The Indespensible Big Dummy

As we get more confident in our kids abilities, we are riding further and further afield.  In the second camp, we were easily covering 12-15 miles some days, with mountain biking and BMX riding during  the ‘breaks’.  We’ve only run into a few snags, mostly with our 7-8 year old crowd dropping chains on their single-speed bikes, and occasional flats.  Thanks to the Big Dummies, we are able to carry both the temporarily decommissioned bike, and the rider, to a good location for bike maintenance.

Tristan and his chain casualty

As it may not be clear in the photo, Mark and I also carried 8-9 backpacks in the Xtracycles.  Temperatures during the last week were in the late 90’s, making it very uncomfortable for our kids to wear backpacks.  Once again, thank goodness for the Dummies.

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Bike to Work Day 2010

The Bikes Improve Kids Experiences (B.I.K.E.) Camp participated in the City of Fort Collin’s ‘Bike to Work Day’ this Wednesday (June 23).  The kids rode to the station sponsored by Recycled Cycles and the Vitamin Cottage who were serving all natural (with real buttermilk) pancakes with fresh blueberries and lots of other goodies from the Vitamin Cottage.  Yum.  The kids were thrilled and one of our kids, Jack, said “Free breakfast, I like biking now!”.  We took the opportunity to talk a little about the cycling culture in Fort Collins, and how much fun it is to participate in the different events.  Thanks again to the businesses that sponsored the stations for this event.

Clara joined us for camp today

Thanks to April for providing the camera today!

We were well hydrated with the coconut water

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B.I.K.E. Camps

The day after returning to Fort Collins, Mark and I were able to score a temporary job teaching bicycle safety to 7-12 year olds through the FC Bikes program.  What a blast!  Today we took the kids from Fossil Creek Park in southern FoCo to Spring Canyon Park, where we rode the Pineridge natural area singletrack.  The kids rocked it, and we were beaming with pride.  It got Mark and I thinking about the bike shop idea again.  How great would it be to include a safety + fun ride with the purchase of any new kids bike (or any bike, for that matter)?  Of Fort Fun’s many shops, not many are as involved in the community as they could be.

Anyway, we are gearing up for Fort Collins Bike to Work Day tomorrow.  Mark and I are going to hit up a free breakfast station or two on the way to camp, and then take the kids (and a few parents) to another station after camp begins.  It is so great to be back!

William doing the slalom

Mark causing a sudden obstruction for the hard right turn

Flat demonstration

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Fort Collins Family Bike Fair

Having arrived in town on Tuesday, we  immediately jumped back on the bikes and started taking in Fort Collins (and distributing resumes, trying to find housing, etc.).  FC Bikes sponsored a Family Bike Fair today, which we were excited to attend.  Apparently there were supposed to be local bike shops, featuring new products in attendance.  We undoubtedly had a great time, especially chatting with Renold, founder of Yipsan Bicycles http://www.yipsanbicycles.com/ and Dave ‘DK’ Kemp the City’s Bike Coordinator.   Unfortunately we were really disappointed in the local bike shop turnout at the fair.  Where were you guys?  There were loads of kids, parents, and probably eager consumers.  I was hoping there would have been at least one bike shop that offered solutions for carrying children on a bike.  To no avail.  At least Cycletote was on the scene, displaying their trailer http://www.cycletote.com/

Hopefully next year we can offer some solutions for aspiring car-free families.  Perhaps I have the beginnings of an idea for a business…

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Home Again, Home Again

Dorothy had it right.  There is no place like home.

We have pedaled all around the Northwest – Awakened in the most mystical of forests, breathtaken by the dramatic cliffs plummeting into the Pacific, and charmed by some of the world’s most friendly and unique people.  But after all of our wandering, we have decided to return home.  Home, for the time, being Fort Collins.

Having grown up in FoCo, I simply didn’t know how good we had it.  Family and friends play a major role, but this small city can easily stand on its own.  I will detail some of those strengths in future blogs, but for now, our decision has been made.  We are digging in, setting down roots, and getting involved.

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