bikes

Written by Samantha Strong for the 30 Days of Biking Blog

I got into biking because of a guy. 15 years ago, my boyfriend at the time was a junior pro cyclist. (He used to brag about riding with Lance. Wonder how he feels about that now?) Anyway … he built me a bike. It was a sweet Raleigh beach cruiser. I wasn’t going to win any races on this thing, but it felt good to ride it. And we rode a lot.

I would ride it to work on the nice days (bussing all the others). It made the tedious chore of getting to work much more fun. And there’s a point of pride in showing up to work with that pant leg rolled up and sweat running down your neck. “That’s right, I’m gross, but I worked to get here. What did you do this morning?”

He and I have long since broken up (and I would later realize that my bike wasn’t sized right_ ah, the metaphor). Coincidentally, it was stolen from my garage the same year my current partner and I shacked up.

This guy is also a bike fanatic. A year_round rider, never is it too cold, too icy, too hot, too wet for him to get on his bike and tackle the elements. Honestly, his stubbornness amazes me. Riding is the only option, anything else is an insult. (That’s his trusty winter steed above.)

I am not that person. I have my single speed, but it’s nothing to write home about. But because I am not that person, I want to do whatever I can to support the people who are. Biking is a simple way to get off your duff and enjoy your neighborhood, meet new people, and build community. This is what my company, Metamorphosis, is all about.

Thank you, ex-boyfriend, for getting me into biking, Thank you, JP, for being an inspiration. Thank you, 30 Days, for starting this movement. Metamorphosis is a big fan.

Courtesy of the ArtCrank Website

Do you like art, or bikes, or beer, or a fun time? Check on this weekend’s ArtCrank MSP. Saturday, starting at 5:00, you can view and buyhand-made, bike-inspired posters created by over 45 Twin Cities area artists. Benefit Springboard for the Arts and buy a $5 pint glass that can be filled with Widmer Brothers Beer. Enjoy excellent food provided byChowgirls Killer Catering as well as six different food trucks.AND, keep your eyes open for special deals from Metamorphosis. Should be an excellent time. Admission is free, so we’ll see you there!

Photo by Joe Biewala

Spring break!!! My favorite spring break memory is from my senior year of college. Before making assumptions, this spring break did not include me on a beach somewhere with hundreds of other college kids. I actually spent my break exploring the Twin Cities with a few friends. Despite the freezing temperatures and unexpected blizzard, we had a great time enjoying amazing restaurants, wandering through world class museums, and exploring new parts of the city. Although I no longer have the free time for a full on spring break vacation, I have decided this year to have a mini Twin Cities staycation.

Want to plan your own spring break staycation? Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

-Eat at a green restaurants or take a green adventure http://www.minneapolis.org/visitor/green-minneapolis

-Take a walking, biking, or even running tour of the city http://thefittourist.com/

-Make a staycation meal at home with locally sourced foods http://www.twincitiesfarmersmarkets.com/

-Take advantage of the cold weather and ski or snowshoe around the Landscape Arboretum http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/skiandsnowshoetrails.aspx

-Try a watercolor or ceramics class at Silverwood Park’s LEED certified center http://www.threeriversparks.org/events.aspx

What ideas do you have? What are your favorite things to do in the Twin Cities?

We’re all about bike commuting, but in these winter days, it can be so cold! How do the winter bikers do it? Southwest Minneapolis Patch asks Joe Meiser, local commuter and Product Design Manager for Quality Bicycle Products, “How do you dress for winter biking?” Click here to view the video and find out what to wear to stay warm!

Here in Minneapolis, we have plenty of bikers, but we also have heaps of cars on the road, making it a dangerous ride for the cyclists if they are not properly prepared. With conventional bike lights, the steam of light seen by drivers is limited to a small distance ahead of the cyclist. Unfortunately, a large percentage of bikers are hit by a car when they are traveling straight ahead and a vehicle maneuvers into them.

Image from tsuacctnt's Flickr page

There is yet another sign that winter is around the corner! Nice Ride, Twin Cities’ bike share program is wrapping up its 2012 season around November 1^st. All of the bikes will be stored away for the winter months. (We like to think of them as hibernating!) It’s supposed to get colder this week, but make sure to try and squeeze one more ride in this season! To discover everything you need to know about Nice Ride, please visit their website.

How hip would it be to have a glow in the dark bike? Not only would it allow you to be more visibly seen by drivers in the dark, but you could pretend you are having your own personal rave as you cruise on down the street. All you have to do is hitch on a boom box to the back of the bike, play a little Avicii or Tiesto, and bam! You have a fun night on the town. Who knows, you might even start an impromptu dance party with neighbors!

It seems like examples of gamification are popping up everywhere lately!

At Metamorphosis, all of us love to bike! Touring Minnesota by bicycle offers the opportunity to see the state in a whole new light. There are places you never know existed until you leave your car at home and take to the bike trails. Because we are all bikers, we love Pedal Minnesota’s website, www.pedalmn.com. It is a great resource for both the beginner and advanced bicyclist. Pedal Minnesota offers a bike map of how to best get from point A to point Z on a bike, bike related news and events as well as a myriad of biking resources. Next time you plan to hop on your bike, make sure to first check out this site. You may learn about some really great bike activities going on in your own neighborhood!

We have so much going on this weekend! We are proud to announce we are sponsoring both Open Streets and the Uptown Market. Here are all the details:

Open Streets

We are Gold Block Sponsors of the upcoming June 10th Open Streets event. Modeled after the Ciclovía event in Bogotá, Columbia, Open Streets is a free event that closes S. Lyndale Avenue from 22nd Street to 42nd Street to vehicle traffic from 10am-4pm and opens the opportunity for residents to explore their neighborhood by walking, biking or skating on the open street. We love being a part of this neighborhood event and encourage you to join in the fun!

Uptown Market

When the Uptown Market opens, you know summer has officially arrived! Buying local produce from the market is not only a good way to support local farmers, but also a fantastic way to get to know your community. The market opens on June 10^th and runs every Sunday through September 30^th from 10am-3pm. We hope to see you there!