of weekend cycle tours promising riders breathtaking views, and the kinds of challenges and camaraderie that will return a lifetime of amazing memories. More than 600 cyclists from six states participated in the four rides in the inaugural Cyclefest in 2017.
The Ride Experience Good Morning Starshine Thursday morning, Aug. 2
Perhaps the prettiest place to find yourself in all of Erie is on Presque Isle peninsula during the summer sunrise. Daybreak at Presque Isle is so spectacular that Lake Erie Cyclefest decided to add a sunrise tour of Presque Isle State Park. And, who better to guide the tour than ABC’ s Good Morning Erie’ s Traci Teudhope.
loop of the county. The rides end with a picnic and all riders will be given tokens to exchange for a beer sampling from Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing at the HUB.
Oscar the Grouch’ s Gravel Grinder Sunday, Aug. 5
Brand-new to Lake Erie Cyclefest is the Gravel Grinder, so dirty and bumpy that it will make Oscar even grouchier. Not for the faint of heart or road bike, this grinder begins at Lake Erie Speedway and follows an early Sunday morning 25-mile route around eastern Erie County’ s beautiful Eaton Reservoir, then tags New York and returns to the speedway. The ride will end with a picnic and a beer sampling from Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing.
About Erie’ s Blues & Jazz Festival
Now in its 26th year, Erie’ s Blues & Jazz Festival celebrates its second quartercentury under the leadership of a new board in alliance with Erie Arts & Culture, with founder John Vanco continuing as artistic director. Building on last year’ s expansion, the festival will again present three days of arts activities and outstanding performances for the entire family. Frontier Park will be alive with art of all types while serving as a gathering“ hub” for the bicycle tours.
Internationally acclaimed Squonk Opera— a multidisciplinary ensemble of artists who create post-industrial performances with original music, design and staging“ outside the rules of mass culture, fashion or academia”— headline
Bike Erie Slow Roll Thursday evening, Aug. 2
Whether you’ re visiting Erie from a long distance or you’ ve lived here all your life, you will love this fun and lively, creative slow-ride tour of Erie. The ride ends with live music in Perry Square.
YMCA Jelly Jar Friday, Aug. 3
A 25- or 50-mile non-competitive ride through the Lake Erie grape-growing region, which is the largest grape-growing region in the world, and in August, smells simply grape-er-rific! The ride will conclude with a picnic with woodfired pizza from Brooklyn Pizza and a beer sampling from Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing.
Tour de West County Saturday, Aug. 4
This is Erie County’ s premier bicycle tour with a longstanding tradition of spectacular routes, safety support, water stops and after-ride fun. Tour de West County offers a 12-, 25-, or 50-mile tour— and for the more adventurous, a 100-mile
WQLN Alley Cat Ride Sunday, Aug. 5
This is Lake Erie Cyclefest’ s only bike race. Alley Cat bike races are nine-clue, fun-filled adventure bike rides for the whole family. Cyclefest’ s Alley Cat is a scavenger hunt, which will find you slinking and striding around and through Erie’ s downtown neighborhoods.
Riders will be given lanyards featuring drawings of what they need to find and“ interesting” clues as to where they can be found. Out-of-towners will learn how friendly Erieites are as they call out directions from porches, gardens and lawns. The ride ends with a beer sampling from Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing and the jazzy portion of Erie’ s Blues & Jazz Festival. the Friday and Saturday activities. Scores of artists will participate in visual arts exhibitions— film, theatrical, dance, poetry and puppetry performances— and lead audience engagement activities for both children and adults. Blues from Chicago and jazz from New York are part of the first-rate lineup of regional, national and international musical artists. Offerings from the region’ s mobile food services will complement the usual diverse lineup of local food vendors with Food Truck Friday. Teaming up with Lake Erie Cyclefest is a natural for the Blues & Jazz Festival, a longstanding green event that emphasizes environmental awareness by encouraging comprehensive recycling; walking, cycling, and public transportation; and by championing its beautiful setting in the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier( LEAF), which will be conducting tours throughout the weekend.
Erie’ s Rhythm and Ride Weekend is presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Saint Vincent Hospital, Allegheny Health Network.
To learn more about these events, visit www. rhythmandrideweekend. org. n
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