September 30: Year of the Trail Celebration at Salisbury Community Park 10 am - 2pm. We'll have a tent set up with all our usual suspects: free bike safety checks, basic repair services, and skill building opportunities. Not sure if your bike is trail ready? Bring it on by and we'll let ya know. Join us for guided beginner friendly rides on the newest section of mountain bike trail. This flowy and fun section is just under a mile long and a perfect place to get acquainted with mountain biking. Rides leave our tent at 11 am, 12 pm, and 1 pm.
October 14: Let's Ride, Rowan! at Spencer Town Hall. Free basic bike repair, obstacle and skills course, and learn to ride for all ages. Bring your bike or borrow one of ours (limited supply). Helmets required and will be given to anyone who needs one.
October 27: Witches Ride What's more fun than a giant group of witches rolling through town?? A giant group of witches rolling through the Witches Dance Bizarre Bazaar, then enjoying some social time at the shop afterwards. We might even have smores. Free to ride, snacks by donation.
October 29: Bowlathon Fundraiser Another great opportunity to dress up and show out, with friends! Teams of 5 are encouraged to sign up to participate in our bowling fundraiser at Woodleaf Lanes. Business teams receive a sponsor banner. $25 per person, funds support TPF programs. Costume contest, door prizes, raffle items and probably the coolest T shirts in town. Contact Bob or Sharon to sign up!
There's plenty more to come as we head towards the holiday season. For now, enjoy the changing season and come see us at the shop. We're booked out for 3 weeks with folks scheduled to earn bikes. The need is great and our output is nonstop. However, some inward revenue flow would really help us out. Come to the fundraiser, buy a T-shirt, make a one time or recurring donation. Show support if you're able because we begin to hit a critical point this time of year. Thanks, and happy riding!
]]>SEPT. 9: 9 am - 12 pm LET'S RIDE, ROWAN! Free community bike event featuring a learn to ride session, free basic bike repair and safety checks, bike rodeo/obstacle course, and family group ride. DAN NICHOLAS PARK
SEPT 14-16: BIKEWALK NC ANNUAL SUMMIT: This event is in Salisbury this year! Hosted at Catawba College, the summit features speakers and discussions, bike clinics and more with a focus on creating safer streets and healthier, more equitable communities for all road users. TPF will host a Summit Social at the shop on Sept 15 from 6-8 pm. Food trucks, New Sarum, discussion, music and videos highlighting our work along with work of other community shops and Bikewalk NC. Don't miss this awesome opportunity! Link to attend here: BIKEWALK SUMMIT
SEPT 16: RIDE TO THE RIVER 2 pm / 2:45 pm Our annual ride celebrating Creek Week in Rowan County. We'll depart TPF at 2 pm and head to Spencer Town Hall. Leg 2 departs Spencer Town Hall at 2:45 pm bound for the newly opened Rowan Trailhead at River Park. Once there, enjoy music, food, beverages and more. We'll ride back at 5:30 and we'll have a temporary bike lane in place from Spencer Town Hall to River Park!! Shuttles may be available based on space for bikes. More INFO HERE and FB event link HERE
SEPT 30: YEAR OF THE TRAIL CELEBRATION: We'll come together at Salisbury Community Park to celebrate all things TRAILS! Y'all know we love trails and we're excited to share this awesome event with Parks & Rec and other agencies dedicated to promoting trails. We'll offer bike safety checks and provide guided trail rides for beginners and intermediate riders. Learn to love riding a bike on the trails! More info HERE.
OCT 14: 9 am - 12 pm LET'S RIDE, ROWAN! Another opportunity for bike lessons, safety checks, obstacle course and family ride. This installment is at Spencer Town Hall, serving all our friends in the northern part of the county! Free and open to all. We'll have bikes to borrow but bring your own if possible. Helmet giveaway for those in need!
OCT 28: 6 pm - WITCHES RIDE! It's back this year! Get witchy with us. We'll ride our bikes (brooms!) as a group towards Chestnut Hill Cemetery, then take a spooky tour through the historic district on our way back to the shop. Approx 4-5 miles roundtrip w stops, no drop ride) All ages - all levels! Borrow a bike if needed, just let us know ahead of time! Best dressed witch, scariest and funniest witches will be awarded prizes. PLUS - Post ride fun at the shop!
OCT 29: 7 pm- BOWLATHON It's time for our annual FUNdraiser at Woodleaf Lanes. Teams and individuals are welcome - costume contest - door prizes - raffles - SO MUCH FUN! Help us raise some money and have fun doing it. More info coming soon. Contact Woodleaf Lanes to get registered.
]]>Now, its officially summer and we've got plans. First, we'll be partnering with Parks & Rec to kick off our first summer camp next week. Look for us rolling around town!
Next we'll offer the first of several "Let's Ride, Rowan!" events. These free community events are designed to increase riding, safety and awareness. We'll have balance bikes for beginners, a bike rodeo and safety check for seasoned riders, bike repair on site, and a family friendly group ride. The first event is downtown at Essie Academy. From 9 am to 12 pm, we'll offer lessons, repairs, rides and helmets to those in need. Please join us - or, come out and help us! All you need is a good attitude.
We'll be out and partnering with several other summer camps to provide biking activities in the coming months. During summer, we're hoping to plan a few fun bike ride outings as well. Keep riding with Sharon and the crew on Sundays - most of these Sunday rides will take place in the morning hours to beat the summer heat.
As always, stay safe, wear a helmet, ride your bike. Keep tagging us in those bike pics so we can share with our community! Peace y'all, have a great summer.
]]>We are opening the shop on first and third Saturdays beginning May 6th. Join us at the shop from 12-4 PM May 6th and 20th - tune up your ride or find the gear you need to be safe out there! We have lights, locks, tool bags, helmets and more in stock.
We've also got some great community ride opportunities coming up. Join us for Rowan Moves "Choose your own adventure" ride on May 12th at 5:30. We'll take a 8-10 mile greenway cruise and likely stop along the way for refreshments. Then Sunday May 14th (Yes, Mothers Day!) join us for a community ride from Yadkin River Park to Boones Cave. This ride will help a young cyclist and Rowan Rockhound meet his Scout cycling merit badge requirements - all are invited! Route approx 22 miles.
Check out the Bike Month punch card - we've got them at the shop! Visit a local business by bike and get your card initialed. Once you've visited 5 places, turn in your card for a prize and a chance at our end of bike month grand prize!
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Beyond that, the first quarter of the year has been spent coaching our Rowan Rockhounds mountain bike team. It's a lot of time and energy, but this group is so fun and really have come together as a team this year. We were bummed that our local race at SCP was cancelled due to unfortunate weather. We have 4 more races happening around the state before the end of May.
Other news - we're deep into planning the 2nd annual Spring Roll! Join us June 3rd for a fun street party fundraiser. We're changing a few things up to make it more accessible and showcase what we do! Our goal is a carnival style atmosphere for celebrating bikes, family fun and maybe some good old fashioned competition in the form of contests and an alleycat ride/race.
Before that, we'll kick off the season of riding with BIKE MONTH! Read all about it here. Check out our Sunday social rides and join in the fun. Prizes will be given all month long to cyclists who participate.
Last, many have asked about Summer Camp. We're partnering with the city of Salisbury this year and we couldn't be happier! They're handling registration and a whole lot more, making our job way less stressful! Expect the same fun, community-oriented vibe and energy. Lunch is provided daily and camps run Mon-Thurs. Campers should have a bike that works properly, be able to start, stop and ride without training wheels, and must wear a helmet.We'll have two weeks available this summer for elementary and middle schoolers. Stay tuned for possible family tour camp events later on! Register for camp RIGHT HERE.
]]>We were able to provide 3 school programs in 2022 - including two sessions at Salisbury Academy and one at Overton Elementary. Partnering with Salisbury Pediatrics and Healthy Rowan, we hosted one learn to ride event, Let's Ride Rowan at Community Care Clinic. Summer brought 4 weeks of camp this year - two elementary camps, one middle school and one teen tour camp. The Woodson Foundation again supported our camp programming, allowing us to make this experience accessible to more kids through reduced cost and free tuition. The Rowan County Health Dept. also sponsored three students at camp. Once again, our community partners stepped up to help provide activities and fun, which included visits to Eaman Park Pool, Happy Roots gardens, Soful Yoga, various city parks, the YMCA, and Rijks Strength and Performance. We love riding bikes in the summer and are busy thinking of ways to keep kids engaged (and safe), and mix things up a bit in 2023 - stay tuned for updates!
As we moved into fall this year, we hosted team builds with Daimler and Novant. Each of these incredible companies helped assemble children's bikes through our corporate team build program, allowing us to continue giving high quality refurbished bicycles to youth in our area. Again, we are beyond grateful for the amazing support. This was our THIRD year at Daimler. They've now donated $11,000 to our shop through direct donations and team build events since 2020. They're a class act company and we love visiting each year.
2022 saw us extend our reach a little farther, as we committed to supporting trail building and maintenance efforts at Salisbury Community Park. By partnering with the city of Salisbury, we'll be working on behalf of all trail users to keep the trails maintained, a task the city just doesn't have the manpower to accomplish. The city doesn't pay for this work; it's done by volunteers for the betterment of our community. This is another volunteer activity and we need all the help we can get. Consider joining us for a trail workday in 2023! Our work on the trails happens, in part, because a number of us are dedicated mountain bikers. As we look to connect more folks with bikes, we have taken on a role within the NCICL, or NC Interscholastic Cycling League, to support and coach an area youth mountain bike team. The Rowan Rockhounds began the season this month, and will continue into spring of 2023. This is our second season of involvement and we've taken on a larger role this time. With five board members coaching and directing the team, it's a group effort and a labor of love. We successfully raised $5000 this year, which was matched by the Outride Fund to support the team. Nearly all funding towards this matching grant again came from local businesses and individuals. Consolidated Truck Parts and Skinny Wheels Bike Shop stepped up as major sponsors, with Audramatic Cleaning, The Forum, Beebe's Tire, Rijk's Strength and Performance, NC Transportation Museum, Codist Creative and Ritchies Steamway Carpet Cleaning supporting the effort as well. This money has covered several rider and coach scholarships, will pay for team uniforms and gear, and travel expenses. In addition, four local youth were awarded Trek Pathfinder scholarships through Trek Bikes and the National Interscholastic Cycling League. This program, aimed at bringing more diversity and people of color into the sport of mountain biking, gave four local young men new bicycles, helmets, clothing and gear to be fully outfitted for a season of riding and racing. For most of these student athletes, it's their first opportunity to visit the trails, though each ride daily for transportation. We'll be posting regular updates on the progress of the season, and invite all to join us at Salisbury Community Park March 19 to cheer on our Rockhounds as they compete locally.
Beyond the bikes we've donated through the Earn a Bike program, we continued to offer our workshop space to the public for repair and bike maintenance. This is another area we can truly use volunteers, so if you'd like to help wrench on bikes, hit us up! We need you! Drop off repairs and used bike sales continued this year as well, helping us bring in necessary income while continuing our mission of bike accessibility. Our community has kept us supplied with quality used bikes, as we couldn't do any of this without this generosity.
As we reflect on the year, know that The Pedal Factory is what YOU make it! We're a community bike center, so we focus on the needs and wants of our community. We'll continue our Earn a Bike program indefinitely, and tweak other programs based on feedback and funding. It's our pleasure to share our love of bikes and get more of our town on two wheels. Want to see us do something different? Help us out by volunteering and getting involved. Our doors are open to everyone (as long as you're not a disruptive jerk...haha) and we're waiting for you to bring your thoughts and ideas!
Wishing each of you a happy holiday full of love, peace and hopefully a bike ride or two. We'll be taking a break from 12/27-12/29, and will use the first two weeks of January to clean, inventory, repaint floors, and tweak procedures for the year. Thanks again to everyone who has supported The Pedal Factory in any way - from giving bikes to giving time or money - just giving kindness and positivity - we appreciate you! Happy Holidays.
]]>Check out what's happening at the shop this holiday season. We've got plenty of fun, family friendly rides and events going on, plus we're open for shopping and repairs as always.
Join us for our "All Mixed Up" second Sunday group ride on 11/13. This ride starts and ends at The Pedal Factory and is open to anyone capable of riding up to 6 miles on mixed surfaces. We're finalizing the route but expect to spend time on the road, on unpaved surfaces, and enjoy some fun bike games on grass. We're opening this ride to the community but hope to see lots of youth interested in joining the Rowan Rockhounds, our local youth mountain bike team. Following the ride we'll have hot chocolate and snacks at the shop.
Tis the Season to ride in a parade, as well. We're inviting EVERYONE to join The Pedal Factory in the Tis the Season Spectacular on November 23. Meet at the shop to decorate bikes (we will have some decorations - bring your own if you have stuff), or meet us at the start in Spencer or at the start of the Salisbury section. The parade is SLOW and festive but there is a section between Spencer and Salisbury where you'll need to pick up the pace.
Speaking of Spencer...December brings WINTERFEST!! This year, we'll be at the charity tent doing basic bike safety checks, selling some merch, including cute crafty upcycled ornaments, and leading rides. Plan to visit Winterfest and be sure to say hi to us. Here's the schedule:
Dec 2: 4 pm - 8 pm Bike Safety Checks available / Merch and Crafts
Dec 3: 12- 8 pm : We'll be stationed at our tent and available for safety checks. SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS ride at 6 pm! Join us for an all levels cruise around Spencer to check out the holiday lights. Helmet and front/rear lights required. Get festive and decorate your bike in lots of lights also.
Dec 9: 4-8 pm: We'll be at the charity tent all night. Demos and winter riding tips at 6 pm.
Dec 10: 12-8 pm: DO DAH KIDS PARADE! Meet at our tent to decorate kids bikes, scooters, and wagons. We'll enjoy a parade just for the little ones. Parade lineup starts at 1:45 so come see us and decorate beforehand.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS ride - 6 pm. Enjoy another festive cruise through town to see the holiday lights. Be sure to light yourself up as well. Helmets required.
]]>Before we close for vacation, we'll host an OPEN SHOP SATURDAY! From 1 pm - 5 pm on Aug 27th, the shop will be open for shopping and repairs. ALL REFURBISHED BIKES are $25 off, plus we'll be selling as-is frames and bikes at bargain prices. We've got brand new cycling jerseys for $5, plenty of used gear and accessories.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
8/27 1 - 5 pm : SHOP SALE and Open Shop Saturday
9/24 4:45 pm: Ride to the River for Rowan Creek Week. Meeting at Spencer Town Hall, plan to roll promptly at 4:45. Round trip is about 6 miles.
10/9 10 am: Biketober Tour Ride- A ride past the homes and sites of OctoberTour, starts at TPF and ends at the Bank St. activities where we'll set up a booth. Family friendly / all levels ride.
10/30 7 pm: BOWLATHON at Woodleaf Lanes. This fundraiser is back after 2 years and it's gonna be better than ever. Help us raise funds for the shop - $25/person. Gather a team of 5 friends/family/coworkers and have a ball with us. Costume contest and prizes galore.
DECEMBER: Winterfest In Spencer! We are the charity partner and we're so thrilled and excited. Get ready for two weekends of awesome winter fun. We'll have rides, workshops and upcycled bike part ornaments and wreaths for sale, plus DIY crafts and a bike parade for the kiddos. Stay tuned!
]]>June 20-24 Elementary Camp / SHOP CLOSED!
June 28- 30 Regular Hours Tues/Wed/Thurs 12-6
July 4-8 SHOP CLOSED - STAFF VACATION
July 11- 15 Middle School Camp - WE WILL OFFER REGULAR SHOP HOURS
July 25-29 Tour Camp
]]>We're looking ahead as always and summer is coming up quick. Bike Camp is our effort to share the joy and freedom of two wheeled travel with young people. This year we have FOUR weeks of camp to choose from: all are geared (pun intended...) to specific age groups and riding abilities. The general agenda is pretty similar for each week - ride your bike a lot and have fun! We focus on safety, confidence building, and healthy living. During the week, campers will use bikes as transportation to fun local parks and pools, learn how to fuel their bodies with nutritious food and hydration, and gain new skills and friendships. Most days include crafts or mechanical lessons as well.
BEGINNER CAMP: JUNE 6-10 Suited for elementary students with less experience riding a two wheeler. Mileage per day is 5 miles or less, with plenty of breaks and skill building opportunities.
ADVANCED ELEMENTARY CAMP: JUNE 20-24 A week full of action for enthusiastic young riders. We'll average 8 miles per day with plenty of fun stops along the way, and a focus on advanced skill building and bike handling.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP: JULY 11-15 Daily rides from 8-12 miles, focus on safety, using bikes as transportation, building confidence through skills and learning opportunities, with lots of chances to make new friends and learn about healthy living.
TOUR CAMP: July 26-30 Calling all motivated middle and high schoolers! We'll be boarding the Amtrak and combining train and bike travel! Three overnights, 5 full days of FUN! Includes all meals during camp, backpack and fully supported with SAG vehicle.
BIKE FUN DAYS: These are fun one day opportunities to ride and explore! We plan to combine bike riding, games on and off the bike, pool time, picnic lunches and more. The dates are: July 1, 22 (Elementary Age) and July 9 (pre-teen/teen).
NEW THIS YEAR: JULY 2 - Middle School/High School OFF-ROAD edition of bike fun day. We will meet at an area park for some mountain biking fun, featuring riding, skills, lunch, games and more. A whole day of outdoor exploration on and off the bike. Stay tuned for details - if you like the trails, you'll have a blast!
]]>Already purchased tickets? You're awesome. Thank you. Show up at the event and enjoy yourself.
Need tickets? No problem! Click HERE and grab your spot!
Here's what we've got in store for our guests:
We'll be closing down the 300 block of East Council St around 4 pm Saturday.
Upon arrival, look for the registration table where you’ll check in and get your tickets for the ride, food, drinks, dessert, and raffle. SPONSORS receive T-shirts and backpacks as well.
Alleycat Scavenger Hunt Ride: Check in begins at 5 pm, roll out by 5:30. You’ll receive a Cue Sheet, sign a waiver, have a basic bike safety check, and then take off to gather clues at some nearby downtown destinations. Most are within walking distance but a bike is definitely more fun! Get to every stop and receive a special finisher’s prize.
As you return from the ride, you’ll enjoy the sounds of Billie Feather and the Hello Darling Jazz Trio, who take the stage at 6 pm. Park your bike, grab a drink, and relax!
Grab your included dinner from either Yummi Banh Mi or Slice’s Diggity Dogs, then enjoy entertainment from the Chain Reaction BMX Stunt Show at 6:45. These guys are going to show us just how far a bike can take you!
All evening long, we’ll have a kids fun zone with crafts, games, face painting and more. New Sarum will pour up their best brews and we’ll have wine available as well. Each adult ticket holder gets TWO beverages, with an option to purchase two more tickets. Non-alcoholic options will be available also.
Abstract Dissent will show some graffiti skills as he live-paints during the event. His art will be featured in our soon to be renovated back patio area!
Divided by Four takes the stage at 7:30, so wear your dancing shoes! These guys always bring a good time with them, and we’re so excited to have them as our headline band.
Following all entertainment, we’ll draw our raffles and auction off a couple cool bikes. We’ve got generous raffle items, including a night and two meals provided by Across the Pond Bed and Breakfast, dinner from Texas Roadhouse, art by Shannon Quick, and more.
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February is almost here - time to get busy cleaning up for spring and time to host our annual black history month ride. Feb 5th warm up in the shop with us for a breakdown party! We have a lot of inventory to cull through - many bikes that need to be broken down for usable parts. We've got everything needed including warm beverages for our volunteers. All service = shop credit towards used bikes and parts!
Stay warm and toasty at home with your love for a Valentine's Concert by Destiny Stone - coming at you virtually from TPF. Feb 11th Destiny and band will set up a stage and share some sweet sounds. Support this amazing vocalist by grabbing your tickets HERE.
We'll come together again at the shop Feb 27th at 2:30 for our Black History Month Ride - set off on an educational ride where we'll enjoy guest speakers stationed around town. Among our guests this year are artists, teachers, musicians, leaders, activists and creators, each with a unique story and perspective.
Our BIG announcement is THE SPRING ROLL!! Mark your calendar now for this unique, one of a kind fundraising event, set for April 30th. We'll have a biking component for ALL ages and abilities - where everyone's a winner - and we'll follow that up with a street festival featuring entertainment, live music from Divided by Four (and others), dinner from several food truck choices, beer/wine, raffles and door prizes, an auction, and a lot of fun! Tickets are essential - so stay tuned for sales to open very soon, along with sponsorship opportunities.
Also - summer will be here soon enough - and we're planning a fun camp season for our friends ages 5-18. We've also got a family bike camp adventure in the works later in the year. Registration for Summer Camp will open Feb 1 and space is limited, so grab your kid's spot quick.
In the meantime, stay warm, stay well, and don't let your bike get too lonely!
]]>Nov 24: Volunteer Brunch followed by Tis the Season Spectacular parade. Join us at the shop for a brunch from 10 am - 12 pm. Bring a dish to share or just come eat and enjoy fellowship. We'll have plenty to share with vegan/vegetarian options for those of us who prefer that. At 12:45 we'll leave on bikes to join the parade in Spencer. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO RIDE! The more, the merrier. Expect a super slow pace, bail out when you need to or ride the whole route. Dress your bike up all festive. Smile and wave. We'll have some stuff for decorating or bring your own.
Nov. 27: Small Biz Saturday Bike Sale 10 am until we run out bikes. Purchase your Christmas gifts and bikes with us - make a real difference in the community, support the environment and feel really good about yourself and the holidays. Pickup bikes for Angel Tree donations, buy something for a stranger, pick up merch that shows your values, find a sweet little ride for your favorite person.
Dec 5th: Sunday on the Trails - Join TPF at 2:30 at Salisbury Community Park for our Sunday social ride, offroad edition. We'll start with an everyone friendly paved lake loop before transitioning to wide off road paths and then make our way into the woods on beginner sections of trail. As several of our board members are helping with the Rowan Rockhounds, our local NICA school mtn bike team, we'll answer any questions about that and offer this as an opportunity to gauge interest for our young riders. The league is open to all students in grades 6-12. We'll meet by the bike repair stand at the lower end of the gravel lot.
Sunday Night Lights: Remaining Sundays in December at 6 pm: meet at TPF to roll slow around town and gaze at the lovely holiday decorations.
Enjoy your holidays, savor the season and we hope to see you all at the shop or on the road/trail very soon! Stay tuned for updates on shop hours during the holidays as well.
]]>The fact is, though, we still have a critical need to raise funds for the shop. We are constantly working hard to keep Salisbury rolling in a positive direction - and now we ask you to help keep our shop financials moving in a positive direction, as well. Though our Witches Ride is totally free to join, here's how you can contribute to the shop through this event:
Free: Ride with us! Show up, dress up, get fun and festive. Let Salisbury see a giant mass of folks on bikes! Free costume contest with prizes for several witchy categories - Scariest, Funniest, Most Creative...maybe a few more....
$5: Give a $5 donation and receive an entry to our drawing for several pretty sweet door prizes. Must be present to win! The more you give, the more chances of winning something cool. Entry for every donation of $5 between now and 10/29 (online or in person) - or enter the night of the ride.
$20: Twenty bucks donated to the shop will get you entry into our Raffle Bike Drawing (Its a super sweet Vintage Schwinn Cruiser) PLUS a poster print from the ride.
$25: Kids T Shirts - Orange Short Sleeve/ Ride Logo on the back
$40: Adult Long Sleeve T shirt
Find your witchy-est gear and let's roll on Oct. 29!
]]>We've got a few things coming up in addition to regular shop hours. Check out the cool rides, events and opportunities to get involved!
Oct. 3: Candidates Ride - Riding from Hurley Park at 2 pm, or Bell Tower Green at 4 pm. Or both. An opportunity to converse with local candidates about their platforms and how they will put active transportation on their agenda. Check back for details on the route or visit us on social media.
Oct. 8: Fix - It Friday - Help us build and repair bikes. Helpful to have mechanical knowledge, but for those who are inexperienced, there's always cleaning of bikes and parts to be done. 5:30 pm - 8 pm. Pizza provided.
Oct. 10: Tweed Ride - Don your dapper duds, mount your trusty vintage steed, and cruise the historic homes of OctoberTour with us. 11 am. Meet at TPF.
Oct. 29: Witches Ride - Let's Ride, Witches!! Calling all our spooky citizens - Let's scare up some good fun - pedaling from the shop at 6 pm. Dress in your witchy best... costume prizes for funny, scary and creative, plus door prizes for all participants. Ride length 4 miles, family friendly pace.
Stay tuned for more announcements. We'll organize Cranksgiving Rides, Christmas Light Rides, and more in the coming months.
As far as the shop goes, here's what we could use help with right now:
- Monetary donations
- Snack donations
- Skilled mechanical help
- Good condition Bike /Parts donations
]]>The shop feels like an oven right now. Our amazing workshop space gets really hot about now every year, and even with all the doors open and fans on, we are totally cooked after a few hours of work. If you know, you know.
Which brings us to our schedule: every year we've increased the amount of time the shop is open in order to meet the needs of our community. Last year was a weird one, but it brought us to the point we're at now - LOTS of time at the shop! We went from one open day a week to 3 very long days every week, with many other days there for various and assorted rides, events and activities.
With our kids bike camps and bike fun days happening, along with the extreme heat, we must adjust our hours from now til Labor Day. We're still here for you - but we ask that appointments be made on certain days, and we'll generally be taking some time off in August to "cool down" and get ready for the fall. Take a look below at our schedule and be sure to call/text/email to arrange donation dropoff, volunteering, earn a bike work and repairs. We're happy to help!
Earn a Bike and assisted repairs are appointment based only, any time of year. Open slots are 1-3 pm and 4-6 pm Tues-Thurs each week. Contact us to set up your time in advance. Saturdays are off days for us right now til Sept.
July / August Schedule:
July 6 12-6 pm
July 7 12-5 pm
July 8 12-6 pm
July 13-15 / Intermediate Bike Camp - APPOINTMENTS ONLY between 12-5 PM.
July 20-22 / 12-6 pm
July 27-30 / Teen Tour Camp - NO OPEN SHOP - CLOSED ALL WEEK.
August 3,5 / 12-6 pm
August 4 / Bike Fun Day - APPOINTMENTS ONLY 12-5 PM
August 7 / Open Shop 12-5
August 10-13 Limited APPOINTMENTS ONLY
August 17 - Sept 2 / SHOP CLOSED
Sept 7 / Regular Hours Return
]]>Summer is almost here, and we can't wait to get rolling on our camps and bike fun days. Spaces are filling up, so make plans now to send your young rider on a two wheeled adventure with us this summer. We want camps and bike fun days to be available to ANY STUDENT who'd like to attend - sliding scale and scholarship rates are available simply by contacting us.
5 day camps run 9 am - 4 pm daily and include lunch, snacks, t shirts, water bottles and all activities.
Session 1: Elementary/Beginner Riders June 7-11
Session 2: Middle/Intermediate Riders July 12-16
Session 3: Teen/Advanced Tour Camp (2-3 Overnights) July 26-30
Our "Bike Fun Days" are Day Camps from 9am - 4pm each session. Beginners will ride 5-7 miles per day with plenty of stops. Intermediate riders may ride up to 10-15 miles total, and teens will either ride trails or up to 20 miles total.
Beginner: June 2, July 7, Aug 4
Intermediate: June 4, July 9, Aug 6
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May is almost here, and we have big plans to celebrate all things biking. The League of American Bicyclists has deemed May "National Bike Month" - and we're definitely here for it, and hope you'll join us. We'll be doing our usual at the shop to connect folks with bicycles and provide resources to get started and keep riding - whatever the reason! We have some other fun stuff outside the shop planned as well to spread the stoke and keep everyone rolling with a smile, all month long. Check it out:
May 1: (1-5 pm) MOBILE OPEN SHOP in Granite Quarry. Kicking off the month by taking our shop on the road! We'll set up the trailer and tent at Granite Lake Park, providing basic repairs and safety checks. Come out and see us and enjoy the park.
May 2: NATIONAL RIDE A BIKE DAY! Join the Sunday Social Ride and get a few miles with us. This ride is a great way to get used to riding the road, group dynamics, and just a super fun way to spend an afternoon. Leaves the shop at 2:30 pm; ride lead often parks at New Sarum where post ride beverages await!
May 8: LET'S RIDE, ROWAN! (10 am- 12pm) Learn to ride a bike with us at Salisbury Community Park. Ditch training wheels, try out the trail scene, take a fun family loop around the lake. Fun will be had, bikes will be ridden. Helmets provided if needed - bike rentals for the family ride are available with advanced notice.
May 9: RIDE LIKE A MOTHER! (2:30 pm) : Celebrate moms and all those who fill that role. We'll start and end at The Pedal Factory, riding through Hurley Park where we'll stop for pics and lemonade (we have a fabulous photographer!). All mamas get a treat post-ride complements of us.
May 15: MAZEPPA PARK - POP UP SHOP AND KIDS COURSE - We will set up our kids fun course and offer basic repairs and safety checks during this fundraising event for M.O.M. - It's our first time out this way and we are super excited. Mazeppa park offers paved trails, mountain bike trails and playgrounds. Fun for all!
MAY 16: (2:30 pm) Back to GQ for our Sunday Social Ride! How often do you get a MAYOR to lead your group ride?? Mayor Bill Feather leads this tour of Granite Quarry. The 9 mile route is recommended for those with some riding experience, We will be stopping at the East YMCA at the halfway point.
May 17-23 BIKE TO WORK WEEK - Commit to commuting by bike all week long. Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 21. Not sure where to start, how to plan a route or what clothes to wear?? We'll be offering tips all month long, so check us out on social media.
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ALSO - the 20th of March is the official start of spring, and a great opportunity to get outside and move. We'll host this year's version of "Let's Ride, Rowan!" at Salisbury Community Park on 3/20 from 11 am to 3 pm. This will bring us together with our friends at Salisbury Parks & Rec, Adjustin' Bikes, Mean Mug Coffee Co, SCPMTB and the NICA league to showcase all the biking fun that can be had at the park! From guided trail rides with Aleiah Martin (Knox Middle student and NICA athlete) to a kids bike fun obstacle course, repair services, helmet giveaways and safety checks, bike rentals for the lake path, lessons, mechanical demos, jump line demos, and of course, breaks for iced coffee...theres something for everyone. Beginners to advanced...join us and share in a love of earth and a love of bikes.
* This event is happening because Aleiah Martin won a Service above Self grant - and chose to use it to encourage more people to ride bikes. Because it's fun. Because its empowering. Because it's better for our planet. Show Aleiah some love, show yourself some love, and show the planet some love. Choose to ride a bike with us on March 20th. Mention this post at the TPF tent, and we'll hook you up with a special little thank you on behalf of Aleiah and The Pedal Factory.
]]>HOURS FOR BOTH BIKE FUN DAYS AND CAMP ARE:
9 am - 4 pm Daily (Tour Camp will have 3 overnights on T/W/Th)
If there is enough interest, we will offer early dropoff and late pickup at an additional cost per day.
]]>Rules:
- You have all month long (til Feb 28th) to gather your answers. Yes, you could google some of these, or drive...but riding there is so much fun!!
- We will tally points at the end of the month. Every correct answer is worth a point - you must earn at least 7 points for entry into the drawing. 14 points = 2 entries, etc.
- You must return your completed cue sheet to the shop for entry into the drawing. Feel free to slide it under the door when the shop is closed; if coming during business hours please wear your mask.
- You may complete this with a group and enter individually - it's all good! Stay safe, follow all traffic safety rules and wear your helmet!
- A few suggested black owned businesses to check out locally are listed below - FIND ANOTHER COMPREHENSIVE LIST INCLUDING ARTISTS, PERFORMERS, MUSICIANS AND CREATIVES at VIBES SALISBURY - ONLINE.
if you know of some others please help us spread the word:
Start your journey here:
]]>Recently, TPF had a visitor to the shop that has since tested positive for the virus. CDC and other medical guidance is that after exposure it may take up to ten days to show symptoms or to get a positive test result. As such, our visitor was in TPF during that 10 day period in which they tested positive for the virus. For clarity, our visitor's exposure has NOT been traced to TPF, but we want anyone who has visited TPF Dec 9th and Wed Dec 16th to be informed and to proceed as you feel necessary regarding your health.
TPF has COVID-19 protocols in place. It is our policy and practice to wear masks, stay at least 6 ft apart, frequently wash hands and sanitize spaces used in the shop.
We had planned a post holiday deep cleanse and reorganization effort to truly provide the safest experience for our shop volunteers. It will begin a little ahead of schedule as we close our open shop time and scale back some of our holiday ride plans. Know that we do this with the good of our community in mind, and look forward to being able to gather again soon. For those with bikes in the shop to be picked up - we will arrange contactless pickup next week. Feel free to message us beforehand. Thank you for your continued support - happy holidays to you and yours.
]]>Dec 2nd - The Shop will open from 2-6 ONLY due to our staff being offsite at a team build event. Please let us know if you plan to use the shop the week of Dec 1-3, as many of our work stands and tools will be used for this event, and we will have limited capacity inside the shop space.
Join us as our social ride becomes "SUNDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!" - we'll decorate our bikes with lights, tour some of the area to check out the lights and become our own version of a rolling Christmas tree.
Kick things off on Dec. 13th - Sunday Night Lights Ride at NC Transportation Museum. We will meet at the Spencer Plaza Parking area directly across the street from the museum at 5 pm. Riders are encouraged to light up their bikes and show lots of holiday spirit! We'll take a tour through the light display at the museum - PLEASE NOTE off-road tires may be needed, as there are some sections of fairly thick gravel to ride through. NOT recommended for training wheels or very small children. Please sign up for the event online as we are limited on number of riders. Sign up HERE.
Thursday nights in December: KIDS BIKE NIGHTS! These are evenings just for kids and families to work on their own bikes or find "new" bikes to refurbish. Find a bike for yourself or repair one for someone else. Volunteers needed to help restore youth bikes as well. Feel like one of Santa's helpers in our workshop!
Stay tuned for more!
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Donations may be dropped off anytime between 12-2 pm on Sunday Nov. 22nd. A list of needed items may be found here. Ride begins at 2:30 pm and will be suitable for all levels of rider. Masks required when inside the shop, rider discretion during ride. COVID safe distancing protocols will be followed.
Let's show the community some love and thanksgiving!
]]>Right on the heels of the ride, we'll begin to prep for a big holiday biking season. Join us in the shop to help refurbish kids bikes - our goal is to provide at least 75 bikes to the public - for holiday giveaways, gifts and more. Sign up for a volunteer session - everyone has a skill to offer! Know of someone who could use a bike? Let us know. $25 sponsors a kids bike, and we'll make sure your donation goes to make someone's Christmas bright!
]]>Vintage bikes and attire encouraged! Ride departs The Pedal Factory promptly at 4 pm Saturday, October 10th. (Get to the shop early if you need air, time to unload, etc) Expect mileage of 4-5 miles with an option to extend out towards Spencer after seeing the homes downtown.
We are asking for a modest registration fee. Please sign up HERE! All proceeds will be split between The Pedal Factory and the Historic Salisbury Foundation.
]]>At this point in the summer, a handful of us have worked many hours voluntarily in an un-airconditioned shop. We've had some great help along the way, but also have found ourselves needing a serious break. Supplies and new parts are limited from our wholesalers because of supply chain interruptions, so at this time we cannot take on any drop off repairs. We will gladly do so again when we feel exhausting our volunteers and our supplies isn't likely. Our mission to make bikes accessible through our earn a bike program must take priority. We will consider extreme earn a bike cases and will also work to rebuild our used bike inventory for sale.
For those who have bike builds or drop off repairs in the shop now, we are using this time to catch up on those and will absolutely get your bikes to you. Our Wednesday shop days are going to be used to reorganize after 5 months of crazy. If you have a repair need and no funds to make it happen at another shop, let us know. We will try to help. But understand that our most skilled mechanics are VOLUNTEERS who also work a regular job. The dedication shown through the past few months will now be rewarded with a break and shop re-set. As always, we thank you for your support and look forward to welcoming the community in our doors again, when the timing is safe, supply chains have recovered, our folks have had a chance to diffuse some burnout, and the weather inside the shop isn't so unbearable! Peace, love and bikes to all of y'all.
]]>Peace and love to you and yours during this time. We are confident in our community and we can’t wait to welcome you all back into the shop. In the meantime, keep riding! (Just not in a group!)
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