May is Bike Month

Spring has come and it’s time to spin our wheels! A bicycle is a powerful commuting vehicle for many people. You can increase your range when you combine a bike and a TARTA bus. With a little practice and experience you can leave the car at home for a few days a week. The advantages are huge: save gas and other car costs, get healthy exercise, learn your town and neighborhood in a new way. This month is good time to try it with lots of opportunities to get out on your bike.

Is your bike a little rusty? See the area bike shops for an ABC Quick Check. Then join a group ride, bike to work or school. Have fun and remember to bike to the right, and go with the flow of traffic.

This calendar includes lots of events in May including rides offered by local clubs. Most of the club rides are for people of all abilities but read the description to see speed and length of ride. Arrange your own ride: see a map (PDF) of the many bicycle facilities in Lucas and Wood counties. Toledo Bikes! Is a nonprofit bike co-op where you can help young people fix up a bike that they can use, you can learn to repair your own bike, and you can ride your bike to their shop and watch a movie!

·         TMACOG Rides and Events

·         Get your gear in Shape with ABC Quick Checks at area bike shops and pick up the new Drive Your Bike brochure

·         Join Toledo Bikes! – a nonprofit community cycling space

Rides and Events

See the web calendar for many more group rides. It’s fun to ride with a group and you can learn from more experienced riders.

Saturday May 10, 9 a.m. - noon

Bike Day at the Farmers Market, 525 Market St., Toledo. With bike tune-ups provided by Toledo Bikes!

Sponsor: TMACOG

All week: Sunday, May 11 - Saturday, May 17

TARTA fare 25 cents for bus passengers using the TARTA bike racks

Sponsor: TARTA

Wednesday, May 14            
Bike to School Day (toolkit)

Sponsor: TMACOG

Friday, May 16

Bike to Work Day (toolkit)

Sponsor: The League of American Bicyclists

Friday, May 16, 11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Hike, Bike and Boat

Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, Evergreen Lake Area*

Sponsor: Metroparks of the Toledo Area

Sunday, May 18, 1 p.m.

Wild Lupine Bicycle Tour 2014

Crissey Elementary School, 9220 Geiser Rd.,  Holland

Sponsor: Maumee Valley Adventurers

Wednesday, May 21, 6:45 p.m.

Ride of Silence

Meet at the University of Toledo, Bancroft St. entrance

Sponsor: WeAreTraffic.org

Friday, May 23, 3 p.m.-6 pm

Paddle and Bike

Pearson Metropark, Parking Lot No. 1*

Sponsor: Metroparks of the Toledo Area

Saturday, May 31, noon - 4 p.m.

Outdoor Adventure Expo
Side Cut Metropark, Silver Lake Area

Sponsor: Metroparks of the Toledo Area

*Reservations required, fee. Contact MetroparksPrograms.com or 419-407-9701.

Get Your Gear in Shape:

Free ABC Quick Check at area bike shops at the times listed.

• The Bike Route, 5201 Monroe St., Toledo
   419-885-3030, Tues., May 20 and Thurs., May 22 at 6 p.m. or by appt.

• BikeWorks, 5631 Alexis Rd., Sylvania

 419-882-0800. Mon. & Thurs. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tue., Wed. & Fri. 11a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sunday

• Elmore Cycle and Fitness, 453 Maple St., Elmore
419-862-1000. Open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., and Sat. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• Fremont Cycle and Fitness, 107 N. Ohio Ave., Fremont

419-332-4481. Open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., and Sat. 9 a.m. – 3p.m.

·   Mountain Man Sports, 2735 Reynolds Road, Toledo

419-536-0001. Mon & Thu 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tue., Wed., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday noon-5 p.m.

• Spoke Life Cycles, 26597 Dixie Hwy. Suite 167, Perrysburg

419-931-9919. Thursday, May 15, 9 a.m.-noon

• Toledo Bikes, 1114 Washington St., Toledo
419-386-6090. Mon. & Thurs., 5-8 p.m., Sun. 4-7 p.m.

• Wersell's Bike Shop, 2860 W. Central Ave., Toledo

419-474-7412, Monday, May 19, 9 a.m. - noon

Join Toledo Bikes!

And be part of this nonprofit community cycling space

1114 Washington St, Toledo 419-386-6090

 May 2, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. / Free Bike Check-up 
ABC Quick Check. Donations accepted.

 May 4, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. / Brakes Workshop*
Cost: Donation

May 9, 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. / Bike-in Movie: Karate Kid
Cost: Donation

 May 10, 9 a.m. – noon / Bike tune-ups at the Farmers Market
Cost: Donation

 May 14, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. / TB! Basic Maintenance Class*
Cost: $50 (includes year membership)

 May 16, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. / Free bike check-up 
ABC Quick Check. Donations accepted

 May 18, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. / Shifting Workshop*
Cost: Donation

 May 23, 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. / Bike-in Movie: RAD!
Cost: Donation

 May 24, noon – 3 p.m. / Bicycle Safety Class
Learn how to ride safe in a city environment.  Cost: Donation

 May 25, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. / Wheel Truing*
Cost: Donation

* Please register at toledobikesinc@gmail.com

See more at www.tmacog.org/bikemonth

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org