RE: Bike Month in Central Iowa - hosted by the Des Moines Bicycle Collective via bikemonthiowa.com.
Bike
Month registrations provide one of the few benchmarks in Central Iowa to
measure the number of local residents who include cycling in their
everyday life.We
offer two kinds of registration: Corporate Commuter Challenge for those
that want to try biking to and from work. This automatically makes the
commuter eligible for the Passport Adventure.
Not a
commuter? No problem. Register with us and become eligible to play the
passport game by riding around the metro and to our events all month. We
have some great prizes for those getting 5, 10, and 15 stamps. Anyone
with 15 or more stamps is entered into our grand prize drawing. If your friends haven't yet signed up, please encourage them to do so at bikemonthiowa.com.
Also, like us on Facebook at Des Moines Bicycle Collective.
We will post breaking news about events (i.e. if weather gets in our
way, however, our theory is we roll if it is just a light shower.)
Weather will get better! See you on the road.
BIKE COMMUTER OF THE YEAR
We're shining the spotlight on Paul Prentice, who commuted 12,147 miles
(not a typo) in 2012. Dang, some of us don't even drive that many miles
in a year. Sometimes Paul takes the long way home from his job at
Architectural Arts on the eastside to his home in Beaverdale. More details and commuter tips from Iowa Momentum.
BIKE ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR Larry
Jablonski is Mr. Everything Bike and Run in Urbandale. Years ago while
an elementary school principal, he started a Bike to School Day. He
started an Urbandale trail ride and has spearheaded two successful bike
drives. He created the Gears & Beers event and Metro Trail Ride for
Bike Month. He's the race director for the Komen Race for the Cure.
Today, he serves on Urbandale and county-wide trail committees. Busy guy
and we love him. More details.
BIKE COMMUTE CHALLENGE
More than 1,050 riders have now registered. Cool stuff; numbers are up
with several of last year's teams. And we have new corporate teams
joining.
Also
a handful of companies have sponsored bike-commute lunch-and-learn
sessions this year. More than 25 employees attended commuting sessions
at Meredith Corporation and at UnityPoint/Iowa Methodist.
LAST CALL FOR BIKE MONTH T-SHIRTS We plan to wrap up orders for Bike Month T-shirts at the end of business on Monday, May 6. Your T-shirts—printed locally at T Shirt Graphix in Beaverdale—will be mailed to you. Thanks for your support.
Meet your friends at these events
Friday, May 3Pedal-Powered Ice Cream -Kitchen CollageToo cold for ice cream! Rescheduled Fri., May 10Who
doesn’t love homemade ice-cream? Come watch area business leaders churn
homemade ice cream via bicycle in front of Kitchen Collage in the East
Village. Enjoy Velo Vanilla, Chainring Chocolate, and more. Available
while supplies last—it’s an ideal day to eat dessert first! Allspice,
another East Village shop, has joined as a sponsor this year.Friday, May 3Handlebar Happy Hour – Confluence Brewing4:30 pm to 7 pmAfter
riding to work, or while you are out riding for errands or fun, join us
for Happy Hour. Confluence is one of the four downtown craft breweries.
A 100-yard path from the southeast side of Gray's Lake Park leads to
Confluence. Chad Ulrick, 2012 Bike Commuter of the Year, will have his
Charbuff Grill fired up for the riders.Saturday, May 4Bike to Downtown Farmers’ Market -
Des Moines7 am to noonKick-off
the Downtown Farmers’ Market season by riding your bike! Look for our
table to get information about new trail openings and planned events for
the month and all summer long. Check out recommended bike routes to the Downtown Farmers’ Market, created by Walter Githens III.Free valet bike parking, operated by the Collective all summer long. Note: For the first 6-8 weeks, we will be set up in the ramp at the SE corner of Second and Court avenues.Saturday, May 4Coolest Bike in Town – Confluence BrewingNote location change due to weather!
10 am to 3 pm
Show
off YOUR coolest bike. A panel of judges will award prizes and bragging
rights. A “Cool” trophy will be on display at Mullet’s all year with
the winner’s name! This year's contest has 24 categories—expect to see
an incredible variety.
Saturday, May 4
Carlisle Mayor's Ride: Rescheduled for May 18
Sunday, May 5Bike Sunday School 4 pmMeet at Gateway Market
in Des Moines. This is an informal picnic bike ride (10 miles or less)
that celebrates the French Trinity (bread, wine and cheese.) Bring food
and drink to share.Brake now! Volunteer opportunity for cyclistsThe
City of Des Moines needs your volunteer assistance to count bicyclists
and pedestrians using our roads, sidewalks, and trails. Count days: May
7, 8, and 11. More details. Curious about previous counts? Check out the numbers.Bike
and pedestrian counts will help with grant applications for funding new
trails, sidewalks, and bike lanes. Yep, participate and we'll stamp
your passport, plus a $10 Zombie Burger card.
Tuesday, May 74th Annual Wheels & Heels – Windsor Heights Community Center5:30 pm to 8 pmThis
is becoming one of the most popular Bike Month events. Join us for an
evening of female-focused fun, fashion and fitness! Location is on the
Walnut Creek Trail (south of Walmart). The night’s focus is to encourage
women to participate in cycling and other outdoor activities. BBQ by
Woody’s Smoke Shack and wine from Jasper Winery are available for
purchase; fashion show and exhibits are free.
Friday, May 10Pedal-Powered Ice Cream -Kitchen Collage11 am to 2 pmWho
doesn’t love homemade ice-cream? Come watch area business leaders
churn homemade ice cream via bicycle in front of Kitchen Collage in the
East Village. Enjoy Velo Vanilla, Chainring Chocolate, and more.
Available while supplies last—it’s an ideal day to eat dessert first!
Allspice, another East Village shop, has joined as a sponsor this year.
Saturday, May 11
Perry Mayor's Ride to Dallas Center and return
9 am
This will
be fun! The ride with Perry Mayor Jay Pattee will begin at the Hotel
Pattee in downtown Perry. Riders will head up the Raccoon River Valley
Trail to Minburn, where they will capture that community's mayor and
wrestle up Minburn riders before heading to Dallas Center. After
gathering up the Dallas Center mayor, the entire bike posse will return
to Perry for lunch at the Hotel Pattee. About 26 miles of riding.
Saturday, May 11
Cyclo de Mayo VII - Shorty's/Court Avenue District
12:34 pmPart
adventure race, part orienteering, and all fun. You'll bike about 20
miles in the Des Moines area; organizers announce the six (five? seven?)
check points. There's an AARP division—show your AARP card, photo ID,
or a bunch of wrinkles. More details. Sunday, May 12Bike to Art2 pm to 4 pmTreat
mom to an afternoon of biking and art appreciation! This is a leisurely
and informative tour of Des Moines' dowtown architecture and art in
public spaces. Meet in the parking lot of the Lucas State Office Building
at 312 E. 12th Street. Guides from the Iowa State Capitol and the Des
Moines Art Center and an architectual interpretation by the Iowa
Architectural Foundation will be provided. Suggested donation of $10 per
person or $20 per family.This
month-long celebration of two-wheel commuting and recreational biking
could NOT be possible without our sponsors. We have three PRESENTING
sponsors this year covering the private sector, public sector and
nonprofit/public service. Big thank yous to Middendorf Insurance, the City of Des Moines Park and Recreation Department and the newly-created Adopt-A-Stream Program. Be sure to check out how you can make a difference in cleaning up a stream near you!We appreciate all of the businesses that support Bike Month and year-round biking in Central Iowa.