Town to Celebrate National Bike Month in May

Community bicycle advocates have been hard at work preparing for the National Bike Month celebration in May by coordinating a host of events that will focus on the town's efforts to create a more bicycle-friendly community.

"We're coming together to raise awareness of the gem we have in Simsbury," Bike Walk Simsbury volunteer Ann Marie Potter said.

Potter is just one of several individuals who make up the ad hoc Bike Walk Simsbury advocacy group. After the town's designation as the only bicycle-friendly community in Connecticut by the National League of American Bicyclists at the bronze level in 2010 the group became dedicated to helping the town achieve a silver designation.

"This is a huge collaboration of interested community members," Potter said.

On May 1, 2012, the group kicks off the month-long celebration at town hall when First Selectwoman Mary Glassman makes it official with a proclamation. The town will also unveil one of two bike racks created by resident artist and professor of art at Central Connecticut State University Vicente Garcia. The first rack will be unveiled during the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Annual Open House & Business Expo on April 10 at Tower Ridge Country Club.

The month of May will be filled with group rides, activities, and special events like the Kid's Bike Rodeo and the Mike Steidley Mountain Bike Stunt Show. The town will sponsor a bike education class for adults and teens and the Simsbury Police Department will sponsor the rodeo with representatives from The Bicycle Cellar on hand to check bicycles and helmets for safety and offer bike maintenance tips.

In conjunction with the ArtWalk Simsbury! event on May 19, Bike Walk Simsbury will unveil a large-scale bicycle sculpture created by Garcia at the ABC House in downtown Simsbury.

Garcia was approached by the group in December and asked if they could commission him to create the bike racks and a sculpture that would represent the community's bike-friendly status.

"They wanted my expertise as a sculptor and as a professor," Garcia said. "I don't do commissioned work, but I liked the idea of a bike."

Garcia told the group he would make the sculptures and if his vision fit what they were looking for they could purchase them.

"It's the same approach that I take with my artwork," Garcia said.

Garcia designed a bike three times the size of a normal bike. The sculpture weighs over 500 lbs. and was made from more than 190 pieces of recycled steel.

"It's going to be a piece that you'll have to stop and check out," Garcia said.

Garcia doesn't claim to be a bike enthusiast but said he appreciates being able to ride his mountain bike on Simsbury's vast network of trails. The artist designed the bike racks and sculpture to resemble his vision of riding.

"It's my interpretation of a big rim that looks like it's in motion," Garcia said about the two six-foot wheels that sit on either side of the bike racks.

Simsbury photographer Matthew Wagner donated his talent for the event and contributed several beautiful photographs of Vicente's creations.

With the success of organizations like Simsbury Free Bike and the Connecticut Adaptive Cycling Program, Bike Walk Simsbury co-chair Steve Mitchell said the town is headed in the right direction.

"Everybody seems to get the importance of making Simsbury a bike-friendly community," Mitchell said. "A bikeable, walkable Simsbury is essential. Cars have their place, planes have their place, trains have their place- we forgot about bicycles and pedestrians, and that has been catastrophic."

Mitchell said the progress has only been possible because of what he calls the "dream team." First Selectwoman Mary Glassman, Simsbury’s Public Works Director Tom Roy, and Town Engineer Richard Sawitzke have been instrumental in making Simsbury a safer town for riders and pedestrians.

Bike Walk Simsbury is launching a fundraiser and hopes to raise at least $6,000 to purchase the bike sculpture and any additional funds will benefit Connecticut Adaptive Cycling.

The contribution levels for the fundraiser are as follows:

• Bronze- $100, donor's name will be engraved on a plaque
• Silver- $250, larger name engraving and signed photograph by Matthew Wagner
• Gold- $500, name engraving, signed photograph by Matthew Wagner and handmade Raku vase by Vicente Garcia
• Platinum- $1,000, name engraving, signed photograph by Matthew Wagner and choice of a unique handmade Raku artwork by Vicente Garcia

Donors who contribute at least $100 will be invited to a reception at Garcia's Simsbury studio following an installation ceremony on June 1.

Department of Public Works Director Tom Roy recently announced the site approval for the sculpture at the intersection of Hopmeadow Street and Winslow Place.

Donations for the sculpture fundraiser can be sent to: Children and Adult Mobility Project/Simsbury Bike Sculpture, c/o Simsbury Bank, 981 Hopmeadow Street, P.O. Box 248, Simsbury, CT 06070. Donors should indicate how they would like their names to appear on the plaque.

Bike Walk Simsbury will unveil the complete and updated schedule of events on a new website in April.

A preliminary schedule for the month is as follows:

May 1 – Simsbury Celebrates May as National Bike Month; First Selectman Mary Glassman reads proclamation and announces a packed schedule of rides and events; unveils new bike-rack, created by Simsbury artist Vicente Garcia; announces Simsbury Town Hall as a “cycle center” for Simsbury Free Bike; talks about new “Share-the-Road” signs and “sharrows,” and more.

May 3 – The Bicycle Cellar Family Trail Ride; 6 p.m., The Bicycle Cellar, 532 Hopmeadow St.  10 miles; Easy. All ages welcome.

May 4 – Farmington Valley Trails Council Fun-Ride North; 10 a.m., Commuter Parking Lot in Weatogue. 30-mile, trail ride with option to leave trail for more rolling terrain. Easy/Intermediate, depending on rider’s choice.

May 5 – Valley Cycling Rides; 9 a.m., Iron Horse Blvd. Parking Area. 10, 25, 40 miles; Easy, Intermediate, Advanced.

May 6 – Free Kids’ Bike Rodeo; 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Commuter Parking Lot, Iron Horse Blvd. Ages K-6th grade. Co-sponsored by Town of Simsbury, Simsbury Police and The Bicycle Cellar. Riders can get their helmets and bicycles checked for size and safety, and  test agility, balance and braking skills at skills bikes/helmets, register bikes for Simsbury residents and discuss bike safety.  Serpentine; balance box; brake-testing stations will be set up using orange cones to test skills; bike-police will be on hand.  Staff from The Bicycle Cellar will pump tires and offer advice on bike-maintenance.

May 6 – Mike Steidley Mountain Bike Stunt Show; 1 p.m., Commuter Parking Lot, Iron Horse Blvd. Sponsored by Mitchell Auto Group. Steidley is a nine-time national champion, and professional Trials, Freeride and Stunt Rider who has performed in 23 countries. His “extreme,” action-packed show demonstrates what feats are possible on a mountain bike as Steidley maneuvers a custom set of obstacles and ramps.

May 7 – Valley Cycling Rides; 6 p.m., Iron Horse Blvd. Parking Area. 20, 33 miles; Intermediate, Advanced.

May 8 – Free Bike-Education Class for Adults and Teens, Simsbury Library, Main Meeting Room, Simsbury Library, sponsored by the Town of Simsbury. A certified Bike Walk CT instructor will discuss rules of the road and give safe-biking tips. First hour in main conference room (with bikes); second hour in parking lot, weather permitting.

May 9 – Royal Screw Velo Club Simsbury Ride; 5:30 p.m., Chubb Specialty Insurance Parking Lot, 82 Hopmeadow St. 25 mile, on-road ride around scenic Simsbury and West Simsbury; Easy/Intermediate.

May 9 – Fundraiser at Red Stone Pub for Simsbury Bike Sculpture; 5:30-7:30 p.m. Guest bartenders and a portion of sales go toward sculpture.

May 10 – The Bicycle Cellar Granville Ride; 6 p.m., Bicycle Cellar, 532 Hopmeadow St. 35-40 miles; Intermediate/Advanced.

May 11 – Thursday-Friday Ride; 10 a.m., Iron Horse Blvd. Parking Area. 26 miles; Intermediate.

May 12 – Royal Screw Velo Club Advanced Ride; 9 a.m., Chubb Specialty Insurance Parking Lot, 82 Hopmeadow St. 35-mile, on-road ride to MA and back. Minimum age is 16.

May 16 – Bike Walk to School at Tootin’ Hills; before school.

May 19 – Paddle & Pedal Simsbury; 10 a.m., Pinchot Sycamore Park. Organized by Farmington River Watershed Association. Canoe or kayak Farmington River, pick-up bike at Curtiss Park, ride solo or join group-ride back to car. Registration and fee.

May 19 – Unveiling of Simsbury Bike Sculpture during ArtWalk Simsbury!, 11 a.m., Simsbury ABC House, Hopmeadow Street. Sculpture created by Simsbury metal-artist Vicente Garcia and is believed to be the only large-scale, bike sculpture in New England, possibly the Northeast. Weighs over 500 pounds, is 3x the size of a standard bicycle and was made from more than 190 pieces of recycled steel.

May 16 – Tour de Mary: A Ride with Mary Glassman; 4:30 p.m., Simsbury Town Hall. 5-mile ride on trail and country roads with First Selectman.

May 17 – Thursday-Friday Ride; 10 a.m., Iron Horse Blvd. Parking Area. 30 miles; Advanced.

May 18 – National Bike-to-Work Day; two events -Simsbury-Hartford ride and Simsbury Town Hall Celebration. Details to be finalized.

May 20 – CT Adaptive Cycling Veteran’s and Family Rides; 9 a.m., CT Adaptive Cycling Shop on Iron Horse Blvd; 15, 25, 50 miles; hand and recumbent trikes available for persons with disabilities. Proceeds to purchase additional bicycles. Easy, Intermediate, Advanced. Registration required.

May 22 – Simsbury Free Bike Sharrows Ride; 6 p.m., Iron Horse Blvd. Parking Area; 14-mile, on-road loop around scenic Simsbury. Easy.

May 24 – Intermediate Ride, sponsored by The Bicycle Cellar and Royal Screw Velo Club; 6 p.m., The Bicycle Cellar, 532 Hopmeadow St. 35 miles; Intermediate. 

May 31 – The Bicycle Cellar Sharrows Ride, 6 p.m. The Bicycle Cellar, 532 Hopmeadow St., 14-mile, on-road loop around scenic Simsbury. Easy.

Several additional rides are scheduled to start and/or end in Simsbury throughout the summer, including the annual Farmington Valley Trails-in-Motion Ride on June 2, the East Coast Greenway Simsbury-New Haven monthly “Sunday Rides,” beginning June 3, and Simsbury Free Bike guided rides, including interesting barns and farms around town, and Simsbury historic landmarks.  Each of the groups participating in May events has regular rides throughout the season. 

For more information on the Bike Walk Simsbury events or the fundraiser contact Ann Marie Potter at 860-408-1361 or email ampotter3@sbcglobal.net.