Post by "Chainsaw" Jim Johnson on Jul 28, 2014 16:37:28 GMT -5
This is an old post from the original FreakBike Nation message board. It was submitted by Alan GreenBlazer in January of 2009, but it is all still relevant in trying to start up a bicycle club or group .....
I started the Phoenix Phreaks chapter, and it has been slow going, but I do have a core group of dedicated riders that regularly participate. Because advertising costs money, it takes a while for word to get out.
Here are a list of ideas that you could use:
1. Keep it simple with things that cost money, and keep it free to participate.
2. Get a few friends together and go for regular rides.
3. Business cards! Give a thick stack to all members and ask them to give them to interested people.
I keep them with me always, and try to give them to anyone who might be interested.
4. People love stickers, and T-shirts, and it's OK to ask people to pay for them. Get a profit & reinvest profits.
5. Start your own website for the chapter if you have the ability, or just direct people to this one.
6. Search for other bicycle organizations especially the bar hopping cruiser kind, and participate with their rides.
7. An artist friend to come up with chapter logo or do it yourself. Search this site to see how others did theirs.
8. If you build bikes, then keep building more, and loan them to your friends for rides.
9. Big groups of people riding freak bikes in populated areas will attract attention, and help spread the word.
10. Participate in parades, and other large public events with your mob of freak bikers.
11. If your ride events are too frequent it's harder to get people to participate, but the more you get out and ride the
more exposure you'll have, so you have to find a balance.
12. Get local bicycle shops to display your cards, and find other bicycle friendly business' like pubs to display cards.
13. Be patient, but keep promoting, and it will happen.
I started the Phoenix Phreaks chapter, and it has been slow going, but I do have a core group of dedicated riders that regularly participate. Because advertising costs money, it takes a while for word to get out.
Here are a list of ideas that you could use:
1. Keep it simple with things that cost money, and keep it free to participate.
2. Get a few friends together and go for regular rides.
3. Business cards! Give a thick stack to all members and ask them to give them to interested people.
I keep them with me always, and try to give them to anyone who might be interested.
4. People love stickers, and T-shirts, and it's OK to ask people to pay for them. Get a profit & reinvest profits.
5. Start your own website for the chapter if you have the ability, or just direct people to this one.
6. Search for other bicycle organizations especially the bar hopping cruiser kind, and participate with their rides.
7. An artist friend to come up with chapter logo or do it yourself. Search this site to see how others did theirs.
8. If you build bikes, then keep building more, and loan them to your friends for rides.
9. Big groups of people riding freak bikes in populated areas will attract attention, and help spread the word.
10. Participate in parades, and other large public events with your mob of freak bikers.
11. If your ride events are too frequent it's harder to get people to participate, but the more you get out and ride the
more exposure you'll have, so you have to find a balance.
12. Get local bicycle shops to display your cards, and find other bicycle friendly business' like pubs to display cards.
13. Be patient, but keep promoting, and it will happen.