Monday, May 13th, marks the kick-off to Bike To Work Spokane.

We love the energy the BTW folks put into this week of events, and their enthusiasm carries forward and propels other cyclists to ride.

Go to Spokane Bikes for a list of all the happenings!

It’s a two-thumbs-up day, at the shop, and around town. It’s 70 degrees with a light breeze and clear skies. Bloomsday weekend, so the city is buzzing with activity.

We hope the weather holds up through next Saturday, when we’re having our annual yard sale. Frames, used parts and bikes, accessories for yard sale prices. P2P prices are already affordable, but our yard sale will really have some deals.

Bring a friend if you don’t want to work on your bike on your own. Usually that works just fine.

So many families come to this neighborhood event. They come for the music, bouncy castle, free games and bicycle tune ups, and this year families also came for free bicycle helmets and a Kidical Mass bike ride. Mostly neighbors come because WC Neighbor Days brings the community together for a fun celebration. P2P loves participating in this event. We serviced 22 bicycles, nearly all of them kid’s bikes.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 7 years since we first offered free bicycle tune ups at Neighbor Days. And it’s been nearly 4 years since we received support from New Belgium Brewing. Funding from a $2,300 grant that NB funded in June 2009 provided the ability for P2P to purchase cargo bike trailers and tools to pedal-power our tune-ups. Three Burley flatbed cargo trailers get hauled to events. We try to pack everything needed on these trailers. They take a good beating and are still going strong!

Thanks to volunteers Suzy, Greg, John, Liza, Erik, Corey, Jayce, Bo, Darrin, Jon and Beth.

Taste and Roast House fueled our volunteer efforts with scones, muffins and hot coffee. Thank you!

We had a rejuvenating November! Thank you to all who attended our open house and Budge Brothers Brewery ride — and a huge thanks to Budge Brothers for giving each rider free tokens for their delicious, locally-brewed beer!

We usually experience a slow-down in shop activity during the winter, but we continue helping community members become self-sufficient and get around all year long.

A gentleman whose bike was stolen came in early last month, in need of a way to get to work later that day. We were able to loan him a bike until payday, when he came in and built his own bike to take home.

Last week, a customer found two bikes to give her kids as Christmas presents.

To support us through the winter, even if you don’t have an immediate need to fix up your bike, give the gift of Pedals2People membership ($65 for a year)! We also appreciate donations of cash, bikes or bike parts.

We welcome volunteers any time we are open. Even if you’re not sure how to tune up a bike, our awesome mechanics can teach you how to help fix up bikes for sale or help out around the shop in other ways.

For the love of all thing bikey!

Please, if you have a kid, know of anyone that has a kid, or was once a kid yourself come get one of these kids bikes. They’re free and it’s getting to the point we’ll have to throw them out.  And believe me you, it pains me terrrribly to throw out any bicycle.

Let’s make this a dual trip while we’re at it.    Ladies, come on by Friday for Ladies Night at the Shop.

If *I* was a gurl, I’d be there.

For the next 5 (yes we said 5!) Friday nights the shop is open only for ladies only.

Rather clueless as what may need done or how to do it?  That’s ok.  Erika of the P2P Board will be there working with our crack Shop Manager Jayce to guide you down the road.

We can absolutely promise that it isn’t as complicated as this.

We’ve the tools, the place and the expertise.  Just bring yourself, your bike and willingness to learn.

Um, this won’t be necessary. We’ll even supply some gloves and/or a place to wash.

And once you’re done leave with a kids bike.  Because even if you don’t have one, want one, know of anyone that has one, we know that you’re a kid at heart.

Till later,

Ladies Night at the P2P Shop

Fridays, 4 till 6

Do you have a “kid”? (Immature spouses/partners not included)

Does this aforementioned youngster need a bicycle?

We’ve got one for you!

Best of all it’s FREE!!!

Come on by the shop we’ll provide one.

Hey, ladies! This Friday (October 26th), from 4-6, is our very first ladies’ open shop time! We’ll have a female volunteer/member there and our Lead Mechanic, Jayce, will be around to lend his expertise. Regular shop time fees apply and we have lots of used parts available to get your bike winter-ready as economically as possible.

Questions? Drop us a line at p2p@pedals2people.org

So, you’re riding along.  And lo and behold you find _________________ (insert oh-so-cool awesome item) on the road.

Such things we’ll call a Road Find. I find it astonishing that Wikipedia  doesn’t have a definition for that.

What have you found?

A search on Cycling Spokane found such items a tires, wrenches, watering systems and socks.

If you’ve found some pretty cool or mentionable stuff throw an e-mail over to Hank at gigowiz@gmail.com.

Hank is a contributing writer for Out There Monthly  and is looking for some information for an upcoming story.

That is all

Till later,

Jacque – Out

Hi there Spokane Bicyclists!

Jacque (Jack) here, your P2P President.

We’ve a couple of vacancies on the Board of Directors that need filled should you be interested. The “Member at Large” and “Secretary”.

We meet once a month for an hour with the majority of our work being accomplished via e-mail and phone.

There are few special events that occur through the year that we provide support for (but not too many). And with the Board of 5 it’s very well distributed.

Interested? Send and e-mail to p2p@pedals2people.org

Till later,

Jacque – Out