Join us for Grease Rag’s 16th Annual Winter Skill Share & Gear Swap!
We’ll learn, connect, and share our collective knowledge on the basics of winter biking, supporting and empowering a community of FTW to enjoy a safe and fun winter riding season.
Date: Sunday, November 17
Time: 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM (bike rack meet-and-greet starts at 12:00 on Nicollet Mall)
Location: Minneapolis Central Library, Pohlad Hall, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
The afternoon will feature skill shares on the basics of winter biking, in a safer space. This year’s sessions include:
- Bike Maintenance
- What to Wear
- Self-Care
- Safety, Handling, and Routing
A community gear swap with essential winter items and bike gear will finish off the event.
Things to know about the Skill Share
This event is open to all FTW (femme, trans nonbinary, two-spirit and women) riders! If you are a cis man who benefits from cis-male privilege, please respect this space and do not attend this event. Read more about WTF is FTW.
This event is NEWBIE and BEGINNER-FRIENDLY! Come with questions and leave feeling more confident and ready to take on Minnesota’s most interesting season.
Masks are required in the presentation space. The smaller classroom has snacks; if you are not actively eating or drinking, please keep masks on during the event. The library does not require masks. Please stay home if you have a positive test or feel any symptoms.
This event is FREE. We want to keep things as accessible as possible to FTW, so this event, like all of our events, are volunteer-organized and run.
We run on DONATIONS of labor and goods. If you would like to donate your labor (volunteer) or goods (gear swap, snack table), please contact us at greaseragmpls at gmail.
The gear swap will include goods donated by community members like you! You’re invited to bring bike gear you don’t use, a sweater you outgrew, studded tires you want to pass on, or base layers you no longer need, for example. First-time winter bikers are given priority at the swap. (Broken or excessively worn items will be refused.)
The skill shares are meant to share the basics with you. We encourage you to engage with our social media, make real-life connections with people at the skill share, and attend our other events if you wish to learn more. Because there are so many approaches to biking, like life, it is impossible for us to tell you every detail of everything you might need to know! So be prepared to have some lingering questions – but don’t worry, we have a large community of people who are interested in supporting you.
Winter Craft Party
At our annual craft party, we make warm things to offer new FTW winter bikers at the gear swap! We also help folks learn how to make their own warm accessories. No experience necessary! If you are able to, bring a sewing machine and other sewing supplies to share with the group. We have fabric and patterns. Together, we will piece together hats and buffs to give away for free. You are also welcome to make your own gear and take it home with you after the event. Contact us at greaseragmpls at gmail if you have any questions or want to get involved!