Once a year, Denverites find themselves fully committed to dusting off their bikes, waking up early and sweating with their coworkers to participate in Bike to Work Day. This year’s event falls on Wednesday, June 28; as extra motivation to get that last-minute tune up before trekking across Denver, we’ve put together a list of the best Bike to Work stations to hit for both your morning and evening commutes. Here are ten stops with free or cheap eats and drinks to fuel you on your self-propelled trip to work and to reward yourself on your way home.
Cake Crumbs Bakery
2216 Kearney Street
303-861-4912
For those starting their commute in the North Park Hill area, breakfast at Cake Crumbs Bakery is a must. An annual participant in Bike to Work Day, Cake Crumbs Bakery has earned its title as a favorite among riders and expects to see at least 150 people cruise through between 6:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday morning for breakfast treats and coffee.
CHUBurger RiNo and Hotbox Roasters
3490 Larimer Street
720-668-9167
When you feel like you’re about to give up on the commute that normally takes you 15 minutes by car but is taking more than twice as long by bike, hop off and grab a doughnut. The burger bar and its sister coffee shop from the Oskar Blues folks are teaming up to hand out coffee and doughnuts to all the out-of-breath riders, and they promise a high five will accompany the treats, too.
Prodigy Coffee
3801 East 40th Ave.
720-441-3187
It still counts as biking to work if you have to haul your bike on the train, stand in your sweaty clothes next to fellow commuters, and then pedal from the station to your office. Luckily, Prodigy Coffee is right off the A line at 40th and Colorado Boulevard, and they’re prepared to help refuel you before that final leg into work. Northeast Transportation Connections will also be onsite from 6:30 to 9 a.m., handing out sunglasses, neighborhood maps and breakfast in addition to your coffee.
The Source
3550 Brighton Boulevard
720-443-1135
A weekday morning cocktail may be frowned on at the cubicle farm, but if you work from home or simply have FOMO and want to get in on the party before cycling back to “the office,” Bike T’werk Day at the Source is definitely the place to be on Wednesday morning. Enjoy a full menu thanks to Wunder Werks, Zeppelin Development, Denver Cruiser Ride and of course, the Source, along with a DJ spinning tracks for a live twerking demonstration. More than 300 riders are expected, so an RSVP is required; register on the Source's Facebook page. Construction is a mess on Brighton Boulevard, so be careful — and wear a helmet!
Übergrippen Indoor Climbing Crag
8610 East 21st Avenue
720-592-0716
For a climbing gym, Übergrippen certainly knows how to put out a good breakfast. And as if free breakfast burritos, fresh fruit and coffee from 6:30 to 9 a.m. weren’t enough, Übergrippen is doing it all over again in the afternoon with the California Wrap Runner food truck. You can also partake in the gym's specialties; this station comes complete with free climbing on an outdoor boulder, five-minute massages, giveaways and showers.
Keep reading for after-work bike party stations...
Briar Common Brewery and Eatery
2298 Clay Street
720-512-3894
If you're riding from downtown into Jefferson Park and beyond, you're in for a tough stretch past the Denver Aquarium, over I-25 and up the hill on West 23rd Avenue. Should you accomplish that feat, reward yourself with food and drink specials at Briar Common Brewery and Eatery, located on the corner of 23rd and Clay Street. The brewery's Bike Party kicks off at 4 p.m. with two-for-one beers, and that’s in addition to happy hour food specials for riders all night long. Refuel after that monster of a hill.
Fiction Beer Company
7101 East Colfax Avenue
720-456-7163
There aren’t many people who want to see your sweaty helmet hair, but the beersmiths at Fiction Beer Company are the exception. Show them your helmet on Wednesday and receive $2 off your first beer. Some exclusions may apply.
Goldspot Brewing Company
4970 Lowell Boulevard
303-955-5657
Goldsport is in the heart of a community that takes care of its residents, including greeting you and your sweat-drenched friends after Bike to Work Day. The Regis University and Berkeley Community After Party will have music, giveaways, games, food trucks and, of course, beer courtesy of Goldspot Brewing Company, Cultivate Health, the Noshery, Dubbel Dutch and Regis University. Pull it together and get to the party from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
Ratio Beerworks
2920 Larimer Street
303-997-8288
In celebration of commuting through Denver, Ratio Beerworks and Lorissa’s Kitchen want to reward riders with a free beer during happy hour. The bike party will follow a 15-minute “Bike with the Bachelors” event from the Arapahoe B-Cycle station at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Riders who show up at the brewery via bicycle will be given a free beer, a pint glass and a raffle ticket for prizes throughout the night.
Skyline Beer Garden
Arapahoe and 16th streets
This is it: the mothership of all Bike to Work parties. More than 1,000 people are expected to cruise through Skyline Beer Garden for happy hour, provided by the Downtown Denver Partnership and BikeDenver. The beer garden will offer two-for-one draft beers or wine, and the first 100 riders that arrive and mention Bike to Work Day will receive a free drink token. The party kicks off at 4:30 p.m. and will wrap up by 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening.
Or sign in with a social account:
FACEBOOK GOOGLE + TWITTER YAHOO!