join us for another repair workshop this tuesday, 3/30, from 7-9 PM!
3611 cass avenue, back alley entrance off of MLK.
this month’s topic is a continuation of last month’s, flat fixing and wheel anatomy, since we had a crummy storm last month.
see you there!!
****************
this coming wednesday, march 31, is international transgender visibility day.
this day stands in contrast to transgender day of remembrance (november 20), which is a day of mourning and recognition for those who have suffered violence due to transphobia.
visibility day is a day for us to be out&proud, recognize and acknowledge our needs and celebrate who we, and our communities of trans allies, are.
fender bender wants to commemorate this date with a group ride.
meet us this wednesday, 3/31, at 4 PM at grand circus park in detroit.
we’re also celebrating fender bender co-organizer angie’s birthday. vegan cupcakes always welcome!!
be there, present yourself how you want, and bring your friends!
come ride with us and celebrate who we are.
xxxxx
amets
Hey kittens!
There is some rad stuff happening this week that we’re planning to partake in. If you want it, come get it:
Thursday March 25th – Alley Cat Race and Movie Night. A benefit for the Hub of Detroit.
The race begins at The Hub and ends with a double feature at the Burton Theater. Don’t worry if you’ve never ridden an Alley Cat before. A few of us have never ridden one either, and I’m sure there will be lots of people just out to enjoy the ride and not actually “race” as it were. If you don’t know what an Alley Cat is, it’s a bike ride where you’re given a set of clues or directions and you have to figure out where the different stops are and possibly complete a task at each one. It’s like a bicycle scavenger hunt. Doesn’t that sound so fun?? Yeah!!
Registration starts at 5:30pm
Race begins at 6:15pm
Movies at the Burton begin at 8:00pm
There are prizes for the top winners, and since it’s a benefit, entrance to the movies will cost some dollars. See the Hub website for the whole price breakdown. You can still ride the race for free no matter what.
Friday March 26th – Detroit Critical Mass
If you’re not familiar, Critical Mass is a giant bike ride that happens in hundreds of cities all over the world, usually the last Friday of the month. It’s designed to reclaim the streets in the name of bipeds. We’re planning to be there and you should too! Let’s represent!!
The ride begins at 6:30 at Hart Plaza. It has come to our attention that apparently the meeting place has changed from previous rides, which would meet at Grand Circus Park. Not sure of the details or reason for the change, but it looks like people will be meeting at Hart Plaza.
Hope to see you all there!
xoxo
Liz
“theory without practice is just as incomplete as practice without theory.”-assata shakur
I want to say thank you to my friends in Fender Bender for their support, passion and hard work. For making positive things happen. For riding your bike with me. For sharing your knowledge, thoughts, troubles, experiences, not just with bikes, but with life and the problems in which we face everyday. And also much appreciation for those who support and understand what we are doing.
My trail of thoughts on why I am a part of Fender Bender….
It feels incredible to be around others who want to make things happen. Too often there is talk of doing something one day, but all too often that is all it is, talk. and no action. Many people go about their day, brainwashed into thinking that they can’t change a thing or that things are ok. Living in a world where we let things slide off as “jokes” …and maybe you aren’t even aware of how it’s more than that. The things you do and the things you say are all a part of who you are. You are setting this standard of what’s ok. What’s acceptable. I’m tired of living in a world where oppression, sexism, racism, harassment (I could go on forever) are often just shrugged away as a “joke” or “no big deal.” We keep letting these things slide, and it only gets worse.
I want to be in a world where the word “pussy” isn’t used to refer to someone as being weak. Too often I’ve been standing with a group of people and some guy calls the other guy a “pussy” for not doing something that everyone else wants to do. I was shocked last week, reading only a few pages into a book- the author talks of fighting for a clean earth, reducing negative human impact- my jaw literally dropped when he used that very statement that makes me full of rage. A published book, how many people read the drafts and everyone thought this was ok? Four pages in and he says, “On the other hand, call me a pussy, but I felt bad every time I saw one of those raccoons or possums with their guts spilled out…” Well, Mr. Colin “No Impact Man” Beavan, you made an impact.
–
Spring is just around the corner, I can ride my bike without wearing a face mask and warm layers. While the sun shines down on me and I enjoy my bike ride, I am rudely interrupted from my enjoyment as I ride by and I hear “Hey baby”… and and other obnoxious comments. In Detroit, I get yelled at enough for biking on roads, why does it have to be topped off with sexual comments. I’m sure we all face harassment and I know many males who are called “fags” for wearing tight pants or for riding a bike. None of it should happen. Sadly, it is very, very rare that I can bike somewhere without having to deal with sexist comments. How do we fight back?
—-
I refuse to let these things keep me from riding. You will not take this from me.
—-
Fender Bender allows me to live surrounding myself with others who share similar frustrations. We have all encountered different situations, but we have all felt something similar. We want to provide & share a place, a network, a feeling of comfort, a safe space.
Much love,
Vanessa
I don’t know if anyone saw this but Google Maps has added cycling directions to their options for getting places. It’s pretty sweet. I mapped a couple routes from the Hub and this is what I got…
The Hub –> Ann Arbor
This route seems pretty self explanatory. Taking long surface streets rather than highways on which bikes aren’t allowed (in Michigan at least). Can anyone verify that this is, in fact, the best way to bike to Ann Arbor?
The Hub –> Belle Isle
This route to Belle Isle was interesting. The shortest distance by car it tells you is 6.3 miles, and advises you to use the freeway. Conversely, the shortest bike route (previous link) is 6 miles long, and although it takes you through a somewhat puzzling maze of left and right turns before putting you on Jefferson, it successfully avoids a number of high-traffic streets that may seem shorter but won’t make for the best ride. I don’t think the route is terribly intuitive, but the algorithm says it’s the fastest, so make of that what you will.
Despite the feature’s tendency to route you away from major, automotive arteries (a move I’m generally in favor of but am kind of on the fence about), some of the directions seem needlessly fussy. Like this one, which is a route I ride every weekend and make no more than three turns in total, according to Google’s first choice, I should be making nine whole turns to go the same distance.
But after all that turning, these directions seem suspiciously linear…
The Hub –> Royal Oak Trader Joe’s
I guess the lesson is that sometimes, the most obvious route really is the fastest and I should stop trying to look for meaning in random internet queries.
Also worth noting, what do you suppose they estimate to be the average speed of a cyclist? How accurate are these times anyway? Does anyone want to race the maps with us sometime?
Google is pretty up front that the technology is still in Beta form, but it’s a rad addition that I look forward to using. Since I’m still pretty new in town and not that familiar with Detroit, it would be cool if some folks could verify these routes and check to see if they seem solid or have any major flaws that might be interesting to look out for.
Have fun, and be sure to report back any findings.
xoxo
Liz
thanks to everyone who came out to yesterday’s ride!
weather was prime and it was great to hit the road for leisure with good pals.
hopefully we can enjoy more of these kinds of conditions, and get out on our bikes for more than just getting to and from our obligations.
***
good things to do before long rides:
—continue, and step up, your general maintenance routine. check tires, clean & lube chain, and make any adjustments prior to hitting the streets. if you’re miles away from home, your bike should be in working shape!
—eat properly and in good quantity. bring snacks for before and after the ride. i myself have an insatiable appetite which only increases after an hour+ of exercise.
—bring water. & don’t fill yr bottle up and leave it on the counter at home like i did!
—wear appropriate layers. you know where we live. it’s erratic & unpredictable, but at least have something to cover your head and hands, and a midweight jacket in case the temperature drops unexpectedly.
***
__________________________________
vanessa prepared an awesome poster that outlines our upcoming events:
feel free to print and distribute, or let us know if you would like us to get you some copies to help promote our workshops. we’d love to see new faces join us in these warmer times.
xox amets
The first Women and Trans bike ride is happening today!
Come celebrate Vanessa’s birthday with a sweet group of folks taking spring to the next level.
We’re meeting outside of The Hub at 2:00pm.
We aren’t sure of the route yet. If you’re a beginning road rider, we promise it won’t be too difficult or stressful but it will be real fun no matter what
Are you excited?! Me too!!!!
Don’t forget your helmet, see you then!!!!
xoxo
Liz
It’s March already!! Whoa, right!?!!!?! We have been busy planning some rad springtime activities. Join us, won’t you?
Saturday March 6th, 3:30-6:30pm – Open Shop
Monday March 8th, 2pm – Womyn’s Birthday Ride! Celebrate Vanessa’s birthday and join us on an early Spring group ride. We will meet outside the front of The Hub at 2pm. If the route is decided in time, we’ll try to post it here. It’s gonna be fun! All ages and experience welcome! Bring your helmet!!
Saturday March 20th, 3:30-6:30pm – Open Shop
Tuesday March 30th, 7pm-9pm – Repair Workshop Topic: wheel anatomy, fixin’ flats. We’re doing this one again since that giant snow storm happened last month and attendance wasn’t as strong.
Wednesday March 31st – International Transgendered Visibility Day – We would like to organize a group ride on this day. Let us know if you’d like to help organize!
Saturday April 10th, 4-7pm – Open Shop
Saturday April 24th, 4-7pm – Open Shop
Tuesday April 27th, 7-9pm – Repair Workshop Topic: To be decided. Please let us know what you’d like to learn or have to offer at any of our events. We’re totally open to suggestions, and may even throw a poll up here to get your feedback on what you’d like to learn next.
Also, if you’d like to be added to the Fender Bender mailing list, holler at us at the following address: fenderbenderdetroit[at]gmail[dot]com and we’ll be sure to keep you updated on everything.
Ride safe, and we’ll see you on Saturday!
xoxo
Fender Bender
