Category: Local Fun (Page 14 of 17)

Bike MS: Kansas City Stopping over in South Park Saturday 9/17

September 16, 2011 /

It’s official! Bike MS Kansas City & Bike MS Eastern Kansas are merging into one new and exciting ride. The Kansas City starting point will begin in Olathe, Kan., at Garmin’s headquarters. The Eastern Kansas starting point will begin in Topeka. Both rides will merge into one and travel to Lawrence, Kan., for an even bigger and better overnight.

Bike MS: Kansas City Ride FAQs — Link to Website

Route Options

DAY ONE KC START OPTIONS: 38, 71 & 109 miles. Five miles may be eliminated from the KC and Topeka Century routes, depending on construction. Route towns include Olathe, Spring Hill, Edgerton, DeSoto (lunch stop), Basehor, Tonganoxie, Eudora and Lawrence.
DAY ONE TOPEKA START OPTIONS: 38, 71 & 114 miles. The decision to take the 71-mile versus the 114-mile route occurs at the lunch rest stop (#5) at approximately Mile 59.
DAY TWO OPTIONS: 38 & 71 miles. Both routes will begin at South Park in Lawrence and will finish at the starting line at Garmin’s Headquarters in Olathe.

Start/Finish

KC START: The ride begins at Garmin’s Headquarters: 1200 E 151st St, Olathe, KS 66062, on Sept. 17. Start line will open at 7 a.m. for the 71-mile and 109-mile routes. Top fundraisers are first in line! Short route riders will begin at 8 a.m. All routes will re-combine at Mile 10.
TOPEKA START: The ride begins at Shawnee Heights Middle School: 4335 Southeast Shawnee Heights Rd., Tecumseh, KS on Sept. 17. Start line will open at 7 a.m.
FINISH: The second day begins at 7 a.m. at South Park in Lawrence.
Riders will cross the finish line at Garmin in Olathe on Sept. 18. You will get your finish medallion, claim your luggage, grab food and listen to music. Don’t forget to take your bicycle home!
Bring your kiddos for a bicycle rodeo and helmet fitting at the finish line from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., sponsored by Headstrong for Jake (headstrongforjake.org). Enjoy the festivities and cheer in the finishers!

The Village

The Village is hopping! All along South Park (11th to 12th Street), Massachusetts Street will be closed for Bike MS.
TENTS: The Boulevard Hospitality Tent will serve beer and feature live music and general info about the weekend; The Research Medical VIP Tent will be available for TreadSetters with a special spread of food and drink; The Ameriprise Information Tent will provide detailed info about the Village activities, including tent maps, the music line-up and vendors.
TEAMS: From the Vermont St. side, teams will be able to bring supplies into the Village by vehicle, but vehicles cannot be parked on the grass. All supplies needs to be delivered to tents by 10 a.m. to ensure the safety of all people involved. No vehicles will be allowed in the park after.
ACTIVITIES: Invite your family to enjoy the festivities including a playground, bounce house and many other fun things!
FESTIVAL: Ingredient will host a festival of music, food and drink on the East side of South Park. Starting at noon Saturday, listen to live bands on two separate stages while enjoying tastes of Lawrence from local food and drink vendors. The MS Society will not have a free pasta dinner, but meals will be available for purchase through vendors, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the MS Society.

The Overnight

ACCOMMODATIONS: Free outdoor camping in South Park is on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited indoor camping will be in the Lawrence Recreation Center. There are also many hotels.
SHUTTLES: Purchase a $5 ticket and receive shuttle service to your hotel on Saturday and back to the start line on Sunday. Schedules will be in the Ameriprise Info Tent.
SHOWERS: Portable showers will be available at South Park. Our contracted vendor has successfully provided clean, private, warm shower services to many other Bike MS rides across the country.
ONE DAY ONLY RIDERS: A shuttle back to the Olathe start from Lawrence will be available for those only participating on Saturday. If you have not yet reserved a spot, call the MS Society.
DAY TWO RIDERS: The MS Society will not provide shuttles back to Topeka from Olathe. However, riders who need a way back to Topeka on Sunday can share their need by connecting with other riders through a Google Group: Bike MS-Topeka Ride Share (http://groups.google.com/group/bike-ms-topeka-ride-share) or ([email protected]).If the demand for rides from Olathe to Topeka outstrip the supply of rides, other accommodations may be arranged.

Octoginta comes to Lawrence October 8-9

September 14, 2011 /

Come to Lawrence, Kansas October 8-9 and join the Lawrence Bicycle Club and hundreds of other cyclists for the traditional wind-up event of the year. Sign up early; entrance is limited to the first 1,000 riders. In its 42nd year, the Octoginta is truly a fall classic. So come join the festivities this fall. It’s never been better!

Known as one of the best rides in the Midwest, the 2011 Octoginta promises to be another great end-of-season ride. The Lawrence Bicycle Club prides itself in going the extra mile to give you the best SAGs and support along with the gorgeous fall foliage that combine for a ride you’ll never forget.

The Sunflower Bike Shop and all of the Sunflower employees will again be providing a full breakfast with all of the trimmings at their expense as a part of their sponsorship of Octoginta. You won’t want to skip this SAG unless you were hoping to lose weight on the ride.

Early Registration Deadline is September 25, 2011
For more information
Contact: Justin Graham, [email protected].

Ride Schedule

Saturday, October 8

7-8:15 a.m. – Time Trial

Registration is between 7-8:15 a.m. Start of the Octoginta Weekend by testing yourself in “the race of truth” – an individual time trial! Classes available for all ages and skills.

Riders start at one minute intervals and race over the flat out and back 10 km. (6.2 mi.) course. This event will also serve as a fund raiser for the Free State Racing Team.

Location: Parking and registration at the KDOT materials lot located at the intersection of E 1750 and N 1400 Roads 2 miles east of Lawrence.

Entry Fee: $20 except age 10-18 FREE! Pre-registration information is available at http://freestateracing.com. Event held under USA Cycling (USAC) permit. All USAC rules apply. All participants must have USAC annual license or purchase one-day license for $10.

Contact: Curtis Martell, http://freestateracing.com.

8 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Pre-registration

Come down to the Broken Arrow Park on Louisiana and 31st St., between 8 a.m.-7 p.m. to register and pick up your packets. Beat the Sunday morning rush and register on Saturday!

9:30 a.m. – Tour de County

Enjoy this 30-mile round-trip ride through pastoral Douglas County. Return for brunch at downtown Lawrence. The ride departs from the Broken Arrow Park, with a SAG at the halfway point. Helmets are required. Fee: $5

2 p.m. SWAP Meet

Looking for something? Want to get rid of something but can’t quite bring yourself to throw it away? Come to the SWAP meet at Broken Arrow Park and go home happy.

Contact: Michelle Jensen, Women’s Free State Racing Team, [email protected]

7 p.m.- KC Sprints Roller Racing

Stop by the Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St. in beautiful downtown Lawrence for some indoor roller racing courtesy of KC Sprints.

Registration is at 7 p.m. and racing begins at 8. Register for the tournament ($5), grudge matches ($2), or both. Proceeds go to Women’s Free State Racing Team. Ages 21 and over.

Contact: Michelle Jensen, [email protected]

Sunday, October 9

7 a.m. Ride-day Registration & Check-in

Late registration & check-in begins at 7 a.m. at the Broken Arrow Park on Louisiana and 31st street. Note: this is a new location for the start of this ride.

8:30 a.m. – Ride Start

The mass start begins at 8:30 a.m. at Broken Arrow Park on Louisiana and 31st street. Please be registered and checked in before this time.

Another beautiful route has been chosen for this year’s 80-mile tour through northeast Kansas. In addition to the 80-mile ride, there will be a shorter route around 40-miles. View the fall colors as you bicycle scenic country roads.

The route will be patrolled by County Deputy Sheriffs.

Sunflower Bike Shop’s SAG has become famous for its breakfast fare of bacon, sausage, eggs, french toast and extras sure to fuel up the hungriest cyclist.

The 80-mile riders will enjoy a brats and sauerkraut SAG before heading back to Lawrence.

The Lawrence Bicycle Club will be serving the traditional minestrone soup and sandwich lunch acclaimed as the best of any ride in the Midwest. Lunch will be served at Broken Arrow Park at the end of the ride.

CycleWorks will be performing emergency repairs.

Long Sleeve T-shirt

This 2011 edition T-shirt will be made of nylon wicking material and have the Octoginta logo printed on the chest and will be blank on the back to make this shirt a valuable addition to your wardrobe. Cost: $20 each.

Cycle Works & Lawrence Bicycle Club are coordinating beginner’s rides on Mondays!

August 15, 2011 /

Where: Cycle Works @ 2121 Kashold

Pre-Ride Q&A: 6:15 pm
Ride Start: before 7:00 pm
Pace: less than 12 mph
Distance: less than 15 miles

Route: Loop from Cycle Works to and around Lawrence Bike Path
Helmets are Required, and don’t forget a water bottle too.

This ride is just for fun. Beginners of all ages welcome.

No one will be left behind.

Sponsored by the
Lawrence Bicycle Club
Web Site: www.lbc-cycling.com
E-mail: [email protected]

Cycle Works
2121 Kasold Dr
Lawrence, KS 66047
(North of Clinton Pkwy Hy-Vee)
785 842 6363
www.cycle-works-ks.com

Reprint: Lawrence’s first Community Bike Ride draws 125 participants

July 20, 2011 /

This is a reprint from the Wellcommons website about our Bike Ride!

http://wellcommons.com/groups/bicycling/2011/jul/16/pics-lawrences-first-community-bike-ride/

Despite hot, humid weather, Lawrence’s first Community Bike Ride this morning drew 125 participants of all ages. At age 69, Bob Swan, Lawrence, got on a bicycle for the first time in nearly 40 years and rode two miles. He took a spin around the Rotary Arboretum with his daughter Amy Swan, 35, and granddaughter Maya Morris, 8.

“Hey, I didn’t have a cardiac arrest,” he said, with a grin.

Lawrence’s first Community Bike Ride drew three generations of riders. From left, are Bob Swan, 69, with his daughter Amy Swan, 35, and granddaughter Maya Morris, 8, all of Lawrence. by Karrey Britt

Meanwhile, Parker Moore, 4, was able to ride his bicycle without training wheels for the first time.

His parents, Jim and Allison, were having a birthday party for him after the event because he was born on Christmas Day. They wanted to give him a 4 1/2 birthday party where he could invite his friends. What’s he getting for his birthday? A new bike and now he’s ready!

Four-year-old Parker Moore concentrates on balancing without training wheels as his father, Jim, lets go of his bicycle as the two participated in the first annual Community Bike Ride hosted by the Lawrence Central Rotary Club Saturday, July 16, 2011 at the Rotary Arboretum near the YSI sports complex in west Lawrence. by John Young

Participants came and went during the two-hour event, which started at 9 a.m. They could pick between three rides: one mile, three miles and eight miles. Some took the mile loop around the Rotary Arboretum several times, took a break and then rode again. Many discovered the bike trails in the area for the first time and said they would be back.

Here are some pictures from the event, which was sponsored by Lawrence Central Rotary Club:

Two riders participate in the first Community Bike Ride at the Rotary Arboretum near the YSI sports complex in west Lawrence. The event featured three different courses that riders could take, a safety zone where children could learn and practice bicycle safety, and a training wheel take-off station where kids could learn to ride without training wheels. by John Young

Eight-year-old Ryleigh Leon learns how to ride without training wheels with a little help from Lawrence resident Steve Harrington. He was using a technique to teach riding without wheels that involves letting the children coast down a slight hill so that the kids can focus solely on balancing and not have to worry about pedaling. by John Young

Avery Qualseth, 7, and her sister Rylee, 10, were handing out T-shirts during Lawrence’s first Community Bike Ride. Avery’s arm was in a cast so she couldn’t participate, but Rylee took the one-mile ride. by Karrey Britt

From left are Rahul Desai, Alyssa Wrightsman, Jessica Stockham and Mark Stockham, all of Lawrence. They rode eight miles during the Lawrence Community Bike Ride on Saturday, July 16, 2011, that started at the Rotary Arboretum. It was the first bike ride they had taken as a group. They said it was a fun, well-organized event and they loved the free T-shirts. by Karrey Britt

Timothy and Jessica Cole, of Eudora, and their three children, Molly, 10, Ryan, 8, and Anna, 5, participated in Lawrence’s first Community Bike Ride. They took the three-mile route, which they described as fairly flat with a nice view. Everyone had a bicycle, except Anna who rode along with dad. The children enjoyed the water misters after their ride to keep cool from the hot, humid weather. Jessica said they try to bike at least twice a week. by Karrey Britt

Ed Heinen, 66, and his granddaughter Jordan Nations, 10, both of Lawrence, rode at least three miles during the Community Bike Ride. Ed often goes on bicycle rides with his grandchildren. They didn’t know about this bicycle trail. Ed said, “Now, I know another good place to come back and ride.” by Karrey Britt

Bob Swan, left, Sienna Leon and her daughter, Marina Profeti-Leon, 5, work on fixing a bicycle tire during the Community Bike Ride at the Rotary Arboretum. Sienna, who is from Italy and in Lawrence for the summer, was lending her air pump to Bob. by Karrey Britt

From left are Zach Bradburn, Richard Falley and Ali Edwards, of Lawrence. They are getting ready to ride eight miles during the Community Bike Ride that started in the Rotary Arboretum. The three have been taking bicycle rides on Monday evenings. This was their first time to ride along the South Lawrence Trafficway bicycle trail near Clinton Lake. by Karrey Britt

Melissa Hoffman, and her son, Braden, 7, foreground, attend the Community Bike Ride. Braden, who just got a new bicycle, was gearing up for the one-mile ride. He rides several times a week. by Karrey Britt

Ron and Carolyn Crawford, both of Lawrence, rode eight miles during the first Community Bike Ride in Lawrence. They both are exercise enthusiasts, often participating in Red Dog’s Dog Days workouts, bicycling and running. Crawford said some of the hills on the eight-mile ride were challenging, especially in the hot, humid weather, but she had fun. by Karrey Britt

A child uses her feet to help her balance as she learns how to ride without training wheels during the first Community Bike Ride hosted by the Lawrence Central Rotary Club Saturday, July 16, 2011, at the Rotary Arboretum. by John Young

Three-year-old Ida Harrington carries her training wheels to the side of the sidewalk after having them removed from her bicycle during the first Community Bike Ride. by John Young

Bicyclists get ready to take off during Lawrence’s first Community Bike Ride on Saturday, July 16, 2011, at the Rotary Arboretum. There were three rides: one mile, three miles and eight miles. by Karrey Britt

LiveWell Lawrence provided a $7,500 grant to the rotary club, which is focused on increasing bicycling in the community. The bicycle ride is just one of the club’s initiatives. It also has established a website called RideLawrence.com — which serves as the clearinghouse for all bicycle activities in Lawrence. It also has commissioned local artists to create unique bike racks and three have been installed in the community.

Marilyn Hull, facilitator of LiveWell Lawrence, said it was good to see so many families participate in the community’s first bicycle event.

“We were hoping that we would get folks who would just get the cob webs off the bikes and pump up the tires and get out here and remind themselves how much fun it is to ride,” she said. “I think it’s really important to have events that are noncompetitive.”

Lawrence Community Bike Ride Saturday July 16 — Fun for the Entire Family!

July 5, 2011 /

Lawrence Central Rotary, LiveWell Lawrence, Ride Lawrence and a host of others present a FREE community bike ride Saturday, July 16th 2011 to promote cycling as a part of a healthy lifestyle at the The Rotary Arboretum at Clinton Park (by the YSC Soccer fields)

Here's more info:

9AM to 11AM
Arrive early to register or download the registration forms below.

Three Rides to choose from (all using trails)

1. ONE MILE EASY LOOP
2. THREE MILE FAMILY RIDE (To the Clinton Lake overlook and back)
3. EIGHT MILE RIDE
(To Langston Hughes Elementary (SAG stop) and back with an extension option to head out to 1-70 and back for a total of about 12 miles with SAG stop.)

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

TRAINING WHEEL TAKEOFF
Experts help kids who are ready to take off their training wheels in a safe and fun environment
SAFETY ZONE
Safe Kids® will help facilitate bike-riding safety demonstrations and provide useful tips for riders and parents

Helmets are required to participate.

(there will be some available – so come out even if you do not own one)

To download the required release forms click the appropriate links below. Everyone participating in the event must have a release. (We will also have them on hand the day of the event.)

CLICK HERE for the Adult Release form
CLICK HERE for the Minor Release form (Parental consent required)

A hearty thanks to the following organizations for helping us put this event together: