The weather looks like it’ll be good, so BU Bikes will be having our first group ride of the season this Friday to Cambridge Side Galleria. This should be an easy-going and beginner-friendly ride down the Esplanade: a scenic bike-and-pedestrian-only path by the Charles River.

All BU members (student, faculty, staff, and alumni) and their guests are welcome to join in this free event!

BU Bikes Group Ride

Destination: Cambridge Side Galleria
Meet: Marsh Plaza
Departure time: Friday, April 26 at 5:00pm (well, 5:10pm, but try to arrive by 5pm)
Return time: 7:00pm (as a group, you may leave earlier or stick around individually if you choose)

The Cambridge Side Galleria is a shopping center (mall) with a food court, many clothing stores, and many department stores. For more information about Cambridge Side Galleria, see http://www.cambridgesidegalleria.com/.

If you plan to go shopping, please bring a backpack or something else to safely carry what you buy on the ride back.

Troubleshooting:

• Need a helmet? Come to Marsh Plaza at 4:30pm for a group-walk to the BU Judicial Affairs Office for a free bike helmet! We’ll also show you how to fit (properly adjust) your helmet before the group ride. Alternatively, you can also go there yourself to get a free bike helmet (map).
• Need bike lights? We have many free clip-on rear bike lights available; just show up.
• Bike needs maintenance, adjustments, or fixing? Come to Tool Time this Thursday from 2pm to 5pm and we’ll show you how to fix your bike.
• Not comfortable riding in traffic yet? We’ve designed this ride to be beginner-friendly. Except for a few blocks in the end, the route is entirely on a dedicated bike path (and those last few blocks are short enough to walk without falling behind too much). We’ll also have experienced bikers leading and following to ensure that the ride goes smoothly.
• Bad time or scheduling conflict? Send an email to bikes@bu.edu to let us know when will be a better time for future group rides.
• Bad weather? In case the weather is bad, we’ll send an update to let you know about any changes.
• Don’t have a bike? I have a few free Hubway one-day passes available. Just send me an email through bikes@bu.edu before the ride to let me know that you need one.
• Other questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at bikes@bu.edu.

BIG thanks to every one who came to our party last night. For those of you who didn’t come but want to be a part of the BU Bikes family I encourage you to come to one of our last few weekly meetings of the year which will be announced on all of our media outlets. There is a lot to be done in the future for bikers at BU and we need your help to get it done.

It has become apparent that a large portion of the BU community either does not know who we are and what we do or people just don’t have the incentive to get involved. Therefore BU bikes is having a party to gather support and introduce ourselves as the new and improved “Get it done” advocacy group.

At the event we will:

Have FREE FOOD catered by the Catering on the Chales thanks to the bike safety commission.

Introduce our new projects and reoccurring projects including next years Mechanics Class, Ride safety and Urban commuting Classes, Campus improvement projects, tool time and group rides, new headquarters, and bike swap.

Volunteer signup for people who want to help BU bikes get stuff done and make changes at BU.

Have e-board elections to replace our graduating seniors.

The event is on Friday, April 12th from 6:00 to 9:30 pm. It will be in the Center for Gender Sexuality and Activism which is the the basement of the GSU across from BU Central. Join the facebook event page at

Anyone in the BU community is welcome to come including professors and faculty. You do not need to own a bike or even know how to ride a bike to be involved with our group.

We hope to see you there and look forward to meeting the new BU Bikes crew.

Hello BU Bicycling community!

Do you want to learn how to fix a bike? Have you ever wondered how to repair a flat tire or adjust your brakes? Well now is your chance. All semester long BU Bikes will be teaching basic bike mechanics classes for BU students.

We encourage students to bring their own bike to work on after the lessons but you can also just come to listen to the lectures (however space will be limited for non full time participants so first come first serve).

Classes are starting this Saturday the 19th and will go from 1:00 pm to 3:30pm in room CAS B20. No official RSVP is required bu if we have too many people interested in coming to the classes full time we may have to split the course into two sessions. There will be an additional class on Mondays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm for make up or to finish working on your bike.

If you already have access to tools you should bring them if possible since BU bikes does not have many extras. Finally if you are interested in volunteering to help teach the classes please contact me at bengood@bu.edu.

Been riding through the winter? Give your bike some care at our first Tool Time tool sharing session of the semester! Haven’t been riding? Come swing by anyway!

What: BU Bikes Tool Time
When: Weekly on Thursdays from 2:00pm to 5:00pm (except holidays)
Where: The CGSA
In the basement of the GSU behind the Terrier Card Office

MassBike is presenting a free winter biking workshop, hosted by BU.

This fast-paced workshop covers topics including bike gear, route planning, safety tips in tricky situations, rules of the road, and tricks on how to stay warm and dry during this winter season.

Biking for Everyone: Winter Workshop
Where: CAS B27
When: Monday, December 10, 6-7:30pm
Cost: Free

For this week’s group “ride,” BU Bikes will be leading a trip to the Beth Israel Hospital Gift Shop to buy low cost ($7.99) helmets.  If you need a helmet or know a friend who does, join us at Marsh Plaza for this helmet run (and bring the friend along for sizing if necessary).  We’ll also lead a group on foot (20 minute walk) for any BU Biker who doesn’t have a helmet yet.

What: Low-cost helmet run
When: Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 5:15pm (depart at 5:30pm) (rain or shine)
Where: Meet at Marsh Plaza
Cost: $7.99 per helmet (there may also be more expensive helmets)

In case of rain, please bring an umbrella (or whatever other rain gear you need).  This helmet run will happen even if it rains.

For more information about Boston’s low-cost helmet program, visit Boston Bike’s Safety Campaign page.   To find where low-cost helmets can be purchased, visit Hubway’s list of helmet purchase locations (WARNING: while the address may be accurate, the markers are not shown in the correct places on the map).

As with the past two weeks, BU Bikes will be continuing the regular Thursday Tool Times at the BU Farmers’ Market and our Thursday afternoon group rides.

Tool Time

Share our tools, fix & maintain your own bike(s), meet fellow BU Bikers, learn about bikes, and hang out.  We’ll be around to help you work on your bike during these times (but for more advanced work, you may want to come between noon and 2pm, when our more experienced members are around).

When: Thursdays from 11am to 2pm during the Farmers’ Market
Where: The BU Farmers’ Market in front of the GSU

In case of rain (snow, or other unsuitable weather), the Tool Time will be moved, rescheduled, or postponed until next week’s Farmers’ Market; keep an eye out for updates.

Group ride

Explore the Boston area with us, test your newly fixed bike, practice riding in traffic in a group, or just enjoy the company.  We’ll have group rides after each Tool Time.  The destination will vary, so look for updates for more information.

When: Thursdays; after each Tool Time.  Meet at 5:15pm and go at 5:30pm
Where: Marsh Plaza

If there’s mildly bad weather, we’ll pick a sheltered/indoor destination to minimize the time spent in outside.  We’ll cancel or re-schedule group rides if the weather becomes too bad; in this case, we’ll send updates so that you won’t be left standing in the rain.

The Hub on Wheels citywide bike ride & festival is this Sunday, September 23! Ride through the Boston area in “Boston’s largest city-sponsored sporting event.” For more information, see the event information page, or the route map.

Ride for free as a volunteer

Join BU Bikes in riding Hub on Wheels as volunteers.  Start as a stationary marshal on the 10-mile route.  Then, after the last 10-mile biker passes, continue onto whichever Hub on Wheels route you want for free (whether it’s the 10, 30, or 50 mile route).  No prior registration is necessary.

What: Ride Hub on Wheels for free as a volunteer with BU Bikes
Where: Meet at Government Center (City Hall Plaza)
When: Arrive by 7am on Sunday, September 23, 2012 (don’t be late)

For more information about volunteering with BU Bikes at Hub on Wheels, email us at bikes@bu.edu.

BU Bikes is back with a Tool Time and a group ride this Thursday (tomorrow), September 20!  We’re still working on bringing our website up to date, but come check us out at the farmers’ market in front of the GSU or join us for a ride to the Reflecting Pool at the Christian Science Plaza.

Tool Time

Share our tools to bring your bike back to tip-top shape (just in time for our group ride).  Knowledgeable BU Bike members will be available to help guide you as you fix your bike.

Where: At the Farmers’ Market in front of the GSU
When: Tomorrow, Thursday, September 20, 2012 from 11am to 2pm (weather permitting)

In case of rain (snow, or other unsuitable weather), the Tool Time will be postponed until next week’s Farmers’ Market.

Group ride

Join us for a group ride to the beautiful Reflecting Pool at the Christian Science Plaza.

Where: Meet at Marsh Plaza
When: Tomorrow, Thursday, September 20, 2012.  We’ll meet at 5:15pm and start riding at 5:30pm.

The weather is expected to be good on Thursday, but in case it’s not suitable for an outdoor destination, we may change the destination to the Museum of Fine Arts instead.  (Or if the weather is terrible, we may postpone the group ride; we’ll keep you update by email if this happens.)