Hitting the road
Road trips are a staple of summer. Windows down, music blasting is how I tend to roll, but our cyclists are hitting the road this summer too. A huge chunk of our road bike inventory will be out this weekend. We’ve got people riding for MS Bikes, going hardcore in the Cohasset Triathalon, and others cruising through Maine.
CC steve garfield
Those are just a few of the big things going on this weekend. We’ll be following the ICA’s bike tour of Shepard Fairey’s public works on Sunday, June 28. The tour is sold out, but keep you eyes on UA’s event listings, possible giant sightings in our future.
JP Bikes is also doing a cool ride up to Cape Anne. They’ll be running a serious route all the way from Boston, and also taking the train from North Station up to ride from Rockport to the beach. Pretty cool way to spend a Sunday.
And that just about wraps up June. It’s crazy, but we’re glad for an end to the rain and a blazing start to summer. July is going to be a huge month, and if you’re thinking about riding with us around the 4th or maybe to go check out the Tall Ships give us some notice and we’ll have your ride ready to roll.
There is Bike Share in Boston
You heard me right. It might not be the city’s program and it might not have a million satellites, but the basic idea is already in place with Urban Bike Share.
Bold? Risky? Nah, just think of it as a membership to a really cool bike program where you get great deals and can experience all the joys of cycling without having to own a bike. Here’s the basic breakdown:
- 10 or 22 Bike Bucks.
- Free guided tour of Boston to teach members the ins and outs of city riding.
- Discount on registration for Hub on Wheels.
- Donation to Livable Streets Alliance, Hub on Wheels, MassBike and Bikes Not Bombs.
- Discount on merchandise, tours, additional Bike Bucks and rental accessories.
- Lifetime discounted membership with Zipcar.
- E-newsletter full of updates on local bike events.
There are two tiers or membership, the 3-Speed and the 10-Speed with the 10-Speed providing more Bike Bucks. Bike Bucks are valued at one buck per 24 hour hybrid rental, which always includes a helmet and a lock.
We also want to make sure that our members are comfortable riding in the city and we offer suggested routes for all Urban Bike Share members. We’re all about promoting more bikes in Boston and hope to ensure safe, city-smart riding with our Bike Share.
“I already own a bike” you say? Urban Bike Share membership gives you access to our full fleet of bikes including those gorgeous Allezs 
for that first big charity ride or triathlon. Bike Bucks are also great for visiting friends or family who want to go ride with you. Membership also gets you discounts on our tours, to get those friends and family out of your hair, and on all our merchandise. Perhaps gifts for said family?
So don’t worry about storing a bicycle or even having to maintain it. We’ll take care of all of that. Just come ride with us and bring your family and friends.
A fabulous weekend of AdvenTours
It’s a non-stop business, this cycling stuff. We roll on despite New England’s temperamental and tempestuous weather. Earlier in the season we had a particularly thunderous incident but even then there was light, not at the end of the tunnel, but just on the other side of the park.
So even when we had some weather-y ups and downs this weekend, things still turned out bright. Particularly fabulous was our Saturday morning tour. In fact AP had a bunch of his college buddies out for a ride, and they guys had a great time. Boston, being the lively always changing city that it is, was holding it’s Boston’s Pride Parade that morning and the tour headed up the route.
Sunday saw us hanging with the crafters at the SoWa Open Market who had some great stuff for sale, not to mention some particularly tasty wares from The Danish Pastry House. We hope to run into those cookies again at future Open Markets and at the farmers’ markets that are starting to kick into gear for the season.
View Farmers’ Markets in a larger map
In turn with the farmers’ markets, Urban AdvenTours is also coordinating with Boston’s Tour de Farms a great ride for local agriculture and sustainable farming.
Mark your calendars and reserve your spot with us.
We do bike South End
Ah the South End. A neighborhood like that is where a truck can really get out and breath. Nice wide streets, the traffic’s not bad and there is lots of parking, at least in the SoWa (South of Washington Street) area. Thankfully the SoWa community took one of those parking lots that is particularly empty on the weekends and turned it into a weekly market! That’s where we’ll be hanging out on Sunday, June 14 at the Sowa Open Market.
Yeah, it will be a bright colorful event with crafts, a farmers’ and antique market, and we’ll be there with all our snazzy merchandise. You’ve seen the hats and probably the t-shirts, but have you seen the mugs? Kinda perfect for sipping tea on those grey days in the office, like it’s been this past week.
Swing by Harrison Street for a hopefully sunny afternoon of shopping and snacking, and say hi to the UA Team at our cool new booth.
No bones about it
Last night was one of our favorite Boston events of the year – Redbones Bike Party! It was great to see Boston cycling community members supporting local organizations MassBike and NEMBA. Oh the delicious food from Redbones, and they trusted us hooligans enough to even allow beer on Chester Street this year.
Unfortunately a bus can’t win any of the awesome raffle prizes. The whole gang from Urban AdvenTours was drooling over the grand prize cargo bike from Alternative Needs Transportation (ANT Bikes). I think an ANT Bike and myself would make a nice couple – we’re both green, stylish, and practical.
In addition to yesterday’s Redbones, we also had a great time with the CitySmart Family Ride. Cambridge is always full of some interesting characters and that Saturday was no exception. Even the Bike Police posed got in on the fun with our mechanic.
I guess we’re under arrest for keeping up with all of Boston’s best bike events. Up next: getting crafty at the SOWA Open Market
A major BIKE-A-THON of a weekend
So last entry, our beloved Bikes Not Bombs played host to Mass in Motion, but this weekend they play host to the Green Roots Festival, all about sustainable urban living. Yeah, we’re into that.
In conjunction with the festival Bikes Not Bombs will also be holding their 22nd Annual Bike-A-Thon. The ride raises funds for BNB’s international mission to promote developing economies and social justice not to mention all the fine work they do for community youth programs. All this pedal power really can make a big impact.
I’ve wheeled ahead of myself here though, yesterday we were supporting the Cambridge Bike Committee. One of our handy bike mechanics helped the families of Cambridge get out and enjoy the Minuteman Bikeway.
Sunday we’ll be at the AIDS Walk Boston starting and ending at the DCR Memorial Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. Urban AdvenTours will be leading the way for AIDS/HIV research as we lead the way on the 5K route. There’s still time to register too, to help support the AIDS Action Committee and their great work.
And for your weekend enjoyment, I leave you with a wonderful day in London with some impressive fixie tricks.
Let the TANDEMONIUM begin!
It’s on. The tandems are here and our guests could not be more psyched. Just look at these cruising machines. Classy right? This is exactly what we mean by pedal power. What could be more delightful, more romantic than an evening ride around the waterfront? Really I’m just jealous, it’s hard to make the light sent of olive oil seem too romantic for anyone in the passenger seat. But onward we go, rolling into summer. It’s June already! Though we’re a bit late with this post, we did say “Rabbit Rabbit” yesterday. It’s an age old tradition for the first of each month to get some good luck. While there isn’t a rabbit’s foot on my ignition keys, what small green business couldn’t use a little bit of good luck?
We could certainly use more great events like the Mass in Motion ride. This campaign to promote wellness and healthy habits gave us a chance to ride with Governor Deval Patrick and the great team at Bikes Not Bombs from the State House out to the Bikes Not Bombs Armory St. shop for an awesome cooking demonstration with help from Laria Foods and Chef Ming Tsai.
Click the photo for more great pictures
Up next: Bikes Not Bombs BIKE-A-THON!