Ah, Bike To Work Day — Mixte’s favorite holiday. With our new office space and more Mixte-ers than ever before, we decided to step up our Bike To Work game. We hosted a pit stop at our office. We gave out cinnamon rolls and fresh mugs of coffee. And, we launched San Diego’s only Bike From Work event. Safe to say May 27 was one for the Mixte books.
The morning began as most mornings at Mixte do; with bikes and coffee.
Friends, Mixte-ers and Sandy, owner of The Wine Pub, set up our patio with bike swag, cinnamon rolls and chalkboards to welcome folks on their way to work.
Friends new and old stopped by to say hi on two wheels. Nicole, a local bike-lover, led a bike train of students from Mixte up the hill to Dana Middle School. Our landlord, Greg, came by for some coffee. Staff from San Diego Coastkeeper, Environmental Health Coalition and our web-design and branding friends at SALT Collective even rolled through.
Bike To Work Day officially “ended” at 9 a.m. We packed up the goodies and refocused to get some work done before the festivities resumed in the evening. In collaboration with The Wine Pub, Mixte encouraged folks to attend the only Bike From Work Day in San Diego on The Pub’s dog-friendly, bike-friendly patio.
At 5 p.m. we joined neighbors, fellow bike-lovers and the San Diego County Bike Coalition for a glass of wine (or three) at The Wine Pub. We gave high fives, made new friends, enjoyed tasty appetizers and reveled in each other’s company until the sun went down and we had to finally bike home.
There’s something very special about seeing your friends, clients and co-workers on bikes. I’m not sure I can quite describe the pride it sparked in my heart, but that won’t keep me from trying.
I looked around on May 27 and found myself surrounded with positive, happy people that I’m lucky enough to call my friends and colleagues, and something clicked. Seeing everyone on bikes all at once just warmed my heart. I found myself smiling like a goon for hours as I watched some of the people I admire most roll in to Mixte on two wheels. I couldn’t help it. It felt like everything Mixte stood for was happening right before my eyes. Friends. Community. Bikes. Cheer. A cleaner, better San Diego. The stoke factor was off the charts.
Yes, we were a pit stop on Bike To Work Day, but the other 364 days of the year really aren’t so different. Every day we bike to work. Every day you can find friends rolling up on bikes for hugs, coffee and laughs. Every day we work to make our communities better with other people doing the same. And every day, I am proud to work at Mixte.
Don’t expect us to always have cinnamon rolls though… that’s a once-a-year thing.
