BicycleSPACE at British Embassy Open House May 9

We're pleased to take part in the British Embassy Open House on May 9, part of EU Day at D.C. embassies. The embassy is located at 3100 Massachusetts Ave NW. The open house is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We'll exhibit the best of British bicycling craftsmanship, epitomized by the brands we carry. We'll showcase the stunningly ingenious Brompton Bicycle, the majestically classic Pashley Cycles and the time-honored quality of Brooks England saddles and bags. 

Come learn about these expertly crafted British goods and take a Brompton test ride. Buy a stylish Brompton for Bike to Work Day on May 15 and you'll surely turn heads.  

Please do not bring large bags or backpacks to the embassy. Admission is free, but please RSVP here to join us. 

Our regularly scheduled Cupcake Ramble will begin as normal from 700 5th St NW at 11:30 a.m. and end here at the embassy. 

See you there, mates!

BicycleSPACE is the exclusive Washington-area dealer of the brilliant Brompton folding bicycle. U.S. Bromptoneers are seen here at a British Embassy reception during the 2014 Brompton U.S. Championship.

BicycleSPACE is the exclusive Washington-area dealer of classic Pashley Cycles, such as this Guvnor model

Sturmey Archer hubs

Brompton Urban Challenge at Mt. Vernon Square

Brooks England Cambium saddle

British Embassy staff at the 2014 Brompton U.S. Championship, competing on Brompton bicycles and wearing Union Jack Nutcase helmets

Saying Hello to Adams Morgan ANC

Sending a virtual "hello" to our Adams Morgan neighbors. We're eager to open our shop this spring at 2424 18th St NW.  

Visions of a lively space filled with people motivate us to push through the red tape and look hopefully towards a ribbon cutting in the near future. 

Meanwhile, we look forward to meeting some of you at the May 6 Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C meeting, taking place at 7 p.m. at Mary's Center, 2355 Ontario Rd NW. We'll speak during public comment to greet our neighbors and update the community on our shop.

We'll also be in the neighborhood for these events:

5/15 Bike to Work Day. We'll be at Triangle Park/Unity Park from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Pre-register to be counted as a regional bicycle commuter and to reserve a coveted t-shirt. 

5/19 First Adams Morgan Movie Night of the season. We're co-sponsoring the series and stuffing fun swag in the reusable gift bags. Look for us there. 

Please visit our Facebook events page to view the May activities we're organizing from our temporary shop in Chinatown at 700 5th St NW. Please subscribe to our newsletter to tune into BicycleSPACE community events. 

Happy National Bike Month! We look forward to bicycling with you early and often.

Dear Mt. Vernon Triangle: Hello, again

Co-owner Phil Koopman (left), co-owner Erik Kugler and General Manager David Dorn outside the soon-to-be BicycleSPACE shop at 440 K St NW.

In anticipation of opening our brick-and-mortar shop this spring at 440 K St NW, BicycleSPACE is saying "hello, again" to Mt. Vernon Triangle.

Co-owner Erik Kugler will speak about the shop at the May 5 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6E. The meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the Shaw library.

Likening the Lyric Building shop to a "dream come true," Kugler said, "it's exactly the kind of space we've been working for since our inception."

Recalling BicycleSPACE's first temporary shop in Mt. Vernon Triangle in 2010, Kugler said, "no matter how big our company gets, we will always remember the early support of the Mt. Vernon Triangle community and consider Mt. Vernon Triangle to be our home."

BicycleSPACE will also be in the neighborhood for these mid-month events:

5/15 Bike to Work Day. We'll host a pit stop outside our shop from 7 to 9 a.m. Pre-register to be counted as a regional bicycle commuter and to reserve a coveted t-shirt. 

5/16 Spring Fest. Hurray for spring and opening day of the Triangle's FRESHFARM Market. This creates a fine occasion to come together, celebrate the season and prepare for the opening of our shop. We'll have a table on the plaza from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to share bikelove and community pride with our neighbors. Visit us and shop the market to nourish mind, body and  spirit.

Please visit our Facebook events page to view the May activities we're organizing from our temporary shop in Chinatown at 700 5th St NW. Please subscribe to our newsletter to tune into BicycleSPACE community events. Take a two-wheeled spring fling with us!

Bicycling in D.C.: Part I

BicycleSPACE is proud to sponsor Bike to Work Day on May 15. It’s thrilling to see as many as 18,000 Washingtonians illustrating the power of the bicycle as everyday transportation. In this three-part series, BicycleSPACE co-owner Erik Kugler takes a long view of bicycle commuting, sharing navigation strategies gleaned over more than 20 years. Parts II and III will publish on May 8 and 11.

As an introduction, I’m Erik Kugler and I’ve been riding bicycles in the Washington, D.C. region for more than 20 years.  I have never once been involved in an accident.
 
I’ve followed with great interest the media debate about cycling scofflaws. As more and more people start using bicycles as transportation, it’s apparent that our traffic laws and infrastructure willfully ignore the safety needs of people riding bicycles.
 
I was asked in my City Paper interview whether I wear a helmet and whether I run red lights. That question has caused me to circle back and re-examine the expectations of the general public and even bicycle advocacy organizations and to compare that with what is actually the best for people who get around by bicycle.
 
Overall, the primary concern for me while I’m out on a bicycle is to get to my destination as safely as possible, intact to carry on living and ride another day. This is the guiding frame of reference for the advice I’m about to give.  

Unfortunately, the people who design and implement our bicycle infrastructure do not have the same priorities. Often, the main criterion for infrastructure designers and traffic-flow experts is getting as many cars moving as swiftly as possible, not protecting the lives of bicyclists and pedestrians and our most vulnerable – the young, the old and the sick.
 
We in D.C. are projected to have a population increase of 20,000 per year for each of the next 10 years. If you’ve been downtown – or even uptown – during rush hour, you’ll see that we’re already at maximum car capacity.

With more and more people moving into the city and the roads already at capacity, many are turning to the bicycle as transportation. This is happening and will continue to happen, whether our Department of Transportation (DDOT) likes it or not.  

If they do not build a safe bicycle infrastructure, we will experience more and more chaos on the roads, characterized by hot tempers and confrontation. And it won’t take much for it to spiral out of control. The moveDC plan is a great step forward. If it is not implemented rapidly and the situation descends into more consistent chaos, then it will be the leaders at DDOT and those who give their marching orders who are responsible. I would hope that no one would want to be responsible for creating a violent dynamic, even if it meant that there were vocal complainers, led by people like Courtland Milloy and his employer, the Washington Post.
 
Until we get a safe, connected bicycle transportation system, we all need to use what I’ve learned over the past 20 years to stay safe and avoid confrontation.
 
Most of riding safely is knowing the danger points and avoiding them either altogether or before they become an issue. As corny as it sounds, I use the I.P.D.E. method which I was taught in high school drivers ed. Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute. That would be the one sentence which sums this all up.
 
What are the major danger points, the potentially dangerous situations to avoid? 
 
First, identify the flashpoints.

1. Taxis. The problem with taxis is that they are unpredictable. They are more concerned about their next fare than road safety. This is ironic because they use a public resource (our roads) for their personal gain, so one would think that they’d be held to a higher standard. Expect that when you’re near a taxi, it will suddenly stop, make a U-turn, open doors into your path or even honk at you. They are a complete wildcard. Expect erratic behavior and you’ll be prepared. Nine times out of 10, nothing will happen. That one time eventually will happen, so expect it and you’ll never have any trouble.

2. Slow or erratic cars. Chances are that they will randomly exhibit behavior similar to taxi drivers. They are either lost, texting, drunk, angry or otherwise distracted. Look for the warning signs and either stay behind or pass with a very wide berth.

3. Tourists. In the spring and summer – and really almost any time of the year – our District is loaded with tourists. I love tourists and all they bring to and take away from our city. But, they’re a hazard and should be avoided just like other hazards. Why? Well, they’re not used to bicycles being a form of transportation and they’re so absorbed in seeing new things and pointing them out to others that they are not so aware of their surroundings. Tourists are in the habit of backing up randomly to get a better view. They may be walking in a very seemingly predictable way and all of a sudden their kid runs out at a 90-degree angle from their path. Or, even as commonly, the one on your side as you pass swings an arm out, fully extended to point at something. Or they stop and back up randomly as they try to perfectly frame their photo.

4. Joggers with or without headphones or anyone with headphones. They have the habit of stopping suddenly or making a U-turn, especially when you are passing on a bike path. I always slow down to just a tiny bit faster than the walker or jogger in confined areas and only speed up again when I’m sure they’ve seen me or are aware that I’m there.

5. Right turn on red. When drivers pull up to a red light and are looking to turn right, they usually only look left to make sure they’re not in personal danger of pulling out in front of another motor vehicle. They are not looking to their right. Don’t be there.

6. Trucks and buses. God bless them, they are supplying our city with everything we need to live well. But, their visibility is very limited. Don’t ride near a moving truck or bus and expect that they will turn in front of you because they don’t see you.

7. Rush-hour commuters and speeding drivers. They just want to get home or to their meetings and they have a horrible attitude. Avoid the roads that commuters use. Avoid riding on busy roads. Don’t do it. Sidewalks are a better alternative if they exist, even if the law says you can’t use them. For example, take the south side of Massachusetts Avenue NW. It’s nice and wide, it’s grade separated and it’s much safer than riding on the road, even if the laws don’t permit it. Your responsibility is to live another day, not to act like you’re a car, which you’re not. Many cyclists study maps to find alternative, safer routes, even if it means going a block or two out of your way. Talk with others to see what they do. Connect with people like those at Friday Coffee Club or join our Nice & Easy rides and we’ll show you safer ways to go.

8. Oncoming drivers turning in front of you. They don’t see you. Watch the front wheels of cars showing suspicious behavior for clues that they’re going to turn in front of you and make sure you have an out if you need it.

Next steps:

• Join us at "District of Change: Traffic! Metro! Bikers! How to Survive the D.C. Commute," a panel discussion on May 11.
• Watch for Part II of this "Bicycling in D.C." blog series on May 8 and Part III on May 11.

• Register for May 15 Bike to Work Day. Bicyclists pre-registered by May 8 get a status-symbol t-shirt.

BicycleSPACE bullets for April 23

A roundup of BicycleSPACE news.

• Hot off the presses. The May issue of Washingtonian includes a guide to "Wheeling to Work" on page 50. It quotes BicycleSPACE co-founder Erik Kugler in its "What Do You Ride" section and pictures our Handsome Devil bike. Put these two together with Bike to Work Day on May 15 and you'll make quite the smartly sustainable fashion statement. (Shameless plug: remember to register for Bike to Work Day. So much awesomeness awaits!)

Weekend rides

Saturday, April 25

• 8 am: Hills of Anacostia, departing from 700 5th St NW
• 10 am regular ride: Nice & Easy, departing from 700 5th St NW
• 10 am featured ride: Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival
• Assemble at 10 am outside our upcoming shop at 440 K St NW
• Ride departs at 10:30 am
• Ride arrives at Kingman Island at approximately 11:30 am. Abundant valet bike parking is available, sponsored by BicycleSPACE.
• 12-8 pm: On your own to enjoy the festival. Plan to visit the BicycleSPACE table frequently to say hi and check your raffle tickets for the chance to win a bike and more.
• There is no charge to join our ride, but you must buy a ticket for festival admission. BicycleSPACE free ride RSVP. Festival tickets.
   
• 11:30 am regular ride: Cupcake Ramble, departing from 700 5th St NW

Sunday, April 26

• 10 am regular ride: Nice & Easy, departing from 700 5th St NW
• 11:30 am featured ride: Exploring Urban Development: The Pop-Up Phenomenon, departing from 700 5th St NW 

We are delighted to partner with the D.C. Preservation League to explore the rise of new construction that pops up over neighboring buildings. These pop-up developments are a source of spirited debate among urban planners and policymakers. We'll bicycle around the District to explore contemporary pop-ups and their forebearers, visiting some historic homes that popped up in bygone eras. We'll discuss the ways that design, size and context influence a pop-up's impact on its neighborhood. Photo: 1013 V St NW via Prince of Petworth. The event is free, but please RSVP. Bring your own bike, water and snacks.

• There is no regular City Explorers ride on April 26. Please join us to explore urbanism on the pop-up development ride.

BicycleSPACE bullets for April 10

A roundup of BicycleSPACE news.

• BicycleSPACE thanks our community for voting us Best Place to Get Your Bike Fixed in the City Paper Best of 2015 Readers' Poll. We also thank the City Paper editors for naming us Best Place to Get a Flat Bike Tire Fixed.  We note that friend of the shop Emily Q. Hazard is ably representing the interests of Bike D.C.'s women by finding a good short haircut and inserting a backhanded reference to helmet hair.
• The May issue of Bicycling magazine names BicycleSPACE among the best bike shops nationwide. BicycleSPACE is profiled as a standout shop for urban cyclists. 

This weekend is full of occasions to ride bikes in celebration of spring, cherry blossoms and other seasonal festivities. 

• Friday, April 10: Adams Morgan neighborhood party. We're celebrating the season at Tryst and making a last desperate attempt to joyride the Capital Bikeshare Bike in Bloom. Party with us from 4 to 8 pm on April 10 at Tryst, 2459 18th St NW. Buy Annie Riker's charming Bicycle Bloom print, pictured below.
• Saturday, April 11: We'll visit murals on our April mural tour in partnership with Words Beats & Life. The ride departs from 700 5th St NW at 11:30 am. 
• Sunday, April 12: We Bike the Blossoms beginning from 700 5th St NW at 11:30 am (sharp! OK, 11:35 am). After viewing peak bloom along the Potomac, we'll end our ride at the Anacostia River Festival.

Thankful

Thank you for voting BicycleSPACE Best Place to Get Your Bike Fixed in the City Paper Best of 2015 Readers' Poll. 

Serving you and giving your bike expert TLC is truly a labor of love. You and your bike are like family to us and we're so pleased to take care of you.

We have an extra spring in our step today because of you. Wait, did someone say spring?

We love spring so much we're having a seasonal party in Adams Morgan Friday. We're celebrating spring, cherry blossoms, our upcoming Adams Morgan shop and you, our extraordinary community. Now, we're celebrating this award, too. Please join us at Tryst from 4 to 8 pm on April 10. Please RSVP here on Facebook.

Thanks to you, we're on the move. Two of our three shops are opening this spring, with the third blooming in the summer. We'll have many more service bays to assist you faster, with more friendly, respectful mechanics to doctor your bike to optimal health.

We can't wait to open these shops and roll exuberantly into a promising future with you. If we're the best, it's because you -- the best Washingtonians -- voted us so. Thank you, Bike D.C.!

Top 10 ways to catch the BicycleSPACE cherry blossom spirit

1. View our cherry blossom window display and think pink.
2. Add something pink to your bicycling wardrobe. We suggest a pink helmet and/or gloves. Shop our limited selection of pink accessories for cherry blossom season.
3. Show your Capital Bikeshare key fob for 10% off all helmets and gloves. Spread the word about this well-kept secret discount. Get something pink -- or any color -- for less green.
4. Obsess about the bikeshare Bike in Bloom. Find the one and only pinkified bikeshare, post a photo tagged with #BikeinBloom and win great prizes such as pink gloves or a gift card from BicycleSPACE.
5. Join our bikeshare friends of BicycleSPACE mailing list. A blossom pink sign-up sheet is in our shop near the cash register. Or just click here to loop in.
6. Further obsess over the Bike in Bloom. Check #BikeinBloom on social media several times a day (or hour). Read this madcap adventure involving our friends Brian (the inimitable Sharrows blogger and City Paper "Gear Prudence" columnist), our Twitter follower Corey, his dog Maizey Pumpkin, spunky Anna from Black Women Bike D.C. and Andrea, our communications director.
7. Did we mention to buy something pink? If accessories don't adequately express your passion for pink, you could buy a stunning pink Brompton folding bicycle. The cherry blossoms will smile approvingly at your fashion sense. You'll also thrill our friend Lesly, goddess of the hot pink bike.
8. Brighten your cubicle with a charming blossom print by local artist Annie Riker. Buy one in our shop before they're gone.
9. Smile when you see a blossom decal on a bikeshare.
10. Mark your calendars for the weekend of April 11-12, when our rides will visit the beautiful blossoms at peak bloom.

In: Cherry blossom pink

With the National Cherry Blossom Festival underway now, D.C. is blooming in everything pink. We've caught blossom fever and want to afflict you with this desirable condition.

If we "ah-choo," might you ...

Accessorize your ride with a pink helmet or gloves from our special seasonal collection.

Go matchy-matchy with the glorious Bike in Bloom, a single pink bike in the Capital Bikeshare fleet. Ride it wearing a pink helmet and gloves to show your pink side with pride.

Freshen your home or office with "Bicycle Bloom" by local artist Annie Riker. 

Take the pink plunge to buy the folding bicycle you've always wanted. The exceptional craftsmanship of a Brompton Bicycle in pink is the perfect match for the season.

Happy Cherry Blossom Festival, friends. May the pink be with you.

Welcome to bicycling

Yes, you can.

You can bicycle to work, play, errands and otherwise meet life's demands.

Here are just a few of our favorite resources to get started.

• Our commuter guide
• Sweet video about urban commuting for the "bike-curious"
• How to speak bike, written by our dear friend and Chasing Mailboxes blogger, Mary
• Information for new riders from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association 

Please join our Nice & Easy beginner rides every Saturday and Sunday at 10 am. If you don't have your own bike, you can test ride one of ours or use a Capital Bikeshare trial membership. 

We encourage you to bicycle because it's an addictively joyful way to get around. Just ask the experts. Science has proven a link between bicycling and happiness, as reported here and here.

We're at your service to answer your questions and help you give bicycling a whirl.