Sacto cycles

Yeah, the Amgen Tour of California, which begins this week in Southern California, skipped the Sacramento area for the second year in a row. But who needs those professional ’roid ragers anyway? Sacramento has the untainted glory of May is Bike Month to whip up the region into a drug-free (except for a lil’ booze) frenzy for all things bicycle related. May is Bike Month events include small film screenings and huge bike festivals. Plus, you can check out www.mayisbikemonth.com to find bike resources, track your miles, compete in challenges with friends, and win prizes. Here are five highlights and happenings that SN&R recommends.

Festivals

Capitol BikeFest, happening on Thursday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Capitol (10th Street and Capitol Avenue), is always a big event. The free annual festival generally features vendor booths, guest speakers and free bike parking.

Scooter’s Clean Air Fun Fest and Bike Expo!, which happens on Saturday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fremont Park (1515 Q Street), offers a BMX bike team performance, safety demonstrations and music. It’s also free. Pro tip: Every Friday Night Concerts in the Park show (even beyond May) offers free valet bike parking via Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates.

Films

Midtown bike shop Pedal Hard premieres No Coast, a documentary film about a weeklong cycling adventure from Portland, Ore., to San Francisco. A free screening happens at Hot Italian (1627 16th Street) on Saturday, May 11, at 9 p.m.

Another film, Believe & Achieve, documents the youngest team ever to participate in the Race Across America. It plays for free at the Byron Sher Auditorium in Joe Serna Jr. Cal/EPA Headquarters Building (1001 I Street) at noon on Monday, May 13.

Rides

Highlights of the many rides happening this month include a ride with Sacramento City Councilman Allen Warren (Saturday, May 11), the women’s CycloFemme Ride (Sunday, May 12), a Ride of Silence (Wednesday, May 15), the NorCal AIDS Cycle (May 16-19) and the NBG American River Parkway HiWheel Ride (Sunday, May 19). But there are also way more rides happening throughout the greater Sacramento area that you can find out about at www.mayisbikemonth.com/events.asp.

Deals

The Midtown Business Association is partnering with local businesses to offer some sweet deals to cyclists. For example, Kupros Bistro is offering happy-hour prices and a special menu to cyclists, and Spanglish Arte is offering 15-percent discounts to bicyclists. To qualify for some deals, you just need to flash your helmet, while others require that you print your “miles-logged” sheet from the May is Bike Month website—so make sure to read the fine print first at www.mayisbikemonth.com/discounts.asp.

Classes

Every Wednesday night at 6 p.m., Mike’s Bikes of Sacramento (1411 I Street) hosts free participant-determined classes that teach how to fix a flat tire and tune-up brakes, among other bike-related things.

Peak Adventures bike shop on the Sacramento State University campus (6000 J Street) will host workshops every Thursday at 6 p.m. It’ll cover subjects such as how to ride safely in rough weather and how to fix a flat tire. Visit www.peakadventures.org for detailed information on these workshops and the May is Bike Month website for more classes.