madcity girl

This week (June 6-11) marks the official Bike to Work Week in Madison, sponsored by the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. Events include morning commuter stations, a bike parade, a bike-in movie, a bike commuter tips lunch, Ride the Drive, Planet Bike’s Bacon on the Bike Path, and a morning commuter ride with Mayor Cieslewicz. It’s a comprehensive and exciting array of activities designed to celebrate and encourage bicycle commuting in Madison.

What I’m most excited for, though, is tonight’s free screening of “Breaking Away” at the Barrymore Theatre. In case the sheer excellence of this is lost on you, “Breaking Away” won the Oscar in 1979, and centers around the famed Little 500 bike race at the Univeristy of Indiana. It’s the story of Dave, a recent high school graduate in Bloomington, who dreams of racing with an Italian cycling team. And let me repeat, the movie will be shown on the big screen. For those of you who have had the great opportunity to see this most excellent movie, how many of you can honestly say you’ve seen it on the big screen?

Before the movie, Monty’s Blue Plate Diner (conveniently located across the street from the theater) is transforming their parking lot into a “bicycling paradise” with free bike checkups by Revolution Cycles, and free tastings from Just Coffee Cooperative and Sassy Cow Creamery. Monty’s will grill burgers and veggie burgers in the lot for purchase.

Burgers. Ice cream. Free screening of “Breaking Away” on the big screen. I’m there.

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