Alan Snel is pedaling his butt off as a bike messenger of sorts. His message is a huge placard he carries on his bicycle that promotes Sunday's Bicycle Bash in Tampa.
Alan explains on his blog, Bike Stories, that he's the marketing director for Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium and Oliver's Cycle Sports bike stores in Tampa. He must be the director of a staff of one, or maybe he just saves all the plum assignments for himself.
For at least a month, he's been pedaling out to bicycling and other events where people congregate around the Tampa-St. Pete area to display the “Bash Board.” That's Alan above, getting coverage from the local Fox affiliate. The sign promotes the Bicycle Bash, 1-5 p.m. Sunday in the plaza at the St. Pete Forum. The bike stores are sponsoring the event.
Alan says he bicycles anywhere from 15 to 85 miles a day with the Bash Board and has probably covered about 1,000 miles since last month.
The Board
The board itself is made of two 4X4 coated cardboard panels mounted on a grid of plastic piping. The board is attached to a kid trailer with pipes sticking into handlebar and seat tubes.
Looking at pictures of it online, my first question is, “How does it handle in the wind?”
“The crosswinds are very tricky,” Alan writes. “I have to lean the bike into the direction of the crosswind to keep it steady. I have a very good feel for the road now, but every now and then a gust will push me where I don't want to go. That's why I need to be on top of that rig at all times and not daydream to keep it steady. But there have been no accidents — just lots of smiles, thumbs up and curious gazes.
“But when I get a tail wind, look out! The thing takes off and I easily surpass 20 mph.”
The Bash
The Bicycle Bash provides an opportunity to bicyclists to come together and celebrate their love of bicycling. A bike stunt demonstration is planned, and all types of bicycles will be on display — low-riders, BMX, classic bikes. People will be on hand to accept visitors' old junked bikes in return for the chance to win a new one.
In addition, the Bash is giving away 10 kids' bikes and 5 mountain bikes; Trek is handing out 1,000 water bottles. The Sheriff's department will give away free helmets during a bike rodeo.
Alan writes on his blog:
“We bicyclists have to show that our communities' quality of life goes up when our towns are a great place to ride a bicycle; that our property values go up; that our transportation headaches are remedied; and that our collective health gets better every time we pedal a revolution on our bikes.”
It sounds like Alan will continue to disseminate this message, even after the Bicycle Bash is over.
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