Climate Ride 2013 Recap
On Thursday, May 23rd, 2013, 150 cyclists rode the last of 320 miles from Humboldt County to the steps of San Francisco City Hall, bringing to a close the fourth annual California Climate Ride.
The ride, which traces a route through some of California’s most beautiful scenery, ended with a rally and speaking event, and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for nonprofit environmental and bicycle advocacy organizations.
The ride is more than a bike trip: It is a five-day journey that brings together people who have a passion for sustainability, renewable energy and bicycles. As such, this “green conference on wheels” incorporates speaking events every evening along the route and fosters discussions and debates on the road.
This year’s ride started in Fortuna (Humboldt County) with a trek through the redwoods on the Avenue of the Giants. The beautiful spring weather continued as the ride cut over to the coast.
Most days averaged between 60 and 70 miles, with an optional “century” day on the third day. Finally, the group greeted a cheering crowd at City Hall.
Every evening after dinner the full group gathers to hear talks by experts on the ride about topics ranging from the inception of bike sharing in the Bay Area to the conservation of the California coastline to the impact of climate change on the oceans. The speakers all participate in the ride, so the journey becomes a rolling symposium with conversations from the evening continuing as riders roll down the road.
“Every day we see new environmental crises and challenges, but when Climate Ride participants realize they have the power to take action and change lives, they elevate expectations for their communities and for themselves,” said Caeli Quinn, Climate Ride’s co-founder. “In 2012, we granted more than $400,000 to groups that our riders selected. This is an incredibly empowering experience to raise funds, ride your bike and see the impact in the areas that you want to support. “It’s amazing to think that something as simple as a bicycle ride can have such an impact on people personally, and help move the country toward a sustainable, renewable future.”
This year’s ride raised more than $350,000, with a significant amount going toward Bay Area bicycle coalitions in the East Bay, San Francisco, Sonoma County, Marin County and Silicon Valley. The Climate Ride is the only charity ride dedicated to sustainability and bicycle advocacy and the largest single funder of bicycle advocacy groups in the country.
To prepare for the ride, the EBBC organized 5 training rides (open to all) with various distances and intensity levels to get in shape for the ride. We also provided plenty of fundraising assistance and encouragement for our team members.
Ready to join us? Visit the 2014 Climate Ride page.
What is the California Climate Ride? The California Climate Ride is a 5-day, fully-supported bicycle ride from Fortuna to San Francisco under towering redwoods, through the Russian River Wine Country, and along the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route – one of the most scenic coastlines in the world. This ‘green conference on wheels’ also features nightly speakers who focus on bicycle advocacy, sustainability, and renewable energy.
Read all about Team EBBC‘s epic adventures on the 2011 California Climate Ride and the 2012 California Climate Ride. You can also learn more about the ride including route maps at www.climateride.org.