Try-A-Bike

As bikefest 2013 was coming to an end I went to an event that I have been trying to get to since it was first started. Try-A-Bike. Set up at the Bud Harris cycling Oval it gives the general public a chance to try different types of bicycles. It also give cyclists a chance to try out different bikes and different styles of riding. Road Bikes, Folding Bikes, Recumbent Bikes, Unicycles, Electric Bikes, Tandem Bikes, and Mountain Bikes.

Thats a lot of bikes.

Here are some of the pictures I took

Here are some of the bikes that were brought by individuals in order for other people to try. Everything from a cool cruiser (in front) to a small folding bike (orange bike half way back) and a trike recumbent.

Here is one of the small folding bikes that can be ridden, then folded up and carried onto a bus or put in the trunk of your car. 

Here is another folding bicycle that is shown folded up. One of the bikes that was brought to the Try-A-Bike was a bicycle I dubbed "The Collar Boner" That being the bone you would most likely brake when try to ride it.

If you look carefully at the handelbars you will notice that there is a geared setup that turns the wheel in the opposite direction of the handlebars. I saw a couple people trying to ride it and I saw at least one of them fall. I saw none of the actually ride it. 

Colin set up a nice beginner moutain biking course and had several mountain bikes there for people to try their skills. 

The only bike I got to ride was the Surly Krampus a mountain bike with huge balloon tires and I have to admit I am quite smitten with it. It was just hands down fun. While I cant afford another 2 grand for a krampus I am wondering just how large of a set of tires I can fit on my Diamond back. I had a set of 2 1/2" tires on the bike and moved down to a set of more friendly 1.95's It may be time to go back to the bigger tires and take the Big Orange Bike on a little off roading.

if you want to you can take a look at the entire set of photos over at the Fatguy OrangeBike Facebook page.

Bikefest Party

Happy 10th birthday Bike Pittsburgh

Last night was the bikefest party held at Pittsburgh Opera. This was a special party on several fronts. This year marked the 10th birthday of the organization Bike PGH. It was also special in that it was my first year that I actually got to go to the party.

It was a blast

I still feel a little out of place in a room full of young people, but I had such a good time that I was able to get over it. As I have said before on here I am constantly surprised by just how accepted I have been by the biking community. I mixed, I mingled, I almost danced. I stopped myself before that happened, much to the relief of those around me. Even with the close call with everlasting embarrassment I still managed to enjoy myself more than I thought I would.

The Drinks helped.

Penn Brewery was there and they made things easy on everyone by listing their beers as Light, Dark, Hoppy and HOPPY. The Hoppy was excellent, and the HOPPY was even better. The highlight of the night, drink wise was the Red Star Kombucha. A locally made fermented green tea. I look forward to getting a growler or two of this wonderful drink and trying my hand at making my own.

The night was topped when I actually met friends I knew there and had a great time hanging out with them. We talked and I realized that I really need to change the way I think about my bike as transportation. I need to learn to rely on my bike more and the bus less. I had to leave the party early because I was unwilling to ride my bike back home that late at night. I need to learn to depend on my bike even more.

This was my view as I rode from the strip district back to town to get my bus home. I enjoyed the night, the drinks, and the people. especially the people. Bike people really are some of the best people around.