People ask, all the time: what is Velomuse, what do we do, and what kinds of cycling are implied? The answer is everyone, everything and everywhere – basically expanding the current resource network in order for people to stick with their chosen sport. Here’s a summary of what we did over the last year, bringing a little bit of everything to Pittsburgh’s cycling scene to Create Lifelong Cyclists (our motto). There’s a link to more information and photos from each event, in succession below. If you want to keep tabs on our progress on a daily basis, please “like” our facebook page.
Start of the National Bike Rally 2010, Albuquerque, New Mexico
January 24: Create and donate medals for Cross’d Bite cyclocross race and provided course marshal support.
February: Create first several drafts of a Memorandum of Understanding (volunteer trail maintenance agreement) between the City of Pittsburgh/Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Pittsburgh Trails Advocacy Group.
Mar 9-12: Attend National Bike Summit in Washington DC with local advocacy representatives from Bike Pittsburgh and Dirt Rag/Bicycle Times Magazine, as a IMBA delegate for Pennsylvania. Include mountain bike access issues in meetings with Congressional staff. Report here.
April 1st: Pull a friendly prank on our readers for April Fools day.
May 4: Attend Pennsylvania Walk and Bike Summit in Harrisburg, PA with local advocates and City of Pittsburgh Bike/Ped Coordinator. Emphasize Safe Passing laws and help legislators identify concerned constituency. More info here.
May 21: Host Biker Breakfast and/or lead group rides for Bike to Work Day, and Car Free Fridays with various local bike shops and Bike Pittsburgh.
May 22: Venture Outdoors Festival: Organize and host the first Kids’ Bike Rodeo – working with Thick Bikes and Venture Outdoors, to draft and build kid-sized, rideable obstacles and borrowed bicycles from Wilderness Voyageurs. Expanded liability insurance protocol with League of American Bicyclists’ Club insurance program. Pictures and recap here.
May 2010: Host a Bike-Commute Mileage contest for Pittsburgh riders, as part of the National Bike Month. More info.
June 3-6: Attend National Bike Rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is what an advocate does for a proper vacation: 100 miles in 100 degree heat, through stunning scenery. Event report here.
June 18th: Summer Solstice Ladies’ Urban ride from Trek of Pittsburgh to Tazza d’Oro, as part of the Car Free Fridays campaign.
July: Work with City officials and local bike advocates to implement public explanation of City Municipal Code regarding off-road bicycle use in City Parks. Enhance press release distribution list, including newspaper, blog and twitter feeds.
August 12: Co-lead a MTB 101 group ride for women, as part of Bike Pittsburgh’s Bike Fest, with Dirt Rag‘s Karen Brooks and Elizabeth Klevens.
August 14: Host the City’s first permitted bicycle event Velomuse youth bike rodeo inside Frick park (bikes donated by Freeride), helping to create a system to bicyclists to apply for public space permits.
August 15: Coordinate with Thick Bikes and PTAG/PORC in an Adventure Epic connect a road ride with off-road endurance riding.
September 18th: National Park(ing) day – work with OTB Bicycle Café and Bike Pittsburgh to convert 2 street parking spaces with green space. Pictures here.
October 2nd: Lead a group ride for Girl Scouts troop leaders to facilitate training for a long-term bike program.
October 14th: Organize and coach annual Cyclocross 101 clinic, with Koeles Cycling Club, professional cyclist Barb Howe. Event permitted at Highland Park, licensed by USA Cycling and insured by League of American Bicyclists. Registration via Bikereg.com
October 27th: Velomuse Junior Devo and Team IMBA ride, Justin Uplinger WINS High School classification during the Month of Mud series.
November: Partner with International Mountain Bike Association’s Regional Leadership Advisory Council to develop Pennsylvania’s first Long Range “Shared-Use Trails Vision Plan”.
November 6: Attend the rideSFO SF Bike Expo and coordinate with local sponsors. Another vacation-type thing.
December 20th: Host Life Cycles Film Premier in Pittsburgh – the first mountain bike themed film hosted in a full scale theatre, with the help of Dreaming Ant and Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Ticket sales through Eventbrite.
[...] year, we had so much variety that it was difficult to keep up with the needs in the community, finding new volunteers for every [...]
I love the logo for Velomuse!
Dad