The next bike overnight will be Easter weekend. Do you like biking? Do you like camping? This is both at the same time. We meet Sat at 2 at Common Market Plaza Midwood and bike about 20 miles out to Copperhead Island at McDowell Nature Preserve. We stop on the way at a grocery store to pick up dinner supplies. We set up camp, have dinner, build a campfire and then bike back the next morning. We’re home for lunch on Sunday.
If you’re planning a longer trip, this is a great way to test everything out. From your packing list, to your equipment, clothing, hydration and nutrition. It’s loads of fun! There’s still room.
$20 per person. $15 with your Bike Benefits sticker. Cash or Paypal pamlikestobike@gmail.com.
The Sunday Slow Riders is a chill 15 mile ride. We meet weekly at 1:45pm at Legion Brewing in Plaza-Midwood to ride at 2 pm. Safety is no accident, so please wear your helmet. We’ll be stopping at a Bike Benefits location so remember to bring your helmet and sticker.
Location: 1906 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, North Carolina 28205
Time: 1:45 meet, leave at 2:00 pm (about 2 ½ hours)
Learn how to plan a comfortable, low stress route using Ride with GPS, Google Maps, the Virtual Charlotte Map and the Charlotte Bike Map. This will be an interactive workshop. Need a route? We’ll figure one out.
PMTNR is a fun bicycle ride for everyone! Riders meet at the Plaza Midwood Common Market at 7:30PM every Tuesday night. The ride is from 8:00 PM until 10:30 PM and usually covers 15 miles. Expect a crowd! Lights and helmet required. This ride is NEVER cancelled. We’ll be stopping at Bike Gallery which is a Bike Benefits location so remember to bring your helmet and sticker for 10% off accessories.
Location: Common Market, 2007 Commonwealth Ave., 28205
The full CyclingSavvy Course INCLUDES Truth & Techniques (classroom session), Train Your Bike (bike handling) session, and our signature on-road experience — Tour of Charlotte. https://cyclingsavvy.org/in-person-courses/
Truth & Techniques (classroom session, no bike needed): 4 PM to 7 PM Friday, Fri, May 3 at Advent Coworking, 933 Louise Ave #101, Charlotte, NC 28204.
Train Your Bike (parking lot skills session): 2-5 pm PM Saturday, May 4, 2019, at 1510 East 7th Street (parking lot, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church)
Tour of Charlotte: 1-4 PM Sunday,May 5, 2019. We’ll start from and return to the parking lot in front of Okra Yoga at 1912 Commonwealth Avenue.
Cost: $95 for the full course. Scholarships available.
Who Participates: Open to Everyone
Contact: Pamela Murray @ pamlikestobike@gmail.com or https://cltspokespeople.org/
May 5
Sunday Slow Riders ride
The Sunday Slow Riders is a chill 15 mile ride. We meet weekly at 1:45pm at Legion Brewing in Plaza-Midwood to ride at 2 pm. Safety is no accident, so please wear your helmet. We’ll be stopping at a Bike Benefits location so remember to bring your helmet and sticker.
Location: 1906 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, North Carolina 28205
Time: 1:45 meet, leave at 2:00 pm (about 2 ½ hours)
PMTNR is a fun bicycle ride for everyone! Riders meet at the Plaza Midwood Common Market at 7:30 PM every Tuesday night. The ride is from 8:00 PM until 10:30 PM and usually covers 15 miles. Expect a crowd! Lights and helmet required. This ride is NEVER cancelled. We’ll be stopping at a Bike Benefits location so remember to bring your helmet and sticker.
This week only. Bikes on CATS is free. 10 and 20 mile ride options this week. You can ride both ways or opt to put your bike on the light rail for one way.
Location: Common Market, 2007 Commonwealth Ave., 28205
Ride with a Cycling Savvy Instructor – Plaza Midwood to Campbell Creek Park
Experience riding with a Cycling Savvy Instructor using lane control and release. Experience cooperative and mindful bicycling while operating your bicycle as a vehicle. You’ll have 2 hours to either explore the park or join me for yoga at Charlotte East (Y facility) before returning. (Y members free, limited guests spots available) Bring a snack and water bottle. Ride out is 6 miles out and 6 miles back.
Location: Krazy Fish, 2501 Central Ave.
Time: 9:45 am meet, leave at 10 am, arrive at Campbell Creek Park at 10:30, will depart at 12:30.
Ride to lunch and use your Bike Benefits sticker. The group will decide which Bike Benefits business to go to. There are about 200 to choose from. http://cltspok.es/CLTpocketList Need a sticker? Advent has them. $5 each. Stickers never expire and can be used at over 2000 participating locations nationwide.
The Sunday Slow Riders is a chill 15 mile ride to the McGill Rose Garden, a Charlotte tradition. We meet weekly at 1:45pm at Gumbo in Plaza-Midwood to ride at 2pm. Safety is no accident, so please wear your helmet.
Location: 1916 Commonwealth Ave.
Time: 1:45 meet, leave at 2:00 pm (about 2 ½ hours)
We are so excited to introduce the best thing to hit the Charlotte bike scene since Bike Benefits. Charlotte Bike Benefits Bingo! Bike Bingo is a celebration of Charlotte by bike!
Front of card
How to Play:
April 26- May 31, ride your bike, collect stamps and win prizes! Request a stamp at each spot upon showing your Bike Benefits sticker*. No purchase necessary – 1 card per person. Register your card at https://cltspok.es/Bingo . Prizes redeemable at listed locations. All trips (including prize redemptions) must be done by bike!
Where: Pick up Bingo cards at any Bike Benefit business on the card or at special events such as Bike!Charlotte events (Mayor’s Ride and Open Streets 704). Cards will be sold for $2 (or $1 with a Bike Benefit sticker) but a limited number will be available at these Bike!Charlotte events.
What: Individuals pick up a $2 Bike Bingo card, then have 5 weeks to bike around the area, attend rides, events and pedal to Bicycle Benefits businesses in order to get their bingo card stamped. Individuals who get 5 in a row or fill their entire card can redeem prizes. All prizes must be redeemed by May 31, 2019.
Post photos @Charlotte Bicycle Benefits on facebook, @Bicycle Benefits, #BikeBingo on Instagram.
Pump up your tires because the first annual Tour de Sabor is happening this spring….and you are invited! Can you bike 20 miles on tacos alone? Well there is only one way to find out.
Guided ride begins at Common Market in Plaza Midwood at 2 pm on Sunday, May 19th. Participants will receive their punch card starting at 1:30 and guided ride rolls out at 2. Speed will average 11-13 miles per hour. If you are rolling with your friends or want to rip a speed record on the 20 mile route as fast as possible, here it is to upload on your phone.
The Tour de Sabor is our way of celebrating Charlotte and letting you know that we love it when you ride your bike to our restaurants…once a day, once a month or all year long. Bike for tacos people!
All participants receive
A Bicycle Benefits sticker that gives them everyday discounts at Sabor and 175 locations around the city when they bike there and show the program helmet sticker.
A punch card which will give participants up to 10 tacos total at the 5 participating locations during the ride.
Other purchases are up to the riders and will receive their customary 10% off Bike Benefits offer.
Churros for all participants and raffle prizes at the end of the ride. (Elizabeth location) Don’t lose your punch card because you’ll need it at the end to win prizes. Raffle will be at 6 pm.
Cost is $20 which includes a Bike Benefit sticker. $15 if you already have Bicycle Benefits helmet sticker or card.
PMTNR (Plaza Midwood Tues Night Ride) is every Tues at 8 pm from Common Market. We’ve had over 3300 riders this year. Come join us sometime. We ride 10 miles to a Bike Benefits business then ride back 5 miles to the start. You can catch up to us on Glympse if you’re running late. http://glympse.com/!PMTNR
CLT Spokes People in conjunction with Bike Benefits provided 9 Cycling Savvy scholarships in 2017. Let me know if you’re interested in Cycling Savvy or a scholarship or both. Cycling Savvy is a 3 part experiential bike training course held monthly. Details at cyclingsavvy.org.
April is the 30 Days of Biking Challenge. We had several riders in Charlotte make the pledge. Thanks for Adam Raskoskie for heading up the Challenge.
May was the Spring Sub 24 hour overnight bikecamping trip. We camped at Copperhead Island at McDowell Nature Preserve. It’s nice to have the whole island.
August we rode to view the eclipse in Ridgeway, SC. We planned to bike from Chester, SC. We rode most of the way but caught a ride for the last few miles to make sure we got there in time for the full eclipse.
October we had our fall Sub 24 hour overnight bikecamping trip. Eventhough it was raining when we left, we still had about 8 riders. It stopped raining as we got to the campsite at McDowell Nature Preserve on Lake Wylie.
Cranksgiving was in Nov. We partnered with Charlotte Cycles and Loaves and Fishes. About 40 riders collected about 700 lbs of food in 2 hours.
11/9: Natl Bike Challenge celebration, 8-9:30 pm
Zeiss Building – Room 1100, CPCC
1225 Elizabeth Ave., 28204
Come meet your fellow riders. Celebrate a great Challenge and let’s keep riding. Bring a bag of chips, water, nuts, etc.
Special guest: John Allen
John S. Allen is an avid transportation and recreational cyclist, and writer about cycling: author of Bicycling Street Smarts, co-author of several editions of Sutherland’s Handbook for Bicycle Mechanics, technical writer and editor at the bicycle maintenance and customization site sheldonbrown.com. John is a certified CyclingSavvy instructor and League Cycling Instructor. He will be visiting Charlotte to experience cycling here, meet with cyclists and teach a CyclingSavvy course along with Pamela Murray.
11/10-12: CyclingSavvy
Cycling Savvy is a 3 part bike training workshop focusing on communication, cooperation, situational awareness. Build your skills during a 3 hour closed course session. Then put your new knowledge and skills into practice in an instructional ride in the 3rd session. 10 hours of instruction over 3 – 3 hour sessions. Register at Cycling Savvy.
The ride is free! You’ll need to bring your own cash* to buy food donations at each checkpoint. Remember to bring a backpack or some way to transport your food and a reusable bag (if you want some bonus points).
Hi Spokes People! Are you ready for the National Bike Challenge? I hope so, because it starts next Monday, May 1! I can’t wait to compete against other cities and–most importantly–kick the butts of a certain other local team who shall remain unnamed (in a friendly manner, of course. Here are the instructions for joining our team on the new National Bike Challenge site. Please note that even if you were on our team in previous years, you must join again this year.
The page prompts you to log in with Strava. If you don’t have a Strava account, you have to create one first.
Here’s the slightly unintuitive part: you have to join our team on Strava, and then it will sync to the NBC. Click here to see our team on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/cltsp.
After you’ve joined, you should see the Charlotte Spokes People as one of your groups! There may be a short delay until it syncs.
My mileage goal was to ride 100 miles/week. I don’t think that’s too hard. Most people can ride lots more than that in a given week. And some people ride 100 miles/day. The challenge really is to be consistent. To ride that much every week. Week after week.
Last year I didn’t really have a mileage goal other than to ride more than drive. I did that but when I looked at my mileage last year it was 5,169. And then I thought, I could have easily ridden 31 more miles to make it 5,200 miles which would be 100 miles/week. So there was my goal for this year. This year I got to 5200 miles but then I looked at my cyclometer.
And I thought, I only need 48 more miles to round it up to 31,000 accumulated bike riding miles. (When I got an adult bike in 2006.) To give you an idea, in 2011, out of the 2673 miles, 1818 were on the Betty Foy from May through Dec. The other 855 were on my old bike in the first 4 months of the year. It took me 4 1/2 years to ride 5,855 miles on my first bike. I almost ride that in a year now.
Based on purchase price, I’ve averaged my price on my Betty Foy down to about 10 cents a mile. (Have you noticed that the cents symbol isn’t on a keyboard anymore? Everything is in dollars because everything is that expensive. But not my Betty Foy cost per mile.)
Below is the mileage since I’ve been riding my Rivendell Betty Foy:
2011 2,673
2012 3,756
2013 4,294
2014 4,669
2015 5,169
2016 5,439
I usually don’t like goals but they are useful to track progress. My real goal is to just ride wherever I want to go. But it needs to be quantifiable. And so you actually have a way to measure how close or far away you are.
If you want to track your progress:
You can manually add miles to Strava which will be the connected to the National Bike Challenge. You can join our team, Charlotte Spokes People. Most people who do, are amazed at how tracking and seeing other people’s mileage encourages them to keep riding. And join us on some rides. Tues. at 10 am (when it’s hot) or 2 pm otherwise. This ride leaves from Advent Coworking on corner of Louise/Otts one block from Central Coffee. Tues at 8 pm is PMTNR (Plaza Midwood Tues Night Ride) from Common Market Plaza Midwood. Sunday Slow Riders leaves from Legion Brewing at 2 pm or 8 pm when it’s hot. All rides are on the calendar and each ride has a facebook page.
Bottom line:
You’ll never reach your goal if you don’t have one.
You’ll never reach your goal by sitting on the couch.
You have to progress toward your goal every day – or you’re going backwards away from it.
One step towards your goal is still progress.
Progress seems slow.
You’ll get there eventually.
Sometimes it’s sunny. Sometimes it’s rainy. Sometimes it’s hot. Sometimes it’s cold. Sometimes it’s windy. Sometimes it’s perfect.
Next year my goal will be 5,500 miles courtesy of the monkey on my back from Douglas Welton. He planted the seed of the idea and now I’m so close. Maybe I’ll need to ride a little faster so it won’t take me so long. I’m the turtle that will get there at some point.
Thanks for everyone who has ridden with me. You all helped me get to my goal. There’s a saying that if you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together. We’ll get you to your first 1,000 miles then 3,000 then 5,000…
Saturday, December 17th, we hosted the Charlotte awards and celebration event at Advent Coworking Space. We had lots of prize packages to award to top riders and to raffle off to everyone who could attend. It was great seeing and meeting some of the riders that were on the leader board. I met the guy who beat me by 60 points for #8 on the Charlotte team. He rides a lot!
We posted full challenge rankings for the Charlotte challenge as well as for the Charlotte Spokes People Team and Crank Mafia.
fullresultsrankings These are the full results rankings for the Charlotte Challenge.
csprankings These are the rankings for Team Charlotte Spokes People. Join our team next year!
Kevin Caldwell spoke briefly about his masters thesis, which will research bike commuting. Please contact him at kcaldw19@uncc.edu if you can contribute.
Milton and Sarah awarded the prize packages.
A big thank you to the Bike Benefits businesses who donated prizes.
Bike!Charlotte is from April 29-May17. Almost 3 weeks of events of fun bike stuff culminating up to Bike Fest on Thomas Ave on May 15th. Check the BIKE!Charlotte website (http://bikecharlotte.org/) for details. Keep an eye on our calendar for events throughout the year.
Here are the events we’re hosting:
April 29: 4 – 7 pm: Cycling Savvy Workshop – Day 1 : An adult master class teaching how to drive your bike as a vehicle. Spoke Easy, 1523 Elizabeth Ave.
April 30: 2-5 pm: Cycling Savvy Workshop – Day 2 : bike skills and drills in a closed course. 932 Seigle Ave.
May 1: 1-4 pm; Cycling Savvy Workshop – Day 3: on the road bike tour of Charlotte (Both Class 1,2 prerequisites for Day 3.) Legion Brewing, 1916 Commonwealth Ave.
May 3: 2 – 3 pm: Tues at 2 ride. Advent Coworking, 933 Louise Ave.
May 3: 8 pm: Plaza Midwood Tuesday Night Ride – PMTNR B.O.A.T. Ride: Bikes On A Train! (Meet at 7:30 for safety meeting prior the ride.) Common Market, 2007 Commonwealth Ave.
May 8: 2 pm: Sunday Slow Riders – Mother’s Day ride to McGill Rose Garden; Legion Brewing, 1916 Commonwealth Ave.
May 10: 2 – 3 pm: Tues at 2 ride. Advent Coworking, 933 Louise Ave.
May 10: 8 pm: Plaza Midwood Tuesday Night Ride to Charlotte Cycles (Meet at 7:30 for safety meeting prior the ride.) Common Market, 2007 Commonwealth Ave.
May 15: 12-5 pm; BikeFest: Come enjoy this open street festival in Plaza Midwood! Events include Bike swap, Bike Drive for Trips for Kids Charlotte, a Kids Bicycle Roadeo, Bike races – cargo challenge, snail race, track stand challenge, kids crafts and activities, Panel discussions on bike camping, social rides, commuting, Cycling Savvy. 1400 – 2000 Thomas Ave. (behind Zada Jane’s)
May 15: 12:30: Kids Bike and Pet Parade; depart at at 12:45 PM. The Vine, 2101 Belvedere Ave.
Upcoming Event
BikeFest
BikeFest is the original open streets event in Charlotte! This will be the 6th year. Come out and celebrate all things bike. Pump up your tires and enjoy Thomas Avenue free of cars. Volunteers are needed. Emailpamlikestobike@gmail.comto help out.
For more details about BikeFest, click here.
About Cycling Savvy
Cycling Savvy is a three-day workshop teaching traffic skills and crash avoidance strategies. Workshops are scheduled monthly in Charlotte, and there will be a workshops on April 29-May 1, as well as dates in June and July. Check CyclingSavvy.org for details.
Quotes from Cycling Savvy students:
“Before taking this class, I had been bike commuting 3-5 times a week for a few years, and felt quite confident about my abilities to ride on the road. But since taking it, my confidence has soared and I have learned a ton about different traffic situations and how to be communicate with motorists. I now have more space and far more positive interactions with motorists I can’t recommend it enough!” – AR
“This class was great! My confidence on the road skyrocketed. If you ride or want to – you should look into this. I was in class with triathletes and daily bike commuters. Everyone learns something!!” – CW
“I have never felt such a sense of equality biking in traffic. Thanks for keeping me and other students safe!” – GF
Cycling Savvy scholarships are available for those in need. Scholarships are funded by CLT Spokes People and Charlotte Bike Benefits. Support local businesses and help to support Cycling Savvy scholarships through the purchase of helmet stickers. New this year are Cycling Savvy helmet stickers, which also support scholarships. Last year CLT Spokes People funded 12 Cycling Savvy scholarships. Please email Pam at pamlikestobike@gmail.com for details about scholarships.
National Bike Challenge, 2016 Edition
The National Bike Challenge starts May 1 and goes through September. Sign up for the Challenge and join the Charlotte Spokes People team! Help us get Charlotte on the leaderboard again. Last year, we were in the Top 20 cities based on Challenge points. Let’s show the nation that Charlotte is a great place to bike!
Click here to join our team: Charlotte Spokes People. http://cltspok.es/winNBC, and come ride with us three times a week:
Tuesdays at 2 from Advent Coworking (932 Louise Ave.)
Tuesdays at 8 from Common Market Plaza Midwood
Sundays at 2 from Legion Brewing.
Bike Benefit Bingo
Bike Benefit Bingo is returning from May 1st until the 15th. Get your cards at the Advent ride, PMTNR, or Sunday Slow Ride. Some cards also available at some participating locations including Rhino Market, Three Spirits, Queen City Bicycles, Spoke Easy. Suggested donation of $1 goes towards Cycling Savvy scholarships.
How to play:
Ride your bike to the participating locations and get your card stamped.
How to win:
Bingo players can email finished cards to pamlikestobike@gmail.combefore May 15 or drop them off at BikeFest on Sunday, May 15 from 12-5 on Thomas Ave., behind Zada Jane’s. Look for the CLT Spokes People / Bike Benefits / Cycling Savvy table.
New Bike Benefits Businesses
Pure Pizza – Central Ave.
CLTCH
Camille’s Sidewalk Café
Tip Top Daily Market
Red Clay Cidery
Codescape
Legion Brewing
Bulldog Beer and Wine – South End
House of Lemond
The Broken Spoke
Cast Iron Waffles – South Park & Ballantyne
Powderly/Vuchnich CPA
One Life Raw Juice Bar
Three Spirits Brewery
Pasta & Provisions on Park
Dr. Tony Peters
Abari
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Sabor – NoDa
Sharon Luggage – both locations
Inner Peaks – both locations
First Ward Beverage
Check out the pocket list (http://cltspok.es/CLTpocketList) on the Bike Benefits website for the full list of businesses and offers. We are the largest program in the country! Support local. Ride your bike for your benefits.
PMTNR
Come ride the Plaza Midwood Tuesday Night Ride. We ride every week at 8 pm from Common Market. The ride is never canceled. Meet your neighbors, ride on the quiet streets of Charlotte at night, discover new Bike Benefits businesses. Support local businesses.
And I thought, I only need 48 more miles to round it up to 31,000 accumulated bike riding miles. (When I got an adult bike in 2006.) To give you an idea, in 2011, out of the 2673 miles, 1818 were on the Betty Foy from May through Dec. The other 855 were on my old bike in the first 4 months of the year. It took me 4 1/2 years to ride 5,855 miles on my first bike. I almost ride that in a year now.
Saturday, December 17th, we hosted the Charlotte awards and celebration event at Advent Coworking Space. We had lots of prize packages to award to top riders and to raffle off to everyone who could attend. It was great seeing and meeting some of the riders that were on the leader board. I met the guy who beat me by 60 points for #8 on the Charlotte team. He rides a lot!
Queen City Bicycles
