Thanks to all the folks who recommended themes for this year's ride. I've created a Bike Night Calendar and listed the themes by dates. All themes were suggested by Bike Night riders! We still need a few more for August and September.
The Calendar also allows you to volunteer to lead a Bike Night Ride if you like. Don't worry I won't throw you into the deep end. I'll meet with you prior to talk about leading and what that entails. I'll also be posting the Bike Night "Script" for volunteer leaders for your speech to the crowd. If you're not comfortable with public speaking I can do that for you, or, we'll enact the "Boulder Departure" which is "follow the Music Box". Either way volunteer leaders must discuss the Bike Night rules with the kids, by pulling them aside prior to the ride.
Our first will be Hawaiian Shirt Night. I will add a tab to this blog for themes. On that page you will be able to suggest themes and ways to improve Bike Night. Should be cool.
Rjk
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
T'was the night before Bike Night......
Not to quote Brad Evans of the Denver Cruiser ride to much, but he hit it on the head with his honest and open post on Facebook prior to the first DCR last week when he said, "It's the night before the first DCR and I'm filled with anticipation for the kickoff of the new season".
I agree with this sentiment. It's this time each year when I wonder - What will I say during the pre-bike night discussion - what minutia will I need to mention. What announcements will I need to make. What important detail will I forget? Do I really need to cover the rules of Bike Night - again? I pray no one gets hurt this year. What if no one shows up?
There is a crazy amount of insecurity that comes out the night before any big event. I remember feeling this way before I'd go off to a football game in high school, prior to a cross country race in Jr. High, or even the night before the Boulder Marathon. What if? What if? What if?
What I realized is that stuff will make you crazy. Bike Night is a great event and draws people from across Longmont and from the surrounding towns. Whether you've found this blog because you're looking for an alternative to Boulder's ride, because your child is finally able to hold their head up and is old enough for a bike trailer, or may be you've recently moved to Longmont and are yearning to get out and meet like-minded people.
Bike Night is that outlet. We're not a booze cruise - entirely. We usually work a brewery or two in to the ride a few times a season. What we are is a community of cyclists out having fun. We don't obey every street sign and every rule of the road, but we do make sure everyone is safe.
I sometimes get an earful from folks who get upset when we don't stop for every stop sign or yield when we're supposed to. I have to remind those folks - do they ALWAYS come to a complete stop when driving their car? Do they ever roll through stop signs, change lanes or turn without signaling, do they ALWAYS wear a seatbelt? Probably not.
Bike Night is intent on drawing the greatest number of people to the greatest ride in Longmont. We do that through making the ride as fun as possible while keeping the group as safe as possible. To that end we want you to be aware - training wheels are highly discouraged. Tricycles and scooters are not allowed. Parents should know their kid's abilities when it comes to riding on streets.
Older kids tend to find there way to the front of the pack. I'm usually upfront with all the kids. I'm cool with it, really. However, if your child insists on racing ahead, I will politely ask them to remain with the group. If they race ahead more than twice I will ask them to rejoin their parents in the group. If your child poses a risk to themselves or to the group - I will ask the parent to discuss the problem with their child. I view kids riding in the front of the group as a fun thing. However, if they aren't able to handle it, I will ask them to rejoin their parents. If the behavior persists I will ask the parents to address the issue and perhaps forgo one or two rides.
Having said that we typically hold one or two kids bike nights each year. These are times where we have a bicycling instructor work with Bike Night Kids to be safe and to ride with respect. These nights are a lot of fun and help to build confidence.
So - After reading this - I hope you will join us tomorrow night. Bike Night is a lot of fun and we always meet at 6:30p and start riding at about 6:40. We meet at Roosevelt Park in Old Town Longmont - 700 Longs Peak Avenue.
I hope you will join us.
Ryan
I agree with this sentiment. It's this time each year when I wonder - What will I say during the pre-bike night discussion - what minutia will I need to mention. What announcements will I need to make. What important detail will I forget? Do I really need to cover the rules of Bike Night - again? I pray no one gets hurt this year. What if no one shows up?
There is a crazy amount of insecurity that comes out the night before any big event. I remember feeling this way before I'd go off to a football game in high school, prior to a cross country race in Jr. High, or even the night before the Boulder Marathon. What if? What if? What if?
What I realized is that stuff will make you crazy. Bike Night is a great event and draws people from across Longmont and from the surrounding towns. Whether you've found this blog because you're looking for an alternative to Boulder's ride, because your child is finally able to hold their head up and is old enough for a bike trailer, or may be you've recently moved to Longmont and are yearning to get out and meet like-minded people.
Bike Night is that outlet. We're not a booze cruise - entirely. We usually work a brewery or two in to the ride a few times a season. What we are is a community of cyclists out having fun. We don't obey every street sign and every rule of the road, but we do make sure everyone is safe.
I sometimes get an earful from folks who get upset when we don't stop for every stop sign or yield when we're supposed to. I have to remind those folks - do they ALWAYS come to a complete stop when driving their car? Do they ever roll through stop signs, change lanes or turn without signaling, do they ALWAYS wear a seatbelt? Probably not.
Bike Night is intent on drawing the greatest number of people to the greatest ride in Longmont. We do that through making the ride as fun as possible while keeping the group as safe as possible. To that end we want you to be aware - training wheels are highly discouraged. Tricycles and scooters are not allowed. Parents should know their kid's abilities when it comes to riding on streets.
Older kids tend to find there way to the front of the pack. I'm usually upfront with all the kids. I'm cool with it, really. However, if your child insists on racing ahead, I will politely ask them to remain with the group. If they race ahead more than twice I will ask them to rejoin their parents in the group. If your child poses a risk to themselves or to the group - I will ask the parent to discuss the problem with their child. I view kids riding in the front of the group as a fun thing. However, if they aren't able to handle it, I will ask them to rejoin their parents. If the behavior persists I will ask the parents to address the issue and perhaps forgo one or two rides.
Having said that we typically hold one or two kids bike nights each year. These are times where we have a bicycling instructor work with Bike Night Kids to be safe and to ride with respect. These nights are a lot of fun and help to build confidence.
So - After reading this - I hope you will join us tomorrow night. Bike Night is a lot of fun and we always meet at 6:30p and start riding at about 6:40. We meet at Roosevelt Park in Old Town Longmont - 700 Longs Peak Avenue.
I hope you will join us.
Ryan
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Wednesday is Bike Night!
Today Andrea, Anna and I spent the afternoon in Louisville, CO. What a great town. If you get a chance roll down that way and check out their downtown area. Lots of fun. Lucky Pie was great.
We threw out on FB a request for family friendly restaurants and Lucky Pie got the most votes. Couldn't agree more. It was great to see so many people pullin' up on townies. If you live in Louisville - you're pretty lucky.
Almost as lucky as Bikemonters. I may be biased though!
Besides cruisin' Boulder County. I spent some quality time with my good pal WD-40. I forgot how much fun it is to remove pedals from ancient steel crank arms. I need to find some paddle style pedals and I'll be good to go for Bike Night Wednesday.
We threw out on FB a request for family friendly restaurants and Lucky Pie got the most votes. Couldn't agree more. It was great to see so many people pullin' up on townies. If you live in Louisville - you're pretty lucky.
Almost as lucky as Bikemonters. I may be biased though!
Besides cruisin' Boulder County. I spent some quality time with my good pal WD-40. I forgot how much fun it is to remove pedals from ancient steel crank arms. I need to find some paddle style pedals and I'll be good to go for Bike Night Wednesday.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Rumbling.........
The ground is already shhhakin!
We're back for another great season starting Wednesday May 23rd. We'll meet at Roosevelt Park in the south parking lot adjacent to the Senior Center. Meeting time is 6:30p and we'll get rollin' around 6:40.
This year will mark our 10th Season. I'm super excited to have you all back again. I'm even more excited to see who you'll bring with you. We have a lot of fun things in store. We'll announce themes in June. We'll also attempt a flash-mob. Not sure how that's gonna work but, hey I wasn't sure how Bike Night would work just 9 short years ago!
So dust off the cruiser, or whatever you own, grab a stick of Juicy Fruit and join us! Bring your spouse bring your kids, bring a few strangers. The more the merrier.
One quick note about kids - You (the parent) should be comfortable with your child riding on streets and down hills. You should also be aware that there will be more than 100 people and we'll be riding at a comfortably slow pace for approximately 60 - 90 minutes on open streets. Riding on sidewalks is not cool. I don't recommend kids on striders or training wheels. We WILL have a kids specific Bike Night during June where training wheels will be A-OK, just not on regular rides.
Here are our rules:
1. Have Fun
2. Have Fun
3. Bike Night is NOT a race.
4. If there is a car behind the group someone will yell - CAR BACK - which means move to the right and let the hulking mass of metal by.
5. IF there is a car ahead - if I don't yell, the kids by me will yell - CAR UP! - which means move to the right or be crushed from the front.
6. There will be times when I will tap a few adults to help the group cross intersections.
7. If we are progressing through a traffic light and the counter gets to 1 second STOP! We will wait for you at the next stop sign. Don't run the red.
8. Lastly, HAVE FUN!
Please review these with your kidinski's and be sure they have a helmet and their bikes are good to go!
See you wednesday, Wednesday, WEDNESDAY!! 6:30pm Roosevelt Park.
Thanks!
Ryan Kragerud
rjkragerud@gmail.com
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Bike Night wishes all the mom's a Happy Mom's Day!
Hey Moms!Happy Mother's Day from Bike Night. Think of today as your special New Year's Day.
Today is your time to make plans to get your family out of the house. Biking is a great way to get your family a little exercise and a great way to find adventure in the most unexpected places.
Summer vacations, family visits, and recreation are right around the corner. I hope you'll make this summer an epic summer of family fun!
Happy Mother's Day.
- Ryan
Thursday, May 03, 2012
My most favorite question....
This will be Bike Night's 10th Season. How cool is that!
So we'll see you and 12 of your friends on May 23rd, 6:30pm at Roosevelt Park, 910 Longs Peak Avenue.
rjk
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