Ride the Rails Urban Expedition

C.I.C.L.E. (Cyclists Inciting Change Through Live Exchange) is working to create a bike-riding Los Angeles.  Cycling is good for the planet and the community, so it's encouraging all of us to hop aboard a two-wheeler during its monthly community rides and then stay on the seats for errands and work commutes in the weeks to come. (And, if you come by the  store on one, we'll give you 5% off your purchase.)

You can join some like-minded friends this Saturday for its Ride the Rails event during which cyclists will enjoy a leisurely tour of Downtown L.A.'s landmark rail and trolley lines--the stuff legends and movies have been made of since the beginning of the last century.

First stop: Union Station.  Last stop: Los Angeles State Historic Park.  In between: Angels Flight and historic neighborhoods Angelino Heights and Bunker Hill.

Here's are C.I.C.L.E.'s event details:

Where: Meet at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St.
Who: C.I.C.L.E., M.T.A., Angels Flight Foundation, Angeleno Heights Trolley Line, Inc., California State Parks, and You!
When: Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 9:15am. Ride tour starts promptly at 9:45am.
How: Free!
What to Bring: A bicycle in good running order (please have your bike inspected and tuned at least once a year at your local bike shop). All participants under 18 must wear a helmet and be escorted by a parent or guardian. Children under age 9 should be on a tag-a-long, bike trailer, tandem, or other safe child-carrying device.

You can get more information on C.I.C.L.E. here.

Filmore Grocery Pannier

This fancy-named cycling bag fits the bill for both our themes this month: DADS and TRAVEL.

It's a genius bike bag that hooks onto a rear rack via sturdy hooks.  So, it's great to put stuff in while you're riding.  Even better, it detaches easily and has a strap should you need to bring it into a store with you for safekeeping or no-waste shopping.  

It's 1,005 cubic inches, so it's large enough to fit the equivalent of at least one fully-loaded paper grocery bag.

And finally, it's made of mostly hemp, that plant that has a short growing period (100-120 days), making it highly sustainable.  It's also long-lasting, durable, and biodegradable while being super convenient for real world cyclists.