New Contest, featuring Bicycle Transportation Alliance!

Can you imagine a community where citizens, businesses and elected officials all come together to create the most bike-friendly, bike-safe city in America?  Far from Shangri-La, this place exists in Portland OR, and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance wants your help to continue their good work!

As we mentioned here, Bicyclinghub.com is in the process of giving away $1000 to the non-profit cycling organization of YOUR choice.  By going to this site and casting your vote, you help to determine which of three worthy organization will receive this donation.

This is the first in a series of three articles spotlighting each of the three organizations.

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance has been working to promote bicycling and improve bicycling conditions in Oregon since 1990.  Through a mixture of advocacy, community involvement and lobbying efforts, the BTA works in partnership with citizens, businesses, community groups, government agencies, and elected officials to create and support communities where people can meet their daily transportation needs on a bike.

If the BTA wins, the $1,000 grant will support the BTA's Blueprint for Better Biking campaign. The Blueprint is a guide for policymakers, elected officials, and community members who care about making a real difference for bicycling -- and the BTA is creating it with YOUR help. 

If you want BicyclingHub.com to donate $1,000 to the Bicycling Transportation Alliance cause, be sure to VOTE on our Facebook page!  

The contest runs from now until September 14th, 2012.

Visit our Facebook page and cast your VOTE!

New Contest, featuring Trips for Kids!

Can you imagine at-risk kids having a chance to get out and learn how to mountain bike?  How much more healthy our kids could be if they had the opportunity to experience cycling as a lifestyle?

As we mentioned here, Bicyclinghub.com is in the process of giving away $1000 to the non-profit cycling organization of YOUR choice.  By going to this site and casting your vote, you help to determine which of three worthy organization will receive this donation.

This is the third in a series of three articles spotlighting each of the three organizations.

Trips for Kids National has opened the world of cycling to over 90,000 at-risk youth since 1988 through mountain bike rides and Earn-A-Bike programs.  TFK provides instructions, organizing guidelines, and inspiration for individuals and groups to successfully start a Trips for Kids (TFK) Chapter in their community.  TFK bike programs have helped inner city, low-income kids, or otherwise at-risk youth across the United States.

The $1,000 donation from BicyclingHub.com would most definitely go towards opening a new chapter of Trips for Kids, with the potential and ultimate outcome of getting more kids out on bikes!

If you want BicyclingHub.com to donate $1,000 to the Trips for Kids cause, be sure to VOTE on our Facebook page!

The contest runs from now until September 14th, 2012.

Visit our Facebook page and cast your VOTE!

New Contest, featuring Adventure Cycling Association!

Can you imagine a nationwide network of safe cycling routes?  Adventure Cycling Association is in the process of creating that, and they want your help to make it happen!

As we mentioned here, Bicyclinghub.com is in the process of giving away $1000 to the non-profit cycling organization of YOUR choice.  By going to this site and casting your vote, you help to determine which of three worthy organization will receive this donation.

This is the first in a series of three articles spotlighting each of the three organizations.

The mission of Adventure Cycling Association is to inspire and empower people to travel by bicycle. Helping cyclists explore the landscapes and history of America for fitness, fun, and self-discovery, Adventure Cycling Association is the premier bicycle travel organization in North America. Established in 1973 as Bikecentennial, the group serves 44,700 members nationwide and is  headquartered in Missoula, Montana.

Money awarded to Adventure Cycling through this grant will help continue to develop the U.S. Bicycle Route System.  The goal is to get more people out on bikes, raise awareness for the sport of cycling, but also to bring strangers together for the personal challenge and growth experience of a lifetime!

The proposed U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) will be the largest official network of bicycle routes in the world. We believe that the creation of new U.S. bicycle routes will inspire people to increase their bicycle trips and reduce motorized vehicle miles traveled. The USBRS promotes cycling as a sustainable and viable mode of transportation.

If you want BicyclingHub.com to donate $1,000 to the Adventure Cycling Association cause, be sure to VOTE on our Facebook page!  

The contest runs from now until September 14th, 2012.

Visit our Facebook page and cast your VOTE!

New Contest! Help us give back to our community!

Help Us Give Back!

You already know that all of us at BicyclingHub.com are excited about 

cycling - but you may not know how much we love it every time we have an opportunity to support our community. 

Most recently our team raised nearly $6000 riding in the 2012 Tour de Cure, a national fund-raising bike ride for diabetes awareness and research.

We are committed to continuing our philanthropic efforts, since "giving back" simply makes the world a happier place, and happiness is what we are all about!

This month, we are sponsoring a unique and exciting contest!  BicyclingHub.com will donate $1,000 to the Non-Profit organization that you choose by your votes!  

We have nominated three outstanding groups that serve to support and promote cycling and make the roads safer to ride:

1.  Trips for Kids National (TFK) 
2.  Adventure Cycling
3.  Bicycling Transportation Alliance

The contest runs from now until September 14th, 2012.

Visit our Facebook page and cast your VOTE!

12,000 Riders and 1+ Million Miles in 30 Days: 2011 Commuter Challenge sets new record

With a 68.3% commuter rate, 85 trips to and fro work and 1522.4 miles logged amongst its 7 employees, BicyclingHub.com was delighted to learn we ranked 14th out of 323 businesses in our category in the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's annual Bike Commuter Challenge.

Hosted every September since 1995, workers in Oregon and SW Washington have competed to see who can bike to work more in 30 days. Individuals register on their workplace’s team, log their bike commutes online, and at the end of the month the BTA does the math and honors the winning companies.

Kevin "squishing" Mt. Hood while showing off the cycling love

"[Commuting by] bike is still the best way to travel…Beats sitting in the car, no matter how far or short you've got to travel," BicyclingHub staff member and "professional commuter" Kevin Langton states. "Beats taking the bus, too--and I always get a seat."

Langton can opt to take short route--which is 20 minutes and 4 miles--or, on days it's nice out and/or cares to stretch his legs, he extends his commute to take the scenic way home. That extra hour or two "gives you a little more exercise, or turns it into a training ride for a couple of hours...Fighting into the wind, hills or flat: it's all there for you, any time you want it."

According to the BTA, in 2011, 1452 workplaces and 12,063 riders participated in the Challenge, logging a total 1,372,619 miles biked. More than 2,000 participants identified themselves as new bike commuters, making 2011 a banner year for the program. With new online features to track the miles, form Leagues and issue challenges to would-be competitors, as well as weekly prize drawings and discounts at participating shops, the Commuter Challenge does a great job inspiring and motivating people to go by bike.

Mail delivery by bike: BicyclingHub staff member Adrian Richardson
tests just how much mail hisBlack Star cargo bag can really hold

Zak Kovalcik, a track racer in BicyclingHub's shipping department, lives car-free and commutes year-round. "I've only ever been a bike commuter, so I don't have much to compare it against…but it definitely beats taking the bus," he remarks. "Plus, it's a good way to wake up. When you get to work, you're already energized and ready to go, instead of still being asleep."

As a competitive cyclist, he feels making daily short trips by bike help with training--especially on "days where I'm tired from training and I don't actually want to ride…It helps get me on my bike and spin my legs."

A majority of BicyclingHub.com staff commute by bike year-round, ensuring the products we sell get rigorous testing (especially our Showers Pass rain gear) and impartial reviews. A League-recognized Bicycle Friendly Business, BicyclingHub.com looks forward to participating in the 2012 Bike Commute Challenge and giving their cohorts a run for their money.