Story contributed by Jennifer Boyer.

Submitted by Kristen Bean. As a child, I often sat at the dinner table and listened to my mother, a special education teacher, talk excitedly about how her students overcame unfathomable barriers. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, my mother’s stories of challenging her students to overcome difficulties shaped my ambitions to become an advocate and develop a nonprofit organization for people with disabilities. Both my mother and I firmly believe that everyone can learn.

San Diego’s Velo Cult looks the part of a really hardcore, if somewhat trendy, bike shop and it’s owner, Sky Boyer, appears the quintessential bearded gear-head. But anyone who keeps walking when they pass the wide open gate, soaring ceilings, and vintage originals is missing more than half the story. This is not a place where greasy, scabby-kneed road warriors intimidate you with their superior knowledge of how your bike works. In fact, Velo Cult exists in direct opposition to that style of bike shop.

When I'm lucky enough make a trip back home to San Francisco, I try to indulge in childhood nostalgia as much as possible. Quite often that involves some sort of food. If I get my way, the family takes a trip up Russian Hill so we can get a scoop or sundae from Swensen's, which has been a Feuchter family favorite since before I was even around.