Pink-nic in the Park Wheelie

Update: We won! Our valet and pedal powered smoothie making garnered the greenest picnic award! Thanks to Rides Chair David Acuff for organizing, Frank McIntosh for his mad smoothie blending and a host of volunteers for keeping the valet safe and secure.
2010 Picnic in the Park: Greenest Picnic Award

SBC will again host a bike valet at Picnic in the Park on Sunday, Oct 3.  Racks will be ready to accept your two wheels starting at 3pm — getting there will be half of the fun.  Our volunteer attendants will watch your bike (donations are greatly appreciated) while you enjoy your picnic and listen to the beautiful sounds of Savannah Strings bikes will be held until 15 minutes after the end of the show.  Remember, too, that if you bike there, use lights so you can be seen for the ride home!

We’ll also roll Savannah’s finest free family friendly community ride — Savannah Wheelie — through downtown Savannah (no police escort this time, just courteous bicyclists obeying the laws of the road).  The Wheelie will begin at 4pm and return before 5pm.  Wear pink and support the theme of this year’s Pink-nic in the Park in support of breast cancer awareness month.

Help us make it happen!  If you’re interested in volunteering, please use this link to provide your preferences. If you don’t already have one, we’ll give you a new organic cotton SBC shirt for your effort, and you’ll get a nice place to sit and watch the concert.

Bike to Beer Social Tonight

Clarification: Bike to Beer social for September is tonight, Tuesday Sept 21. Sorry for the error, as it previously said both Tuesday and tomorrow.

The Third Tuesday has arrived, as late as it possibly could. If ever you have had an urge to mix with your fellow bike people, drink fine locally brewed craft beer, ride your bike to and park it inside Moon River Brewing Company, tonight (yes, this incorrectly said tomorrow last time) at 6:30, an opportunity awaits.

We’ll share some info on Picnic in the Park (more below) and the Georgia Bike Summit, so c’mon. We may even give away some stuff to some lucky members. It’ll be great.

Bicycle Registration This Weekend

The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department is holding bicycle registration this Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon.

Why register your bike?
If your bike is ever lost or stolen, or found and turned in, the police will already have a record of the make and model and can trace it, even across state lines.

So bring your bikes out to the police station at Bull and 31st streets Saturday morning!

Following is the text of the message sent by the SCMPD Crime Prevention Office:

———

BICYCLE REGISTRATION

WHEN: SEPTEMBER 18, 2010, SATURDAY

TIME: 8AM TO 12PM

WHERE: 1512 BULL STREET (BULL & 31ST)

BRING YOUR VALUABLE BICYCLES AND GET THEM REGISTERED WITH SCMPD.

BENEFIT: A RECORD OF THE MAKE/MODEL/SERIAL NUMBER OF THE BICYCLE AVAILABLE FOR REPORTING OR RETURNING THAT PROPERTY.

*WE ALSO ENCOURAGE BICYCLE OWNERS TO MARK/ENGRAVE THEIR BICYCLES OR ANY OTHER PROPERTY WITH DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBER OR STATE ISSUE IDENTIFICATION CARD.

FORMAT: GA XXXXXXX-2012
(ENGRAVER AVAILABLE AT REGISTRATION)
STATE LICENSE NUMBER DATE OF EXPIRATION

UNDER PROJECT IDENTIFICATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN TRACE BACK MARKED PROPERTY ACROSS STATE LINES SHOULD THAT LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION NUMBER BE NOTED ON THE PROPERTY AND RUN THROUGH THE NATIONAL DATA BASE.

DON’T LET THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER YOUR BICYCLE SLIP BY. OUR STAFF WILL BE ON HAND SATURDAY MORNING.

Super Georgia Bike Summit Deal

For those of you who follow us on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll know that we have been very excited about the upcoming Georgia Bike Summit, a first time event that will be held here in Georgia’s first city on Saturday, Oct 9.

Here’s the deal: through next Tuesday September 14 at noon, you can register for only $30 using this link (and you must use this link). It will be a great day of networking and learning to advance bicycling in Georgia, and it may not be in Savannah the next time around. Take advantage and save yourself $10 off the usual early bird registration cost of $40 (or $30 off the $60 late registration!)

More details of the Summit from their press release:

Safety, Improved Conditions Focus of Statewide Bike Summit

Savannah, Ga. – Sept. 4, 2010 – Georgia Bikes, a statewide advocacy organization for improved bicycling conditions is holding its first statewide bike summit on Oct. 9, 2010 in Savannah, Ga.

Guests include state and local agencies, off-road enthusiasts, commuters and non-profit organizations exploring a wide-range of bicycling related issues including safety, infrastructure, advocacy and transportation.

Demand for bicycle facilities continues to grow as the number of bicyclists using Georgia’s roads for transportation and recreation increases. Proponents of bicycling want to address Georgia’s approach and funding for bicycle projects across the state.

In 2008, Georgia ranked 49 out of 50 on the League of American Bicyclists list of bicycle-friendly states. Georgia has steadily increased its ranking to a current 35 out of 50, but advocates want to see that ranking continue moving upward.

Harvest of Hope Ride: Register!

A well-organized day long ride from Augusta to Savannah is now in its 10th year. The Harvest of Hope Ride is on Saturday, Oct 16, and riders will travel to Augusta on Friday evening together by bus. To be guaranteed a ride jersey, you must register by THIS SUNDAY Sept 12.

Join beloved member of the Savannah cycling community Patrick Booton, two time cancer survivor who also just this year recovered from a stroke. This ride brings together so many in our community to raise money for the Harvest of Hope, a cancer survivor support program for families in Savannah.

On deck: Picnic in the Park

You braved the masses for the Midnight Garden Ride — well done!  Now, make sure your calendar has you joining us for our next enterprise — Picnic in the Park Savannah Wheelie Sunday Oct 3.

As with last year, we’ll staff a bike valet at the park for the concert and picnic.  We’ll also have a Savannah Wheelie spin around town before the music starts. There is a theme for picnic setups, and we’re hoping to make a strong showing. From the Creative Coast:

SAVANNAH, Ga., September 3, 2010 /www.savannahga.gov/ — The City of Savannah presents the beloved Savannah tradition, Picnic in the Park, in Forsyth Park on Sunday, Oct. 3. This year’s event will feature Strings of the South, a specially formed string ensemble under the direction of local talent Eddie Wilson.

This year’s picnic theme is “Pinknic in the Park,” in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month, held during October. Picnickers are encouraged to make creative use of the color pink when planning their picnics. Those who enter their spreads in the picnic contest, called “Pinknic in the Park,” will be eligible to win an array of prizes, as well as bragging rights as Savannah’s best picnicker.

Shoot an email to rides@bicyclecampaign.org if you’re interested in volunteering at the bike valet or in helping design and implement the theme. We’re nothing if not pink.

Reminder: ADA Sunsplash

The ADA Sunsplash Outdoor Fitness Festival is coming up in two weeks, Sat Sept 25.  Cycle, walk or kayak for the American Diabetes Association.  Don’t forget that SBC members get a $5 discount off the regular entry fee.  Fight diabetes. Ride a bike. To enter and get the SBC discount, follow this link and enter with our team.

Midnight Garden Ride 2010

Aloha, y’all. How was it for you?

The grin stuck on our faces should tell the story for us. 547 registered riders joined us for the second Midnight Garden Ride — a big bump from our first year number of 400! If you weren’t there, you’ll see in the video lovingly captured by Caila Brown and Myrriah Gossett that what we lacked in speed we made up for in joy. People together enjoying the streets of Savannah on a pleasant evening with their friends, neighbors, and family.

Which is not to say we did everything right — and we want your feedback there! A quick survey (<5 minutes) is posted for riders to rate their experiences so we can increase the awesomeness quotient for 2011: Midnight Garden Ride Survey 2010.

For a little more flavor, please check out some photos from Savannah enthusiast and blogger Pat Longstreth of New York is Boring below, and while you are there, take a look at his writeup of the event!


One. Two. Two beautiful bicycles! Sponsor bike shop Savannah Outriders’ Alfred Kennedy as the Count.

Many thanks to Eric Smith of Coastal Entertainment for spinning at the Good and Evil Party and 14 year old Jamison Murphy for playing at two spots along the ride. More photos from Caila and Myrriah are below, and as always at our flickr page. Thanks again to all of you who joined in the fun!


A happy raffle winner with her prize from sponsor Quality Bike Shop. Thanks also to sponsor Bicycle Link for running the SAG! Sponsors Perry Rubber Bike Shop were also on the scene, helping folks with bikes before the ride. Thanks are also due bikeblinker.com for providing a whole mess of gloworm lights, which were definitely a hit, Half Moon Outfitters, and New Belgium Brewing for some awesome prizes. Please check out and patronize the many great businesses who believe like you that Bicycles Make Savannah Better.

Events on the way

Now that the Midnight garden ride is over (sigh), we are gearing up for even more action this fall.

We will again have bike valet and Savannah Wheelie for Picnic in the Park on Oct 3, and one week later the Georgia Bike Summit, a first time event held right here in Savannah Saturday October 9. If you register now, you get $20 off the registration! More details at their site and on the way here soon.

Free range 2W2W

Friday! Friday! Friday! Ok, still a bit early to be celebrating the weekend, but IT IS A BIG WEEKEND!

We will kick it off on the first Friday of September with 2Wheels 2Work. We’re taking a hiatus from our usual Habersham convoy for a free range 2Wheels this Friday. Bring yourself on your bike on whatever route you like to Ex Libris at 228 MLK between 8am and 9am along with your helmet and enjoy some of Jittery Joe’s finest brew, gratis. We’ll be there, getting breakfast and exchanging war stories, discussing the latest gossip and hinting at what our Midnight Garden Ride costumes might be.

SBC board members David Acuff and Mark Woodruff riding to their jobs as whitewater rafting guide and old west deputy.

So, just let that last bit be your reminder that Midnight Garden Ride registration is still open online through Friday, and you can register also at Bicycle Link on Friday 6-9pm, the Savannah Century ride start on Saturday, 8-9am, and at the Distillery on Saturday before the ride 6-8pm. We’ve ordered the shirts, and preregistered riders will definitely get theirs. Make sure you’re one of them!