This past weekend, our local scene was littered with Bike Safety Rodeo’s and Walk/Bike Rally. Good sutff where kids, parents and commuters a like get some good beta on how to ride safely. It is important to our local communities and great to see. The level of participation and kinds of activities vary from location to location, but in Princeton there were a lot of people and families on bikes, a jazz band and  just all around good vibe.

Oh, and there was also this guy:



How can you pass it up, and remember, Stay Hungry!

The underground sport (if you can call it that) of Alley Cat racing is all about speed, the right bike, street knowledge and a large set of cajones. Dodging traffic, hitting numerous checkpoints along the course and enjoying the freedom of the cycling lifestyle are all a part of the game.

Starting with the first organized race in Toronto, Canada in 1989 spearheaded by a group of competitive bike messengers, Alley Cat races are a battle between riders to get from point A to B the fastest while swiftly navigating mostly urban settings. At stake: mainly just bragging rights. What’s to gain: interaction with other dedicated cyclists taking part in a different type of race.

On the night of April 18th, we, along with friends from Dirt Rag magazine and Swobo, sponsored the first ever Alley Cat race to be held during the annual Sea Otter Classic bike festival. Gathering in the heart of downtown Monterey, California, 25 Alley Caters on everything from sooped-up fixed gear bikes to town cruisers grabbed maps and hit the dark streets in search of finding what await them at the local dive British Bulldog Pub - our finish line. Beer and swag of course. Oh, and a few really, really hot wings and bumpin jukebox. Local speedster Micah Mozal took the top prize and attributed his success to eating sardines instead of hot sauce at one of the checkpoints. This is what happened:

Oh, and by the way, all the bright red blinking tail lights you see, that’s our new Swerve. Check it here http://www.swerveyourbike.com/.

Enjoy!

Yes, gas is expensive, and riding is cheap, healthy, and fulfilling. We all know there are so many great reasons to commute to work by bike, and with fuel prices continually on the rise and close to reaching the $4 mark in most of the country, now is the time to share the benefits of bicycle commuting to those outside the cycling community.

 Last night one of our local dealers, Knapps Cyclery, welcomed the community for a commuting seminar. The state cycling representative, local Specialized rep, and myself were all on hand to discuss the ins and outs of traveling to and from work by bike. We discussed everything from choosing routes, the proper bike, light setup, and how to dress accordingly. 

Hopefully a few of the attendees are now on their way to a happier, healthier, and cheaper journey to and from their place of business!

While we wait for a report from Justin, here is a shot of Ernesto putting a Swerve to the test at Dirt, Sweat and Gears this weekend.  This goes to show, tail lights are not just for commuters!

Justin sent us a picture to let us know that he arrived at DSG and is ready to rock, and that he is surrounded by good friends:

Check out the latest issue of Urban Velo…  if you haven’t checked it out before, it’s a great read, and what’s better, its a free. Get it here:

Swerve… it’s tail light for your bike. 

Swerveyourbike is a web site for your tail light:

Been a big week in NYC for Bikes…  now comes a big month:

and in case you are wondering what this species of bike commuter looks like: click

This is a lesson in effectiveness. If you send stuff back to a manufacturer, always send it back with some style. We love it and we are always looking for fun stuff to fight the daily grind…