Local cyclists celebrate national bike month
Donned with redheaded wigs, bicyclists gathered in Friendship Square in downtown Moscow Tuesday for a quick ride around the city.
Inspired by the “Ginger Ride” in Portland, the seven cyclists — only one of whom was a natural redhead — rode to Mountain View Park and back to Friendship Square.
Kira Hunter | Argonaut
Members of the Bike for Life group in Moscow strap on helmets at Friendship Square in downtown Moscow Tuesday to get ready for their version of Portland’s “Ginger Ride.”
“People decided that they want to be redheads,” said Debra Feiger, organizer of the ride and a natural redhead. “Every person has a dream to be a wild redhead.”
Group rides like this is one of the ways Bike for Life Moscow tries to bring cyclists together, said Karin Clifford, Bike for Life member. Anyone is welcome to join the rides, no matter how confident they are with their riding abilities.
Many Bike for Life rides will be organized this month in honor of National Bike Month, which seeks to raise awareness about the benefits of biking.
“There are people who don’t ride because they are nervous of being on the road,” Clifford said. “The group ride thing is a good way to get people who are timid to go.”
The rides are an opportunity for fellow cyclists to share information about equipment and safety, Clifford said. It is also a way to get community members out of their comfort zones.
“A lot of people will get out of their rut,” Clifford said. “It is kind of fun that way.”
Most of the time, there will be a destination the group will bike to, Clifford said. Often it will be a coffee place or restaurant in Pullman or Troy.
Another event Bike for Life is sponsoring is Bike to Work Day Friday May 15, Clifford said.
Everyone is encouraged to meet downtown, where there will be coffee and doughnuts, as well as resources about using bikes as a mode of transportation.
Kira Hunter | Argonaut
Hananiah Bechard, Leslie Park, Jerry Grzebielski, and Debra Feiger, members of the Bike for Life group founded in 2009, embark on a bike ride to explore Moscow on Tuesday.
“We try to get bicyclists connected in this town,” Clifford said.
Bike for Life, along with local bike shops, will host Bike Fest Saturday May 16, in Friendship Square during the Moscow Farmers Market.
Bike owners can come and get minor repairs and maintenance done on their bikes for free, Clifford said.
Bike for Life is not a club, foundation or commission, Clifford said. It is a nonprofit and not that formal.
“We are a loosely knit group of bicyclists who promote and encourage people to ride,” Clifford said.
Starting in 2009, a group of cyclists got together and decided to start having group rides, Clifford said. The group grew and started to sponsor events, such as Bike to Work Day.
In the beginning, members would promote their events using flyers and photocopies, Clifford said, and now they have a website and Facebook page.
Biking is a great way to have fun, get around town, connect with people and get some low impact exercise, Clifford said.
“It is a free feeling to be on a bike,” Clifford said.
Graham Perednia can be reached at [email protected]