Events mark Bike Week
By Bob Downing
Sep 02, 2010 Akron Beacon Journal
The city of Akron will celebrate Bike Week starting Friday.
Events, which actually extend over the next 10 days, include bicycle tours, mountain bike excursions, bike-maintenance workshops and even a bicycle scavenger hunt.
Mayor Don Plusquellic will outline a new 1,100-foot connector from the Northside Station to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail at the Beech Street Trailhead. It is a nearly $1.2 million project.
The mayor will speak at 11 a.m. at the Northside Station.
Other events in Akron's third annual Bike Week include:
Saturday
• The Summit Tour of Metro Parks (STOMP) Bicycle Adventure. Rides of 10, 25 and 63 miles begin at Howe Meadow off Riverview Road in Cuyahoga Falls in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Starting times vary. Helmets are required. Limited to 1,600 bicyclists. Call 330-865-8065 or go to http://www.stompbikeride.com.
• Tour of Akron bike ride with Akron Bicycle Club, 10 a.m. to noon. Meet at Hardesty Park off West Market Street. It will be a 19.5-mile ride. Helmets are required. Check out http://www.akronbike.org for more information.
• Bike maintenance basics workshop, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Summit Cycling Center, 530 S. Main St., Suite 1715. That's in Canal Place (use the entrance just north of West Bartges Street.) For more information, go to http://www.summitcycling.org.
Sunday:
• Towpath Trail bike ride, sponsored by the city of Akron. Meet before 10:45 a.m. at the Northside Station. Ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train to Peninsula. The fare is $2 with a bike. Pedal 13 miles back to Akron. For more information, go to http://www.cvsr.com.
Monday:
• Pedal the Akron Marathon blue-line route from 8 to 10 a.m. Meet at the Spaghetti Warehouse parking lot at 520 S. Main St. for the 26-mile ride. Helmets are required. For those 18 and older only. Sponsored by the city of Akron.
Tuesday:
• Mountain bike ride with the University of Akron. Riders will meet at the university's Student Recreation and Wellness Center at 4 p.m.and drive to the ride location. Transportation will be provided. The fee is $20 a person and pre-registration is strongly encouraged. A few mountain bikes will be available for rent. For more information, call 330-972-7443 or go to http://www.uakron.edu/srws.
• The Akron Bicycle Club is sponsoring a 19-mile road ride in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Botzum Trailhead off Riverview Road in North Akron. Headlight, rear reflector, tail light and helmets are required. For information, go to http://www.akronbike.org.
Wednesday:
• Towpath Trail ride sponsored by the city of Akron. Meet at 6 p.m. at the Spaghetti Warehouse parking lot, 520 S. Main St.
Thursday:
• The Akron Bicycle Club is staging two rides: a fast and hilly ride at 6 p.m. and a leisurely ride at 6:30 p.m. Both rides will begin and end at Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park off Riverview Road in Peninsula. For information, go to http://www.akronbike.org.
Sept. 10:
• Critical Mass bike ride from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Meet at the Highland Square Library off West Market Street.
Sept. 11:
• Introduction to traffic skills workshop. Noon at the Summit Cycling Center, 530 S. Main St. The center is staging a social bike ride from 2 to 4 p.m. and will host a grand opening open house from 4 to 8 p.m. For details, go to http://www.summitcycling.org.
Sept. 12
Bicycle scavenger hunt sponsored by the University Park Alliance. Meet at the UA Student Union outside the Commuter Lounge entrance. Part road race, part scavenger hunt. There will be a long race and a shorter race. Mandatory safety session at 12:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $5. Helmets are required. Participants must be 18 or older and should bring driver's license. Contact info@upakron.com and indicate you want to participate. For more information, go to http://www.upakron.com/crank-up.
