La Bikequerie pedals into cycling season
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It was sunny cycling weather for La Bikequerie’s season opening barbeque May 3 at its public shop on the east edge of Steinbach on Highway 52.
The kickoff was a chance to get the bikes out of storage and get free a tune-up and tutorial from a volunteer so cyclists can make their own minor repairs ahead of the first family bike jam group ride on May 18.
“We usually meet at the Jake Epp Library and go for an hour or two,” explained La Bikequerie founder and director Wade Wiebe.
There will be a family bike jam coordinated with Strong Towns Steinbach for anyone to join every third Sunday of the month. This is the third year the group rides are running.
“It’s a great way for young families especially to get out on the road so that young kids are out on the road safely with their parents and to experience cycling outside of their immediate neighbourhood,” said Wiebe.
“It’s actually a lot of fun.”
Routes can change every ride, so families get to see all the places they can cycle safely around Steinbach. When there are lots of kids, it usually involves a stop at a playground along the way.
This is the first year La Bikequerie will be helping new Canadians through Eastman Immigrant Services.
“We’re going to be teaching kids to ride bikes and how to set them up because they’re going to be receiving new bikes,” said Wiebe.
La Bikequerie volunteers will also be helping out with the inaugural Dawson Trek fundraiser for the Dawson Trail Museum in Richer. Cyclists will be riding the Dawson Trail from St Boniface to the ATV staging area east of Richer July 19.
“We’re going to be driving along with them and if there’s any technical issues or if people need quick supplies, repairs, flats, that kind of stuff,” explained Wiebe.
The repairs and instruction is something La Bikequerie has offered to anyone who needs it since 2023 every Tuesday in the spring, summer and fall from 6-9 p.m. at 36016 PTH 52.
It can be expanded to other days if more volunteers are found. Wiebe stressed you do not need to be an expert to volunteer and encourages anyone interested to reach out by emailing labikequerie@gmail.com or calling 204-346-1515.