Kids Bike Club

This Fall, we are testing out an idea for teaching kids to ride. We asked a group of Kindergarten through 2nd graders if they would join us for a weekly club meeting. Recognizing that a lot of these children have younger brothers and sisters, we invited them too. And we asked the parents to stick around to both encourage the kids and find out more about how they could ride as a family.

Well, this week was our first club meeting (we waited until the end of September thinking the weather would be cooler!). And the kids were awesome. We were joined by nine K-2nd graders, plus three older siblings (who I enlisted as volunteers) and four younger siblings (who we encouraged to ride our balance bikes).

Four of the K-2nd graders already knew how to ride their bicycles (one having learned just days before). I sent them off with the big kids to practice riding. By the end of the session, two more joined them as pedal bike pros and one more was almost there. We’ll keep meeting through the Fall, in the hopes that they will all learn to ride. Then, I hope we’ll be able to get out in the street and talk about road safety, too.

Demolition Night

Have you been wanting to come to the Shop, but feel nervous that you don’t know enough to work on bikes, with us? If so, you should check out Demolition Night! On this night, we break down bicycles that can’t be recycled back to the street. And it is a great time to get your hands on some tools, without the fear of breaking something. Tomorrow night (Monday!) is Demolition Night. Join us in the Shop between 6:30 and 9:00 p.m. to see how fun wrenching on bikes can be!

Show ‘n Tell: Electric Bikes

Have you heard of electric assist bicycles? Are you curious about what they’re like? We’re having a Show ‘n Tell next Sunday at 3:00 at the Shop. We have a few friends who have been tinkering with eAssist and they will show off their work. We’ll gather in front of our Bike Gate, so that after we chat, we can do some test rides!  Join us to learn more!

Rides You Don’t Want to Miss

Beers and Gears

This Thursday night kicks off our new ride: Beers and Gears. This casual ride will gather on on Thursday, Sept 29 at 7:00, in front of Revolutions’ Bike Gate, and roll out for a couple of beers at High Cotton Brewery, in the Edge. Join us on Thursday, Sept 29 at 7:00, in front of Revolutions’ Bike Gate. And read more details here.

Bike to Brunch

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 8 at 9:00 a.m. That’s when we’ll meet up for our first Bike to Brunch of the Fall. We’re headed to Bryant’s, and you know that’s delicious!

Renting Bicycles for Revolutions Group Rides

Don’t let not having a bike keep you from riding on our group rides. We’re renting City Bikes for $5, plus tax and Family Cargo Bikes for $10, plus tax. If you’re renting, please arrive at 15 minutes early, so we can get your bike adjusted for you!

All rides are weather dependent (we will postpone, if it looks like rain). And we require helmets on all Revolutions sponsored rides. And please remember that you ride at your own risk.

Where We Rode, Last Week

Bike to Dinner

We finished up our Summer series with a ride to Casablanca restaurant. It was a cool and lovely evening out on the porch.

MEMFix: Film Row

There were a ton of events happening around Memphis, yesterday. A group of 12 of us rode downtown to Livable Memphis’ latest MEMFix event. It was hot like the middle of summer! Two guests from First Congo’s hostel joined us. They were in town to look at the Southern College of Optometry and we totally won them over, for Memphis!

We parked at the new City-owned Bike Valet racks. Bike/Walk Memphis was watching the bikes. But apparently, anyone can request use of these racks, and they are highly portable. So, if you want to encourage arriving by bicycle, at any of your events, consider hosting some Bike Valet!

What’s Happening This Week
Sept 25–Oct 2

Sunday:
2:00-6:00 p.m.    Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!
2:00 p.m.                How to Ride in the Street, class 4 of 4

Monday:
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Demolition Night

Thursday:
2:00-9:00 p.m.     Retail Shop open for Retail, Service and Rentals
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN
7:00 p.m.                 Beers and Gears Group Ride

Saturday
8:30 am-3:30 pm  Retail Shop WILL be Open for Retail, Service and Rentals

Sunday:
2:00-6:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!
3:00 p.m.                 eBike Show and Tell

Coming Up, Soon!

Sunday, Oct 5
6:00 p.m.               Freewheel Slow Ride

Saturday, Oct 8
9:00 a.m.                Bike to Brunch: Bryant’s

Fix a Flat — TOMORROW!

Do you have a bike that you can’t ride, because it has a flat tire? Are you afraid of getting stuck while out on a ride, because you don’t know how to fix a flat? Joins us for Monday’s Fix a Flat class. We’ll meet on Sept 19, at 6:30 for a great explanation of what to do. Bring your own bike, if you want, or use one of ours. Fix a Flat is a free class offered to our members. Not a member, yet? Join when you sign up for class!

Rides You Don’t Want to Miss

Bike To Dinner: Last dinner of the season

It’s getting dark earlier and earlier. And soon, it might also be cold (well maybe not cold…). So, this week is our last Bike to Dinner of the season. We’re headed to Casablanca, on Madison. They are offering a $15/person special menu. It is sure to be delicious. So, join us at 6:30 on Wednesday because you know you gotta eat! There are more details here.

MEMFix: Film Row

Next Saturday’s MEMFix/MEMShop will be held at the infamous Film Row!
The 7th installment of the MEMFix program happens this Fall at the confluence of several exciting projects in and around Downtown Memphis. Memphis’ Film Row has a rich history and a promising future, buttressed by the National Civil Rights Museum, Army and Navy Parks, a flourishing South Main Street, Heritage Trail, and the South City redevelopment district. MEMFix: Film Row will also be the kickoff for a new round of MEMShops along the Heritage Trail, adding new retail and commercial spaces to the mix in South City.

We’ll ride down together and set a meet up time. You can ride back with us or on your own. Read more about our MEMFix ride, here.

Beers and Gears

We have a new ride called Beers and Gears. This casual ride will gather on some Thursday nights, and roll out for a couple of beers at local breweries or maybe some dive bars. Who knows! It will really depend on the group. For our first ride, we’ll head to High Cotton. Join us on Thursday, Sept 29 at 7:00, in front of Revolutions’ Bike Gate. And read more details here.

Renting Bicycles for Revolutions Group Rides

Don’t let not having a bike keep you from riding. We’re renting City Bikes for $5, plus tax and Family Cargo Bikes for $10, plus tax. If you’re renting, please arrive at 6:15 so we can get your bike adjusted for you!

All rides are weather dependent (we will postpone, if it looks like rain). And we require helmets on all Revolutions sponsored rides. And please remember that you ride at your own risk.

Cooper-Young Festival

Did you enjoy the Cooper-Young Festival, this weekend? The rain threatened. Then the humidity came. But everyone still appeared to have a great time. For our part, we cleared the streets and pumped up the Light The Way parties, for the 4-Miler, on Friday night. And then we talked to lots and lots of people who want to ride bicycles with us, at the Festival. We’ve got lots in store, for the Fall. So, come on in and check us out!

Electric Bikes

Have you heard of electric assist bicycles? I tried one when I was in the Netherlands and was intrigued at the possibilities. The bicycle I tried had pedal-assist, which gave my pedaling a little extra oomph. And it also had throttle assist, which I found very helpful when starting out going uphill. We have some Revolutions members who are tinkering with e-assist and would like to show off what they built on their bicycles and tricycles.

On Sunday, October 2 at 3:00 p.m. we will have a Show and Tell. We will have several examples of e-assist to look at and maybe even ride around a little. Join us to learn more!

What’s Happening This Week
Sept 18–25

Sunday:
2:00-6:00 p.m.    Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!
2:00 p.m.               Women’s Bike Chat

Monday:
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Fix a Flat Class

Wednesday:
6:30 p.m.                 Bike To Dinner

Thursday:
2:00-9:00 p.m.     Retail Shop open for Retail, Service and Rentals
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN

Saturday
8:30 am-3:30 pm  Retail Shop WILL be Open for Retail, Service and Rentals
11:00 a.m.                Group Ride to MEMFix: Film Row

Sunday:
2:00-6:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!

Coming Up, Soon!

Monday, Sept 26
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Demolition Night

Thurs, Sept 29
7:00 p.m.               Beers and Gears Group Ride

Sunday, Oct 2
3:00 p.m.                E-Assist Show and Tell

Saturday, Oct 8
9:00 a.m.               Bike to Brunch

This Week’s Rides

Central Gardens Tour of Homes — TODAY!

Central Gardens added a bicycle tour option to this year’s Tour of Homes. Won’t you buy a ticket and show off how fun it is to see these houses by bicycle? Get your tickets, here. And then plan to meet us on Sunday, Sept 11 at 2:00 in the Grace-St. Luke’s parking lot at the SE corner of Belvedere and Peabody.

Party Pumper-Uppering!

Revolutions is the pace car for the Cooper-Young 4-Miler to pump up the Light the Way party goers. (Cooper-Young residents host front yard parties along the race route and literally “light the way” for this after dark race.)

Who’s riding with us as the Official Party Pumper Uppers and the Pace Car. We have to ride fast! If you can handle that, and are good at happy-yelling, we’d love to have you ride with us. But I’m serious, we ride a lot faster than we do for any of our other rides, because we DO NOT want to get run over by any of the racers!

This race is on Friday, Sept 16 and we will meet at 6:15 p.m. the Cooper-Young Trellis, on the street between Memphis Made and Bluff City Sports. Costumes and noise-makers are welcome.
Check out more details her if you want to join the fun! Oh, and there’s free beer, at the end!!

Cooper-Young Fest

Come see us at our booth, right in front of the Shop, at the Cooper-Young Fest Saturday. It’s best to ride your bike. You can park at the bike corral in front of First Congo. Or you can check out the Bike Walk Memphis Bike Valet, in the Bluff City Parking lot.

Women’s Bike Chat–Next Sunday

Women’s Bike Chat is the day after Cooper-Young Fest. We’re meeting, and chatting. And we’ll take an easy neighborhood ride. Join us at 2:00 p.m., on Sept 18.

Fix a Flat — Next MONDAY

Do you have a bike that you can’t ride, because it has a flat tire? Are you afraid of getting stuck while out on a ride, because you don’t know how to fix a flat? Joins us for next Monday’s Fix a Flat class. We’ll meet on Sept 19, at 6:30 for a great explanation of what to do. Bring your own bike, if you want, or use one of ours. Fix a Flat is a free class offered to our members. Not a member, yet? Join when you sign up for class!

Did you go to Freewheel?

Over 70 people showed up to the new Freewheel ride, on Wednesday! We were led on a gentle tour through the Medical District. Organized by the Medical District Collaborative and the Downtown Commission, this series of Slow Rides is exploring neighborhoods. Revolutions works to connect people and bicycles, so we’re joining in on this ride. You can sign up for the next one, on Sept 21, here.

What’s Happening This Week
Sept 11–18

Sunday:
2:00 p.m.               How to Ride in the Street class continues
2:00-6:00 p.m.    Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!
2:00 p.m.               Central Gardens Bicycle Tour of Homes

Monday:
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!

Thursday:
2:00-9:00 p.m.     Retail Shop open for Retail, Service and Rentals
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN

Saturday
8:30 am-3:30 pm  COOPER-YOUNG FEST!!!!!
                                     Retail Shop WILL be Open for Retail, Service and Rentals

Sunday:
2:00 p.m.                Women’s Bike Chat
2:00-6:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!

Coming Up, Soon!

Monday, Sept 19
6:30 p.m.                  Fix a Flat Class

Saturday, Sept 24
11:00 a.m.                 Group Ride to MEMFix: Film Row

Upcoming Rides

Freewheeling

This week, Revolutions is joining in on a new ride series called Freewheel. Organized by the Medical District Collaborative and the Downtown Commission, this series of Slow Rides will explore neighborhoods. We like to do that, so we’re headed over to ride along. If you want to ride with us from Cooper-Young, meet us before 5:30, on Wednesday, Sept 7. We will leave at 5:30 to make it over to Monroe in time for the 6:00 ride. Or, you can just meet us there. More details here.

PLEASE NOTE: If you need a rental bike for this ride, please get them from the Freewheel folks. We will not have rentals available from Revolutions, for this ride.Follow this link and click “Get Tickets”.

Garden Touring

Central Gardens added a bicycle tour option to this year’s Tour of Homes. Won’t you buy a ticket and show off how fun it is to see these houses by bicycle? Get your tickets, here. And then plan to meet us on Sunday, Sept 11 at 2:00 in the Grace-St. Luke’s parking lot at the SE corner of Belvedere and Peabody.

Party Pumper-Uppering!

Last year, Revolutions was asked to follow the pace car for the Cooper-Young 4-Miler to pump up the Light the Way party goers. (Cooper-Young residents host front yard parties along the race route and literally “light the way” for this after dark race.)

They loved us so much that they asked us back this year to be both the Official Party Pumper Uppers and the Pace Car. This means we have to ride fast! If you can handle that, and are good at happy-yelling, we’d love to have you ride with us. But I’m serious, we ride a lot faster than we do for any of our other rides, because we DO NOT want to get run over by any of the racers!

This race is on Friday, Sept 16 and we meet at the CY Trellis, on the street between Memphis Made and Bluff City Sports. Costumes and noise-makers are welcome.
Email me (info@revolutionsmemphis.com) if you want to join the fun! Oh, and there’s free beer, at the end!!

Overton Park Slow Ride

We had a great ride, yesterday, to and thur Overton Park. The weather was cool and the group was jovial. We’ll have more Saturday rides, this Fall. So, keep an eye here and on our Facebook page!

Bike!Bike!

Does anyone want to attend Bike!Bike!, a community bike shop conference, on our behalf? It’s in Detroit, Sept 28-Oct 2. Read about it here.

What’s Happening This Week
Sept 4–11

Sunday:
2:00 p.m.               How to Ride in the Street class continues
2:00-6:00 p.m.    Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!

Monday:
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Shop CLOSED for Labor Day

Wed, Sept 7:
Freewheel Slow Ride
               5:15 p.m.    Meet at Revolutions to ride over
               6:00 p.m.   Ride starts at 600 Monroe

Thursday:
2:00-9:00 p.m.     Retail Shop open for Retail, Service and Rentals
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN

Saturday
8:30 am-3:30 pm  Retail Shop Open for Retail, Service and Rentals

Sunday:
2:00-6:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!
2:00 p.m.                Central Gardens Bicycle Tour of Homes

Coming up, soon!

Friday, Sept 16
6:00ish?               Cooper-Young 4-Miler Official Party Pumper Uppers

Saturday, Sept 17
9:00-4:00           Check out our booth at the Cooper-Young Fest
PLUS: Bike Valet available at Bluff City Sports

Sunday, Sept 18
2:00 p.m.            Women’s Bike Chat

Monday, Sept 19
6:30 p.m.             Fix a Flat class

It’s almost September! The weather is sure to get cooler, now. So, let’s do some riding. You can join us tomorrow for our How to Ride in the Street class, if you want to build your confidence. Or you can jump into some group rides, like our Slow Ride to Overton Park, next Saturday, or some community rides like the Central Gardens Tour of Homes and the Medical District Collaborative’s Freewheel Slow Ride.

Open Shop will continue, during most of our workshop hours. So, come on in to get your bike tuned up!

And don’t forget 901 Day. We’ll be at Exposure on 901 Day, so stop by our booth and say hi!

Bike to Dinner: Did you join us?

We had fun, at last week’s Bike to Dinner. We headed to Belly Acres and had a delicious time.

What’s Happening This Week
Aug 28 – Sept 4

Sunday:
2:00 p.m.               How to Ride in the Street class begins
2:00-6:00 p.m.    Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!

Monday:
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN

Thursday:
2:00-9:00 p.m.     Retail Shop open for Retail, Service and Rentals
6:00-9:00 p.m.     Revolutions at Exposure on 901 Day
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN

Saturday
8:30 am                    Slow Ride to Overton Park
8:30 am-3:30 pm  Retail Shop Open for Retail, Service and Rentals

Sunday:
2:00-6:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!

Coming up, soon!

Monday, Sept 5  Shop CLOSED for Labor Day

Wed, Sept 7        Medical District Collaborative Freewheel Slow Ride

Sunday, Sept. 11
2:00 p.m.            Central Gardens Bicycle Tour of Homes

Do you know how to ride in the street?

It can feel really intimidating to take your bicycle out into the street. Will the cars see you? What do you do when the bike lane ends? How to Ride in the Street class addresses these types of questions and works to build up your confidence. In 4 sessions, you will learn tips, tricks and strategies and you will get outside and PRACTICE! Class starts NEXT SUNDAY. Read more and sign up here.

Calling all Moms, and the Kiddos, too!

Do you have a bicycle that you and your toddler can ride together. Did you maybe just send an older brother or sister back to school and your younger kiddo wants something fun? Have you wondered how to get a small child on a bike?

We’re hosting a ride for moms and toddlers, on Monday morning at 10 a.m. (if only the rain will stay away!). Bring a picnic snack/lunch, and blankets to share. We’ll ride over, let the kids have time to play and then ride back.

Rides meet at Revolutions, on the Cooper-side of First Congo, in front of our gate with bike art above it. Meet up at 10:00 a.m. If you want to rent a bicycle for you to carry your child on, please come at 9:45 a.m. Rentals are $10, plus tax.

This ride is for moms and kids. Bring your bike trailer, trail-a-bike or bike seats loaded with kids. Or, if your child is at nursery school, just bring yourself!

All rides are weather dependent (we will postpone, if it looks like rain). And we require helmets on all Revolutions sponsored rides. We take a pretty easy pace. This ride is just over 3 miles and about 25-30 minutes of riding, each way. Please remember that you and your children ride at your own risk.

Bike to Dinner: Belly Acres

We’re headed to Belly Acres, this week. It’s super close. So, we’ll ride out and around, enjoying Broad Ave, the Hampline and Overton Park on the way. Read more details here and plan to join us on Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., in front of the Revolutions Bike Gate (1000 S. Cooper).

901 Day

Have you heard about Exposure on 901 Day (It’s just Sept 1st to most folks). But for us, its a celebration of all things Memphis. Revolutions will be there, along with loads of others talking about ways you can get involved in our community.

What’s Happening This Week
Aug 21–28

Sunday:
2:00 p.m.               Women’s Bike Chat 2nd Anniversary Ride
2:00-6:00 p.m.    Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!

Monday:
10:00 a.m.              Moms and Tots Ride to Overton Park
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN

Wednesday, Aug 24
6:30 p.m.                Bike to Dinner: Belly Acres

Thursday:
2:00-9:00 p.m.     Retail Shop open for Retail, Service and Rentals
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN

Saturday
8:30 am-3:30 pm  Retail Shop Open for Retail, Service and Rentals

Sunday:
2:00 p.m.                How to Ride in the Street class
2:00-6:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!

Coming up, soon!

Sunday, Sept. 11
2:00 p.m.            Central Gardens Bicycle Tour of Homes

Basic Bike Assessment: MONDAY!

There is still time to sign up for this great class. New members especially find it helpful for getting oriented to our workshop tools. You get a chance to look over your bicycle, learn names of various parts, and make a list of things that need fixing. Then, you will have a good guide when you come in to an Open Shop session, to work on your bike. You don’t have to be a new member to come to class. But you do have to have a current membership. You can sign up when you register for class or when you arrive. We hope you’ll join us, tomorrow, Aug 15 at 6:30!

Women’s Bike Chat — 2 Years Old!

Next Sunday is the 2nd Anniversary of Women’s Bike Chat. To celebrate, let’s ride to the Rec Room. We can hang out and chat, play games, drink a toast to ourselves, or whatever. PLEASE, don’t let not having a bike keep you from joining us. We have plenty and you can rent one for $5, plus tax. We’ll meet in the Revolutions workshop at 2:00 p.m. and head out when we think everyone has arrived. All Revolutions sponsored rides require the wearing of helmets, and they are ride-at-your-own-risk. Read more here.

Central Gardens Tour of Homes

Central Gardens Home & Garden Tour running their first-ever bicycle tour!

Revolutions will lead a bicycle ride that will take you to all seven homes on the tour, plus you will learn about other notable sites in the neighborhood.

The tour is on Sunday, September 11 at 2 p.m. More details, and tickets!, here.

What’s Happening This Week
Aug 14-21

Sunday:
2:00-6:00 p.m.    Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!

Monday:
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Basic Bike Assessment class

Thursday:
2:00-9:00 p.m.     Retail Shop open for Retail, Service and Rentals
6:30-9:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN

Saturday
8:30 am-3:30 pm  Retail Shop Open for Retail, Service and Rentals

Sunday:
2:00 p.m.                Women’s Bike Chat, 2nd Anniversary!
2:00-6:00 p.m.     Members’ Open Shop, plus Retail Shop is OPEN–and bike rentals!

Coming up, soon!

Wednesday, Aug 24
6:30 p.m.             Bike to Dinner: Location, to be announced

Sunday, Sept. 11
2:00 p.m.            Central Gardens Bicycle Tour of Homes