Power to the Pedal People

We like bikes.

Beach cruiser, tandem, fixed-gear…we’ll even throw in a tricycle if the occasion is right (although, we’re not entirely sure what that would be).

Even more amazing is our city’s growing pedal-powered love with events like midnight mystery rides and (only slightly illegal) alley cat races to an all-gal bike cruise and free monthly bike work shops.

Here’s a primer on all things bike in the Holy City:

The Holy City Bike Co-op is the best source for all things bike related in Charleston. See a bike race or benefit to raise awareness about the city’s bike culture and chances are these folks are behind it. The Bike Co-Op hosts free monthly bike clinics on the first Sunday of the month from 3-5p.m. in Marion Square. Broken bike chain? Flat tire? Or just completely perplexed by what’s wrong with your two-wheeled transportation? These cats are probably the most knowledgeable on the peninsula about bikes and will happily offer assistance free of charge.

And rumor has it, the Bike Co-Op folks are also planning a bike prom for the fall. Yes. Bike. Prom.

If you’re feeling daring, you might want to indulge in a midnight mystery ride. Riders of all types meet at a location and take off into the night on their bikes on a mystery route. The next ride is scheduled for July 31st and departs from everyone’s favorite dive bar-The Recovery Room-around midnight (or when everyone finishes their beer).

If midnight’s a little late for your blood, or you’re already too many drinks down by that point to safely participate, there’s also the early bird special Monday morning, shake-off-the-weekend-hangover bike ride. Departing from Cannon Park at 7a.m. the ride ends at Kudu just in time for breakfast. And a big cup of coffee.

Up for polo?

It’s not quite what you’re imagining. Swap the ponies for bikes, and the delicate jockeys for a team of hipster athletes and you have an idea of what bike polo is like. You also might want to do away with the image of a posh crowd sipping champagne on the sidelines and crack open a PBR instead. Charleston’s bike polo team practices regularly downtown late at night for competitions that take them as far as Atlanta and West Florida. There aren’t any competitions scheduled currently, but be on the look out. If you’re lucky you might even spot a game of impromptu polo one night during your King St. travels.

Bikes are great for everyone, but there’s something grand about getting dressed up for a bike ride. Enter the frequent Cycle Chic bike rides in Charleston. Ladies decked out in all types of frocks glam it up for an all-gal, and a few daring (or very smart) gentlemen, bike ride through the streets of Charleston.

While the Cycle Chic bike rides make for a nice jaunt around the city, they may not be enough for the serious cyclist. Well listen up, oh spandexed ones: the United Methodist Relief Center is planning a week long, 300 mile bike tour of South Carolina set to begin on May 23, 2010. The ride is open to 300 riders and will take participants through the most scenic parts of the state.

Now, let’s get down to it. All of these bike initiatives are marvelous, but anyone who’s swerved down Calhoun or over a bridge knows we are far from a truly bike-friendly city. So, we want to hear from you. What do you want to see change to make it safer to cyclists and encourage more two-wheeled transportation? What suggestions do you have for our city to grow into a full on, bike loving, spoke singing, spinning mania community?

Power to the pedal people!

Story by Caroline Millard
Photos by Brianna Stello, Caroline Millard & friends