It’s time to get on your bikes and ride

The sun is out, and temperatures are finally getting warmer. Are you ready to make some wonderful summer memories? Wouldn’t it be delightful to enjoy the company of family and friends while stretching your muscles, feeling the fresh air in your lungs and taking in the sights and sounds of a Saturday in the lovely month of June?

By golly, we know how you can make this happen!

The sixth annual Project Pedal charitable bike ride will be held on Saturday, June 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event begins in Cahoon Memorial Park and ends at the Bay Village Police Station.

It’s a wonderful chance to both get some exercise and experience joy. Best of all, at the same time you will help to support Village Project in its mission to come together as a community of all ages to provide nourishing meals and extended care and service to our neighbors experiencing cancer. 

To accommodate all ages and riding abilities, there are six routes to choose from: 

  • Pea Pod Pedal (100 yards) is for 2- and 3-year-olds on trikes and big wheels. Registration fee: $20.
  • Sprout Route (400 yards) is for children 6 years and under on two-wheelers, with or without training wheels. Registration fee: $20.
  • Cucumber Course (5 miles) is for all ages. The route travels primarily on side streets with a rest stop at Village Project headquarters. Parental supervision is suggested for young riders. Registration fee: $30.
  • Tomato Tour (10 miles) New this year! This route, mostly in the western half of Bay Village, is geared for intermediate riders of all ages who are ready to pedal a little farther. Rest stops at Village Project and Bradley Park. Registration fee: $30.
  • Kale Trail (15 miles) is for intermediate riders of all ages. The route travels through Bay Village and briefly into Westlake. Rest stops at Village Project and Bradley Park. Sidewalks are available throughout the ride. Parental supervision is suggested for young riders. Registration fee: $40.
  • Artichoke Adventure (25 miles) is for more experienced riders of all ages. The route travels through Bay Village, Westlake, Avon Lake and Sheffield Lake. Rest stops at Village Project and Bradley Park. Much of the ride will take place on well-traveled roads such as Lake, Bradley and Walker. Registration fee: $40.

Route maps for each ride will be available on the Village Project website, ourvillageproject.com/projectpedal.

Registering for Project Pedal can be done directly on the website. Registration forms also may be picked up at Village Project headquarters, 27378 W. Oviatt Road in Bay Village. Riders will receive a Village Project drawstring bag, course maps, SAG support, refreshments, rest stops, scenic cycling routes and sponsor gifts. Families of four or more may apply a 10% discount to their total registration fee.

Riding your bike in Project Pedal is lots of fun, but, of course, the most important goal is to raise money for Village Project. Riders can compete individually or as a team to raise the most for this deserving service organization and win a prize. The top individual fundraiser receives one month of VP meals for up to four people while the top fundraising team wins a cooking class and fun evening for up to 12 people at Village Project. The team with the most creative name earns the right to name a Village Project recipe. In addition, individual fundraisers will receive a $25 Century Cycles gift card for every $250 they raise.

In 2018, over 300 bike riders and 100 volunteers participated in Project Pedal, raising $35,000. This year’s goal is 400 riders and $40,000. These funds will assist Village Project in fulfilling its mission and enable their volunteers to continue cooking three days per week for the communities it serves: Bay Village, Westlake, Rocky River, Avon and Avon Lake.

More information can be found at ourvillageproject.com or by calling Village Project at 440-348-9401.

Diane Frye

I am a Bay Village resident and a volunteer for Village Project. 

Read More on Community Events
Volume 11, Issue 11, Posted 10:24 AM, 06.04.2019