Wrapping Up The Bicycle Visit In Monterey, Calif.

Monterey. Calif. -- Tonight David Luppino and I hit the famed Cannery Row in Monterey, attending a dinner to wrap up the Bicycle Leadership Conference that was held in connection to the massive Sea Otter CLassic bike festival and races.

David, who owned the Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium and parts of two other shops before deciding to open the Just Ride Bicyles shop in Fish Hawk, met several national bicycle industry big guns tonight. David's store, CBE, along with Randy Mhyre's Oliver's Cycle Sports, were the founding member of SWFBUD, and it was terrific I had the chance to introduce David to Tim Blumenthal of Boulder-based Bikes Belong.

It was a wonderful dinner as the founder of the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company was the guest speaker and outlined his company's amazing success as the country's number one craft brewery.

Ken Grossman built his tiny microbrewery in Chico, Calif. into a sudsy juggernault -- the number six beer in the country and number one in the craft brewing category.

These days, his Sierra Nevada company produces its own electricity, has its own rail system and its own wastewater treatment facility. His commitment to sustainability -- and delicious beer -- is admirable.

And what better way to wrap up any great bicycle ride with a great beer like Sierra Nevada. Ken was a former bike shop guy himself and loves to cycle -- a perfect match between bicycling and beer.

I hope to bring renewed energy and contacts back to the Tampa Bay area so that we make continue growing bicycling. We have a nice thing going -- a burgeoning bicycle movement -- and let's work together to continue the monentum.