My bike

Submitted by lmcshane on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 21:11.

 

 Man riding the curb lane off ramp at West 25th I-71 exit

*Note this man is riding on the highway off-ramp for the West 25th exit (not recommended!!!:)

 

Northern Ohio’s bicycle groups are coming together to produce the first ever “Cleveland Bicycle Week” May 12 – 16, 2008.

Participating groups so far include Walk+Roll Cleveland, Ohio City Bicycle Co-op, ClevelandBikes, City of Cleveland, NOACA, Thunderhead Alliance, EcoCity Cleveland, Earth Day Coalition, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland Area Mountain Bike Association, BikeLakewood, YMCA and The Cleveland Clinic. The idea is to promote cycling during National Bike Month by hosting fun and educational activities. Some of the activities being planned include:

  • May 12-16 - Bike To Work activities each weekday morning. With enough sponsors, we want to encourage participation by offering the first XX riders a different bicycle accessory each morning. At the end of the week, a person who rides each day could accumulate a free headlight, taillight, pump, lock and seatpack with a total value of $110!
  • Mon, May 12 - Bike To The Movies at The Natural History Museum.
  • Tue, May 13 - Discover Mountain Biking in the city at the Cleveland Metroparks' first mountain bike trail at the Canalway Reservation.
  • Wed, May 14 - Possibly a Progressive Dinner Dine-A-Round visiting two or three restaurants along the way. Those that didn’t want to ride back could take the Rapid back to the starting point.
  • Thur, May 15 - Possibly a visit from “The Metal Cowboy” who has written numerous articles for Outside, Bicycling Magazine, etc plus has written a couple of books. He is a pied piper of bicycling who puts on a humorous and inspiring family-friendly show
  • Thur, May 15 - One-day conference for government officials, health and wellness agencies, the media and any other interested parties.
  • Fri, May 16 - Celebration of Cycling at Cleveland City Hall. The Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists will be in town to announce the results of Cleveland’s application for a Bicycle Friendly Community award.

To volunteer, participate or to become a sponsor, email:  Lois Moss of Walk+Roll Cleveland, Kevin Cronin of ClevelandBikes or Jim Sheehan of Ohio City Bicycle Co-op.

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I love my bike

It's a Nishiki--I have abused it for over 20 years.

More BIKE news

 Superneighbor Lois Moss stopped by the library today and PROMISED that she would post STUFF soon!  You can always find out more at www.walkandrollcleveland.com.

Some of the exciting events planned this year--drum roll...

Lakewood gets their very own event this year in July (Boo, hoo for bike-central Brooklyn Centre) and

And, Rockefeller Park will again be the place to be for the mega Walk and Roll event of the summer in August.

Stay tuned...

Running out of gas

Put Cleveland's Bike Week on your calendars...GEAR UP!

Bike Week coincides with the 2008 Economic Development Conference in Cleveland.

REinvent the WHEEL!

  Bike week will be upon us sooner than later.  Get your bike in tune with Ohio City Bicycle Co-op.  Here's my idea for sustainable bike tires and a challenge to all you lug nuts out there:

Come up with a bike tire that does not need to be inflated and that does not go flat!!!

PROPs

  Props to D.Williams for this archived story, prompted by my wish list for a dream bike.   How the mind works: we talk about bikes, we talk about inventions, we talk about the Alaskans and their King James dream...

ENTREPRENEUR SHOOTS FOR STARS - TALLMADGE TEEN TO LAUNCH SALE OF BASKETBALL CARRIER AT KING JAMES CLASSIC

Back to MY non-deflatable tire idea and MY self-locking bike idea...who wants to help me patent it????

Jim O'Brien may help you with patent

I believe Jim O'Brien - one of the geniuses behind the Lakewood Observer - invented an innovative bike rack design he pantented and is producing, so I recommend contacting him about the self-locking bike

Disrupt IT

SMART bikes

Ooh la la, those Parisians have us foiled.  They have SMART bikes you can use with the swipe of a card!!!

Merrick House Bike Adventure Camp

 

Bi-lingual Youth Bike Adventures at Merrick House

Posted July 2nd, 2008 by merrickhouse

V Campamento de Viajeros Ciclistas C C
Bi-lingual Youth Bike Adventures on the Near West Side

Merrick House has partnered with Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital’s Inury Prevention Center and Safe Kids Greater Cleveland to offer a unique summer camp experience for youth ages 10-13 of the Near West Side of Cleveland.

The CVC summer bike camp is not just about traveling by bike, it’s a way to explore the many educational, recreational and future career opportunities on the Near West Side and beyond in a supportive atmosphere of friends, neighbors and community. Each day of camp will have a theme around which activities, experiences and travel routes will be organized. For example, on Food & Nutrition Day stops will include the West Side Market, community gardens and local restaurants. Other stops will include a recording studio, sports venues, artists’ studios, Steelyard Commons, the Towpath Trail, Edgewater Beach and more! Campers will also participate in a service learning project and have numerous fun group activities at Merrick House, Lincoln Park and Clark Fields. For one day of the camp, participants will use rapid transit to visit University Hospitals of Cleveland to learn about the many careers available in healthcare, science and medicine. Any Tremont business owners, artists or organizations
that would like to get involved and be part of the weekly tour of the neighborhood and share what you do should contact Thomas Cook of Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital at 216-983-1105.
 

Camp Sessions
1: July 14 - July 18
2: July 21 - July 24
3: July 28 - Aug 01
4: Aug 04 - Aug 11
5: Aug 12 - Aug 15
All CVC bike camps will run for one week, Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM -
4:00PM beginning and ending at Merrick House - Tremont. Departure from
Merrick House will begin promptly at 9:30 AM daily, returning by 3:00 PM. Lunch and snacks will be provided and will be taken off-site on most camp days. All bikes, helmets and locks will be provided as part of an Ohio City Bike Co-op Earn-A-Bike program and partcipants will keep their bike, helmet and lock after the camp at no cost. Helmets are mandatory.

Each camp will be limited to 12 campers ages 10-13.A parent/guardian info meeting will be held on Wednesday,
July 2nd at Merrick House at 7PM - 1050 Starkweather Ave. Parent meetings will
also be held on Wednesdays at 7PM on July 16, July 23 and August 6 for those
registered in weeks 2-5.
To register contact Merrick House at 216-771-5077.
NEW SUMMER CAMP
at Merrick House for
YOUTH AGES 10-13!
Discover your city on
bike this summer!
If you have any questions please contact Thomas Cook, CVC Camp Coordinator at 216-983-1105.

First bike

Of course, my first bike was an ultra-cool banana seat model with the high back, outfitted with the flag, the bell and, later beaded spokes and playing cards for the revved-up sound.  The neighborhood, at the time West Park, had a big, big hill and we would drag until late in the evening.

My neighborhood, today, Brooklyn Centre, has lots of kids.  In fact, the kids at the end of the street are signed up for the Merrick House bike program.  The week-long agenda is action-packed and someone really put a lot of thought into making memories for these kids.  Maybe, the organizers have some really cool bike memories of their own?  I am just glad that someone thought about the kids.

Schwinn Fastback

Funny you mention old bikes... I was just thinking about that... I believe my first real bike was a Schwinn Fastback... probably from around 1970, looking something like this

My mom had something like this, in green... now $650

But check this out... from around 1910...

Disrupt IT

LOL spider bikes... I was

LOL spider bikes...

I was happy to graduate to a ten speed...it was much better for the long distances. 

Now I have a GT Hybrid...for the money they are a good bikes. 

SCHNEIDER'S BIKE SHOP
(216)631-7187
10001 LORAIN AVENUE

CLEVELAND OH 44111

 

I paid $350.00 for mine.  

 
 

 

Bike safety

And, the safety part--that's a good thing, too.  One summer, my sister and I were tapped by my aunt, who worked for the Metroparks, to star in a locally produced public service announcement on bicycle safety.   We got tired of waiting for the film crew to set-up, so we started racing around and we crashed into each other.  The bumps and bruises made it very authentic.  We were trained as method actors.

Bike Brunch

  Dear OCBC members and friends,

Due to a communications error, you are getting this notice rather late: please RSVP by this Wednesday, 7/23 to attend the brunch. Sorry for my mistake: we hope to see you there!

The Annual Ohio City Bicycle Co-op members' meeting will be held at the Flat Iron Cafe (1/4 mile from OCBC) on Sunday July 27th from 10AM to Noon, to view the final stage of the Tour de France, and discuss (during the commercials) co-op members' business and election of trustees. This event is free (buy your own food off the Flat Iron menu) and open to all (member or not -- ClevelandBikes supporters and others will be joining us as well). RSVP is required by Wednesday July 23rd, so the Flat Iron can be sure to have enough food and tables. Bicycle parking will be available across Merwin Ave from the Flat Iron, and we'll have volunteers watching from window tables, but bring a lock if you have one!

Brunch will be followed by a Scavenger Hunt at 12:15, starting and finishing at OCBC, and lasting until 3PM. Fun prizes for top finishers in many categories.

RSVP for the brunch, and/or join the scavenger hunt for $5 (members) or $20 (non-members), on the calendar page.

See you then!
--
Jim Sheehan
Director, Ohio City Bicycle Co-op
1823 Columbus Rd
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
216 830 2667

Ride HARDER

  I am coping with some personal issues right now.  I am depressed.  Really depressed.  I usually try to swim during these times, but it didn't work out today.  I also have a pair of cross country skis that I picked up at Unique Thrift/with reworked fittings from Geiger's in Lakewood.  Not enough snow for that therapy, so I padded up and headed out to run my errands by bike today. 

If anyone else is in need of cheap therapy during these trying times--I highly recommend it.  I feel better now.  The beer at Zeleznik's helped  :)  Here's a holiday idea from my old neighbor Jim Sheehan, who used to wake me up in the a.m. with his late night bowling and Pat Dailey singing sessions:

Dear OCBC website users (sorry for any duplicates with our news list),

Since the end of the busy season, we have been busy fixing the nicest bikes we have, and now we need to make room for the many winter re-organization projects we have planned. So we are offering FREE lights* or free rack or fender installation** with any bikes sold this Saturday, Dec. 20, from noon to 6pm.

We have many very clean children's bikes (12", 16" and 20" wheel sizes) for $25 to $150; our usual assortment of adult cruisers and city bikes for $50 to $175; and some very nice road and mountain bikes for $150 to $300 (and several of our extra "performance" rentals for $350 and up); so there is sure to be something here for anyone needing a winter ride, or a nice gift to bond with until warmer weather comes.

We'll have some hot soup and snacks if you just want to come by for the camaraderie or volunteer to help out (but we're sorry, we won't be able to accommodate members' personal shop time this Saturday, as we'll need all the workstands for those fender installations**).

Also, as planned, for 2009 we will be raising the price of our membership classes from $80 to $100, so if you (or someone you know) could use a thorough course in bike maintenance, and/or a chance to bond with that new bike, you can just pay the $80 for the course now (either in person Saturday on on our website until Dec 31st), and sign up for any of our regular classes scheduled through May.

* note: Planet Bike Blinkey front/rear sets ($14 value), or $14 off the $26 Planet Bike Superflash, our favorite rear light. While supplies last (we have plenty, we hope).

** note: Installation only (usually $10), for new racks ($26) or fenders ($27) purchased this Saturday. If we run out or are too busy, we can give you a rain check for the installation.

Stay warm: ride harder!

Jim

Jim Sheehan
Director, Ohio City Bicycle Co-op
1823 Columbus Rd
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
216 830 2667

bikes belong

  Our representatives are making sure that infrastructure dollars will go towards cars not bikes.  Please see Tim's comments and fax your representative.

I confess

  Folks who know me, know I ride my bike a lot--and I do it mostly on the sidewalk, which is probably the stupidest place to ride, because in some places, especially downtown, I could get ticketed for it.  But, I once was sideswiped by a truck and spent several weeks recovering from the potentially fatal accident, so I steer clear of cars.

Please weigh in here--today another REALNEO rider says that bikes belong in the street with the cars--I would ask:

How do we make Cleveland bike friendly to kids, teens, families, seniors et al? 

How do we build the critical bike mass needed to take over our transportation infrastructure?  Because I would advocate that we simply exclude cars first.

Start by closing some thoroughfares every Sunday--as Lois Moss did with the first Walk and Roll Cleveland through Rockefeller Park. I could name many streets in Cleveland that have very little cross traffic and residential access issues.  Believe me, it's not as difficult as planners would have you believe.

ride ON!

BIG thanks to Stuart, Evan and Greg with Ohio City Bicycle Coop for helping our kids gear up for safe summer riding today at the Brooklyn Branch Library 3706 Pearl Rd. Cleveland OH 44109.  See our cool neighborhood this Saturday with Lois Moss and Walk and Roll Cleveland.
 

RIDE ON!!!! 

THIS SATURDAY July 18 – Walk+Roll Old Brooklyn / Brooklyn Centre: Old Brooklyn Community Development Corp is bringing bicycling and walking to the All Access Home and Bicycle Tour this year. The event will not involve a street closing, but it will include free bicycle tours, walking tours, trolley tours, local businesses, historic homes and cemeteries in one of Cleveland’s most interesting neighborhoods. More info for July 18 here

NEXT SATURDAY July 25 – Walk+Roll Detroit Shoreway / Gordon Square: Nearly three miles of streets and paths will be part of this event which showcases one of Cleveland’s transformative neighborhoods. Walk+Roll is partnering with Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization on this special event. More info for July 25 here

NEXT SUNDAY July 26 – Walk+Roll Slavic Village / Broadway: This is the most ambitious Walk+Roll to date! Nearly eight miles of streets and paths will be used for this route which will include two Cleveland Metroparks, an inner-city golf course, a waterfall and history center, numerous new commercial and residential projects, public art projects, Cleveland Botanical Garden’s community garden, bicycle polo, skateboard lessons, youth concerts and many historic churches. More info for July 26 here

Each Walk+Roll will be different and unique! All are FREE and family friendly. Walk+Roll's mission is to get you to add more bicycling and walking to your daily life. Every now and then, leave your car behind and explore what's outside your front door! You'll be healthier and happier, our neighborhoods will be cleaner and safer plus YOU'LL SAVE MONEY.

Walk+Roll is a tiny organization trying to do big things and relies on health and wellness organizations, senior centers, youth groups, theatre organizations, schools, artists, musicians, churches, clubs and other community organizations to spread the word and to bring their talents to Walk+Roll events. If you, your business or your community group would like to showcase what you do, come out and show the world what you do!

---------------

Thursdays July 30 and Aug 6 - We will host guided bicycle tours from Cleveland's Public Square to Whole Foods Market's Giving Grills! It will be a scenic, leisurely ride on bikelanes, sidestreets and neighborhoods that will take about an hour. You can ride back with the group or take RTA's Green Line back to Tower City. Please e-mail lois [at] walkroll [dot] com if you are interested in joining the guided ride.

Click here for the map for a nice bicycle route between downtown and Whole Foods Market!

I still LOVE my bike

But it's getting harder to pedal uphill:

Love this and fortunately--a company in CLE can outfit my bike:

http://www.romanequip.com/pages/bikes2.html

My thoughts on Lorain cycle track and Midway -Bike CLE

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Thank you to this lady-Diana Hildebrand @BlackGrlsDoBike^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

for organizing the Bibb for CLE bike ride today - feeling
more optimistic about his chances -but still so many bad ideas for bike network in CLE. The 
bike tour started at Lincoln Park and continued to Lake Link trail to Wendy Island and back.

Thank you Dan Moore for all you have done to promote and complete this connection.  Thank
you Debbie Berry for supporting the event today.

 

 

 Lee Chilcote- I would like to participate but not be railroaded into promoting the "official" narrative. For too long - the media has camouflaged the people who play the real estate game here. Mitchell Paul gives your grief about having a trust fund. I hope that given financial stability it is in your best interest to speak freely. The strings here are controlled by a developer mentality that undermines govt accountability. The fact that Shontel Brown was recently chosen in a primary is all the evidence you need to show that this is a "pay to play" arena. I see in Plain Press that you tout the Lorain bike track and Midway - those projects were designed to support developers, not residents. The glaring reality in this town - there is no maintenance or repairs of structures once they are built. At least the Metroparks does this. If the stupid Lorain bike infrastructure is somehow constructed with millions of public dollars (like the asinine bridge at Northcoast) - then, who is going to maintain and do snow removal? Justin M. Bibb I will ride with you tomorrow to make this point. My guess? Your team will be riding on the METROPARKS trail - not streets, not bike lanes.