happy post-mlk day!

Sorry about the procrastination, but I finally have some Women's Ride II pictures up here. Again, huge thanks to everyone who supported and/or came out! The next ride will most likely be Feb. 15th, but may change depending on a certain out of town trip.

I'm afraid this weekend might be kind of dead at Zombie Bikes. Joe and Cherri will be heading out to Bike! Bike! in Atlanta (this event brings together bike co-op members around the southeast and provides think-tanks and workshops galore). Brandon's going to Gainesville to interview with a certain bike builder, so wish him the best of luck!
However, Bert ought to be at the shop Sunday afternoon, so if you do find yourself in the need of a little Zombie affection stop by then! Also, we have a new regular volunteer, Mark, who'll be doing Wednesdays and some Saturday afternoons, and a somewhat-new, semi-regular volunteer, Davey.



PS An early reminder, but next Wednesday, JAN 28th will be the next workshop/movie date!
workshop will be 5:30-7:30
and movie begins at 8:30, this scheduled one being Bomb It!, a film about graffiti and the history of street art.

Week Recap and Midnight Mass Anniversary

We've had a great turnout this past week at our various events, and we owe some thanks. A huge thank-you to everyone who came out to Sunday afternoon's Women's Ride, including those who came just to see us off in support. We had a group of 28/30 women, sporting everything from tricked out cruisers to road bikes. At first I thought the rain might affect our turnout, but after drinks at Starlight, the clouds cleared for a great day. We did a quick stop at La Nop, followed by rides through downtown and back to riverside. As soon as someone posts up their pics, I'll repost here! Thanks again everyone!

Wednesday's workshop and movie night was also a great success. It was refreshing to see a lot of new faces, coming out despite the cold, proving there is a want for such options. For those who missed out, no worries we think this will become a staple Zombie event. A huge thanks to everyone who has mentioned our happenings in their blogs, including Jack, BikeJax, Tom P., Biggie Tea and Urban Jacksonville.


Tonight celebrates Midnight Mass' four year anniversary. For of those of you who aren't in the know, midnight mass is an urban bike ride that was started on a whim and has grown to become a weekly hang out bike ride. The meet up is Thursday nights at midnight at the Cummer Museum and involves stops at various local bars. In celebration of the rides' fourth year, we're going to have a shindig at Springfield's Shantytown Pub. Local psychobilly band (that never plays enough), Devil Runs the Truckstop, will be performing at 8pm along with elevated hip hop experience. Afterwards there'll be a ride out to the Cummer for the midnight ride. If you think you're not quite ready to brave a bike ride in tonight's freeze, come out to the earlier party at Shantytown and share drinks and music.


xoxo
ZBBC

Workshops! Movies! Bike RIdes!

First off, I hope everyone who reads this had a chance to go to January's art walk. The skate demo and skateboard art was absolutely amazing, and it was inspiring to see so much potential in this city. And for those of you who would like to see a more permanent urban skate arena check out the Skateplaza of Springfield. This is something I think really needs to happen, last night proved there are people interested and that we just need to see some better outlets.

But back to bikes,
and.. WORKSHOPS!

there will be two open workshops this month,
Wednesday, January 14th 5:30- 7:30
and again
Wednesday, January 28th 5:30- 7:30

this will become a regular thing, and topics to cover will be a whole mess of bike maintenance necessities; from the intro of replacing a tube to that messy business of derailers and truing wheels.

now, this isn't too say that individuals aren't more than welcome to come in for one-on-one guided repairs. Joe in particular is a fan of these, and his personal schedule is looking like tuesday and thursdays 1-6, but call/email to confirm. and remember, we are a co-op meaning donations or the willingness to swap volunteer time or wanted materials is a crux to how we work.

On both Jan. 14th and Jan. 28th, after the workshops will be movie nights!! I hope you haven't forgotten! These are free all the time for the awesomness of sharing good fun and meeting new people. Movies begin at 8:30, and for the 14th we've got BMX Bandits.. for the 28th we've got Bomb It!

annnnnnnndddddd
more stuff:

WOMEN'S RIDE IS THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 11TH! COME OUT AND SUPPORT!
a lazy, winding ride full of awesome people, some sweet music, drinks and debauchery

new zines have come in, and the library will be officially opened tomorrow late afternoon (like 5). I'm working on getting a myspace up for it, but in the mean time give Cherri a call at 904.307.2451 if you have any questions or are interested in selling/promoting/buying a zine (also often I tend to screen calls from unknown numbers, please please leave a message so I know you're a really important person to call back).

and finally, the ZBBC gang has had its first official meeting for the second Bury Your Bike weekend extravaganza. Things to look forward to will be zombie chases and scavenger hunts, sunday sixers and pbr, polo and pool hopping, bands and dj's, plenty of free food and just plain fun. Tentative dates are either April 24-26 or May 1-3. Plan accordingly.

hugs and kisses,
the ZBBC

holidaze update

Happy Holidays!

a big thank you to everyone who came out for the BBB Warehouse event!
Check out pictures here and here

and for some really good news, we were able to renew our lease for another year. Another year of low overhead, another year of great opportunity.

We've had some great events this past year, and you can be sure that we're going to be doing even more in 2009. Every week, we're meeting more people who're looking to get more involved as well as being introduced to people who're already doing some great stuff around town.


Upcoming News...

Bicycle Workshops!
Thanks to demand, there is one already scheduled for early January, which will include things such as what to look for in a quick check and some basic mechanics. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer mechanic, or just want to join in on a workshop email us at zombiebikes@gmail.com and we will work on getting a second workshop organized in the upcoming month.

January Movie Nights and Women's Ride part deux!
Come Out and Have Fun!



On January 23 through the 25, several of us will be heading to Atlanta to take part in Bike!Bike!, a regional gathering of bike shop members. Besides these dates, Zombie will have the following regular weekend hours: Friday afternoon, Saturday 1-5 and Sunday 1-5. Weekday hours will be a little more fluctuating, but count on someone being around tuesday and thursday afternoons.

Finally, look forward to Zombie Bikes hosting (what will start off as) a small zine distro. We've got some zines coming in, some racks need to be built and details need to be finished. But I'm hoping we will be able to pick up the radical literature outlet that was lost when heartworks and intertia closed their doors. If you write a zine, or know someone who does, again email us with the lowdown, we want to push good local stuff (and not just here, if you're local and you're good, we will support you when we go out of town for things such as bike!bike! and various other polo/alleycat/bike events).

come visit us!

hugs and kisses
from the ZBBC

Movie Night!!

schedules and bikes to be painted

alright, so far, the december schedule is going to be a little rough
definite days that we will be open are
Monday 11-late
Friday 1-5
Saturday 1-5

we still have some frames up for painting for the upcoming BBB, just head on up, if somebody at Zombie isn't here, go next door and the Burro Boys will help you out! Doesn't matter if you're an artist or just a dabbler, deadline to get it back is going to be the week of december 15th.

and we will be watching the movie Dark Days wednesday night at the shop!
8pm sharp!

hey all,

we still have two frames available to be painted by local artists or just those who like to dabble, deadline to have them back is going to be the week of the 15th




lastly, check out our myspace at http://www.myspace.com/zombiebikesjax
for some new photos of a recent field trip from a nearby afterschool program
and bike polo shots via Tisa

the women's ride

There have been some questions as to why I would be co-hosting a women’s ride and I think it’s important that I clarify why such an event is important and why I am a part of it.

As a biker in both Jacksonville and Philadelphia, I have had to deal with a lot of intimidation. The fixed gear community is a male majority. Going to bike shops both here and in Philadelphia, I’ve had to deal with a lot of shit from bike mechanics deciding I didn’t know what I wanted. A couple examples from Philly, when I first went in to have my polo bike set up, thinking it would be better to get a ‘professional’ to install the braking system, I had to go in three times before it was done how I wanted it, because the guys didn’t think I knew what I was doing with my brake set up. It took a lot for me to even begin playing bicycle polo in such a decidedly male messenger town. Most weeks I was the only girl, and it was a balancing act trying to assert that no, I wasn’t there to hook up with a “hot” messenger, that I just wanted to learn, but at the same time not coming off as a “bitch” and proving I could play. It was frustrating, and at least once I almost quit, but I loved playing so I kept going.

I don’t want Jacksonville to be that male-dominated biking town (and I’m not saying that it is). I don’t want other girls who’re getting into biking to face the same sort of stumbling blocks. I want to see chicks on every level of the biking community. Because biking is fun, it’s liberating and it’s a great form of transportation. I’ve talked to a lot of people (not just girls) who have told me they don’t like doing the weekly Jax ride known as ‘midnight mass’ because they feel intimidated, because their bike isn’t “cool” enough, that they don’t feel comfortable in the mostly male, cliquish, environment. It’s become a somewhat macho thing.

Well Aimeee and I are establishing alternatives rides. We want everyone to feel included, with also a possibly more convenient time. The first step is going to be this women’s ride. We want to see every type of bike there, from cruiser to bmx. We want women to feel included, no judging, just fun.

After this ride there will be more, and not gender inclusive. This is just the beginning and we are looking forward to hosting a series of just fun, themed rides in the near future. So if you’re a boy, keep your eyes out; if you’re a girl who couldn’t make it to this one, keep aware. Jacksonville can be a sweet biking town with an inclusive bike community. But nothing happens overnight, and this is just a step, one we hope in the right direction.

Also, just a post note. I am not saying that midnight mass is a horrible ride, I’ve gone several times and it is fun. I apologize if this reads like I’m attacking anything/anyone, that is not my intention. For events/movements/etc. to be successful, one has to constantly question why, and improve upon things found lacking. There can be more than one ride; there can be more than one group.

<3 Cherri