Ready to try using your bicycle to get around, even in the "off season"? Perhaps you already do, and you wouldn't mind a little recognition. Either way, the Winter Bicycle Commuter Challenge is for you! It's super easy- just create an account on our website at: https://bcc.intercitytransit.com/
(unless you already have one from last year), log in, and log your practical bike rides in February. Anyone who lives or works in Thurston County can participate. You don't have to be employed or a student- just use your bicycle as a means of practical transportation, with at least part of your trip inside Thurston County. The Winter Mini BCC runs for the whole month of February and includes celebration of International Winter Bike To Work Day, on Friday February 9, 2018. You can start logging your rides anytime. Only your rides in February will count toward your Winter BCC totals. We'll hold prize drawings each week in February, among everyone who logged miles that week- it's that simple.
We're looking forward to seeing you out and about- on your bike!
At least for this year, the Winter BCC does not support teams, and does not award prizes based on miles or days ridden.

5th Annual Winter BCC Coming Soon!

The Winter BCC is Intercity Transit's free, fun event that encourages Thurston County residents to use their bicycles for transportation in all seasons. The event runs for the month of February, with weekly prize drawings among all participants. Registration opens February 1! We'll also celebrate International Winter Bike to Work Day, on Friday, February 9. We're working hard to make some updates on the back end of our website, in the hopes we'll be able to use it for the Winter BCC. If not, we'll use the same event sign-up process we used for the Winter BCC last year, prior to the launch of our website. We'll make the call on that by the end of this week, and post and send out instructions for signing up!

Long Time Bike Tech Owner and BCC Sponsor to Retire

Dale Carlson at Capitol Schwinn, circa 1980

Dale Carlson, owner of the Bike Tech chain of stores in the South Sound is set to retire after 50 years in the bicycle industry. The two current Bike Tech locations in Olympia and Tacoma will become Trek Bicycle retail stores. Dale started out as a young teenager, working at the current Olympia location on 4th Ave E. which was then called "Bikes n Boats". The store sold Schwinn bicycles as well as canoes and kayaks. In 1978, Burien Cycles owner Mike Solberg bought the store, renamed it Capitol Schwinn, and hired Dale as manager. The boats were gradually phased out as the store focused on growing as a Schwinn dealer. In the mid 1980's Dale bought the store, and subsequently several other stores in the South Sound area. In 1991 the chain of stores was renamed as Bike Tech. Dale and his Olympia store were one of the earliest sponsors of the BCC, possibly even from the very beginning in 1988. Dale will be missed as one of the longest-running sponsors of the BCC, and as a local bike shop owner. Many thanks to Dale and Bike Tech for all the years of support for the BCC! We hope he enjoys retirement and now has time to ride his bike!

Photos by Duncan Green.   If Dale obliges with more pictures and stories, we'll post them here.

A Row of Chicago-made Schwinns, 1978

4th of July Bike Trip, 1978

Newest BCC Sponsor in 2018: Adventure Cycling!

 Adventure Cycling Association is helping us out with an awesome Grand Prize for the BCC in May- stay tuned for details! In the meantime, check out some of their offerings here, and dream big!

As a nonprofit organization, Adventure Cycling Association's mission is to inspire and empower people to travel by bicycle. Established in 1973 as Bikecentennial, we are the premier bicycle-travel organization in North America with more than 40 years of experience and 53,000 members.

Great Response to Theme Contest

Past BCC Themes in progress

Over 60 past Bicycle Commuter Challenge participants submitted 120 great ideas for the 2018 BCC Theme, including two with drawings of graphic ideas. A large team here at Intercity Transit is working to narrow down the field to a manageable number for a BCC-wide vote. We'll post and send out a link to a poll next week (week of Jan. 7), to vote on the finalists for our theme this year. We're so excited to see which idea wins the final vote! The creator of the winning idea will win a nice prize from the BCC, and the top runners-up will receive a gift card from one of our local coffee sponsors!