What better time of year than summer to get out on two wheels and get some exercise?

Summer brings out the outdoor adventurer in all of us, especially bicycle riders. There are a host of camps taking place all summer long across the country. While most of them are  dedicated to mountain biking there are some other interesting camps to consider.

The Carpenter/Phinney Bike Camp is the ultimate cycling vacation. Teen Treks is an adventure travel camp for people age 12-18. They offer 1 – 8 week trips in Europe, Canada, and the U.S., where they ride all day and stay at hostels, hotels, and campgrounds overnight. Of course the well known Camp Woodward has been offering extreme sports camps for skiers, snowboarders, skateboarders, BMXers and more for 15+ years.

Participating in a bike camp can be a fun, invigorating, and educational experience for adults, and especially for kids. And to those that like to be outdoors and adventurous, bike camp sure sounds like a lot more fun than a traditional arts and crafts type summer camp. The simple act of enjoying a bicycle cruise on a clear day is a wonderful experience. Sadly, many children never learn to ride a bike and miss out on one of the basic activities that children enjoy.

For children with cerebral palsy, riding a bike can especially be a daunting challenge. Fortunately groups like the United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County are helping more and more children and youth learn how to ride bikes. The Orange County Bike Camp, a joint effort of UCP of Orange County and the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County, is a week-long activity where children and young adults with disabilities can learn to ride a bike independently. With the help of a dedicated team of volunteers, the “campers” start with specialized training bikes that are adjusted as they progress in their balance and control. Eventually, some move on to solo riding on two free wheels!

Bell is a proud supporter of the camp and participated in the event as well, donating 22 Blade helmets, 14 Adrenaline helmets, and 7 Universal XL helmets for the bike campers to use while they learned to ride, and of course the riders got to keep their helmets!

Here’s a testimonial from one mother about the event:

“Bike camp was fabulous.  My daughter Delaney did learn to ride a two wheel bike without training wheels.  She is really proud of herself.  She has challenged family members to ‘a race’ and is saying ‘follow me’ as she leads our bike ride.”

Some children dread it, some children love it, some children just like getting a new backpack, clothes, and shoes! For many of our readers, back to school is synonymous with bike to school! For today’s Fast Fact’s Friday we’re going to take a look at some stats around going back to school and biking your way there!

• The first thing that many parents think of as their little learner gets ready to ride off to school for the day is safety. And good for them. We could go into a list of the basic safety and helmet tips to keep your child safest, but we did that last year in a Fast Facts Friday post around the same time. For some updated and current information on safety tips for biking to school check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s America Goes Back to School Program. Or check out the Family Corner’s Back to School Bicycle Safety Tips. The Creston News Advertiser (Iowa) is offering up some useful back-to-school road safety tips for children and parents. Similarly, WAHM.com has 6 Back to School Bicycle Safety Tips … #2 on their list: Insist on a Helmet!
• Over at the Coloradoan.com, Rick Price, Ph.D., League of American Bicyclist cycling instructor and safe cycling coordinator for the Fort Collins Bike Co-op, offers some insight on the Safe Routes to School program. The bike-friendly city of Fort Collins, CO has received a Safe Routes to School grant for 2010- 11 to teach kindergartners through eighth-graders how to walk and bike to school safely. The grant will pay the Bike Co-op to teach every P.E. teacher in those grades the basics of bicycle and pedestrian safety.



• Over at the Huffington Post, they’re offering the Best Bike-to-School Tips To Teach Your Kids. In a nutshell, they say: 1) Stock up on bike-safety essentials, 2) Arrange a Ride-Pool, 3) Practice traffic skills, 4) Let your kids goof off … safely, 5) Make a route map, and 6) Ride with your kids. (Bike To School: Best Tips To Teach Your Kids, HuffingtonPost.com)
• Looking for some fun bike-related, back to school events? Start with a bike giveaway! Little Caesars, in cooperation with Pepsi, is giving away a new bicycle and helmet to one lucky person on September 8, 2010. Each time you purchase a Hot-N-Ready or other specialty pizza in our Castle Hayne (Wilmington, NC) store you will be eligible to register and win a bicycle and helmet. (StarNewsOnline.com)
• Alex’s Pro Bicycle Shop, in partnership with a host of other groups, his hosting a Back to School Charity Ride where they will be collecting school supplies to benefit the children of the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center. The center provides healthcare to thousands of needy children in the Davie, FL community, and are also one of the sole providers of specialized care for many illnesses, (i.e. hearing loss, autism, asthma, HIV, etc…) The ride will be split into two: one fast group and one moderate group, each with its own SAG support. There will be one stop where riders will receive refreshments and school supplies will be presented to the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center representatives. (MiamiBikeScene.Blogspot.com)

Do you have any bike-related, back to school tips that we might have left off this list? If so let us know by leaving a comment, or tweet us @BellTrueFit.

At Bell we have a penchant for technologically advanced products. As our history shows, from the time that Roy Richter was designing race cars in the 1930’s to our True Fit technology of the 21^st Century, we’re committed to providing the best products possible. Especially helmets.

When it comes to Bell bike helmets, we engineered a perfect combination of science and human experience that resulted in the easiest fitting helmets ever: True Fit. For this week’s Fast Fact’s Friday we’re delving into a few recent technological advancements in the bicycle world. From a computer for the bicycle to a new type of mini-bike to a cross-trainer on wheels, bike technology never ceases to amaze.

• The $99 LiveRider Kit includes a shockproof iPhone mount, wireless sensor and an attractive app for displaying all your ride data in real time. The free LiveRider app gives you real-time data on speed, cadence, power output, calories burned and more. Tap into your device’s GPS to keep track of where you’re going, and flip into Chase Rider mode to compete against your previous best times on any given route. For more information check out LiveRider Kit Makes You iPhone A Computer For Your Bicycle. (Gizmodo)
• Have you heard about the PiCycle? It’s an eco-friendly, hybrid bike that can be converted into a scooter, thanks to its built-in electric motor and on-board lithium-ion battery. It’s got a semi-automatic 8-speed transmission, which should help when you’re trying to ride up those steep slopes, and the coolest, most earth-friendly part: Pedaling = battery charging. And it gets up to 20 miles on a full charge. The simplistic but oddly shaped frame just might be the future of cycling. It starts for $2,999. PiCycle Electric Hybrid Bike (UberGizmo)
• While we’re on the topic of electric bikes, consider the VeloMini. This bike is unique in that it is a folding electric bike. It can fold down into a compact 18”, gets it’s juice from a 24v, 6AH lithium ion battery.  At $995 the folks over at SlashGear think it’s a little pricey, but that’s a third of the cost of the PiCycle. VeloMini Electric Folding Bicycle Has Top Speed of 12mph, Costs More Than it Should. (SlashGear)
• Are you a gym rat? Do you ride a stationary bike or elliptical machine at the gym? If so (and if not!), check out the Freecross Trainer. This “bike” is actually a traditional cross-trainer with wheels. Like a bicycle, the Freecross has gears which increase or decrease the amount of resistance on both arms and legs. To steer users must use their body weight by leaning in the direction in which they wish to travel.  The tester over at The Daily Mail, Charlotte Vowden, attests, “this hybrid piece of equipment was easy to use and presents gym goers with a novel alternative to the sweaty atmosphere indoors.” According to their website, the Freecross is good for bike trails or out on the open road as lets you combine the full-body, elliptical workout with fresh air and the freedom to train wherever its wheels can take you. Freecross trainer at Soho Gym: Taking the exercise class outdoors. (DailyMail.co.uk)
• In case you missed it, In July we featured a breakthrough bicycle called the Bendy Bike. It was designed by Brit Kevin Scot, and uses a ratchet system built into the frame of the bike to allow it to wrap around a pole, enabling the lock to be wrapped through both wheels and the frame. You have to see the pictures to believe it.

We announced a twitter contest on July 24 in an effort to increase helmet advocacy and raise awareness about bike safety, and the response has been tremendous! We reached our first milestone of 700 followers on July 30, which means we’ve selected one lucky follower, at random, to get a free Bell True Fit helmet!

With this milestone, we’re also donating five brand spankin’ new True Fit helmets to SafeKids USA for them to share in their efforts to keep kids safe.

Officer Mike and Officer Mark with a full load of Bell Helmets!

So without further adieu, the first winner is Jaclyn Reynolds (@jaclynfett)! Thanks for participating! Please pick a Bell True Fit size, and whether you’d like a boy’s/men’s or girl’s/women’s helmet (visit our Products page for helmet options), and then DM us your email on twitter so we can get your address to mail your free new helmet!

We still have three more milestones to reach and we can only get there with your participation. We’ll be giving away a helmet to a randomly selected follower each time we reach 800, 900, and 1,000 followers. We’ll also be donating five True Fit helmets to a non-profit, helmet advocacy or bike safety group each time we reach a new milestone. For this round, when we reach 800 followers we’ll be donating 5 helmets to Bike Cops for Kids – the Minneapolis based duo of Officer Mike and Officer Mark.

Their main goal is to “make a special memory stick into the hard drive of a child as they grow up in challenging situations”. Their aim is to connect cops and kids using helmets, bike safety and bikes to do it.

So keep on tweeting, and please encourage your followers to follow @BellTrueFit so we can reach our goals that much sooner!

Here’s what you can tweet: 

Follow @BellTrueFit – we’re giving away True Fit bike helmets  as we reach 800, 900 & 1,000 followers! Please RT http://bit.ly/cEQ5NV

And be sure to check out the Bike Cops for Kids on facebook and “Like” them!

Some friends of the Bell True Fit blog recently told us of how much fun they had on a Friday night bike party. Yes, a bike party. Now, are you wondering “what is a bike party, exactly”? So were some of us when we first heard of it. Basically, it’s a group of bicycle riding enthusiasts who get together once a month for a themed bicycle ride. Simple as that. What makes a “bike party” different from a bike ride? For starters, anyone and everyone is welcome. There are no age limits, no timed qualifications, and no expectations. Well, the only expectations are that all participants obey traffic laws and look out for one another. Interestingly enough, based on some quick and dirty research, it seems that these “bike parties” mostly take place in the San Francisco Bay Area. While there are some smaller, more intimate events in cities and towns across the U.S., based on our research it’s San Jose, CA, that takes the cake.

• One-half political party, one-half street party, San Jose Bike Party is all about building community through bicycling. Made up of all types of bicyclists and human-powered transportation advocates, San Jose Bike Party rides include 2,000 – 4,000 riders on a given night! They ride anywhere from 15-30 miles throughout the South Bay from 8pm – midnight on the third Friday of every month. Follow them on twitter @SJBikeParty and find out how to get involved at SJBikeParty.org.
• Just a few miles north-east of San Jose, the East Bay Bike Party is a mobile party for riders of all ages, experience levels, and bike types, to meet, ride, and play together in the streets on the second Friday of the month. “Inspired by the massive number of people who go to the San Jose Bike Party every month, we decided that it was high time the East Bay (the best part of the San Francisco Bay, in our humble opinion) had its own bike part,” their website says.  In July the theme was Space Party, where they encouraged people to come dressed as an alien or an astronaut, sci fi character or planetary body, constellation or Tribble infestation…”  For August the theme is Superhero Ride, and they are expecting to see, “a lot of capes, masks and tights.” We, of course, like their enthusiasm for helmets: “And don’t forget, a truly super hero always wears a helmet and rides with bike lights.” Follow them on twitter @ebbikeparty and stay in the loop at EastBayBikeParty.wordpress.com

• The Midnight Ridazz is a group of bicycle enthusiasts who have been riding together on the second Friday of every month since February of 2004. The rides quickly grew from 8 people to current ride counts of 1300+ “Ridazz,” and they’ve gone nationwide! Their website, MidnightRidazz.com was created to help empower YOU to create your own rides, routes and “good timezz.” Start yourself on a recurring ride or throw a one timer in the daylight … it’s your ride. They offer a five step outline of how to create a ride, as well as some basic “rulezz” that will help anyone organize their own bike party. To find out more about routes, rules, and already scheduled upcoming rides, check out MidnightRidazz.com.
• Want to spice up your kid’s upcoming birthday party? Consider throwing your own bike party! Over at Disney’s Family Fun website, they offer some great suggestions for throwing a fun birthday bike party. “Invite a bunch of pals to bring their cycles, then turn your driveway (or perhaps a nearby school blacktop) into party central. Set up a station where kids can soup up their rides with homemade number plates, noisemakers, and handle-bar decorations. Next, turn them loose on an obstacle course that tests their skills — and lets them be silly too. Add a spoke-tacular cake, prize ribbons, and take-home goody bags that make everyone feel like a champ, and you’ve got the coolest party on two wheels.” (FamilyFun.Go.com)
• The Bicycle Music Festival is an all day, mobile, community music festival – completely bike-powered! A 501(c)3 project of the San Francisco Parks Trust www.sfpt.org, part of the mission of the Bicycle Music Festival is to, “promote sustainable culture in general by physically engaging and immersing our community in the magic of bike culture, and cultivating and nurturing a network of local sustainable musicians, through our free, community participatory, bicycle-based music events.” The Bicycle Music Festival features a 2000 watt pedal-powered PA system, as many as 15 bands, multiple festival stops, outrageous Critical Mass-style bicycle party caravans between festival stops, and zero use of cars or trucks. This year’s event takes place from Noon – 10pm PT on July 31 in San Francisco.  Follow them on twitter @bikemusicfest and visit BicycleMusicFestival.com for more information or to get involved.

As far as we could tell, there aren’t any “bike party” events outside of California … but we could be totally wrong! Do you know of a bike party that we left off today’s Fast Facts Friday list? Are you planning a bike party in your community? If so, leave a comment below or let us know on twitter @BellTrueFit.

In last week’s Fast Facts Friday post we featured a handful of cities, organizations, and companies offering free helmets. Helmet awareness and bike safety has grown immensely over the last 20 years and we are thrilled to see so much philanthropy.

Today we’re kicking off a helmet giveaway campaign via twitter. Here’s how it works: Follow @BellTrueFit on twitter and be automatically entered to win a new Bell True Fit bike helmet!

Each time we reach another 100 followers, we’ll randomly select one of our followers to send a new Bell True Fit helmet to! Plus, each time we reach another 100 followers we’ll donate five helmets to an organization that is dedicated to helmet advocacy and bike safety. We’ll be giving helmets away when we reach 700, 800, 900, and 1,000 followers.

As of today we have 647 followers, but once we reach 700 followers, we’ll randomly select a follower to send a new helmet to. We’ll also send five new bike helmets to SafeKids USA for them to share in their efforts to keep kids safe.

If you’re already following us on twitter, well then you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing to win a helmet once we reach the 700, 800, 900, 1,000 follower milestones. But please encourage your followers to follow @BellTrueFit also, so we can reach our goals that much sooner!

Here’s what you can tweet:

Follow @BellTrueFit – they’re giving away bike helmets as they reach 700, 800, 900, & 1,000 followers! Please RT http://bit.ly/dcqRlc

Here’s what you could win (and what we’ll be donating):

The Bell True Fit Adrenaline

Stay tuned for the first winner!

Cities, organizations, companies, and caring individuals are hosting events promoting bike safety and helmet awareness, all the time, across the country.  There’s a natural increase in bicycle-helmet awareness efforts during the summertime as both children and adults are biking more frequently (similarly, ski and snowboard-helmet awareness increases in the winter).

Over the past 20 years helmet awareness has grown exponentially, and judging by the giveaways happening across the country, it seems the amount of goodwill and commitment to helmet safety education have as well.

Here’s a sampling of some of the fun examples of that dedication to education and support around bike helmet safety that we found:  

1. In an effort to help keep children of Port Orange, Florida safe and abiding by state law (Florida law requires all those under the age of 16 to wear an approved helmet while operating a bicycle) the police department is offering free bicycle helmets, and urging parents to remind their children to think safety and wear a helmet. Simply call Crime Prevention Officer Dave Miller at 386-506-5822 for additional information or to make an appointment. Helmets are available as long as they last. (News-JournalOnline.com) 
2. Earlier this week Kohl’s department stores sponsored a free helmet giveaway at the Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, NY. Dozens of children learned the dangers of riding a bicycle without a helmet, and now they’re all equipped to ride safely! Trauma Coordinator Dawn Melancon said, “At Women and Children’s Hospital, what we recommend is that every child that rides a bike has a helmet on. It should be properly fitted, which means it should be nice and snug. The chin strap should be strapped and snug also, and parents should be a role model and wear their helmets, too. And other kids should encourage their friends to wear helmets. Keep everybody safe and out of the hospital for the summer.” (WIVB.com)
3. In New Jersey, the Maplewood and South Orange police departments, along with the South Orange Municipal Alliance and YouthNet, are promoting bike registration through several events over the course of the next month. Free helmets are being provided in adult sizes small through large to those who register their bikes with Maplewood and South Orange police while supplies last. Check out the list of dates and events at SouthOrange.Patch.com.
4. They’re not giving out helmets, but they are giving out shoes! Proceeds to the second annual Reid Bicycle Ride on July 24 go towards new shoes for children and families in need. Organized by Reid Hospital this fun filled 20-mile ride ends at the Dublin community park where refreshments, massages, photo opportunities, music, prize drawings and a mini-wellness fair await. Last year they we’re able to distribute 1,000 pairs of shoes, and the goal is 1,500 for 2010! For more information, to register, or  to donate visit ReidHospital.org/reidride …

At Bell True Fit we host contests and giveaways on occasion, and this month will be no exception! Be sure to come back to the community site and stay tuned to the Bell True Fit twitter and facebook channels next week because we’ll be announcing a way for you to take home your own free helmet!

From Europe to California this week’s Fast Facts Friday takes a look at some of the most compelling bicycle stories and developments from around the world.

• Bike cafés have become that latest hip hang out in London. Whether you’re looking for morning coffee, scrumptious lunch or tall pint  – there are some intriguing bike-friendly locales in London. Check out the Container Café, Lock 7, and Rapha Cycle Club. Look Mum No Hands is a bar, café, and workshop – all bundled together in a lofty garage space. They offer free Wi-Fi and have weekly cycling events. (NYTimes.com)


Bell rider Fabian Cancellara is currently leading the pack at the 2010 Tour de France.

• We’ve covered bicycle laws and programs from time to time here, and we were enthused on Thursday to see that the federal government awarded $3 million to Boston’s planned bike sharing program. The injection of federal funds allows the city to purchase roughly 500 bicycles for use at about 50 rental stations. The bike share program is scheduled to launch next spring. (Boston.com)
• A young designer from Britain has invented a revolutionary folding bicycle: 21-year old Kevin Scott’s “Bendy Bike” uses a ratchet system built into the frame of the bike to allow it to wrap around a pole, enabling the lock to be wrapped through both wheels and the frame. You have to see the pictures to believe it. (DailyMail.co.uk)
• In Woodland, CA bicycle enthusiasts and community leaders are preparing for “The World’s Greatest Bicycle Parade. “On Sunday, October 3, we hope more than 4,000 bike riders from Davis and the surrounding communities will help break the Guinness world’s record for largest parade of bicycles,” Bicycle Parade Committee Chairman Frank Giustino said. So if you live in Northern California, or are planning a trip that way this fall, be a part of history and help them go into the record books! (DailyDemocrat.com)
• Of course, we can’t forget about Le Tour de France which kicked off this week. World time trial champion and Bell rider Fabian Cancellara won the prologue to the 2010 Tour on July 3, and he has been able to keep hold of the race-leading (first place) yellow jersey through today! Keep it up Fabian! For full coverage check out Versus.com. (Bloomberg.com)

Bicycle rides, parades, and challenges are taking place across the country this Fourth of July, all awaiting your participation, and we at Bell are dedicated to helping you find them! Whether you’re looking for annual races, organized community rides, or new mountain bike trails opening for summer, here’s a glimpse into some of fun things to do on two wheels this Independence Day weekend. No matter where you’ll be, if you’re riding don’t forget your Bell helmet, which come in many styles, including patriotic red, white and blue of course!

• Justin Rudd’s 7th annual Great American 4th of July Kids Bike Parade takes place on Sunday, July 4 in Long Beach, CA. Besides the procession of festive bicyclers, they will also be having some contest that are free for anyone to enter: a Patriotic Speech Contest, a Watermelon  Seed Spitting Contest, and a Patriotic Costume Contest – and they’re offering cash prizes! JustinRudd.com

• The Davis Bike Club’s 34th annual Fourth of July Criterium offers cyclists of all ages to race on 0.7-mile L-shaped loop course through downtown Davis, CA. After racing stay in downtown and step over to Community Park (1405 F Street) for food and game booths, live music, and fireworks. (CityOfDavis.org)

• As Twin Cities Bicycling Club states on its website, “Three of the best things in America are the Fourth of July, bicycling, and watermelon.” We tend to agree, and we wish we were attending their 29th Annual Watermelon Ride, on Sunday, July 4^th. Starting the day with a Pre-Ride Bike Rodeo, this fun and sociable family ride has route options of 15, 25, and 55 miles. Afterwards, enjoy some watermelon at the picnic at Snail Lake in Shoreview, MN.

• The Firecracker 50 (MTB/XC) is the place to be if you’re anywhere near Breckenridge, CO, as this race is in its fourth year of also being USA Cycling Marathon MTB National Championship. Watch the 750 riders compete for cash prizes of $600, $400, and $200.MavSports.com

• It’s not until July 25, but the city of Northridge, CA is hosting the Coaster Brake Challenge. Single speed only, coaster brake only, no hand brakes point series races. Four races, no classes. Courses usually take between an hour or two to complete and vary from race to race. Last one had 36 total racers. 20.00 entry fee gets you all 4 races, patch, and t-shirt. AtomicCycles.com

Cyclists, BMXers, mountain bikers, beach cruisers, bike commuters and two-wheelers of all stripes recognize the inherent potential dangers of riding a bike. We encounter automobiles, pedestrians, steep hills, high speed winds and many other road hazards and obstacles on our bike journeys.

Falling off a bike is inevitable for just about all of us … it happens to man, woman,  and child alike, despite our best efforts to avoid it. And thankfully, most of us realize the importance and necessity of always wearing a helmet when riding. We at Bell Sports pride ourselves on making the most technologically advanced helmets to offer the best fit possible. Our Bell True Fit technology stands on the foundation of providing the perfect fitting helmet … regardless of age. You’re never too old, and you should never be too cool, to wear a helmet. As we’ve all heard before, “Wearing a helmet can save your life.”

Don’t take our word for it though – listen to Pamela Riddell, Timothy Gilligan and Scott Hallman. What do these three have in common? They all took pretty nasty bike spills, and they all credit their Bell helmets with saving their lives.

For today’s Fast Facts Friday, take a moment to watch the three videos below and learn from the experiences of these members of our biking community.

Pamela Riddell is the associate director of Marketing at Leigh Valley Health Network. This past May, Riddell was on a bike ride for fitness and fun with two friends when she was hit and run over by a truck. The 38-year-old suffered serious injuries, but survived the accident, and is fully recovering today.

“I am alive because of this helmet,” says Riddell. “This helmet saved my life. Had I not been wearing it, I wouldn’t be here today.”

The emotionally stirring video concludes with Riddell pleading for adults, children, veteran cyclists and weekend warriors to wear their helmets, even while on scooters. The video has received more than 2,200 views. Helmet saves cyclist’s life (Gary Blockus, The Morning Call)

Parma, Ohio Municipal Court Judge Timothy Gilligan credits his bike helmet for preserving his life in a crash that took place on Wednesday morning.

“Clearly if I did not have a helmet on, I’d have severe head injuries or be dead,” Gilligan said. Parma judge suffers injuries in biking accident Wednesday – Credits helmet for saving his life (Deb Lee, WEWS ABC 5)

And, in August 2009, cyclist and bike shop employee Scott Hallman was also struck by an automobile while riding. Hallman survived the hit-and-run, and he too credits his Bell helmet for keeping him from more serious harm.

“All the styroform (in my helmet) shattered. It did its job. I attribute a lot to the technology of helmets. It saved my life,” he says.

As fellow members of the bike community we want to express our deepest sympathies for these and all people who have suffered from injury while riding a bike. We’d also like to reiterate the main theme common to all three videos: Always wear a helmet when riding a bike!

Bell helmets have played a vital role in protecting sportsmen and women for nearly 50 years, these stories are just some of the more recent that we wanted to share. We’d love to hear how Bell and the Bell True Fit helmet have helped to protect you or someone in your family. Go to the Share Your Story section of our site and do just that.