Create In California: HI 2 RIDE

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• published: 26 Jun 2012
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A contigent of NorCal bicycling advocates and industry supporters embarked on a bike tour featuring visits to Create In California cycling-focused designers and manufacturers. After meeting up at HOT ITALIAN Midtown for espresso and bloody marys, the group hopped on Amtrak's Capital Corridor train headed for Emeryville and lunch at the 2nd HOT ITALIAN location at the new Public Market. Steve Rex, who just celebrated his 25th Anniversary of his award-winning frame building business in Sacramento, was among the contingent. Rex Cycles specializes in custom frames for road racing, touring, and tandem bicycles, and the unique S and S Bicycle Torque Coupling travel system. Rex frames are designed around your body and riding needs. rexcycles.com/ After devouring pizza, panini, and insalata, the riders headed first over to Capo. Capo has established itself as a premier brand of cycling apparel and accessories. Founded in 2004 by Gary Vasconi and Robert Carbone, the initial offering of technical socks and casual apparel was widely accepted within the marketplace. Soon thereafter, the product range expanded to include a collection of men’s kits along with the launch of a custom apparel program. Capo products are designed and developed in California, with the majority of manufacturing taking place in northern Italy. The Capo employees are all active and passionate cyclists. capocycling.com Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel The mission of Portland native and Oakland resident, Sheila Moon, is to bring fashion to the world of cycling apparel. Sheila combines 15 years of bike racing experience with a lifetime as a fashion designer to create cycling apparel that is both fashionable and functional. Sheila is on the cutting edge of Cycling Fashion – offering tailored wool britches and lined jackets that travel from bike to boardroom with ease. She also creates some of the finest cycling basics (jerseys, shorts, warmers, caps) in the industry. Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel is woman-owned and every item is created in artisan sewing factories in San Francisco California. sheilamoon.com B. Spoke Tailor B. Spoke Tailor makes elegant riding attire out of the best wool fabric available. Owner, Nan Eastep, is an artisan tailor, fiber and conceptual artist, activist and teacher. The B. Spoke Tailor line of natural and recycled fiber modern bike riding attire is inspired by wool, modern sportswear, and the history of tailoring that served humans riding horses, hunting, making sport of all kinds, and their leisure. They applaud natural fibers created by farming and animal husbandry practices that protect the environment and the animals that are raised for our use. They hope to effect positive change in global trends in the apparel industry that have favored both synthetic fibers and off-shore manufacturing and are part of a movement to revitalize local economies around clothing manufacturing. B. Spoke Tailor produces all of their products in the US and as close to home as possible. bspoketailor.com Following the ride, the group met up at the HOT ITALIAN Public Market for a Sierra Nevada Brewing, another California-based company, for a beer and gelato tasting. Others perused the HOT ITALIAN line of custom-made messenger bags, IPad cases, and other bike accessories by Rickshaw Bagworks, a San Francisco-based bag company inspired by the creative energy of SF, urban cycling and an intense desire to make great products in the City. In addition to their passion for bags, they share a strong set of humanistic, environmental and social values that guide the way they conduct every aspect of their business. The name Rickshaw is derived from three Japanese characters meaning “human powered vehicle”–delightfully apropos for a company making bags for bicycle enthusiasts, and a metaphor for the strength of the human spirit. rickshawbags.com The flagship location of HOT ITALIAN in Midtown Sacramento was the first Bicycle Friendly Business restaurant in California, and only the third LEED Certified (silver) restaurant in the state. The 2nd location features an interactive bike wall and indoor bike parking built with 'Bike Valets" by local designer Steven Tiller and a Cyclepod bike rack.