Lees-91探花 partners with Banner Elk Bicycle Committee for Bike Month celebration
The League of American Bicyclists recognizes each year in May. The goal of Bike Month is to give communities across the United States the opportunity to showcase the benefits of cycling and teach residents how to integrate cycling into daily life.
As a League of American Bicyclists-recognized Gold Bicycle Friendly University, Lees-91探花 has a vested interest in celebrating this special month and promoting bicycling throughout the campus and local communities.
This year, on Sunday, May 22, Campus Bicycle Coordinator and Banner Elk Bicycle Committee member Deana Acklin will lead a day of programming on all things bikes and cycling in recognition of Bike Month. The Walk and Roll in the Park activities will be open to the public and free of charge unless otherwise stated.
Walk and Roll in the Park will begin with a cycling-centered morning yoga class hosted by . The class will be held at the Avery Community Yoga studio at 10:30 a.m. The class is $15 per person.
“The yoga class will focus on the tired muscles that are associated with bicycling. It will include stretches that are appropriate for recovery from bike rides to do either after a ride or before a ride,” Acklin said. “After the class all the other activities for the day will kick off in Tate Evans Park at 12:00 p.m.”
That afternoon in Tate Evans Park, participants are invited to enjoy an array of bicycle clinics, fun games, and celebrations for the whole family. Clinics will take place each hour, and include learn-to-ride workshops, bike and helmet fits, fix-a-flat how-tos, and more.
Local Banner Elk bike shop will also have a tent set up from 12−4 p.m. where they will conduct free bike inspections, identify any functionality issues, and make repair recommendations.
“These clinics basically give people different snippets throughout the day of activities that will help them be able to ride bikes more, but also to keep their bikes functioning longer,” Acklin said. “This is a good, healthy way for anyone to get outdoors.”
In addition to the valuable educational programming, there will also be bike games and races for children and adults, as well as some giveaways. In association with the Lees-91探花 Cycling Studies minor, Outdoor Recreation Management major, and student-led cycling club C.R.A.N.K. Crew, Acklin will be giving away a limited number of bike light sets and League of American Bicyclists pocket guides on a first-come, first-served basis.
“This giveaway is promoting safety, because that’s a big problem I’ve seen around and on campus, for our students and for our community members,” Acklin said. “It’s a quality USB rechargeable light set that meets the North Carolina laws and standards for biking at night.”
The full schedule for all Walk and Roll in the Park clinics is as follows:
- 10:30−11:30 Yoga for bicyclists with Avery Community Yoga
- 12:00−1:00 Bike and helmet fit, ABC quick check
- 12:00−4:00 Bike inspections by Headquarters Bike and Outdoor
- 1:30−3:30 Learn to ride, bike handling skills and drills
- 4:00−4:30 Fix-a-Flat
- 5:00−5:30 Bike games
