2nd Annual Fix Fest - April 30

Get geared up for Bike Month! Come out to the Second Annual Fix Fest

• When: Saturday, April 30, 9 am – noon
• Where: 110 Draper Road adjacent to the Blacksburg Farmer’s Market

Dust off your bike, pump up the tires, and lube the chain.  Spring is here!  Has your bike been sitting in the garage over the winter – or even for the last few years!  If so, it’s time to get your bike ready to ride!  Everyone can bring their bikes downtown for a *free* safety check and basic tune up.  Our local bike shops – Bike Barn, East Coasters, and Hokie Spokes, will be on hand with mechanics offering basic services.  (Participants that require part replacement or more involved repairs will be referred to the bike shops.)

 You can also download a poster to help spread the word. If you have questions about the event, email cstraight@nrvpdc.org

 This event is made possible with our sponsors’ help: Town of Blacksburg, NRV Bicycling Association, RIDE Solutions, Hokie Spokes, Bike Barn, East Coasters, Sustainable Blacksburg and Modea.

Once you’ve got your bike in working order, join other commuters on Clean Commute Fridays.

Clean Commute participants pledge to use a cleaner commute mode – biking, walking, riding the bus, carpooling – on one or more Fridays in May. Pick one Friday to try a clean commute mode, or challenge yourself to carpool, bike, bus, walk, or telecommute every Friday.

Each day pledged is an entry for the prize drawing which will include a variety of prizes. There is also a Cleanest Team competition open to any group (workplace, clubs, informal groups). For more information go to http://www.ridesolutions.org/cleancommute/index.shtml

We’ll be celebrating Clean Commute on Friday morning, May 20, at the Blacksburg Farmers’ Market. Be sure to stop for coffee and pastry!

5th Annual NRVBA Goes to the Movies...

The 5th NRVBA movie date is Saturday January 15th. The film, "The Triplets of Belleville ", will be at the Lyric Theatre at 1pm, followed by a celebration at Gillies with hors d'oeurves and beer. The event is geared toward current and prospective new club members.

Huckleberry Trail Update

Friends of the Huckleberry Trail are hosting a brief informational session at 2 pm on Sunday, August 1st at Mill Mountain.  Bill Ellenbogen and Lance Matheson, two long time trail promoters, will be present to provide the latest information about trail expansions, time frames and funding needs.  The meeting will be informal and is open to the public.  Please share this email with individuals or groups that might have a strong interest in working together on the Huckleberry Trail expansion.

Bike the US for MS – Arrives in Blacksburg

Bike the US for MS, a group based here in Blacksburg, organizes an annual cross-county bike rides to benefit Multiple Sclerosis causes.  This year, the organization is riding the Trans America route and will be coming through Blacksburg on Sunday, June 6^th.  The organization would love for local cyclists to join the group on the ride into town.  There are 30 cyclists in the cross-country group, and they would like to have 50+ riders coming into town on Harding Avenue. The cross-country group is camping in Troutville the night of June 5th and will be departing for Blacksburg around 8:00 am.  There is a planned refreshment stop near the Catawba Country Store around 10:00 am.   Riders and supporters are welcome to come out and join us for the whole ride or anywhere else in between Troutville and Blacksburg.  Riders can register online at here, or just email us and let us know they want to participate.  For more information, contact: Mason Cavell by email or by phone (206)498-7954.

Check Out Our New Website!

We've been working on our website, so that we can provide our members and the community great resources to get more people out and biking. We invite you to check it out and let us know what's missing or what you love!

2010 Radford Ride for Silence

The annual International Ride of Silence was observed locally in Radford on Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Hosted by Pathways for Radford and the NRVBA, eighty-nine (89) riders and several supportive bystanders participated in the local ride. Uniformed and plain-clothed officers came out on bicycles to ride with the participants and show support. Several police vehicles and one ambulance escorted the long procession of riders; lights on, silently announcing our presence. We were a highly visible sign that the cycling community is strong, vibrant and willing to take its rightful spot on public roadways.

To those who spread the word and especially to the 89 cyclists who showed up to honor the lives of Bonnie Tinker, Bruce Rosar, Joe Mirenda, Rueben Williams and Adam Little, THANK YOU!

Thanks also to:

• Ellen Taylor for printing up the safe riding tips that were distributed to all participants,
• Pathways and the NRVBA for financing the 25 signs posted along the route, and
• David and Leslie for helping collect signs after he ride.

Special thanks to fellow members of the members of the Ride of Silence Committee: Laurie Buchwald, Carol Colby, and Frank Taylor.

-Submitted by Katrina Cometa