Put Your Road Rage to the Page

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Elly Blue and Joe Biel returned to BicycleSPACE Downtown for another great event during the National Bike Summit. Elly and Joe, of Microcosm Publishing, have been active in creating books, zines, and films centered around the intersection of bikes, transportation, gender, sexuality, race and class. 

Biel started Microcosm Publishing from his closet in Ohio over 20 years ago, in part as an outlet for depression. Today, Elly and Joe led “Put Your Road Rage to the Page,” a writing workshop and discussion on how to channel your frustrations in something positive. Attendees included locals, experienced commuters, new cyclists, a Lyft driver who bikes, a bike advocacy organizer from Cleveland, and a self-described “California bike industry shill,” from the lovely Merry Sales Co.  

The group enjoyed a passionate discussion where they wrote and shared personal stories that made them upset and frustrated, but also ways they find joy and inspiration in the bike world. Some criticisms we’re of the usual suspects, poor infrastructure and rude behaviors from drivers. Critiques also fell on the cycling community as well. Folks felt frustrated when those on bikes treated each other in negative ways, “shoaling” at lights, talking down to other genders, elitism, and erratic behavior that hurts the public image. 

The consensus was that these issues aren’t specific to the bike community, but relate to society at large. They discussed ways we can shift our attitudes towards empathy and compassion. Such as not assuming you know what’s best for others, instead they emphasized the power of getting to know people first and learn who they are. There was lots of support for random acts of kindness and micro-affections. 

Elly and Joe had folks compile a list of problems and solutions. Together the group came up with ways to work toward positive, productive outcomes within “your agency and locus of control.” The group got to know each other and shared stories from their own facets of the bike community. It’s always a pleasure hosting Elly and Joe and we can’t wait to see them again. Check out their site to learn more about their great work. 

 

Touring Talk

7:30 pm Tuesday March 21st

BicycleSPACE Adams Morgan

Have you ever wondered what it is like to ride a bicycle across the country? Join us for an evening of stories from the DC3, a Guinness Book of World Records Record Holder, and other women who have ridden coast to coast. Hear stories of charity trips that combined bike riding with house building, of fully supported luxury trips, and of self-supported crossings. You may just end the evening inspired to start planning your own trip! 

Event is Free! Please RSVP with ticket link and consider donating to WABA Women and Bicycles
 

The Women & Bicycles program is centered on peer-to-peer encouragement, information, and experience to inspire more women* to bike, participate, teach, advocate, and lead in the bike movement.

Since the program launched in 2013, hundreds of supporters throughout the region and the program Roll Models have helped us host 150+ events, engage with 3,000+ participants, and inspire more than 400 women make biking a new and rewarding part of their lives.

What's an Alley Cat?

An Alley Cat is part bike race, part scavenger hunt, that rewards a mix of strategy and speed. Alley Cats grew hand-in-hand with bike courier culture. Couriers pride themselves on their navigational skills, and ability to find the fastest routes from A to B. 

As Alley Cats have grown they’ve attracted messengers and non-messengers alike. We’ve been proud to sponsor women’s Alley Cats every March, events like Sadie Hawkins Alley Cat  and 19th Amendment Alley Cat on International Women's Day. These events support local advocacy groups and non-profits. 

This year, Rolling Resistance Alley Cat will take place on March 18th at Malcom X Park, to benefit HIPS

Rolling Resistance is a Women/Trans/Femme event and encourages cis male allies to volunteer and host checkpoints. Events usually begin with a manifest, or a list of checkpoints, where you devise your own route to get the most checkpoints in the fastest time. 

The event is open to all experiences levels. At their heart, Alley Cats are all about fun and exploring the city. They can be as hard or as easy as you want them to be. Thinking about your first Alley Cat? This a great way to meet new people and find new places to ride. 

Bring a map (like the free DC bike maps we have a the shop!), marker/pen, lock, bag, and sense of adventure. You could win prizes from our shop and other awesome bike groups and brands! Past events include checkpoints that celebrate significant locations and milestones that coincide with Women's History Month. 

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Put Your Road Rage to the Page

Wednesday March 8th 7:30pm | BicycleSPACE Downtown 440 K St. NW 

Join Elly Blue and Joe Biel for part presentation, part advocacy and writing workshop! We'll provide pens and paper and you'll walk away with a clearly articulated (and calm, rational, compelling!) new way to act on or talk about whatever bike issue makes you so upset you can't even deal.

Elly Blue is the co-producer/director of Groundswell and the author of Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save the Economy and Everyday Bicycling: How to Ride a Bicycle for Transportation (Whatever your Lifestyle). When she isn’t writing, she is the marketing director of Microcosm Publishing, producing books and zines about all aspects of feminism, self-empowerment, and bicycle transportation. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Joe Biel is the co-producer/director of Groundswell, the director of the feature documentary Aftermass: Bicycling in a Post-Critical Mass Portland as well as over 100 short films. He is also the author of half a dozen books, including Beyond the Music. He founded Microcosm Publishing in his bedroom closet in 1996 and has since published over 350 nonfiction books, zines, and movies. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Forecast says gorgeous weather ahead! Ride with us! Vote for us! Love your bike! Join the team! Advocate!

Check out our newsletter here

The weather has been a bit of a roller coaster, but the temps will be lovely this weekend and the days are definitely lengthening.  We’ll be running a full weekend of riding opportunities- from a short jaunt about town, to our casual social cruises, to our vertical workouts- come on out & meet some great folks and explore the city by bike!  It’ll also be a great weekend for testing out that new set of wheels you’ve been dreaming of- so come on out to one of the shops to take a spin & ride one home.

We beg your forbearance- but we do need your support in both the WABA Bicyclists’ Choice Awards and City Paper’s Best of DC Readers Poll.  Thank you for both the forbearance & the support!

We’ve been busy in the service department getting everyone else’s bike ready for spring- now’s your last chance to get in on the savings as our Winter Service Special ends on Valentine’s Day.  It’s the perfect for either the bike you love or the cyclist you love- gift certificates are available!

Spring also means we are stocking up with products and need great folks to help our customers select just the right gear to realize their cycling nirvana.  We’re looking for team members for the upcoming season, whether that’s you or someone you know who’s passionate about bikes!

Finally- there are a plethora of advocacy issues that need your input & support.  From public meetings to comments on proposed projects, make your voice heard!

We hope everyone’s been enjoying some time in the saddle- and may you enjoy even more as the season turns.  Can’t wait to see you out there!

SleepingSPACE

Becky Puritz, Adams Morgan Shop Manager

Becky Puritz, Adams Morgan Shop Manager

When the Women's March on Washington was announced, I knew I needed to be part of it- and that I also wanted to host as many friends from out of town as I possibly could at my home so that they could be there, too. Quickly the available space in my house filled up, like all the hotels and AirBnBs in the city. And yet even more people would come, if there was somewhere they could sleep for a night. Some roller derby friends were trying to find a skating rink that would rent out to them for a night so they could sleep on the floor, but struck out- and that's when I thought about the floor space at the shop in Adams Morgan, We already clear out most of the floor once a week for yoga- what would be so different about clearing the floor to let some folks sleep there? 

We worked out a plan and got approval from our owner and all-around awesome person, Phil, and then it was time for signups. Overall, around 45 people signed up for space on Friday night, Saturday night, or both. I finally had an excuse to buy that camping air pad that I've been wanting, since I'd be there supervising the event both nights. When the day finally came, we were ready for the best Slumber Party ever. 

While not all 45 people showed- ultimately we had 18 people on Friday night and 13 on Saturday- I was so happy with how it turned out. Here are some highlights:

We had protestors hailing from: Alaska, Boston, Baltimore, NYC, New Orleans, Kentucky, Tennesse, North Carolina, California and more!

As protestors arrived and met each other, groups formed- people met others and started talking about why they were there, what the election had meant to them, who they were marching for. We shared our experiences and welcomed newcomers to the space. We offered everyone tea and hot chocolate and granola bars, which were quickly scarfed down. This community continued the next night as we fought our tiredness to tell our stories of the March. 

I was given a homemade screenprinted t-shirt with a feminist message on it for facilitating the event by the Alaska contingent. It's awesome and I will wear it at the shop a lot! 

A woman named Haley from Ohio heard about our space and sent us a box of 25 pink fleece 'pussyhats' she had made. Some of our protestors already had made their own (there was even some last minute knitting going on Saturday morning!) but many accepted and wore her gifts, and I distributed the others at Columbia Heights metro on our way in. We sent her the pictures you see here of protestors wearing her hats, which she said 'made her day'. 

Packing up Saturday morning to head to the Ward 1 Ride to the March, meeting in Mt. Pleasant.

Packing up Saturday morning to head to the Ward 1 Ride to the March, meeting in Mt. Pleasant.

Ward 1 Ride breakfast

Ward 1 Ride breakfast

Purple Patch in Mt. Pleasant gave out free breakfast to marchers

Purple Patch in Mt. Pleasant gave out free breakfast to marchers

Ward 1 Ride 

Ward 1 Ride 

Riders happily navigate crowds at Union Station on the way to bike valet at L'Enfant Plaza. Saturday was filled with great energy. Riders we're greeted with cheers around every corner on their way to the march. Bikes reciprocated with bell ringing and chants of their own. No matter how crowded or congested it got no one seemed to be bothered. The outpour of support and positivity was palpable. Everyone seemed to leave the march uplifted and energized. 

Monica, of Sister Black Press, traveled from Minneapolis with her cargo bike letterpress. She dropped off the bike to get put back together on Friday night, and picked it up Saturday to ride to the March and around town. She made these wonderful spoke cards with poetry on them for all who wanted one- some are still available at the shops and she can send us more if you want one for yourself! When she dropped off the bike our mechanics had already gone home, and I couldn't get her disc brakes to stop rubbing when I put it together. Luckily, one of the folks who was staying at the shop that night was a bike mechanic from NYC's Recycle a Bicycle program, who taught me a bit about adjusting mechanical disc brakes and made sure it was working perfectly for Monica on Saturday. Monica's twin sister borrowed one of our demo Bromptons to ride with her and loved it, of course! 

Another bike-related contingent were two pedicab drivers.  Apparently all the pedicab drivers in their whole city took the day off to March on Saturday, either at their local march or in DC.

On Sunday morning, one of the protestors brought in bagels for all, exemplifying the spirit of generosity that characterized the weekend. 

I wasn't sure how it would work out but ultimately the event was a great success. We are thankful for the support of our customers and community, without whom we wouldn't be able to do things like this. Together, we made this space possible, and proved again that community is really what BicycleSPACE is all about. 

Becky Puritz | Store Manager + Bicycle Fitter