$15 from every rack sale will support World Bicycle Relief !

At Saris, we believe that the bicycle can enhance the quality of life for people throughout the world. This belief is shared by World Bicycle Relief (WBR), who is committed to getting bikes in the hands of students, health care workers and entrepreneurs across rural regions of Africa. WBR bicycles provide access to independence and livelihood while also creating numerous economic opportunities for members of their programs’ communities.

With common beliefs in the power of the bicycle, Saris and World Bicycle Relief are working to raise funds and help continue to support WBR’s efforts. We have designated our Red Bones Rack as our new World Bicycle Relief Bones, and will donate $15 from every rack sale to help WBR.

In addition to encouraging commuters to go to work and school by bike, National Bike Month shines a spotlight on the benefits of bicycling and the importance of safe bike routes.

By Jereme Noffke, Saris Parking Sales Manager

• Find your route. If you're a first time commuter grab a local bike map from a local shop or use Google's "bike there feature." If you're not sure about the route, drive the route one day to work or test the route out on a weekend by bike to see if you are conformable with the traffic volumes and shoulder space on the route of your choice.  
• Needing showers to commute to work is one of the largest myths. 
  • A good personal hygiene kit, action wipes (baby wipes), and a travel size towel will go a very long way! Besides, if you show up to enough meetings smelling like a men's locker room, they are bound to put shower facilities in at some point.
  • It's not a race. If you enjoy your time riding into work at a causal pace and don't work up a sweat, there will be less need to shower.
  • Try commuting in street clothes, it puts a more relaxing spin on your ride, you don't feel the need to go fast. You might enjoy your commute a little bit more.

Iowa Student to be recognized at 2013 National Bike Summit

Over 2,500 individuals from around the country voted to choose the winner for this year's National Poster Contest. Isabell Gehrt, a fifth grader from West Bend-Mallard Elementary in Iowa, was selected as the winner of the second annual poster contest, which was held in partnership with bicycle advocacy groups nationwide to raise bicycle awareness.

Isabell will be flown to Washington D.C. for the 2013 National Bike Summit to celebrate bicycling and be recognized for her thoughtful art work.

"Iowa is such a great state for bicycling, and to ensure it remain that way it's important for kids to learn good, safe, and practical bicycling behaviors early on in life," said Iowa contest coordinator Nick Sobocinski. "The Saris Poster Contest really helps emphasize all the great ways in which a bicycle can be fun and rewarding, and to encourage kids to ride regularly."

More than 6,300 students from 25 different states participated in the contest by submitting posters centered on the theme "Bicycling takes me places!" Winners were also selected at the state level. Each will receive a bike, bike light, and helmet. The National Winning School will receive bike parking for 20 bikes and The Hub, a web based system that tracks and encourages active transportation.

"Over the past 20 years in the bike industry I have seen the bicycle positively change the lives of many individuals as well as communities," explained SCG President Chris Fortune. "We have already witnessed the tremendous impact this contest can have on our youth. It is one way we're able to engage kids to think about and become more aware of the bicycle and its many beneficial uses. We are hopeful this contest will encourage fifth graders to ride their bikes more frequently, and we are hopeful it will help shape lifelong, healthy active lifestyles."