GBBC April News Roundup
Bike Banquet, cycling events, and more coming up!
Spring is here, which means cycling season is upon us! To kick off the season, we have lots of exciting events coming up, including group rides, our 11th Annual Bike Banquet, bike rodeos, and more. We hope you’ll join us. Read on for details!
Another Successful Give BIG Green Bay Event
This year marked an important milestone in GBBC’s history—for the second year, we were selected to participate in Give BIG Green Bay, Green Bay’s annual giving event for local nonprofits (held in partnership with Packers Give Back and the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation).
Events like these help us expand our reach in the community, providing crucial funds for programs such as Earn-a-Bike and Mobile Bike Repair. These programs help get (and keep) area residents rolling on bikes, improving accessibility to an activity everyone should be able to enjoy. This event was particularly important this year, as we will need to relocate our shop at the end of the summer.
Now, the match funds are in, and we’re excited to share that, thanks to supporters like you, we raised nearly $14,000 that will directly benefit our community. We also made new connections with other local nonprofits and organizations to strengthen our mutual efforts. Thank you again to all who donated or supported us in countless other ways.
Join Us for Our 11th Annual Bike Banquet on May 7th at Cocoon Brewing!
The long awaited Annual Bike Banquet is less than a month away. This year, we’re excited to host it at the new brewery in town, Cocoon Brewing, on May 7 from noon-4 pm. There, we’ll be holding raffles, providing free live music by the Chocolateers, putting on games, talking bikes, and, of course, enjoying some excellent craft beers. Drinks and food will be available for purchase, but if you ride your bike to the banquet, your first drink is on us!
We’ll be kicking off the banquet with a ride to Cocoon Brewing from Green Isle Park. If you’d like to ride over with us, join us at the South Lot and plan to head out at 11:30 sharp. We hope to see you there!
Interested in sponsoring the banquet or donating an item to the raffle?
Reach out to Mike Johnson for details: mike@gbbicycle.org
The 4th Street Garage is Open Again for Spring
Now that sunnier skies and warmer weather have arrived, we’ve opened back up for an additional day. Stop by on Mondays between 5pm and 9pm or Wednesdays from 10am-2pm for bike repair services and parts, to peruse refurbished bikes, or talk about volunteering at the shop.
GBBC to Partner With HOOAH This Summer
We’re excited to announce that we’ll be partnering with Helping Out Our American Heroes (HOOAH) this summer to teach veterans bike building and repair. HOOAH is an organization that focuses on the overall wellness of veterans and their support systems.
In the program, veterans will apply to receive a new Trek bike with safety equipment provided by Bernatello’s Foods and Trek. Green Bay Bicycle Collective will assist in bicycle assembly and teach a bike repair and maintenance course before veterans hit the road.
This program is about aligning forces with military veteran organizations, communities, friends and families to reduce the stigma associated with suicidal ideation and get bikes in the hands of veterans.
We look forward to working with HOOAH and helping contribute to the wellness of our vets.
Bike Rodeos: Teaching Kids Bike Safety Basics
Over the next few months, GBBC will be working with the Howe Community Resource Center and Green Bay area schools to provide bike rodeos to area youth. These events help kids learn bike safety, rules of the road, and skills that will help them enjoy bicycling while staying safe. We will be holding two bike rodeos at Green Bay area schools in May and one with Howe Community Resource Center in June.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Miles for Matches
This year, we’ll also be providing support for Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Miles for Matches event, a fundraiser featuring five local employers competing to bike the most miles on the same day. The Miles for Matches company ride will take place on Friday, August 4th.
New to this year, Big Brothers Big Sisters is introducing a community ride on the Fox River Trail. Join Big Brothers Big Sisters and GBBC on Saturday, August 5th at 9 am on the Green Bay City Deck near Broken Spoke Bike Studio to participate in the event. We’ll be joining to provide support to the kids on the ride and Mobile Bike Repair services to anyone who needs them. You can choose from routes ranging from 4–27 miles, so there’s something for everyone.
Learn more or sign up for the community ride: Miles for Matches Community Ride Signup
Stay Tuned for Mobile Bike Repair Schedule
GBBC is currently working with the Green Bay Parks Department to provide Mobile Bike Repair services to Green Bay residents for our second summer! Check back for the Mobile Bike Repair schedule, which will likely start around the time school gets out for the summer.
Save the Date for the Coffee Ride (May 13)
Our first community ride of the season, the coffee ride is also one our favorites because it combines two of our favorite things: bikes, and coffee! If you want to visit some local coffee shops while clocking some miles, mark your calendar for May 13. The ride will start at 10 am (starting location to be announced at a later date).
A Busy, Yet Exciting Time at GBBC
GBBC always ramps up during spring, but these events make this spring all the more exciting. We hope you can join in on the fun and excitement this season is sure to bring at the Bike Banquet, community rides, and other events. Thank you again for supporting safe, accessible cycling in our community, and see you soon!
–Your Friends at the Green Bay Bicycle Collective