The legendary Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx once said:
“Don’t buy upgrades, ride up grades”
Eddy understood what cycling is all about: it’s about having a laugh, turning the cranks, enjoying nature and being in good company.
Together with the non-profit organisation Shift Cycling Culture, I’m organising a nice ride on Sunday (May 2) to celebrate our love for cycling. If you’re in the Ericeira region and you like bikes— bring the bike you’ve loved for the longest (not the one that’s shiniest), and join us for Ericeira’s first clunkers ride. Let’s celebrate our love for cycling, not the bikes we own.
Join us! You can sign up below:
What’s a clunker ride?
2021 sees us in a unique position.
Due to the global pandemic, fast consumerism in cycling has lost its usual traction simply because supply can’t meet demand. Pretty much everything you want or need for your bike is hard to come by.
What if we use this unprecedented moment of scarcity as an opportunity for change, and celebrate it instead?
Celebrating scarcity means honouring the aged and pre-owned. Nurturing what you have instead of longing for that N+1 (bike talk for getting yet another bike). Cherishing the scratches on your bike, as they remind you of all the adventures you shared with it. And if your journey with it ends, it could do the same for someone else.
The best thing is: using your stuff longer also reduces your impact on the places you love to ride! One of the easiest ways to reduce your environmental impact is by using a product longer or extend its lifespan by sharing it with others.
Which bike should I bring?
To start with the formal definition— a clunker is
- a dilapidated vehicle or machine.
- a totally unsuccessful thing.
Maybe bring out a bike you haven’t used for a while but used to love. Or that beaten up city bike or rundown MTB. Or perhaps you just have one single bike that will become a future clunker at some point. See it as a mindset: looking differently at the bikes you own and how you treat them. Besides: don’t we all love cheering for the underdog?
Make sure it’s somewhat rideable— at least good enough so that it will last for the entirety of the ride. Worried that your bike might break down? Don’t be. I will bring plenty of tools with me for some roadside engineering, we’ll just all take a little coffee break.
When and where will this happen?
May 2
Meet at Foz do Lizandro at 13:30
Ride starts at 14:00
Ride ends with a beer at 16:00
On May 2nd, we’ll be riding a 30-40k ride around Ericeira, starting and ending at Foz do Lizandro, at a relaxed pace. Anyone can join.
We’ll start at 14:00 at the car park (the one with a view— Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/wEXaC2YQCBysS8ki7), and end around 16:00 at the boulevard at Foz do Lizandro. For those who want to join, we can get a beer at the take-away and hang out. Let’s support our local bars.
Want to join us? Please sign up at the bottom of this article, so that I know how many people I can expect.
Yes, that all sounds awesome. But what about COVID?
At the time of writing (April 26th), Portugal is doing an excellent job keeping COVID infections to a minimum. While the entirety of Europe is struggling with a third or fourth wave of COVID cases, Portugal has managed to control the big outbreak of last winter. That is fantastic, and we should do everything we can to keep it that way.
We’ll be planning the ride following Portuguese COVID restrictions. We’re in the third phase of lifting the COVID lockdown. That means that this ride is possible, but with some rules and regulations. Here are some rules for pre-ride, during the ride and post-ride:
Pre- and post-ride:
☐ Of course, we will continue doing what we’ve done for months now:
☐ We keep our distance.
☐ Bring and wear a face mask.
☐ We wash our hands frequently (I will bring hand gel)
☐ Cough/sneeze in your elbow
☐ We can have a beer at Foz do Lizandro, in groups of 6. If there are more than 6 attendants, we split our groups.
During the ride:
☐ Physical activity and outdoor training are allowed for groups of six people. If we have more than six people joining us, we split into two or more groups.
After the ride:
☐ We’ll end the ride at Foz do Lizandro. Same rules as pre-ride.
To sign up, please fill in the form below, so I know how many people I can expect:
Rules and restrictions sources:
☐ COVID-19 | Measures implemented in Portugal | www.visitportugal.com
☐ Desconfinamento: Avançar – Covid 19 estamos ON
