Expect to see these postcards around town in the coming weeks for this year’s BikeFest, our annual celebration of Pittsburgh and all things cycling.  As usual, BikeFest is organized by cyclists for cyclists, so we need you to host an event and contribute to the calendar.

This year, we decided to go with little 2.5″ x 2.5″ cards to put around town.  Not only are they easier to throw in a bag and transport than the larger sized ones, they also make for a sharp looking spoke card.  If you have any interest in helping distribute these, or any other volunteer tasks that come up, please see our volunteer page and fill out the form.

Thanks to local designers Kevin Parent and Matthew Libby for coming up with the vintage look.

Our June 24 Post-Gazette Letter to the Editor about the Port Authority’s Transit Development Plan (TDP), and the lack of language about improving the experience for transit users with bicycles has sparked some dialogue in the “Letters” section.

Mere days after our letter was published, we came across this tidbit from the historic federal Climate Bill that passed the House of Representatives.

Sec. 5319: Bicycle Facilities
A project to provide access for bicycles to public transportation facilities, to provide shelters and parking facilities for bicycles in or around public transportation facilities, or to install equipment for transporting bicycles on public transportation vehicles

We urge the Port Authority to include projects to accommodate transit users with bicycles in the final TDP.  Let’s get ahead of the curve and create a truly multimodal system above and beyond what is in the current plan.  Otherwise, we’ll be playing catch up to the rest of the country, and that’s never fun.

Check out today’s Letters to the Editor in the Post-Gazette

Open Call for Events

Hey friends!

Its that time of year again and BikeFest! is about to be upon us.  This years Fest will be August 14th to the 23rd. We have some new and special events coming up this year as well as some old classics.  We’re excited to ask you, Pittsburgh’s cycling community, to get involved!  Every year we have a variety of fun events on the calendar, from the ACA criteriums to local group rides led by different groups like Team Caffeine or the Major Taylor Cycling Club to rides led by individuals like the ride to the Pirates game last year.

We would love for you to add to our calendar this year!  You can organize a ride, an art show, a music show, a race, or anything that you think might be a fun event that would fit with our mission.  If you don’t think you would have the time to organize on your own, still send us your ideas and we can try to pair you up with someone who has a similar goal.  Past BikeFest! calendars have some good ideas and you can find them on our page http://www.bike-pgh.org/events/bikefest/.  There is always a need for volunteers too, so if you’d like to volunteer, just let us know how you would like to help.

BikeFest! wouldn’t be possible without the amazing calendar put together by you, our cycling supportive community!  If you have any ideas or any questions, please e-mail bikefestpgh@bike-pgh.org.  Please have your event submissions in no later than August 1st! I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Jessie Buckner
BikeFest! Intern

William at Free Ride’s Kid’s Bike Build-a-Thon

May 1, 1926 - June 25, 2009

I just found out some bad news.  William Thomas, a frequenter at Free Ride, is no longer with us.  He died on Thursday from complications due to pneumonia.

When William started coming into Free Ride to obtain bikes and parts to fix up for kids in need, he would always drag the goods to the front, then pull out his wallet and flash a Kraynick’s Bike Shop business card to whoever was working - his pass to get free parts.  Everyone knew what he was up to, and gladly obliged.

After awhile, he became a regular character at the shop, and would brag about how many bikes he fixed up and gave away, hundreds a year, often putting us to shame.  Although always modest, I think he liked to show off a little bit to fellow tinkerers.  He would also take some of the bikes that were donated to us, fix them up, and give them back to make it easier for us to give them away.  We always knew when William fixed up a bike because any rusty part or rim would be meticulously painted silver.  This detail was a small deed for a guy with a heart of gold.

William, you will be missed.  I think everybody in the shop has said that they aspire to be like him in their golden years.  You truly were an inspiration to us all.

Here is a nice obituary from the Post-Gazette.

It goes into more detail about the generosity and energy of this amazing man.

William and Andalusia in Free Ride

Come one Come All!!  Friday, July 3 - Brew House in the South Side

After the films at the international Bicycle Film Festival (July 2 - 4), be sure to check out the bumpin’ afterparty.  The party is sponsored by Magic Hat Brewing Company and 42Below, so you know it will be fun.

Get ready for a fashion show and a DJ’d Dance Party into the night.

Admission is FREE with a BFF ticket stub, $5 at-the-door otherwise.

Brew House

8:00 PM

2100 Mary St

South Side

I Love My Bicycle: The Story of FBM Bikes Trailer from BAD BREAKS on Vimeo.

Check out this trailer. It’s the rad story of the BMX company, FBM Bikes. The film will be shown at this weekend’s Bicycle Film Festival, at the Andy Warhol Museum.

Photo from Flickr user Urban Jeff.  Contribute your photos! Join our Flickr Photo Pool

Critical Mass:

• Friday: It’s the last Friday of the Month, so cyclists meet at 5:30 at the Dinosaur in front of the Carnegie Library in Oakland for the ride.

For the Roadies:

• Friday: Friday Nights at the Track - Oscar Swan’s weekly races at the Cycling Oval.  This week is racing on track bikes, which will be a fun time whether you’re racing or watching
• Saturday: Women’s Intro Racing Clinic, Sat June 27th at the Washington Blvd Cycling Oval.  Coach Suzanne Atkinson, and various members of the Steel City Endurance Racing Team will be hosting a Women’s only introduction to Bicycle racing at the Washington Oval. Come and learn what bike racing is all about in a supportive, encouraging, non-threatening environment.  Here’s a link to the full info, and if you’re on Facebook, here’s the page.

For the mountain bikers:

• Saturday: Via the Pittsburgh Mountain Biking Blog, there will be a Hartwood Acres Trail Care Day on Saturday, as well.  As usual, according to Maurice Tierney, “We love working on the trails, but playing on them is even better!”  There will be a ride afterward, as well as some quality hang out time at JD’s Pub for free pizza and cheap beer.

For the History Buffs:

• Saturday: Historic Bike Tour of Industrial Pittsburgh - This is a very leisurely 6-mile ride with lots of stops to point out and discuss remnants of the steel industry that are still visible along the South Side and Eliza Furnace Trails. Reservations are required - please call 412-464-4020 or visit www.riversofsteel.com

For the Families:

• Sunday: Family Ride, Yough River Trail - Bring the family for this slow paced, pick your distance ride suited for casual riders, children and families. The ride will begin at the Boston Trailhead of the Yough River Trail and will travel up stream for 6 miles (12 miles round trip) to the Dravo Cemetery an interesting site along the Trail.  See the Events calendar for more details.

All this and more on our Local Cycling Events Calendar.  Showing a cycling movie?  Planning a neighborhood ride?   Let us know!  We’ll list it too.  To get your cycling event on this calendar, email info@bike-pgh.org