BYXE Week 2023 – May 15 – 21

The City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Cycles are once again partnering to present Spring 2023 BYXE Week from May 15 – 21. The week long event aims to promote and encourage cycling year-round and celebrate everyone who hops on two wheels to get to work, go for a casual ride, run some errands, get a good workout, or do whatever else moves them.

Cycling is a convenient and low-cost form of everyday transportation that improves our city by decreasing traffic congestion, noise, and air pollution. It’s also great for our physical and mental health; regular exercise leaves us feeling refreshed, energized and alert. BYXE Week helps remind people how fun and beneficial getting on your bike can be, by packing the week full of adventure, fun, and community.

Check out all of the planned activities and see what inspires you to roll with us!

BYXE Week Kickoff Slow Roll (Sat. May 13)

We’re going to build anticipation for Spring BYXE week with a ride on the Meewasin just ahead of the “official” event. At 2 PM we’ll meet at the Fire Vessel (between the Remai and the Sugar Shack at River Landing) and take a lovely loop ride to the North Bridge and back.

Join us for some fellowship, snacks, and fresh air. We’ll get BYXE Week off to a great start!

Tutu Ride: Totally Rad Glow Roll (Wed. May 17)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2023 AT 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

While not sanctioned by the City of Saskatoon or Saskatoon Cycles as an official part of BYXE Week, we’re including the Totally Rad Glow Roll as one of the available activities this spring because the timing was just too perfect! They were already planning to ride along the picturesque Meewasin Trail, adding a thrilling splash of color and verve as they go, before they knew it was a week of cycling celebration! From the organizer:

Come join the first Tutu Ride of 2023! Theme is ‘80s Glow, so dust off your retro swag, pack your fave tutu, string up your party lights, and slow roll with us!

Alejandra

The tutu riders will be gathering at Spadina Crescent West and 17th Street West (across from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 63).

Tutus are NOT mandatory but are enthusiastically encouraged!

You can go to the Facebook Event page here!

Bike to Work Day (Thurs. May 18)

During BYXE Week, one day is selected as Bike to Work Day, when local businesses and organizations host commuter stations located throughout the city and distribute free snacks, coffee, and other treats as a special salute to those who get to work by bike. Some stations host games, trivia, have giveaways and general camaraderie, all of which are designed to give your ride to work an extra dose of fun and engagement. The stations are open to all bike riders, but if you’re on your way to your job, give yourself an extra pat on the back!

Post a photo of you and your bike at any station with the hashtag #BYXE for an entry in the draw.

This year’s Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 18, from 7AM – 9AM. The locations for your pre-work stop will be on this map starting May 15.

Morning stations

  • Bike Doctor
  • Citizen Cafe
  • City of Saskatoon (City Hall Square)
  • City Perks Coffeehouse (with Affinity Credit Union)
  • College Park School
  • D’Lish by Tish Cafe
  • Ecoquest
  • Federated Co-operatives Limited
  • Kinetik
  • Life Outside Gear Exchange
  • University of Saskatchewan
  • Urban Systems

After work stations (4 – 6PM)

  • Doug’s Spoke ‘N Sport
  • 9 Mile Legacy Brewing

The Saskatoon Cycles Tune-Up Tent (Sat. May 20)

Squeaky chain? Tires a little low? Not sure about your bike seat height? These subtle deficiencies can sneak up on you and make your BYXE Week ride a little less enjoyable.

The Saskatoon Cycles Tune-Up Tent is here to help.

On Saturday, May 20, from 1PM to 5PM, we’ll be under the Sid Buckwold Bridge (near the Meewasin trail counter) with some chain oil, a tire pump, and some allen keys to help smooth out your cycling experience with some simple tweaks. Stop by and say hi and let us do the rest.

Scavenger Hunt (All Week)

You and your family/ friends/ team can enjoy exploring the city by bike with our week-long scavenger hunt. Download the scavenger hunt card and get on your bike and check off as many items as you can. With every successful discovery, post a picture of you (or you and your family/ friends/ team) with the card, hashtag it #BYXE (so we can find it for the prize draws) and we’ll enter you into the draw.

The Great Saskatoon Bike Passport Adventure (All Week)

New to BYXE Week this spring is The Great Saskatoon Bike Passport Adventure! You could win a $500 gift card from the Bike Doctor!!!

For the entire week, you can collect unique “bike part” stickers from a range of Saskatoon businesses and try to complete your own bicycle image. Every sticker is an entry in our Passport Adventure draw that will include a bunch of swag bags, and did we mention? One lucky entry will win the grand prize of $500 at the Bike Doctor!

Are you ready for the adventure? Start by picking up a passport card at any one of these Passport Card Locations:

Once you’ve got your card, visit as many of the listed businesses as you can and collect a unique sticker from each:

Apply the stickers you receive to their corresponding spot on your passport card and try to complete the bike image!

When you’ve collected all the stickers you can (and remember, BYXE Week is done on May 21!), fill in your contact information on the card and return it to one of the four (4) Passport Card Locations before May 23.

Please note: No purchases required. Passport Cards can only be returned to Passport Card Locations; other sticker locations will not collect cards. Have fun!

The QR Tour (All Week)

This spring, our “techie” challenge is back with a few extra stops that’ll get you and your fellow riders checking out great paths and sights around the city. Rip around and scan QR codes to unlock new challenges:

First, download the QR Cycle Tour answers sheet.

Then, decide what “cycle” you want to complete: The Full Cycle has 12 stops, Half Cycle is 6 stops, and the Family Cycle is 3 stops. (If you do the Half or Family Cycle you can do any of the stops that work best for you and don’t have to be in order on the Tour map. )

Next, go to the first stop on your tour and find the QR code sign. Using your phone’s camera, go to the web form and answer:

  • Which tour are you doing
  • How hard was the trip to the Tour stop
  • Submit the form

When you submit the form you’ll get a page with a cycle word on it to be used on the QR Cycle Tour answer sheet. The words are specific to which tour you are doing; Full, Half or Family. Make sure to record that word, a screen shot is the simplest way to do that, so you have it for the answer sheet.

Once you’ve gone to as many Tour Stops as you need to complete your Tour, fill in the QR Cycle Tour answers sheet and email it to byxe@saskatooncycles.org to be entered for prizes!

BYXE Week Social Media Contest (All Week)

It’s not all about the swag, but…

Riding a bike is a transportation choice that makes us and our community healthier, happier, and more accessible. If those reasons weren’t enough, cycling during BYXE Week can also make you… swaggier?

That’s right! We’ll be drawing for prizes at the end of the week, so participate as much as you can with social media posts (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). Every selfie with your bike while doing any of our activities will earn you an entry for prizes. Just make sure that your posts have the hashtag #BYXE.

Public Art locations to visit on your bike (All Week)

The art is located all over the city and in almost every neighborhood. Click on the image to go to the interactive map and see which of the 62 art installations is close to you.

Saskatoon Transit’s Bike & Bus

If you’re commuting to work by bike, but the distance is too great to cycle the entire way, consider taking Saskatoon Transit’s Bike & Bus part of the way. Plan your trip using the Transit app and Google Transit. All buses are equipped with front bike racks that are free and easy to use. The bike racks also accommodate tires up to 2 inches wide.

How to load your bike on the Transit rack

Prize Donor Appreciation

We’d like to acknowledge and send big hugs out to our prize donors for BYXE Week 2023:

BYXE Week 2023