This year, 73 percent of overall traffic at that intersection was bike traffic. That breaks down to about 17 cyclists per minute, according to the SF Bike Coalition. The Coalition is definitely taking advantage of those numbers to create positive change for the cyclists the coalition represents. This year, commuters were encouraged to sign a petition urging the city to create seamless bike lanes. “One hundred miles of bike lanes by 2020″ was the rallying cry of the day.  More specifically, the SF Bike Coalition is pushing for dedicated bike lanes on Oak and Fell, which, as any Wiggle regular could tell you, would definitely be a champagne- and fireworks-worthy event.

Although most of the cyclists we saw were veteran commuters, there was a small but welcome demographic of new cyclists on the streets too. A number of different Bay Area employers offered enticing benefits – including free breakfast – to their cyclist commuters for Bike to Work Day, which definitely helped more than a few people make up their minds to put the pedal to the, er, pedal.  For others, Bike to Work Day was simply the excuse. As new commuter Mike Pao said, “It takes a little longer, but it’s been so nice out lately.  Really, why wouldn’t you?”  Veteran cyclist and Colorado transplant Rachel Sieps agreed, “Whenever I’m in the city I ride my bike as much as possible.  I hate having a car, it’s so expensive.”

The U.S. Census estimates that about 11,367 people commute by bike in San Francisco. With approximately 11,149 bike commuters in Santa Clara County; roughly 10,000 in Alameda County; and about 5,000 more in Marin and San Mateo counties, the streets of the Bay Area are no stranger to cyclists. But a lack of parking tickets and beautiful weather aren’t always enough to keep cyclists on the road. Really, there’s nothing that can outweigh feeling safe while riding on the street. The SF Bike Coalition addressed that issue by creating eleven Commuter Convoys originating in neighborhoods all over the city Thursday morning.  Lead by veteran bike commuters, each convoy left its respective neighborhood at about 7:45am (luckily most of the convoys met up at a coffee shop), and headed downtown in a huge pack, moving slowly and safely and helping new commuters learn the routes so that they can do it again on their own.

But for the SF Bike Coalition, safety and education don’t end with Bike to Work Day.  ”I learned how to ride a bike through the Bike Coalition beginner’s class four years ago.” said Juli, an SF Bike Coalition volunteer. The Bike Coalition also offers an urban skills class to teach new cyclists how to safely navigate the city streets. And of course, if you’re looking to practice your new skills within the safety of a group, we’ve got several evening and weekend road and mountain bike rides leaving from all of our stores.

While we don’t have a store near the Tour kickoff in Santa Rosa, SB co-founder Tom Phillips will be watching the action from a couple of local watering holes. You can find him Sunday morning at the  Sweet Spot Pub,  619 Fourth St., and in the afternoon at the Toad in the Hole, 116 5th St.  Tom says, “Track me down at either and we’ll have a pint. If you’re wearing a Sports Basement shirt I might even buy you that pint!”

On Monday, May 14, watch the start of Stage 2 action from in front of Sports Basement in the Presidio. We’ll have a cheer squad set up on Old Mason Street from 10:30am-11:30am. Bring your noisemakers and homemade signs to cheer on the pros as they fly by the store on their way down the coast. Get there by 11am so you don’t miss the lead pack. We’ll have some snacks and caffeine to share. RSVP here so we know how much coffee to order.

On Tuesday, May 15,  our Sunnyvale Store will have a booth at the  Stage 3 Tour festival, at the Berryessa Community Center, 3050 Berryessa Rd. in San Jose. We’ll be there from 9:30am-1pm, with cool bike products on display and cycling staff to answer all your bike-related questions. We’ll also be the official entry point for the Tour raffle. Enter at our booth for a chance to win this awesome prize package:

Two $150 Southwest Airlines vouchers
One Night Hotel Accommodation for two people in Los Angeles on May 19th
Airport Pick Up at LAX on May 19th
Two VIP Hospitality Passes for Stage 8 in Los Angeles on May 20th
Media compound tour during Stage 8 in Los Angeles on May 20th
Green room access to watch the awards presentation backstage during Stage 8 on May 20th
Press conference access during Stage 8 in Los Angeles on May 20th
2 GRAMMY Museum® at L.A. LIVE passes
2 ESPN Zone L.A. LIVE Game Cards
Airport Drop Off at LAX on May 20th

On Tuesday morning, ride a section of the Tour with the King of the Mountain Cycling Challenge. Join 400 amateur cyclists, including CEOs of major Silicon Valley companies and elected officials from the region, as they climb the steep Sierra Road hill in East San Jose for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s King of the Mountain, which benefits Fit for Learning, a Santa Clara County Office of Education anti-obesity program. Race details and registration info are here.

Also on Tuesday, our Walnut Creek Store will host a cheer squad on Mt. Diablo. This is the first year the tour route has included the mountain, and we’re very excited. We’ll be on the course in full “Diablo” fashion – devil ears, red Sports Basement t-shirts and lots of cowbell. Join us starting at 11am at the roundabout on Northgate Rd. We’ll have front row seats to watch the cyclists bomb down the mountain.

All of our stores are participating in a raffle hosted by the Tour. Anyone who goes to the Amgen Tour of California – San Jose Facebook page and ‘likes’ it gets a 10% off coupon to use in any Sports Basement store. Coupons are also available by scanning a barcode found on posters in each of our stores.  This 10% coupon also entitles customers to one raffle entry  for an HTC Highroad cycling team jersey.

With two cheer squads, two raffles and other fun events, we’ve got something for every fan of the Tour. See you on the course!

It probably goes without saying, but obeying basic traffic laws will make your commute a zillion times safer. And, you know, probably help you avoid expensive traffic tickets. Always:

• Pass on the left.
• Announce your intention to pass. “On your left!”
• Signal your turns ahead of time, with your left hand – straight out for left, and up at a right angle for right. Check out a photo demonstration here.
• Stop at stoplights and stop signs.

“Once I understood that I’ve got responsibility for my own safety, and it wasn’t all on the cars, I calmed down a lot and my rides became way more enjoyable” says Pete Lester, Sports Basement’s bike fitting manager. Even if it seems like blowing through that red light will solve every problem you’ve ever had, in the end you’re only gaining 15 seconds. And it’s against the law.  And could result in an unfortunate case of cyclist meets car windshield. Ouch.

Give yourself time

Stop and smell the roses. Or at least, slow down a bit and get a whiff of those roses. Derek Yarra, a Bryant Street Store  mechanic and pro mountain biker, suggests budgeting an extra five or 10 minutes and cruising in to work at a more leisurely pace. The extra time will give you the chance to actually enjoy your ride, and as an added bonus, you won’t show up smelling like you just finished a century bike tour. Trust us; your co-workers will thank you for it.

Share the road… with everyone

Traffic on the street consists of more than cars and bikes. There’s another level of traffic often overlooked: the pedestrian.  Busy crosswalks can be frustrating, but as Chris Wyland of SB Bryant fame says, “Don’t get angry. Don’t yell. It makes us all look bad, and it’ll bring down your whole day, too.” Ride slowly and if you absolutely must ride through a pack of them, go behind so they don’t have to stop walking.

Comfort is key

You’re a proud and noble Bay Area dweller, so you’re smart enough to know that you ought to have a helmet. But there’s something more important than owning a helmet, and that’s actually wearing it. You won’t wear something if you don’t like how you look in it, so buy a helmet that you actually like! The same thing goes for your bike. Get a bike that you actually like looking at, and, more importantly, one that feels comfortable. Schedule a bike fitting and let the pros tweak your set-up to eliminate that weird muscle spasm you get at your wrists, or that lower back ache that rears its ugly head after 20 minutes. It’s those little discomforts that subconsciously keep you off your bike. “You start and end your day on your commuter – it should be something you enjoy riding” says Noelle Lewis, bike floor lead at SB Bryant. Comfort is the key to a good commute.

Be sensible – literally

Lose the ear buds and the cell phone. You don’t need background music for every moment of every day, and you certainly don’t need to share phone conversations with everyone else on the street. Commuting safely requires all of your senses, so don’t hamstring yourself by inhibiting your sense of hearing.

Say hello

We’ll be at energizer stations throughout the Bay Area on Bike to Work Day this Thursday. Stop by and say hi.

Maybe you’d rather just hear somebody talk about riding a bike? We’re stoked to host Team LiquiGas Cannondale cyclist Ted King at 6:30pm. He’ll offer insights into the life of pro cycling and what he’s learned in his world travels. He’ll be signing autographs too, so bring your favorite jersey or buy one at the Basement. RSVP here.

Sunnyvale Store
SB Sunnyvale will be out in force at an energizer station at the corner of Bowers & Central in Santa Clara. We’ll also have bike mechanics in front of Google’s main campus on Amphitheatre Parkway in Mountain View from 6:30am-noon; and at Marvell, 5488 Marvell Lane in Santa Clara, from 6:45am-11:15am. You can also find us at Bike to Work Day events at these South Bay companies: SAP; Synaptics; KLA Tencor; salesforce.com; Facebook; and Symantec.

The Sunnyvale Thursday evening group ride kicks off this Thursday, with a beginner-intermediate ride that leaves from the Sunnyvale Store at 6pm. Arrive by 5:45 to check in and get information on the evening’s route. For more information, email Branton, bcurt@sportsbasement.com.

Walnut Creek Store
Walnut Creek staffers will be at the Walnut Creek Bart station from 6am-10am. We’re hosting an energizer station sponsored by 511 Contra Costa and the East Bay Bike Coalition. Roll by for coffee, water, free goodies, snacks and lots of SB swag. Walnut Creek staff will also be at the Oakland Bike to Work Day happy hour in Old Oakland at 9th and Washington streets, from 5pm-8pm. Come say hi to us at the games station.

Looking for an evening ride? Our Walnut Creek Thursday road ride leaves from the store at 6pm. Email ccourtney@sportsbasement.com for more information.

Check these links for additional details on Bike to Work Day events in the East Bay, South Bay, and San Francisco.

Here’s a printer-friendly triathlon checklist.

Gear List

Clothing:

• Tri shorts
• Top – triathlon or cycling or running type of garment
• …or a one-piece tri suit (optional)
• If you wear warm clothes in the morning, give them to someone or put them in your bag after unpacking your race gear.
• A change of clothes for after the race.

Swim:

• Wetsuit
• BodyGlide or other lubricant
• Race swim cap
• Goggles

Bike:

• Bike – Make sure your tires are properly inflated before leaving your campsite.
• Bike shoes – clipless or running shoes
• Bike gloves – optional but good to have
• Helmet
• Sunglasses
• Socks
• Anti-chafe cream like Chamois Butter – optional but you will thank me for it later
• Race belt
• Spare tube and bike tools
• Somewhere to put your food if you’re racing the long course

Run:

• Running shoes
• Sun hat or visor
• Water bottle (optional). The run course is hot and dry and the aid stations aren’t evenly spaced out.

Nutrition:

• Water bottles for your bike
• Solid nutrition for the bike leg and perhaps for pre-race if your heat starts later in the morning.
• Gels for the run and bike
• Post race food – Maybe buy a burrito at the food stand, but you need a recovery drink ASAP after finishing, especially long course.
• Water – It’s hot and dry at Lake San Antonio; don’t start your day dehydrated.

Other:

• Sunscreen so you don’t fry. You will probably burn anyway, but this will minimize the pain.
• Towel – something to soak in water and wipe the salt off with, also keep the sun off you post-race
• Flip flops or shoes for post-race
• Disposable water bottle for swim start

Now you know why tri bags are so big!

Race day strategy

Early morning:

• You may want to have a checklist to go over so you don’t forget anything before leaving your camp site. The start is at least a mile away from the campgrounds and parking and there is a huge hill to climb if you forget anything.
• Grab everything you need, put it in a bag, put your helmet on your head and ride as close to the transition area as you get can before having to walk your bike. All the spots are numbered so there’s no need to get there super-early.
• There are tons of porta-potties but they always seem to be packed. There are some up by the food area that are never crowded, so seek them out if you’re in a hurry.

In the transition area:

• Get to transition and set up early. It’s a social event and people are all over the place.
• Pay attention to your start time. Don’t put your wetsuit on at 8am if you don’t start until 9am. You’ll be hot and dehydrated and you won’t have a good start to your day.
• Get to your start heat early, and bring a disposable water bottle so you have something to drink while you wait.
• Get a warm up,  and get your start spot picked out so you don’t get run over by other swimmers.

Swim:

• Sight early, sight often until you get the hang of it. Don’t waste time swimming off course.
• Pull the top of your wetsuit off as you exit the water. Stuff your goggles and cap down one of the sleeves.

T1:

• I put everything I need in my helmet so that when it’s empty I know to get going.

Bike:

• Relax on the first big climb. Your body is getting used to being upright and riding. Think about heart rate and beginning to fuel, drink up!

T2:

• Quickly rack your bike, swap your shoes and put your cap and race belt on as you are leaving. Get some sunscreen from the kind volunteers as you leave transition, gulp some water and get onto the run course.

Run:

• Thank a volunteer!
• Fuel only with gels and water.
• Keep a steady pace and quick turnover.
• Smile for the race day photographer.
• Stay focused on the task at hand. It is easy to let your mind wander here and that can cost precious time.

After the race, get some fluids and eat solid food as soon as you can, especially if you’ve completed the long course. Get a shower sooner rather than later to guarantee you have hot water.

Enjoy your day!

Here’s that printer-friendly triathlon checklist again. And if you’re camping at Wildflower, you might find that our car-camping checklist will come in handy, too.

We joined High Fives again at Trains 2012 Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Contest earlier this month. We were stoked to be  a partner in this event, which brings both pros and locals to the slopes of Alpine Meadows. We look forward to continuing this partnership, and we can’t wait to see what the guys from High Fives come up with next!

Wetsuits, swimskins & swimsuits

Want to be first out of the water like Andy Potts?  Come try on the wetsuits that he helped design.  These TYR wetsuits are popular, and we’ve added them to our arsenal of wetsuits for 2012.  We carry the fullsleeve Cat 1, 3 and 5 as well as the sleeveless Cat 1 for both men and women. New features include speed wrap 5mm Yamamoto Nano SCS paneling through the legs;  free R.O.M. zones for comfort which allow swimmers a long reach without shoulder strain and form-fitting wrist cuffs to keep water out. These suits also have quick release ankle cuffs; a 360-degree core stabilization system on the C:3 and C:5 models;  built-in graded force catch panels in the forearm of the c:3 and c:5; and the C:5 includes 100% Yamamoto Nano SCS for ultra-buoyancy.

Blue Seventy has redesigned its wetsuit fleet for 2012.  These suits look sharp and have many new features that make them some of the best wetsuits on the market. The Fusion is a perfect blend of of price and performance.  The Reaction – we’ve got both the fullsleeve and sleeveless suits – is Blue Seventy’s most popular wetsuit. It was completely overhauled for 2012. The Helix, Blue Seventy’s flagship suit, is now more buoyant and lighter. 2012 updates include new A-Flex orange jersey knit inside the suit for greater flexibility;  VO2 chest panels that maximize stretch while you breathe; a lower-cut neckline for improved comfort and less chaffing; knee flex panels to reduce bunching behind the knees and to enable quicker runs to T1; A-Grip textured panels at the forearms for increased propulsion; and single-seam tube legs.

2XU made some improvements to their line of high performance wetsuits this year, too. We’ve got the T:3, R:2, V:2 and ST:3 in stock.  Come see for yourselves and try on the suits that we think make you look like a superhero. New features include a rollbar for enhanced body positioning; graduated velocity strakes in the front chest panel to offer heightened body positioning and streamlined tracking through the water; a floating zip panel for extended reach; 39-cell front buoyancy panel on T:3 and V:2;  Silicone Glide Skin (SGS) coating plus new generation neoprene foam on the R:2;  concave water entrapment zones on the forearm and propulsion panels on the lower legs for greater power out of the kick – available on the V:2.

Thinking of retiring your current race wetsuit for training swims only?  The Orca Alpha is Orca’s lightest, most flexible wetsuit ever and we’ve got it. The Alpha has a Yamamoto 40-cell, exocell buoyancy features in the hips and aquatread forearm panels that will get you out of the water quickly. Not sure if you should take the purchase plunge?   Rent a wetsuit from us by the week ($25) or month ($50).  Dial in your favorite brand, size and style and apply up to $150 dollars of rental fees towards the purchase of a brand new wetsuit.

Bound for Kona or traveling to a warm-water race that isn’t wetsuit legal?  Pick up your Blue Seventy  PZ3TX, De Soto Liftfoil, or Zoot SpeedZoot at our store.  All are WTC and global triathlon-event legal suits that feature hydrophobic fabrics that reduce drag and increase performance in the water.  Ask us to pour some water on them and watch it bead off the fabric.

Training in the pool? We have a full line of men’s and women’s Speedo and TYR swimsuits.  New to our department in the last few weeks are The Finals shiny training suits, lots of new patterns from Speedo and TYR, and TYR Grab Bag suits.

What’s a Grab Bag suit?  Instead of throwing away the leftover fabric when making suits, companies like TYR use it to create suits from several different patterns.  Some are funny, some are really cool looking, some are kind of ugly, but almost all of them are one of a kind.  Not only are they unique, they’re also way cheaper than most other suits.  So if you’re looking to mix up your training wardrobe, these are the suits for you.  We have men’s briefs for $15, kids and men’s jammers for $25 and girls and women’s suits for $33!

Open water accessories

You may impress tourists swimming bare-headed at Aquatic Park, but you’ll be more comfortable in the water if you keep your head covered. We’ve got a variety of thermal neoprene caps from TYR, Blue Seventy, 2XU, Orca, De Soto, and Barracuda.  Also, Blue Seventy swim gloves and socks make the cold Bay water bearable. Your resemblance to a creature from the deep is just a side benefit.

Compression

Do you wonder about the knee socks all the pros wearing before, during and after races?  Compression is all the rage for endurance athletes and we’ve got CEP, 2XU, and Zoot compression socks, sleeves, tights, shorts and shirts.  Benefits include more oxygen to your muscles, quicker lactic acid removal, minimized muscle fatigue and improved blood circulation.  Aside from that they just feel good and look cool!

Bike

We have a huge selection of Profile Design aerobars and hydration to improve your bike split along with Louis Garneau and Giro aero helmets that will minimize drag and maximize performance.

Apparel

You want to look good on the race course, right?  We have the largest selection of men’s and women’s triathlon apparel in the Bay Area.  We have apparel from 2012 USA Olympic Triathlon Team outfitter TYR, as well as the latest from Blue Seventy, Zoot, 2XU, Louis Garneau, Orca, Sugoi and De Soto.  Whether you’re  looking for tri suits or separates, we’ll get you outfitted.  Also, stay tuned for tri apparel with the Sports Basement logo. We’re pretty stoked about it.

Footwear
You want to be speedy through transition, and keep your feet happy on the run, right? Zoot shoes allow for quick transitions and dry feet for a fast and comfortable race.  We have the new Zoot Ultra TT 5.0 – Neutral race shoe and the Zoot Ultra Tempo 5.0 – Stability race shoe.

Register here for April 23; register here for April 30.

Wetsuit Fitting/Transition 1 (T1) Clinic
Wednesdays, May 2, May 23 and June 6, 6:30pm-7:30pm
This clinic is an in-store wetsuit fitting and discussion of open-water swimming tips and tricks – including how to sight for buoys to keep you on course; goggle choices and lens types; and how to put on and care for a wetsuit. Come prepared to try on a wetsuit and get slightly sweaty. Not to worry, we’ll provide cooling refreshments.

Register here for May 2; register here for May 23; register here for June 6.

Open Water Swim at Aquatic Park
Sundays, May 6, June 17 and June 24, 9am-11am
Join us for a dip in the Bay at Aquatic Park to try out a demo rental wetsuit from Sports Basement or to test drive your personal wetsuit during a guided introduction to open water swimming, sighting tips, skills drills and a workout.

Register here for May 6; register here for June 17; register here for June 24.

Bike /Transition 2 (T2) Clinic
Wednesdays, May 9, May 30, and June 20, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Our coach and SB staff will guide you through the numerous bike options for triathletes.  Topics will cover road bikes vs. time trial bikes, and the advantages and uses of each type of bike. We’ll also talk about clip-in pedals and bike shoes, and apparel that is specific to triathlon training. Bring your bike for a clip-in pedal trial and training lesson. We’ll make sure you’re confident using these awesome bike components.

Register here for May 9; register here for May 30; register here for June 20.

Training Bike Ride with Sports Basement
Sundays, May 13 and June 3, 8:45am-11am
We’ll ride the Alcatraz bike course to work on endurance, bike handling skills, climbing and descending techniques, riding in a group and transitioning from the bike to the run. We’ll also make sure you’re comfortable clipping into your pedals. This will be an easy to moderately-paced, no-drop ride. We’ll briefly discuss the goals of the ride in the Sports Basement parking lot before hitting the road. Meet in front of the store at 8:45am, and be prepared to depart at 9am. Bring your bike, helmet, bike shoes, pedals, sunglasses, sunscreen, bike nutrition, and anything else you think you’ll need on race day.    

Register here for May 13; register here for June 3.

Run Technique/Shoe Clinic/Transition 2 (T2)
Wednesdays, May 16, June 13 and June 27, 6:30pm-7:30pm
What shoes are most appropriate for this race? Want to learn the best shoes for racing sockless? What about speed laces? We’ll answer these questions – and many others – and provide you with a number of training and race-day shoe options. Not sure what shoes you should be running in? Shoe Department staff will conduct a free gait analysis to get you into the best fitting shoe for your feet and running gait.  Then we’ll review proper running form and technique, and test it out on a short run to the Golden Gate Bridge and back.  

Register here for May 16; register here for June 13; register here for June 27.

Run the Alcatraz Course
Sundays, May 20 and June 10, 9am-11am
It’s time to test out everything you’ve learned so far on the Alcatraz run course. You’ll be guided along the 7-mile course for a training run. This course preview will help you set race day expectations.

Register here for May 20; register here for June 10.

Alcatraz Challenge Swim with Tri California
Monday, May 28, race orientations begin at 6:15am
Participants in the Women Rock Alcatraz clinic series receive a special registration discount to this 1.5 mile swim race in the San Francisco Bay. This race is good practice for navigating the Bay’s complicated currents. Get more details at your next clinic. Register with Sports Basement or through the Tri California website.

Mini-mock Triathlon and Transition Practice
Sunday, July 1, 9am-11am
This is the time to piece together all of your training and try it out in a mock triathlon. We’ll set up at Sports Basement and swim in the Bay. A transition area will be setup so you can rack your bike, lay out your running gear, and see what works best for you.

Register here.

Graduation Meeting and Social
Monday, July 2, 6:30pm-8:30pm
You’ve done the training. You’ve stuck with us for some through some hard workouts. You’re ready to take on Alcatraz! Congratulations! Join us for some social time and discussion of  race day strategy, last minute questions, and anything else triathlon-related that the clinic series didn’t cover.

Register here.