greenUPGRADER
Upgrade to a Greener Lifestyle
Check out our review/interview featured in greenUPGRADER! It gives some information on why we do what we do and a little on how we do it. Browse the site a little too because this is a great place to find out about all kinds of neat green products and tips on how to live a green life.
Biking in Boulder
Boulder has a biking community that helps to fuel the community around them. Based on a survey done by the group Community Cycles taken in 2011 the Boulder bicycle industry generated an estimated 330 jobs in the years of 2010. These companies that include retail, rentals, and repair shops are essential to continue the growth of the local economy and generated $24.4 million in revenue in 2010, based on this survey. Not only does this outdoor activity create jobs and revenue for the community it gives back. Community Cycles is an organization in Boulder County that focuses on bike saftey and has 800 memebers. This group sponsors Rolling Bike Clinics that goes to lower-income neighborhoods and educateds them on bike safety and organizes the kids’ Holiday Giveaway, that gives away 300 bikes in December to kids who need them.
Upcycle Project | Do it yourself recycling Homemade Coffee Cozy
Love getting cozy with your coffee? Well here is a project for a homemade coffee cozy.
I had coffee today and even though I love it hot in my mouth I do not love it hot on my hands so I had to grab a cardboard coffee cozy for my to go cup. Now these days many of these are at least partly recycled material but it still feels like such a waste so I decided to make one at home.
To start off all you need is an old bike inner tube (for this project I used a mountain bike one), an old cardboard cozy that you used for your last coffee, and needle and thread. I used an old cardboard coffee cozy as the pattern for mine, they are usually just lightly glued at one end, just gently pull it open. I laid the inner tube along this, measured the length, and cut it. The tube is not as thick as the pattern so I just cut along the length and opened it up to make it the same length. Then just simply lay the inner tube down and trace the pattern on the tube and cut it out. Then where the template over laps and they used glue I just sewed it by hand. (the inner tube is a bit tough but just push it through, bigger needles work a bit better) I used black thread for the main stitch and then a colored thread for another line or two to add some spice. And there you have it, a homemade cozy that is sure to keep your hands nice and cool!
Supplies: -old inner tube (bike) -scissors -needle and thread -old cardboard coffee cozy
Gear Level: 4 Time: 35 minutes
MEC
A Canadian Mountain Equipment CO-OP
Our products are being sold at all MEC locations and on their on-line store! We were able to visit the MEC in Vancouver, BC while we were on the road and it was great to get to chat with the staff that was very excited about our products and thankful that someone was upcycling their old gear waste!
REI
Now in stores…
We are proud to announce that we are now in some REI stores and hopefully growing. If you are in the area check out our products in:
Seattle (WA), Berkeley (CA), Anchorage (AK), Tustin (CA), Redmond (WA), Sacramento (CA), San Jose (CA), Atlanta (GA), San Carlos (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Denver (CO), Salt Lake City (UT), Bloomington (IN).
Check here to find a location near you.
EARTH DAY
April 22, 2012 is earth day this year.
Earth day is all about taking a day out of our busy lives and celebrating our earth by being earth friendly! Let’s stand together to stand up for the earth.
Earth Day Events Near Us:
Cruiser Ride with eco-cycle: April 22nd, 5pm-8pm, Meet at Green Guru 2500 47th Street #12 Boulder, CO 80301 at 5pm, Start cruising at 5:30 and end at the St. Julien (900 Walnut Street Boulder, CO 80302) for a 6pm showing of the documentary: Tapped. (call Green Guru or St. Julien for more info)
Whole Foods Electronic Recycle: April 21, From noon-4pm, at 7400 East Hampden Avenue Denver ( Click here for info )
10th Anual Earth Day 5K: April 22, at 10:00am at University of Colorado Research Park 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder ( Click Here for info )
Nature Inspired Storytelling and Dwelling Construction: April 22, at 1:00pm, at Red Canyon Open Space (story telling, a short hike, children are able to make their own homes out of found materials in nature for the animals, gnomes and fairies.) ( Click here for info )
Pikes Peak Library Earth Film Series: April 9, 16, 23, at 6:30pm, at the East Library Community Meeting Room, 5550 N. Union Blvd, Colorado Springs ( Click here for info )
For an Event Near You Click Here to use the event tool.
Portland Bike Expo
Yet another great show in the North West! This time it was in Portland and much like Seattle it was rainy and cool. Not to worry as people are well prepared to ride in these conditions, now even better prepared after getting the latest weatherproof Green Guru Gear packs and bike bags! Again we ran the Sailrite Sewing Machine on the Big Shot Bike Powered Generator which was a huge draw to the booth. We want to thank all those that came out. If you are in the Portland area, you can check out our products at West End Bikes, Clever Cycles and US Outdoors, with more retailers to come soon.
Roller Rumble!
Ready, Set, Rummmble…
We will be racing away at the Roller Rumber in Bent, OR. We are partnering with Cascade Couries, local bike delivery service, and Bend Velo, a local bike shop, to but on this ultra extreme indoor bike race. Meet us there to check out our products and to do some loud obnoxious cheering!
We will be at at the Roller Rumble on March 29th with tons of prizes, click here to see some! Check out their facebook page for more details.
We are Suckers for Seattle!
It was an amazing show with so many customers! People loved all of our products. We also recycled a couple hundred bike tubes at the event! The Big Shot bike powered generator powering the Sailrite Sewing Machine was a real hit. People were so captivated watching the power from the bike run the machine to sew and transform old tubes into cool change pouches and card holders. We were also part of a kids scavenger hunt, where they would ask a bike safety question to receive a stamp. All and all this was one of our best bike shows ever. Thanks Seattle for your support! We look forward to doing it again. If you want to find our products in town, check out Second Ascent, Seattle Electric Bikes, Eurostyle and the REI flagship Seattle Store, with more retailers to come soon!
Upcycle Project | Do it yourself recycling Homemade Cuff
Why pay for those expensive leather cuffs when you can make your own trendy version from an old bike inner tube? You can make these for females or males!
To get going all you need is your old inner tube, scissors, needle and thread, and an old button. For mine I used a road bike inner tube but the thickness will just vary if you use a different type. I took the inner tube and wrapped it around my wrist to measure the size, make sure there is about a 1.5” overlap and that it is not too tight. Mark with chalk or pencil where the ends would be and cut. Double check on your wrist after you cut it, if it is too tight no worries you have plenty of tire left. Take the needle and thread and hand stitch each end closed along the openings. (Bigger needles work better but just push it through; it’s just a tough guy) Now go find an old button, one of those extras in the little bags you always keep, or one from that cool kid shirt you never wore. I used an old rustic metal one I had but an exciting color earns you extra points. Pick one side to sew the button on, sew it about half an inch in from the edge. Wrap it around your wrist with the button on and mark on the other end where you will need the buttonhole. Folding the tube in half just make a cut for the buttonhole. YAY, there you have it, you are now officially part of the cool kids club!
Supplies: -old inner tube (bike) -scissors -needle and thread -button
Gear Level: 3 Time: 25 minutes That is if you can remember the “safe place” you keep your extra buttons…
