Hi Neighbors, 

The days are going by a little too fast for comfort. The shop is full of bikes. The sun is out and my shoulders are tinged a shade of pink that would make my mom scold me if she could see. The city feels alive. The most joyous part of my work day is heading down JFK, taking a sharp right turn into the skate rink, and watching all the happy people wiggle around on their wheels, soaking in the movement and the weather and the magic of the park. All day at the shop, those same happy people seem to make their way through our doors, looking for tune ups or water bottles or a cool place to rest and recharge. What a joy it is to welcome them. 

The rapid speed with which the days are whirling by is making it hard to keep track of all the wonderful things happening within the walls of our bike shop, so I thought we could use this newsletter to remind everyone what we’re all about, let you know when and where to find us, and maybe tell you about a couple of ways you can help us keep making bicycle dreams come true. 

Each month, Scenic Routes Community Bicycle Center teaches two (completely free) classes, we lead rides that make navigating the city on two wheels a little less intimidating, we open our doors to host a community night, and we spend our days repairing and rebuilding your bikes so that they can transport you through life. We feed people lunch, eat way too many potato chips, and keep the coffee pot brewing all day long. The records are spinning, the vibes are high, the grief we are all feeling is welcome and tended to gently. 

Our Quercus Bike project has been our pride and joy the last year. We’ve been taking old frames from the 80’s and 90’s, giving them a fresh powdercoat, and rebuilding them to be perfect San Francisco bikes, built for commuting, climbing, and adventuring. Every bike we build is unique in some way, and every bike is our favorite. The best part is, we’ve been able to put bikes in the hands of people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them with our “Quercus Fund.” If getting people on good, reliable, joyful bikes is a dream of yours too, you can help us by donating any amount to our Quercus Fund, and rest assured that the money will be used to subsidise someone’s bicycle purchase. Read more about that here: 

To really promote our love of bicycles, we start and end each month with a community bike ride, and throw one in the middle for good measure. The first ride of the month is our “Quercus Family Bike Ride: A ride for every member of your family tree.” Kids (of all ages) on balance bikes, pedal bikes, scooters, and cargo bikes are all welcome, and their adults can (and must) come with them too! We’ll pick a pace to accommodate our littlest rider, and keep the vibes high with bubbles, snacks, kids tunes, and giggles that fill the entirety of Golden Gate Park. This ride starts at the 'LOVE' blocks on JFK in front of the Conservatory of Flowers, and ends at the meadow across from Metson Lake on Middle Drive where we stop for snacks and a story time. Meet at 9:00am, roll at 9:15.

Our second ride of the month is our “Night Moves Community Bike Ride.” It may be dark, but we’ve got bike lights, hot tea, homemade cookies, and enough spirit to keep you warm. The route changes each month, but it's never more than 12 miles, the pace is always conversational, and we have designated slow pokes so you never have to worry about being last. This is a ride for everyone. This is a ride to exist on our bicycles, stretch our legs, and make new connections. All we ask is that you bring a mug, and even if you don’t, we’ll have one you can borrow. We’ll see you on April 9th for the next Night Moves. We meet at 7:00pm at the shop (521 Balboa Street), roll at 7:15, and end somewhere on JFK around 9:30. 

May 14th will be a special edition, Happy Birthday to me (Ayla) and Jay Night Moves Community Bike Ride. We will ramble up Twin Peaks where we will light birthday candles, put on silly little hats, and look around in awe at all the community we love, growing older with us every day. There will be a birthday cake, so you really don’t want to miss this one. See you on May 14th! 

The last ride of every month is our “Day Grooves Community Bike Ride.” This is a ride that centers the girls, gays and theys in our community. The pace is slow and the priority is giggling. There is pop music, there is a stop for coffee, and there is a group of us pushing each other to try things we might think we can’t do. Last month, a group of 15 of us rode from the shop, up to the Presidio, up to the Legion of Honor, and then mosied back through the park. It was a thrill! Connections were made, sweat soaked our clothes, and the iced latte at the end was a serious treat. All are welcome, but only if you are prepared to have a girly little good time. This is a ride for JOY. We meet at 11:00am at the shop (521 Balboa Street), roll at 11:15am, and end up back at the shop some time before 2:00pm. We’ll see you on April 26th for the next Day Grooves Community Bike Ride! 

In addition to our rides, we offer two free classes every month that help you be a better bike owner. The first Thursday of every month is a “Flat Fix Class!” This is the best thing to learn to increase your confidence on the road. The truth is, we live in a world littered with glass and little bits of metal, and the thumb tacks that your enemies put outside your garage. Flat tires can happen at any time, and we want to give you the power to fix them yourselves! You can read more about our flat class and sign up for the next one here: 

The other class looks a little different every month. The third Thursday of the month is our “Rotating Mechanic’s Class,” where we offer a new lesson every month. These classes range from Tubeless Tire setups to Trailside First Aid classes to Derailleurs Explained to Barwrap workshops. This month’s rotating class is “ALL ABOUT TOOLS!” Specialty bicycle parts come with lots of specialty tools, and oftentimes, the thing keeping home mechanics back is not understanding which tool to use when. This class will demystify all the tools hung on our benches, help you decide which ones are worth buying or not, and demonstrate just how much you can get done with a basic multi-tool. You can sign up for that class here: 

And the last Thursday of every month, we keep the doors of the shop open from 7:00-9:00pm for Community Night. This is the event that started it all, a space for our friends and neighbors to come together. This month, Community Night is April 30th. Join us for a night of comradery, joy, commiseration, and togetherness. 

The shop is bustling, and it’s all thanks to YOU. It is a joy to serve our community with bike repair, community events, free classes, and a space to exist. We also know that community is a two way street! The only way we are able to host free classes and lead rides is if you show up, so put it on your calendar, invite a friend, and share on instagram. If you want to support us from afar, reading our newsletter, sharing our instagram posts, and spreading the ‘slow is forever’ vibe is just as important. And if you happen to have some cash you’re looking for somewhere to put, you might consider a donation to our Quercus fund, or becoming a Scenic Routes member. We hate talking about money, but the truth is, nothing is actually free, and by being a five-dollar-a-month member, you make it possible for us to teach classes that cost the participants nothing. If you’re local, being a member (park rambler, commuter, etc.) means getting discounts on parts, a labor stipend each year, and the joy of supporting a local bike shop every month. 

Okay, that’s all for now. We’ll see you at the shop, Tuesday through Sunday, noon to seven, and at all the fun events we’ve got cookin’ for you!

Ayla  

P.S. Have you been dreaming of a Quercus bike? Do you have aspirations of riding around San Francisco on a colorful, whimsical, capable bicycle built just for you. Is taking care of your neighbors, both near and far, important to you? If you answered yes to any of the above, this may be the raffle for you! 

San Francisco Artists Kelly Low and Spokes + Folks  have teamed up with Scenic Routes Community Bicycle Center to raffle off one of our Quercus Bikes just for you, with the intention of supporting our neighbors in Minnesota who may be struggling to pay their rent after the unjust, deplorable actions of ICE and our government in their city. 

The call to action is simple, purchase one (or 2 or ten) $10.00 raffle ticket(s) and be entered for a chance to win a custom Quercus bike, complete with a yarn bombed Wald 139 basket. The winner will get to pick a frame color, handlebars, and the vibes of their new bike! Unfortunately, you must be local to the Bay Area to be the bicycle winner, but, if you are interested in participating from afar, please select the “out of town” option, and you will be entered to win a collection of Scenic Routes stickers and a plush ornament from Kelly Low. You can also select this option if you want to participate but simply don’t have room for another bike in your apartment.

The raffle will run from today, April 8th, to Sunday, May 3rd when we will draw tickets for our bicycle winner and our “out of town” winner. 

Click here to read more and enter the raffle: