4th Annual Cranksgiving with Kidical Mass Tacoma

4th Annual CRANKSGIVING 
Food drive Bike ride

Pedal to store -> Shop for others -> Haul it back

Starts at 7 Seas Brewing - Tacoma

Sunday November 18, 2018

Family-friendly 

Benefits St. Leo Food Connection

Ride and Shop 2-4pm / Afterparty at 7 Seas 4-6pm

Bring a bike lock!

Join Kidical Mass Tacoma for our 4th Annual Cranksgiving family bike ride benefiting the St. Leo Food Connection food bank!

Meet-up at the 7 Seas Taproom entrance around 1:30 pm. We'll roll-out at 2 pm, pedaling a 1.7 mile route to the Stadium Thriftway grocery store for a chance to try our hand at family shopping by bicycle. We ask that riders purchase a few items to donate to St. Leo Food Connection. Be sure to bring along some way to haul your food items on your bike - backpack, basket, trailer, etc.

After we shop, we'll pedal back to 7 Seas Brewing to collect our items and celebrate our biking and shopping skills. Cash donations will also be collected at this time and are used to purchase fresh produce for the food bank.

FAQ: Do I have to shop at Stadium Thirftway? Nope. You are welcome to shop before the ride and bring items along if that's a better way to stretch your dollars (Costco and Cash'n'Carry have some good deals if you want to buy in bulk.) We've also marked other grocery stores on the map below if you'd like to take a more challenging ride while the kids pedal to Stadium.

**Special Note: This route is not very long, but it is uphill getting to the store and downhill getting back to the 7 Seas. We've picked a more gradual route up and down the hill, but no push bikes or training wheels please.

RSVP on Facebook or in the comments so we know you're planning to attend.

Many thanks to Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club and 7 Seas Brewing for helping with this event. Cheers!

Kidical Mass is a monthly family bike ride series. We ride in the street and follow the Rules of the Road. We ride together, stopping to regroup when needed. All children must be accompanied by an adult and all riders should wear a helmet.

October 2018: Tacoma Arts Month Ride in the South End

Family Bike Ride with Kidical Mass Tacoma

Roll-out at 10:30am, Saturday Oct 13, 2018

IDEA High School, 6701 Park Ave S, Tacoma

October is Tacoma Arts Month...let's ride bikes and make art!

We've asked the students of the 2nd Cycle shop at IDEA High School to plan a route in the South End and to help us with a print-your-own art activity after the ride.

The ride will start from the 2nd Cycle shop at IDEA High School (6701 S Park Ave, Tacoma, WA 98408). The shop is in a portable behind the school; look for the Kidical Mass banner on the fence along Park Ave and enter up the sidewalk ramp.

We will roll-out at 10:30 am on a 3-4 mile ride. As always, we will ride in the street following the Rules of the Road, stopping to regroup as needed so no one is left behind. Helmets and adult supervision are required. We will be riding at a kid's pace, but this route has some rolling hills and arterial crossings, so no push bikes or training wheels, please.

We'll return to IDEA for a print-your-own screen printing activity. Bring something to print on: a shirt, hoodie, canvas shopping bag, anything that's been pre-washed. There will be a few bike+neighborhood designs to choose from with inks that will look good on light or dark colored fabric. Paper for poster making will also be available.

It's getting chilly and damp so dress for the weather - we will ride in a sprinkle! However, if it's a total downpour we'll skip the ride and there will still be screen printing and treats inside the shop until 12:30pm.

We'll post a route map and more print design details soon!

September 2018: Kidical MASSIVE - Verlo to Lincoln Loop

On September 15, 2018, Kidical Mass rides will be held all over the country and world. We'll celebrate in Tacoma with a 4 mile loop around the Eastside from Verlo Playfield to Lincoln Park and back. The ride departs Verlo Playfield (4321 East McKinley Avenue) in Tacoma at 10am. We'll pedal about 2 miles to Lincoln Park, play a bit, then pedal 2 miles back to Verlo. Plan on 1-1.5 hours for the whole ride.

The Verlo sprayground will be open for an optional post-ride cool down and we'll provide frozen treats for all participants. There are bathrooms at both parks.

Kidical Mass is a group bike ride for kids and families, but everyone is welcome to ride along. As always, we will ride in the street following the Rules of the Road, stopping to regroup as needed so no one is left behind. Helmets and adult supervision are required. 

This route has some rolling hills, so no push bikes or training wheels, please. The route will likely look like this:

RSVP on Facebook or comment below so we know how much ice cream to bring! 

Thanks again to Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club and the Puyallup Watershed Initiative for sponsoring these events.

July 2018: Kidical Mass Ride in Salishan for Pierce County Trails Day

Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 10 AM - 12 PM

Swan Creek Park Community Garden, 2299 E 42nd St, Tacoma, WA 98404

Kidical Mass Tacoma is a monthly bike ride for kids, families and kids-at-heart. We ride in the street and follow the Rules of the Road, stopping to regroup so no one gets lost or left behind. Helmets and adult supervision are required. Everyone is welcome.

On July 28 we'll be celebrating Pierce County Trails Day by exploring the Salishan neighborhood, Pipeline Trail, and trails of Swan Creek Park. We'll scope out the nearly-completed Eastside Community Center and learn about upcoming development of the Pipeline Trail. The ride will start at the Swan Creek Park Community Garden at E 42nd and Roosevelt in Tacoma.

This is a free event and no preregistration is required. Snacks will be provided (RSVP on FB so we know what to bring!) Expect a slow, 4-mile bike ride on paved streets and trails. There are some optional dirt trails as well. Portapotties and water access are located at the community garden parking lot.

For additional information, contact Matt 253-209-4032 or leave comments below.

Download and share this flyer!

Owen Beach Campout 2018

 

We're loading up our kids and tents to go bike camping at Owen Beach again! Pre-registration is required, so please read on.

WHEN: Meet-up at 2nd Cycle Tacoma's Community Cycle Center on Friday Aug 24, 2018 around 5:30pm. We'll roll-out about 6pm to Point Defiance Park, a 7.5 mile ride. It will take about 1.5 hours.

CAMP GEAR: We'll camp on the grass next to the beach and have to break camp by 9am. Keep it simple! We recommend tent, bedroll, change of clothes, warmer layers for the evening. You can haul your gear by bike (it's bike camping!), or toss heavy/awkward items in the 2nd Cycle van that's meeting us there. Need a tent? Let us know in the comments and we'll try to locate an extra one for you.

FOOD TO BRING: For the ride, bring a water bottle and maybe even a spray bottle to help keep kids cool. Metroparks provides evening snacks and a basic breakfast, but plan to bring a picnic dinner or snacks for after the ride. Don't bonk!

RETURN: On Saturday morning families can make their way back home in small groups or individually. Remember, it's going to be more uphill on the way home, so plan for a longer ride.

PRE-REGISTER: Campers must preregister with The Tacoma Nature Center by calling (253) 404-3930. Cost is $50 for a 4-person site. Tell them you are with Kidical Mass. (SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE...Puyallup Watershed Initiative is helping to make this event more accessible, so please contact Matt via email (kidicalmasstacoma <at> gmail <dot> com) if you need financial assistance.) There are a limited number of campsites available for this Metroparks Tacoma event, so please make your plans soon!

This is a bit different than most of our events and rides, but we hope to see you there. Please let us know if you register for your own campsite so we can keep track of who's coming.

RSVP on Facebook (optional)

More details on the Metroparks website: https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/campout/

Point Defiance Ranger leads a nature talk

You can bring your dog! Can you spot Spencer?

We Need Ride Leaders!

We need ride leaders!

In an attempt to host more rides in more corners of Tacoma, we are looking for more pedal parents to help plan, promote, and lead family bikes rides. If you are interested, please email Matt (kidicalmasstacoma <at> gmail <dot> com) so we can find a time in June to host a planning session. Thanks!

May and June 2018: Hilltop and South Tacoma

Two rides coming up! Sometimes we actually plan ahead! Keep scrolling!

Kidical Mass Tacoma is a monthly bike ride for kids and their families. We ride in the street and follow the Rules of the Road, stopping to regroup so no one gets lost or left behind. Helmets and adult supervision are required.


MAY RIDE: Neighborhood Cruise with Kidical Mass Tacoma
Saturday, May 12 at 11 AM - 1 PM
Start Location: 2nd Cycle, 1205 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma

This is a Slow Roll style bike ride for families, neighbors, and friends. Everyone is invited. Ride starts at 2nd Cycle. We'll be stopping to hang out at People's Park, Ferry Park, Zina's Place, and basically just enjoying the Hilltop neighborhood by bike. Do you play an instrument? Bring it! The more the merrier. Total route is about 4 miles, but you can cut it short and head back to 2nd Cycle at any point.

RSVP on Facebook (optional)

JUNE RIDE: Riding to Birds, Arts, and Trails Celebration in South Tacoma
Saturday, June 2 at 10 AM - 12 PM
Start Location: STAR Center, 3873 S 66th St, Tacoma

On Saturday June 2 we'll ride a 2 mile route from STAR Center to Oak Tree Park where the Tahoma Audubon Society will be celebrating Birds, Arts, and Trails. We'll see new art installations as we pedal along the Flume Line Trail; take part in activities promoting healthy native bird habitat; and have a chance to hike the trails in Oak Tree Park. Pedal 2 miles back to STAR Center with us afterward (that's 4 miles roundtrip) or plan your own afternoon family adventure.

RSVP on Facebook (optional)

April 2018: Adventuring to Tinkertopia

Hi Friends! We haven't seen you since Cranksgiving, but now the daffodils are blooming and we're ready to pedal.

Join us Saturday April 7 when we roll-out from the Wright Park playground at 1pm and pedal downtown about 2 miles to Tinkertopia. This is an afternoon ride because the Daffodil Parade is happening downtown that morning. Feel free to pack a lunch and have a pre-ride picnic if the weather is nice. There are bathrooms and picnic tables near the playground.

The ride to Tinkertopia will be pretty quick since it's nearly all downhill! You can see on the map that we're taking a switchback approach to help make this more manageable for smaller riders with coaster brakes. We'll check out the shop for 15-20 minutes or so before heading back up the hill to Wright Park for a snack and more play time. We'll have an extra long cable lock to help secure bikes while we're in the shop.

Yes, the return route is mostly uphill, but we may hike-a-bike a few steep blocks to get back on the Fawcett Ave bike boulevard in order to help manage the steep terrain.

We'll still ride in a drizzle, but extreme rain will cancel. Dress for the weather.

But what is Tinkertopia?
Tinkertopia collects interesting items and materials that are often headed for the waste stream and offers them as creative arts and crafts supplies. Their shop is a super cool shrine to the human imagination (and it's where we buy most of our bike and helmet decorating supplies.)

Each rider will receive a coupon from Tinkertopia for buy-one-get-one free tinker time session in their creative maker space. No purchase necessary, and it can be used on a future trip to Tinkertopia. Bonus! This is part of a year-long Bike to a Business program organized by Downtown On the Go that highlights downtown businesses that want to encourage their customers to try biking.

Questions? Feedback? Ideas to make this more awesome? Leave a comment! You can also RSVP and follow us on Facebook.

Kidical Mass Tacoma is a monthly bike ride for kids and their families. We ride in the street and follow the Rules of the Road, stopping to regroup so no one gets lost or left behind. Helmets and adult supervision are required.