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Smitty Built up as a Singlespeed

I built this Smitty up as a 29’er Singlespeed mostly to show the versatility of the Smitty frame but after riding it a couple of times I am going to keep it around for a while! One reason I want to put some miles on it is to test out our eccentric bottom bracket in off road conditions. The EBB has proven to be super for commuter version of  the Smitty and adding off road cred would be great.

Single Speed Schlick Smitty
Schlick Smitty Singlespeed

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Schlick Cycles – Nut Factory Open House 2010

Schlick Cycles | The Nut Factory Open House 2010

Join us on Saturday night, February 20th for the 6th annual Nut Factory Open House  Located in the historic Nut Factory building at 3720 N. Fratney St. in Milwaukee.

The following artists will open their studios to show their work and working environments: Christopher Poehlmann, Gregory Klassen, Michael Davidson, Schlick Cycles, Tom Jelinske, Shana McCaw + Brent Budsburg, Annoushka Peck, Will Pergl, along with some special guests Cody Frei, Alec Regan, Dan Lawton and others yet to be announced.

The Nut Factory is located in Riverwest on N Fratney Street 1 block west of Humboldt Ave between Keefe + Vienna.

We are in Unit 2B and it looks like it should be a pretty busy place.  Greg’s friend Tom will be displaying his art – really cool, LARGE pieces, accessible and somewhat ironic art. Dave should have some of his metal sculptures as well. We will have finger type food, cheese, veggies etc. and wine.

There may be more but that is what we know about for sure.

This year there is a good website showing photos, artists and other pertinent info. Have a look at:

http://nutfactory.shutterfly.com/

Hope to see you there!

John & Greg

Link to Google Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&ie=UTF8&om=0&msa=0&msid=116708516255797257381.000445a8496be7d563733&ll=43.087413,-87.906847&spn=0.013226,0.028925&z=15&iwloc=000445a85435ba89ba1b6

P.S.  We realize many of you are not from the Milwaukee area, but you may know someone that is or you may be traveling. Let someone know about Schlick Cycles – you are our best salespeople! Thanks.

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The Bike Fed is hiring for 3 positions in Madison and Milwaukee

The Bike Fed is hiring for 3 exciting positions in Madison and Milwaukee !

Director of Communication

The Bike Fed is now accepting resumes for a Director of Communication. This career-building opportunity offers the ideal candidate a chance to lead external communications and mobilize bicycle support throughout the state. ??The position is 40 hours/week and can be based out of the Bike Fed’s Madison or Milwaukee office. Benefits include health, dental, and vacation time plus an excellent work space in either downtown Madison or downtown Milwaukee.

Submit a cover letter and resume by 5pm Monday, February 22

Click here for the full job description and contact information

Director of Membership & Development

The Bike Fed seeks a highly motivated and organized Director of Membership & Development to recruit new members, retain the Bike Fed’s existing 3,500 members, and engage members in the Bike Fed’s work to make biking in Wisconsin safe, fun, and convenient. This exciting position plays a central role in building momentum to make Wisconsin one of the best places in the country to be on a bike. ??The position is 40 hours/week and can be based out of the Bike Fed’s Madison or Milwaukee office. Benefits include health, dental, and vacation time plus an excellent work space in either downtown Madison or downtown Milwaukee.

Submit a cover letter and resume by 5pm Monday, February 8. Late applications may still be considered.

Click here for the full job description and contact information

Bike Walk Safety Instructor

The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin (Bike Fed) is seeking a Bike/Walk Safety Instructor to support Milwaukee ‘s Safe Routes to School program. Safe Routes to School is an innovative national movement to stop the growing trend of childhood obesity by drastically increasing the number of children who bike and walk to school. ??The position is 20-35 hours/week and is based in Milwaukee . Hours will be scheduled between 8am – 6pm Monday – Friday with occasional Saturdays required. The position is part-time, limited-term employment paid at $10/hour and does not include benefits. ??Employment begins April 12 and ends in October.

Submit a cover letter and resume by 5pm Monday, February 19

Click here for the full job description and contact information

Jessica Wineberg Binder??Wisconsin Safe Routes to School Network Organizer?Wisconsin@saferoutespartnership.org www.saferoutespartnership.org/wisconsin

Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
1845 N Farwell
Suite 100
Milwaukee , WI 53202
414-431-1761

www.bfw.org

P.S. Save the date for our annual Wisconsin Bike Summit on April 21 and 22. Join hundreds of fellow bike supporters to make Wisconsin one of the world’s best places to be on a bike.

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Bicycling is a $1.5 Billion Business in Wisconsin

It also employs more than 13,000 people in the state. That is fantastic!

Here is the Press Release from The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.

REPORT: BICYCLING A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO WISCONSIN’S ECONOMY
MADISON — Recreational bicycling is among Wisconsin’s top outdoor activities in terms of economic impact, and increasing bicycling has the potential to deliver impressive health benefits and savings, according to a new report from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The report, produced by the CHANGE program of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, estimates that the economic impact of recreational bicycling in the state exceeds $924 million. Of this amount, $533 million is annual direct spending while an additional $391 million is due to indirect and induced effects, such increased purchases of supplies and labor by restaurants and hotels serving cyclists. These indirect and induced impacts may also occur on an annual basis or may extend over a longer time-frame.

Combined with previous estimates of the state’s bicycle manufacturing, sales, and services industry, this means bicycling generates more than $1.5 billion a year in total economic impact, according to the report. By comparison, deer hunting in the state generates $926 million, according to the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. And in a 2001 report, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism estimated the impact of snowmobiling to be just under $250 million.

Bicycling’s economic impact is not surprising given the predominance of the sport, say the report’s co-authors, Maggie Grabow, Micah Hahn, and Melissa Whited, all graduate students in the Nelson Institute’s Certificate in Humans and the Global Environment (CHANGE), a National Science Foundation-sponsored training program whose purpose is “to instill cross-disciplinary learning and prepare students to take on complex real-world environmental challenges of our times, ” according to CHANGE director, Professor Jonathan Patz. .

“According to the Wisconsin Outdoor Recreation Plan, 49 percent of Wisconsin residents enjoy bicycling for recreation, making it among the most popular outdoor activities in the state,” the trio writes. “State residents generate approximately $388 million in economic activity while enjoying Wisconsin’s extensive network of bicycle trails and scenic country roads and participating in bicycle races, rides for charity, and tours.”

Other notable observations:

  • Wisconsin is recognized nationally as a top destination for bicycle tourists and was again named second in the nation in 2009 by the League of American Bicyclists.
  • Non-residents are estimated to spend 6.4 million days a year bicycling in Wisconsin and generate more than $535 million.
  • In all, bicycling supports an estimated 13,193 jobs in the state.

“People do not realize that bicycling is a big business in Wisconsin,” said state Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison), a leading bicycling advocate, for whom the report was prepared. “It really is a big part of our economy, in many forms.”

The report’s authors also calculated the potential economic value of increased bicycling as a replacement for short automobile trips. They estimated that improvements in air quality and the health of Wisconsin adults could yield annual savings valued at more than $400 million.

“By incorporating physical activity into the lives of sedentary Wisconsin residents, bicycling to work could save approximately $319 million a year from reduced morbidity and healthcare costs,” they explain. “In addition, fewer cars on the road would result in a decrease in air pollution by fine particulate matter and ozone. This would not only reduce health problems such as asthma and chronic bronchitis but would further reduce health care costs by almost $90 million annually in Milwaukee and Madison alone.”

Increased bicycle commuting also could help Wisconsin meet its goals in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the students say.

A follow-up study of the demographics of current and future cyclists will help target investments in bicycling infrastructure to maximize the potential benefits.
Among other things, the report recommends aiming bicycling improvements at younger people. Studies in Europe suggest that designated bike lanes and smooth roads on primary thoroughfares that are the most direct routes to major destinations provide strong incentives to this age group to commute by bike.

The report also recommends that future investments, ideally within the next two decades, focus on bicycle paths and traffic signals to accommodate Wisconsin’s aging population. The researchers emphasize that although investments should be targeted at younger riders, a safer infrastructure will ultimately encourage people of all ages to spend more time bicycling.

The report, “Valuing Bicycling’s Economic and Health Impacts in Wisconsin,” draws information from more than two dozen published sources. It is available free online at www.bfw.org.