SVBC Member Spotlight: Xe Dap Viet's Dzung Dang

[facebook][retweet]Silicon Valley is lucky to have so many cycling clubs that encourage bicycling and that appeal to all types of cyclists, from competitive bike racers to those looking for a casual and social group to ride with.Xe Dap Viet is a cycling club that we recently became aware of. Officially established in 2013, Xe Dap Viet (XDV) is a recreational bicycle club based in San Jose. Though the club has a strong connection to the VIetnamese community (Xe Dap = Bike in Vietnamese), it is a club open to people of all backgrounds. In February a team of XDV members completed a 1,200-mile-14-day bicycling tour across Vietnam, from Saigon to Hanoi, fundraising for XDV Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Program, which provides bicycles and school supplies to underprivileged school children and orphanages in rural Vietnam. This year XDV has the privilege to be part of the California Triple Crown with their inaugural Carmel Valley Double Century on Saturday August 27th, 2016.We are happy to spotlight Dzung Dang (third from left in the photo above), a member of SVBC and co-founder of XDV, and share his thoughts on how to increase bicycling in the region. A San Jose resident since 1996. Dzung was a software engineer at various startup companies in Silicon Valley who is now "semi" retired and now enjoying bicycling and serving the community as a volunteer.Are you a member of a club and wish to showcase your group’s stories, events, and concerns through a guest blog? Contact us!How did you get introduced to Silicon Valley Bicycle CoalitionI was introduced to SVBC in 2013, when I was nominated for Silicon Valley Bicycle Commuter of the Year.Dzung is a great cycling enthusiast who not only rides regularly to work but also joins company lunch rides to help and encourage new cyclists....Dzung shares bike safety tips with fellow riders. He has twice ridden his bike across Vietnam to help raise money for the Orphanages in his native country. Dzung’s colleagues describe him as a humble person, a committed rider, and a great humanitarian.What kind of activities and/or trips do you use your bicycle for?Besides commuting to / from work I enjoy riding brevets (unsupported long distance bicycling events) and double centuries with friends. The post-ride festivities are the most fun!Tell us what you are looking forward to seeing at the Carmel Valley Double Century in August. It will be the first time our club will host one of the California Triple Crown (CTC) Double Century Series: Carmel Valley Double on Saturday August 27th, 2016. We organized a "test ride" of the same route last November and the feedback was very positive. The Carmel Valley Double was approved by CTC and got on its calendar earlier this year. I have ridden 40 CTC double centuries to date and feel it is time to give back and become an organizer of a CTC double century. We have a lot to learn in organizing a long distance bicycle tour, but will do our best to put on a great event. Even though the event is 2 months away, volunteers are still very much needed. We hope we will have support from fellow SVBC members.What do you think needs to be done to achieve 10% of trips by bike by 2025 in Silicon Valley?The 3 foot passing a cyclist law is a good start for a healthier and safe environment for bicyclists. New bike infrastructure, events and social rides like Viva CalleSJ will definitely promote cycling for all ages. I am a great fan of the San Jose Bike Clinic, hanging out with other bike enthusiasts and learning basic bike maintenance from expert mechanics!Share with us what a dream day on your bike looks like.I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle! Just like fishing I guess. "A bad day of riding is better than a good day of work" :)Will you join Dzung and the other 2,200 members of SVBC? Join today and support our work to make our streets and trails safe for all users, improve and expand bike infrastructure where you live and ride, and get more people riding!