Discounts

Become an AS&R member and get discounts at local bike shops and businesses!

Blue Heron Bikes: 10% off parts and accessories.

Marie Bowser Acupuncture: 30% off your first visit.

Bikes on Solano: 10% off labor, parts and accessories.

Quad Republic Skate Co. 5% off SKATES, 10% off parts & accessories.

Offers are valid to members of Albany Strollers & Rollers and their households. Tell your friends!
Contact us with questions.

Events

May
4
Sat
El Cerrito Trail Trekkers’ 6th Annual Hillside Festival @ various (check schedule and map)
May 4 @ 8:30 am – 8:30 pm
The sixth annual Hillside Festival will feature a wide variety of activities, with events throughout the 100-acre Hillside Natural Area: nature hikes for young people; a geological hike and shorter geological stroll; the Dog Scouts; a young persons’ hike led by Boy Scouts; walks to learn about native plants, birds, insects and wildflowers; a walk with a city firefighter focusing on preventing wild land fires; a hidden poetry-geocaching walk; a history hike; meditation in nature, and more.

Hikes range from strenuous to easy.
**CHECK SCHEDULE FOR SPECIFIC EVENT TIMES!! Download the full schedule and map to events at https://ectrailtrekkers.wordpress.com/hillside-festival-2019/

Locations vary, including
Motorcycle Hill
, where Navellier and Blake streets meet
Madera Elementary School, 8500 Madera Dr.
Madera Circle Entry, between 1540 and 1560 Madera Circle
Regency Gateway
, at northern end of Regency Court
King Court Gateway
, at end of King Court.
Schmidt Lane Trailhead, near the end of Schmidt Lane, west of the Recycling Center
SO CHECK SCHEDULE FOR LOCATIONS

Sponsored by El Cerrito Trail Trekkers and El Cerrito’s Environmental Quality Committee. Free.

The festival is free but maintaining and restoring the Hillside is not. Please make a tax deductible donation to this effort with a check to “ECCF,” with “Hillside Restoration” in the message line. ECCF is El Cerrito Community Foundation, our fiscal agent. Send to Pam Austin, 834 Kearney St., EC 94530.

May
5
Sun
El Cerrito Trail Trekkers’ 6th Annual Hillside Festival @ various (check schedule and map)
May 5 @ 8:30 am – 8:30 pm
The sixth annual Hillside Festival will feature a wide variety of activities, with events throughout the 100-acre Hillside Natural Area: nature hikes for young people; a geological hike and shorter geological stroll; the Dog Scouts; a young persons’ hike led by Boy Scouts; walks to learn about native plants, birds, insects and wildflowers; a walk with a city firefighter focusing on preventing wild land fires; a hidden poetry-geocaching walk; a history hike; meditation in nature, and more.

Hikes range from strenuous to easy.
**CHECK SCHEDULE FOR SPECIFIC EVENT TIMES!! Download the full schedule and map to events at https://ectrailtrekkers.wordpress.com/hillside-festival-2019/

Locations vary, including
Motorcycle Hill
, where Navellier and Blake streets meet
Madera Elementary School, 8500 Madera Dr.
Madera Circle Entry, between 1540 and 1560 Madera Circle
Regency Gateway
, at northern end of Regency Court
King Court Gateway
, at end of King Court.
Schmidt Lane Trailhead, near the end of Schmidt Lane, west of the Recycling Center
SO CHECK SCHEDULE FOR LOCATIONS

Sponsored by El Cerrito Trail Trekkers and El Cerrito’s Environmental Quality Committee. Free.

The festival is free but maintaining and restoring the Hillside is not. Please make a tax deductible donation to this effort with a check to “ECCF,” with “Hillside Restoration” in the message line. ECCF is El Cerrito Community Foundation, our fiscal agent. Send to Pam Austin, 834 Kearney St., EC 94530.

May
18
Sat
Wait ’til Next Year – APAL Bike Rodeo not happening in 2019 @ Cornell School Playground
May 18 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

School kids learn how to cycle safely and have fun doing it, while following the rules of the road.
courtesy Peggy McQuaid

THIS EVENT IS TAKING A PAUSE IN 2019 – LOOK FOR IT TO COME BACK IN 2020!

Bring your kids to Albany Police Activity League’s Annual Bike Rodeo!

Planning is ongoing, but this event usually features free helmets for kids, bike safety inspections, a skills course, and cycling entertainment! (Details will be updated as they become available.)

EVERYONE loves pedal powering – and drinking – a fruit smoothie!
courtesy Amy Smolens

Albany Strollers & Rollers contributes by fitting helmets, offering local cycling information, and hosting bike-blended smoothies for all, so everyone can pedal-power a delicious smoothie!
We’ll also have our  “Check for Bikes” clings and stickers on hand for parents, including our new Youth versions, our Reflective Leg & Arm Bands for all, and will be available to talk to kids and parents about biking and walking in and around Albany!

AS&R members help keep Albany rolling!!
photo courtesy Amy Smolens

PLEASE VOLUNTEER: AS&R relies on volunteers to help run the bike blender station, fit helmets, and engage parents & kids about cycling in Albany. Volunteers get our undying gratitude and a special thank you gift.

Pick up some of our NEW YOUTH VERSIONS of Check for Bikes clings and stickers!

Last year local businesses BLUE HERON, BUA LUANGTAY TAH CAFE AND FERN’S GARDEN ALL  DONATED SPECIAL GIFT CARDS OR COUPONS FOR OUR BIKE MONTH VOLUNTEERS, IN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY – expect something similar this time!!!
Please contact AS&R’s Core Group to help out!!

Kids, don’t try this at home…just yet!

Sep
8
Sun
Solano Stroll – Volunteers Needed – AS&R is providing Free Bicycle Valet Parking! @ Tree Lot and Wells Fargo parking lot
Sep 8 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Hundreds of people from all over the Bay Area take advantage of our Bicycle Valet Parking service at two lots on Solano Avenue. Please volunteer a few hours before enjoying the event! Thanks to Floor Dimensions for donating the Red Carpet to show the way!
Photo courtesy Amy

Albany Strollers & Rollers will again be providing Free Bicycle Valet Parking at two locations: 1800 Solano Ave (Wells Fargo) and 1245 Solano (the vacant lot near Masonic.)
We’ll also have an information table by our western lot near Masonic.
WE NEED YOU TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS!
If you’d like to help park bikes (we parked almost 300 last year!!) at either lot or volunteer at AS&R’s info table, please contact Amy Smolens or  Sylvia Paull.

AS&R Super-Volunteer Lynn Eve Komaromi takes a well-earned Pad Thai break – thanks, Bua Luang!
Please join Lynn Eve and your AS&R neighbors in volunteering!

This is a great gig for kids, too, as long as they are strong enough to roll a bike. If students need volunteer-hours, this is perfect!

VOLUNTEERS  (first 10 to commit at Masonic Lot) WHO WORK AT LEAST A 4-HR SHIFT WILL GET FREE LUNCH PROVIDED BY A SUPPORTING SOLANO AVENUE RESTAURANTS  Bua Luang Thai Cuisine or Brazilian Breads – yum!! Others will get FREE Bobas donated by Tay Tah !!
Kim’s Cafe is providing home made iced tea at our lower lot. Some sponsoring businesses also provide fabulous gifts or coupons for our volunteers, too!
Volunteer hours run from 9am-5:30pm so it’s easy to pick a shift that works for you!

AS&R’s volunteers park hundreds of bikes at two lots at the annual Solano Stroll! Please give us a hand this year!

Since 1974 Solano Avenue and the cities of Albany and Berkeley have hosted the Solano Avenue Stroll, the East Bay’s largest street festival! The Solano Avenue Association , AS&R and Check for Bikes invite you to see what makes Solano Avenue a wonderful place. The Stroll features over five hundred vendors including 50 entertainers (there’s always great music!,) 50 food booths, 150 government and non-profit agencies, 150 juried hand-crafters, a 75 entry parade, state of the art mechanical rides and much more!

Come visit AS&R at our information table then enjoy a great stroll up Solano! Or better yet, volunteer a few hours with your neighbors before strolling!

230,000 participants and event guests visit from all over the west coast so that’s where YOU come in – many of them ride their bikes, so we need people to help park them in our lots. Lots of them want to talk about cycling and walking around the area, and they want to talk to YOU!
AS&R’s supporting sponsor, Floor Dimensions has donated a long Red Carpet to lead passers-by to our information table and straight up the ramp to our western Bicycle Valet Parking lot!

Volunteers like Griffin and Sylvia keep things running like clockwork at both lots
Photo courtesy Patsy Reese

Please see the press room to stay tuned into what’s hot at this years event!

See you soon!

Sep
29
Sun
2019 Albany Community Triathlon @ Memorial Park
Sep 29 @ 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Want to test your cycling, running and swimming skills in
a low-key setting, while helping AHS & AMS sports teams in the process?
Come on down to Memorial Park on September 29th for the 10th Anniversary Albany Community Triathlon!

AS&R has lent fellow community organization Albany Community Triathlon our racks for the transition area – photo courtesy Francesco Papalia

The Albany Community Triathlon emphasizes fitness and fun with a 400m swim, 10k cycle and 2.5k run.
There is also a “Super Youth” division for kids from 7-10 – 75 yd pool swim (3 lengths,) 2.5 mile bike (3 laps around park) and 1k run (1 lap around park.)
Registration is available at www.albanytri.com.
Registrants will get a technical t-shirt and other swag while supplies last!
All proceeds will go to the Albany Athletic Boosters to benefit all High School & Middle School teams.  In addition to the fund raising, this event focuses on fitness and fun.
If you have always wanted to participate in a triathlon, but felt intimidated at the prospect, this is the one for you. I’ve taken part in the RELAY – I  did the cycling portion, and found friends for the swim and the run! It was fun rooting for my teammate during the swim, riding my bike, then rooting for my other teammate while she ran!

Feel great when you cross that Finish Line!
photo credit Amy Smolens

YOUTH DISCOUNTS for anyone under 18!
There is still a FAMILY & FRIENDS HEAT!
Parents, kids, spouses: When you register, you can indicate your desire to be in the same wave as one or more family members or friends. Then you can compete together & keep an eye on each other during the race (but not assist each other, per triathlon rules).
POST-RACE FESTIVITIES – Stick around after the race to recover with some healthy food, finisher awards, raffle prizes, massages, and schmoozing with fellow participants, volunteers, sponsors, and race organizers.
AS&R and Check for Bikes are excited to again be sponsoring the Albany Tri – supplying bike racks for the transition area and swag for the goodie bags. Other sponsors include Club Mallard,  Albany Community Foundation, Albany Lions Club, Mr. Rooter, RoadRunner Sports, Renewal by Andersen, Mechanics Bank, Albany Rotary Club, Blue Heron Bikes, Sogno, Clif, Spokes, Benchmark Pizzeria, National Holistic Institute and TranSports.
So come on down and get in on the fun!
For more information about the Albany Triathlon, please see the web site, www.albanytri.com.  This is a great community event and really fun to watch even if you don’t want to participate!
Come on down, have fun and support Albany Middle & High School sports!!

Oct
5
Sat
Bay Day Ride at the Albany Bulb @ North Berkeley BART
Oct 5 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Want to ride along our beautiful Bay? Join us! Photos courtesy Amy Smolens

Celebrate Bay Day with Albany Strollers & Rollers, Bike East Bay and Love the Bulb! Join a relaxed Bay Trail bike ride and walking tour of the Albany Bulb. Ride starts at North Berkeley BART, goes up to Point Isabel and back, and finishes at the Albany Bulb. We will check out some recent and upcoming Bay Trail improvements and end the ride with the opportunity to take a walking tour of the unique art and nature of the Albany Bulb. If you’d like, grab a bite at FoodieLand Night Market near Albany Beach (plenty of bike parking- bring a lock!) before heading home.

Plenty of bike parking at FoodieLand!
Photo courtesy Mike Cabanatuan

 

This is the third of Bike East Bay’s Fall Ride Series: a collection of family-friendly rides exploring excellent trails projects in the East Bay. You’ll learn about the surrounding area, and explore favorite routes on these low-key rides. Check out the full schedule at BikeEastBay.org/FallRides.

To RSVP please go here. If anyone wants to ride from Albany to North Berkeley BART, leave a comment with meeting place and time.

These racks that AS&R bought are perfectly situated for folks who want to enjoy the beach, a hike or just enjoy the beautiful view.

Jul
8
Thu
Albany Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan Workshop @ online
Jul 8 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Ohlone Greenway is one of the trails & paths connecting your home with your destinations

Albany Recreation & Community Services continues its Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan update with the second of three workshops designed to gather community feedback. The first Albany Parks community workshop was intended to capture a high-level vision of what changes people would like to see in their park system. This next workshop is intended to focus at a site-specific scale on how those changes might look like. We will be joined on the webinar-style Zoom with the Albany Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission.

Are there enough bike racks at Albany’s parks & open space?

Significant is that this plan deals not only with parks per se, but also trails and paths like the Ohlone Greenway and the Codornices & Cerrito Creek Paths. Which connections do you and your family need to safely bike or walk where you’re going?
Are there sufficient bike racks and other facilities in our parks and open spaces?

REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP HERE

Please take the Albany parks community survey here and follow @albanyparksmp on Instagram for the latest updates. Stay in the loop through www.albanyparks.com. You can also receive Master Plan updates through “Albany Parks Master Plan” eNotifications.

Sep
19
Sun
FREE Family Cycling Workshop – Bring your kids…Volunteers needed! @ Cornell Elementary School
Sep 19 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Join Bike East Bay’s certified instructors and AS&R friends & neighbors for a day of fun games, safety drills, skills building, and a neighborhood ride. This workshop is for kids who are able to ride a bike and ready to take to the paths and roadways with their parents (suggested grade range 2nd-6th).

Bike East Bay staff and AS&R volunteers will make sure helmets fit properly!
courtesy Amy Smolens

The event includes instruction on fitting a helmet, performing a bike safety check, communicating with other road users, riding in a straight line and avoiding obstacles,  as well as navigating safely through intersections, all while playing fun games!

We will also bring our bike teeter-totters and end the class with a group ride around the neighborhood together!  All minors must be accompanied by an adult to participate, both with their own working bikes and helmets. Each child will receive a free reflective vest.

Pick up some Youth Versions of our Check for Bikes clings and stickers, as well as reflective bands, from AS&R volunteers!

AS&R will have an information table to talk to parents & kids about riding around the Albany area. You can pick up some great “Check for Bikes” clings and bumper stickers, as well as reflective leg & arm bands for safer biking.

The event is FREE but you must pre-register so for more information and to sign up please go here.
Hope to see you there!! EVERYONE IS REQUESTED TO PLEASE WEAR A MASK TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS – THANK YOU!

We’ll finish off the event with a relaxed spin around town!

WE NEED SOME VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS!
We’re seeking 2-3 people to help out at the family cycling workshop.
9:30-10:15 to help with set up and checking in of participants, while instructors get a feel for the participants and check bikes out mechanically.
9:30-12:45 to speak to kids & parents about bike stuff, and help with packing up.
Contact Britt at bthesen@gmail.com if you can help out!