Saskatoon Cycles December 2022 Newsletter
ZenZED for the Holidays!
If the idea of traffic congestion and hectic holiday shopping weighs you down at all, we can offer an emission-free solution: bicycle delivery to your door from our ZenZED business partners! It’s as easy as:
- Shop online at any of these fine establishments:
- Alt Haus Interior Design
- The Better Good
- Escape Sports
- The Little Market Box
- Peryton Books
- Turning the Tide Bookstore
- Remember that thanks to the incredibly generous support of our primary project partner The Better Good, all delivery costs are FREE for ZenZED bicycle shipments! Ho ho ho, indeed!!!
- Make sure your purchases will fit in a backpack and are within the Circle Drive perimeter in Saskatoon. We’ll take care of the rest, all season long.
Check out our ZenZED page for more details.
The Bike Doctor: World Bicycle Relief Campaign
One of our first Friends of Cycling, The Bike Doctor, has teamed up with a local couple and Trek bikes to get bicycles into the hands of people in Africa. This unique program has already raised enough funds to provide 276 bikes, and they’re not stopping until December 31st!
Please read about their campaign below and consider pitching in!
Give a Bike, Change a life.
Greg and Olivia Yuel visited Africa in the fall of 2022. They are avid cyclists and were impressed with how bikes are integral to African daily life and the African economy. They wanted to do something, and believing that bikes make all lives better, they approached the Bike Doctor to work with them to build a unique local program that could get bikes to the people of Africa.
The Bike Doctor found a way to work with the non-profit World Bicycle Relief organization (WBR has delivered 684,000 bicycles to communities in developing countries) to build and deliver the bikes along with spare parts and mechanical training. The bikes are made by the Buffalo Bike Company in Africa. They are built tough to get Africans to school, to the hospital, to work, and to get water and food.
Our almost too good to be true (but true) local program:
Step 1. Your donation of one bike ($205 including mechanical training and spare parts) will be generously matched by Greg and Olivia Yuel to a maximum of 245 bikes. Wow. 1 becomes 2.
Step 2. Trek will then match both contributions. Your one bike donation now becomes 4 bikes in the hands of Africans. Ever seen a donation multiply like that?
Yes, we take donations of any size, but it’s nice to know that a one bike donation of $205 delivers one Buffalo Bike, including spare parts, tools, mechanic’s training and all shipping costs.
Donate at the store or on our website by clicking here!
Greg McKee, Bike Doctor
Upcoming Events
Is 2022/2023 your winter cycling season to shine? Whether this is the year you finally decide to try the most refreshing and brisk way to ride, or you’re already a veteran ice-iclist, there will be plenty of opportunities to get out and meet people on bikes in the crisp new year!
- January 22, 2023: “Snow Joke” Slow Roll – Just try to make us laugh. We dare you!
- February 11, 2023: BYXE Slow Roll – Help us kick off BYXE Week right
- February 13 – 20, 2023: Winter BYXE Week runs a full week this year!
- February 16, 2023: Winter Bike to Work Day! Even if you take a day off!
We’ll have many more details to come on these events. Please watch your email inbox and stay tuned to our social media platforms for updates.
Getting to know the Saskatoon Cycles board of directors: Rob Larson
As a non-profit, Saskatoon Cycles relies on the generous efforts of its volunteers. One of the ways you can contribute to and help shape the direction of our work is by becoming a member of our Board of Directors. At our AGM on November 9th, 2022 two people joined our Board. Last month we introduced you to Zack MacGregor, now please help us welcome Rob Larson.
Q: Who are you and why do you ride a bike?
My name is Rob Larson. I ride for health and financial benefits, and avoiding traffic and the stresses driving brings. I’ve been car free for 4 years.
Q: Why did you decide to join the board?
I decided to join the board as I’ve been a regular volunteer and participant for a few years now, and it just seemed like a natural progression.
Q: What do you hope to contribute through your involvement?
Being on the board will give me the opportunity to work towards a better cycling experience for citizens of Saskatoon as a means of transportation.
Q: Have you already volunteered with Saskatoon Cycles? If so, in what initiatives have you been involved?
I’ve volunteered for the bike valet, slow rolls, and bike sales. Meeting people, and seeing the diversity of different bikes people ride for these events is fascinating to me.
Q: What do you see as some priorities to make Saskatoon better and safer for cyclists?
Cycling is the most efficient way to move around a city. Separated infrastructure to all areas of the city, and proper and safe parking at all destinations is required for a major city in this day and age.
Q: Any favourite cycling rides or routes in or around Saskatoon?
I love riding the Meewasin trail system and am very exited for the improvements that have been made, and are coming. I also enjoy finding trails through neighborhoods that I haven’t been on before.
Donations: Moe Bucks Edition!
Did you get your $500 surplus check in the mail this holiday season?
We know there are still a few circulating around. Imagine the collective good we could do if Saskatoon Cycles members donated even a portion of their surplus checks!
Our work relies heavily on financial donations from enthusiastic bike riders who want to see the cycling infrastructure and culture in Saskatoon continue to bloom and grow. Our programs make an important impact on the quality of life in Saskatoon.
Your generous financial gift lets us
- advocate for comfortable cycling for everyone of all ages and abilities
- provide the Bike Valet at more events and festivals
- help more Saskatoon residents learn to ride bike well
- help newcomers to Canada learn how to cycle in Saskatoon
- partner with business and community groups to present the benefits of improved active transportation
If 50 cyclists donated their $500 Moe Bucks, it would fund our basic operations for a whole year!!!
Hit the link to put the surplus to good use.
