Tag Archives: Cycling

Bringing Bicycles to the Big Screen

Kraynick's on Penn Ave
Image by lemonad via Flickr

On Monday, December 20 – you can catch the Pittsburgh premier of Life Cycles – a feature length documentary about bicycles.  I will admit that I am not an avid cyclist – but I am in full support of bicycling in Pittsburgh.  While I have become a pro at pedaling a bike to nowhere (thanks to spinning class) I haven’t gotten the nerve to ride in traffic. Thankfully Pittsburgh has an amazing bicycle community (thank you Bike Pittsburgh!) – last night I was driving a friend home (thanks Zipcar) – she has been biking more and more and was telling me how she was a non-cyclist until she hesitantly checked out one of the group rides during Bikefest last summer.

Also, even if you aren’t ready to become a super cyclist – the bicycle community has been an amazing this for Pittsburgh – one of the many reasons that Pittsburgh continues to receive praise for being such a great place to live. Continue reading →

Links Worth a Look – October 8th

Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:

Follow IheartPGH on Twitter – we share more links there almost daily!

Links Worth a Look – May 12th

Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:

Follow IheartPGH on Twitter – we share more links there almost daily!

May 30, 2009 – Free Family Bike Fun and the Major Taylor Cycling Club

Major Taylor racing in Paris
Image via Wikipedia

Saturday,  May 30 is Beyond Bikes Day – a family friendly bicycle celenbration for beginners – I wan’t to make sure to point out that this is beginner friendly – I know we have posted lots of bike information but I am a bike begginner myself and I know that it can be intimidating.  

Beyond Bikes Day is organized by Venture Outdoors and the Major Taylor Cycling Club

The event will be held Saturday, May 30, at the Kingsley Association Community Center at 6435 Frankstown Avenue from noon to 3 p.m. This particular event will encourage biking as a family-friendly activity, as well as showcase some of the bike lanes in Pittsburgh, particularly the bike lane along East Liberty Boulevard. Riders are encouraged to bring their own bikes and helmets. A limited number of loaner bikes will be available. Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the day, including kids’ bikes and biking gear.

I had seen a reference to the Major Taylor Club before but I didn’t know much about it.  The Pittsburgh Chapter is a project of Pitt’s Center for Minority Health.  

Do you know Major Taylor? 

In the late 1890’s bicycle races drew crowds that filled Madison Square Garden; the biggest draw of all was Marshall W. Major Taylor. Having become the undisputed black champion of America, Taylor overcame racial segregation and intolerance to become the one-mile sprint world champion in 1899, and by the end of 1898 held seven world cycling records! 

Why is this important? 

The University of Pittsburgh‘s Center for Minority Health and Adventure Cycling Association share the goal of encouraging people from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds, including African Americans, to explore the landscapes and history of America by bicycle. That is why these two organizations are committed to creating an Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. Throughout history black people have used bicycles as a mode of transportation. Both Major Taylor and the Underground Railroad represent the struggle to freedom from slavery and the challenge to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.  

More info on the Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club is availble here.  Also the blogger Pittsburgh Guy has a great post about the Major Taylor Club and their ride to show support for the families of the police officers that will killed in April. Continue reading →

Bike the Beer

GoodBeer
Image by 顔なし via Flickr

Speaking of bikes, it is time for another favoirte annual bike ride – Friday, May 15 is the East End Brewing’s Annual Pedal Pale Ale Keg Ride.

THE RIDE: To help spread the word about what it means to operate an environmentally sustainable brewery (more on that here), for the past few years, we’ve been delivering the the very first PEDAL PALE ALE kegs of the season to a local tap-spot in a very unique way….BY BICYCLE.

Check out our post on last years ride with links to pictures from past rides.  Last year over 220 people joined the ride!  Join in and help them top that number again this year.

I did a little blog searching and found some other cool blogs that posted about the Pedal Pale Ale Keg Ride

  • Bike PGH – also note that May 15, 2009 in Bike to Work Day – check out some of the biker breakfast stations.
  • Columbus Rides – our bike friendly friends to the West are excited about bikes and beer in Pittsburgh too.
  • FoodBurgh – has a post on the ride – check out some of their other great reviews of local watering holes too.  This blog is a great new addition to the PGH blogging scene.
  • The Brew Lounge – a great extensive blog about beer – has a nice post about East End Brewing and the Keg Ride
  • FixedGear – another Philadelphia cyclist who is a fan of beer and bikes
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