Santa Cruz County

Stories from Santa Cruz County

Read stories and get inspired! Share a cycling story and inspire others to get out and ride!

Image for story I won it!

I won it!

I love to ride. Hope on my bike and it is me and the rode with pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. My goal was always ride every day of the Bike Challenge Month, whether it be a short ride for errand... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story 25 years after spinal fusions I got back on a bike

25 years after spinal fusions I got back on a bike

Back on a bike after 25 years! 'Excited' to ride a bike again doesn't come close to expressing how I am feeling as tears of joy stream down my face, thrilling, freeing, and hopeful.... a life long ... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Pidgins

I like riding through groups of pidgins and watching fly always. It’s the best. I really hope I don’t accidentally run one over one day.

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story COP26 Challenge

COP26 Challenge

My last ride of the COP26 challenge - Watching the waves come in & go out again at sunset. The night was enjoyably warm. The light exercise left me feeling invigorated. - Then the horror sank... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Sea Otter Classic eMTB Race

Sea Otter Classic eMTB Race

Raced in the eMTB at Sea Otter Classic. It was great to be out with other riders, talking to vendors and learning. I got to meet Calvin Jones of Park Tool - he helped me fix my buddy's bike after... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Biking Meetings

Biking Meetings

I have been known to host "walking meetings" with my team members as we go over important business items for follow up. I never thought I'd be hosting 1-1 meetings with my staff via bike, but that ... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story Mothers Day

Mothers Day

My son, husband and I decided to spend Mother's Day biking the Coastal Trail from Pacific Grove just past Marina. My husband and I have new electric bikes and we rented a bike in Pacific Grove for... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Biking from 🐐 to  🚲 repair today!

Biking from 🐐 to 🚲 repair today!

Rode my 🚲, “ 🌷 “ to 🐐 exercise class this morning and only got half way before my 🚲 chain came off! Therefore I walked the rest of the way, attended class, and then transported ( by 🛻) to Current ... read more

Topic: Other

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Laughter

I ride daily around the UCSC campus. Today while riding down the bike path from the Recital Hall I decided to laugh loudly. I didn't start off feeling like I wanted to laugh but by the time I arriv... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Virtual Camino de Santiago

Virtual Camino de Santiago

In 2018, my husband and I planned to travel to Europe to complete the Camino de Santiago by bicycle. We cancelled our trip after finding that his cancer (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) had reared it’s hea... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Slow Streets

The City of Santa Cruz has launched a Slow Streets program, and we are looking for neighborhoods to nominate their streets! The Slow Streets program is designed to limit through traffic on cert... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Chef Maria Bikes to Work

Chef Maria Bikes to Work

Another Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes employee trades in her keys for a helmet and commutes to work. Our kitchen Manager, Maria is dedicated to preparing healthy lunches and feeding anyone who n... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Bike + Freediving in Santa Cruz

Recently made plans to do a little free-diving (wetsuit, mask, fins but no scuba) with my dive buddy. I had biked to work on this day. Was able to pack my gear in my saddle bags, fins sticking out... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story La chispa entre mi bicicleta y yo comienza de nuevo

La chispa entre mi bicicleta y yo comienza de nuevo

Siempre usé mi bicicleta cuando era muy pequeño, pero luego el miedo a las carreteras, los automóviles y la infraestructura de la ciudad me llevó a detenerme. Trabajar con una empresa que es muy ap... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Biking for Sanity

Biking and hiking saved me during the pandemic. I met up with old friends and met new people while mountain and road biking. There's nothing better than being outdoors with your buddies, enjoying... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story Still Riding After All These Years

Still Riding After All These Years

Here was my trusty stead on my first bike tour from Klamath Falls to Santa Barbara back in '82. Just a 20 year old lad then, and now a mere 40 years later, I still Love To Ride. Thanks to this c... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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River Ride

I am loving seeing the wildlife on my commute to work along the San Lorenzo River levee path. There have been one or two kingfishers out there lots of mornings. One morning I saw a coyote right nex... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Getting to Know You

Having just relocated to Santa Cruz recently, it has been exciting to get out on my bike and explore places I had only seen traveling by car. I can't wait to get to know even places farther than th... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Wednesday Ride to Check in on our housebound friends

Wednesday Ride to Check in on our housebound friends

Every Wednesday since April 2020 a group of friends rides in Watsonville to check on our housebound (due to age, immunocompromised, non-vaccinated...) friends. It's a fun ride and it brings a litt... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story Lente!

Lente!

Because we #lovetoride

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Saving Nature

I ride my bike to work and to play and I love to hike in nature. I was out with friends last week at the Land Of Medicine Buddha in Soquel. This is a private Buddhist Monastery. Absolutely no bik... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story TandeMadness

TandeMadness

All of September I am participating in the Great Cycle Challenge. It's a fund raiser to raise awareness and funds for children's cancer research. It's my 4th time doing it. I love it and I feel GR... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story Anxiety and Biking During a Pandemic

Anxiety and Biking During a Pandemic

It took me a while to want to leave my house at all during the pandemic. I did not show up well for myself in the beginning and my mind got the best of me for longer than I would like to admit. I h... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story 2000 Miles

2000 Miles

Last year in May, I decided that I did not not want to ride to work anymore and bought an electric bike. In that time I have gone down to a one-car family. I just hit 2000 miles on my bike. That is... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story While I was away...

While I was away...

Sadly I missed the big company ride this past weekend, but had the incredible opportunity to travel to Ireland. This was my first time ever in Europe and I wanted to make the most of my ONE day of... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Mutually Assured Destruction

I recently did a metric century with a friend of mine. It was the longest ride (mileage wise) either of us had ever done and we were pretty burnt out. When we got home I dropped him off and immedia... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Stories from around the world

My Best Friend and Me

I met Annie when we were kids. We bonded over riding our bikes together. Ever since then, we have done many bike trips together, the longest being a 3 day rail trail we did earlier this year. I hav... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Age is no barrier

Age is no barrier

I am Ian Shaw from Balloch West Dunbartonshire. I found out about LTR in my then work place Glasgow Clyde College and I'm now retired. I have been cycling for about 40 years now as well as a ke... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story The zen of the ride

The zen of the ride

Most days, my spouse will ask where I want to ride. I suggest a route, he suggests something else, and I say okay. I’m not really a pushover. The feel of riding, the movement, the act of being in t... read more

Topic: Other

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Bike Around the Bay

Bike around the bay 2024

Topic: Other

Image for story Houston's Multi-modal Trip

Houston's Multi-modal Trip

Visiting Miller Outdoor Theater, seeing Big Boy at Amtrak station, or going to BikeHouston's events from Katy can be achieved easily with bike + express bus. Those are trips that otherwise too far ... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story A Mixed-Ability Cycling Adventure from Barry Island to Sharpness!

A Mixed-Ability Cycling Adventure from Barry Island to Sharpness!

On Friday, October 11th, we embarked on a 92-mile cycling adventure from Barry Island Station to Sharpness, united by a common cause – to support the Save Tall Ship Tenacious campaign and inspire i... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Faster than a car!

Faster than a car!

I work as a P.E teacher in Kilmarnock and I first heard about Love to Ride from the East Ayrshire Council website. I've been a recreational cyclist since I was a boy but got my Boardman road bike f... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story The joy of riding my bike

The joy of riding my bike

I love riding my bike, my first ride was when i was around six, I remember jumping on my older sister's new bike. we lived in a court and my Mum let us ride to the halfway point, of course this bik... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Why I ride and choose not to own a car?

Why I ride and choose not to own a car?

If you know me, you’d probably know that I’ve become an avid cyclist over the years and my work involves looking at ways to encourage people to consider the daily choices they make around transport... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Night ride at long last

Night ride at long last

My first night ride since before my long lay up after surgery. I didn't realise how much I missed it, 15 miles of bliss.

Topic: Other

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Image for story 3, 2., 1 - GO!

3, 2., 1 - GO!

Biketober is off! The outside racks were packed all day at Council House 2!

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Catching the bike bug.

Catching the bike bug.

I turned 50 in December. Had a bad skiing accident in February where I was unable to do a lot of exercise. I put on a few pounds and my fitness deteriorated during recovery. Started to get stronger... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Bikes for sale

Hey anyone know any recommendations for long distance for bikes? Or have one for sale

Topic: Other

Image for story 15 years - 100,000km

15 years - 100,000km

I've been commuting to work for 15 years with at least one ride on the weekends. All up I have clocked over 100,000 km. Here are some comparative guesimates of savings over that time: Financial: ... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Commuting Carbon Neutral

Commuting Carbon Neutral

I drive an electric car but as everyone knows it still takes fossil fuels to operate. Luckily, even with everything factored in, it has less than 1/3 the carbon footprint of gas cars. I discovered ... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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Ride to school

Each day I ride to school while most people rock up in cars. I ride because it's healthy (and I don't like to walk) and gets me to school in under 10 minutes. I love riding and I home that more stu... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Isobel's Cycling Journey

Isobel's Cycling Journey

I’m a 57 year old community worker who started cycling around 2.5 years ago after seeing an advertisement for the Great North Bike ride and decided to enter it to motivate myself to get fit. My fri... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Looking Back

Looking Back

It's a certainty; if you ride long enough, you will crash. I sometimes let myself entertain the idea that cars and other things, coming up from behind, are uncontrol able random threats. In try... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Inclusive adventures for all

Inclusive adventures for all

92 miles DONE! 🎉 What a weekend with an incredible mixed ability team! 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️ We cycled all the way from Barry Island to Gloucester and even managed to squeeze in an interview with Mike Griffi... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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UCLA

i bike on the UCLA campus because there is less car traffic, making it safer for fitness/exercise.

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Bike maintenance

Just replaced my chain and rear cassette. A big shout out to Andy at bike space, and Evo cycles on Vivian, for help, advice and parts. It's now running sweet for my daily commute.

Topic: Other

Image for story Cycling and working

Cycling and working

I am 75 and have been cycling since I was 7yrs. I am now employed as a community caregiver, cycling to all my clients. It is a great ice-breaker as all those of my generation and older had to cycle... read more

Topic: Other

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A gratitude post!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed cycle September and was heading out in an extra ride yesterday when I realised I had a flat tire. Turned round, pushed the bike home and pumped it up, within seconds it was ... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Made to Bruges!

Made to Bruges!

I love this picture. it's my friend and I in Bruges in Belgium. Earlier on in the year, I invited him to join me early Sept to go on a bike adventure. Over 4 days, we'd cycle in France and Belgi... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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