Karen Kefauver

Freelance writer, photographer and social media consultant

Based in Santa Cruz, California, I specialize in stories, photos and videos on adventure travel and endurance sports.
I've been a full-time freelance journalist since 1996. I have published 500+ feature stories and photos worldwide in magazines, newspapers and online media. With a background in public relations and marketing, I also help businesses with social media marketing - teaching, training and speaking on how to use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and other social media networks to boost business results.

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Santa Cruz Sentinel Spin City Columns 2013 by Karen Kefauver

Santa Cruz Sentinel
03/07/2013
Cycling Community Shows Police Support

As I stood on Ocean Street yesterday, along with hundreds of others, watching the solemn motorcade head to San Jose for the memorial of Sgt. Loran "Butch" Baker and detective Elizabeth Butler, I felt profoundly sad about the loss of these two City of Santa Cruz police officers.

Santa Cruz Sentinel Spin City Columns 2012 by Karen Kefauver

Santa Cruz Sentinel
12/13/2012
Five Gifts for Your Cycling Friends

After all these years of bike riding, I still find it amusing that cyclists, during a group ride, may not know one other's names even after hours together in the saddle.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
09/20/2012
Taste of Tibet by Bicycle

The United Nations' World Tourism Organization predicts that China will become the world's most popular travel destination in the next four to six years.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
07/06/2012
Big Basin Gains Attention

Natasha Perry has logged thousands of miles on her bicycle, so she recognizes when she is riding in a special place.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
06/22/2012
Glacial Getaway

When I told my mom about my plans to visit Glacier National Park in Montana and bicycle the park's famous Going-to-the-Sun Road, she was happy for me, knowing that I love outdoor adventures, especially ones that involve bike riding.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
05/25/2012
A Slice of Paradise

The return of the Amgen Tour of California, North America’s premier road race, to Santa Cruz County is another reminder of what exquisite terrain cyclists here enjoy and the passion of the local cycling community.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
04/19/2012
Santa Cruzans Attracted to Mountain-Biking Crazed Idaho

I've been curious about the bicycling community in Ketchum, Idaho, for a while now. After a Santa Cruz friend moved here a few years ago and told me about the great mountain biking in the area, I resolved to visit.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
01/27/2012
Project B.I.K.E. Helps Kids Find Own Two Wheels

Bike Dojo announced the creation of Project BIKE [Believe In Kids' Exercise], a program to give children in need a bicycle of their own. Bike Dojo announced the creation of Project BIKE [Believe In Kids' Exercise], a program to give children in need a bicycle of their own.

Santa Cruz Sentinel Spin City Columns 2011 by Karen Kefauver

Santa Cruz Sentinel
12/30/11
Four Ways to Enjoy Bicycling in 2012 -- Race, Ride, Watch, Volunteer

Here in Spin City, I suggest gearing up for the new year with one of these three cycling-inspired plans. Mark your calendars for international bike events in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties so you can be part of the action, whether that means racing, riding, volunteering or spectating.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
12/02/2011
Race Across America Tests Both Muscles and the Mind

Jennifer Kalich had plenty of time to battle her demons, celebrate her triumphs and feel her body firing on all cylinders while she was riding her bike across America over the summer. For almost a week, Kalich pedaled day and night while racing on a relay team in the Race Across America [RAAM], one of the most respected and longest-running endurance sports events in the world. She and her seven teammates on Team Donate Life rode 24 hours a day from Oceanside to Annapolis, Md., and finished...

Santa Cruz Sentinel
11/04/2011
Aptos' Drake's Book on Team 7-Eleven a Labor of Love

"I've been a bike commuter, I've toured the world, I have worked in bike shops and I was editor at Velo News and Bicycling Magazine," said Drake, a member of the Bicycle Trip's race team and senior web editor at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. His passion for the sport and experience as a cycling journalist are reflected in his new book, "Team 7-Eleven: How an Unsung Band of American Cyclists Took on the World -- and Won!" The book, written with Jim Ochowicz -- a two-time Olympic cyclist, former...

Santa Cruz Sentinel
10/14/2011
Velo Cruz Ride Lends Hand to Homeless Garden Project

In reviewing the Santa Cruz fall cycling scene, one event in particular caught my eye because it is new and grassroots-driven. The Swanton Loop Challenge and Field Dinner is designed to raise money for the Homeless Garden Project, a nonprofit, Santa Cruz-based organization that helps the homeless obtain employment. The event, scheduled for Oct. 23, is the inaugural event of Velo Cruz, a cycling team launched in 2007 by Sean Holman.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
09/15/2011
Learn the Rules of the Road in China

I survived my first bicycle ride in China. I felt like a little kid on training wheels -- scared, uncertain and thrilled, too. I made my two-wheeled debut on a busy street of Dali, an ancient walled town in the province of Yunnan in southwest China. About three million people call this city home, and it appears more of them drive cars and motor scooters than ride bikes.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
07/22/2011
Santa Cruzans Attracted to Mountain-Biking Crazed Idaho

've been curious about the bicycling community in Ketchum, Idaho, for a while now. After a Santa Cruz friend moved here a few years ago and told me about the great mountain biking in the area, I resolved to visit. Finally, the time was right this month to spend two weeks in Idaho. The first week, I attended the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Cross Country National Championships in Sun Valley

Santa Cruz Sentinel
06/24/2011
Kids and Bicycles Go Hand-in-Hand

One program debuting in Santa Cruz this summer is Trips for Kids [www.tripsforkids.org]. Spearheaded by local attorney Allison Cruz and backed by Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz, the local chapter is part of the national organization. The group's mission is to provide mountain biking opportunities for kids ages 12-18 who may not otherwise get the chance to ride on trails.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
04/01/2011
April Marks Welcome Shift to Cycling Festival Season

Trails are slowly drying, roads are being cleared, and cyclists are welcoming spring sunshine and enjoying more daylight hours to ride, spinning into better shape for some big events in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties this month. For starters, mark your calendars for April 17 to race, volunteer or watch the action at the 43rd annual Santa Cruz Classic Criterium, better known as the "Beach Hill Crit." The longest-running bike event in Santa Cruz will have $2,000 at stake as road bikers,...

Santa Cruz Sentinel
04/29/2011
Events Encourage Women's Participation in the Sport of Cycling

May is National Bike Month and Santa Cruz County cyclists have a packed schedule of events to look forward to during the next few weeks. Ranging from bike races to recreational rides, the lineup includes the Amgen Tour of California, the Strawberry Fields Forever Ride, the Scotts Valley Grand Prix and the Xterra Triathlon [with the mountain bike portion at Wilder Ranch State Park]

Santa Cruz Sentinel
05/27/2011
Stormy National Bike Month Comes to a Close

As National Bike Month rolls to a close, it's been a bumpy ride for cyclists during the past few weeks on both the local and international fronts. Throughout May, cyclists and event organizers have had to contend with challenging weather.

Santa Cruz Sentinel Spin City Columns 2010 by Karen Kefauver

Santa Cruz Sentinel
12/10/2010
One Person's Trash is Another Cyclist's Treasure

Not everyone would be thrilled to receive a big box packed with used bicycle tubes and tires, but for Lauren Junker, it was as if Christmas had arrived early. "I think my business was mentioned on a recycling website," she said. Then with a laugh, "I got a big box from Washington D.C. filled with about 20 tubes and tires."

Santa Cruz Sentinel
11/12/2010
Santa Cruz Racers Gear Up for Cyclocross National Championships

While some may indulge in second helpings of pumpkin pie over the holidays, more than two dozen Santa Cruz County cyclists will be staying in shape to compete at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Bend, Ore., on Dec. 8-12.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
09/10/2010
Events Around County will Keep Cyclists Pedaling through Fall

There's a chill in the air, but that doesn't mean it's time to put your bike in storage 'til spring. In fact, it's an ideal time to gear up for a number of fun fall cycling events in Santa Cruz County. Among them is cyclocross season, which kicked off this month and continues through January, plus there's Bike to Work and School, the Radical Reels Film Festival and the Surf City AIDS Ride to get you stoked.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
08/13/2010
Triathlete Has Fruity Way of Training for Races

Triathletes are well known for devising all kinds of workouts to prepare themselves for the rigors of their competitions, which combine swim, bike and run races back-to-back-to-back in one big test of endurance. Local athlete Dave Reid, 33, has seen a few odd training tactics in his time. He has been a fixture on the triathlon circuit for 15 years and won the Santa Cruz Triathlon [formerly the Santa Cruz Sentinel Triathlon] in 2004.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
07/09/2010
The Low-Down on Downieville

When I announced that I was going to race at the Downieville Classic this weekend, my mother offered to send me in for a psychiatric exam. My friend Mari Anderson e-mailed, "I've done the downhill twice and each time I feared for my life."

Santa Cruz Sentinel
06/11/2010
Summer Offers County Cyclists Challenging Rides

Santa Cruz County is a cyclist's paradise. For road bikers, beautiful roads wind through farmland and pass scenic coastal stretches. For mountain bikers, singletrack trails and fire roads carve through redwood forests and provide panoramic bay views. Despite the natural beauty here, local cyclists are still hungry to explore new terrain, whether they are tackling a race, are on vacation or on an extended bike tour. Now's the time to explore your summer cycling options.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
05/14/2010
Tour of California and Scotts Valley Grand Prix will Feature Topnotch Pro Cycling

"Team camaraderie is key to high-level cycling performance," said Ben Jacques-Maynes of Watsonville, a pro cyclist with 10 years experience and a member of Bissell Pro Cycling. "You can have a whole group of strong individuals, but if they can't work together, they won't win, especially against a well-functioning group of less talented riders who can work together. That team will have a much better chance of winning through team tactics."

Santa Cruz Sentinel
04/16/2010
Santa Cruz Cyclists Prep for Major Events Despite April Showers

While many of us hunkered down last weekend to wait out the stormy weather, plenty of cyclists braved the rain. Some were willing to battle the elements alongside fellow competitors at regional races, and others stuck to their usual cycling workouts. These folks were determined to stay in shape for a full slate of April and May bicycling events, including the 20th Annual Sea Otter Classic, which started Thursday and will run through Sunday in Monterey.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
03/19/2010
Spring is Busy Time for Santa Cruz Cyclists

With less than two months to go, the countdown is on for the Tour of California's Stage 3 finish in Santa Cruz on Tuesday, May 18. Now in its fifth year, the TOC returns to Santa Cruz with two changes from its debut here in 2009. This time, the world-class peloton will finish in front of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk after a 113.3-mile ride from San Francisco scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
02/19/2010
Down and Dirty - Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival is Around the Corner

The Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival will be heating up here while the Winter Olympics will be winding down next weekend in Canada. Watching the world's best athletes compete at the Games can be inspiring and motivating — even for couch potatoes. So if you get stoked seeing snowboarding, speedskating, and, of course, curling, here's a chance to channel your energy and celebrate mountain biking at this inaugural festival Feb. 27-28.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
01/22/2010
Popularity Contest -- Discover the Top 5 Events of 2010

January is the month of resolutions and a time when cyclists lay the groundwork for their training programs and select bicycling events. Ranging from beginner cyclists, who are learning the rules of the road, to downhill daredevils, who bomb down mountainsides, there are events locally and regionally for different cycling disciplines and skill levels. Here's a list of five major cycling events

Santa Cruz Sentinel Spin City Columns 2009 by Karen Kefauver

Santa Cruz Sentinel
12/25/2009
A Wish List for Santa Cruz Cyclists in 2010

As 2009 speeds toward the finish line, it's time for reflection and planning for the year ahead for cyclists of all stripes. Here in Spin City, I offer you food for thought about your upcoming plans. Or, if you have had your fill of holiday calories and are trying to lighten the load on your bicycle, get moving with one of these four cycling-inspired plans:

Santa Cruz Sentinel
11/27/2009
Santa Cruz Bike Dojo Offers Newbies Training, Wheels

Say the word “dojo” and most people think of martial arts, but Rob Mylls would like you to think of bicycles. “The Japanese term is used for a place of training for martial arts,” said Mylls, “but I added the word ‘bicycle.'” In July, he launched a new business, the Bike Dojo, from his Santa Cruz home.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
10/30/2009
Changing Gears -- A Cyclist Goes on a Running Vacation

My sister looked at me with incredulity. "You're going on a running vacation?" she asked. "You don't run!" She was right. But I had already signed up and was flying to Costa Rica for a seven-day organized trip called "The Coastal Experiences." I hoped that my muscle memory would kick in and my body would remember all the 5-kilometer and 10k races I had run [slowly] during my seven years as a triathlete. But my swim-bike-run years ended in 2004. Since then, I have focused solely on...

Santa Cruz Sentinel
10/02/2009
Fall Finds Santa Cruz Cyclists at Home and Abroad

October is a pivotal month for cyclists of all stripes in Santa Cruz. On Thursday, hundreds of kids and adults participated in the 11th annual fall Bike to Work/School Day, munching on free breakfasts throughout the county. Perhaps some day one of those kids will be inspired to follow in the tire tracks of Bart Coddington, 65, who completed a three-month, 4,191-mile cross-country bike trip from his home in Santa Cruz to attend his 47th high school reunion in Rye, N.Y., today.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
09/11/2009
Veterans and Newbies Alike Gear up for Cyclocross Race Season

Livia Peras plans to take the plunge this fall and try a sport that has intrigued her for years. She now has the bicycle, the fitness and the desire to try cyclocross, a type of bicycle racing that combines skills used by road and mountain bike riders. A hallmark of the sport is jumping on and off the bicycle at high speed in order to clear obstacles ­-- both manmade and natural -- like logs and sand pits. Add to that challenge a gut-busting workout, inclement weather and the camaraderie of...

Santa Cruz Sentinel
08/07/2009
Cyclists Tell of Bumps, Bruises and a Love of Their Sport

Driving in downtown Santa Cruz last week, I watched the cyclist in front of me. He was correctly positioned in the center of the lane, preparing to turn left into the driveway of a business. To my horror, he missed the driveway and smashed head-on into a sign-post.

Santa Cruz Sentinel
05/15/2009
Cyclists for Cultural Exchange Spreads Message of Global Peace through Biking Programs

Ask Emilie Holder about touring on a bicycle and she's quick to tout the benefits of two-wheeled travel. "Visiting a place on a bike makes a huge difference wherever you go," she said. "For starters, bicyclists are less threatening than cars. It is a slower mode of transportation. Also, to see someone on a bicycle, especially carrying all their gear, makes people want to reach out and help you no matter where you are from."