The second annual Bikes & Beers SD will take riders through Balboa Park, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Old Town, Presidio Park, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, downtown, and East Village on a 21-mile course Saturday, March 28. Starting and ending at recently opened Quartyard in East Village, the cruise will also offer riders glimpses of the majestic natural scenery that Mission Bay, Sunset Cliffs and San Diego Bay have to offer. Upon completion of the course riders will enjoy a couple pints from a selection of San Diego’s finest craft beers, sample food from local food trucks, check out booths filled with bicycle related gear from local vendors, and listen to live music.
Event proceeds will go to BikeSD, a non-profit bicycle advocacy organization working with policymakers, residents, and other local entities to create a more livable San Diego by promoting everyday riding.
?”The most fulfilling way to truly experience all that a city has to offer is via a bicycle,” said BikeSD executive director Sam Ollinger. “The route is perfect in that it traverses geographical diversity and will also hint at the livability challenges that prevent most San Diegans from riding regularly and experiencing our largest public spaces: our streets.”??
The event route is predominantly flat with only a couple of hills – the steepest portion is crossing from Sunset Cliffs to Point Loma. Additionally, much of the event utilizes bike paths, like the Old Sea World Dr. bike path and trail, to expose participants to existing bicycle infrastructure of which they may not be aware.
“Our company was started in November of 2013 by Tim Stempel (a founder of Tour de Brewtah in Salt Lake City), John Anderson and myself because we wanted to promote bicycling infrastructure while highlighting the exploding craft beer scene,” said organizer Benjamin Robbins. “We were overwhelmed last March when nearly 700 riders came to our first event and since that time we have held similar events in Philadelphia, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Vista. We put a lot of thought and time into mapping out a shorter and flatter course this year that still offers all the same amazing scenery as last year.”??
To learn more about Bikes & Beers SD, visit www.bikesandbeers.org.