Toby, age 5. They rode on my bike as passengers from age 18 months, and both have been biking on their own two wheels since October.

How does biking fit in with your family routine?
We don’t have a car, so we bike to Golden Gate Park and such for fun, and we also bike together to go to school many days, to BART, events around town, etc. Our son, Toby, just finished pre-school at a place just 6 blocks away, a pretty flat ride from our home. He loves biking, so he and I biked to school almost every day since he learned how to bike in October. Serafina’s school is close too, but the route is much more hilly, so she only bikes on the weekend usually – probably once a week or two on average.

How did you get your kids started riding?
Our kids learned to ride tricycles at their pre-school – that’s how they learned to pedal. Then we bought them scooters (2 wheel Razor-style) when they were 5 and 3 years old – that’s how they learned to balance and ride carefully in the city. After lots of practice with their scooters, they had almost no time with training wheels -- on hand-me-down bikes from our neighbors -- before they were ready to ride bicycles without training wheels. We taught them both over the course of a weekend when they were 6 and 4 years old.

What’s the best thing about biking with your kids?
I love getting around by bike, so I really enjoy sharing this experience with my kids and seeing them enjoy it too. Toby picked up biking really quickly, and loves it, so he and I have especially enjoyed this together. Just a week after he first learned to ride without training wheels, he and I went for a ride from our home in the Castro to Golden Gate Park, and he wanted to keep going, so we went all the way to Ocean Beach and back! Then a few weeks later, we went for another open-ended ride, and made it all the way to Sausalito, and took a ferry home! Mind you, I wasn’t pushing him much on these rides. I just told him we could ride that far if he was up to it, and he kept on going!

What do you say to relatives or friends who think the streets of San Francisco are too risky for kids to bike?
I tell them about how, when we’re riding, I ride close behind my kids, constantly talking them through what we’re doing, saying things like, “keep right, watch out for that car with its reverse lights on,” etc. When the streets are quiet or safe enough, we ride on them, but we more often ride on the sidewalk. When we’re on the street, I ride behind and to the left of them, to keep a close eye and try to keep the cars a safe distance from them. We also take the lane more often with the kids than we would without them.

What makes a route or street OK for taking your kids biking on it?
A really well-divided bike lane, like the new ones on Market St. with the yellow pylons separating it from the car lanes. Or a really quiet street where the cars are not going too fast, and don’t come too often. Otherwise, I prefer to ride on the sidewalk. However, my husband and daughter prefer to ride on the street more than I do, because they find it more stressful to navigate a crowded sidewalk, and prefer to just take the lane in many cases.

For previous posts in the Dads on Wheels series, check here.

Dads and kids: spin through the North Panhandle and the Western Addition during the next Sunday Streets on September 19th, 10am to 3pm.

Dads on Wheels: J.J. Strahle Rides with Cobalt

Image: Meli of Bikes And The City

First two-wheel ride in the park

First trailer ride to the ocean

Look what we got on Craigslist

JJ with Cobalt in Windy City

BIKE NOPA and Bikes And The City get the momentum going on our new collaborative series, Dads on Wheels. Every Tuesday on both sites find San Francisco dads who bike with their kids for transportation and fun.

J.J. Strahle had the best of reasons for delaying his responses for this series. He explained that he and his wife "just got home from the hospital today with our newest bicyclist this afternoon." I like these early starts with bicycling! J.J. knows what to do when his "newest" is ready; he's been bicycling with his son Cobalt for a few years now.

When did you start biking with Cobalt?
He's 5-1/2, and we started bicycling with him in a bike trailer when he was about 2-1/2. It was mainly for recreation and weekend exercise and soon became a major mode of daily commute transportation for my wife and son.

How often do you bike with him now?
We try to get out as much as possible. I work long days on the peninsula and with afterschool activities all over the city and being on a tight schedule, it's not always conducive to cycling. For the time being, and with him on his own 2-wheeler, bicycling is more for fun. We will still, occasionally, take the trail-a-bike down to the ball park to take in a game, however.

How did you start biking with Colbalt?
We started off with an el-cheapo trailer from Craigslist. After we went on more outings and my wife got a new bike for commuting to work, we purchased a new Burley. When he was around 4, I found a trail-a-bike on CL and by age 4-1/2, he was using it daily for commuting to and from preschool. He received a 2-wheeler for his 5th birthday, and it only took a couple of times on training wheels before we took them off. Once off, he took off in a breeze and hasn’t looked back.

What’s the best thing about biking with him?
Exercise, time together, fresh air.

What do you say to relatives or friends who think San Francisco streets aren't safe for kids to bike?
They are both right and wrong. I also drive a car every day, so I know and appreciate being communicative and predictable on a bike (as well as in a car). I try to stick to designated paths and routes as much as possible. When it is not possible, I try to take less-congested streets. We will ride (slowly) on the sidewalk if the streets are not safe. In general, however, I feel pretty safe as long as we are smart, courteous, visible, wearing helmets and following the rules of the road.

What makes a street OK for you and your son to bike?
A street without cars is preferred, e.g., GG Park on Sundays. I try to stick to designated routes. I don’t know the classes of bike lanes off the top of my head, but we stay to designated paths and routes whenever possible, even if it is “out of the way” or “less convenient” to do so. For example, I will occasionally ride the Fell street route between the Wiggle and our house, but I also understand that cars drive close by at 25 mph, so most of the time I will make the short climb up to Hayes to head west.

Is it even harder getting kids ready for trips if you’re traveling by bike?
Harder than what? Than a car? Sure. Cobalt likes riding with us, even in the rain, but sometimes it’s harder to get him motivated to take the bike over the car. But that’s mostly when he’s tired or it’s cold. He loves taking the trail-a-bike out to the zoo, for example, even in the cold and fog.

How often do you bike on your own?
Not as much as I’d like to. When I can get away with it schedule-wise or because my car is in the shop, I will do the bike-train-bike commute, but that takes me an extra 45 minutes to an hour each way. On the weekends, I prefer to leave the car parked in the garage and bike anywhere I need to in order to run errands. My wife is the bike-commuter of the family…she works downtown.

Any advice for dads who are thinking about biking on their own or with their kids?
Seriously? Just do it (or at least try it). It’s easy! I just gave that advice to a dad yesterday. It’s a great way to get yourself and your kids some exercise. And for us, the transition to a big-kids bike was a snap. Bicycling in SF is really pretty easy and convenient when it comes down to it. The Bike Coalition and MTA have done a great job in the last couple of years bringing visibility and respect to riders and that helps make the move from biking as an alternate form of transportation to simply another way to get around.

For previous posts in the Dads on Wheels series, check here.

Dads, moms, kids: go the distance with your bikes on car-free Sunday Streets this summer. Next up: Golden Gate Park and the Great Highway, August 22; and the Western Addition, Sept. 19, with 11 blocks open through NOPA. More info on Sunday Streets here.

Dads don't have all the fun. Check BIKE NOPA's Women Who Bike series. And more women on wheels at Bikes And The City.

Women Who Bike: Thank You All

All 18 of the remarkable women who told BIKE NOPA their stories and shared their experiences about bicycling in San Francisco are inspirations to anyone who bikes for transportation or recreation. Even better, their passion for cycling encourages the many San Francisco women who are right on the edge of getting out on two wheels. The unanimous message from all those who spoke to us in the Women Who Bike series is "Go ahead, try it, find your own style, you can do it too." Thank you to every one who shared her insights here and just as much to the women whose tales of the bike city made Bikes And The City even more of a must-read and must-see.

To collaborate with Meli of Bikes And The City has been great fun, and I continue to learn so much from her. Our meet-ups at her favorite NOPA cafe will continue as we plan our next collaboration. Expect a new summer series on our sites.

A big spin of the wheel to:

• Kristin Tieche
• Lynne Howe
• Aurelia d'Andrea
• Lenore McDonald
• Dawn D'Onofrio
• Susan King
• Rose Johnson
• Kay Hoskins
• Aida Berkowitz
• Cassidy Blackwell
• Jenny Oh Hatfield
• Kelsey Morrison
• Constance Cavallas
• Cheryl Hunt
• Larissa Zimberoff
• Pamela Palma
• Mari Hunter

Find their profiles in the series (some will need individual, separate searching for some Blogger reason).

Women Who Bike: Pamela Palma

All photos of Pamela Palma by Jenny Oh Hatfield

Women Who Bike is a collaborative effort by BIKE NOPA and Bikes And The City that features San Francisco women and their bikes. Each Monday and Wednesday check both blogs for the experiences, stories, and ideas that women who bike the city want to share with you.

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How do you describe your bicycling style?

I am carefree, confident, and cautious. Even while riding through the busiest streets in Santiago, Chile recently, I moved through traffic confidently. But I'm also very cautious, after riding in the city for more than 20 years. You have to be cautious around cars and people. Cars will run you over.

How often do you bike and what for?

I bike as often as I can unless I'm sick or traveling without my bike or have to work outside of my immediate area.

What can San Francisco do to encourage more women and girls to bike?

Education starts with the young on how to ride safely in this urban environment.

How much of your social life revolves around bicycling?

When I first moved to San Francisco in 1990, the cycling scene was mainly dominated by bike messengers, and it was hard to penetrate their circle. Luckily through a few cycling events that Erik Zo organized -- like rides to the airport, crits in the park, and other rides -- I met a lot of different folks who are still my friends today.

I surprise people when I bike by ...

Most people are surprised when I describe my bike camping trips. Or riding 50 plus miles with gear on your bike. We live in a car-obsessed society and it seems impossible to some folks to understand how easily one can ride long distances without a car.

I get most upset when I'm biking when...

When drivers try to run me off the road. It happens less that it used to, but I still have to defend myself against moving vehicles.

My message to women who want to try biking:

It's the best way to get your daily exercise, stay healthy in a shorter amount of time than public transportation. Also, find girlfriends who ride or join women biking clubs -- there are many in the area. I know Pushbike has a ladies ride every Thursday night. Meet other cool women and learn to get around on a bike. This blog is another great way to read and learn about women who cope in this man-driven sport.

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Check here for previous posts in this series and stop by Bikes And The City every Monday and Wednesday for even more Women Who Bike.

Women Who Bike: Cassidy Blackwell

Does Cassidy Blackwell like biking? Photo: Cassidy Blackwell

Dressed for...biking, of course. Photo: Cassidy Blackwell

Bikes, friends, outdoors: picture perfect. Photo: Cassidy Blackwell

Women Who Bike is a collaborative effort by BIKE NOPA and Bikes And The City that features women and their bicycles. Each Monday and Wednesday check both blogs for the experiences, stories, and ideas that women who bike the city want to share with you.

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What's your bicycling style?

Fly! As in my wheels are my wings and I fly around the city. I also think my bikes are superfly.

How often do you bike and what for?

I think the SFBC Bike to Work Day t-shirt from a couple years ago summed up my philosophy on biking perfectly: "Work to Live. Live to Bike. Bike to Work." Biking is a huge part of my daily life. I commute on bike to my office in Oakland everyday, and I use my bike to get me to where I need to be outside of the office -- dance classes, meetings, social gatherings and whatnot. If I'm feeling adventurous, say with my Nopa neighbor Slam Johnson (aka Rose*), I'll cruise out to Marin and take on the headlands or the Tiburon loop. Sure, walking and public transit are decent options, but biking is much more efficient so it's my primary means of transportation.

What can be done to encourage more women and girls to bike?

I used to bike everywhere when I was growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis. As a seven-year-old, I "loved" my pink and purple Huffy with sparkled streamers coming off the handle bars and went everywhere on my bike. But somewhere in high school I stopped biking. I think because it was just considered "cooler" and more socially acceptable to get around in a car. There was this stigma that biking was for dorks, was too hard, not fun, and unacceptable. Now I realize this was a result of typical adolescent pressures to fit a mold. Admittedly, these pressures caused me to take a decade-long hiatus from riding.

But now, immersed in the bike culture of San Francisco, I am back on two wheels and loving every second of my biking renaissance! I know now that biking isn't a mater of being cool or hip or whatever; it's an efficient and sustainable part of an urban lifestyle. I think that we as a biking community need to keep encouraging others to become a part of it, especially young ladies who may be becoming more self-conscious among their peers. We need to maintain a strong presence on the roads and show these individuals that biking is fun and most importantly safe. Many ladies might be nervous to take on the streets of San Francisco, let alone on two wheels. I know I was. Especially with all of the hills, Munis, cars, and train tracks everywhere. But I took a risk and hopped on a bike and haven't looked back.

How much is biking part of your social life?

I am proud to say that biking is an integral part of a majority of my friendships. One of the main rasons I started biking in San Francisco was when my dear friend Ben told me that he "would like me better as a person if I had a bike."

I love riding with my friends out to parties and bars in the city -- it's indescribably fun to have a posse of eight people riding out to a party together. As for dating, a guy will easily win points with me if he's into riding. And if he's not, he should just know that I will spend a decent chunk of time trying to get him on a bike.

I surprise people when I bike by ...

Biking most often in skirts and dresses. I'm always pedaling around town and love the freedom of skirts, so I've had to get creative with my wardrobe to make these two fit together (read: keep my rides PG-rated). For me, stretchy, flowy and/or short are the way to be.

My message to women who want to try biking:

JUST DO IT. Seriously. My only regret with biking in San Francisco is that I didn't get on my wheels sooner.

Do you live or ride in NOPA?

I am a proud NOPA resident. I love this neighborhood. If San Francisco were a bike wheel, NOPA is the center hub, with a ton of bike paths extending from it in every direction.

BIKE NOPA note: You can find Cassidy on her bike and on her blog Natural Selection.

* View Rose Johnson's Women Who Bike profile here.

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Check here for previous posts in this series and stop by Bikes And The City every Monday and Wednesday for more Women Who Bike.

Women Who Bike: Mari Hunter

Mari Hunter: warm, dry, and biking in Minneapolis. Photo: Mari Hunter

Mari Hunter: not how she commutes. Photo: Mari Hunter

Women Who Bike is a collaborative effort by BIKE NOPA and Bikes And The City that features San Francisco women and their bicycles. Each Monday and Wednesday check both blogs for the experiences, stories, and ideas that women who bike the city want to share with you.

What's your style of biking?

Cautiously assertive.

How often do you bike and where?

I walk to work but I bike almost every day to the gym and/or shopping and have done SF2G (San Francisco to Google) a few times. I bike on the weekends for various activities -- farmers' market, movies, dining, museums, concerts -- or for exercise like riding in the Marin headlands.

How can San Francisco encourage more women of all ages to bike?

I am fortunate to have a father who is a cyclist, so riding was always a family activity. I am very comfortable on a bike, and over the years it has become my primary mode of transportation. The only thing that gives me pause when I move to a new place is uncertainty of good routes. It's hard to get out there initially, to put yourself out there and ask for help, especially if you are new to biking and are unsure of what to ask. My experience is that cyclists, particularly those who are part of a club, team, or coalition, want the number of cyclists to grow and are happy to help. Plus everyone likes to show off their skills and knowledge.

Sometimes it's easier to ask for help or encouragement from someone who is relatable -- someone the same age or sex or someone who is also a beginner but with enough experience to give advice. The SF Bike Coalition has a program called Bike Buddy. I think that is a great system if you are able to request someone who you will feel comfortable with to take your first ride or to talk about biking.

Another thought would be rides for either specific groups of people, young girls to old girls, beginner to experience or even just a big ride for all levels with one requirement: you must be a girl. Then really promote the ride as something fun with no rider left behind and choose a relatively flat route so newbies can gain confidence and feel comfortable with biking.

Have any of your best dates or friendships started with biking?

My boyfriend and I were just talking about things we have in common, and biking was at the top of our list. We ride home from the gym together and to most activities in the city. It is also just a good conversation starter, particularly in cities with a large biking presence. That's how I met a lot of people in college and in grad school, and it led to both bike-friendships and friendship-friendships.

I surprise people when I bike ...

in a skirt. Be careful that it doesn't get caught in the wheel, but a skirt saves you from having to bring a change of clothes.

For women who want to try biking:

The thought of trying it is much scarier than the act itself. Take the plunge, it will be one of the best things you can do -- good for your health (mentally, emotionally, and physically), good for the environment, and good for your productivity (traveling and workout). At the very least, try it just to feel the satisfaction of riding past a line of cars idling in traffic.

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Mari recently moved to San Francisco from Minneapolis after a brief stay in Portland. She currently coordinates the I BIKE SF program that encourages people to bike to neighborhood businesses that offer a special cyclist discount. The I BIKE SF promotions and discounts are effective along the Lower Divisadero Corridor and in NOPA the month of June. For $1 off drinks at Madrone Art Bar and Minibar, 10% off purchases at The Little Chihuahua Restaurant, the Oasis Cafe, and Verde SF Florist; free small maza with purchase of two entrees at Ziryab Mediterranean Grill, and so much more, take advantage of I BIKE SF.

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Check here for previous posts in this series and stop by Bikes And The City every Monday and Wednesday for more WOMEN WHO BIKE.

Women Who Bike: Aida Berkovitz

Aida Berkovitz: San Francisco bicyclist in Barcelona, 2008. Photo: Aida Berkovitz.

Aida mountain biking at Lake Tahoe. Photo: Aida Berkovitz

What's your bicycling style?

I'm very knowledgeable about how to ride safely in traffic and I always signal my turns. I find that drivers will avoid doing crazy things around bicyclists when they know what we are intending to do.

When did you start biking?

I've always liked bicycle riding, ever since I was a child. I wa in college n the early 1970s when the 10-speed racing bikes from Europe became the rage. I bought my first adult bike then, the one which I still have. I rode to school every day and when I graduated and started my career, I upgraded to a new bike. Shortly after purchasing it, it was stolen from the van that was moving me from California to the East Coast. It was many years later -- after getting married, raising my daughter, and moving back to California (a span of about 22 years) -- before I got back on a bicycle.

When did you return to bicycling?

In my job as a traffic and safety engineer with the Federal Highway Administration, I became a pedestrian safety and design expert. I got elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) and served as president for a couple of years. I realized that I also needed expertise and experience in bicycle design as well, so I rented a bike on a trip to Nantucket. I fell in love all over again. I got home and bought myself a nice hybrid-type bike and rode around the city. After about 6 months of riding, I upgraded to a lighter bike.

How much do you ride today and where?

I probably ride about 3 to 4 times a week to run errands, visit my mother, and then I add a weekly longer ride for exercise. My car sits in the garage most of the time getting dusty. I get great pleasure now from moving quickly around town and not having to worry about finding a place to park. I love riding in city traffic and particularly love it when I can move faster that the vehicles around me.

What can San Francisco do to encourage more women and girls to bike?

I think the best way is to ensure that they have easy access to training in how to ride in traffic. Providing more bike lanes and some separate bicycle facilities also seems to encourage more women to get out and ride more often. I think the fact that bicycling in San Francisco has become stylish has gone a long way to encouraging younger women to use bicycling as their primary form of transportation.

Has your cycling led to new friendships or other relationships?

I met my husband on the Cycling Singles website in 2005; we married two years later. We ride together all the time. We find that bicycling has a certain serendipity to it. We discover interesting places and events whenever we are out on our bikes. We often take vacations with our bikes. I met my good friend Lynne Howe (profiled here) through a SF Bicycle Coalition event, and we now ride together about once a week. I also met lots of great bicycling people when I was on the board of the APBP.

I get upset when I'm biking when ...

I see bicyclists who flagrantly make unsafe bicycling maneuvers, such as riding the wrong way down a bike lane, riding at night without any lights, etc. I also get upset when vehicle drivers fail to use their signals.

I surprise people when I bike by...

being middle-aged and still riding as is I was young and slightly fearless. I also surprise people with how I dress when biking.

My message to women who want to try biking:

Take the League's Effective Riding course.* Then get out and ride with a more experienced friend, to help give you more confidence and practice.

* Editor's note: Another option is the Urban Cycling Workshops provided by the SF Bicycle Coalition.

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Women Who Bike is a collaborative effort by BIKE NOPA and Bikes And The City that features San Francisco women and their bicycles. Each Monday and Wednesday check both blogs for the experiences, stories, and ideas of women who bike the city. See the other profiles in the Women Who Bike series and on Bikes and The City.

Women Who Bike: Lenore McDonald

This week BIKE NOPA and Bikes And The City continue their bike series, Women Who Bike. Each Monday and Wednesday we will feature San Francisco women and their bicycles. Check both our blogs for the experiences, stories, and ideas that women who bike the city want to share with you. Let us know your thoughts and leave comments for the featured riders.

Lenore as Maria for NOPA VELO's Sound of Music ride

And as Tania/Patty Hearst for NOPA VELO's inaugural ride

Fourth in a series: Lenore McDonald

How would you describe your bicycling style?

I am an experienced, confident cyclist and I'm becoming more savvy as a commuter cyclist. And I am happiest when I am riding my bike. No exageration.

How often do you bike?

Since getting my commuter bike at the beginning of this year, I ride almost daily to work from my apartment in NOPA to downtown taking Golden Gate Ave to Market Street -- a straight fast shot to the financial district. It's just under three miles each direction. I ride at least once on the weekend or one evening after work. I also have a road bike (Litespeed) for recreational riding over the bridge and out to Marin.

What could San Francisco do to encourage more women to bike, including teens and younger?

I think organized rides or group riding is really helpful to get comfortable riding different types of roads, distances, and conditions. The rides are well-marked and usually cover some pretty terrain and they usually include emergency health and roadside services. Our NOPA VELO bike rides welcome all levels of riders, including kids riding their own bikes if accompanied by a parent.

Perhaps a place where women can meet to ride to work together would encourage more women to commute by bike. Having a bike suitable for the type of riding you do helps also. I am so much more comfortable riding to work since getting my Giant commuter bike. I can wear my regular work clothes and shoes on the bike, and it's heavier and feels safer.

How many of your best dates or best friendships started with biking?

I yearned to have a riding partner for many years. I insisted that my next partner had to ride. A mutual friend fixed me up with Rick and I agreed to meet him only after learning that he rode. I pinch myself when we're out riding together. Ours is a tried and true cycling relationship.

I surprise people when I bike by ...

dressing up in costume for our NOPA VELO rides. Sometimes folks are surprised by some of my riding experiences, like the Bike Tour of Colorado in 2008 was 450 miles at elevations up to 12,000 feet and a total of 39,000 feet of climbing over five days.

My message to women who want to try biking:

Biking feels good, especially on the way to work. Wind and fresh air. I always enter my office with a big smile and feel great. For a pretty modest investment ($500-$750) you can purchase a good bike to get around the city. You don't have to dress down or get too sweaty with the right equipment. Plus it makes you independent!

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Read more about Lenore here in a previous BIKE NOPA story. (Lenore is one of the NOPA VELO ride organizers).

Read the other profiles in the series of Women Who Bike.

If you bike and live in NOPA or bike through NOPA and would like to participate in the series, contact me at michael7820@gmail.com

Be sure to check Bikes And The City for more Women Who Bike profiles.