Meet Nick Roppo, this month’s Bike Hero! Nick is a hairstylist at Babooshka, a funky little East Colfax salon where he’s been biking to work nearly every day, winter months included, since he moved to Denver two years ago. Nick says, “I choose to bike because it’s economical, a good workout, and it makes me feel a part of a great culture of bike enthusiasts.”
A bike enthusiast himself, Nick rides his road bike an average of 30-50 miles on the weekends in addition to his four-mile daily commute. “There is so much to see on a bike that you don’t see in a car,” he says. “All senses are active on a bike–sights, sounds, smells–I love it!”
Nick estimates that about 40% of Babooshka’s clientele ride or walk to their appointments at the shop. If he finds out his clients ride, he always reminds them to wear their helmets and says they always heed his advice. Apparently with Nick’s twelve years as a stylist, colorist, and wax specialist, not even a helmet can ruin his creations! Kudos, Nick, for helping make Denver a more beautiful place to ride–and for making its riders more beautiful, too!
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Bike Hero of the Month Awards highlight different people each month, and help encourage other people to bike by telling the Hero’s personal story. The goal of the Bike Hero Awards Program is to showcase the diversity of citizen-cyclists and the people who support them in Denver.
BikeDenver’s Executive Director Piep van Heuven says: “We introduced the Bike Hero awards because we want to encourage a friendly environment for and public image of bicyclists in Denver. One of the ways we can do this is to showcase the different faces of and great stories about people in our community, like Nick, who ride bikes or help others get out there and ride. Through the Bike Hero awards, BikeDenver honors bicyclists of all ages and walks of life, from the first time bicyclist to the rain or shine bicyclist! We all know people (our neighbors, co-workers, family members or community leaders) who inspire us to reach for the handlebars instead of the car keys. Take a moment to look around you and help BikeDenver recognize the people in our community who are making a difference for Denver, one ride at a time!”
To nominate a Bike Hero, please send a photo and a brief description of why you think they should be recognized (100 words or less) to info(at)bikedenver.org.
We started naming Bike Heroes in 2010; meet them here!
April 2011 Bike Hero – Dave Moore!
March 2011 Bike Hero – Patrick Doyle!
February 2011 Bike Hero – Tiffany Barnhart!
January 2011 Bike Hero – Doris Kimbrough!
December Bike Hero – Kelly Brough!
October Bike Hero – Dr. Mervyn Lifschitz!
September Bike Hero – Curtis Caldwell!
August Bike Hero – Liz Riviere!
July Bike Heroes – Highland 4th of July Kids Bike Parade Organizers!
June Bike Hero – Sherry Sampson!
April Bike Hero – Peter Thulson!
March Bike Hero – Broox Pulford!
February Bike Hero – Rocio Rowland!
January Bike Hero – Chad McKeehan!
Our Bike Heroes get a nifty certificate, the public notoriety of being named a Bike Hero, and a $50 gift card from supporter Bicycle Village!
BikeDenver is Denver’s bicycle advocacy organization. BikeDenver promotes and encourages bicycling in and around Denver and works to make Denver a better place to ride your bike for fun, recreation and transportation. Why? Because it’s healthy for you, and healthy for Denver. www.bikedenver.org
Bicycle Village has been a Colorado owned and operated business for more than 30 years. From modest beginnings in an 1800 square ft. building in West Denver, Bicycle Village has grown into the largest bicycle retailer in the Rockies. www.bicyclevillage.com
Fun Stuff:
See BikeDenver’s PSA’s and learn about the great reasons to ride in Denver: “Priceless”“Why I Ride”
You can help make Denver’s streets safer for people like Nick by becoming a BikeDenver member:Join BikeDenver!
