Tomorrow is Sunday and it’s going to be 70 and sunny. It feels like old man winter is finally leaving town so let’s all celebrate by taking a ride on a bike from the FC bike library! With an ID, a credit card and a your signature on a form, a comfy commuter bike and a lock is yours for up to 7 days for FREE. There are 3 convenient locations: Cafe Bicyclette by the fountain in Old Town Square, CSU Lory Center, or the Laporte Station. The bikes are mostly single speed cruisers but they have a wide range of sizes including tag a long bikes for kids. They’ll also provide guides for some great rides like the brewery tour, a nature tour of the Poudre trail, even a historical tour of Old Town. Who do we have to thank for this wonderful resource? Organizations such as Bike Fort Collins along with a number of businesses, the City of Fort Collins, and individual volunteers have all come together to make this a reality. Since it’s creation in April 2008, over 3,000 people have become members. I imagine this will become an enduring and quintessential Fort Collins institution.
A couple things to note:
They don’t provide helmets although the website says “we may have some loaners available.”
An authorization for $150 will be placed on your credit or debit card and then removed once you return the bike.
City regulations require the use of a light on your bike when riding at night. Bikes at the library may or may not have lights. Bring your own light if you plan on riding at night.
If you’re under 18 you’ll have to have a parent or guardian sign the form along with you but you only have to do this once.
If you plan on doing all 3 breweries on the tour I recommend detouring to an eating establishment along the way (Red Table cafe or Laluz is really close). None of the breweries serve food (yet) and most of the beers pack a punch, especially if you’re coming from a lower elevation.
These are no klunkers!
