Pajama Party Night Ride
Century Cycles is putting the old-fashioned slumber party on two wheels for its 3rd Annual Pajama Party Night Ride on the Towpath Trail on Saturday, May 19, at 7 p.m. at the Century Cycles store in Peninsula (1621 Main Street/Route 303).
The nighttime bicycle ride in bedtime clothes is in celebration of Cleveland Bicycle Month in May, and it will benefit Project Night Night children’s charity. It is free, open to the public, and suitable for all levels of bicyclists. For more information, visit www.centurycycles.com/for/NightRides or call 330-657-2209.
7 p.m.: The festivities start in the parking lot of Century Cycles’ Peninsula store with cycle-your-own-smoothies on the blender bicycle, glow-in-the-dark goodies and bike accessory giveaways, a few rounds of “Spin the Water Bottle for Cycling Truth or Dare,” and the mutual admiration of everyone’s excellent sartorial taste in pajamas. Riders can also visit with Bike Cleveland, the bicycle advocacy group that is organizing Cleveland Bike Month, to learn more about their initiatives and membership opportunities.
8 p.m.: The rolling slumber party heads to the Towpath Trail for a 14-mile bike ride. At the turnaround point, Night Riders will savor delightfully unhealthy slumber party snacks. After the ride, the party will continue at the Winking Lizard in Peninsula, where an old-fashioned monster movie will play on the TVs in the south room. (Riders are responsible for their own tab at the restaurant.)
The Pajama Party Night Ride is free and no pre-registration is necessary. However, riders are asked to bring a new children’s book, stuffed animal or small flannel blanket for Project Night Night (www.projectnightnight.org), a children’s charity that provides nighttime comfort packages to homeless children. Grunt Girl Racing, a local training group, will be collecting, sorting and delivering the donations.
Pajamas are not required but HIGHLY encouraged. Be sure those pajamas don’t hang, drag or get caught in a bicycle’s spokes or chain. Also required: A bicycle to carry you, a bike helmet to protect your noggin, a bike headlight to light your way (the Towpath is completely unlit and very dark at night), and – if under 16 years of age – an accompanying adult. Riders should park in the Lock 29 Trailhead lot, just north of the store.
For more information, visit www.centurycycles.com/for/NightRides or call 330-657-2209.
About Century Cycles Night Rides on the Towpath Trail
Now in their 18th season, Century Cycles Night Rides on the Towpath Trail are free group nighttime bicycle rides on the Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park that start and end at Century Cycles’ store in Peninsula. They attract hundreds of bicyclists who enjoy it as a fun family outing, a unique date night, or a just a casual bicycle ride with friends to experience one of the area’s most popular bike paths in a whole new way – at night! Held from April through October, Century Cycles Night Rides are casual rides (not races) open to all skill levels of cyclists and participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.
Never biked a Night Ride? Visit www.centurycycles.com/goto/nightrides for the complete 2012 schedule, videos from past rides, and tips for first-time Night Riders.
Started in 1994 as a staff ride, Century Cycles Night Rides were in the national spotlight in 2009 when Bicycling Magazine, the world’s #1 bicycling publication, dubbed them one of America’s great local rides. In 2010, Bicycling Magazine cited the Towpath Trail as one of the reasons Cleveland is the 39th-best bicycling city in the United States.