TL;DR
Youth Rides are underway!
Bike to Work Day, were you out there?!
Raisin’ Ride 2026, come hang with us at Clare and Don’s on June 4th to kick it off. Food and drink provided!
Access to a fun secret phrase that unlocks a discount!
On Youth
Riding Bikes, Exploring, and Ice Cream
On this edition of Field Notes, we took some of our youth on a Saturday ride to Toby’s Ice Cream in Westover. Food destinations always go over well with the kids!
Double Bonus: Riding is not only fun, but it helps kids break out of their comfort zone and go explore.
Ride programming is back - if you, your child, your grandchild, your nephew, niece, your friend’s child, or your neighbor’s child has graduated Earn-A-Bike, they can keep an eye peeled for more rides to come on our calendar!
This Week’s Destination
Come hang out with us at Clare & Don’s Beach Shack!
Raisin’ Ride: Sizzling Summer Century 2026 is about to be on, babay!
Raisin' Ride is our largest fundraiser of the year, where folks like you register to help raise funds for our youth programs. Participants raise money from friends, family, coworkers, and their wider networks, helping Phoenix keep creating opportunities for young people.
On ride day, participants choose their own adventure, with route options ranging from 9 to 100 miles along the W&OD Trail. Riders can take advantage of up to four supported pit stops along the way, and we provide lunch for everyone. New this year, we'll also offer virtual ride options and additional sanctioned unsupported routes, so you can join in wherever and however you ride.
Each participant sets their own fundraising goals and can earn rewards, like a party shirt, along the way by reaching key milestones. (We’ve got some cool stuff coming!)
Join us at Clare & Don’s Beach Shack on June 4, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 PM for our Raisin’ Ride Kick-Off Event. RSVP HERE!
We’ll have food, drinks, and a short information session covering:
Route options and event logistics
Fundraising goals and reward levels
Training, fundraising, and ride-day tips
Virtual ride and unsupported route options
Q&A and everything else you need to get rolling
We'll also give a sneak preview of this year's party shirts. These coveted shirts show you're part of the crew, and they're a fresh design, not the one you've seen around in previous years. (Though some of you may have spotted me giving one a test spin.)
Whether you're a returning rider or joining us for the first time, we hope you'll come out, grab a drink, and get excited for the summer ahead.
Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. Noice!
Sights from the Ride
An adventure through the Great Allegheny Passage
Beth Permenter, our Youth Program Manager’s view during a recent bike-packing trip through the GAP!
Music Break
In the Community
Bike to Work Day!
We partnered up with the Columbia Pike Partnership to run a Bike to Work Day stop at Penrose Square. 20 lucky riders left with our famed Party Shirt! If you missed us, dang, that was a one-time easy shot to get into our super secret “Party Shirt Party Club”. We might give some out again next year. Or you can earn it at Raisin’ Ride this year. (We need a secret handshake or something.)
Bill Fuchs, our local cycling legend and resident authority on dynamo hubs, bike lighting, and vintage Trek bikes, offering free bike checks.
From the Shop
Not to cause a mad dash, but even after opening up more service appointments, we’re still booking up fast. Don’t wait for the next nice day to ride your bike and discover your chain is sporting ten shades of rust and your brakes are merely a polite suggestion. Book an appointment here.
If you cannot find a time that works. You can also call us at 703-575-7762; we can’t guarantee anything, but we'll try our darndest to get you an appointment as soon as possible.
If you made it all the way to the bottom of this newsletter, congratulations. You’ve unlocked a secret discount. Between 5/30/2026 and 6/6/2026, visit the shop, tell our team you have a special message to share, flap your arms, and loudly proclaim, “BAWK! BIRD IS THE WORD!” We’ll reward your bravery with 20% OFF your entire purchase. (Excludes service labor.) Hurry, we expect folks to flock to the store.
Now you might want this Brompton, this Surly Karate Monkey, or this Voodoo Bizango rocking a new Advent MX drivetrain! We also have brand new Cannondale hybrids in stock.
How You Can Help This Week
Four Things:
Join us at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack for our Raisin’ Ride Kickoff event. RSVP here!
Bring your bike in for a tune-up, or if you need a new ride, come on by. 100% of our sales proceeds go right back into our mission.
Say “Bawk! Bird is the Word!” as loud as you can in the shop, and we’ll take 20% OFF your entire purchase. (Excludes service labor. See details above.)
If you have a Party Shirt, wear it on the trails! We’d love to see you out there. (Snap a selfie and send it to [email protected] so we can share it on our socials!)
Fun Fact of the Day:
In the 1880s, some cycling clubs used bugles to communicate during group rides, with different calls signaling turns, stops, and formation changes. Not to toot my own horn, but during Calvinball, a mini-game within the Freezing Saddles season, "BAWK! Bird is the Word!" was supposedly the only rider proposed rule that survived the entire game. So I am told.
Thanks for reading, and keep riding,
Tom Shannon
Executive Director