A hub for cold fixings and hot rides

Big Ring Cycles and the Golden Optimists Club were serving up sweet treats to fill peoples’ need for some cold fixings.

“We’re lucky today was about 90 degrees,” said Peter Darragh, who does social media and marketing for Big Ring Cycles. “You’ve gotta have ice cream in the summer.”

The ice cream social on Aug. 3 attracted a number of local cyclists from all over the Denver-metro area to the bike shop in Golden. But the main reason for the event was to spread the word about the Golden Optimists, said Darragh, who got his start with bicycles through volunteering with the bicycle recycle program.

“We get people on bikes,” Darragh said, referring to the shop and the Golden Optimists.

“Getting bikes into the community is always a good thing,” said Darin Dolezal of Lakewood, who brought his two children, Henry, 11, and Rosie, 7. “It’s a good way to change peoples’ lives.”

Wheat Ridge residents Meghann Castillo and brothers Tyler and Mitchell Volz agree.

The ice cream social was one way for people “to see the world of cycling,” Castillo said, who added the three of them ride their bikes as often as possible. “Mountain biking is where my heart is.”

A couple of weeks ago, Nate Zeile and Matt Chu, recreational cyclists who belong to the new Wet Dog Cycling Club, walked into Big Ring Cycles with a mangled tire after riding Lookout Mountain.

“They lent me a wheel so I could ride my bike back here,” Zeile said.

The two Denver residents ended up befriending Darragh and got invited to the ice cream social to learn more about the Golden Optimists.

Now they’re considering volunteering with the club.

“What an awesome way to learn about bike maintenance and give to the community at the same time,” Chu said.

Art Buehler of Golden has been with the Golden Optimists for about six years because he likes the idea of being able to help the community by providing transportation. However, he’s not too adept at the bike mechanics side of the club, he said, so what he enjoys most is socializing.

“To be able to get out and do these types of things is really rewarding,” he said of the ice cream social. “It’s fun to meet new people.”

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