TC Bike Life: Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith is not your average licensed sales agent dude. A native of Milford, Kansas and graduate of McPherson College, Kyle moved to Traverse City three and half years ago to work at Hagerty Insurance. He plays the guitar and ukelele. He fixes old cars and trucks. And he rides bikes. A lot. Kyle not only races for Hagerty Cycling but enjoys getting around Traverse City on his bicycles year round.

“I love getting around town on a bike because the places I need to go most of the time are within biking distance, so it’s easier! Not having to worry about parking is another bonus for me.” Kyle‘s favorite bike destinations are to Maxbauers, Einstein Cycles, Breakaway Cafe, and Good Harbor coffee.

 

Kyle has a few pro winter bike tips:

• Be prepared! Having a reliable bike, making enough time for the trip, and having a backup plan are all important.
• Studded tires for winter commuting keep him rolling and stopping safely.  He uses his commute to practice good riding habits like looking ahead on corners, body positioning, and cadence.
• Good lights. It is worth it to be seen. Lights are expensive, but he states that you won’t know the value of good lights until it’s too late. Be seen, be safe.

Awesome stuff. Thanks, Kyle!

You can follow his adventures on Instagram at @straightoutofkansas

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TC Bike Life is a story series featuring ordinary people doing ordinary things on their bicycles in Traverse City aims to create awareness for the growing presence of people on bicycles in Traverse City, one story at a time.

Like to ride bikes in Traverse City? We’d love to tell your story too! Click HERE to answer a few short and easy Qs.

Email us hello@elgruponorte.org for more details.

 

Bike Valet Coming To The Traverse City Film Festival

With generous support from our friends at Higher Grounds Trading Co., we are thrilled to provide bike valet parking at this year’s Traverse City Film Festival.

No need to deal with traffic or stress out about where to park the car. Our centrally located, TART Trail-side bike valet at the Bijou is convenient, easy, fast, secure and awesome.

Perfect not only for Bijou film goers but also a lovely “Bike & Stroll” experience for those going to The State, Opera House, The Woz at Indigo Hotel or The Open Space. It’s no more than a 5 minute walk from the bike valet to all of these TCFF venues!

Dates/Times: 7/26 – 31. Opens at 8a. Closes at 11p.

Location: At the amazing Bijou by the Bay on the TART Trail in beautiful Clinch Park.

How It Works:

1. Ride your bike down to the Bijou.
2. Give us your bike and we’ll give you one of our snazzy Pokemon turned valet stub. Put the Pokemon in your pocket. Don’t lose it.
3. Stroll to your film venue. We’ll watch your bike. So have fun. Don’t worry.
4. Return to the valet. Give us your Pokemon. Get your bike back.
5. Pedal on down to Higher Grounds in the Village for a free daily brew. Did you know Coast, HG’s seasonal summer blend which benefits Norte!, is the official coffee of the TCFF? Awesome, right?
6. Share your bike-y Traverse City Film Festival adventures with #BikeTCFF

We’re looking for some awesome people to help volunteer at the valet. Sign up for a short but sweet and super fun shift HERE.

Bike Happy. Bike Mas. Bike TCFF.

A Downtown TC Art Bike Redo

 

While a steady, all afternoon rain is wonderful for the garden it’s not so great for an Art Bike but no biggie. We’re calling a redo for this Sunday.

In partnership with the Downtown District Association, TBA Credit Union and The Little Fleet, we are very very excited to host Traverse City’s first ever Art Bike.

Like the famous Downtown Art Walk except on bikes, of course.

Meet your Norte! guide at the American Legion Park (Cass & Washington) this Sunday, July 24th at 4pm for a short but sweet and awfully slow tour of the 12 Detroit Institute of Arts’ reproductions. We will ride bikes downtown . We will appreciate some very cool public art. We will celebrate  a well-biked tour at The Little Fleet afterwards.

All ages FUN! You should probably come.

There is even an opportunity to win a #downtowntc gift certificate, TBA Credit Union gift basket and very cool hand painted bike sign just for joining us!

Map of the Art Bike route HERE.

Learn more about Detroit Institute of Arts’ Inside/Out program HERE.

More TC Art Bike info HERE.

Email hello@elgruponorte.org with questions.

Eat Local. Bike Local: The Sara Hardy Farmers Market Bike Valet Is Back

Norte! is stoked to be back for a third season at the amazing Sara Hardy Farmers Market. Our bike valet keeps pedaling Saturday market goers awesome by providing free rock star parking.

No need to stress about where to park the car. Our Bike Valet is convenient, easy and fast. And again, FREE.

Here’s How It Works:

1. Ride your bike down Union and meet us in our usual spot on the west side of the market.

2. Give us your bike and we’ll give you one of our snazzy Pokemon turned valet stub. Put the Pokemon in your pocket. Don’t lose it.

3. Go shop the market. Buy some yummy, local, healthy food. We’ll watch your bike. Don’t worry.

4. Return to the valet. Give us your Pokemon and get your bike back. Stow your fruits/veggies/flowers in your panniers, trailer, bike basket, trailer, backpack or whatever.

5. Pedal home and give yourself a pat on the back for going by bike and helping Traverse City be a little bit more awesome.

HUGE thank you Traverse City’s Downtown District Association and Tamarack Holdings for sponsoring our  2016 bike valet!

Learn more about Tamarack Holdings, a passionate group of professionals leading a family of businesses who are successfully reimagining the food and beverage business one bite at a time, HERE.

Learn more about Traverse City’s DDA and all their awesomeness (there’s a lot of awesome, folks!) HERE.

Email us with questions at hello@elgruponorte.org

Eat local. Bike local. See you Saturday morning.

Traverse City Bike Month Is Coming

Traverse City Bike Month is a #BikeTVC celebration of people on bicycles.

In collaboration with many other bicycle-friendly organizations and businesses, Norte! will be celebrating National Bike Month in a big, big way this year.

We will ride bikes. A lot. We will also build awareness for the growing presence of people on bicycles here in TC and have tons of FUN doing it. Mucho FUN, actually!

The TC Bike Month Calendar

May Day Ride + Kick off party @ The Filling Station (5/1)

#BikeTVC Strava Doodle Art Contest starts (5/2)

Bike Night @ the Bijou (5/3)

TC Bikes To School Day (5/4)

Estrellas @ March For Babies (5/7)

Bike The Downtown Farmers Market (5/7)

Mud, Sweat & Beers Race @ Mt. Holiday (5/7)

Mom’s Day MTB Shred @ Vasa Singletrack (5/8)

Lids On Kids @ F&M Park (5/14)

Shop Your Local Bike Shop Day (5/14)

Community Bike Fix @ Recycle-A-Bicycle (5/14)

TC Safe Routes To School Champion Awards nominations open (5/16)

Envision 8th Street: Bike to public input events (5/16, 5/18, 5/20)

Ride of Silence with Cherry Capital Cycling Club (5/18)

#BikeBLT: Bike to Boardman Lake Trail open house @ Hagerty Center (5/19)

Kids vs Adults: A National Bike To Work Day/Bike To School Friday Smack Down (5/20)

Bike Your Co-op: Pedal to Earth Day North @ Oryana (5/21)

A Muy Fabuloso “Bike To Bus To Asparagus Festival” Adventure (5/21)

#BikesBikesBikes at Groundwork Center’s Get Local Party @ The Little Fleet (5/21)

Spring Pumpkin Pedal @ Jolly Pumpkin (5/22)

Bike The NMC BBQ (5/22)

TC Rides: A slow, chit chatty community ride  (5/25)

Zeke Goodwin Memorial Ride and Scholarship fundraiser @ Eastern Elementary (5/27)

Bike Happy, TC: A Pop-up Ding, Wave and High Five Shindig (5/29)

Stay up to date and don’t miss out on any of the FUN! by subscribing to our events HERE.