By Amy Wolf, Sunset travel editor

Are you planning to watch the Tour de France, which starts this weekend? I hope you answered yes. Because even though Lance is no longer in it (he’s busy dating Kate Hudson and running marathons), and even though the sport has suffered from a chronic doping syndrome, there’s still a lot of inspiration to be derived from a few minutes in front of the tube, watching those studs tear it up through the Alps.

(Photo courtesy of Brad Siu)

Alternatively (or in addition), do as I did this past weekend: check out a criterium bike race (aka a "crit"). Criteriums are circuit-style bike races, usually held right in downtown centers. They’re great races for spectators because you get to see the racers come flying around tight curves in packs again and again. And best of all, they’re FREE!

I’m telling you this because I was reminded of how much fun it is to watch a bike race, this past Sunday. While the rest of the world watched the Spain upset Germany in the World Cup, the entire town of Burlingame and I crowded into downtown to watch bike racers zoom around downtown at the Burlingame Criterium. After the fast guys did their thing, my three-year-old daughter Lilli rode her trike in the 4 and under 200-yard dash. Afterwards, she and her 50 or so competitors got trophies and ice cream treats. The whole thing felt like a small-town celebration, like a Fourth of July parade but with bikes instead of fire engines. I bumped into people I know, saw some old friends, made a few new friends. It was very Norman Rockwell-esque.

Which leads me to reason number 744 that everyone should have (and ride) a bike: because bikes build community. Honestly, they do. Want proof? Go check out a crit near you. This is the season. Here’s what’s coming:

Davis Criterium this weekend, on the Fourth of July.

Watsonville Criterium on July 19.

San Luis Obispo Criterium on August 12.

In the Seattle area, there’s the Redmond Derby Days Criterium July 10.

In Colorado, there’s the Longmont Criterium on July 13.

And then there's the San Francisco Twilight Criterium, a first-ever production, planned for September 13. I can't wait to check that one out. Cocktails on the sidelines, anyone?

The options really are limitless. So go catch a race, make a friend, and get inspired. See you on the bike.