Discounts

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

Blue Heron Bikes: 10% off parts and accessories.

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

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

Events

Sep
27
Sun
Albany Community Triathlon @ Memorial Park
Sep 27 @ 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Come join the fun! courtesy: Peggy McQuaid

Come join the fun!
courtesy: Peggy McQuaid

Want to test your cycling, running and swimming skills in a low-key setting, while helping AHS sports teams in the process?

Come on down to Memorial Park for on September 27th for the Albany Community Triathlon!
The Albany Community Triathlon emphasizes fitness and fun with a 400m swim, 10k cycle and 3k run.
Registration is available at www.albanytri.com.
Registrants will get a t-shirt and other swag while supplies last!
All proceeds will go to the Albany High School Athletic Department to benefit all 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 took part in the RELAY last year – 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!
Again for 2015 – YOUTH AND STUDENT DISCOUNTS!
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.

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

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

Thank you to the Albany Community Triathlon for purchasing 2 brand new racks for Albany Strollers & Rollers’ use all year when we provide Bicycle Valet Parking! AS&R is excited to again be sponsoring the Albany Tri – supplying bike racks for the transition area and swag for the goodie bags. Other sponsors include the Albany Community FoundationAlbany Lions Club,  Blue Heron Bikes, REI, Albany Ford- Subaru and TranSports.
So come on down and participate in the fun!2015AlbanyTriLogo
For more information about the Albany Triathlon and to register, 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 High School sports!!

Nov
8
Sun
FREE Family Cycling Workshop @ Cornell Elementary School
Nov 8 @ 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

ClassPicAdults&KidsCropJoin Bike East Bay’s certified instructors 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). FamilyRidingPhotoCrop
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!
BikeRodeoBlenderTenisha We will also be bringing our bike teeter-totters, making bike-powered fruit smoothies, and ending 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.
The event is FREE but you must pre-register so for more information and to register please go to http://bikeeastbay.org/FCW
Hope to see you there!!

We’re seeking 1-2 people to help out at the family cycling workshop.
12:30-1:15 to help with set up and checking in of participants, while instructors get a feel for the participants and check bikes out mechanically.
3:00-3:45 for cleaning up and helping to make smoothies.
Contact Britt at bthesen@gmail.com if you can help out!

Nov
15
Sun
CANCELLED BY ORGANIZERS – Geared 4 Kids: Family Bike Ride @ Memorial Park Playground
Nov 15 @ 10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Come on out with your kids!

Come on out with your kids!

CANCELLED BY ORGANIZERS – Sorry, but the organizers just cancelled this ride.
Get GEARED UP! Helmets, Bikes, Bells! Sunday, November 15th!

10:30am – 1:00pm
Memorial Park, Albany
Meet up at Albany’s Memorial park near the playground. We’ll be taking the Ohlone pathway up into El Cerrito, and then coming back down through Albany street-side. Bring snacks to share at the mid-ride stop.
Helmets required for kids.
Make it a double-header and come to the AS&R meeting later in the day!

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Join the “Geared 4 Kids” Facebook group to keep in touch with future events:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gearedforkids
You can also look for more info, including mailing list, on our website:http://geared4kids.org/

Dec
22
Tue
Slow Roll Richmond Solstice Ride!
Dec 22 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Join our neighbors to the north for the 4th Annual “Slow Roll Richmond Solstice RIDE!”

Come on out,  decorate your bike with lights and good cheer for the 4th Annual Solstice Ride. Hopefully El Niño won’t join us for this ride but will come through on the next day… which would be the best day. Dress warmly… and did we mention to bring some lights?
No BIKE! No problem – with many thanks to our Commuter Cyclist program for the 1st time ever Rich City-Rides has bikes to lend for the magical ride. We’ll announce an RSVP for lender bikes as soon as we can, in the mean time let us know here if you need one here.
End of the road celebration location is coming…

If you want to ride together up to Richmond leave a note and/or idea in “comments” here!

Feb
14
Sun
Geared 4 Kids Family Bike Ride – Valentine’s Day Ride! @ San Pablo Park
Feb 14 @ 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
Come on out with your kids!

Come on out with your kids!

Get GEARED UP! Helmets, Bikes, Bells!
Meet up at the playground in San Pablo Park. We’ll be riding through some Berkeley neighborhoods and stopping at Strawberry Creek park for a snack/play break. Feel free to bring snacks to share.
Helmets required for kids.
Ashby is the nearest BART station.

Want to ride or “BART & ride” from Albany? Put a note here in “comments” and get something going!

Apr
10
Sun
Bay Trail Beautification & Cleanup (and FREE PIZZA!!) @ Bay Trail & Buchanan St.
Apr 10 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Would you rather have the Bay Trail look like this....

Would you rather have the Bay Trail look LIKE THIS…

Do you and your family ride or walk on the Bay Trail? Then come on down to help clean it up for yourself and everyone…and get a free lunch for your time!
Join AS&R, Albany Community Foundation, Albany Rotary, and the City of Albany as we work together to clean-up and improve the Bay Trail in Albany. Between Buchanan Avenue and our border with Richmond, the Bay Trail runs along Freeway 680. This stretch receives a lot of trash from the
freeway, and is hard to access for servicing. A recent clean-up job has left this area in a much improved state, but there is work still to be done.

...or like this?

…OR LIKE THIS??

Join us as we paint over graffiti, sweep rocks off of the path, and trim trees to allow easy cycling access. Bring gloves, sunscreen, and a water bottle. Wear clothes you can paint in. Tools will be provided.

Rotary is covering supplies to $100, ACF is providing lunch, and the City will help with trash removal.

Meet at Buchanan and the Bay Trail, just west of the freeway underpass.

May
1
Sun
Arts & Green Festival – FREE BICYCLE VALET PARKING & FREE LUNCH FOR VOLUNTEERS! @ Memorial Park
May 1 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

It’s time for the Albany Arts & Green Festival again!

AS&R's booth is always busy! Photo courtesy Angela Armendariz

AS&R’s booth is always busy! Can you volunteer a few hours with us?
Photo courtesy Angela Armendariz

Come out to Memorial Park for green lifestyle booths, art booths, local performers, food trucks, music and more! This family friendly event will include lots of activities for kids.

Our Bicycle Valet Parking service, this year sponsored by service organization Berkeley Lions Club, is always popular – we could sure use your help parking bikes – thanks! photo courtesy Amy Smolens

As AS&R does every year, we will provide FREE bicycle valet parking, so you can enjoy the festival without worrying about your bike! This year the service organization BERKELEY LIONS CLUB has stepped up as a new sponsor of our Bicycle Valet Parking – thanks to BLC President Dave Nicely and the board for helping our organization!
Come visit our booth to find out about what’s going on for cyclists and pedestrians here in Albany!
Local bike shop 
BLUE HERON HAS AGAIN DONATED SOME FABULOUS PRIZES for our 3rd annual kids’ coloring contest so be sure to bring the kids down!!!

These kids were so excited about winning a bike bell that they didn’t even take their helmets off before coloring! Photo courtesy Francesco Papalia

WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO PARK BIKES AND WORK AT OUR TABLE TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS! CAN YOU PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO HELP US FOR A FEW HOURS?

Lynn Eve Komaromi takes a well-earned Pad Thai break - thanks, Bua Luang!

Lynn Eve Komaromi takes a well-earned Pad Thai break – thanks, Bua Luang & Tah Tah! ALL VOLUNTEERS WILL GET A DELICIOUS FREE LUNCH!

VOLUNTEERS WILL GET A DELICIOUS FREE LUNCH FROM COMMUNITY SPONSORS BUA LUANG OR TAY TAH plus  A SPECIAL COUPON FROM TAY TAH!!
Please email Laura Emery  or Amy Smolens to help out or fill out this simple form!

Street Level Cycles has graciously donated free bike tuneup services at the Arts & Green Festival since 2008 photo courtesy Matt McHugh

Street Level Cycles has graciously donated free bike tuneup services at the Arts & Green Festival since 2008
photo courtesy Matt McHugh

For the 9th straight year, non-profit bike workshop Street Level Cycles will provide free or low-cost bike tuneups, so if you have an old bike that you want to get road-ready, come on down! Don’t forget, Bike to Work Day is on May 12th, so here’s a way to help make sure your ride is up and running well.

More info about the Festival is here.

 

May
6
Fri
Musette Bag Stuffing for Bike to Work Day @ Sports Basement
May 6 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

If you can help stuff these bags full of swag on the afternoon of May 6, please email Ken – thanks!

You’ve enjoyed picking up the famous Bike to Work Day musette bags, chock full of swag & snacks. Help stuff those musette bags for our Energizer Station so friends, neighbors and passers-by can enjoy the fruits of our labor!

You’ve seen Lucy & Ethel in their famous assembly line – help us make ours more fun & successful by joining us!

This important pre-Bike to Work Day event is a ton of fun for all ages. Fast-paced assembly line is a great experience for kids. Snacks provided.
You’ve been getting the bags for free for years, now see how it’s done and boost your karma!
If you want to connect with others to bike or BART to Sports Basement, leave a note in the Comments section of this post.

The musette bags are always filled with swag!

May
12
Thu
Bike to Work Day – COME ON DOWN + VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED!! @ AS&R/Bikes on Solano Energizer Station
May 12 @ 7:00 am – 9:00 am

It’s the 23rd Annual Bike to Work Day in the Bay Area, a party on wheels!!

Come join our annual rolling party, Bike to Work Day! photo courtesy Nick Pilch

Come join our annual rolling party, Bike to Work Day!
photo courtesy Nick Pilch

As usual, there will be coffee, snacks, swag, bike goodies, the famous Bike to Work Day musette bags, food, coffee, fun and lots of good conversation & information so come on down on your way to work!

Great news –  Bikes on Solano is co-hosting this year’s Energizer Station with Albany Strollers & Rollers, so Mike, the owner, and other staff will be there with work stations checking your bicycles for safety and road-worthiness!

Plenty of food and drink for everyone, but we could use people to pick it up! courtesy Francesco Papalia

Plenty of food and drink for everyone, but we could use people to pick it up!
courtesy Francesco Papalia

We need help at our Energizer Station the morning of, as well as preparing for a big celebration.
Can you help stuffing the musette bags with goodies on May 6th from 3-5pm, picking up food & coffee early morning on the 12th, and handing out swag, food and counting cyclists all morning at the Energizer Station?

If so, please contact Ken McCroskey at kenwait@aol.com or leave a comment on this post.
Thanks!!

For Elected & Appointed Officials, as well as City Staff, City Councilman Nick Pilch is leading a ride for you…details coming soon, and yes, it will finish at the Energizer Station so you can enjoy our swag, food and company!

If you can help stuff these bags full of swag on the afternoon of May 6, please email Ken – thanks! Snacks provided!

The musette bags are always filled with swag!

The musette bags are always filled with swag!

May
14
Sat
APAL Bike Rodeo – BRING YOUR KIDS, A FEW VOLUNTEERS WANTED! @ Cornell School Playground
May 14 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
School kids learn how to cycle safely and have fun doing it, while following the rules of the road. courtesy Peggy McQuaid

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

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

Free bicycle helmets will be given to the first 100 youth participants.

Ken McCroskey, AS&R's master helmet adjuster and children's brain guardian, tirelessly applies his craft courtesy: Francesco Papalia

Ken McCroskey, AS&R’s master helmet adjuster and children’s brain guardian, tirelessly applies his craft
courtesy: Francesco Papalia

Rodeo activities will include bike inspections, safety information, and a bicycle safety course.
The goal of the bicycle rodeo is to encourage riders to wear helmets on every ride, to give young cyclists basic skills for on-road riding, and to teach them the rules of the road to help keep them safe. This event focuses on young riders in elementary and middle school.
Cycles of Change and some AS&R members will again be working with kids, showing them how to ride their bikes safely and responsibly.

Bicycle + fruit + blender = delicious fun!! Want to help like Tenisha is doing here? Email Ken! Photo courtesy Amy Smolens

Bicycle + fruit + blender = delicious fun!! Want to help like Tenisha is doing here? Email Ken!
Photo courtesy Amy Smolens

We’ll also have our  ”Check for Bikes” clings on hand for parents…and the famous Bicycle Blender so everyone can pedal-power a delicious smoothie!
PLEASE VOLUNTEER: We could definitely use some help running the bike blender station, fitting helmets, and talking to parents & kids. Any takers, please? Volunteers get a cash-value coupon from one of our favorite local supporting businesses, Tay Tah! Want to help out? Please contact Ken McCroskey.

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

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

Entertainment will be provided by world-famous flatland BMX rider Pete Brandt!