Winter Cycling Congress Member Discount

Image Credit: wintercityedmonton.ca/

This year’s Winter Cycling Congress is happening right here in Edmonton! It’s a gathering of passionate winter cyclists working towards a world where cycling year round is understood as normal and practical. The Congress runs Thursday to Saturday February 22nd to 24th and features a schedule packed with talks and some great keynote speakers. And the best part is Bike Edmonton members get an excellent discount (20% off the non-profit rate) on tickets. You can attend the whole conference for just $180, compared to the regular rate of nearly $600. Ticket sales close February 16th so get yours today!

Members can get a discounted ticket by:

1. look up your membership by searching your email address here

2. find the discount code in the Member Discounts section

3. visit the conference registration page here, click register, and then enter the code in the promo box at the top

4. to attend the whole conference, select the non-profit rate option and buy your ticket!

And if you don’t have a Bike Edmonton membership already, you can always buy one at our shop or online.

Bike Edmonton Launch Party and Fundraiser

On Saturday, we will be changing our name, and we want to thank you for supporting us as we continue our work. Join us to celebrate nearly 40 years of our work promoting cycling & supporting all the people who want to be able to bike safely and comfortably in Edmonton. Our name is changing to reflect the broader mandate that we've been pursuing for many years already, but our programs, services, and focus remain the same: removing barriers to cycling and pushing for a better, healthier, safer, happier city for everyone.

We'll also be raising funds to pay for some important upgrades to BikeWorks North, which has been operating for nearly 8 years now. We've identified some major improvements to better the experience for patrons and help us get more people riding.

The party begins with a leisurely group ride, departing from BikeWorks South (8001 102 St) at 5pm. You can also just meet us at Dirtbag Cafe (10505 107 St) downtown from 6-11pm, directly on the 105 Ave bike lane.

Rock Jungle Boulders is generously donating the space, as well as providing discounted $7 bouldering (includes shoe rental, if needed) until 8pm.

We have two casks coming in from Town Square and Situation Brewing, representing the best bike-able brewery locations YEG has to offer!

• DIY screen printing: we're not selling shirts, but bring your own fabric and we'll help you screen print our new logo on it! • DIY button making • Bike-part jewelry making • Silly games on bicycles • Live music by Robert Clinton and Paul Bellows • Yoga stretches for cyclists led by Peter Macfarlane of The SATTVA School of Yoga

This event isn't ticketed, but donations to fund important upgrades and improvements to BikeWorks North are encouraged. We'll be changing the layout to be friendlier and easier to navigate, as well as addressing some safety, comfort, and security concerns. We'll also be constructing a bike hanger, similar to one which already exists at BikeWorks South, which will quadruple the storage space we have for bicycles. This is critical to improving revenues at the shop, and will help us better serve people who are looking for bikes to start riding.

Some bike routes to the Bike Edmonton Launch party and fundraiser this Saturday, Sept 8, 2018.

Here are seven bike routes you can follow to come to Dirtbag Cafe this Saturday for Bike Edmonton's Launch and fundraiser. We thought that this is the best way for us to say, "you're invited!" If you want a guided ride to Bike Edmonton Launch party and fundraiser, meet at 5pm at BikeWorks South. Our ride marshals will take you on an easy paced journey to the party if you don't regularly ride or haven't been part of a group ride before, or enjoy a slow ride with company, this is a great opportunity. All you need is a working bike. Our ride marshals will lead you, making sure we stick together as we enjoy the journey. During the ride we'll use some of Edmonton's most exciting cycling infrastructure. The route might include parts of the following maps. We hope you find a pleasant and beautiful path to the party! Click on each ride title to open map.

Ride Like A Commuter from BikeWorks South to Dirtbag Cafe and Rock Jungle Boulders, 10505 107 St NW.

Ride from the South side through Mill Creek Ravine, starting at the velodrome and taking the funicular. Note that you take a hard right coming off of the Low Level Bridge as the path that directly goes to the lower elevator is not on Google maps, yet.

Riding from the North side along the river valley trails, with funicular! Ride is from Gold Bar Park to Dirtbag Cafe and Rock Jungle Boulders, 10505 107 St NW.

From the East, staring at the Commonwealth Stadium, enjoy commuter trials and avoid downtown construction all the way to Dirtbag Cafe and Rock Jungle Boulders, 10505 107 St NW. Make sure you turn RIGHT after crossing the living bridge, go down the hill, then turn LEFT towards Boyle Street. Signs will guide you how to get through the area once you’re approaching MacEwan Station. (It's straightforward, but not straight.)

From the West, starting in Westmount, bike lanes all the way, wherever possible, right up to Dirtbag Cafe and Rock Jungle Boulders, 10505 107 St NW.

Oliverbahn: From West of 149 st, you’ll take bike lanes and quiet streets all the way to Dirtbag Cafe and Rock Jungle Boulders, 10505 107 St NW. Please note that the map has an unneeded loop. You don’t have to ride the little loop shown at the 142st bridge. Just cross that bridge.

Bike Repair 201 Derailleurs and Shifting this Friday, September 7, 2018

Bike Repair 201 Derailleurs and Shifting course is this Friday, September 7, 2018 at 6:30pm. This intermediate course will get you started on how to diagnose shifting problems, find the right replacement parts, and tune your derailleurs for easy shifting. You don't need to be an expert with tools to get the most from this class, but you should have enough experience to know how to use common bike tools. We recommend you take Bike Repair 101 beforehand, though it's not necessary to get the most out of this workshop. Bike Repair 201 costs $35 plus tax and receive new shifter cables and housing. Register at edmontonbikes.ca > services > courses. For more information, email us at info@edmontonbikes.ca

Bike Repair courses coming up soon

You can register for one or both of our upcoming bike repair courses, Bike Repair 101: Hands on intro to Bike Maintenance or Bike Repair 201: Derailleurs and Shifting at edmontonbikes.ca/services/calendar/. The Bike Repair 101 course is this Friday, August 31, 2018 at 6:30pm. You don't need any mechanical knowledge to attend. You'll learn to fix a flat, maintain your chain, tune your brakes and shifters, and spot problems before they can ruin your day. Bike Repair 101 course cost is $30 plus tax. The Bike Repair 201 course is on the following Friday, September 7, 2018 at 6:30pm. This intermediate course will get you started on how to diagnose shifting problems, find the right replacement parts, and tune your derailleurs for easy shifting. You don't need to be an expert with tools to get the most from this class, but you should have enough experience to know how to use common bike tools. We recommend you take Bike Repair 101 beforehand, though it's not necessary to get the most out of this workshop. Bike Repair 201 costs $35 plus tax and receive new shifter cables and housing. For more information, email us at info@edmontonbikes.ca

Isaak Kornelsen Memorial Ride and Parklet

On Friday, August 24, 2018, join us at 5:30pm on the South side of Edmonton City Hall (Sir Winston Churchill Square) for a memorial ride in honour of Isaak Kornelsen. The ride will proceed slowly and in legal order to the Memorial Parklet for Isaak Kornelsen at 10151 82 Ave. This ride is both a celebration and remembrance of Isaak’s life, as well as a demonstration in support of dedicated, safe cycling infrastructure. The destination memorial will take the form of a parklet, a small urban park set up temporarily in two metered parking spaces. The parklet will be a one day public space on Whyte Ave in honour of Isaak Kornelsen.

Isaak’s life was tragically cut short on August 27, 2012, at the age of 21 while cycling on Whyte Avenue. Isaak was a Strathcona High School valedictorian, University of Alberta Philosophy student, and runner for both the Golden Bears and Edmonton Thunder. But most importantly, he was a sincere and loving individual who brightened the lives of everyone he met.

The parklet is designed to symbolize various aspects of Isaak's life, and the ideals he upheld. By portraying these ideals we aim to inspire people to think more deeply about the world they live in, and to leave with a renewed yearning to discover and experience what the world has to offer.

Creating a one-day parklet installation on Whyte Avenue will not solve unsafe cycling conditions on Edmonton's busy streets; however, it can raise awareness for the need to better balance all modes of transportation in Edmonton.

Adjustment to shop rates

BikeWorks shop fees haven't changed for many years (at least 15 that we can remember): $2/hr for members, and $5/hr for non-members. That fee provides you access to our repair stands, our tools, and help from our volunteer mechanics, as well as basic maintenance consumables like chain lube and cleaners. As of August 1, 2018, we will be increasing our shop fees. The new fees will be $3/hr for members, or $8/hr for non-members.

Membership fees remain the same: $15 for low-income/student, $20 for regular memberships, and $40 for household memberships, with discounts for multi-year memberships. If you purchase a membership at the shop, your shop fees that day are included (i.e. you don't pay the hourly fee on the same day you purchase a membership).

Our focus remains on maintaining accessibility and ensuring that people of any means can equitably access our services, while ensuring the sustainability and future of the organization.

Heritage Days volunteers needed next weekend

Please help EBC! We are still short volunteers next weekend for monitoring bike parking at Heritage Festival in Hawrelak Park. Sign up here to volunteer.

Help thousands of cyclists! No experience necessary!

Your job will be to monitor locked bikes at one of the EBC bike compounds.

This festival has been one of our most effective outreach and fundraising events in the past, with tens of thousands of people arriving on bicycles over the course of the weekend. We receive a large amount of donations at the festival, which helps run our programs.

Volunteers get to relax, enjoy the festival, and sample some of the amazing food offerings (patrons often donate food tickets to our volunteers!).

BikeWorks August 2018 closure

Both BikeWorks North and South locations will be closed August 11 through August 19, to allow for a summer break for volunteers and staff. The tools for our outdoor repair stands at BikeWorks South will remain locked during this time due to theft and vandalism concerns.

BikeWorks South will re-open August 20, and BikeWorks North will re-open August 21 for regularly scheduled hours.

Bike Repair Courses

If you'd like to start working on bikes or if you're interested in increasing your bike mechanic skills, you can sign up for one or more EBC bike repair courses. This Friday, July 13, 2018 we're running a Bike Repair 101 course. You don't need any mechanical experience to take the Bike Repair 101 course. The following Friday, July 20, 2018, we're running a Wheels 201 - Hubs course. You don't need to be an expert with tools to get the most from this class, but you should have enough experience to know how to remove the wheel from the bike. Learning how to do a hub overhaul is a perfect launching point to more advanced bicycle mechanics. Our courses are taught by knowledgeable instructors and offer hands-on opportunities for learning. For more details about the courses, cost, and to register, please visit our EBC courses calendar.

BikeWorks South Tidying and Bike Stripping

Volunteers interested in helping strip bikes and tidy at BikeWorks South Tuesday July 17, 2018 from 1pm to 6pm can click here to sign up. We'll be taking apart bikes for recycling and parts, hauling away what we can't use, and tidying up the bikes and shop. Our goals are to get rid of what we won't use and to make space so that it's easier for volunteers to help people. You'll get some snacks and a great deal of our community's gratitude as thanks. A clean tidy shop is safer and more enjoyable for those who visit us as well as for the volunteers.  A big shout out and thank you to all of you who have tidied and cleaned the shop throughout this busy season!

BikeWorks South break-in

These two people broke in to BikeWorks South (8001 102 St) on the morning of June 25, 2018.

If you can identify them, please message us here on Facebook, e-mail us, text 780-433-2453 (or call that number and dial extension 901), or call the Edmonton Police Service directly at 780-423-4567.

In addition to damaging our door and several things inside, they also stole a chain lock, accessories, and cash, and stole a yellow/lime Norco Storm 7.1 hardtail (front suspension) mountain bike with 27.5" wheels. Serial number AJ30181151. Full bike details at https://bikeindex.org/bikes/398719

If you see this bike for sale, please contact us immediately. Do not approach them, as they may be armed.

Note that the backpacks and clothing they were wearing was dark (except the main thief had light-coloured pants, with his right sock pulled up over his pant leg). The main thief had a black hoodie, black baseball cap, and a black backpack with red bands.

The clothing and backpacks appear to be light-coloured in some of the infrared photos due to reflections.

Soundtrack Music Festival volunteers needed

Goo Goo Dolls. TLC. Blind Melon. Ma$e. Eve 6. And Wannabe, a Spice Girls tribute band. Want to see them all for free tomorrow?

Then sign up to help monitor our bike parking compound at the festival at Kinsmen Park. No experience or skills needed: you'll just be sitting outside by the bikes saying hello to people.

Edmonton Native Plant River Valley Bike Tour

Explore the river valley and discover native plant species with guides from the Edmonton Native Plant Group (ENPG) and the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society (EBC). Learn from members of the ENPG about plant species that grow in Edmonton's river valley at four different sites. We'll stop at each location, chat with ENPG volunteers about the native species, and then bike on to the next location! We will visit Dawson Park, the Muttart Conservatory, Buena Vista Park, and a demonstration native bed at John Janzen. The tour happens Saturday, June 9, 2018. Start times are 2pm, 2:25pm, or 2:45pm.

Please see the Facebook event or Eventbrite registration page for full details and tickets.

Bike to the Symphony: Beethoven's Fifth (and drinks with Alex Prior)

Join EBC and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra for our ninth annual Bike to the Symphony on May 27 at 1pm. We'll bike as a group to the Winspear (starting from BikeWorks South) to enjoy the performance.

Immerse yourself in the sounds of the most famous symphony ever written!

After the show, there will be a casual post-concert chat with the afternoon’s conductor and featured soloists in the lobby. Following this chat, we’ll be joined by maestro Alex Prior for drinks at Brass Tracks, which is a family-friendly restaurant/pub/cafe and serves a full menu. Get to know the ESO’s chief conductor in a casual atmosphere with great food and drinks!

The ride is open to all, but EBC members get a special discount for $24 tickets and 15% off at Brass Tracks.

For full details and tickets, please see the event page.