West Seattle bicyclists: Get ready to roll with Spokespeople

News for West Seattle (and vicinity) bike riders, from Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike and Board: Starting this spring, be ready to roll with Spokespeople West Seattle – monthly rides every 1st Sunday, 10 am, starting April 4th, from Stu’s shop in the Admiral District. He explains:

Spokespeople rides are for every skill and every age group with an emphasis on socializing and skill building. Skill building activities include route selection and familiarization, safe handling skill in traffic, efficient use of gearing and in traffic cooperation and safety skills. Professional bicycle mechanics may perform spot checkovers and helmet fit and adjustment may be required. Helmets are required on all rides. Food stops and area enjoyment stops may be included. Kidicalmass is another concept of all kids and family rides that may be scheduled in addition to the Spokespeople rides.

Ride will vary in length between 5 and 15 miles. All riders will ride together with regrouping stops as needed. Maps will be provided for each ride. Ride speed will be 5-15 miles per hour depending on skill focus. Ride time will be approximately 2 hours. Heavy rain and snow will automatically cancel the ride.

All rides will be publicized through the Cascade Bicycle Club, Sustainable West Seattle, West Seattle Blog [events calendar] and by e-mail. Ride description and skill-building focus will be included in the announcement. Ride leaders will be Cascade Bicycle Club-Certified. The primary ride leader will be Stu Hennessey, who has more than 30 years experience as a bicycle-ride leader, tour guide and bicyclist as primary transportation. Contact info: 206 938 3322 – e-mail alkistu@hotmail.com

Alki Bike and Board is at 2606 California SW (map) – and also happens to be one of seven Admiral District merchants sponsoring WSB again this month. Stu’s big special right now: 20% of the shop’s labor income through March 1st goes to Haiti earthquake relief – Doctors Without Borders and the American Red Cross. Bicycle tuneups start at $89.99. (See the full list of Admiral District sponsors here – including a coupon from Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama!)

rob February 7, 2010 (10:50 am)

Wear helmets and stay out of traffic, keep it fun not a dangerous protest.

westseattledood February 7, 2010 (11:28 am)

Kidicalmass!!!
What a really GREAT idea!
:)

Mike February 7, 2010 (12:17 pm)

Alki Bike & Board is awesome. Great staff and doing what’s right to help people learn the proper ways to ride safe.

vincent February 7, 2010 (1:30 pm)

way to read the post rob,

Skill building activities include route selection and familiarization, safe handling skill in traffic, efficient use of gearing and in traffic ……. Helmets are required on all rides.

good to see people are adding to the conversation and not just spouting off kneejerk opinions on the wsb.

Click! February 7, 2010 (7:32 pm)

Stu really offers an amazing community service with his business, and we’re thrilled to be business neighbors up here in Admiral. Good clean fun for the whole family… keep it up.

velo_nut February 7, 2010 (9:34 pm)

Hey Rob, wear your seatbelt, don’t speed and don’t talk on your cell phone when you drive.

It’s not a protest. Stop being stupid.

John February 8, 2010 (8:30 am)

Stu at Alki Bike & Board is great for the biking community. He goes out of his way to improve conditions for bikers in Seattle. For this reason I buy all my gear from his shop and only allow his mechanics to touch my bike…..

Byron February 11, 2010 (5:47 pm)

posted this to our community on Bike Hugger and great news Stu.

Byron February 12, 2010 (7:11 am)

and may I suggest a better bike graphic. thks.

WSB February 12, 2010 (7:40 am)

Ideas welcome! We don’t have a designer on staff and it takes a whole lot of precious time away from reporting/writing when we have to go rooting around for something that isn’t copyright-protected.

stu hennessey February 13, 2010 (5:05 pm)

One of my customers suggested I should take a look at the comments on the Spokespeople announcement. As a community we need to fully appreciate the service of Patrick and Tracy/
WS Blog. Thanks for all the nice comments from the WS Blog community. My excellent customers are what keep us hangin in there.

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