NWA Bike-a-Palooza

Read below for event Stuff!

Every Bike-a-Palooza entry helps get a kid a bike!

Every rider is invited to celebrate starting at 11:30am with food, drink, DJ, and vendors after their ride.

These rides are “No Frills” and SAG is largely a phone-a-friend situation.

No Refunds, Rain or Shine - We will move forward in some fashion to support our community.

Don't wait! Online reg ends 8/18 at midnight.

Everyone wears a helmet.

UPDATE:

This is your QR code for proof of registration, for meals, for rides, for drinks…

Bring your lawn chair for after the ride. 

#  Be at the start line 10 minutes prior to your start time to receive any last minute instructions from the Leads.  

# Group picture at 12:00 (Noon) 

# Raffle winners will be announced at noon. 

# Teams set up tents at 6 a.m. 

# Vendors can begin set up at 6 and should be complete by 10 a.m.  Tear down is at 1:30, or sooner if it's getting hot and we're done.   

# All questions can be posted on the NWA Bike a Palooza FB page.  The corresponding ride leads will take it from there.

#The parking map can be found on the FB page.

We will not have a registration table.  If you have questions upon arrival, find the Pedal it Forward tent in the vicinity of the Start /Finish line at Emma and Shiloh Square.

This is a NWA bike event, by NWA bike clubs, to provide bikes for NWA kids.  This is not your typical bike event. It is 100% ran by volunteers of the bike clubs and 100% of the proceeds go to Pedal it Forward (PIF).  If you're not familiar, PIF takes in donated bikes, volunteers recondition the bikes, and those in need receive a bike.  On average it costs $25 dollars in parts to get the bikes reconditioned.  Now you know how we arrived at our $25 ticket price.

We also have very generous sponsors.  You will enjoy a BBQ chicken lunch, courtesy Pruden's and Catering Unlimited.  Ice cream by Unilever.  A keg is provided by Phat Tire and another by Bentonville Brewing.  Axe & the Oak distillery will have mixers to sample.  Our local insurance agent and his daughter are coming out at 6:30 to bring us coffee.  And, there will be tunes.  After the ride hangout for a bit, make new friends, and enjoy the old.  Above all, celebrate that the NWA bike community came together to help kids get on bikes.

Though this event may seem a little different, these clubs have put in a lot of work to make this super cool play day happen.  Basically, you're joining the rides over the routes we enjoy every week. The jersey art is made by a local artist.  The jersey produced by a local dude.  Downtown Springdale Alliance and Explore Springdale played a huge role in making this possible.  If you see the jersey of BMC/Walmart Cycling, Ozark Roadies, Fayetteville Wheelmen, Springdale Bike Club, Soul Riders, No Drop Cycling, Ozark Adaptive, Ride 4 Recovery, or F.A.S.T, shake their hand and pat them on the back.  They've put in a bunch of time for this.  And did I mention, they donated 100% of their time and all paid the same $25 fee.  (Or in some cases much more)  

Bike-A-Palooza routes and start times (Thanks Morgan Lindsey)

1. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43993948 

a. Start time at 7:00am for the 62-mile route led by BMC. Joe Pewett lead.

b. This is a 20mph pace group. 

2. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43994069 

a. Start time at 7:30am for Juan Barcenas, State Farm 48-mile route led by Ozark Roadies and Fayetteville Wheelmen. Mary Lack lead

b. This will be both 17.5mph paced group. 

3. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43449481 

a. Start time at 8:00am for the Mr. Taco Loco 27-mile Greenway ride to Mr. Taco Loco in Fayetteville   and back. 

b.This will be an average pace of 11-14 mph. Morgan Lindsey lead.

4. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43986723 

a. Start time at 8:30am for the mountain bike group to Mt. Fitzgerald. 

b. There will be four pace groups.  Brent Steinspring & Brock Hessing lead.

5. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43993938 

a. Start time at 9:00 for the 16.5mph Fayetteville Wheelmen ride 15mph relaxed 31-mile route led by the Ozark Roadies and Fayetteville   Wheelmen starting at 9:05

b. Ride leads Eric Airola, Todd Romanow, & Stephen Probst for the Fayetteville Wheelmen ride and Dwight Mix is leading the Ozark Roadies Ride.

6. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43451422 

a. Start time at 9:15 for the Caterers Unlimited (aka Soul Riders) 15-mile Greenway ride to the south   and back. Roxana Melchor Buck lead.

7. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43644220  

a. Start time at 9:45 for the Gnargo 7-mile Greenway route to Lake Springdale and back. We honestly have no clue who will lead or what a Gnargo is.  But, we hear it’s going to be a blast.

The MTB guys will have SAG from Mt Fitzgerald provided by Bike Inn.  For everyone else, we have Bike Route out there at a hydration stop for the two longer road rides.  You may want to get your ride leads cell# if you don't have someone else to call in the event of a mechanical.  Just like a regular ride, make friends quick…

Road safety rules

Helmet, flat repair kit, water and nutrition for mileage ridden.Be predictableObey all traffic laws.Don’t be distracted, always look forward. Earphones are discouraged (kind that cover the ear hole), while bone conducting earphone allow you to hear music and what’s happening around you! IT IS IMPORTANT TO HEAR WHEN YOU ARE IN THE GROUP!If you have a flat keep your momentum going forward, just raise your hand while you are coasting till you come to a stop and then move off the road! The person next to you should communicate to the leader that there’s a flat so the group can stop to help with the mechanical.Comfortable riding in groupsRiding beside another cyclistsNo sudden movementsSometimes you may have to ride thru something versus making a sudden movement that would make others crash!No crossing wheels, meaning if you are behind someone in the ride your front wheel must not be to the left or right of the persons back tire that is riding in front of you!  If the person in front of you were to try to avoid a pothole or other object their back tire will come into contact with your front tire and make you both and possibly others go down and wreck!Call out all obstacles in the road (if you see them) If you are a higher speed never take your hands off the bars. Signal the object by either “flicking” your elbows or verbally communicating!NEVER cross the yellow line to pass and or ride close to the yellow line!Never pass on a curve or hill!If you need to eat something while the group is moving wait till you are on the back of the group, this prevents a bigger accident in case you lose control of your bike.Half wheeling! This means if you are in the front pulling you need to match the speed of the person next to you! If you are “half wheeling” you are making the other person next to you try to match your speed while you continue to drive the pace and breaks the group up!

Mountain Bike Safety Rules

If you are uncertain about which group to join, please opt for the next lower ride level, if you find you need a greater challenge there is always next week. Keep in mind this is a group ride for all levels of rider enjoyment from experienced to beginner and it’s every rider’s responsibility to create this environment through communication and awareness.A Group:
“High” paced and challenging group ride, with minimal stops.
These are the faster of our group rides.
Be prepared to push your physical limits & technical skills.
Trail difficulty will be Blue, Black, & Double BlackB Group:
“Above average” paced and somewhat challenging group ride, with regrouping as needed.
Average pace on flat terrain 8-9 mph
Distance can be 10-12 miles
Trail difficulty will be mostly Blue and BlackC Group:
Average paced ride, the ride will regroup often.
Average pace on flat terrain 6-8 mph
Distance can be 8-10 miles
Trail difficulty will mostly be BluePar-D-Pace:
Average Pace below 6-8 mph, frequent stops and shenanigans
Distance can be 8-10 miles
Trail difficulty will mostly be Blue***New Mountain Bikers please make sure to introduce yourself to the Ride Leader & Sweeper***Every rider within each group is responsible for knowing where the rider behind them is and communicating forward if there are issues during the ride. The slowest rider is the most significant rider of any group.
COMMUNICATION is key! If for any reason, there is an issue and riders need to split up or break off from the group this must be communicated verbally to another group member and then later communicated to the entire group at one of the stops.
Two major rules:
Never leave/split off from a group without telling someone.
Know where the rider is behind you.Greenway ride rulesHelmetSpeed limit is 15mph.When stopping, clear the trail.Stay to the right when entering sharp turns and tunnels.Read the road rules and utilize those that apply. Dude, it is likely we've missed something really important in this STUFF.  We want to make sure you have as much fun as is legally allowable on a bike.  Reach out on the FB page with any questions.  Or feel free to ping me, although I plan on riding a bike the next couple of days.  But, we gotcha. Nothing but Big Bike Love from the NWA cycling community,Bret McCormickPaloozer