Celebrating Women's History Month

Wishing the bikewomen of D.C. a happy Women's History Month. We hope to see you at many of the events below.

Wed., 3/4
Weekly morning coffee: Attend the regular weekly coffee with Women & Bicycles, a program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). This informal coffee club is held every Wednesday from 8 to 9 am at Compass Coffee, 1535 7th St NW. No RSVP required. Just go!

Thurs., 3/5
Monthly morning coffee: Once a month, Women & Bicycles also holds a coffee club at Bullfrog Bagels, 1341 H St NE. It takes place from 7:15 to 9 am on the first Thursday monthly, which is this week.  

Sun., 3/8
International Women's Day alleycat 

Here's an inspired way to mark International Women's Day. Bike around D.C., decode clues, find places, earn points and have fun at your speed. It's called an alleycat race and BicycleSPACE is proud to sponsor this fun, educational, empowering event.

International Women's Day alleycat
Who: Open to women participants only. Men are encouraged to volunteer at checkpoints. Post on the Facebook event page to serve the cause.
Start time: 1 pm 
Start location: Meridian Hill Park
Cost: $5 cash donation benefiting Collective Action for Safe Spaces, a non-profit that combats street harassment 
Race: 1:30-3:30 pm. Participants should bring a bag, lock and pen.
Finish line, party and raffle: 3:30 pm at Bardo Brewpub, 1200 Bladensburg Rd NE 
RSVP: Facebook event page

Read background information about alleycats here and here. View pictures of the first D.C. all-women's alleycat in 2013 here. 

Mon., 3/9
Happy hour and tea society: Women bicyclists nationwide are coming to D.C. for the National Forum on Women and Bicycling, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. The conference takes place on March 10. The night before, Wheelwomen Switchboard is hosting a happy hour which a number of Washingtonians are attending. Come socialize with other women bicyclists from around the country and D.C. region. The happy hour is 7 to 9 pm at Teaism, 400 8th St NW. RSVP: Facebook event page. (Perk alert: did you know Capital Bikeshare members get 10% off at Teaism?!) 

Wed., 3/11, 3/18 and 3/25
Weekly morning coffee: Attend the regular weekly coffee with Women & Bicycles, a program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). This informal coffee club is held every Wednesday from 8 to 9 am at Compass Coffee, 1535 7th St NW. No RSVP required. Just go!

Sat., 3/21
Fix-a-flat boot camp, hosted by Women & Bicycles, Black Women Bike D.C. and the D.C. Public Library. Takes place from 2 to 4 pm at Anacostia Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd SE. Free but limited space. RSVP required. Info: Facebook event page.

Sat., 3/28
Women's history ride, hosted by Women & Bicycles and the D.C. Public Library. A beginner-friendly ride open to women, men and children, taking place from 12 to 3 pm starting at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 901 G St NW. Free but limited space. RSVP required. Info: Facebook event page.

The art of the ask

Gear Pedaler of Prudence: We understand the Washington City Paper is conducting a Best of 2015 Readers' Poll. We are mindful voting ends this Sunday, March 1. We've had an exceptionally profound week. Last Friday, we were overwhelmed with gratitude to be voted Best Bike Shop in the very first Washington Area Bicyclists Choice awards. Yesterday, we announced 2015 is the Year of Three BicycleSPACE Shops, revealing our third and biggest location in Adams Morgan. As the deadline nears, we're asking our beloved community to vote BicycleSPACE for Best Bike Shop and Best Place to Get Your Bike Fixed in the Goods & Services category of the City Paper awards. Sincerely, Big Ideas Come (to) Your City Led (by an) Empowering Social Personable Active Community Enterprise (BicycleSPACE)

Announcing BicycleSPACE Adams Morgan

BicycleSPACE: 2424 18th St NW

Adams Morgan has always been a favorite stop on our Mural Tours. 

BicycleSPACE announces the spring opening of an unimaginably large shop in Adams Morgan, an expansion progressing in tandem with the company’s upcoming shops in Mt. Vernon Triangle and Ivy City. 

The Adams Morgan shop is located at 2424 18th St NW in a 6,400-square-foot storefront. At this size, the shop is the literal definition of BicycleSPACE, now enlarged to create a more opportune environment for bicyclists.

With this much physical space, BicycleSPACE will exponentially increase its ability to serve the greater Washington, D.C. market. It will also strengthen the D.C. economy by creating 40 new jobs, bringing its total workforce to 70+ employees.

BicycleSPACE anticipates an April move into the Adams Morgan property. In May, the company expects to open its 4,100-square-foot shop at 440 K St NW. BicycleSPACE anticipates a June opening at 1512 Okie St NE in the Hecht Warehouse District of Ivy City

BicycleSPACE is poised to become the largest bicycle retailer in D.C.

"We are bringing a vision to life," said co-owner Philip Koopman.

"We've long imagined a great space that could hold a fantastic selection of bikes. We envision a place full of vitality where our community can forge connections between people and bikes and the joy we share by equipping customers with just the right bike.

“We'll create a hands-on learning experience for first-time buyers. We'll offer an expertly curated selection of top-quality products for every interest and purpose, meeting the needs of urban commuters, athletes, adventurers and everyone in between.”

The most distinctive BicycleSPACE benefit is freely available to every D.C. bicyclist: an open invitation to become part of the dynamic BicycleSPACE community.

Through no-cost weekly rides and classes, BicycleSPACE provides space for bicyclists to build community, come together for social and educational events and share in the joyful, uplifting experience of riding a bicycle. Drawing hundreds of participants, BicycleSPACE’s larger social rides are one of many reasons why the shop was voted Best Bike Shop in the first-annual Washington Area Bicyclists Choice awards this month.

BicycleSPACE is currently operating a pop-up shop at 700 5th St NW at the corner of G Street NW.

For more information about the three BicycleSPACE shops of 2015, please see our FAQ.

(Left to right) General Manager David Dorn and co-owners Phil Koopman and Erik Kugler are opening three new BicycleSPACE shops this year. 

Discounted Postmates deliveries for BicycleSPACE friends

Problem: Wintry mix is forecast for Super Bowl Sunday. Maybe you'd rather stay warm and dry as you prepare to host your party crew.

Solution: Postmates.

Postmates are couriers who deliver goods to you with a tap of the app. The majority are bike couriers, but some also use scooters, motorcycles or cars. 

As a Postmates customer, you can order food from anywhere, even if the restaurant doesn't have its own delivery service. 

Postmates has solved your Super Bowl Sunday dilemma with a promotion for friends of BicycleSPACE.   

New and existing Postmates customers can use promo code BicycleSPACE for $10 off your order. 

This offer can be used anytime, not just Sunday. It's redeemable towards food, goods and delivery fees. Share the code with anyone and everyone you know.

To get started with Postmates, download the iTunes or Android app, input the BicycleSPACE code, place your order and let the games begin. 

Existing customers can add the code to their accounts. Postmates delivers to most of DC, Arlington and Bethesda. Web ordering is available, too, at Postmates.com. 

You'll see some featured stores on the Postmates home screen, but you're not limited to those. Type into the search box and your place should appear.

Postmates delivers not just food but any legal item. Keg on demand, anyone? 

A courier can pick up your drycleaning, prescription, groceries, new gadget from the electronics store or anything else from a shop or restaurant within the delivery area. 

You can even have BicycleSPACE products delivered! Do you need a spare tube or some lube? Did you lose a glove on the morning commute? If you can't come to us, Postmates can bring our products to your home or office.

Game on!

Fellow Creatures: Live from a Burger King turned Bike Shop walk-in freezer

Bikes and music go hand in hand here at BicycleSPACE. Check out our mechanic Will, and his band Fellow Creatures, latest music video filmed from the walk-in freezer of our current pop-up space. 

Made by Hand: Green Hat's John Uselton shows off his gin delivery vehicle

New Columbia Distillers founders John Uselton (left) and Michael Lowe (right) in their Ivy City Distillery

As the son of an airplane mechanic, John Uselton has always been interested in working with his hands. Shop class was his favorite subject in school. His first car was a VW bug that came with the engine in four cardboard boxes.

After doing everything from working on Navy submarines to wearing every hat in the restaurant business, John opened New Columbia Distillers with Michael Lowe in 2012. 

These German made tanks are constructed of copper and stainless steel. 

Grains are sourced from local Virginia farms. 

Kevin samples their winter gin: Green Hat Ginavit

Their signature product, Green Hat Gin, is named after George Cassiday, the green hat clad bootlegger that supplied booze to the House and Senate during prohibition. Today, John lives just across the street from the Cassiday’s residence in Capitol Hill, where he (Cassiday, that is) ran his bootlegging operation. In a nod to history, the first case of Green Hat Gin was given to Cassiday descendants who live in Virginia. 

During the third distillation, the gin is around 130 proof. It then rests for two weeks, where the flavors of the aromatic herbs and seeds mix together. 

John rode mountain bikes while living in Texas, but when he moved to Boston he didn’t find much time to ride and made the most of public transit to get around. Upon moving to Clarendon, he became frustrated with his long commute to Adams Morgan and inconsistent train schedules. While walking back from the July 4th fireworks with his wife, he spotted an old Raleigh in a dumpster. He brought it home and fixed it up himself and knew right away this was his favorite way of getting around town. 

A.N.T Boston Roadster featuring handmade frame and racks. John often delivers small orders to bars and restaurant by bike.  

A.N.T headbadge. Made of copper and steel, just like the distillery.

Today, John rides every day to work in Ivy City on his A.N.T. Boston Roadster, a steel city bike handmade in Massachusetts. His is set up with a internal 7-speed alfine hub and dynamo lights that allow him to safely arrive at work in wee hours of the morning. John was attracted to the craftsmanship of this iconic framemaker. Much like the bike industry, the micro-distillery business is a labor of love, fueled by a passionate people that take pride in making things themselves. 

Interested in cycling and spirits? Check out our Brewing History Tour with local historian Garret Peck. 

Have you ever tried Green Hat Gin? What did you think?

Ride in circles, raise thousands for Women & Bicycles

Hains Point 100 in 60 Seconds by Robert Cannon. 

BicycleSPACE is a proud sponsor of the annual Hains Point 100, a chilly December community ride to raise funds for the Women & Bicycles program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.

The ride is open to women, men and children of all ages. Some 300 cyclists of all experience levels gathered for warm beverages and breakfast, followed by circular laps around the Hains Point loop. It's not a race but a ride at your own speed. Participants can ride as many or as few laps as they wish. Ride leader Megan Jones and many, many friends complete 100 miles, or at least 33 times around the three-mile loop. Is it crazy? As Megan said, "maaaaaaybe." Is it successful? Unquestionably.

Perks along the way include swag and tasty treats handed to cyclists in motion. If you can grasp it, rewards such as Acme Pies are within reach.

We donated a Kugler Cycles pint glass and a variety of Green Guru and Ortlieb bags to the raffle. This week, Hains Point 100 announced that the event raised $8190, all of which is donated to Women & Bicycles.

This is a shining -- shivering -- example of the strength and diversity of DC bicyclists. Some people rode fast, sporty bikes wearing high-performance cycling gear. Other people wore street clothes and rode the bike they take to work. Yet others rode Capital Bikeshare, another great event sponsor. All these people came out on a wickedly cold day to take part in a joyful, spirited celebration of Washingtonians on two wheels. Thanks to the community's generosity, the cause of women bicyclists is now $8,190 richer. 

By Andrea Adleman, Communications Manager 

Make your voice heard

We are dedicated to making D.C. a better city for cyclists, because ultimately this creates a better city for everyone, pedestrians, bikes and cars, alike. What would you like to see in a Cyclist's Bill of Rights? Tweet us your ideas or post them in the comments below. 

We will be presenting your ideas to Mayor-Elect Muriel Bowser in her #freshideas Transportation Town Hall, on Tuesday December 9th at 3pm. The meeting will take place at 441 4th Street, NW, please feel free to join us and speak your mind. 

Artcrank Artist Profile: Workhorse

Abe Garcia and TJ Cichecki run Workhorse, a design studio based in Capitol Hill. After moving from Illinois to DC in 2012 TJ quickly ditched his single-speed set-up for some gears to make the climb up to his home in Columbia Heights. 

TJ prepares a screen for printing. Abe credits their studio as a source of inspiration, "it’s great to share space with other artists and craftspeople and see the cool things other people are creating." 

Sketches for TJ's "Political Machine," a print inspired by Rube Goldberg style illustrations. 

While TJ and Abe predominately work designing websites and apps, they welcome projects like Artcrank as an opportunity to try new things and produce physical work.  

The screen printing table was built with the help of another studio-mate. They table allows them to experiment with personal projects and make prints for themselves and friends. 

Connect with TJ and Abe: wrkhrs.co  and @wrkhrsco on social everywhere

Artcrank Artist Profile: Annie Riker

Artcrank comes to DC this Saturday. Today we meet local artist Annie Riker. 

"I've considered myself an artist ever since I was old enough to hold a paintbrush. I went to an art college (Ringling College of Art and Design), and chose Graphic Design as a major. I decided design would let me incorporate all of my artistic interests (illustration, photography, painting...), and allow me to regularly use the "problem solving" side of my brain. It has worked out well!" 

"I'm brand new to screen printing. I had been wanting to try it for awhile, so the ARTCRANK project gave me the nudge to take a lesson and print my posters myself. I have an even greater appreciation for screen printers now—it's quite a bit of work to get everything set up!"

"I like to be outside, so it's nice to start the day on my bike. I get a bit of a zen feeling from it. I even like to ride in the rain and cold weather (I'll draw the line at slushy snow, though...). 

[The City] offers a great balance for me—good energy, diversity in activities and people, with plenty of parks and green space for me to reflect. Plus, I work for an organization with a mission I care deeply about, and it's inspiring to be surrounded by my passionate coworkers with similar values. "

Connect with Annie:

http://annieriker.com  twitter - @AnnieRiker  instagram - TeaTimePhoto