Feel the love in Santa Rosa

Cycling fans and enthusiasts will get a chance to feel the love as the VELOVE Winter Bicycle Festival kicks off along with the 2009 Tour of California on Valentine's Day weekend. The joint effort of promoters Bike Monkey, the City of Santa Rosa, Mainstreet and West Coast GoldSprints will take place February 14-15 in the Northern California town which is home to last year's Amgen Tour of California champion, Levi Leipheimer.

Events include a cyclo-cross race on Saturday, with live music by the Hubbub Club Marching Band. Fans can then proceed to the after party at the Sweet Spot Pub, where the Amgen Tour of California prologue will be shown on the big screen. Later in the evening, cycling commentator Paul Sherwen will be the host for a benefit for the Support Bicycles for Humanity-Santa Rosa. Held at the Cellars of Sonomo in Railroad Square from 6-9PM, the proceeds from the event and live auction will help send the organisation's first shipment of bicycles from Santa Rosa to healthcare workers in Namibia, Africa.