Bike Columbus Festival is being held this weekend, Friday and Saturday, July 16 and 17, 2010. This festival celebrates bike enthusiasts of all levels and the commitment to making the streets safer for biking in the city.
The festival kicks off at Crew Stadium on Friday with the Ineeda Bike Swap, from 3 to 7 p.m. in Crew Stadium’s VIP tent. Admission is $5 for those 13 and older, free for those 12 and younger. Those who register for other festival events also get in free. There will be bike supply vendors, seminars, food and beverage, as well as pre- Twilight Ride festivities from 6 – 7 p.m.
The Mayor’s Twilight Ride on Friday, July 16 is an evening bike from beginning and ending at Crew Stadium. The ride begins at 8 p.m. and there is an option of a 20-mile ride and a nine-mile ride.
Registration for the Twilight Ride costs $25 in advance or $30 the day of the ride. Each participant receives a ticket to the Aug. 28 Columbus Crew game.
On July 17, the Barbour Memorial Challenge Tour will begin from the Arena District. This race is named for Steve Barbour, an Upper Arlington resident who was killed after a car struck his bicycle in Hilliard in 2009. There is an option of four rides — of 31, 62, 93 and 124 miles — with the longest stretching to Hocking County.
The entry fee is $25 for the Tour. Check-in runs from 7 to 9 a.m., with the two longest rides starting at 7:30 a.m., the 62-mile ride starting at 8:30 a.m. and the 31-mile ride starting at 9:30 a.m.
You may register for the Twilight Ride and the Barbour Tour for $40 total and will also enjoy food, beverages, and entertainment after each ride.
Proceeds from the Barbour tour go to the Consider Biking Steve Barbour Memorial Fund, which promotes bike safety and education programs, as well as the Columbus Outdoor Pursuits program, which goes to infrastructure that can include amenities such as bike racks and signs. The Twilight Ride raises money for the Institute for Active Living.
Click here for more details about Bike Columbus.
