Gridlock, congested surface streets, temper-tripping traffic— who knows what downtown commuters will face when Interstate 5 shuts down for repair work this summer. Why not hop on a bike and be blissfully absent from the fuming throng of drivers squeezing through town? To get you geared up, we’ve done a little shopping.
New stuff
• Biking is all about visibility. From sleek chamois knickers to sizzling pastel print jerseys, San Francisco designer Sheila Moon’s cycling garb is all about being seen. Available at Bicycle Chef Bicycles, 2409 J St., or sheilamoon.com.
• If you get one new bike toy this year, make it a neon-hued Incredibell, about $9 at City Bicycle Works, 2419 K St., or mirrycle.com
New info
Rebecca Markussen, a League of American Bicyclists-trained instructor, is offering two traffic-strategy courses for cyclists this month:
June 17, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Dodging Obstacles and Cycling Etiquette, $20. At the
Bicycle Chef. Also on the syllabus: adjusting the brakes.
June 21 and June 28 (two Saturdays), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (eight hours total): Cycling in Traffic, $65. Location to be announced.
Check Markussen’s website, visproservices.com, or call (916) 709-6415 for more information (and more courses).
New wheels
• Check out the Trek WSD (Women’s Specific Design) bikes at City Bicycle Works. Assistant manager Zach Waddle suggests the 7100 ($359) if you want a good, solid commute bike. “These are great because you don’t have to dodge every pothole,” he says. For something a little more aggressive, Waddle points to Trek’s WSD 7.2 FX ($459).
• Electra’s Townie ($480) is a laid-back, three-speed ride with an elongated frame and “Flat Foot Technology.” “The cool thing about that is when you stop, you can put your feet on the ground instead of standing on your toes,” Waddle says. “Women love these.”
Work in progress
Just when you thought the glitter was gone from downtown development, here comes a bright spot: The old Cal Western Life building at 926 J St. is set to open this fall as The Citizen Hotel. It’s fun to fantasize about what will happen to that corner and block once the metamorphosis is complete, but in the meantime the epic task continues. “We’re not restoring a grand hotel,” explains Matt Harvey, creative director of Joie de Vivre Hospitality of San Francisco. “We are converting a historic building that was an office building into a boutique hotel. Obviously, we’ve had to bring it in line with seismic and infrastructure improvements we needed to do. It’s quite an undertaking, quite an extensive project.” Here’s what Harvey told us about the progress behind the chain-link.
What’s it look like inside? It’s a classic, classic building that was never designed to be a hotel, but that, I think, is what is giving us lots of opportunities. We’ve respected the bones of the building and we’ve inherited some interesting sizes and proportions . . . all the rooms are different. One of my favorites is the room that overlooks Cesar Chavez Plaza with a giant arched window that’s 8 feet tall. Some of the penthouse rooms have 16-foot ceilings.
Who’s the interior designer? Candra Scott & Anderson of San Francisco. They focus exclusively on boutique hotels in historic buildings.
When will it open? The projected opening date at this point is Nov. 8. 
