Upcoming Bici Events

We have a ton going on, so I figured we should let you know and get it on your calendars fast. Fall is here, which means bike season is in full swing. With weather like this, driving seems just...wrong. So, get on your bike and ride! Bike have issues from summer riding? Is it dusty in the basement? Bring it in and let us help you get it running again.

Bici Events:

Saturday Oct. 3: The Show at Woodlawn Bike Valet. Come out and support local art, neighborhood revitalization and enjoy the crisp fall night. You ride, we watch your bike...everyone wins!

Saturday Oct 10: Bici Work Day! We need to clean out and clean up. We need your help. running the shop is hard work and we are a bit backed up with bikes that need stripping, benches that need building and parts organization. Oh, and a bit of gardening. 2pm-till? Pizza provided. Food and Fun. Please let us know if you can help! and please please help...

November 7-8: Moss Rock Festival. We will be there preaching the Gospel of Bici. come say hi.

Nov. 14: Food Summit 2009. We will be leading a Bike Tour of some Community Gardens in Birmingham. What better way to see them than on the back of a bike? Sign up to participate.

Phew...

It is so hopeful to see this many events including bikes and the community!

Oh, and don't forget about BAMACROSS! Bici has a Cross Racing team this year that we are excited about. Hope to see you at the races.

One more thing: Alan and Sam are riding in this years Ride for Wishes this weekend. We wish them the best and are proud of them. They raised money, trained and are traveling this weekend to make it happen. If you would like to donate, shoot Alan an email at alan@bicicoop.org

See everyone on the roads and around town.

Bike Valet at The Show at Woodlawn

Bici will be providing Bike Valet at Birmingham Art Collectives The Show at Woodlawn. We are excited to be involved with such an event in our city. "The Birmingham Art Collective works to help artists, designers, photographers, writers, musicians, actors, and other creatives in Birmingham promote themselves and their work." (from their website)

This show will be a chance to introduce people to Woodlawn, a neighborhood in our dear city.

Providing Bike Valet is encouraging people to get to know that neighborhood in a way that you just can't get in a car.

How does it work?

You ride your bike to the show, bring us your bike, get a ticket...that's it! We keep your bike safe and you get to bypass the parking hassle and do a good thing at the same time. You will be able to ride right up to the door! How can you turn that down?

What's that...you want the details? Well, ok:

October 3rd, 2009

5-10pm (we will be there from 4:30 to 10:30 taking and valeting bikes)

Woodrow Hall 5504 1st Avenue North | Birmingham, Alabama 35212 (click address for map)

Awesome Art from some wonderful Bici friends, and many others. Truly, a night to better get to know your city and the talented folks in it.

Please ride your bike. It would mean so much to us. If you plan to buy some art, we will figure out a way to get it to you, Promise. Let's make this our biggest Bike Valet event ever!!

Email me if you need help figuring out the best route from your house. elisa@bicicoop.org

We will hopefully be posting suggested routes this week.

Critical Mass Friday at 7! 9/25

It is here again. Critical Mass time! We have been getting a great crowd each month...let's keep it up. Same as last month. Roll out from Bici at 7. Since it is getting dark early, we need to roll out on time. Feel free to gather at the shop around 6:45.

Details:
Friday 9/25
7pm
Bici Cooperative (1211 28th Street South suite G2)
Leaderless, fun ride!

Oh, and check out Sidewalk Film Festival this weekend!

A big Bici Thank you

Thanks to everyone who came out to our 1st Annual Bici Garden Party Race and Party at Jones Valley Urban Farm. It was a wonderful success! We had a surprising and encouraging turnout.

Thanks to our sponsors: Rojo, Primavera Coffee, Action Wipes, Jones Valley, Some New Trend and Banjo Brothers.

Special thanks also to all the folks who volunteered. This event could not have happened without you out there at the stops, marking manifests and cheering on the racers.



We had folks from all over the city and some fellas from Atlanta come out to ride and race. A large group did a fun ride around the city and threw seed bombs in an attempt to spread some Bike Love to areas that need some beauty and life. Mt.St.Mtn played and really rocked our faces off. Jones Valley had the bike blender out and some fantastic Bellinis were pedaled to creation. The Keg was tapped, the food was eaten and all was well.

Results:

1st place-Stewart Haddock of Atlanta
2nd Place- Jason Barker of Birmingham
3rd Place-Chris Schwartz of Atlanta

The race was incredible. The racers had to get to the 9th floor of a parking deck, navigate a gay pride parade (unplanned!) and find an obscure building downtown. There were 3 flats but no injuries. A good night indeed.

Stay tuned for the next Alleycat. Bike Skirt may be sponsoring...so you never know what will happen!

Free the Hops! Share the Road!

Last night, Anna and I biked to the Free the Hops meeting (side note: never, EVER bike down Valley Ave!) to propose Bike Valet at Magic City Brewfest.

It literally took about 30 seconds to convince them to get on board. The idea of making Brewfest a completely green event is exciting and we are happy to be a part of it. They gave us primo parking location...right next to the entrance. We are hoping to get a good buzz going about this and show that Birmingham is not as backwards and behind as most people think!

What is Bike Valet?
Like Car Valet or coat check! You ride up (we will also be posting routes and having group rides to the event), drop off your bike, we give you a ticket...you drink and be merry while we make sure your 2 wheeled friend stays safe and cozy. At the end, show us your ticket, we give you back your ride. You go home feeling happy and good about doing something good for Mother Nature (can't speak for your liver!)

Why Bike Valet?
Have you tried to park down there? Yeah, it is bad. Plus, you get to enjoy the scenery and park for free (donations welcome!), knowing your bike is safe and secure. Can you say that about your car? nope.

What is Free the Hops?
Alabama has a stupid law that limits beer sold to be 6% alcohol by volume or below, which prevents us from getting delicious "craft" or "gourmet" beers. Free the Hops has been lobbying to change the law for a number of years. We're on pins and needles right now because the bill has passed the senate, but we're waiting on the Governors signature for the law to be changed. He has until Monday night I think so fingers crossed!

Why are you doing this?
To be kind to our earth, promote cycling and hopefully set a precedent in Birmingham for other large events. Bike Valet is the future!!!

How do I get there?
More info to come, with routes from various locations as well as meeting places for group rides there.

How can I help?
We need volunteers to help us. We have no idea how many bikes to expect. If you can help (PLEASE!) either night, shoot Anna an email at anna@bicicoop.org

Stay tuned for more details!

check back for more info.

Some New Trend offer some new kickass discounts!

Come out to the Some New Trend kick off party and score $1 off the donation price of $3 if you ride your bike!

See you there.