Cyclists Gear Up For Conclusion To Bike To Work Week

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Rain across part of Wisconsin today may have put a damper on plans to end this week’s Bike to Work Week with one more ride.

But dedicated bicyclists say they celebrate their culture year-round.

What is biking culture? Well, frequent Milwaukee rider Carolyn Weber, who recently became co-owner of a bike shop, says there are different communities within the culture.

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“You’ve got the young hipsters, the ones who ride single speeds; you probably see them blowing red lights around downtown. You got the couriers – the ones who do bicycle courier work. They kind of hang out on their own. I’ve done bicycle rickshawing. Then you’ve got the bike shop owners, the downtown, older commuters, people who just go for pleasure rides. Then you’ve got your mountain bikers, your road bikers. What I love about cycling is such a diversity of people doing it in various aspects. “

Weber says she became a bigger devotee of biking when the cost and hassle of maintaining a car became too much. She says many other riders also like to save on gasoline, and cause fewer problems for the environment by riding bikes to work, school or the store. Milwaukee writer Michael Horne gives speeches about the local history of biking, including a talk last night at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Horne says bicyclists also have a fondness for fun.

“For recreational beers and picnics and outings and just in general, fitness and a sense of mental serenity. There’s a little bit of challenge to it, a little bit of joshing – things you expect in the company of friends.”

Horne says many riders are young, but he says the young welcome older riders as well.

Bike to Work Week observances wrap up tomorrow night with a bike film festival at the Milwaukee Art Museum.