Whatever next week's weather is like, the climate should be just perfect for Bike to Work Week.

The annual bicycle commuting promotion, which kicks off Monday, has consistently been a soggy one here. This year it's rolling through a spike in gas prices, which smells like opportunity to Bike Pittsburgh executive director Scott Bricker.

While $3-a-gallon still isn't making people abandon their automobiles en masse, it makes many more open to this people-powered alternative, he says. "This is one way to avoid some of those costs, and parking costs."

Besides, says the person who frequently, but not always, bicycle-commutes the six miles from home in Friendship to work in South Side, "It actually feels good to get on your bike in the morning." When he drives, "I feel myself being a lot more frustrated."

The local part of national Bike to Work Week is meant to show people how pleasant and easy it can be to commute this way. New for this year, Bike Pittsburgh is holding a Commute by Bike Workshop at the REI store at the SouthSide Works to cover some of the basics. The workshop runs from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Other events include al fresco biker breakfasts from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday at three locations: the City-County Building on Grant Street, Downtown; Whole Foods on Centre Avenue in East Liberty; and Carnegie Library on Forbes Avenue in Oakland.

Another breakfast will be served from 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at Carnegie Mellon University in Oakland.

From 5 to 7 p.m. May 19, there's a biker happy hour at the Brillobox at the corner of Main Street and Penn Avenue in Bloomfield, where bicyclists can listen to music and enjoy drinks (discounted for Bike Pittsburgh members) and continue to talk.

Mr. Bricker says focusing on networking rather than riding can not only keep everyone drier, but also help further his still-young group's goals:

"We really want to meet more people, connect them with each other, connect them to Bike Pittsburgh, tell them that we're there to represent their interests and try to make this place more bike friendly."

There'll be many rides and other fun during the big 12-day BikeFest that starts June 23. For more on both events, and lots of information on biking to work and for fun, visit the Web site www.bike-pgh.org. The group's phone is 412-726-5872.

There you can also find information about joining a new "BikePool" (a commuting group program Bike Pittsburgh just started with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission) as well as which 11 shops will give you a free bike safety inspection this week and next week.