Rolling down South Congress as we leave Bicycle meals HQ
🚲 Celebrating 3 Years of Austin Bicycle Meals! 🍽️
A couple of years ago, I had the chance to ride with Austin Bicycle Meals, helping distribute meals throughout East Austin. Back then, a small but dedicated group of about five volunteers gathered each week with the help of Food Not Bombs to make it happen. Check out the video from back then here and the recent reel/ recap of the anniversary ride here.
Fast forward to today, and their impact has only grown. They’ve added an extra distribution day, built a solid core of 10+ volunteers each week, and now receive food donations from Our Shared Kitchen to help serve even more folks in need.
This past Saturday, we were lucky to join in celebrating their 3rd anniversary—a beautiful day, perfect weather, and an even better reason to ride. It was a reminder of the power of bikes, community, and showing up for one another.
Shout out to all the amazing volunteers who help prepare and distribute meals, and especially to the founders, Kelly Wourms and Claire Harbutt, for their hard work and dedication over these past three years. Your efforts have made such a meaningful impact! 💛
If you’re looking for a way to give back while rolling through the city, I can’t recommend this enough! Austin Bicycle Meals meets every Saturday at 2:00 PM and every other Wednesday at 5:30 PM, starting from the alley between Small Park and 209 East Monroe, Austin, TX 78704.
"I'm always trying to tell people how easy this is. Everything is ready when you get there – you just have to put it on your bike and go. All you need is barely any skill on a bike, compassion, and the desire to help others." - Austin Bicycle Meals co-founder Kelly Wourms
Give them a follow at @austinbicyclemeals and get involved! 🚴♂️💛
#AustinBicycleMeals #keepaustinneighborly #BikeLove #CommunityOnWheels #FoodNotBombs #GiveBack
Bike Story Night is all about building connections, sharing experiences, and celebrating the joy of riding. Keep an eye out for upcoming events, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to get involved. Keep following along, and we’ll see you at the next ride or Bike Story Night! - Valerie
Keep following along, and we’ll see you at the next ride or Bike Story Night!
People On Bikes
Strike a Pose with VARU Creative! 🚲📸
Once upon a time, my pop-up photo booths at HOPE Farmers Market (RIP) earned me the title of Best Photo Booth
As many of you know, photography is a passion of mine, and I’m excited to keep capturing bike portraits—casual or formal—at events throughout the year.
✨Whether it’s you + your bike, you + a friend, or just you shining solo reach out if you'd like to get your portrait taken!
All photos will be uploaded to a shared folder for easy downloading—so roll up, strike a pose, and let’s make some bike-powered memories! 🚴♀️📷✨
Reflections ~ a former Featured Storyteller
At Bike Story Night, we love hearing personal, heartfelt, and sometimes hilarious bike stories from our community. Melissa, a past featured storyteller, shared her experience of stepping onto the stage, the nerves she overcame, and the unexpected ways it connected her to Austin’s biking community. Read her pro tips below and check out her story on our YouTube
Scroll for more incite to sharing your story at Bike Story Night.
1. You Don’t Have to Be a “Natural” Speaker
Melissa admitted she was nervous about sharing her story in front of an audience, but preparing an outline with key points helped. She recommends writing down main ideas and structuring your story like a casual conversation rather than a formal speech.
2. Connecting Through Storytelling
After telling her story, Melissa found herself recognized on bike rides:
"People would come up to me and say, ‘Hey, you’re the one who told that crazy story about buying a bike off Craigslist and not getting murdered!’”
This sense of community and connection is what makes Bike Story Night so special—your story resonates with others, and those shared moments create lasting bonds.
3. Drawing Inspiration from Others
Melissa found inspiration from her favorite storytellers and comedians, like Ali Wong and Hasan Minhaj, to shape her delivery. She suggests watching performers you admire before your talk to absorb their style and confidence.
4. Watching Your Own Story from a New Perspective
One unexpected benefit of Bike Story Night? Seeing yourself through the audience’s eyes.
"When I was telling my story, I kind of blacked out—I didn’t remember how it went! But watching the recording later, I got to experience it from the audience’s perspective, seeing their reactions and engagement."
5. Just Go for It!
For anyone hesitant about sharing their story, Melissa has one piece of advice: do it!
"Not only do you connect with the community, but you learn about yourself in the process. I left feeling more confident and grateful for the experience."
Ready to Share Your Story?
Bike Story Night is always looking for new storytellers! If you’ve ever had a memorable, funny, or life-changing moment on a bike, we’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned for upcoming event announcements and sign-up opportunities!
In case you want more inspo you can check out our previous events on our YouTube. heres a link to one of sending you a link to one of my fav stories.
and the Moth recently had a storyteller with a cute Bike Story: Jayson Nuñez gets the bike he always wanted. Listen on the Moth here.
Examples and tips of Bike Story Synopsis
📢 Calling All Storytellers! 🚲✨
If you’ve been thinking about sharing a bike story but feel unsure about how to start, don’t worry—you don’t need to send us a full write-up!
Sharing your story is easy and should be just like as if you were sharing a story with your friends. You will be sharing your story "center stage"with a microphone to make sure everyone car hear you well enough. Whether it's a life lesson, a thrilling adventure, or a fond memory, your story matters.
Submit your synopsis
Join us in Austin at UT Sat. March 29th: 📍 Submission Form - TBA
Join us for our Spring Campout Sat. April 5th: 📍 Submission Form
Join us May 27th at Yellow Bike Project to wrap up Q1.
All we need is a simple synopsis—just 2-3 sentences.
Tips for Crafting Your Story
Structure Matters: Start with the beginning (where it all began, how it felt), build to the fun part or climax, and then wrap it up in a way that brings it full circle. Feel free to switch things around if it fits better!
Write it Down: Draft your story, then distill it into key points for your stage time. not required but can be very helpful.
Practice Helps: Try telling your story to a friend or recording yourself to gauge timing and flow. You’ll have 7-10 minutes to share on stage. Note: You'll get a 2 minute hand signal warning from the time keeper at 8 minutes.
Presentation Guidelines:
You can bring one note card.
Reading from a phone or paper is not allowed.
Watch past storytellers on our YouTube channel for inspiration.
I'm happy to practice with you and provide tips!
Got a bike story?
To help, here are some past examples of great story submissions:
📖 Bradley G: "I met a neighbor whose wild claims seemed like the most outlandish BS ever—until I called him out on his biggest one: that he biked up a mountain every day. Turns out, he wasn’t BSing. I don’t have pictures, but an intimidating photo of Thompson Peak in Phoenix would help set the scene."
📖 Maggie G: "My story is about how I pretended to be more into biking than I really was—just so I had an excuse to keep inviting my now-partner into town for weekend rides. Along the way, I actually fell in love with biking, and it’s now a huge part of my life! I’ll share some of our most treacherous (and hilarious) bike ride moments."
📖 The Moth Story: Jayson Nuñez gets the bike he always wanted. (Link to listen! 🎧)Still have questions? DM me! I’d love to help. Let’s make this first Dallas event unforgettable! 🚴💙 #BikeStoryNight #DallasCycling #Storytelling #BikeLife
Back Racks vs. Front Racks Clinic
Spokes y Folx Clinic Recap: Cargo & Bike Rack Clinic with Lee from East Side Pedal Pushers Bike Shop
Our latest Spokes y Folx clinic was all about bike racks, cargo bags, and carrying what you need—safely and efficiently! Lee from East Side Pedal Pushers walked us through key tips and considerations for setting up the right system for your ride.
What’s Next at East Side Pedal Pushers: Bike Swap – Sat. Feb 15 – Stay tuned for more details!
Thanks to everyone who joined, asked great questions, and shared their experiences. Big special thanks to Lee for always being so kind and generous with his time, space and extensive knowledge.
If you missed this one, we hope to see you at the next meetup! Have more cargo or bike rack questions?Stop by Pedal Pushers! 🚴♀️✨ Want to collab on another clinic or meet up reach out to: Valerie @ bike story night .com
Key Takeaways:
🚲 Choosing the Right Rack & Bags – It all depends on where you're going and what you're carrying! Different racks and bags work best for different needs.
🔩 Mounting Points vs. Eyelets – Understanding how your bike is designed to support a rack is key to a secure setup. stainless steel bolts are preferable to the zinc-plated bolts. And the medium strength blue Loc-tite is the stuff to use on those bolts so that they don't vibrate loose. Don't use the red Loc-tite because it will permanently attach bolts! And the green Loc-tite is for different applications.
🔧 Support Racks Can Be a Game-Changer – Even if you’re not carrying a ton, a rack can provide extra support to keep your saddlebags from rubbing against your tires.
🏪 Pro Installation is Recommended – If you didn’t install your rack at a shop, it’s a good idea to have a mechanic check it to ensure it's secure and properly fitted.
🎒 Bag & Rack Options – Trunk bags are a popular choice for rear racks, while some racks include both a platform and a lower strut for hanging panniers.
⚖️ Weight Limits Matter – Your bike and rack have specific weight capacities (usually listed on the label). Overloading can affect handling and safety.
✅ Safe Cargo Carrying = More Fun Riding – Distributing your load properly (ideally 65% in the back, 35% in the front) helps with balance and handling, making your ride smoother and more enjoyable.
🌟 Giving Tuesday is Here! 🌟
While Bike Story Night isn’t a nonprofit, we are a grassroots organization fueled by community love and support. Producing and hosting these storytelling events, along with organizing rides like Sunday Cruise ATX and Spokes Y Folx, and supporting other ride events and orgs like Yellow Bike and Ghisallo) takes time, energy, and resources.
That’s why we’ve opened a new way to give! Through the Buy Me a Coffee program, you can easily make a small donation to help keep our events going strong, give us a boost and help us reach our goals to become a more sustainable program. Every dollar counts, and your support allows us to grow, dream big, and continue creating spaces where people and their bike stories and dreams shine.
Let’s keep the wheels turning together!
Our goals: at least 4 big events in Austin, 2 or more out of town events, pop up tabling along trails and other parts of town to catch some short bike stories, 1:1 interviews, more rides and more bike stories!
THANK YOU for keeping this community thriving. 🚴💖
Click on the photo above to see more photos from the Veloway
We’re thrilled to Spotlight **Major Taylor Austin** 🌟
Honoring the Legacy – Major Taylor ATX
The Journey of Major Taylor ATX
The story of Major Taylor ATX is one of revival, resilience, and the passion for cycling. Originally founded in 2015, the Austin chapter went dormant until its rebirth in 2018, thanks to the dedication of key members like Tammy Benton and a collective desire to create a space for cyclists of color. Today, this chapter is a part of a growing movement, with Major Taylor clubs now established in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and even West Texas, forming a vibrant community across Texas.
Continuing Major Taylor’s Legacy
Major Taylor ATX honors its namesake—Marshall "Major" Taylor, born in 1878. Taylor was the first Black world champion cyclist, achieving this title in 1899 during the harsh realities of the Jim Crow era. His perseverance and philosophy of clean living continue to inspire the club’s ethos. As part of the Major Taylor Association, a network of over 250 clubs and donors globally, Major Taylor ATX upholds a mission of inclusivity, empowerment, and education in cycling.
Building More Than Miles
“Cycling isn’t just about the miles,” says Camille Baptist, one of the chapter’s founding members. “It’s about connection.” The club provides a welcoming space for new riders, helping them navigate gear choices, riding technique, and the cycling community itself. Riders like Karen Remy exemplify this spirit—beginning her journey on a basic bike, she has grown into a role model, completing major rides like the MS150 and mentoring others.
Additionally, the club works to give back, participating in charitable initiatives like donating bikes to children and partnering with organizations like the League of American Cyclists to ensure rider safety.
Why It Matters
For President Chris Maldonado, Major Taylor ATX represents a way to honor history and build community. “We’ve grown from a few members to something so much larger. It’s not just about cycling—it’s about continuing Major Taylor’s vision of a healthier, more inclusive world.”
Learn more about this incredible club and the legacy they uphold at Major Taylor ATX
See photos I captured from the Veloway here
1st Annual Season Finale!
We had a fantastic time tabling at La Dolce Vélo's Season Finale Party! It was such a treat to meet some new people, hear a few short and sweet bike stories, and share what Bike Story Night is all about.
The event was buzzing with activity—cyclists and community members enjoyed delicious ice cream, got into the fun with cornhole games, and captured memories at the whimsical sweets-themed photo booth featuring the stunning La Dolce Vélo show bike by Bask Bikes. The energy was festive, and it was great to see folks accessorizing their rides with Austin Tri Cyclist and learning more about all the incredible organizations that made this event possible.
Big thanks to La Dolce Vélo, Austin Tri Cyclist, and Bike Texas for putting on such a welcoming and inclusive celebration. We’re so grateful to have been part of this special event.
Can’t wait to see more of y’all at future Bike Story Night events. Until then, ride safe and keep sharing your stories! 🚲💖
See more of my snap shots from the event here
✨ What a night! ✨ Bike Story Night #15 is in the books!
It was truly incredible to see everyone out at Bike Story Night! 🚴♀️ Thank you from the bottom of my heart to our amazing storytellers—what an inspiring array of stories! It takes real courage to get up in front of a crowd, but your stories are what make this night so special. The power of storytelling through the lens of our shared love for biking never ceases to amaze me.
Huge shoutout to Radio Coffee & Beer for being such a welcoming and fantastic venue for our second time! Your space helped create the perfect atmosphere for our event and so many other amazing community events .
And let’s not forget our volunteers—you’re the heartbeat of Bike Story Night. From behind the scenes to on-stage support, this event wouldn’t happen without your hard work and dedication. 💛
A big thank you to Bob’s Pickle Pops, Chamois Butt'r, and GU energy Labs for the awesome swag at check-in! And an extra special thanks to Bike A Lot for the support with promo, prizes, and even providing extra bike parking!
For those who couldn’t make it, you were truly missed! But don’t worry, we’ll have a YouTube recording on our channel of the night coming soon so you can catch all the stories. 📹
***Bike Story Night #15 was supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
Lastly, a little personal note—Bike Story Night has been a labor of love, inspired by my own journey,passions and the many connections we all share in the cycling community. I’m grateful to keep this series going, and I’m beyond excited for what’s ahead. 🚴♂️💫
Stay tuned for more, and thank you again to everyone who made last night unforgettable! 🙌💥 #BikeStoryNight #CommunityLove #ThankYou
Bike Story Night 9/10/24 -These are the amazing captures from our photographer (another thing I spent some $ on for this event) @maxwelljohnston
If you have any photos from the evening that you’d like to share, or if you’d like to check out the ones we’ve collected so far, you can find them all here: [Bike Story Night Sept 10th Pics]. We'd love to add your memories to the collection.
Once again, thank you for being such an important part of Bike Story Night and supporting this project!
Stay tuned for details on our next event happening very soon!
New Trail Segment
In case you haven’t heard yet, the Austin-to-Manor Trail is now officially complete! 🎉 The grand celebration took place this past Saturday, Aug 24th at Ben E. Fisher Park, and it was amazing to see so many folks come out—not just from Manor but from Austin too. Cyclists were already riding the entire trail from Govalle Park Austin to Ben E. Fisher Park in Manor, making the most of this new connection!
Construction began last spring and wrapped up early this summer. The trail extends the existing Southern Walnut Creek Trail and follows the path of the future Green Line as part of the Project Connect system.
I’ve heard it’s a fantastic trail, and I can’t wait to check it out myself once the weather cools down a bit. Hooray for more safe, alternative routes for walking and biking in Austin! 🚴♂️🚶♀️
See more photos I captured from the event here
Bike Month Photos
Hey everyone! While this month I was mostly laying low and preserving my energy to complete a grant application for Bike Story Night I did get out a few times this month and so glad I did.
As always I had a great time documenting the vibrant bike lifestyle and culture here in Austin at some amazing local events this Bike Month. This passion is a big reason why I started Bike Story Night, and I'm thrilled to share these moments with you.
Check out the albums from recent events:
I hope you enjoy these snapshots as much as I enjoyed taking them. Can't wait to see you all in a few months for another in-person Bike Story Night event.
Hope your Bike Month is going great! 🚴♀️🌟🚴♂️
Bike Month 2024
Hey everyone,
As Bike Month kicks off, I wanted to share a little update. This might very well be the first time in three years that Bike Story Night won't be hosting an event during May. After the whirlwind of our last event and recovering from back-to-back happenings last fall followed by the holiday season, I've finally caught my breath.
But fear not! My hope is to bring back Bike Story Night in June, so stay tuned for updates on that front and be sure to also sign up for our newsletter here.
In the meantime, there's a ton happening in Austin this month to celebrate cycling. Every Wednesday 7-9am, you can join Ghisallo Cycling Initiative for We Bike Wednesday. Plus, mark your calendars for the Moon Tower Tour on Friday, May 10th. and Wet Hot American Bummer Alley Cat Race on Saturday, May 11th, And of course, don't miss Bike to Work Day and many other regular cycling events throughout the Austin area.
For all things Bike Month, be sure to check out the newest bike organization dedicated to making Austin a more bike-friendly city all month long. Check Out The Events Calendar at bikemonthatx.com.
While we may not be hosting a large event, I'll still be active during Bike Month. I'll be hosting a couple of one-on-one features, bike shop tours and might even be out on Bike to Work Day after party on May 17th, capturing bike portraits once again this year. See pics from last year here - 2023 BTWD pics + after party
Whether or not we host an event this month, I hope you all enjoy May with a little extra spirit of cycling and alternative mobility. Keep pedaling and exploring!
Valerie
Bike Story Night #14 Recap
🎤✨ What an incredible and beautiful Bike Story Night it was! A heartfelt thank you to our amazing 🌟 Featured Storytellers for sharing their stories with us. The feedback we received since last Wed.night reaffirmed that your words resonated deeply with everyone present, contributing to yet another unforgettable event. This was the most stories we’ve had in one night and each one left us feeling uplifted and deeply connected, fostering a sense of community that is truly magical.❤️
To all who joined us, thank you for being part of the magic. Your presence added immeasurable warmth and energy to the event. You were a great audience and I hope to see you all again soon! Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay connected on future events and exciting news! Link in bio. We hope to have some fun experiences and new ways to share more bike stories with you, stay tuned! 🤝🏽
✌🏽🎥Stay tuned for the video recordings of the stories, coming soon to our YouTube channel.
See more photos from Bike Story Night #14 - here
Spring Featured Bike Org
At each event we like to shine a spotlight on different local bike non-profits / orgs. We are thrilled to announce 🌟@bikesacrossborders 🌟 will be joining us as our Featured Bike Organization On March 20th! 🙌🏽
✨Bikes Across Borders has organized more than twenty bike delivery caravans since 2001, sending over 800 bicycles to Mexico, Central America, and Cúba. We build solidarity partnerships locally and across borders through donating bikes and bike tools to community organizers. We seek to build a network of mutual aid among communities struggling for self determination and challenge capitalist ideals.
It was enlightening to hear firsthand about their annual journey from one of their newest members, Desiree. I hope you had the opportunity to engage with the other members too, as they shared valuable insights at their table. Be sure to follow them for updates and stay connected, especially as they prepare for their upcoming annual journey to Mexico. Your support and connection mean a lot to them and the community they serve.
Bike Story Night is Back - March 20th at The Meteor
✨DETAILS🌙🎤
Location: The Meteor Cafe & Bike Shop
- 2110 S Congress Ave - Espresso | Champagne | Chain Lube. Combining cultures of coffee, food, wine, and bikes under one roof.Event Runs: 7:15 -10:00PM - be sure to arrive early for a good seat!🎟️ Suggested $10 - $20 Donation at the Door🎟️
RSVP and share with friends on Facebook
HAVE A BIKE STORY??
Submit your Story in advance to be a *Featured Storyteller*
Submissions are Due Sun. March 10th
Whether you're a seasoned storyteller or just love riding your bike, we want to hear from you. Your story doesn't have to be an epic saga – if you've been on a bike, you've got a story worth sharing. It could even be about someone who's inspired you with their own biking adventures!
** If your business or group would like to collab, table or partner please feel free to reach out.
Hope to see you Wednesday March 20th!
3rd Annual Bike Story Night Campout
Mark your calendars get your bikes tuned up! RSVP/ Ticket Info
This is a night filled with heartwarming bike stories, and a cozy campout under the stars. We promise it'll be an event to remember!RSVP is required for this amazing event, whether you plan to bike, drive, camp, or simply hang out to enjoy the captivating stories and community fun.
See photos from our previous campout
Sign up for the Camp out Newsletter Updates and info about the ride out to Happy HorseAll the happenings leading up to and at the eventOther special bike packing tipsReminders and other fun stuff!
Virtual Bike Story Night with Alexandra Houchin
Valerie chats with Alexandera Houchin an Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe woman) about her single-speed bike life, personal body journey, and the upcoming 2023 Triple Crown, Chumba bikes and her film “Stronger Together” takes an intimate look into a story inspired by her mother's journey to provide a good life for her and her siblings
I want to express my deep gratitude to Alexandra for sharing her insights and knowledge beyond ultra endurance racing. We delved into everything, from her first bike purchase off Craigslist, her SS homies and the special relationship between the ultra endurance racers. Not to mention how special she feels when she's riding and spending a lot of time on her bike. The thing that she finds brings her so much joy and closer to knowing herself more.
Check out the full recording of our chat on YouTube
Bike Story Night at Radio Coffee & Beer
Join us on Sunday, October 8th, for an unforgettable evening at Radio Coffee & Beer, where we come together to share the magic of storytelling, reconnect with old bike friends, and make new connections. Bike Story Night celebrates the intersection of storytelling and the joy of cycling.
Program Includes:
3-5 Featured Storytellers
Featured Bike Non-Profit: Street Books ATX
2-3 Wild Card Storytellers (short, last-minute entries)
Community Plugs (30 seconds to promote anything with the audience!)
Community Ride to the Event Details
Facebook RSVP link
Submit Your Story Here by Sun Oct 1st: Story Submission Form - https://forms.gle/GQvXanVx2noGq5ou6
Raffle Prizes: with your donation your name will be entered to WIN some really cool PRIZES from **Radio Coffee & Beer, Patagonia, Chumba USA, Dispersed Bikepacking & MORE!
Celebrating Austin's First Multi-Use Bike Polo Court at Mendez Park!
For the next Bike Story Night Summer Feature, I decided to connect with the vibrant bike polo community. We discussed their newly-remodeled multi-use bike polo court at Mendez (formerly Metz) Park, freshly renamed after Rodolfo “Rudy” Mendez a pillar of the East Austin neighborhood and program specialist at the community center.
What is Bike Polo? A lot of people will simply tell you “it's like hockey on bikes”. Having visited the court on Canterbury Street a few times in the past several years, after Sunday Cruises and once during a newbie night about a year and a half ago. I've witnessed the growth of a strong and dedicated community that gathers to play at the court. It was nice to finally dive deeper into the world of bike polo and get to know this amazing community a little better. The games are typically played 2-3 times a week (Thu 7pm, Sat or Sun 11ish) unless posted otherwise.
Read more about my visit here
Multi-Use Bike Polo Court Ribbon Cutting + Movies Under the Stars
FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2023 AT 7 PM
Austin premiere of the film, "Making Our Space: Unbound and Beyond" at ATX Bikes
Filmed by Bike Austin Hosted by Bike Story Night/VARU Creative - June 10 2023
A FESTIVAL OF THE WORLD’S BEST BIKE MOVIES
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you for joining us at the very first Filmed by Bike Austin. Your presence and support meant the world to us and the entire Bike Story community.
Your generous contributions to this fundraiser for Bike Story Night will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of our event for years to come. Thanks to you, we are empowered to continue growing and creating even more memorable experiences.
We are immensely grateful for your dedication to biking and for being a part of this incredible bike community. Together, we are making a positive impact and fostering a vibrant biking culture.
Stay tuned for details on our next Bike Story Night event later this summer.
💫 Photo Collection Link - https://photos.app.goo.gl/4REzYsJV32Cbj6QW8