✨ 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