Category Archives: National Bike Challenge

Breeze SM Community Bike Routes & Expo II Bike Path Tour

Breeze membershipStart Bike Week with a Bike Tour on Breeze Bike Share!
We’ll explore Expo II Bike Path.
Sunday, May 15th, 10am – noon

Breeze SM Community Ride is a monthly group ride for current and prospective Breeze members. The ride meets at 10 at Expo 17th Street Breeze Station. This week we’ll explore the Santa Monica’s bike infrastructure as we point our local bike friendly businesses and attractions. Additionally, we’ll learn helpful tips on how to better use
the Breeze bike share system, including checking out, locking, flexibility of “out of station” and “hold” features, multiple bike check out on one account, and Rules of the Road

Ride Breeze Bike Share or ride your own bike – all are welcome!
It promises to be a day of exploration and fun!

On the ride you’ll experience some of Santa Monica amazing bike infrastructure. Surely to be a day of fun and excitement.

Participants’ ride time will be credited FOR THREE HOURS and first time participants can receive a FREE helmet. You must be 16* or over to participate (*under 18 must accompanied by parent or guardian and wear a helmet).

Registration is FREE but required — Please click here to RSVP today!

May: National Bike Month, National Bike Challenge & More!

MAY: NATIONAL BIKE MONTH IS HERE!!!

TheLEAGUE-BikeMonthMay is National Bike Month, sponsored by the  League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try.bike_month_250x250

Whether you bike to work or school; ride to save money or time; pump those pedals to preserve your health or the environment; or simply to explore your community, National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride.

Each year the number and diversity of Bike Month celebrations continues to grow, accelerating the momentum around bicycling nationwide.

Join us for the National Bike Challenge 

The National Bike Challenge is a nationwide event uniting thousands of current bicyclists — and encouraging countless new riders. In its simplest form it is a logging center for users to record miles ridden and be part of the national community of bicyclists. It is a free and easy way to challenge yourself, colleagues and the greater community to ride more. Users compete on a local, state and national level. The year the Challenge aims to unite 75,000 riders to pedal 35 million miles from May 1, 2015 until September 30, 2015. Now in its fourth year, the Challenge is a successful partnership between the PeopleForBikes and Kimberly-Clark’s Scott Natural Brand.

PeopleForBikes owns, operates, and maintains the National Bike Challenge website. PeopleForBikes mission is to making bicycling better for everyone by uniting millions of riders, thousands of businesses and hundreds of communities..

Join the Challenge and ride for team Bike Santa Monica!NBClogo-SCREEN

After you sign up for the National Bike Challenge. and create your account – join team Bike Santa Monica!

The National Bike Challenge officially starts May 1st. We are already warming up in April – don’t wait join now! This year there are 4 apps you can choose from to record your participation. Visit the app gallery here. IT”S EASY!

May 4th: National Walk Bike to School Day
& Bike it Walk it Week Santa Monica

Bike Walk to School

The first-ever National Bike to School Day took place on May 9, 2012, in coordination with the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Month. Almost 1,000 local events in 49 states and the District of Columbia joined together to encourage children to safely bicycle or walk to school.

The event builds on the popularity of Walk to School Day, which is celebrated across the country – and the world – each October. Many communities and schools have been holding spring walk and bicycle to school events for years. National Bike to School Day provides an opportunity for schools across the country to join together to celebrate and to build off of the energy of National Bike Month.

Bike it Walk it Week Santa Monica, May 2nd -6th

Santa Monica and Malibu schools celebrate Bike it Walk it Bus it Week May 2nd-6thth. Join the fun by contacting SRTS Coordinator Cory Keen, your PTA President or the Bike it Walk it Bus it coordinator at your school to find out about how you can participate.

SMMUSD Bike it Walk it

  • Lincoln Middle School: May 4th
  • Franklin Elementary: May 5th
  • Will Rogers Learning Community: April 29th
  • Edison Language Academy: May 4th
  • Grant Elementary: May 5h 
  • John Muir Elementary: May 5th
  • SMASH: May 5th
  • McKinley Elementary: May 4th – 6th
  • Roosevelt Elementary: May 3rd
  • John Adams Middle School: May 5th
  • Samohi: May 18th

BIWIxBBB_2016_Web Graphic

Bike Week / Month 2016

Bike Week LA is an annual week of community events sponsored by Metro and local advocates all over the County of Los Angeles to promote bicycling as a sustainable and practical mode of transportation. Check Metro website for events all over LA.  In Santa Monica we have you covered, to get connected in your area look up LACBC, or your areas LACBC Local Chapter.

Santa Monica Spoke we will again participate and host rides and events through out the week! More info on these rides and events is coming soon Check out our Event Calendar for the latest. Here is an overview of Metro Events some of what we have planned locally to get you excited!
More are being added – check calendar for updates! 

  • Nation Bike Challenge Begins. Log miles over smiles from May 1st to September 30th. Join Team Bike Santa Monica in this National Competition. More info online.
  • Sunday, May 1st – Gear Up! as we launch Bike Month! Get ready to ride, learn to pedal safely, and win free stuff! 11am-2pm McKinley School, 2401 Santa Monica Blvd
  • May 2nd – 6th – Bike it! Walk it! Bus it! to School – SMMUSD. For more information contact Cory.Keen@smgov.net
  • Sunday, May 1st – Adult Learn to Ride bike class. For more info and to sign up visit smbikecenter.com/services/bike-classes/
  • Every Wednesday Camp Coffee, #CoffeeOutside at Ballona Creek 7:00-8:00am. Bring your camp brew kit or ready made, It’s a great way to start your day. On the jetty at the end of Ballona Creek Bike Path past the bike bridge.
  • Wednesdays in May Bike Maintenance Workshop – 4 part series, Santa Monica Bike Center , more info visit smbikecenter.com/services/repair/
  • Every Thursday in May Handlebar Happy Hour – Celebrate all things bike as we explore our Santa Monica Buy Local, Bike Local business. This month we visit the Most Loved SM Happy Hour Finalists. Areal, The Craftsman, Rusty’s and Upper West.
  • Sunday, May 8th LA Bike Festival: Grand Park, Downton Los Angeles
    CycloFemme Rides
  • Thursday, May 12th, BREEZE BIKE SHARE Handlebar Happy Hour 6 Month Anniversary Celebration at The Craftsman Bar and Kitchen
  • Friday, May 13th Big Blue Bus Buy One Get One stock up on your BBB fare!
  • Saturday, May 14th Expo II Bike Path Ride info as confirmed at SMSpoke.org
  • Sunday, May 15th CicLAvia Southeast Cities 9am-4pm ciclavia.org

Bike LOCAL WEEK Santa Monica 

  • Sunday, May 15 – Breeze Bike Share Community Ride & Bike Route Tour 10am – noon, meet at 17th Street Expo station.
  • Meatless Monday, May 16 – Ride & Fundraiser to the Veggie Grill We meet at Colorado Center Park at 5:30 to ride (or meet us) at Veggie Grill, 2025 Wilshire blvd
  • Tuesday, May 17th Ladies Choice Women and Biking discussions over morning coffee at Sidecar Donuts  — 7:30am to 9am, 631 Wilshire Blvd, SM
    12th Annual Blessing of the Bicycles
  • Wednesday, May 18th Special Edition Bike Week Camp Coffee #CoffeeOutside at Ballona Creek 7:00-8:00am. Bring your camp brew kit or ready made, It’s a great way to start your day. On the jetty at the end of Ballona Creek Bike Path past the bridge.
    Guided SM City Bike Tour. We’ll check out the new Esplanade & cycle track, then ride some of the great bike facilities that earned Santa Monica its Silver Level Bike Friendly City Designation. We ride to a bonus Handlebar Happy Hour, location tbd
  • Thursday, May 19th is Bike to Work Day! Sponsored by Metro Visit our website for a full list of Santa Monica pit stop locations. We will be at City Hall as well as several other locations.
    Bike From Work Handlebar Happy Hour: TWO in Santa Monica! We will be at Areal 2820 Main Street Main St and Public Bikes 2714 Main St is hosting a Bike From Work Handlebar Happy Hour that benefits Santa Monica Spoke. WOOT!! So FUN and so close – you can do BOTH!
    People on bikes Ride Metro and Big Blue Bus for Free today!
    Visit metro.net/bikes/bike-month/ for Bike events all over LA County
    Free ride time on Breeze Bike Share Thursday May 19 to Saturday May 21
  • Friday, May 20th Opening Expo II light rail line and Expo II Bike Path. Festivities are scheduled for noon at 4th Street Terminus station – smgov.net/expo
    Expo Trains are FREE Friday & Saturday, May 20th & 21st
    Bike to the Movies / Date Night at the Laemmle Theater. Meet at the 4th Street Expo Station and ride to the movies at Laemmle Monica Theater. Time tbd
  • Saturday May 21st Expo II Station Parties. Visit all three stations, each is themed differently – we plan to be at all three stations. This historic event is one not to be missed. 10am-4pm all stations.
  • Sunday, May 22nd Santa Monica Spoke Family Bikes on Expo Tour. Let’s go multi-modal with the whole family. We start at 17th Expo Station take a short ride on the Expo II Bike Path and then jump on Expo to Exposition Park for a short ride around the Rose Garden, then back to Santa Monica. Fun for the whole family. Start time planned for 10am, final details posted to the website soon.
    Bike + Train Tour SM Learn to connect bikes to transit with PUBLIC Bikes & Sustainable Streets, free Breeze ride and tap card! 10am- 4pm meet at 2714 Main St.
    Intermediate Learn to Ride bike class. For more info and to sign up visit smbikecenter.com/services/bike-classes/

Close out Bike Month with Bike Night at Union Station! 

  • Friday, May 27th Bike Night is more than just bikes: music from Jungle Fire,    raffles and games, awesome prizes from Public Bikes and Tern Bicycles, and the highlight of the evening, a bicycle fashion show!

Join the National Bike Challenge: Ride for team BIKE SANTA MONICA

More Bike Week, Bike Month & Bike Local SM Specials posted “linked here” soon!

National Bike Challenge begins May 1st!

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: the National Bike Challenge starts this Sunday
Sign up today and start tracking your rides. (It’s free, fun and easy.)

In its simplest form, the Challenge is an easy logging center for you to record the miles you ride while competing with other riders all over the country. But the National Bike Challenge is so much more than that. It is a community of people who all share a love of riding bikes. With competition possibilities on the local, state and national level, it is a free and easy way to challenge yourself, colleagues and the greater community to ride more. The Challenge aims to unite 100,000 riders to pedal 75 million miles from May 1, 2016 until September 30, 2016. Now in its fifth year, the Challenge is a successful partnership between PeopleForBikes and Kimberly-Clark’s Cottonelle Products brand.

Compete with your friends, co-workers and neighbors for a chance to win new prizes each month. It doesn’t matter if you’re riding hundreds of miles a week or just getting back in the saddle, you are welcome in the National Bike Challenge. Now get rolling!

Join the Challenge and ride with us on team
Bike Santa Monica!NBClogo-SCREEN

After you sign up for the National Bike Challenge. and create your account – join team Bike Santa Monica!

The National Bike Challenge officially starts May 1st. We are already warming up in April – don’t wait join now! This year there are 4 apps you can choose from to record your participation. Visit the app gallery here. IT”S EASY!

Santa Monica Spoke is the local community host – Our TEAM Bike Santa Monica is a collaboration with City of Santa Monica, Bike Local,  and the Santa Monica Bike Center. Together we host lots of events like our Handlebar Happy Hours throughout the challenge!

September Handlebar Happy Hour and Movie Night at the Aero!

September Handlebar Happy Hour: Ox & Son
Plus Movie Night at the Aero
Sustainable SM Movie Screening: DamNation
FREE BIKE VALET at the Aero

End of 2015 Bike Challenge. We’ve almost hit our goal of 100,000 miles!
LOG YOUR MILES BY TOMORROW.
Watch for announcement of end of National Bike Challenge Handlebar Happy Hour Party!

Current standings in all categories: Log those miles and raise our rankings!

  • Team Bike Santa Monica: #1 Locally, #17 Nationally
  • Local Challenge Community: Nationally #24
  • Santa Monica: Statewide #11, Nationally #100

Last month of the 2015 Bike Challenge don’t forget! LOG MILES OVER SMILES for the National Bike Challenge. All are welcome!! Family friendly event.

September Handlebar Happy Hour

DAY:    Wednesday
DATE:    September 30th
TIME:    5:30pm -7pm 
PLACE: Ox & Son
1534 Montana Ave, Santa Monica
They are a Buy Local Santa Monica,, locally-owned business!
Afternoon Bites and Drink Specials apply until 7pm for our group! THX!

Sustainable Movie Screening: DamNationunnamed-4

With the drought being such a hot topic in recent years, it is important to understand the effects of dams and how they impact our water supply.
Damnation is a powerful film odyssey across America that explores the sea change in our national attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that our own future is bound to the life and health of our rivers

Followed by a Q&A session moderated by Connor Everts, Executive Director of the Southern California Watershed Alliance.

Panelists will include Jacques Leslie, Journalist and author of Deep Water: The Epic Struggle Over Dams, Displaced People and the Environment, Kim O’Cain, Water Resource Specialist with the City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment, and Clark Stevens,  Executive Officer of the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains and an architect specializing in habitat restoration.
Prize Drawing for over $450 worth of Patagonia merchandise.
Wednesday, September 30th at 7:30pm
Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Ave. 
FREE Admission to Sustainable Works members, the first 100 Santa Monica residents and the first 100 High School and College students (with valid ID)  who reserve their seats here.
Not a Sustainable Works Member or High School/College student? Please purchase tickets at http://fur.ly/0/damnationscreening

July Handlebar Happy Hour: WARSZAWA , July 29th

Come celebrate all things bike.
Log miles over smiles for the National Bike Challenge!!
Socialize, talk bikes, give input ….

At the end of every month we get together for fun, to talk bikes, and LOG MILES OVER SMILES for the National Bike Challenge. Part of Team Bike Santa Monica or not — COME JOIN US!
All are welcome!! Want to know more about Team Bike Santa Monica? Find our here!

WARSZAWA SM


DAY:    Wednesday
DATE:    July 29th
TIME:    5:30pm -7pm (HH $)
PLACE: WARSZAWA
1414 Lincoln Boulevard, Santa Monica,

Polish Food & Happy Hour on the Back Patio!
WARSZAWA is a locally-owned business supporting other local business by buying locally and supporting fellow SM businesses! They are a Buy Local Business


 

Specials:  $1 off drinks and 3 featured appetizers for $4-5 ea (great price) for Keilbasa, Latkas or Bacon Wrapped Prunes!
They are a family-owned, family-friendly, community supported, legacy (35+ years old) business, promoting fellowship and an Old World vibe.

NBC Team Bike SM