The Bluegrass Cycling Club and West 6th Brewing have teamed up to present “Pedaling for a Purpose,” a new event recurring every other Saturday* from April 4 - Sept. 5, in order to encourage, educate and connect cyclists and to raise funds for different cycling-related non-profits. Each event will begin at 9 a.m. at West 6th with an education session on a different topic each time, and continue with a ride at 10 a.m. of differing paces and distances for all skill levels.
For instance, there will be options on the Legacy Trail for those who do not wish to ride on the roads. The groups will be divided accordingly: Novice on the Trail, C level on the trail or on the road, B/C level on the road, B level on the road, A/B level on the road, and A level on the road. Those who do not wish to ride with the Bluegrass Cycling Club groups will also be able to sign up and do an urban ride or ride with a smaller group; however, everyone must wear a helmet.
The first four rides will fund Folk Bike Recyclery of Frankfort, while the next four will fund Bikes for the Bluegrass and the final four will fund Broke Spoke of Lexington. Contributions will be made at $.10 per mile (miles will be recorded at the end of each ride and can be tracked on posters at West 6th), not to exceed $1,000 per organization.
Individual participants can also rack up awards at one point per education session and one point per ride, in order to win “Pedaling for a Purpose” swag at the party in early October. Those who accumulate over 13 points will take home a T-shirt; 18 points will win a jersey.
For more information, contact Pam Thomas at pamjoyky@gmail.com or (859) 312-6395. Thomas says the collaboration would like to extend a special welcome to those “who aren’t a part of the traditional ‘spandex crowd.’”
*Note: The session on the 3rd weekend of May will take place on SUNDAY, May 17th at 1 p.m.