Blair Anthony Robertson: I Live Here

Blair Anthony Robertson - a native of Ottawa, Canada - has been the Restaurant and Food Critic for the Sacramento Bee since 2008.  One of the unique aspect about Robertson's reviewing philosophy, is that you get the full experience - from location, staff, customer service, ambiance, clientele and ultimately the food.

Robertson also write human interest stories and often time they are bicycling-related.  He knows a thing or two about cycling in Sacramento.  In addition to being a fitness cyclist, Robertson is a bike commuter.

Sac Cycle Chic:  Tell me about your bikes?

Blair Anthony Robertson:  Currently - and I emphasize "currently" - I have four bikes.  Three are made in Italy and one is handmade here in Sacramento.  It is my prized possession.  The Italian road bikes are a Colnago, an Opera (which is an offshoot of Pinarello) and a Bianchi San Jose, which is a single-speed that is good for cruising around town.  The other are built for speed.  The locally made bike is a Steve Rex.  The shop is on E Street in Midtown.  I designed the paint scheme and Steve made it to fit me.

SSC: Which one is your favorite and why?

BAR:  The next one.  One thing about bikes is the lust factor.  There are so many bikes to dream about.  Eventually, you figure out that no matter how pretty they are, how light, you still have to do the work.  My favorite right now is the Rex.  It's a steel bike with lots of cool components, including a white stem and white FSA carbon handlebars.  The components are Campagnolo, which is also Italian (I think I was Italian in a past life!).

The Steve Rex 

SSC: What is cycling to you?

BAR:  Beauty, elegance, efficiency,speed, power, perseverance.  There is something very special about being on a bike and working in harmony with the machine.  When you move, it moves.  It is such a simple pleasure.  At its best, the cycling action is very economical, without a lot of swaying and bobbing and bouncing.  To me, it is a wonderful thing to see.  And besides all that, there's no gas and no pollution.

SSC:  What would you tell others to encourage them to cycle?

BAR:  Riding a bike is such a simple solution to so many problems - obesity, congested roads, anger, noise, pollution.  If the errand is less than five miles, try doing the next five errands like that on your bike.  It makes them real.  You have to work to get there and back.  You see different things.  You meet people on a human level rather than from inside a big steel box.  You feel better.  You may even smile.  And when you get to your destination, you usually will have the best parking spot.  Don't be fooled into thinking this is a car culture.  Let's make it a bike culture.  When that happens, we all benefit.  My girlfriend and I always enjoy grocery shopping or going out to dinner just a little bit more when we ride our bikes.

Robertson's Dogs.  Given his job, he must remain anonymous

SSC:  What do you think of Sacramento's bicycle culture?

BAR:  I have very mixed feelings.  Sacramento is such a great place to ride a bike.  The 32-mile American River bike trail is the greatest urban bike trail in the world.  The weather is great, the terrain is varied, all flat in the city and wonderful hills just beyond.  And yet, cars and bikes don't always get along.  In fact, there is a lot of hostility, a lot of us-versus-them mentality.

How can this be fixed?  Get more people riding.  Everyone should be a cyclist, at least some of the time. That way, when there is an incident or mishap, we don't see it as THOSE cyclists or THOSE motorists.  It's us.  Sometimes we're cyclists and sometime motorists.  That said, some cyclists need to behave better.  If you want to be respected and if you ask motorists to "share the road," you have to show your commitment by following the rules of the road.  I stop at stop signs and red lights not only because it's the right thing to do but because I want to show motorists that I take my position on the road seriously.  To be respected, you have to show respect.  I would like to see more cyclists adopt this attitude.