Ticket to Ride

This party could change your life. Bicycling magazine’s Biketown program has been giving away bikes to those who make a convincing case that a bike might alter their existence positively and then following up on the winners’ stories. Now, with help from Salvagetti bike shop, at 1611 Platte Street, and Jamis Bicycles, the magazine is hosting one of its biggest bike giveways yet.

For Salvagetti owner Scott Taylor, the project fits right into his mission statement. “That’s exactly what we do — try to change people’s lives with bicycles,” he says. “Except we have to pay for the bicycles, so we have to sell them.” Tonight, though, at Salvagetti’s Bike Party, Too, they won’t be selling them. Thanks to a donation worth over $15,000 from Jamis, Salvagetti is giving away thirty bikes to Bicycling’s neediest area essayists — but don’t rule out the possibility of wrangling one yourself. “Inevitably, there are always a couple of winners who don’t show up, so we’ll just be giving those bikes to people in the crowd,” Taylor says.

Even if you don’t get a bike, at least you’ll get some free beer. The party goes down at Salvagetti from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; find more info at www.salvagetti.com, or call 303-691-5595.

Thu., Aug. 19, 6:30-9:30 p.m., 2010