Summer may be the most popular time for cycling tours and events, but the season’s not over yet! There are a lot of fantastic rides coming up this Fall for cyclists of all levels. At Alchemy Goods, we’re avid fans of alternative transportation and bike culture, and we’d like to recommend a few events along the West Coast that have a great cause and seem like a ton of fun to get you excited about participating in the cycling community and to keep on pedaling through the colder months!
8th Annual Cycle the WAVE (Seattle, WA)
Sunday, September 20th
We’d like to start with Alchemy’s home turf: Seattle. Our amazing Cycle the WAVE event is sponsored by the Women Against Violence Everywhere (WAVE) Foundation, and all the proceeds go towards domestic violence programs across Washington State. Cycle the WAVE is a non-competitive, all-women’s cycling event, with four different routes to accommodate women of all ages and cycling abilities. The point of the ride is to experience camaraderie and sisterhood in a fun, no-pressure environment while raising both money and awareness for victims of domestic violence. We couldn’t be prouder of this amazing Seattle ride!
Crosstoberfest (Sandpoint, ID)
Saturday, October 3-Sunday, October 4
For a slightly more rugged event, look to the woods of Northern Idaho for the cyclo-cross race Crosstoberfest! Now in its fourth year, the races take place on an exciting off-road course that includes a gravel pit and wooden bridge, and that changes after Saturday to keep Sunday interesting. More importantly, Crosstober raises money for Team Autism 24/7, which helps support families living on the autism spectrum in the Sandpoint area. We love the spirit of fun bike-centric events that help support vulnerable members of a local community!
Wheels for Meals Bike Ride (Pleasanton, CA)
Saturday, October 17
This is the 7th annual Wheels for Meals fundraiser in Northern California’s wine country. 1,200 cyclists ride through wine country on routes ranging from a family-friendly 15 miles to a 70-mile metric century with steep climbs. The Alameda County Meals on Wheels organization is particularly devoted to helping feed low- or no-income seniors, who make up over 3/4 of their clients and half of whom live alone. This fun ride is a great way of exploring the beautiful Livermore Valley countryside, hanging out with friends and family, and supporting an organization that does very important work.
New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat (San Diego, CA)
Saturday, September 26
There are few things the West Coast loves more than beer and bikes, and when you bring them together you get something pretty much everyone enjoys. New Belgium Brewing Company of the famous Fat Tire Amber Ale (and bicycle logo!) is hosting a daylong festival in San Diego’s Golden Hill Park to benefit nonprofit biking organizations. The festival begins with a costumed bike parade through the city, followed by a community party with comedy groups, artists, vaudeville, and bike contests. The finale is the the moment when one individual will trade in their car for a bicycle and commit to the two-wheel life—something Alchemy can definitely get behind!
We’re proud to know that some of the tire tubes being used to bike these events will someday come back to Alchemy’s workshop and be made into sustainable, fashionable bags and accessories that might even wind up back on the same trail or tour someday. We hope that this fall, all you Alchemists keep biking through the off season and contribute to important charities, hopefully at the same time!