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LEASE A BIKE
Need a bike to get around campus?
Click here for lease information and application ...
VOLUNTEER
Would you
like
to volunteer to
help repair, paint, or maintain bikes? Volunteers learn a wide variety of bike maintenance skills and earn access to work on their own bikes. Click here for details.
DONATE A BIKE
We welcome donations of sturdy bikes that are in
good working condition. If you have a bike that you'd like to donate, please
click here for more information. To drop off donated bikes (contact us first
please) here's location information to the MSU Bikes Service Center.
 Smart Commute 2008 |
 Click here for details on upcoming Smart Commute events in the Lansing area. Click here or the photo for pics from the MSU Erickson Hall May 3rd class.  Click pic for more photos from the "How to Smart Commute" class from May 12, 2007.  Photo by KATIE RAUSCH , The State News Tim Potter, the marketing and sales coordinator for MSU Bikes Service Center, explains how to modify quick-release features on a bike's wheels or seat to prevent theft. Click the photo for an article that appeared in the State News on 5/14/07.  "Copenhagen Cycle Chic - Bike Advocacy in High Heels"  Lucinda Means Advocacy Day 2007 Poster |
 The Practical Pedal 'zine, summer 07, had everything you really need to know about different bike trailer options out there. |
 RealLite light genius Dick Janson sporting two of his own lights on his bike during the Lucinda Means Memorial bike parade, May 2006. Click to enlarge. Click here for info. on the Lucinda Means Advocacy Day Events for 2008. |
Smart Commute 2008
May is recognized around the country as "National Bike Month" and 2008 is action packed in the Lansing area. Ride of Silence, May 21st, 5th Annual Farm Daze Tour, May 17th, 4th Annual Lucinda Means Advocacy Day Ride, May 30th. See our Events page for photos from these events. There is a host of pro-bike and other non-motorized transportation activities going on in the area many of them fall under the local "Smart Commute" events which are all listed on this page. The MSU Bikes Service Center is one of the sponsors of the Smart Commute events; we're providing 3 of our Green bikes as prizes for the Smart Commute '08 Challenge as we did in 2006 & '07. We've also hosted another class on Bike Commuting (click for pics from '07) on May 3rd in addition to helping out with a lunch-hour class at the Library on May 1st ( Click here for pics from the May 3rd class and here for the May 1st Library lunch session).
A State News article and photo of that '07 class are here. If you'd like to learn more about bike commuting and can't attend one of the short classes, click here to view the Powerpoint slideshow (25 mb).
The Fashion of Commuting
Contrary to some urban legends you don't really have to get a whole new "bike commuter" wardrobe. In fact, in cities/ communities where getting around by bike is just as common as any other mode of transportation people dress the same on their bikes. Check out this wonderful blog, "Copenhagen Cycle Chic - Bike Advocacy in High Heels" for some visual inspiration to dress however you want when you're riding around town!"
The Practical Pedal
I found this wonderful 'zine in a bike shop somewhere over the past summer, "The Practical Pedal", which has an equally great web site. The issue of the 'zine which I picked up, summer 07, had everything you really need to know about different bike trailer options out there. You can subscribe to the hard-copy of this 'zine for free and also to their e-zine version. We'll hopefully have them in the shop soon for free.
BikeLansing Listserve
BikeLansing is an email list serve managed by the League of Michigan Bicyclists that is a forum for general bike commuting questions (best routes, clothing, ride partners...) for the Greater Lansing Area. A number of local bicycle commuting experts are on board and ready to help mentor new commuters and answer questions. To join email jlindenmayer@LMB.org and write SUBSRIBE in the subject line and make sure to include your name in the body of the email.
• Want
to partially blind automobile drivers approaching you? Then you need the
super-duper 18-LED
RealLITE Bicycle Tail Light made by a local cycling legend in
his own right, Dick Janson (Dick is also the brains and brawn behind the
wonderful Crosstown
bike route map published by the TCBA which
is a great resource, both online and the print version, for Lansing-area
cyclists). It's guaranteed for life (for the original owner or gift receiver)
including but by no means limited to
"attacks by killer bees, bullet shots, avalanche or ambush" and,
going far and above all warranties known to mankind "failure by indirect
result of the crush of overwhelming marital strife." The
BP web geek swears by his; you will too!
• Check out the League of Mich. Bicyclist's resource page for Commuters in Michigan (scroll down the page a ways for the Lansing area info).
• Subscribe
to the new BikeLansing Discussion List, hosted
by the League
of Mich. Bicyclists. BikeLansing is a forum for general bike commuting
questions (best routes, clothing, ride partners...) for the Greater Lansing
(MI) Area. A number of local bicycle commuting experts are on board and
ready to help mentor new bicycle commuters. Join
this list by emailing jlindenmayer@LMB.org;
write SUBSCRIBE BIKELANSING in the subject line and make sure your full
name is included in the body of the email.
Smart Commute 2007
May is recognized around the country as "National Bike Month" and 2007 was action packed in the Lansing area. Ride of Silence, May 16th, 4th Annual Farm Daze Tour 2007, May 19th, 3rd Annual Lucinda Means Advocacy Day Ride, May 30th. See our Events page for photos from these events. We're looking forward to 2008. There was a host of pro-bike and other non-motorized transportation activities going on in the area many of them fall under the local "Smart Commute" events which are all listed on this page. The MSU Bikes Service Center was one of the sponsors of the Smart Commute events and provided 3 of our Green bikes as prizes for the Smart Commute '07 Challenge as we did in 2006. We also hosted a class on Bike Commuting (click for pics) on May 12th in addition to the other events noted above. A State News article and photo of that class are here.
• Smart
Commute 2006 was an excellent call to action for Lansing-area commuters. The
motto says it all: "Helping people who live or work in the capitol
area discover the joys of ACTIVE TRANSPORT." In its
2nd year, a host of activities got more people out
of their single-passenger cars and onto their bikes, buses, walking, etc.
• Click
here for an excellent "How to Commute" online brochure (PDF)
by the League of Mich. Bicyclists, if you're considering bicycle commuting
to work or for errands. Click
here to see more photos from these very inspiring and uplifting
events for bicyclists and other "smart commuters" (May 2006).
• Ever wonder how far a certain route to
work might be or how far that enticing weekend ride might actually be? Check
out a new tool by Google called
the Gmaps Pedometer which uses their great mapping technology. At the top of
map select state and the box next to it type in the nearest city. Zoom in to
accurately mark your route. To mark (and measure) your route turn on the Start
Recording button in upper left. Then double-click at the starting point; a
balloon should appear. Then move to the next spot on the route and double-click
again. This time a balloon and blue line connecting the balloons will appear.
Continue until your entire route is mapped. Then if you want to print the map,
zoom out so it is all on the screen and you can print it. You can also choose
to click on the "TinyURL" link in the left column which creates a
nice little link you can email.
• Gas prices getting you down?
(For 3-season cyclists): CATA is
providing a host of assistance resources under their "Commuter Services" page including a free car/ van pool matching
service.
 Sparty with a Bikes at Work trailer which hauled our banners in the S150 parade (10/05). Click for more photos from the parade... |
•
Bikes
at Work, Inc. - wonderful
collection of products for working bicyclists; trailers, pedicabs, etc. See example
of one of their trailers to the right which helped the Bike Project win Best
Group award in a parade.
• Basics
of Traffic Cycling -
The law of the road concerning movement of vehicles says: bicycle =
car. This means that you should operate your bicycle like a driver of a
vehicle. You already know how to drive a car, right? More... (courtesy
of Massachusets Bicycle Coalition).
•
Bike
Lights - No bike commuter should be without good front and rear lights
to both see the road and be seen by motorists. This very helpful web page
was created by a commuter with his recommendations and excellent photos to
show how he's rigged up his own bike. Check out RimLites for
something colorful, fun and effective for being seen after dark.
•
Jandd Mountaineering -
Great packs/ panniers/ racks for commuting/ touring/ trekking. One of our
mechanics recently picked up one of their Grocery Bag Panniers which he
loves for it's simple design, light weight and to keep his junk off his
back reducing sweating, etc.
• CommuterBicycle.com
- A great web page re: commuter bicycles in the marketplace , a.k.a
Transportation Bicycles, City Bicycles or Utility Bicycles, by David Madajian,
Bicycle Transportation Advocate. Learn about what they're all about and which
companies are offering products in this growing niche of the market. Other
great info. on building your own commuter/ city bike.
• A Thanksgiving holiday ('04) trip to Toronto brought me in contact with
an awesome bike shop in the heart of the city called Urbane
Cyclist.
This shop is truly a gem in the city of bikes; a huge selection of commuter
bikes, messenger bikes & recumbents including all of the necessary
components, accessories needed; be sure to check out their web
site and visit
them when you're in town. Happened to meet Fraser, a fellow track-bike
enthusiast and one of the volunteers for the
Community Bicycle
Network which runs the
BikeShare
project in Toronto.
•
The Recumbent Bicycle,
the one and only general book about a huge, amazing, creative side of bicycling:
the world of recumbents and HPV's! For the first time ever, a book covers the
History, Science, Design, Racing, Touring, Construction and much more, as
regards the colorful, diverse scene of recumbents. Published by
Out Your Backdoor. "A great
introduction to the world of recumbents. ... If you're fascinated with
recumbents I'd say this is a must-buy."-- Peter Eland, editor, VeloVision
magazine
• Grand Bois - gorgeous Japanese
custom frame builder of 40's-50's style touring bikes. All Japanese-language
site, so you'll have to just surf around & explore or read on. Not known
if any of these beauties are exported, but the photos linked off this
page are
awe-inspiring examples of classic design with modern & retro accessories.
Apparently this builder has been heavily influenced by French designers Rene
Herse &
Alex Singer.
This page has a
listing of their available bikes both new and used (far right column are prices
in yen).
• SRAM
Comfort products
- check out this lineup of very cool commuter specialty components,
DualDrive (Shift
Everything To One Hand- the combination of a self-energized internal hub and
robust external rear derailleur, controlled from a unique single sided shifter),
iBrake internal
braking hubs,
i-light hub dynamo
system, two-axis
brake levers &
Sparc (power-assist
drive, 12-volt battery, 30 km range, speeds up to 25 km/h).
• Cycle-Safe - provider of bicycle
parking systems that achieve the goals of transport and urban planners, satisfy
the demands of architects and facility managers, and are very much appreciated
by cyclists.
• Xtracycle, Inc. - Home of
the first SUB (Sport Utility Bicycle) in the USA. Very cool long-wheelbase
design to convert any bike into a real utilitarian hauler. There's one of these
roaming around E. Lansing owned by an occasional BP volunteer.
• Breezer Bikes - great selection of
town, touring (Range) & folding bikes built in California.
• Alternative Needs Transportation, or
A.N.T., is a one-person shop run by Mike Flanigan. Mike is dedicated to
building bikes for transportation that have the right combination of function
and style. The Frontaloadontome
is an intriguing front-loading work bike for hauling stuff; this guy offers an
incredible collection
of racks and baskets too. To buy an of these items just email or call him.
• Vanilla Bicycles, custom frame
builder out West of some exquisite rides, especially their
touring bike;
talk about the ideal commuter! Their lug work is heavenly & so unique.
• Electra Bikes - maker of very cool
modernized retro bikes (most available w/ Shimano 3-7 speed internal hubs);
6 of the
Townies were recently added to the fleet of the Physical Plant bikes and
apparently they're quite a hit according to Gus, the chair of the Bike Project.
• Cycles Gaansari - Dayton, OH based
cycle frame builder in the traditional style; beautiful site. Awesome
photo gallery of
very unique bikes, apparently customers of theirs.
Winter Commuters
 If this photo gets you excited for more snow read more about winter commuting to the left.... (photo courtesy of BikeWinter of Chicago) |
With the arrival of winter you might be thinking of ways to improve the enjoyment factor of your ride. We now stock a few items in the Service Center for winter riding including a good selection of long-fingered gloves, full fenders, a variety of lights and a bunch of different types of tires to make sure you get more traction as the snow falls. We can also special order studded tires and lots of other winter-use items if you'd like. We're also preparing some classes this winter for those of you wanting to learn more about riding thru the winter; drop us an email if you'd like to be notified when we're ready to offer them.
Here's a few great web sites for more info. on better winter riding:
- Icebike - Home of the Winter Cyclist and other Crazy People
- BikeWinter of Chicago - who would know more about riding thru nasty winters?
- Peter White's Studded Tires article: very thorough information on everything you wanted to know about studded tires.