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.

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.

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.

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.

The feeling is entirely mutual…
photo by John Carrington/Savannah Morning News

In this month’s issue of the LAB’s American Bicyclist Magazine, Ben Sollee — the humble, extremely talented and friendly pop cellist who joined us on his tour by bike last fall –announces his plans to perform on a transcontinental U.S. tour by bicycle. Quite an impressive undertaking from quite an impressive guy.

Not only that, but in the article as he recounts a transformation from an occasional bike rider into a cello-hauling bike touring machine over a trip to Bonnaroo and his southeastern coastal tour, he gives a shout out to his visit here in Savannah:

Although we were able to book more traditional shows on the December tour, we found what would become our model event in Savannah, Ga. We teamed up with the Savannah Bicycle Campaign to host an open-door fundraiser and show at a local bicycle hotspot, kicking the event off with an amazing night ride through historic streets. We were able to become a vehicle for the bike group’s message, helping drive membership and getting great coverage in the Savannah Morning News. This event bridged together what seemed like a magical mix of advocacy, community engagement, and shared arts. Within just a day, we felt like we had become part of a community. But, alas, Savannah was an island of bicycle love

Wow. That was our impression, too — what a night it was!

Below is a short film which focuses on Savannah (reminds me of something…), produced by Marty Benson (enthusiastic guy in the goatee in the Savannah waterfront picture above) to promote Ben’s new Ditch the Van Tour, followed by the full article in American Bicyclist!

bell symphony – Ben Sollee Bike Tour from marty benson on Vimeo.