This October, eight girls from Kenmore Middle School signed up for our all-girls Earn-A-Bike class. All-girls classes have been part of Phoenix Bikes in the past, and we love seeing a new group take over the shop.

Throughout the class, students are learning how to use shop tools for hands-on bike mechanics, earning a bike of their own along the way. Some are already planning to keep going by joining other Phoenix programs, like Advanced Mechanics.

Here are a few snapshots from the class so far:

For the 2026-27 school year, 10 interns are working at Phoenix Bikes. Three are returning interns and seven are brand new to Phoenix.

Last week, we had an introductory meeting with the full intern crew to talk about goals, workplace safety, and the learning opportunities ahead of us this year.

In upcoming issues, Field Notes will feature a Meet the Intern series to introduce each intern individually, so you can learn more about Phoenix Bikes’ youth intern program.

Last weekend, Phoenix Bikes headed to the South Germantown Recreational Park in Boyds, Maryland, for the 2026 MoCo Epic. The mountain bike festival is put on by Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), and it is their biggest community event of the year, with proceeds going toward building and caring for local trails.

Phoenix Bikes had a tent at the festival, where we collected part donations during the event, and members of our crew also took part in the rides.

A highlight was the adaptive riding program, which began at MoCo Epic two years ago. Volunteers David McSpadden and Marty Forlenza ran the adaptive rides, helping riders take full-suspension, pedal-assist trikes from Catalyst Sports out on the trails.

🎥 Watch a recap of the MoCo Epic on Instagram.

At the center of every wheel is a hub.

Phoenix Bikes created the HUB Club with a simple idea behind the name: Help Us Build. Our monthly donors help us build opportunities for youth, skills and confidence through bikes, and a stronger cycling community.

Why monthly? Steady gifts let us plan and budget with confidence, especially in winter, when shop sales slow down but our work doesn't.

A little something special for our HUB Club members

$10+/month — Phoenix Bikes × mountainFLOW water bottle

$25+/month — Limited-edition Cycle Killer Accessories recycled tote

$100+/month — Handmade Phoenix Bikes x Stacy Snyder Ceramics mug

These gifts are our way of saying thank you. The real impact comes from what our HUB Club members make possible together.

Whether it's $5, $10, $25, $100 or more – any amount that's right for you can help Phoenix Bikes. We genuinely appreciate your consideration and are grateful for the support of everyone who is already a HUB Club member.

Help us keep building. Join, rejoin, or level up today.

If you have moved recently, please send us your updated mailing address so our letters, event invitations, and donation receipts reach you.

Just send your updated address to [email protected]. Thank you!

Hi, I'm Pano (short for Panagiotis), one of the interns here at Phoenix Bikes, and I’ll be taking over as editor of Field Notes. I just started at Phoenix Bikes as a business and finance intern.

I’m a senior in high school, currently attending the Arlington Tech program at the newly constructed Grace Hopper Center. When I’m not on a bike, you’ll usually find me outdoors or rock climbing.

I'll update you with the latest news on our youth programs, the shop, and the people who keep Phoenix Bikes running. If there's something you'd like to see here, or a story worth sharing, just reply to this email. I'd love to hear from you.