Dickens of a Ride Set for October 4

Saturday, October 4 is the date set for the 2nd Annual Dickens of a Ride bicycling event, hosted by Claremore Main Street.

Saturday, October 4 is the date set for the 2nd Annual Dickens of a Ride bicycling event, hosted by Claremore Main Street. The event will feature rider’s option distances of 30, 50, 66 and 100 miles, plus a Lazy Lake Loop Fun Ride that will be less than 10 miles. Dickens of a Ride supports the programs and projects of Claremore Main Street, with proceeds helping fund preservation efforts, economic development and special projects including planters, trees, benches and public art. Major sponsors include RCB Bank, Claremore Electric, Wal-Mart, Cherokee Casino-Will Rogers Downs, CPCO Company, Suburban Chevrolet and Quik Trip.

Riders will begin congregating in downtown Claremore’s Gazebo Park, located at Muskogee Ave. & Will Rogers Blvd., before 6 a.m. on October 4 for a $5 pancake breakfast, hosted by the Will Rogers Masonic Lodge. Walke Brothers Meat Company will sponsor lunch for ride participants at $5 per ticket. Riders may pre-register for the bike ride and pre-purchase their breakfast and/or lunch tickets at the same time, or they may register for the bike ride and purchase meal tickets at the event site the morning of the ride. To obtain an official registration form, please go online to www.downtownclaremore.org.

Riders must be 16 years or over, and registration for one of the main route rides is $20. Registrations postmarked after September 6, 2008 will cost an additional $5, so get your registration in now.

Each participant who sends in their completed registration form by September 6 will receive an official Dickens of a Ride T-shirt and goodie bag filled with lots of great stuff, according to event coordinator and executive director for Claremore Main Street Cindy Bissett.

Dickens of a Ride will begin at Gazebo Park at 8 a.m. The routes will take riders through the scenic countryside west of Claremore through Oologah and the Claremore Lake area. Longer routes will continue east of Claremore through rolling hillsides and then back into Claremore from the east. What a great way to build up an appetite for lunch at the Gazebo! And here’s a warning: Be prepared for some hills on the longer routes.

Plenty of friendly, well-supplied rest stops will be available along each bicycling route. Mechanical and SAG support will be provided until 5 p.m. All riders will be required to wear an ANSI, CPSC or Snell approved helmet.

The Lazy Lake Loop Fun Ride, beginning at 2 p.m., is $25 for one adult, spouse and any dependent children. This price includes an event T-shirt and goodie bag with early registration.

A free Children’s Bicycle Safety Rodeo for children six to 12 years of age will take place in conjunction with event activities at 1 p.m. Check in is at the Gazebo. The Safety Rodeo is sponsored by the Claremore Police Department and will promote and build bicycling safety skills for on-road riding, in addition to basic bike safety. The segment will last approximately one hour and be full of fun, games and activities for young participants. Following the rodeo, participants will join the Lazy Lake Loop Fun Ride to practice their newly learned bike safety skills. Parents are welcome.

Dickens of a Ride will be a great, fun bicycling event with lots of prizes and friendly people providing riders encouragement at rest stops along the way. Get your reservation in today.

For more information, contact

Claremore Main Street

(918) 341-5881

www.downtownclaremore.org