20th Annual TCBC Swap Meet

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Saturday, April 1, 2023 
Buy, sell, or donate new or used bicycling gear

Please help us spread the word by distributing these Swap Meet 2023 flyers at your favorite locations:

https://biketcbc.org/wp-content/uploads/swapmeet-2023.pdf

The Scoop:

• We’ll be using White Bear Lake High School – South Campus at 3551 McKnight Rd, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. (enter at Main Entrance).

• Buy, sell, or donate new or used bicycling gear: ready-to-ride bikes; bicycle frames & component parts, tag-a-longs & trailers, accessories, cycling clothing & shoes, bicycling books & videos, etc.

• No admission, fees, or commissions are required.

• TCBC member volunteers are needed to assist the day of the event.

• Various non-profit organizations will be accepting donated bicycles, parts, or equipment.

• Join the Before/After the Swap Meet Rides (see schedule) and ride to or from the event.

For Buyers:

• This event is open to the public. Buyers do not need to be TCBC members.

• Bring cash for your purchases. It’s up to each seller’s discretion if they will accept personal checks.

• Be clear with each seller as to if your purchase is final or if they will accept returns or offer refunds.

• Request a business card or contact information from the seller if you think you may have questions about an item at a later time. TCBC will not be able to help you contact sellers after the event.

For Sellers:

• This event is fully funded by TCBC as a member benefit; therefore, all sellers must be current TCBC full-year (not 30-day temporary) members or sponsors.

  • A TCBC full-year membership can be purchased at the event for $30/year for an Individual (1 person), or for $45/year for a Household (2 or more persons at same address).

• Anyone who has purchased advertising or donated goods or services for TCBC events in the past year may also sell.  Pre-registration is not required but suggested to help us know how many tables and chairs to set up.

• All sales items must be bicycling related.

• Tables and chairs provided. Table location is available on a first-come-first-served basis. You may arrive at 10:00 AM to begin set up.

• You are responsible for the safety and security of all items brought to this event. Allow your items to be tested or leave them unattended only at your own risk.

• Please be respectful of the facility. All unsold items must be taken with you or accepted for donation at the end of the event.

• Clearly label each item. Include price, condition of the item (new, used, working, needs repair), and details (description, size, year purchased, miles / seasons ridden), and your name or initials

• Bring cash to make change for purchases. It’s up to your discretion if you will accept personal checks or other form of payment such as Venmo.

• Be clear with each buyer as to whether your sales are final or if you will accept returns or offer refunds.

• Consider bringing business cards with your name, e-mail, phone number, etc. in case a buyer has questions about an item at a later time.

For Non-Profits:

• Any bicycling related non-profit organization may request display space. Please contact us in advance at: swapmeet@biketcbc.org

• Sales of items benefiting your non-profit are permitted.

• Tables and chairs will be provided. Table location is available on a first-come-first-served basis. You may arrive at 10:00 AM to begin set up.

• You are responsible for the safety and security of all items brought to this event. Allow your items to be tested or leave them unattended only at your own risk.

The Fine Print:

• Neither the Twin Cities Bicycling Club (TCBC) nor the White Bear Lake schools are responsible for items damaged, lost, or stolen at this event. TCBC does not guarantee or endorse any products or services purchased or provided through this event. The quality and value of any goods represent the opinions of the individual sellers. No representation is made by TCBC regarding the accuracy or reliability of any information presented by the sellers. Neither TCBC, White Bear Lake schools, their members, sponsors or advertisers accept any liability for the consequences of using goods purchased at this event. Use goods purchased and advice received at your own risk.

• For further information, please contact the Swap Meet Chair, Linda Johnson at swapmeet@biketcbc.org or 651-295-1908

No, Kenny Rogers will not be on this ride but it will be a big gamble for me!  Will the early spring snow/rain fall predicted be dryed up or gone, will the wind gusts be as strong as predicted, will the inevitable pot holes be filled in or just filled in with water, will the temperature actually reach 50 degrees as predicted and will I actually be able to ride a low end "B" pace with a 28 mile distance?  Those are all some pretty big gambles, but I'm desperate to give it a try after this never ending winter.

This ride will use predominately Washington county roads but unfortunately there will be some city and possibly some rougher roads to get there.  It will use a lot of the same roads that Bob and Lyle recently used for their rides.  I will be using a hybrid bike with fenders or my old, heavier road bike.  Anyone wanting to rides faster or slower is welcome to do so.  I may be riding to the ride if I haven't gotten my bike rack on the car yet...

There are no restrooms at the ride start or break areas along the way but it is likely we may have to do some stopping for wardrobe adjustments, so plan accordingly.  The route link is 28 miles, but if needed you can shorten the distance to 23 miles by eliminating the Keystone/Lynch loop.  If the day does turn out to be super nice, I plan to ride a leisurely pace and enjoy being outdoors for an unbelievably late, almost first spring ride for this late start of the riding season.

This ride could be canceled, due to any of the above reasons.  Feel free to text me at 651-295-1908, if questionable.

All newsletter submissions are due today for the May-June 2023 newsletter!

Please make sure that your newsletter items have been submitted to Doug Nelson at newsletter@biketcbc.org

Thanks!

Join us for the very popular Withrow & Beyond Loop on Good Firday.  We have 2 route options 26 or 34 miles.  The ride is listed as "AB" and ride leader will be riding a "B" pace if still riding the mountain bike for the 26 mile loop. 

Please utilize the pre-registration tool and RWGPS Link for route information. 

Bring a lawn chair, beverages, and snacks for post ride social hour! 

If the weather is quetionable please watch your email for ride cancellation or updates on start times.  You must be registered for the ride to receive the email updates or check the forum for possible cancellation.   

See ride links below.  Please note that when you register for the ride and receive the email confirmation, the routes will be hyper-linked in the confirmation email. 

26 Mile Loop    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37166996

34 Mile Loop   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39270218

 THIS EVENT IS ONLY OPEN TO TCBC RIDE LEADERS

The Annual TCBC Ride Leader Forum will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m.with chat rooms open at 5:45 p.m.

Attendance is mandatory for all TCBC ride leaders who want to be on the active list for 2023. 

An email with complete details on signing up for the Zoom meeting was sent to all currently active ride leaders via the Ride Leaders: Official category of the TCBC Forum on March 17.  If you have not received it, please check your Spam folder in your email.  Alternatively, you can view the message by logging into the TCBC Forum.  Please register for the Zoom meeting as soon as you can or sign up for the video of it if you can't possibly attend.

If you are a trained TCBC ride leader who was not on the active list in 2022, but have led rides in the previous two years (since spring of 2020) and you want to lead rides in 2023, please send your reinstatement request to leaderliaison@bikeTCBC.org. We will then add you to the email list for the 2023 Ride Leader Forum on April 11. 

If it’s been more than three years since you’ve led a TCBC ride, you must take the training again. 

—Pete Hawkins, Patt Seleen, Shelby Miller; TCBC Ride Leader Liaisons and Trainers