Bike De'Lights Winter Bicycle Ride

• Friday, December 9, 2011
• Meet at 6:00 PM and Ride at 7:00 PM
• Start/End at Blanc Burgers + Bottles
• 3157 Farnam Street at Midtown Crossing 
• The Route: http://g.co/maps/fmgah

This is the 3rd Annual Bike De'Lights. It is a social ride at a casual/conversational pace enjoying holiday decorated homes and businesses. Participants are encouraged to layer in warm and casual street clothes. Bicycle helmets are REQUIRED.

Enjoy frequent stops along the route to warm up and relax. Children are welcome and encouraged to participate (parents/guardians must be present). The ride will take 2 or 3 hours, depending on how long we stay at each stop.

Bikes are required to have a headlight and (at the very least) a rear reflector. We’re encouraging riders to decorate their bikes with battery operated holiday lights. Check OmahaBikes.org for the route map, updates and reschedule date (in the event of bad weather).

UPDATE: As of 12:00pm Friday, December 9th, the ride is a GO! See you all tonight at Blanc Burgers + Bottles.

Veteran’s Day Parade - Saturday Nov 5th

Saturday November 5, 2011, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Bellevue, NE, West Mission Avenue at St. Mary’s School

Make plans to ride with the Bellevue Bicycle Club in the Nebraska's Official Veteran's Parade.

Meet near St. Mary's School on West Mission Avenue in Bellevue. The line up spot for the Bellevue Bicycle Club is #37. Look for the number marked on the curb on West Mission Avenue.

There will be a portable restroom in the parking lot across the street from the check in point. (Near the stoplight at St. Mary’s School on Mission Avenue)

The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. with a flyover from Offutt Air Force Base.

We need as many riders as possible to show the community our interest in cycling and in improving bicycle trails.

CRANKSGIVING!!

It's that time of year again - mark your calendar for one of our favorite events:  Cranksgiving!

Saturday, November 12 · 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Bike Masters (129th/Fort)
Event supporting the Omaha Food Bank.


Those of you who have participated in this event in the past know how much fun it is!   From their website:

It's a race ... of sorts. Each rider gets a list of 10 items that must be purchased, each from a different store. (Where you get them is fine, you just can't get two from the same place.) First one back wins.


After the race, when everything is tallied and totaled, all of the food purchased goes to the local Food Bank.

There's no entry fee -- you'll just pay for what you buy (15-20 bucks). There will, however, be prizes.

You're going to go ride anyway, right? Just pick up some food along the way and help us help a lot of people who don't have the luxury of jumping on a bike 'just for fun.'

Hope to see you there!

DEVOween!

DEVO (kids mountain bike club) is putting together a super fun event on October 15:  DEVOween!

When:  Saturday, October 15 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Where:  Tranquility Park Mountain Bike Trail
What:  Join Omaha DEVO for a fun night time ride for kids of all ages. Bring your lights for a lap or 2 around Tranquility and then to dinner (location TBD, you are responsible for your own food costs). Costumes encouraged and helmets required!!

For more info or to RSVP, check out the OmahaDEVO Facebook Page.  Hope to see you there!

Lucky Bucket Ride - benefitting Omaha Bikes & T.H.O.R.!

The inaugural Lucky Bucket Ride will be on Saturday, October 8 and will consist of 3 riding events to choose from that have something for everyone. In addition, you will not want to miss out on the Lucky Bucket After Party featuring the Nebraska Vs. Ohio State game, free food and of course, Lucky Bucket Brew. All events will start and end at the Bellevue Berry Farm and will benefit two outstanding trail organizations Omaha Bikes and T.H.O.R. (Trails Have Our Respect)


Lucky Bucket Brewery Ride 3:00-6:00pm
Swanson Mountain Bike Ride 4 -6pm
Haunted Kids Ride 6:00-6:30pm

Lucky Bucket After party featuring Nebraska vs. Ohio State Football game 7-11pm

Event Details

Lucky Bucket Brewery Ride $25 -A BENEFIT FOR OMAHA BIKES
Course: Paved bike path/gravel road
Distance: 20 miles
Highlights: Includes Brewery Tour, Free tasting, Free T-shirt, Husker Spirit Award (show us what you've got, heck even paint that old bike red)
Requirements: Helmet, mountain, cross, or hybrid bike suitable for gravel roads

Swanson Mountain Bike Ride $25 -A BENEFIT FOR T.H.O.R. (TRAILS HAVE OUR RESPECT)
Course: Bike path, gravel road, single-track
Distance: 10+ miles (depending on how many laps you do at Swanson)
Highlights: Midwestern Single-track, Free T-shirt (adult sizes only), Husker Spirit Contest
Requirements: Helmet, Mountain bike

Haunted Kids Ride: - FREE
Course: Ride around Bellevue Berry Farm's Haunted Hay-rack Ride route on bikes. (Low Scare Factor, High Fun for the young ones)
Distance: 1 mile
Highlights: Wooded dirt road with the an age appropriate spooky feel for the youngsters
Requirements: Helmet

Lucky Bucket After Party: $10
Highlights: 1 free LB craft beer, NU vs. OSU game, free food, and fire pit
Requirements: 21 & over for craft brew.

***You can purchase this when you register by checking the box at the bottom of the "RIDER INFORMATION" form

***Please note the Lucky Bucket After Party is Limited to 200 people

Additional Features (cost not included in entry fee)
· Hay-rack rides
· Pumpkin picking
· Haunted House


FUN!  Register here:  http://www.raceregister.net/RaceRegister/event?action=view&id=49

2010 Bike De'Lights

Tis the season to don your smart wool, breathable layers, and balaclava and join OmahaBikes on a ride to view the holiday lights. Turn your "ho hum" into "ho ho ho" as we wind around downtown and the surrounding area to take in the spirit of the season after dark. After dark, you ask? Of course! That's the only way to see the spectacular light show. Make sure to bring lights of your own for safety's sake. The more festive, the better. A special prize will be awarded to the "Greatest Holiday Visibility"and "Best Cycling Santa" individuals. It will be too cold, you say? Who knows what weather Omaha will throw our way, but we have planned warming stations along the way. Warm up your fingers and toes with a hot chocolate or (spiked) apple cider at the cafes we will stop at along the way. Please meet us at Delice Bakery in Midtown Crossing on December 10th. We will meet around 6:00pm for a pre-warming get together as traffic and the sun go down with plans to embark at 7:00pm.

Check out the route here.

For those who will arrival by car, parking is available behind Marcus Theatre. The first three hours are free!

If bad weather comes our way the day of the ride, it will be rescheduled for the following Friday, December 17th.

Have any questions, please let us know!

Allergic to spandex?

Let's face it, not everyone wants to put on some tight fitting spandex, hop on a skinny bike seat, and ride down the trail leaving very little of your anatomy to the imagination. If spandex isn't your thing, but riding your bike in "Classy" attire sounds like fun, then have we got just the thing for you.

This weekend is the inaugural ride of the L&G Cycling Club (L&G stands for Ladies and Gentleman). You can find all the details on the facebook page or on tritter.

The ride starts at 1:00pm this coming Sunday at Greenstreet Cycles. Check the map for route information.

BYOKTMTB?

What exaclty is BYOKTMTB you might ask. It stands for Bring Your Own Kid Mountain Biking Day.

To honor IMBA's national holiday, THOR is celebrating Bring Your Own Kid Mountain Biking Day.

This is a chance to bring the whole family out for a fun, guided ride, followed by some awesome food and drinks. It's the best way to introduce your kids to the most fun they'll have on two wheels!

Manawa has been off limits all year because of flooding but we are finally able to ride the short loop, and we want to celebrate. The short loop is perfect for the kiddos and first time riders. It's flat and fun! After the ride, head across the street for some grub and good times on the Dream Land playground, which was designed by children! It's huge!

We hope to see you and your family. Bring 'em all. The more the merrier.

If the trails are too wet to ride, we'll ride the paved trail instead. Keep an eye here and Face Book for details.

Click here for the flyer.

We could use volunteers. Please contact Dave Packard at 402-926-9696 or David.A.Packard@usace.army.mil.

Is this in Omaha's future?

Streetfilms posted a video of the "Oaklavia" that took place on June 27th in Oakland.

Would you like to see Omaha do something similar? If so, where would you choose to have such an event?

Adams Park Trail Day Party!!!!

Join us for a family event!!!!

Saturday, June 26th at 12noon
Adams Park
(3230 John A Creighton Blvd)

Celebrate with us the opening of a new hiking/biking trail!!! Bring your kids, bikes and helmets or try our demos!!! Snacks and drinks will be provided!!

This is an organized event sponsored by Activate Omaha, THOR, YMCA, City of Omaha, National Parks Service, and the North Omaha Development Project.

Federal Safe Routes Program Under Attack	Take Action!
Urge Your Representative to Support Safe Routes To Schools
House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) has targeted the federal Safe Routes to School program established under the 2005 Federal Surface Transportation Bill (SAFETEA-LU) as wasteful government spending in his weekly "YouCut program". Each week representative Cantor asks people to vote for which of five options they would cut from the federal budget. Republicans then hold a floor vote in the House of Representatives to try to eliminate the program that gets the most votes. This week, the federal Safe Routes to School program is one of Rep. Cantor's targets. He argues that SRTS duplicates other bicycling and walking programs, and that bicycling and walking infrastructure is a local government responsibility. We need your help making sure that Members of Congress understand the value of Safe Routes to School and support it. Please take a few minutes to send a message to your Member of Congress to ask them to vote against any effort to cut Safe Routes to School. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

OmahaBikes Event on Saturday!

OmahaBikes invites all cyclists to come to Stinson Park on Saturday, May 29, beginning at 5:00 pm continuing to 7:00 pm to enjoy time meeting with other cyclists and enjoying some special bicycle activities. The Soul Dawgs will be giving a free concert in the park at 7pm, so stay for that, too!

This will be a fun family event in a very bike friendly location, right off the Keystone Trail. A new playground has been installed nearby as well, so the kiddos will have something fun to do once you get there.

Activities include:


MAT bike rack demo – A MAT bus will be available to all riders to try out the bike rack system. Try out your bike, or use one of the demo bikes that will be available.


Unusual and unique bikes –See a display of rare antique bikes from Omaha bike collector Don Rock, recumbent bikes, and some very unusual bikes built to accommodate people with special riding needs. If you have a unique or unusual bike, please bring it or ride it to the event and join the fun.


O.w.L. Bike Ride - Find out more about Omaha’s first ever night time summer urban bicycle ride – Omaha with Lights - scheduled to begin at 11:00 pm on Saturday, July 17. Talk to the ride organizers and get ideas about how to prepare for the ride and decorate your bike for what will be a fantastic night ride.


Community cycling “411” – Learn more about OmahaBikes, the new community based bicycling advocacy group, and talk to members of local bike clubs.

Hope to see you all there!

Register now for the Urban Omaha – The Ultimate Adventure Race on June 5^th!!

Click here to register today!!!

Photos and Video from the 2009 Bike De'Lights Holiday Lights Tour

Almost 30 people of all ages showed up at Glo Lounge at Midtown Crossing for the first annual Bike De'Light Holiday Lights Tour. We rode about 10-15 miles and viewed millions of lights at Turner Park, houses in the Field Club neighborhood, the Conagra campus, and the Gene Leahy mall in downtown Omaha.

After an extreme cold snap in Omaha, the weather cooperated by providing temperatures in the upper 20s and a light wind. The roads were still a little damp, and some side streets still had a slush from last week's snow storm, but no ice or dangerous slick spots were encountered.

Special thanks to Midtown Crossing security for helping with traffic control on Farnam Street, and to the Glo Lounge, 13th Street Coffee and the Blue Line Coffee Shop for working to serve almost 30 people looking for a warm drinks and spirits.

Video





Click here to view the video at YouTube.

Photos

Will we Bike De'lights in the white stuff?

Bike De'Lights rescheduled for Friday, December 18.

The quantity of snow on the trails and streets that we will be using, along with the forcasted single digit temps on Friday, would make this a difficult ride for casual riders. The extended forcast for the 18th looks much better, and most of the snow should be off of the streets and trails by then. See you on the 18th.

The first annual Bike De'Lights ride is quickly approaching. Most of us have noticed that some of the "White Stuff" has covered many of the Omaha roads and trails. With more snow on the way on Tuesday and possibly Wednesday, we are keeping a close eye on the road and trail conditions along our proposed route. We will announce the final Go/No Go for the ride here and here on Friday by noon so that you can plan accordingly.

If the trails are not in a condition acceptable for our younger riders, we will move the ride to the scheduled weather delay date of Friday, December 18th.

Stay tuned, and get out there and Bike Omaha.

Deck Your Bike With Boughs of Holly...

Many of us are getting into the spirit by decorating our bikes for the holidays. Even if you can't join us for the Bike De'Lights event, don't let that stop you from joining in the fun!

Start a new family tradition of decorating your family bikes and riding with your kiddos to school...and then see how many friends you can convince to join in on the fun. You'll have a great time, and also realize that riding in the chilly weather isn't as big of a deal as you thought it was!

Be sure to send us a link to the photos of your bike(s) in the comments of this post - show it off and inspire someone to give it a try at the same time!!

Dashing through the snow

On a decorated bike

Up the hills we go

Pedal with all your might!

Bells on handlebars ring

Kids with smiles wide

Oh what fun it is to

Get to school on your bike!

Bike De'lights 2009 - UPDATE

Bike De'Lights rescheduled for Friday, December 18.

The quantity of snow on the trails and streets that we will be using, along with the forcasted single digit temps on Friday, would make this a difficult ride for casual riders.  The extended forcast for the 18th looks much better, and most of the snow should be off of the streets and trails by then.  See you on the 18th.

We have made the following changes to the original post, but we are making a separate post to insure that you will not miss them.

Update 1: The updated route (see below) is currently ~ 13 miles.  Let us know if you think 13 miles is too long for any of the riders you would like to have join us.  We are still fine-tuning the route and we can adjust a few things to bring the distance back down if we need to.

Note: Don't be frightened by the 13 miles. There are easy opportunities to shorten the ride if you or your kids aren't comfortable with that distance, or the weather. You could ride from Midtown Crossing to Field Club, and then return to Midtown Crossing. Alternatively, hook up with us at 13th Street Coffee at 8pm and just ride downtown. Either way, you'll have a great time and see some awesome light displays.

Update 2: The following route map was added to get rid of the scarry list of turns.  Riders will not need to memorize the route unless they plan to go off on their own and meet up with us at one of the stops.  We will have people leading the ride and keeping the group together.


View 2009 Omaha Bike De'Lights Ride in a larger map

Bike De'lights 2009

Bike De'Lights rescheduled for Friday, December 18.

The quantity of snow on the trails and streets that we will be using, along with the forcasted single digit temps on Friday, would make this a difficult ride for casual riders.  The extended forcast for the 18th looks much better, and most of the snow should be off of the streets and trails by then.  See you on the 18th.

Omaha Bikes is inviting You, to the first annual Bike De'lights ride.

Who: You and your family on bikes

What: A 13-mile social ride (distance is approximate)

When: Friday, December, 11th at 7:00pm (bad weather reschedule date Dec. 18th)

Where: Ride starts at Midtown Crossing Marcus Theatre at 3201 Farnam St (Meet Inside)

Why: To spend time with friends enjoying the lights and activity of downtown Omaha

We have made the following updates.  We will keep this post updated if we make any additional changes.

Update 1: The updated route (see below) is approximately 13 miles.  Let us know if you think that is too long for any of the riders you would like to have join us.  We are still fine-tuning the route and we can adjust a few things to bring the distance back down if we need to.

Note: Don't be frightened by the 13 miles. There are easy opportunities to shorten the ride if you or your kids aren't comfortable with that distance, or the weather. You could ride from Midtown Crossing to Field Club, and then return to Midtown Crossing. Alternatively, hook up with us at 13th Street Coffee at 8pm and just ride downtown. Either way, you'll have a great time and see some awesome light displays.

Update 2: A route map was added to replace the scarry list of turns.  Riders will not need to memorize the route unless they plan to go off on their own and meet up with us at one of the stops.  We will have people leading the ride and keeping the group together.

The Bike De'lights ride will be family friendly and we will all be riding together at a casual/conversational pace. We will be making stops along the way to warm up and relax. Children are welcome and encouraged to participate. The ride will take 2 or 3 hours depending on how long we stay at each stop. Bike De'lights will be a social ride, so we will not be in a hurry.

Participants are encouraged to wear WARM & casual street clothes. You should dress like you would for walking around downtown in December. There will be several chances to get off the bike, go inside, and warm up.  However, you should dress warm and bring extra layers in case it's colder than you expect. Participants should also ride with lights on their bikes if at all possible. Plus, we can be a rolling holiday lights show at the same time.

Prestart: Lounge inside Marcus Theatre


View 2009 Omaha Bike De'Lights Ride in a larger map

The 2009 Bike Bash is tomorrow!

Ryan dropped us a line to let us know about the Bike Bash that is happening tomorrow.

Hello Nebraska Riders! Promoters, volunteers, racers, friends & family of racers, or people just considering racing in the future are all invited to tomorrow night's Bike Bash at Platte River State Park, 6pm. No cost! Free food, refreshments, and Fat tire ale!

You can find more information at Nebraska Cycling News.

Cranksgiving Omaha 2009

November 14th, 2009 is the date of the next Cranksgiving Omaha event.  This is a great family friendly event that helps stock the Omaha Food Bank for the upcoming holiday season.  I participated in 2007 and 2008 and both times it was a lot of fun.  More information can be found at the Cranksgiving Omaha blog.



One participant arrives with a full trailer during the 2008 Cranksgiving Omaha event

Event coordinator Bryan Redemske (left) hands out prizes during the 2007 Cranksgiving Omaha event