2011 Year in Review

4th Year of James Bikes Green

Top 10 Moments of 2011

10.  League Cycling Instructor: Certified from the LAB.

9.  Galloping Goose Trail: Honeymoon in Victoria BC.

8.  Working with Trips For Kids:  Kids learn to work on bikes.

7.  Coast View Trail:  The name says it all. 

6.  Point Reyes National Seashore:  Wildlife and ocean vistas.

5.  Single-Speed Cyclocross World Championships SF

4.  MCBC Goes Off-Road:  Marin mountain biking organizes.

3.  Writing for Patch: freelance writing bike articles.

2. Playworks Bike Builds:  Volunteering to assemble bikes for kids.

1.  Wedding:  married Heather!

Tamarancho

I tackled Tamarancho with my new tubeless wheels, my bike is complete.

Not only did the tubeless tires roll great, the trail was in great shape as well thanks to the rain-free La Nina winter we are having.

a rocky section of trail

I tested the Google MyTracks app that maps the GPS signal from my phone.

Ferry to SF

Heather and I rode to and from the ferry station. Twas a lovely night.

We went to watch people fall, err... I mean skate at the outdoor ice rink.

ice rink on Embarcadero

I found this packing-tape. If only rolling out a bike lane was this easy!

SF packing tape

Speaking of rolling out bike lanes, the Enfrente Path in Novato opened.

My new route to Novato schools!

Coast View

Another loop along Coast View Trail. My legs were still feeling the steep hike up Christmas Tree Hill Monday.

I had a smooth run down to Muir Beach.

Good YouTube video.

Man Cave gets Tubeless

I have a new used wheel-set. It is tubeless and about 1.5 pounds lighter.

Stan's NoTubes Crest

Which is now waiting in my "man cave" to be installed on my mountain bike.

no more bike work in the living room

We currently have 6 bikes at the house, being able to organize and access all my tools and parts is great. Using the repair stand I got for my b-day is even better.

Off to the bike cave!

3 Cities Cycling

Visit cities cycling in South, Central, and North America.

Paseo de Tod@s Guadalajara 11/3/11 from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Streetfilms- Celebrating #BIKENYC 2011 from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Riding Bogota's Bountiful Protected Bikeways from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Briones, Baltimore and Blithedale

This weekend Heather and I went hiking with the dogs in Briones Regional Park.

Toyon Canyon Trail

When we got back to Marin we did a hike looping past a nearly dry Dawn Falls.

Baltimore Canyon Open Space

We returned on Blithedale Ridge and down the staircases on Christmas Tree Hill.

Coast View

Up Blithedale Ridge to West Point Inn where I saw Holly out on a ride.

I'm stoked to have lived biking distance to the ocean for the past decade.
First in Hawaii, then Humboldt, now Marin. Do ocean views ever get boring?

looking towards a sunny Muir Beach, my next destination

I love Old Stage Road, it's rocky in a bike friendly way.

blue rocks on the side of Mt Tam

25 miles 3,200 feet

Mt Tam

En route to top o' Tam I saw the Corte Madera Creek Path was about to reopen!

Once on Eldridge the miles blurred as I churned the cranks.

sunny and warm at 2,500 feet

a new sign at the summit reveals what the fog enshrouds

I kept up a good clip for 20 miles and 3,000 feet in under 2.5 hours.

up Eldridge, down Rail Road, hop over Blithedale Ridge

I'm still dialing in the bike, looking at tubeless wheels and tires...

Bolinas Ridge

After weeks of clear skies, trails are dry and inspiring some late season riding.

iconic rest spot on Bolinas Ridge

From Samuel P. Taylor State Park, up Shafter and down the spine of Bolinas Ridge.

view of Tomales Bay

Ride described at GateTrails.com

Tubeless Tires

I usually refrain from"getting mechanical", but I almost can't believe this video.

TCS with Moeschler and Weir from WTB on Vimeo.

The fact that no compressed air, not even a full size pump is needed to mount these tires means that tubeless is ready for the masses!

Tubeless means that there is no "tube" to go flat. The air is held in the tire.
Small punctures (glass, thorns) are sealed instantly with sealant.

Are the days of leaky old tubes hanging around almost gone?

Tubeless excels at low pressure and is not popular with roadies, but for mountain bikers low-pressure results in a super smooth ride with great traction!

Once you've ridden tubeless off-road, it's hard to go back.

"I'd rather have rim brakes than tubes in my tires"- MTB pro Carl Decker

Coast View

Heather and I got in a long ride along the clear coast.

Down Dias Ridge.

Up Deer Park.

Down Coast View Trail.

The North Face Endurance Challenge was hosting a 50 mile trail running event.

San Pedro Road

Teaching classes, 40 miles on the bike, all with sunshine and a warm breeze.

My route between Venetia Valley and Glenwood elementary included China Camp.

China Camp State Park, home to bay views and fun trails.

Good day.