February Newsletter: Rides, Races, and a storefront for The Bike Library!

February Newsletter: Rides, Races, and a storefront for The Bike Library!

It may be the shortest month of the year, but we’ve packed it with plenty of ways to get on a bike and into the community.

Your Contributions at Work

Recently, we provided eight multitools to Raleigh Community Kickstand for a six-week bike-building course for middle schoolers in Durham, and each participant left with a tool. We're also paying the entry fees for five riders in the Tour of Newport News, including a women’s team and a promising junior racer—stay tuned for a full feature on the team soon.

This wouldn't be possible without our paid members. Thank YOU!

Storefront for The Bike Library

Before we get to this month's events...

The Bike Library is opening a storefront at Platform this spring! It will be a coffee shop, a bike shop, a gathering space, and a place to host Greenway Gear Collective events in the future. We will keep the shipping container operational, don't worry.

The storefront buildout will cost $50,000. We are seeking 50 individuals interested in investing at least $1000 in exchange for prepaid bike service (parts included), cafe items when the shop opens, and their name on a commemorative art piece. Our initial lease term is 5 years, which equates to $200 per year worth of bike service. That's about typical for new tires, new drivetrain, recabling, and a fun new component here and there. We also accept donations less than $1000 and are open to work with folks from out of state. Please reach out to cameron@thebikelibrary.com to get the conversation started.

The bike that started it all: We have come a long way since renting out Klunkers from spare storage rooms.

Upcoming Events

2/9 - Basic Maintenance Class (10 AM - 12 PM at The Bike Library)

Learn the essentials of bike maintenance and take home a free bike tool, thanks to our blog subscribers. The class will be guest-hosted by Nicholas Horvath of Rhythm Wheel Works, a mobile bike repair business he founded.
Location: The Bike Library
Time: 10 AM - 12 PM
Tickets: Sliding scale, $0-$15, recommended price $10
Sign up here

2/14 - Valentine’s Day Alleycat Race

Grab a partner (or find one at the race) for this scavenger hunt-style race across Raleigh. The race starts at The Bike Library and ends at Crank Arm Brewing, with fun challenges along the way.
Start: The Bike Library
Finish: Crank Arm Brewing
Registration: 5:30 PM
Race Start: 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: Sliding scale $5-$15, recommended price $10
Check out the flyer for details.

2/15 - Adventure Series: Valentine’s MTB Ride (11 AM Start)

Join us for a beginner-friendly mountain bike ride through Lake Raleigh Woods. No prior mountain biking experience is required, but it helps. Wear red, bring a water bottle and helmet, and either bring a mountain bike or rent one from The Bike Library.
Start Location: The Bike Library
Time: 11 AM
Sign up here

2/17 - Group Ride to District D Vision Zero Public Meeting (5 PM Departure)

Meet at The Bike Library for a ride to Carolina Pines to attend one of Raleigh Transportation's Vision Zero public meetings. This is a great opportunity to ride as a group across the Lake Wheeler Bridge over I-40 and experience this key connection firsthand, as well as give feedback on transportation safety in Raleigh.
Start & End: The Bike Library
Departure: 5 PM
Lights Required
More details about the event here

Looking forward to seeing you out there. Let’s make it a great month of BIKES!

Cameron Zamot

Cameron Zamot

Cameron likes bikes, coffee, and writing.