The first ‘Ohio Women’s Bicycling Summit,’ was a success.

About eight months ago, I had my two friends Mimi Webb and Jeannie Martin join me for a beer so that I could present them with an idea.  I went to California the end of last summer for two separate Bicycle Conferences.  At both conferences, there were specific ‘women forums’ to continue to forward efforts of increasing women ridership here in the U.S.  Leaving California, I was both inspired and new what I had to do in Ohio.  Fast forward to the evening with Mimi and Jeannie.  I told them I planned to organize the first statewide ‘Ohio Women’s Bicycling Summit’ and would they be interested in joining me in this effort.  Immediately, they said ‘hell yes!”  So, for eight months, Jeannie, Mimi, and myself met and planned out this Summit.

Interest and excitement generated, immediately.  Our main sponsors, ROLL and Trek were absolutely incredible.  Then, Detroit’s ‘Autobike’ got in touch with us.  ARC Imaging donated printing costs for us.  And last but not least, food trucks!  OH! Burgers! and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams sponsored and killed it during lunch time  Green Bean Delivery covered all of the yummy fruits during the Summit.  Thank you to all the talented and incredible speakers:  Lisa Hinson, Tammy Krings, Marjorie Shavers, Lindsay Sherman, Lindsey Bower, Emily Burnett, Ohio’s First Lady Karen Kasich, Julie Walcoff, and Rep. Teresa Fedor.

72 women from around the state of Ohio and two women from Indiana.  The overwhelming positive responses from both the attendees and the presenters was absolutely amazing.  The Summit ran without any huge hiccups.  Women were learning, asking questions, laughing, meeting new women, and just enjoying themselves.

I’m grateful for such an amazing first Summit.  This will turn into an annual event.  My main focus is making our city inviting and safe to more modes of transportation.  Men, women, and children deserve ‘choice’ to be able to move about our cities and feel safe doing so.  Us advocates can provide the education; can organize bike rides to build confidence; but there are other components in making people feel that ‘choice,’ in moving around is priority:  political will and infrastructure.  Our wide, arterial streets need to be road dieted and designed with protected bike lanes.  The perception of safety is what I feel a lot of our engineers are missing.  I’ll say it until the light bulb goes off, ‘sharrows do not invite families to ride and feel safe on arterial streets that are four + lanes across and each lane 12+ wide.  Road diets, the narrowing of lanes, and an integrated bicycle network of green lanes, protected lanes, bike boxes, etc. will announce that our leaders are serious about inviting people of all ages to move around the city.  Our leaders making decisions need to be okay with hearing complaints instead of trying to please everyone.  When you create change, you’re gonna hear complaints but the only way to change behavior is to change the infrastructure.  You’re NOT changing the infrastructure when you lay down sharrows.

We have a long way to go and we’re doing better but…  we could be doing even MORE.  We can be building and piloting innovative and bold infrastructure that IS WORKING in other cities.  If we continue to remain status- quo as a city, we’ll continue to get left behind.

Some photos from the first ‘Ohio Women’s Bicycling Summit.’

Be safe and keep riding!

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‘Girls in Gear.’ A girls-specific, youth empowerment program through the bicycle

If you follow my blog or just have seen some of my recent blog posts, you can gauge that I’m passionate about empowering women and providing them with the tools to feel confident to ride their bikes more.  I’ve began this great monthly ladies ride ’2 Wheels & Heels’ which spun from the original up in Cleveland via Lindsey Bower.  There is a niche that’s been missing here in Columbus, Ohio and it’s this inclusive group that I’ve initiated and just with word of mouth and social media, seems to grow like wildfire.

Aside from bringing together all levels of women riders, I wanted to empower younger girls.  Over the summer, I read this amazing research paper by Elizabeth Jose discussing how there really weren’t any girls-specific youth empowerment programs through the bicycle.  The light bulb went off and I knew after reading that paper that I was the right woman for the job; hence – ‘Girls in Gear.’

It is an eight week program held once a week.  There are four areas of study that this program encompasses:

1.  Bicycle Safety.  Learning the basics of bicycle safety over a two week period (lighting at night, hand signals, proper helmet fitting, ABC quick check of bike, door zone, etc.

2.  Bicycle Mechanics.  Two women professionals will come in over a two week period and go over the anatomy of the bicycle, fixing a flat exercises, gear shifting, bike cleaning and maintenance, and brakes.

3.  Urban Design.  Two women professional will come in over a two week period and discuss the basics of urban design and planning.  We’ll be conducting an audit of two streets in which the girls will then have the opportunity to re-create these two streets into their ideal, ‘safe’ street for all.

4.  Public Speaking.  The girls will then discuss in the class how they came up with their street designs.

Upon full completion of their eight weeks, the girls will be awarded a bicycle along with the opportunity to meet Mayor Coleman.  The idea is to not only discuss ‘Girls in Gear’ but to also present their newly designed streets to the Mayor and talk to him about their creations.

I want this program to continue to flourish and expand as far as it can go.  Middle school age is very tough age.  Developmental changes, physical changes, peer pressure – all these components that over consume a young girl.  Girls in Gear empowers them to learn how to fix things, problem solve, communicate, design streets to which maybe one or two them will end up going to school for City Planning or Urban Landscape Architecture – all professions that are still heavily male dominated.  The four areas of focus in this program revolve around the bike however, these development tools can be manipulated to fit into any part of a young girls life and well into adulthood.

I’m just finished my fourth week yesterday and as each week progresses, the girls just impress me more and more.

Enjoy the photos.

Stay safe and keep riding

 

Keegan created a ‘bike safety poster on ‘Sharing the Road.’

 

Lindsey’s poster was on ‘reflective clothing.’

 

Abigail’s was also on ‘Share the Road,’ the ‘do’s’ and ‘dont’s.’

Anna from Roll and Emily from Paradise Garage were the two mechanics teaching the girls the basics.  They did fabulous!

 

 

Showing the girls the ‘bare bones’ of the bicycle

 

 

After Emily and Anna went through the steps of changing a flat, the four girls practice.  All four changed a flat by themselves.  It was fantastic!

 

 

 

Abigail pumping up the tire she just changed.

Alijah and Lindsey changing another flat.  These girls ARE impressive!

 

Alijah and Lindsey both practicing releasing the brake, using the quick release and removing both front and rear tires.

 

 

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FESTIVUS FOR THE REST OF US – 2012

Saturday marked the 32nd Annual Festivus Ride here in Columbus, Ohio.  It was cold as hell but we did it.  I was very happy about this event for a couple reasons:  First – I’ve been so UNholiday as there are so many people grieving.  My heart just continues to break for the families in CT as I think of them, everyday.  This holiday is the first holiday that I’ve really REALIZED that its ‘people’ that mean the absolute most to me.  I don’t want ‘things.’  I want people who make me feel good to surround me and love me.  Festivus did just this.  Second – the sun joined us for our ride.  We began once again at Goodale Park and slowly made our way to Hal n Als.  Festive bicycles decorated and wonderful outfits were worn.  Me – I rocked Velour.  I brought back the ‘Italian Mall Walker.’

We ended at Hal n Als and warmed up before hitting the outdoors to participate in the ever popular – HUFFY TOSS.  The fire pit was roaring and Tatoheads Food Truck kept our belly’s full.

Inside, we had an ugly sweater contest followed by mad postings on the Grievance board and if you stayed later into the evening, a few of us had our own little dance party.

Thank you to ALL who came out and joined us.  Thanks to Hal n Als and Tatoheads for booze and noms.

See you all next year!

Enjoy the photos and Happy Holidays.

Be safe and keep riding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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‘Swoop and Scoop.’

One of the handful of phrases a bunch of us learned last night at the ’2 Wheels & Heels’ Columbus Ladies Night.  Last night, I organized this month’s ’2 Wheels’ event at Paradise Garage.  A handful of ladies have brought up how much they would love to learn more about their bikes.  So, with winter surely upon us, why not learn the basics about your bike so that you can be prepared and as safe as possible.

Emily and Sara of Paradise Garage were pumped to educate these women.  Immediately, when I walked into the shop, I felt comfortable and welcomed as I always do at Paradise.  Women of all ages and backgrounds started showing up and the ‘meet and greet’ hour began.  Right around seven, twelve of us women went into the back repair area where chairs and pairs of tire levers were laid out for all of us.  The backroom setup was immediately inviting and it made me even more eager for the education session to begin.

The 1.5 hr session went through everything from PSI pressure, to brake pads, to chain lube, frayed cables, to learning how to fix a flat.  Fantastic questions were asked throughout the entire session.  I would look around and see women taking notes and being completely focused on what Emily or Sara were saying.

After the session, the girls changed a few flats and realized how easy it is to take the back wheel off if you have your chain in the smallest ring  It was such an empowering evening for everyone and again, SUCH a comfortable and inviting environment.  If all bike shops provided this type of comfortable and relaxed feel, women feeling intimidated when in bike shops would be minuscule.

Last night was another absolute pleasure.  Enjoy these incredible and empowering pictures.

Be safe and keep riding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2 Wheels & Heels – Bicycle Mechanics Style

So, the weather has been a bit of a roller coaster for us.  I personally love it that its mid – high 50′s during these months.  It makes winter less ‘meh’ for me.  Every year I think I say, ‘I need to move’ and each year its been staying milder and milder so we’ll see.

Anywho, through out the awesome rides we’ve done, I’ve asked a handful of ladies if they’d appreciate a ‘basic mechanics’ class and each of them RAVED.  So, before winter DOES hit (if it does), I thought it would be swell to hold a little class for ladies to get to know their bicycles a little more.  Like I always say ‘knowledge is power.’

This Wed. we’ll convene at the lovely Paradise Garage in the Short North where I asked a couple of my favorite bicycle ladies to teach the ladies a thing or two.  We’ll meet at our usual time – 6pm at Paradise Garage.  You can bring your bike or not.  There is a parking lot just South of Paradise Garage as well.

If you have any questions, shoot me an email.  My email address is found under the ‘About’ tab of my blog.

Be safe and keep riding!

New air pumps have been installed at certain bike shelters around Cbus.  I LOVE it.

 

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2 Wheels & Heels Ladies Ride – Columbus HALLOWEEN STYLE

To all you ladies out there – we WILL be riding Oct.30th.  A handful of women asked if we were having a ride on Halloween and the answer is … YES!

The ride will begin at the usual time – 6pm and we’ll meet, once again at Paradise Garage.  They have parking for all you folks that drive with your bike in tow.  Hopefully the weather will be absolutely perfect for us (fingers crossed).

I’d like for us to come up with a group costume for this ride.  How fun would it be to have 40-50 women dressed up in some fun, creative costume for ALL kinds of people to see???  So, put on your thinking caps and ‘comment’ on this blog, your group costume idea.  I have also put this same little contest up on fb and the group costume will be announced on Oct.13th.  This will give enough time for costume preparations.  Please make sure the costume idea isn’t too costly.

We’ll probably just do a fun ride along High St. and a couple of the adjacent neighborhoods.  I also think it would be fun for participants to bring bags of candy where we can also toss out candy to random walkers along our route

If you have any questions, please send me an email.  If not, start thinking creatively and post your ideas below this blog:)

I’ve thrown out the group costume – A HERD OF SHEEP

Be safe and keep riding.

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Bike OSU Launches

This past Monday ‘Bike OSU’ held a fantastic shin-dig at the Ohio Student Union.  Tons of folks showed up to get their ‘bike on’  and get information about the new’ Mobile Bike Repair’ clinic as well as bicycle tours and much more.  New 2012 maps were given out to folks to check out best routes for your ride, Paradise Garage was checking out easy-repairs.  There were folks for mountain biking, polo bikes, and of course – if you didn’t notice Ohio Energy Bikes was there providing the power to the tunes being spun by Charles Erikson.  It was a great success for everyone involved and just to see the amount of bike riders, new and old was a sight to see.

School just started for OSU and I’ve biked around and all ready noticed that there are more bikes on campus than there are places for the students to lock them up.   I look forward to OSU continuing to move forward in their Bike-Friendly University state of mind and make that campus one of the most prized walking and bike friendly campuses in the nation.

For more info on Bike OSU, the new Mobile Bike Repair as well as the brand new OSU Bike Co-op, click this:  http://bikeosu.weebly.com/

 

Be safe and keep riding!

 

 

 

my friend josh (seen above) loathes the idea of people who ‘sell out.’

 

Bike OSU’s newly Mobile Bike Repair

 

Alex.  The man with plan.  And… the tickets.

 

Ohio Energy Project had three bikes where folks would hop on and supply the power to keep the music going.

 

The racks are literally like this everywhere on campus.  Beautiful sight

 

 

Julian (purple tie) is also one of the leaders of Bike OSU.  The gentleman in the middle, he pretty much peddled the entire time I was there.  Kurt, on the far bike – Ohio Energy Project is his job.  He rocks it!

 

 

 

 

 

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Street Shark Trailer

My friend Andy sent this to me so I’m posting for anyone who  hasn’t seen.  Matt Locke put this together.  It’s pretty neat.

Keep riding!

Street Shark Trailer

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Street Shark Sprints. Summer Series – Part 3

Evenings like last night made me thankful I live in this city.  Well over sixty bikers ranging of all backgrounds and riding levels, met up at Paradise Garage to partake in a summer series of sprint races, started up by friend and fellow bike lover – Andy Willis.

When we all got to the destination, I just took a moment and looked all around at all the beautiful people, dusk moving over the city like it was our personal background for this event and the happiness that summer puts on people’s faces.

Brackets of men and women are randomly selected and it dwindles down to the fastest man and woman and holy hell – there were some ridiculously fast riders.  I happily lost immediately.  It was exhilarating to say the least.  You stay in one gear and pedal like holy hell.  I took up residence at the finish line and began to photo the evening.  I eventually stopped ‘trying’ to take motion shots w/ my camera b/c I kept missing the damn riders as they zoomed passed me at warp speed.

Keep riding!

A bit blurry but that’s Julian – the music man!

Emily – our ‘Vanna White’ of the evening

This is Cherie.  She kicked my ass

The night couldn’t have been better if I ordered it.

The crowd swelled at the finish line awaiting the final round.

Yep.

Andy and Lauren.  Lauren’s so fast that even at standstill she’s blurry <3

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2 Wheels & Heels – Post Ride Report

The ride was SO. MUCH. FUN.  Sixteen women showed up looking fabulous!  We met up at Paradise Garage where they gave us ‘Heels & Deals’ discounts.  We then rode a route of a little more than eight miles, stopping at the Grandview Jeni’s for a scoop of heaven.  We ended the evening back where we started and all of the women just boasted about the ride. ‘I’ve been looking for a ride like this,’ was one of the kind comments told to me.  They are looking forward to July’s ride and other women who have seen the pics of the first ride are all ready excited and talking about riding the next ride.  This is the movement that I want.  The movement that we need in the bicycling culture.  Whomever reads this, if you have a mother/daughter who have been interested in finding a ‘slow movement’ type of ride with other ladies, have them join us.  Have them go on facebook and search ’2 Wheels & Heels’ and have them ‘like’ us.  Women of all ages, sizes, ethnic backgrounds – doesn’t matter.  Here are a few photos.  BTW – a lot of these photos were taken by the amazing and beautiful Megan Leigh Barnard!

I FINALLY received my camera in the mail so my blog will be getting back on track!  I apologize for the long delay.

Enjoy and keep riding!

 

Now, I didn’t de-cloth on this bike ride however, this was from the recent World Naked Bike Ride.  Felt this pic was appropriate for this particular post.  Helping women feel more confident on their bikes is kind of a big deal for me

 

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