The bikes that we helped assemble two weeks ago were given away this past Saturday. Families camped out over night in front of the venue for a chance to receive the bikes and other gifts. Here is a nice video of the event.



This evening while working I spotted 2 of these bikes being ridden down the sidewalk. The streamers of the girls bike caught my attention, then I noticed another girl was following on one of the boys bikes. Seeing the 2 bikes together I knew where they'd come from. Nice to see them being used.

Photos by our friend Ralph.

Here is the organization that made this possible.

Today a few of us from our bike club rode in the Delano neighborhood of Wichita to tour a few early 1900s homes that were decorated for the holidays. A nice day for a ride. Sunny, calm and 40 degrees. Above that's me messing up an otherwise good photo.
More photos here.

Yesterday we took an hours drive to the small town of Partridge Kansas to attend their fall festival which is centered around bicycles. The town is really small (pop 250 or so) and the Main street which the parade takes place on is dirt.
After the festival we met another couple in the near-by town of Hutchinson where we ate, unloaded the bikes and rode around.

Just some of the bikes waiting for parade to start.


Nova on one of many of theses trikes there to ride.


At the Amtrak station in Hutchinson.


Video from the Partridge Pedal Party...


More Unicycle Hockey action here.

Another great but exhausting Midwest Bicycle Fest has come and gone. Had quite a bit of help this year though. Now that the Daughter and Grandkids are back it was once again 4 generations of my family in attendance and helping.

The sign I was making worked out pretty good. Here it is in use.

Photos and recap of the fest here here.

A few videos I managed to take between, fixing things, fetching things and forgetting things. My Mother took the last video.

Save the Baby competition


Skid Contest


Misc. fest video clips


Parade ride

Today the Grandkids and I rode around town checking out the Independence Day festivites. We watched the parade, frog jumping contest, raft races and volleyball.

Last night I participated in our groups 5th annual 20 Inch Night where you are encouraged to ride a bike with 20" wheels or smaller. This ride gives those of us who have smaller bikes in our collections an excuse to get them out and ride them. Others have built special bikes for the occasion or went on the hunt for one just for this night. Out of the 3 I have, I chose to ride the Cat In The Hat bike. The bike fits me pretty good and is fun to ride. The seat gets a little old after a while though. A couple of years ago Nova bought a bike just for the occasion but she didn't participate this year.
Photos I took can be viewed here.



Video...

Today the 6 of us (Nova, myself, our Daughter and 3 Grandkids) and some of our bike club rode a bike path in the big city stopping by an event that was giving away bikes to neighborhood residents. Some really nice old Schwinns were being given away to young kids who probably wont appreciate the "old" part.
This was Scooch's longest ride yet and she rode really well especially considering she was on a 16" wheeled bike. Stopping is her weak point but thankfully Grandma was alert and has quick reflexes.

Video...


Here are 2 Schwinns that were given away. The kids don't look thrilled but it could just be they are puzzled as to my excitement over their new bikes and why I wanted to take their photos.

Yesterday along with our bike group and my entire family, we hosted a bicycle show and bicycle games for a first time event called Pedal Mania which is part of the big city's annual River Festival. The props we made for the Disgruntled Paperboy Throw functioned and held up pretty well. We also set up bicycle bowling where you roll a bicycle wheel at 2 liter bottles of pop set up like bowling pins and the Tube Toss which is like ring toss only throwing bicycle inner-tubes over traffic cones. I think everyone had a pretty good time.
Nova, our Daughter, our 3 Grand-kids and my Parents, all pitched in to help. We had 4 car/truck loads of people, bikes, game props, tent, tables, coolers etc... I don't think any of these bike events would happen if it wasn't for their support and help.

Here are videos from the day...

Short


Long