San Francisco Bicycle Coalition members do many amazing things around the city! This Pride Month, take a peek into the life of longtime SFBike member and Different Spokes SF president, Stephen Arod Shirreffs. Different Spokes is a volunteer-led inclusive cycling community for LGBTQ+ folks and their allies.

Could you share a little bit about yourself and Different Spokes?

I am a 72-year-old sick road cyclist and I’ve been on a bike since I was ten years old. I’ve lived in San Francisco since 1981 and have been riding the AIDS/LifeCycle since 2014. Outside of biking, I have lots of hobbies including gardening, aquariums, my gargantuan personal library, photography, going to museums, and walking our beautiful city. But I’m never happier than when I’m on a bike. 

I am also the president of Different Spokes San Francisco (DSSF). DSSF was founded in 1982 as one of the first gay and lesbian bike clubs in the world. We are now one of the oldest, all-inclusive LGBTQ+ bike clubs in the world (all-inclusive refers to our many straight members). We ride all year round, mostly road riding, but we also offer an occasional dirt bike series. The club is continually trying to reinvent itself, and right now we are focused on extending a welcome to ALC-legacy riders who want to stay on the bike. 

Why did you first become a San Francisco Bicycle Coalition member?

I joined SFBike because I am a lifelong city boy, and I believe cities are best when they are open and livable, when people encounter each other and see what the city in all its diverse glory offers. Moving around by bike is integral to that. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition holds our city leadership accountable to make SF live up to its potential. In doing so it makes those of us on two wheels safer, and offers more people with varying levels of skill and commitment on the bike, the possibility of venturing out and discovering the beauty and joy of pedaling around town.

Where are some of your favorite spots to ride in San Francisco?

I love riding around the coast starting from the ball park all the way to the zoo. My favorite quick “leg-burner” ride is a double Hawk Hill going up to the top twice. I also ride all over Marin county and the South Bay, and want to get out to ride in the East Bay more. 

Does Different Spokes have any exciting events planned?

Our biggest ride coming up is the 40th Anniversary of the first AIDS Bike-a-thon ride on July 20. Different Spokes organized that ride for nine years until the California AIDS Ride came along and was later picked up by AIDS/Lifecycle, and we raised 2.3 million dollars for AIDS services back in those difficult days. 

Also coming up are our Sum-Sum-Summertime Series and Fall Climbing Series, leading to our annual conquest of Mount Hamilton in November, and then our traditional New Year’s Day Mount Diablo ride. 

We have lots of social events for members, and we welcome anyone who loves biking to join us. Many of our rides feature both an easier, flatter option, and a longer one with more climbing. We’re always open to members suggesting rides of whatever length or difficulty. 

Check out all of DSSF’s exciting upcoming events at dssf.org and join Stephen and thousands of other San Franciscans as an SFBike member to support our work to promote bike safety and joy!