Friday, April 29, 2011

Knoxville's first Blessing of the Bikes

Sunday, May 1
Blessing of the Bikes
3-5 p.m.
Messiah Lutheran Church, 6900 Kingston Pike

A non-denominational blessing of bicyclists and their bicycles. All are welcome. Free maintenance checks by the Bike Zoo. Helmet safety checks. Free coffee provided by MoJoe’s Trailside Coffeehouse.

The Blessing of the Bikes is an annual tradition in which bicyclists are blessed by a priest or pastor in the hope that it will bring safety for the coming season. The first mass blessing of bicycles was held in 1999 at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City. Since its beginning the ceremony has been non-denominational, focusing more on rider safety than religion. The popularity of the service has encouraged other localities to follow suit. Annual blessings are held from Burlington, Massachusetts to Los Angeles to Melbourne and incorporate varying degrees of emphasis on religion, environmentalism, fitness, cyclists' rights, and safety.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Bikes rides this Saturday

Mast General Store and Smoky Mountain Wheelmen Bike Club will offer two bike rides this Saturday, April 16th in support of Legacy Park Foundation and Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness Challenge (www.legacyparks.org/) These rides are designed for anyone who is not participating in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness Challenge but who would like to participate in a fun event to get some exercise and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Both rides will start and finish at Mast General Store, 402 S. Gay St.

The first ride starts at 10 A.M. and will be a 30 mile ride starting at Mast General Store and traveling through South Knoxville and past Ijams Nature Center up and over Bay Mountain then returning back to Gay Street. This will be a ride for a more experienced rider with good bike handling skills while riding on roads. A helmet is required and moderate speeds up to 15 mph will be reached. This is rolling terrain with some short uphill and fast descents. No one will be dropped from the ride.

The shorter ride will start at 11 A.M. and will be 8 to 10 miles in length. The ride will start and finish in front of Mast General Store on Gay Street. This ride will be at slower speeds and be on roads and greenways riding to Ijams Nature Center and returning back to Gay Street. A helmet is required, speeds will be slower and the ride will accommodate all skill levels. This is rolling terrain with some short hills and moderate downhill. No one will be dropped from the ride.

The start of both rides will be in front of Mast General Store, 402 S Gay Street. Parking is free at Market Square Garage and State Street Garage, and the ride will start on time so arrive early. If you have any questions or need additional information please contact Jim Richards at 546-1336 or jrichardsjr.tn@gmail.com

Legacy Parks Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which works to assure that our community enjoys exceptional recreational opportunities, natural beauty and open spaces, and that those assets exist for generations to come. Our mission is to bridge the gap between the services and amenities afforded by government funding and those that allow us to take full advantage of the incredible natural resources of our region. Founded in 2005, the Foundation works in collaboration with the City of Knoxville and Knox County Parks & Recreation Departments and other like-minded organizations to: • Secure funding for land acquisition, park improvements and recreation programs • Accept gifts of land • Provide for and maintain greenway and conservation easements • Advocate for parks and outdoor recreation Everyone can help. Gifts of land, financial contributions, deferred gifts, corporate matching programs and donations of products and services all support the Foundation's efforts to make ours a truly great community with great parks.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Bikes & Blooms rides





Thanks to Dogwood Arts Festival, KnoxRevolution and Smoky Mountain Wheelmen for a successful Bikes & Blooms weekend! We had more than 45 people for the Ijams/Island Home ride on Saturday and more than 80 people on Sunday for the Sequoyah Hills ride. The gorgeous photos of Sunday's ride are by Elle Colquitt. You can find other photos on our facebook page, www.facebook.com/bikeknoxville

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Oak Ridge bike rodeo

Oak Ridge Kids Bike Rodeo April 6, 2011 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. at Flatwater Grill on Melton Lake Thanks to all our volunteers! And thanks to Anderson County Health Dept and Coordinated School Health. Zig zag course
Course 3: driveway and intersection--learning to look both ways for cars!
Course 4: the crazy 8's


Course 1: starting, stopping, riding in a straight line, and looking back without swerving!
safety talk by Anderson County Fire Department
Bike safety checks by Cedar Bluff Cycles
Helmets and helmet fitting by Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area
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