Prizes! and an overview of the day of dialogue and demonstrations

Here are some of the really generous folks and businesses that have donated to our free drawing:

A  Divvy annual membership!

Registration for two people for  REI Lincoln Park Outdoor School Classes

Bike shoes from Beverly Bike

A cycling cap from Kozy Prery

A $25 gift card from Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

A gift bag (coffee and other goodies) from Hardboiled Coffee Company
A CTA umbrella, 5 pedometers and a water bottle from Active Transportation Alliance

A $25 gift card from Women and Children First Book Store

Swag from BFF Bikes and On the Route Bicycles and Freeman Kevenides Law Firm
A bag for  your bike from Po Campo

Watch this space for announcements of more!

And here’s the schedule:

9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.             Registration    

9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.           Opening presentation by Angela Ford  

10:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.         Commuting by bike    OR     Cultural differences in biking

11:15 a.m. to 12:00 noon        What you need to know when you visit a bike shop

                                                            OR

                                               How to plan a group ride or form a riding group

12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m            Recreational side of biking

                                                            OR

                                               Comfort, style, and safety on the bike

1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.             Drawing

From 10:00 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m., three moms who ride with their children will be available in the child care area to answer your questions about how to have fun and ride safely with the kids.

All day, Divvy will have representatives and bikes outside.  You can get the answer to all questions Divvy, and also try one of the bikes for free! 

Plus there will be all kinds of bikes outside for test riding—hybrid bikes, road bikes, touring bikes, cargo bikes.

Think you might want to be part of an all-female bike mentoring program?  Look for the Women Bike Chicago volunteers with a name tag that says “ask me about the WBC mentoring program."

There is more!  Join us! 

Registration is free.

Introducing Angela Ford!

We would like to virtually introduce our keynote speaker for our Day of Dialogue and  Demonstration: Ms. Angela Ford.

Angela Ford is the owner of TAG Properties, a Sustainable Real Estate consulting firm and founder of the nonprofit TAG Foundation focused on sustainable programing in the urban community. She, like so many of us, retired her bicycle at the age of 16 when she got her driver’s license. Her peer group associated bike riding with playful youth. She returned to bicycling as an adult 18 years later when her son needed to learn to ride immediately for a school trip. For the last eight years, Angela’s primary mode of transportation is her bicycle! She is committed to promoting bike riding for health and wellness. Her current project is the one-day event and donation of 500 bicycles to youth in Bronzeville in May 2014.

We are so excited for her to be an integral part of Women Bike Chicago’s Day of Dialogue and Demonstration because not only are her accomplishments inspiring and message true, but she is a wonderful lady.

Come meet Angela and hear what she has to say about women biking in the city, next month at our Second Annual Women Bike Chicago’s Women on Wheels: A Day of Dialogue and Demonstration, Saturday April 12, 9 AM to 2 PM in Dvorak Park in Pilsen. Check out our EventBrite page and register today.

Finalizing our schedule

This week we are finalizing the schedule for our second annual Day of Dialogue and Demonstrations. It’s safe to say we’re very excited and we think you should be, too!

Topics to be covered include commuting, bike maintenance, how to plan a ride, safety, comfort and style and more. If you attended the Day of Dialogue and Demonstration last year, you may notice some repeat sessions that we will be expanding upon this year, as well as the addition of some new topics. If you are planning to come for the first time, we look forward to meeting you. We are very excited about our all-day bike corral — come try out a dozen different types of bikes! 

This is also an excellent volunteer opportunity. We are looking for volunteers for the day of the event to help set up, manage the registration table, coordinate speakers, assist with the bike corral, clean up and more. Being a volunteer does not mean you won’t be able to participate in the discussions and demonstrations! In fact, as a volunteer, you will be an integral part of our day. Register to be a volunteer here or email us at womenbikechi@gmail.com with questions!

Dvorak Park, 1119 West Cullerton Ave.

Remember, Women on Wheels: A Day of Dialogue and Demonstration is Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 9 AM-2 PM in Dvorak Park in Pilsen. Please register here by paying what you can or choosing a free ticket. No one will be turned away, and free childcare is available! Hope to see you there!

Introducing Intern Lucy

Women Bike Chicago is pleased to welcome Lucy Freccia as our newest intern. 

Lucy lives in Rogers Park and graduated with a BA in Anthropology from Loyola University Chicago in spring 2013. A Columbus, Ohio native, she is a lifelong bike lover, most notably known around her hometown for her off-brand bright pink cruiser from high school. Since moving on to a more practical model, Lucy enjoys the ease and pleasure of a long bike commute as well as the geographical and community awareness it has brought her. Lucy feels closest to her city while bike riding, and hopes to advocate for women who feel the same way.

We also sadly must bid so-long to Intern Liz, who moved downstate to take a position with CNT Energy as a Field Organizer.  Congrats, Liz, and thanks for the work you did for us in your short time with WBC.

Also a huge Thank You! to Active Transportation Alliance for sponsoring the internship, and providing office space, e-mail and all that.

Update on Second Annual Day of Dialogue and Demonstration

Do you believe that it snowed again last night and this morning?

Despite the record breaking cold and snowfall this winter, we are excited about our upcoming event and wanted to share some of the details.

April 12, 2014
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Dvorak Park
1119 W. Cullerton
Chicago

One of our group is in charge of making sure it is a nice day!

We will have child care for those of you who need to or want to bring your children.  Other moms will be there to tell you how they cycle with children from infants to grammar school age and beyond.

Our kick-off speaker is a dynamic lady who started riding last year as a result of Go Bronzeville.  She will tell you how she did it!

Three women who own bike shops are going to tell you what you need to know to confidently go into a bike shop for repairs or to buy a bike.

One long-time bike commuter and one new bike commuter will show you how to go where you want to go without being intimidated.

Bike shops and bike owners will have bikes available for you to ride so you can see how different bikes feel. And there will be space in the park to ride without dealing with traffic.

Divvy will be there!  Have you wondered how the bikes are to ride?  Do you want to know how the system works?  Learn it all on April 12.

Register here!