Bike the Sites Blog

Today at 10:00am President Obama will speak at the groundbreaking of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, set to open by November 2015. Adjacent to the Washington Monument, the new museum's mission is to interpret the complex narrative arc of the black experience in America.  The museum will be the 19th Smithsonian museum.

Other attendees will include first lady Michelle Obama, former first lady Laura Bush, Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough, and the museum's found director Lonnie G. Bunch. The event is invitation only but will be streamed live on the museum's website. 

For the first time ever, Bike and Roll Washington DC and DC Metro Food Tours are partnering to bring you Blossom Bites by Bike, a biking food tour showcasing fantastic food in three of DC’s classic neighborhoods. Enjoy specially created dishes from critically acclaimed local eateries as you bicycle from one restaurant to another, touring through the Dupont Circle, U Street, and Logan Circle neighborhoods. Each tour will have a knowledgeable tour guide to share interesting facts about these historical areas while also concentrating on the unique culinary aspects of each eatery. We are super excited to work with DC Metro Food Tours, and intend on continuing a Bites by Bike tour throughout the 2012 season!

Blossom Bites by Bike departs from Bike and Roll’s Downtown DC location at the Old Post Office Pavilion at 4:00. This three-hour tour runs Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the festival. The tour begins and ends at the rear plaza of The Old Post Office Pavilion on 12th St. NW, between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues. (Metro: Federal Triangle).

Advance reservations are required for all Blossom Bites by Bike tours and can be made online at www.bikethesites.com or by phone at 202-683-8847. Tickets for this tour are $79 per person and include the guide, bike rental, enough food for dinner, and a bottle of water for your ride. This ride is all street riding (most of which is in bike lanes) so we do not advise children (12 and under) sign up for this tour.

Blossoms Bites by Bike is an Official Program of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The 2012 Festival, March 20 – April 27, includes daily events featuring diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit.  The 2012 Festival commemorates the 100th anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan. www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

Found on AutoblogGreen

Volkswagon of America representatives at the Washington Auto Show last Thursday announced their partnership with Colorado based People for Bikes, an organization committed to creating safe biking communities nation wide. Volkswagon's sponsorship includes financial funding as well as the donation of vehicles to support advocay programs and urban planning initiatives. 

"Volkswagen's commitment to environmental sustainability extends beyond our fuel-efficient vehicles and company practices," said Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "We are extremely proud to be partnering with Bikes Belong to encourage biking and ensure that people of all ages can safely share the road, saving fuel and reducing pollution and traffic congestion."

The sponsorship is part of VW's new Think Blue Initiative, which works to promote eco-conscious behavior and green initiatives. 

Looking for a job with a laid back atmosphere, enthusiastic fellow staffers and plenty of sunshine? Bike and Roll Washington DC is hiring for this spring! We are looking for tour guides, mechanics, assistant managers, and rental staff! Please visit our Employment page for job descriptions and instructions on applying. Know someone who might be interested? Direct them here!

It's finally starting to feel like winter here in Washington DC, but that doesn't mean the end of biking! Though our downtown DC location in Federal Triangle is now closed through March, our Union Station Bikestation will be open year round, Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm (Closed December 24th to January 2). Our Old Town, Alexandria shop is also closed until spring 2012.

Thank you to everyone who came and visited us this year, we hope you enjoyed our tours and rentals as much as we liked giving them! As we put our new fleet together for the spring season, we'll be dreaming of summer bike rides as we shiver in the garage. Keep up with the latest on our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter!

-Bike and Roll Washington DC Team 2011

Bicyclists around the world are generally an environmentally conscious bunch, so I shouldn't have been surprised when my search for "recycled bike art" came up with furniture, jewelry, bags and even a few nude sculptures. Found on Inhabit.com, sculptor Seo Young Deok created these larger than life nude sculptures entirely from bicycle chains. The display is titled "Dystopia" and is on display at the INSA/Arko Art Gallery in Soeul.

Seo Young Doek - "Dystopia"

Most of my favotes seem to fall in the home decor section: chairs made froms wheel rims and tubes, coffee tables decorated with old cranks, and the sublte bike chain candle holders from ReBike Blog.

 Can you spot the "upcycled" bike parts in this CB2 catelog?

 www.re-nest.com

After purchasing your new bike from Bike and Roll's fall bike sale, you will surely start wondering where to ride. We suggest you pick up a copy of the metropolitan region’s newest and most comprehensive cycling guidebook, Where to Bike Washington D.C. ($25) at our bike sale or at Bike and Roll’s Union Station location. Packed with 55 easy to epic rides for adults, state-of-the-art GPS-produced maps, and oodles of information from food and drink options to interesting side trips, it also details an unprecedented 39 safe rides for kids.

Wittmer first cycled the nation’s capital while helping map portions of the East Coast Greenway trail from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida. And after two years of teaching and travel in South America, he returned and picked up where he left off, finding safe, fun places for cyclists to ride.

A note from the author:

“Any book is a labor of love to its subject and Where to Bike, Washington DC is no exception. My subject was, of course, cycling in the nation’s capital, and I was fortunate enough to be exploring it at a time when interest in biking, and rapid advancements in its infrastructure, were both at all-time highs.

What area rider could be more privileged? It was one of the best experiences of my life, and one I did with wheels to the ground in hopes of finding fun, exciting rides for regional cyclists of all levels. Being able to ride my bicycle, not only to work, but for work, was the year-and-a-half long project’s highlight. In this book I map my way over thousands of miles throughout three states and share the natural beauty and pleasant roads and trails the greater D.C. area has to offer its cycling enthusiasts.”

-Matt Wittmer, October 2011

Bike and Roll Washington DC's Annual Bike Sale!

Feeling guilty leaving your precious bike at home this Halloween? Wish it could join the party? We've stumbled upon a handful of bike-friendly events in the DC area, so you no longer have to pick between cruisers and candy.

1. Bicyclespace "The Cupcake Caper!": This week's weekly Bicyclespace ride is getting in the spirit with a Halloween murder mystery party on wheels. Participants in this final group ride of the season must follow clues to solve the mystery. Winner will receive a Brooks saddle and handlebar grips, and the best bike costumes will win prizes as well! We presume cupcakes will be involved, so we're predicting it's a win win :) 

Where: Bicyclespace, 459 I St. NW, Chinatown

When: Thursday, October 27th, 7:30pm

Price: Donation

RSVP: Visit the Bicyclespace Facebook page to join the festivities

2. Meet Up: Halloween Bike Ride & Party: DC Meet Up groups is hosting its first Halloween bike ride. This family friendly ride will start at Gravelly Point Park, hop on the Mount Vernon Trail, then wind down to the National Mall. The ride will be appropriate for all skill levels and will likely take around an hour and a half. Return to your vehicles, and continue the meet up at Bungalow Billiards (in Halloween a-tire of course :) 

Start: Gravelly Point Park (accessible via the northbound lane of George Washington Parkway)

When: Sunday, October 30th, 2:00pm

Price: $5

RSVP: via MeetUp.com

3. Bike to Historic Old Town: If it isn't Halloween for you without some foliage and puppies dressed as pumpkins, pedal down the Mount Vernon trail directly to Old Town, Alexandria and join the throngs on Lee Street. Residents are notorious for their decorations and treats. Safe and well lit, this is the perfect road for families. For more Alexandria Halloween festivities, take a visit to VisitAlexandriaVA.com.

Starting on November 3rd, Capital Bikeshare will adjust its casual membership passes from $5 to $7 a day for the one day pass, and $15 for the three day pass. The five day pass will no longer exist, due to further research into average stay of visitors to the downtown metro DC area.

Additionally, the hourly fees will increase by 33%. The first half hour will remain free, the second half-hour will increase to $2, and each subsequent half-hour will cost $8.

According to their press release, "The pricing changes affecting casual users are being implemented due to the expansion in the District and Arlington and the accompanying increase in cost to operate and maintain the system. The anticipated increase in revenue will allow Capital Bikeshare to maintain and improve its level of service and continue to build on all of the success of the first year."

Town officials voted unanimously last night to install Capital Bikeshare stations in the Old Town and Carlyle neighborhoods of Alexandria, VA. This means some of the busiest downtown areas will get a bike-friendly facelift, giving bikes more space on the roads and as well as awareness in the community. We think Capital Bikeshare bikes are perfect for pedaling around downtown. With the first 30 minutes free, it will be easy to roll from one end of King Street to the other.

Interested in getting out of town and hitting the trail? Our Trek bikes were built with you in mind. Our quality hybrids and road bikes are perfect for the Mount Vernon trail. Our pricing is the best deal for longer rides, and all rentals come with a helmet, lock, flat kit and map. Our variety of equipment, including kids trailers and tandems, will fit all ages and sizes.

So this isn't exactly a situation we have to worry about here in Washington DC, (African antelope tend to leave tourists alone) but it just goes to show you never know! We especially enjoyed the slow motion sequence towards the end.

This month Bike and Roll Washington DC hosted Destination DC's Business Exchange, where Destination DC members can come and experience first hand the many destinations DC has to offer. After setting everyone up on bikes in the Old Post Office PAvilion courtyard, we were ready to go! The sun was just starting to set on the first beautiful fall day as we rode over the National Mall, around the base of the Washington monument, past World War II, and onto the memorial grounds. Below, Bike and Roll owner Stephen Marks gives some historical background on the memorial as the sun sets over the tidal basin.

We finished up the evening at PJ Clark's with some fall brews and delicious appetizers. What a perfect October outing! Come back and visit again soon!

This week, a crowd watched as four engineers repelled off the top of the 555-foot Washington monument in order to assess the damage from the August 23rd 5.8 earthquake. The extent of the damage remains unknown, though visible cracks along the top of the obelisk have warranted serious assessment. The four engineers climbed out of the windows in the top of the monument in order to test for chips and cracks. Armed with digital camera, iPads and soft-headed mallets, the engineers may continue through the week.

The monument is closed indefinitely until experts and engineers can fix the damage, however the monument is still a spot on our Monuments and Monuments@Nite tour! Come learn about the history of the monument from our friendly tour guides and enjoy the splendor of the monument lit up at night.

Special thanks to CBS News

Museums around the country will participate in this year's annual Museum Day, organized by Smithsonian magazine. Participating museums across the country are offering free admission for one person plus a guest on Saturday, September 24th. Though many of DC's museums are already free, take advantage of this offer to visit the Phillips Collection, Dumbarton Oaks Museum, or the Corcoran Gallery of Art (which usually charge entry fees).

To get your free ticket, register on Smithsonianmag.com. Choose one of the hundreds of museums that are participating, and Smithsonian will email you your ticket (good for one participant and one guest per household).

Since many museums in DC are already free, come grab a Bike and Roll bike and hop easily from museum to museum for an afternoon of cheap fun!

After an explosive and successful year in existence, it looks like Capital Bikeshare is here to stay. One year after it's installation in the fall of 2010, Capital Bikeshare has grown to over 17,000 members, with 4,000 trips logged on average everyday. 32 additional stations will be built this fall, with plans to eventually extend into Rosslyn and Arlington. Just in time for their anniversary, Cabi logged it's millionth ride, a capstone to a record breaking year.

In addition to providing a healthy and green transportation alternative, Cabi is extending it's services to aid those struggling with mental illness. The program will provide 20 patients with a Capital Bikeshare membership, and will track to see whether cycling improves their physical and mental health.

Join Cabi's birthday bash tonight (Thursday, September 22nd) in Yard's Park from 6pm to 9pm, where guests will enjoy free cupcakes, live music, moon bounces, giveaways, and a Bikeshare corral.

Time is a tickin' if you're looking to join the annual WABA 50 States ride on Saturday, September 24th. This sometimes "brutal," sometimes "amazing" ride visits all of the state-named streets in the District, covering over 60 miles of road.

For riders looking for a more leisurely Saturday, we suggest the 13 Colonies ride, a 15-mile long ride covering (you guessed it) the roads named after the original 13 colonies.  WABA members receive a discounted entry fee.

Coming from out of town and need a bike, or worried your bike won't cut it? Come rent a roadbike from Bike and Roll and we will wave the overnight fee!

Good luck riders!

The National Park Service is joining forces with GoDCGo, DDOT, and the Metropolitan Police Department for the third year in a row to bring us Feet in the Street, an all day event promoting outdoor activities in one of the District's largest parks. The streets surrounding Fort Dupont Park will be closed from 9:00am to 3:00pm on October 15th, making it safe for kids and adults alike to bring out their bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, hiking boots and running shoes to enjoy fall in DC.

Bike and Roll will provide free bike rentals for adults and kids who want to go for a spin! No reservations required, just come find us in the park and we will set you up on one of our Trek bikes. Cruise down Fort Dupont Drive without worrying about dodging traffic.

For more information, visit GoDCGo.com and keep an eye on our Twitter @BikeandRollDC for updates!

Due to recent rains and predicted flooding, the C&O Canal Trust is doing it's part to preserve the popular C&O Canal Towpath by organizing volunteers to help sandbag the area. A popular spot for Bike and Rollers, the towpath stretchs for 184 miles, starting from downtown Washington DC all the way to Cumberland, Maryland.

Currently, the towpath, visitor center and all lockhouses are closed. On Thursday, September 8th, the C&O Canal Trust will be leading a group of volunteers to help sandbag the area and prepare for further flooding. For those available to help, volunteers will meet at tomorrow at Lockhouse 6 at 1:00. For further information, please call the Canal Trust at #301-714-2233.

Thanks to NPCA.org