Handy Bikes Classes and Events

Are you a bicyclist who loves beer? Come out for the monthly Handy Bikes x Port City Brewing Pedals & Pints Short Ride. Note that while this is a shorter ride, it does have a few punchy hills as we tour the west end of Alexandria.

NOTE: Effective 5/10/25 this ride will depart at 10:30am; please arrive by 10:15.

We'll leave from the shop and tackle about 10-mile round trip at about a 10 mph average pace. You'll work up a thirst and we'll cruise down the street to Port City for plentiful brews and tacos courtesy of La Tingeria.

All participants will need to sign a waiver beforehand. All riders must wear helmets. No RSVP required here; this is a recurring ride that happens on the 2nd Saturday of every month, just posting this event to help spread awareness. See you there!

GPS file:
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/67072147

Bike Packing Classes have retuned with the Spring Riding and Camping Season! Time to get outdoors! This year we will be covering more topics as well as the basics, in bi-monthly installments on Mondays to start.

Topic to be announced

This class is all about tires and keeping them inflated. Class will be held at the service center at 3919 Wheeler Ave starting at 6:15pm and will last about an hour.

This one's for you if you have questions about:

• What pressure your tires should be
• Issues with keeping tires inflated
• Issues with or questions about pumps or CO2
• What should you carry on your rides to fix a flat tire
• Tubeless systems
• TPU tubes
• Persistent flat tires

Tubeless is usually the topic we spend the most time discussing at these classes. If you've wondered about tubeless tires for your bike, how they work, what equipment you need, and how to maintain a tubeless system, this class is for you. We'll get hands-on with the details about everything: how to set up a new system, how to patch or repair a tubeless tire if you get a puncture while riding, and most importantly the 5 key ingredients that are required for a successful setup.

If you want to practice changing a flat tire, we can do that too. We will have tire levers and pumps to use, but it's best to use your own so that you can get more familiar with them. You'll also need to bring your spare tube (we have some for sale if needed), and appropriate clothing that you won't mind getting a little dirty.

Fine print:
This class is designed for familiarity and practice with tires and related tools, troubleshooting scenarios, and tech; it is not intended to be a clinic to help with tuneups or other repairs.
It's free to attend this informational session and ask as many questions as you can think of. If we start using supplies for you specifically rather than for general demonstration, there may be costs involved. If you have a wheelset that you need help converting to tubeless, the cost for installation is $35 per wheel, including tape and fluid. Valve stems are about $25/pair (check to see if your wheelset came with valve stems before you buy more though!). Tubeless fluid is about $12 per wheel if we're doing it with you at the shop, or a bit less if you want to purchase sealant to bring home.

Are you a bicyclist who loves beer? Come out for the monthly Handy Bikes x Port City Brewing Pedals & Pints LONG ride! Effective 4/26/25 this ride departs the Handy Bikes retail showroom at 10:30am (not 10am).

We have teamed up with our neighbors on Wheeler Avenue, Port City Brewing, to bring you Pedals & Pints. We'll leave from the bike shop and tackle about 30 miles round trip at about a 15 mph pace. You'll work up a thirst and return to plentiful brews and a rotating food truck on site just down the street at Port City Brewing.

All participants will need to sign a waiver beforehand. All riders must wear helmets. This is a recurring ride that happens on the 4th Saturday of every month. In the event of cancellation due to weather we will post here, on Facebook, and on Instagram. See you there!