This year, the 2008 Bicycle Bash will be bigger than ever.

The Bicycle Bash by the Bay is scheduled for 11 AM to 4 PM on October 19 at Vinoy
Park on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront.

The Bash is a bicycle festival put on by SWFBUD (South
West Florida Bicycle United Dealers) -- an alliance of seven Tampa Bay-area retail
bike shops committed to promoting bicycling, building bike advocacy and lobbying
local officials to support cycling as a healthy lifestyle and effective mode of
transportation.

You may have noticed that with the soaring price of gas, bicycling is cool again
and is seen as a legitimate way to get around the Tampa Bay area -- whether it's
to bike to work or pedal to the grocery and cycle in a park.

The Bicycle Bash by the Bay is designed as a populist, mainstream bicycle event
that is offering an official invite to bicyclists of all stripes -- bike commuters
and roadies; mountain bikers and single-speeders; fat-tire cruisers and recumbent
cyclists.

This year is extra special because the Share The Road Ride, held by the
St. Petersburg Bicycle Club, is joining forces with the Bicycle Bash by the Bay
to hold its annual bike ride from 8 AM to 11 AM before The Bash.

We have also timed The Bicycle Bash by the Bay to kick off a week-long conference
called Pro Bike Pro Walk that is being held by the Florida Bicycle Asociation in
St. Petersburg starting October 20. The Florida Bicycle Association is a statewide
non-profit organization that advocates bicycling and will have representatives at
The Bash to meet you.

Other 2008 Bash highlights:

• The city of St. Petersburg will hold a bicycle rodeo to hand out free helmets to
  kids and teach kids important bicycling skills.
• Drop off your old bike that you no longer want to pedal at a bike donation station
  and get a free prize.
• Enjoy a swap meet where you can buy inexpensive used bikes and gear -- it's just
  like a flea market for bicyclists.
• Meet SWFBUD member bike shops and talk about the latest in cycling and equipment.
• John Sinibaldi will be on hand again to emcee the Bicycle Bash by the Bay.
• Talk to local bike agencies about bicycle commuter tips and chat with representatives
  from local bike clubs.
• Watch demos on everything from fixing a flat to biking to work.
• Meet bicycle manufacturers and other bike part makers.
• Enjoy food, music and more!!