Cranksgiving in June

The When:
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Time: 6pm – 8pm

The Where:
Recreation Park, Ypsilanti MI map

The What:
Sponsored by Ypsi Velo, Cranksgiving is a two hour race to local grocery stores to buy food for Food Gatherers. The last Cranksgiving race brought in an impressive 800 pounds of food. Good fun for a good cause. See http://ypsivelo.org for details.



Co-op Shop by Bike—with Bike Ypsi!

The When:
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Time: 7pm – 8:30pm

The Where:
Ypsilanti Food C-op, 312 North River Street, Ypsilanti MI

The What:
Ever wanted to shop by bike but it just never seemed practical? Well here’s your chance to learn how. Bike evaluations and carrier recommendations. What foods travel best by bike and how to pack it. Learn our favorite routes to and from the Co-op. Then be escorted home by members of Bike Ypsi.



Bike Ypsi Spring Ride and Festival 2010


Calling all bicyclists! Time to pull those bikes out of the garage and dust them off. It doesn’t matter what style of bike you have or even the condition. Bring them down and let’s get you riding. We have rides for all levels of riders. Can’t do one of the rides? Then just come down for the festival. We have activities for all ages.

The When:
Sun, May 2, 2010
Rides: 10 a.m.
Festival: 11:30 - 2:00 p.m.

The Where:
Recreation Park, Ypsilanti MI map

The What:

The Rides
Rides give local bicyclists a chance to meet, discover bike friendly routes, and gain confidence with street and group riding.

Helmets required for riders under 18. Helmets encouraged for everyone 18 and older.

We want you to be safe... if you don't have a helmet, but need one, you're in luck. This year, sponsored by the AABTS and the YpsiPD, we're having a giveaway of new helmets for kids and adults that need them.

The Festival
Post ride rally and BBQ (hot dogs and vegetarian hot dogs, etc.)
Learn great commuting routes from local commuters.
Meet and get your bike checked out by a local bike shop.
Learn basic bike maintenance from changing a flat to adjusting your bike for comfort.
Learn how to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Play assorted bicycle games for all ages.
Take a shot at learning Bike Polo.
Bike Rodeo for kids.
Bike decorating for kids with the FLY Art Center.
Booth Fair with health and transportation related information.

Another Chili Ride in Ypsi


Sunday, Feb 21, 2010, 2:30 - 3:30 pm start (depending on route)
Start: Cafe Luwak in Depot Town map)
End: Corner Brewery Length: choice of 4, 12, or 28 mile routes.
FREE
A fine excuse to get out and ride around, bad weather or good. Coinciding with the Depot Town Chili Challenge, (a benefit for SOS Community Services), it's a tasty blend of bikes, chili, beer, helping the community, and sharing it all with friends and neighbors.
Be sure to check out routes and more details here.

It goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway - we think your brain is important. We hope you think so too. As always, we encourage you to protect your noggin - wear a helmet when you ride. Please.

Taco Tour Two - Results


Well, Taco Tour went off without a hitch (no flats, no rain, just bikin' and tacoin'). For those that couldn't make it, the stops on the route, in alphabetical order, were:

Los Amigos
La Casita
Dos Hermanos Mercado
La Fiesta Mexicana
Taquiera La Fiesta
Zorro's

The voting took place afterwards, and first and second place went to:
#1 - Dos Hermanos Mercado 115
#2 - La Fiesta Mexicana 103

The Chips-and-Salsa beer afterwards at Corner Brewery was pretty nummy and spicy too... thanks to all that came out and rode and ate and enjoyed.

Bike Ypsi Fall Ride

This fall... Bike Ypsi... Big Fall Ride... Sunday, October 11th. It's more of a ride and less of a festival than the Bike Ypsi Spring Ride & Festival, but riding is fun, so there's that...

There will be a short ride (less than 20 miles) and a long ride (30-40 miles), but the routes aren't exactly decided yet. We like to have something for everyone - short and long options, slow and fast options.

Saturday Specials - MetroPark Mania!



... and once each month in 2009, we'll be doing a series of rides out to the MetroParks. Something of a tour/ramble if you will, riding out to each one, then riding around within them.

When:3rd Saturday of the month, starting in April
9:00 am departure, optional 8:00 breakfast at Cafe Luwak
What:A moderate-pace ride out to various MetroParks and back, with time to stop and have lunch at the turn-around point. Bring food to eat, or cash to buy food with. Route maps will be provided, but it's a self-supported ride - bring your own water, spare inner tube, etc.
Where From:Ypsi Depot Town Farmer's Market (Rice St. & Cross)
Where To:April - Lower Huron MetroPark
May - Willow MetroPark
June - Oakwood MetroPark
July - Hudson Mills MetroPark
August - Erie MetroPark
September - Kensington MetroPark/Island Lake
October - Willow/Oakwood (cider/donut run)
November - Dexter/Huron/Delhi (cider/donut run)

May is Bike to Work month!


Along with the Bike Ypsi Spring Ride & Festival, there's:
  • Bike Ypsi's Friday morning and afternoon bike to work group-bike-commute from Ypsi to Ann Arbor (and back).
  • All over the nation, it's Bike to Work Month.
  • GetDowntown's commuter challenge.
  • The Ride of Silence on May 20th.
  • ... and more to come...

    • June Ypsi Rambles

    Join Bike Ypsi on a relaxed pace ride every Saturday in June.

    This ride is perfect for new riders and those who have been meaning to ride but just haven't been out on a bike in a while. We'll be riding around Ypsilanti and ride the routes you can take to get yourself around town! Learn how to ride in the street as well as how to connect to the Border to Border Trail.

    Helmets required for anyone under 16. This is a family friendly ride so kids under 18 are welcome, but if you're riding your own bike in the street, you have to be at least 12 years old. Trail-a-bikes, tandems, kid trailers, child seats, etc. are of course welcome for those bringing their little ones with them.

    Dust off that bike and come ride!

    When:Every Saturday in June, 10:00 am
    What:A very, very, very relaxed ride. Very leisurely pace, intended for cyclists that just like to tool around town, not too far and not too fast. 30-45 minute ride.
    Where:Meet at Ypsilanti Weekend Farmer's Market (Cross and Rice St. in Depot Town)
    Where To:route varies, but around and about Ypsi.
    Who:Anyone who wants to, but cyclists who are itching to ride long or fast will probably not be interested in this one because it's... well, it's really, really... relaxed.

    Bike Ypsi Spring Ride & Festival 2009

    When:May 3rd, 2009 - rides start at 10:00, festival starts at 12:00.
    What:The big spring ride and festival! (it's free and open to the public)
    Group rides at 10:00:
  • Long Ride (33 miles)
  • Medium Ride (13 miles with optional 6 mile add-on loop)
  • Neighborhood Ramble/Scavenger Hunt (family friendly ride)
    • Festival at 12:00:
  • Activities for every age, BBQ, bike polo, bike related games, info booths, and more.
    • Where:Recreation Park Pavillion
    1015 Congress St.
    Ypsilanti
    corner of Congress and Elm(map).
    Where To:Three rides: regular, neighborhood, and long. The regular ride is a 13-mile loop, with a 6-mile bonus add-on (optional). The neighborhood ride/ramble is suitable for families with youngsters - it's got a scavenger-hunt format, at-your-own-pace, and stays away from busy streets as much as possible. The long route is for the harder-core folks. 30+ miles, and more oomph-per-mile than the other routes.
    Who:Anyone. Seriously. Our Spring Ride is sort of about being everything to everyone... as long as it involves a bike. Want to just get out for a leisurely mosey? OK. Want to pound the pedals, roll up the road, and make a break for the finish line? That's fine too. Just looking to meet other bike people? Heck, that's the whole point of the shindig. It's why it's free, it's why we all get together... hope to see you there.

    We encourage helmet use, so we hope you'll bring yours if you're planning to ride. However, if you're younger than 16, helmets are required.

    Bike Ypsi General Meeting

    When: Wednesday, Jan. 21st 2009, 7:00 pm
    Where: Recreation Park, inside the Senior Center
    Who: anyone who's interested - new folks, old folks, lurkers, lifers, spectators, enthusiasts, etc.

    Bike Ypsi Fall Ride Banner

    Bike Ypsi Fall Ride

    Sunday, Oct. 19th 2008, 1:00 pm

    When and Where: Meets at 12:45, Starts at 1:00 p.m. at Recreation Park (1017 Congress Street - map), ends around 3:00 p.m. at Corner Brewery.

    What: 16 miles, with an optional 16 mile add-on loop. Bring your helmet (mandatory for riders 16 and under). Riders under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult, and there will be groups for those wanting a faster ride and those wanting a slower ride. Something for everyone!

    Why: We believe that bicycling holds an important place in the development of strong, sustainable, and superb communities. We are committed to promoting cycling in Ypsilanti and neoghboring communities, and making where we live into a place that's as bicycle friendly as possible. We like to have fun and socialize as we ride and after we get off our bicycles too. We'll end the 2008 Fall Ride at the Corner Brewery in order to talk with our fellow Ypsilantians, share riding tips and best routes, and engage in various shenanigans of a bike-related nature.

    Fall Ride - color poster Looking for a flyer for the Fall Ride? Download 'em here. PDFs print well, but JPGs are smaller and email well.

    Color PDF
    Monochrome PDF
    Color JPG
    Monochrome JPG
    		 Fall Ride - B/W poster

    Alleycats and Other Bike Shenanigans

    There's a weird sudden happening of something going on just about every weekend in October, and it's not just the Fall Ride that we're talking about... Last Bus to Ypsi alleycat on Oct 11th, Danger Room Cycling alleycat on Oct 24th, Night of the Living Tread 3 alleycat on Oct 30th. Check out the Play page for info.

    Taco Tour 2008!


    Sunday, Sept 14th, 2008, 1pm

    Register by email to Tom Lennon: tlennon1234@sbcglobal.net.

    Payment by Paypal (ypsipuppy@hotmail.com) or in person to Tom. (other arrangements available, ask Tom) Limited to first 30 paying registrants, registration closes August 29. Please include your shirt size (American Apparel T-shirts), and whether you want Meat or Vegetarian.

     Taco Tour SOLD OUT!

    ... folks seem to like tacos, so this particular trip is sold out. But if there's enough interest, maybe there will be another one? Stay tuned.

    What is it: 17 mile ride through Ypsilanti with at least 4 stops at local Taco-producing restaurants. Riding in stages, with stops for food... think of it as Tour de Taco. Like the pros, but without all the carbon fiber bikes, and doping, and riding up the mountains, and TV cameras.

    Where is it: We'll start at Recreation Park (which is the usual spot we meet) and finish at Corner Brewery with liquid refreshment!

    More of the What:
  • Two levels of participation: Taco Taster and Taco Tamer. Taster-level is $20 and gets you one taco at each stop, Tamer-level is $25 and gets you two tacos at each stop.
  • Choice of meaty or veggie tacos. Meaty will depend on taco chef preference. Veggie will be either bean, or mixed vegetable, seasonings, but no cheese.
  • Voting at the end determines who makes the Best Ypsi Taco of 2008.
  • Each taco tourer gets a custom Taco Tour T-Shirt (made by locally-owned T-shirt maestros VGKids), a spoke card, and a map.
  • A special beer will be brewed for the event and available at Corner Brewery at the end of the ride. Alas, cost of beer is not included with registration, so bring some beer bucks with you for that.

    • Ypsi RAT (Ride Around Town)

    Friday, Sept 5th, 2008, 6pm

    What:
    A slow, social ride around town as a group. Route to include EMU campus, the Ypsi parts of the Border-to-Border Trail and downtown Ypsi.

    Why:
    Take to the streets in a large group in order to raise awareness of bicycling and bicyclists, and to remedy some of the conflict between cyclists and motorists.

    Motorists say that cyclists don't obey the law or don't belong on the streets.

    Cyclists say that motorists try to intimidate cyclists or don't know that cyclists have a right to share the road.

    The RAT tries to bridge that divide - cyclists riding safely together as a group, but asserting their right to the road, and all the time obeying the traffic laws. It's a demonstration of sorts - setting a good example for cyclists and motorists alike.

    It's also student season again, so it's a good way to introduce new and returning students to riding around the area.

    Who:
    You! Them! Us!

    Where:
    Starting at the north side of the EMU Student Center (map) and ending at the Ypsilanti Crossroads Music Festival, the route will be a leisurely 30-45 minute ride. (Along with the bands playing a free outdoor show, there's plenty of places in Downtown or Depot Town to get a bite to eat afterwards too.)

    Bike Ypsi Spring Ride and Festival


    ... was quite the smashing success. Thanks to everyone that came, volunteered, donated, rode, played, and everything else that everyone does.

    There was a lot of love for the bikes and bikeyness happening out on the rides, in the park, and all around. It's a fine thing knowing there are so many other bike-thusiastic people in Ypsi, and you can see that we're all sorts of folks - tall, short, road, trail, kids, grownups... but most importantly... friends and neighbors. Hooray for bikes, hooray for Ypsi.

    Bike Ypsi, y'all.

    May is "Curb Your Car Month"

    Ypsi Bike to Work Fridays

    Bike to Work with Bike Ypsi! Meet up with local Ypsi-to-Ann Arbor commuters every Friday in May for a leisurely ride to work. On May 2, 9, 23, and 30, we will meet at 8:00am at Bombadill's coffee shop (217 W Michigan Ave) for the ride to AA. In the evening for the ride back, we'll meet at 5:15pm at AA City Hall (100 N Fifth Ave) and end out ride at Haab's Happy Hour. (18 W Michigan Ave... free appetizer for each person with a bike helmet)

    On May 16, there is a Bike to Work Day Rally in Ann Arbor sponsored by the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) at 8:00am, so the ride will leave from Bombadill's at 7:15am. Meet at AA City Hall at 5:15pm for the ride back to Ypsi and Happy Hour at Haab's restaurant (18 W Michigan Ave). Helmets are strongly encouraged.

    If you are a bike commuter who can't ride with the group, please feel free to join us for pre-work specials on coffee and baked goods at Bombadill's and/or happy hour specials at Haab's every Friday in May!

    RSVPs most welcome but not required: Ypsibiketowork@gmail.com.

    ... lots of other things happening - see the GetDowntown website for more happenings.