GVB Happy Hour Meeting TONIGHT + Jingle Bell Junk Ride Friday + Tomatoes on Parade Saturday!

Good Tidings Junk Riders:

Busy busy biking week --- especially for December! When it rains it pours.Yet we don't even have rain today (or snow for that matter) here even though it is in the forecast. Hence, we have no excuse not to be out biking...although a 2" near miss with the front bumper of a clueless Taurus driver last night on my way home from yoga sure makes me want to have an excuse not to be out biking...This was clearly a woman who had never used pedal power to get herself around town before, if you know what I mean...I suppose that her excuse may have been that she couldn't see me --- from my perspective: how could she possibly have missed me: a WELL-LIT bike with *twinkle lights* and all! HELLO!!!!! Time for a super powered headlight and a neon vest (and don't forget the HELMETS! -- which I am proud to say I was wearing.) She must have been in a real rush to go buy stockingstuffers...Anyway, this is not the first of such occurrences reported in recent weeks around the valley from dedicated bike commuters. I'm not taking any chances. If the spotlight doesn't ward off bad driving, then I can at least use it to interrogate them when they nearly hit me.

On a much more positive note, what goes up must come down. It was as though the ghost of Christmas past was making amends because just a half a block away from where the incident occurred last night, 3 different vehicles stopped and yielded to me this morning, and it was in intersection where I had a stop sign and was ready and willing to wait for traffic to clear. It seems that every time I am ready to throw in the towel, some kind soul gives me a reason to keep on going.

Now, down to more business of the forward momentum variety >>>

You may already have received some of the event info. below directly from Grand Valley Bikes or the Junk Ride. Allow this to serve as a reminder. Please tune in to the very bottom for breaking news from the Hot Tomato! As for excuses, if you can't make it to one of this week's biking events, you have two more from which to choose.

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Grand Valley Bikes Holiday Happy Hour on Wednesday, December 15th
Please join us at Kannah Creek Brewery from 5-7pm on Wednesday, December 15th, at the back of the dining room. We’ll toast the good work we accomplished in 2010, and recap what GVB has been up to. Right now we need your help as there are great opportunities to get involved in shaping safe and accessible biking in Mesa County for the next 25 years. As I’m sure you’ve heard, the county is accepting comments on their 2035 transportation plan. This plan is aimed at prioritizing motorized and non-motorized projects for 2011-2035.


Please click here to make a comment today, and stop by our meeting to learn more about how you can help in 2010, 2011, and beyond.

For more about Grand Valley Bikes, visit our webpage http://www.gjcyclists.blogspot.com/
Have a Happy Holidays! -- GVB

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Friday night -- Local Music and Bicycles with the Junk Ride and Eagles on Highway


Here's the info for the special Friday night Junk ride:

Friday, December 17th
Meet up at 10th & Main at 6pm We will tour around town to see Christmas lights (please submit if you know of a particularly stunning block so that we can incorporate it into our route)
While decked out in our own Christmas lights and elfin, Santa, or reindeer gear
With lots of lights for lighting our way
Most importantly ------- HELMETS! Wear 'em. Perhaps because it is cold out, drivers are seeming even less aware than usual. So let's be vigilant about protecting our noggins. We don't want any mangled cranium waiting expectantly underneath the mistletoe this year.


Our ride will end up at Coffee Muggers around 7:15pm for some seasonally spiced up hot cocoa, coffee, or tea to listen to Eagles on Highway perform with supporting mandolin from Misti Dawn.

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Want more local music and bicycles? Check out North 17th Street Band


If you haven't already, please check out the Grand Valley's own North 17th Street Band! Their CD "Dirt on the Tires" features a great great song about bikes-- "Bicycle". Check it out here.

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Fruita Biking Related Happenings

Hello...
I wanted to let you all know that the Fruita Holiday Parade is Saturday, the 18th. All of us from the Hot Tomato will be participating, on bikes, dressed as tomatoes of course. We will meet at the HT at 4:30, parade is at 5 and we will return to the HT afterwards for $3 New Belgium drafts for those who participate. See the link below for more info.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125264047537787&index=1

We are also having a Winter Solstice Ugly Sweater Party on the 21st from 5-9pm. We will also be having a Frambozen Tapping Party that evening as well, as we we're able to get the only keg of Frambozen that left the NB Brewery. It will go fast no doubt as we will have globe glasses available with your first beer for $6 and $3 refills all night...again links below.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109409289132906

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116241188442698&index=1

We will be closed from Dec.24th-Jan 4th. Hope you all had a Great year and Thanks for making our better than ever!

Cheers and Happy Holidays

Jen


Save the Tomato
www.hottomatocafe.com
Jen Zeuner
Hot Tomato Cafe
124 N Mulberry
Fruita, CO 81521
970-216-3768
970-858-1117

Jingle Bell Junk Ride

* Jingle Bell Junk Ride *
We are going to do the ride on a Friday night this month! It will be taking place earlier in the month than usual as well.

Friday, December 17th
Meet up at 10th & Main at 6pm

We will tour around town to see Christmas lights (please submit if you know of a particularly stunning block so that we can incorporate it into our route)
While decked out in our own Christmas lights and elfin, Santa, or reindeer gear
With lots of lights for lighting our way
Most importantly ------- HELMETS! Wear 'em. Perhaps because it is cold out, drivers are seeming even less aware than usual. So let's be vigilant about protecting our noggins. We don't want any mangled cranium waiting expectantly underneath the mistletoe this year.

Our ride will end up at Coffee Muggers around 7:15pm for some seasonally spiced up hot cocoa, coffee, or tea to listen to Eagles on Highwayperform with supporting mandolin from Misti Dawn.

JUNK RIDE --- Halloween Style

get it together Junk Riders and deck yourselves out for the 2010 Halloween Junk Ride on Thurs., Oct. 28th at 7pm.

Lights are a must.

and costumes are non-negotiable.

Let it rip!

350 Grand Valley event TODAY!

TODAY:

Please join us today at noon for a garden work day, free bike maintenance at several of our local bike shops, and a group ride which will meet up at 10th & Main at 3:50pm.

350 Grand Valley Volunteer work day, Free Bike Maintenance, Group Bike Ride

10/10/10

On October 10, 2010, 350 Grand Valley is hosting a work party in downtown Grand Junction to celebrate climate solutions. The focus of the event is on bicycling and local agriculture as ways to make a difference. We will be volunteering at the GJ Main Street Community Garden and ending the day with a group bike ride around town. As a bonus, several local bike shops have offered free bike maintenance between 12:00 and 3:50 PM. Visit http://350grandvalley.blogspot.com/ for more info. about the special events taking place right here in the Grand Valley in conjunction w/ a worldwide effort that same day!

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THIS FRIDAY:

A reminder about another great upcoming event:

Colorado Environmental Coalition's Third Annual Barn Dance
Date: Friday, October 15, 2010
Time: 6pm-10pm
Where: Varaison Vineyards, 405 West 1st St. Palisade, CO

Head on out to the CEC's Third Annual Barn Dance in Palisade, CO. This year's barn dance is happening the evening of Friday, October 15th, 6pm-10pm at Varaison Vineyards barn. We'll have live, foot stompin' music with Simmer Down, excellent local wines, tasty sangria, food from around the Grand Valley, and a great silent auction. Tickets are $10.

http://www.ourcolorado.org/get-involved/calendar/third-annual-barn-dance.html

ZOMBIE RIDE + upcoming events!

SEPTEMBER JUNK RIDE
Thursday, September 30th
7pm at 10th & Main
Join us for our monthly community cruiser ride around town.

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ZOMBIE RIDE to the ZOMBIE PROM

The JUNK RIDE dresses up as the ZOMBIE RIDE this Friday, October 1st. We will join in a combined celebration of community, art, and cultural events when the 2nd annual ZOMBIE PROM haunts the night!

Please note, the Zombie Prom will now be taking place at the Mesa Theater. A $10 donation at the door will not only help support our very own local community radio station during their Fall Fund Drive, but it also includes a night of death defying music spun by a vast array of talented djs, dancing, etc. for "a ghoulish night of music, mayhem, and fundraising." We will all be helping KAFM to meet the station's fundraising goal during this night which puts a frightening flourish on the last hours of their week-long effort of working toward their goal which will help them continue to bring the music and cultural events that we so love to the Grand Valley. 100% of the donations at the door go to KAFM! NOTE: This is a 21+ event.

For the ZOMBIE RIDE --- Bring lights and deck out your bikes to appear as though they may have just been excavated from the grave. Light up your bikes and your person. It will be dark out, so we want lots of light for safety as well as for illumination of our ghastly appearance. As usual, noise makers are highly encouraged.

Oct. 1st Zombie Ride order of events:
7:15pm - meet up at 10th & Main w/ other zombies from around town to embark on the ride which will ultimately end up at the Zombie Prom.

8pm - First stop at Planet Earth & The Four Directions Gallery (524 Colorado Ave.) for the Sustainable Roots Fundraiser and Art Auction. www.sustainable-roots.org. You just can't beat the winning combination of art & a good cause!

8:30pm - Brief dance party --- you know where!

9pm - Stop at The Raw Canvas Tattoo Studio and Gallery (755 Rood) for The Exposed Show: Art Gallery and Concert > http://www.therawcanvas.net/ Be advised Junk Riders, as we are all about all things wheeled but not motorized, we are thrilled to announce that the GJ Roller Girls, Grand Junction's new all female roller derby squad, will be making an appearance at The Raw Canvas around 6pm if you would like to stop by and meet them before meeting us for the ride.

9:30pm - Haunt our way into the Zombie Prom at the Mesa Theater. Be sure to check http://zombiepromgj.blogspot.com/ for more info.!

**Be sure to make note of the VENUE CHANGE!! The Zombie Prom will now be held at the Mesa Theater.**

DJ Strangefellow's Zombie Prom MASHUP Voting opportunity:
Vote for your choice of 3 artists, not songs --- vote for ONE combination of 3 artists from the list below that you hope to hear in ONE song. DJ Strangefellow will play the winner on Friday night at the Mesa Theater. Email your suggestions to strangefellow77@gmail.com.

The List:
Radiohead-Doors -Beatles-Depeche Mode-Talking Heads-Survivor-NIN-Pixies-Empire of the Sun-Deep Purple-Red hot Chili Peppers-Nirvana-Billy Idol-lenny kravitz-Ac/Dc-Pat Benatar-Nelly-ZZ Top-Crookers-James Brown-Sugarhill Gang-Pet Shop Boys-Prodigy-The Clash-The Beastie Boys-Joan Jett-nancy Sinatra-Metallica-Timberlake-No Doubt-Duran Duran-Michael Jackson

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350 Grand Valley Volunteer work day, Free Bike Maintenance, Group Bike Ride

10/10/10

On October 10, 2010, 350 Grand Valley is hosting a work party in downtown Grand Junction to celebrate climate solutions. The focus of the event is on bicycling and local agriculture as ways to make a difference. We will be volunteering at the GJ Main Street Community Garden and ending the day with a group bike ride around town. As a bonus, several local bike shops have offered free bike maintenance between 12:00 and 3:50 PM. Visit http://350grandvalley.blogspot.com/ for more info. about the special events taking place right here in the Grand Valley in conjunction w/ a worldwide effort that same day!

========

Colorado Environmental Coalition's Third Annual Barn Dance
Date: Friday, October 15, 2010
Time: 6pm-10pm
Where: Varaison Vineyards, 405 West 1st St. Palisade, CO

Head on out to the CEC's Third Annual Barn Dance in Palisade, CO. This year's barn dance is happening the evening of Friday, October 15th, 6pm-10pm at Varaison Vineyards barn. We'll have live, foot stompin' music with Simmer Down, excellent local wines, tasty sangria, food from around the Grand Valley, and a great silent auction. Tickets are $10.

http://www.ourcolorado.org/get-involved/calendar/third-annual-barn-dance.html

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A special thanks to Chris Brown of Brown Cycles for donating bike racks for out in front of the Mesa Theater for Friday night's Zombie Ride! After all, we need a secure place to stow our Zombie wheels in front of the Prom...!

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Last but not least --- Please make a note of these important upcoming COPMOBA events:

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day
October 2
Tabeguache Trail Head/Lunch Loop
9:00am til Noon

Bike Park Construction
October 2, 9
9am til Noon
In conjunction with Take a Kid Mtn Biking Day!
Volunteers needed!

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Lunch Loop Skills Area
October 16
9am
REI Breakfast - Roasted Coffeehouse Coffee - Bike Park Demo - Park Bike Raffle - Skills Clinic with MTB Training Systems

WORLD CARFREE DAY - 9/22/10

GJ has no specific party plans this year for CARFREE DAY, but please do your part to support this international day of celebration and demonstration! With a 60% chance of rain predicted for tomorrow, we who reside here in the high desert can certainly lend a symbolic gesture in solidarity to towns across the land who have to deal w/ inclement weather on their bike commutes on a regular basis. So hit the pedals tomorrow and show up smiling and soaking wet to work and feel good about being a part of World Carfree Day! Learn more here: http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/

upcoming Junk Ride Sept. events

SAVE THESE DATES:

Thurs., Sept. 9th, 5-7:30 p.m. === Riverfront Trail Open House
Where: Old Mesa County Courthouse (544 Rood Avenue), First Floor Multipurpose Room
What: Open House for Fruita Connection segment of the Colorado Riverfront Trail
Who: The public and members of the media are encouraged to attend.

This is the first of three public meetings to solicit your input, consider your comments, and ultimately implement ideas that will make this a better project. This first open house is designed to share information on the intentions of the project, as well as to gather citizen input and hear your ideas.

The Fruita Connection Trail Project, which should be complete by 2013, will provide a vital link to the Colorado Riverfront Trail System. The trail alignment is proposed to follow the river, generally on the north side, parallel to the frontage road. The new trail will be constructed in three phases:

• Riverfront Trail Section— 2.7 miles (Junior Service League Park to Walter Walker State Wildlife Area)
• I-70 Right-Of-Way Section—2.2 miles (22 Road to 20 Road)
• I-70 Frontage Road Section—3.2 miles (20 Road to the Fruita Visitor Center)
  
  Design and engineering of this project is being managed by the Mesa CountyFacilities and Parks Department. The $268,000 cost is funded by grants from Great Outdoors Colorado and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Thurs., Sept. 16th, 7:30pm === Ride the Divide film screening at the Avalon Theater

Thurs., Sept. 30th at 7pm at 10th & Main === our monthly ride, be there!

Fri., Oct. 1st +/-8pm === Junk Ride will ride en masse and in costume to several local gallery events and parade through town en route to KAFM's 2nd annual ZOMBIE PROM!

more info. on the rides listed above to follow!
SPREAD THE WORD.

July Junk Ride to end at KAFM's Radio Room for Fishtank Ensemble show!

We have had two of our Junk Riders make the same suggestion about where and how our ride can end this month. There is a delightful group of lively musicians playing on the night of our ride (Thurs., July 29th) at 8pm at KAFM's Radio Room: http://fishtankensemble.com/ Our ride will wind up at the radio station where we encourage Junk Riders to gain entrance to the show at the box office. In order to make it there for the 8pm start of the show, we will assemble at 10th & Main at 6:30pm, a half hour earlier than usual!

See you there in your *SHINY* attire!

BICYCLE MAINTENANCE "CRASH COURSE" at G.J. REI

One of our Junk Riders is offering a basic bicycle maintenance and repair clinic at REI this coming Saturday (July 24). It's free and anyone is welcome to attend, and are encouraged to bring their bike if they would like. Here is the info from REI's web site: http://www.rei.com/event/228/session/9605

They're asking folks to pre-register, and it's a nice courtesy to REI, but registering isn't necessary. It is taking place at 10:30am on the north (shady) side of the building.

* JULY JUNK RIDE *

Mark it down in ye old calendars Junk Riders! Our ride this month will be at 7pm on Thurs., July 29th.

Get workin' on your costumes and bike decor NOW! The theme is:
*SHINY*

We will be keepin' it more local than last month's ride to neighboring, bucolic Fruita. And we will wind up at a downtown GJ establishment for post-ride conversation and nourishment.

Junk Ride on KAFM today at noon!

Junk Ride, Grand Valley Bikes, and the Urban Trails Committee will all be part of an interview on KAFM's Conservation Connection today at noon. Tune in to 88.1 on the dial or online here: http://kafmradio.org/

Boosting Biking Mojo

The City of Portland, OR, has called in experts to help them regain the title of Bike Friendliest City (they have been replaced by Minneapolis!).  A few of the lessons learned are passed on in this TreeHugger article: 6 Ways to Boost Bike Mojo.  Here in JunkRide land i think we are doing well on the "Pedalpalooza" idea.  Time for more action!

Black Hawk Bike Ban

Junk Riders ------------

get our your typing fingers and let your voice be heard. If you are not already aware of the Black Hawk Bike Ban, please make yourself aware:
http://bicyclecolo.org/articles/black-hawk-bike-ban-pg1118.htm

And then WRITE TO THEM!

CityClerk@CityofBlackHawk.org Council phone: 303-582-2212

To: Mayor David D. Spellman and Aldermen Linda Armbright, Paul G. Bennett, Diane Cales, Kathleen Doles, Tom Kerr, Greg Moates

Please restore bicycle access to Gregory Street and all Black Hawk streets. Your ban is closing a major cross-state route to bicyclists preventing residents and tourists from biking.

SPREAD THE WORD!

City & County Proclamation + FREE BREAKFAST on Bike to Work Day! Wed., June 23rd

Please see the poster below for Bike to Work Day info. A FREE BREAKFAST will be served by the fountain at City Hall at 5th & Rood on Wed., June 23rd from 6:30-9:30am to all those biking to work on Bike to Work Day. Must have bike and helmet to receive free breakfast. Our thanks to the generous donations from local downtown businesses for helping to make this event happen.

The Junk Ride and Urban Trails Committee accepted this Proclamation yesterday morning on behalf of Grand Valley Bikes, the Bike to Work Day committee and the City and County from our County Commissioners:

We accepted this Proclamation from Mayor Teresa Coons and the City Council yesterday evening:

We hope that you will share in our sentiments that this support from the City & County can help propel us toward our goals in a most rapid fashion. And we hope that we can all continue to work together towards these goals and build upon this momentum here in June, Colorado Bike Month in order to carry us forward through 2010 and more quickly toward our long term aspirations. Our groups are working hard to establish safe bike routes throughout the valley for both commuting and recreational activities. Our goals consist of, but are not limited to, promoting alternative transportation, securing fun ways of recreating, creating safe conditions for cyclists, and reducing traffic congestion in the Grand Valley. Learn more about each of our sister organizations here:
www.grandvalleybikes.org

Urban Trails Committee

Please join us for this upcoming Bike to Work Day celebration. And please do not hesitate to contact the Junk Ride directly at gj.junkride@gmail.com if you wish to get more involved in this timely and important movement.

tale of a cyclist on Horizon Drive

Just a good citizen taking one more car off the road by bike commuting to work. And whaddya know?! She's cruising along, headed southwest on Horizon Drive, in what many of those who bike commute to that area generously call a "bike lane", which is rather more like a gravelly shoulder. And Blam! Some nutzo lady decides to take a left turn into the parking lot of Bubb's Field where she undoubtedly had just minutes to spare before the 1/2 price wings and penny pitchers of luscious watered down light beer special was about to run out. And she hits our young protagonist, a direct/side-swipe-style hit, who most definitely had the R.O.W. While she and her bicycle both lie on the hood of the driver's ed poster child's expensive and shiny new SUV, she does a scan to make sure she is okay. She is pretty sure she is and she collects herself and her bike and gets out of the middle of the road and heads into the parking lot. Driver lady pulls in, parks her car, gets out, and gets into cyclist's face, blaring, "You didn't stop!" WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!!

Well, this is why we ride. To help to illustrate to those unfamiliar w/ cycling or physical activity or respecting those on bikes (be it commuters or recreational riders) or sharing the road at all ---- how they can learn to do so. And we do it in a group in order to support each other and to bring recognition to the cause by our sheer numbers. The movement is growing. Don't miss out! You are needed to help make progress on this, especially here in the Grand Valley. Especially for the Horizon Survivor who lived to tell about this.

If you have yet to do so, please sign up for our e-mailing list (by sending an email to gj.junkride@gmail.com) to get info. about upcoming rides, events, and cycling newsworthy tidbits.

Here's to spokes, gears, and pedal power!

June Ride ----- to Fruita!

What an AMAZING turn out for the 1st Bday Party ride! Thank you all for being there and for being in costume and for such a fun ride!

We are planning a BIG RIDE this month --- OUT TO FRUITA to see Sweet Sunny South play in Fruita Civic Center Park.

Mark your calendar for June 24th. We will depart earlier than the normal Junk Ride departure time so that we can get there in time for the music. Plan on meeting up at 10th & Main at 5:30pm. There is always the option of grabbing a pizza pie from the ever-bike-friendly Hot Tomato.

We are hoping to organize a big trailer and a few carpools to get ourselves and our bikes back to Grand Junction. If you have any ideas or would be interested in driving or shuttling to help the cause, please email us here: gj.junkride@gmail.com

THANKS FOR A GREAT year one JUNK RIDERS!

Junk Ride's 1st Birthday!

The Junk Ride is turning ONE this month!

And we have successfully met for a ride at least once per month all year ---------- even during the bitter cold months this winter, even on those sheets of ice on our city streets!

Please join us on Thurs., May 27th at 7pm.

Meet at 10th & Main in downtown GJ for a community bicycle cruiser ride around town followed by the Junk Ride's 1st birthday party at Kannah Creek Brewing Company!

email: gj.junkride@gmail.com with any questions!

Junk Ride in the Press

Read about the Junk Ride in the Grand Junction Sentinel here.  Read about who we are, what we do, where we go, why we ride and see some fun pictures of your very own neighbors on bicycles!