Karen's Detroit

Karen was profiled by Next American City and Model D. Awesome article!

Karen Gage says the best way to travel Detroit is by bike. The entrepreneur and community development star isn't just saying that because she started the city's first bike rental business a year ago. Karen's bike is her main mode of transportation. She says the city's flat, wide streets and sparse traffic make for great conditions for those who prefer two wheels to four.

"People ask me all the time if I feel safe, and I just want to be like, 'No. No I don't. And it sucks. That's why I ride my bike every day,'" Karen says, with an ironic deadpan.

Read the whole thing here.

New Helmets in Stock

We've become a Bell and Giro dealer, so any fancy schmancy helmets you've got your eye on can now be procured through us. The first one we've got in stock is the Giro Transfer, a nice universal helmet with a reasonable price of $35.

We have it in black, white/silver, blue/black (pictured), mint and red/black. We still have Lazer, 661 and Protech helmets in stock as well.

Detroit Agriculture Network Tour

On August 5, Kelli, Alex and Raymond rode with the Detroit Agriculture Network's annual urban farming/community garden tour as sweepers. We had a really great time and, as always, were inspired by the good work of DAN and its partners. Here are some pics that Alex snapped.

Cultural Diversity Council Bike Ride 8/22/09

Another Saturday, another chance to bike Detroit! Join the Cultural Diversity Council on Saturday, August 22 for a ride around the city. They'll pick up riders at the Towers Residential Suites entrance at 3:00 p.m. and at University Towers at 3:30 p.m. After the ride, food and drinks at Cass Cafe, around 6:30 p.m.

Contact the CDC at CDC@wayne.edu.

Beevis & Butthead

...er, Deminski & Doyle, two radio shock jocks made some stupid comments last week on-air about throwing things at cyclists. Unfortunately they've incited that lovely contingent of bike-haters that already like to yell and honk at cyclists. Several cycling organizations have contacted the radio station and its owner, Greater Media Inc., to talk about the hateful language the disc jockeys have used but have not yet elicited a satisfactory response. The League of Michigan Bicyclists have started a petition to demonstrate to the owners and their advertisers that cyclists exist, are sane and have the same rights and, lest we forget, responsibilities as motorists.

Read more and sign the letter here.

Tackle the Dream Cruise by Bike

This weekend is the Annual Dream Cruise, not really our cup of tea! But there are two group rides this Saturday, August 15,  that will give you the chance to pedal Woodward. Detroit Bikes! is hosting its inaugural Pedal Woodward Dream Cruise. It leaves from Rivard Plaza (Wheelhouse's home turf) at 9:00 a.m. and will return at 1:00 p.m.

There is also a Critical Mass ride, Crash the Cruise, that will take off from the Ferndale Public Library at 2:30 p.m. Costumes and noisemakers optional!

It's more fun than it looks!

Karen & Kelli are big about talking the FUN aspect of cycling. It's not all about calories and cadence, spandex and Slipstream. Biking is good for you and for the environment but, as far as we are concerned, it's a really good time. We are lucky enough to have a wonderful attorney, Steve Roach, who is with Miller Canfield and is also the Region 1 Rep for the League of Michigan Bicyclists. He is a great guy (with an exceedingly dry sense of humor and a penchant for spandex) who we love. He is a regular Grosse Pointe-to-Downtown bike commuter, and GrossePointeToday.com interviewed him and shot a video of him commuting.

Excerpt:

Motorists may pity the cyclists they pass, especially when it's clear the folks on the bike are not on their way to pick up ice cream. Those who choose to commute by bicycle may strike drivers as masochists, weird fitness freaks or possibly suicidal.

It probably never occurs to the people behind the wheel that the people straddling the wheels are having a good time.

A really good time: "If you get any sort of aerobic exercise, you get enough endorphins you get like a buzz," said Steven Roach, two-wheeled commuter.

Check out the full story here and, in the accompanying video, watch him talk about his helmet and components before getting down to the good stuff: riding!

Women's Night at the Hub 8/11/09

The first Women's Night at the Hub is set for August 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. It's a bike repair workshop for women and trans only.

The Hub is at 3611 Cass, just north of MLK.

Tour de Dearborn 8/8/09

Join Detroit Bikes! for one of their monthly rides, this one taking in our friendly neighbor to the west: Dearborn. Tour Times and Location: Tour will start @ 10 a.m. PROMPTLY at the East End of Ford Field (in Dearborn) near Brady Street. This tour is at beginner-level cycling speeds.

This free tour of Dearborn's landmarks will focus on many of the Ford destinations, as well as city heritage sites, and fashionable cultural locations.  Take in the fabulous views of Dearborn and its surrounding neighborhoods and districts including these sites:  Greenfield Village, West Dearborn, Fairlane Mansion, Dearborn's Ford Field, Dearborn City Hall, East Dearborn, the Ford Rouge Complex, Mediterranean Village, Gelato and more!  The end of the tour will be at Ford Field to celebrate the Dearborn Homecoming Festival.

Green Cruise 8/8/09

This Saturday, August 8,  join the Sierra Club's Green Cruise. It's a 21-mile ride from Ferndale to Birmingham intended to draw attention to non-motorized transportation -- in the face of serious gas-guzzling taking place concurrently with the annual Dream Cruise on Woodward.

It starts at 8 a.m., but there is also a 5-mile family ride that starts at 9 a.m.

Both rides begin at the Green Alley located just west of Woodward Ave. at W. 9 Mile and Planavon St.

After the ride, there's a bunch more stuff going on: a climbing tower, face painting, massages, skateboard demos and free bike check-ups.

Learn more here.