Band kicks off month-long bike celebration

BIKE BAND KICKS OFF MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION
 
                LOGAN — On May 4, you may see an unusually large number of cyclists towing a mountain of audio equipment to Utah State University’s amphitheater. The pedal-powered band “Shake Your Peace” is stopping in Logan to kick off a series of events celebrating National Bike Month. The events are sponsored by Aggie Blue Bikes.
                Additionally, Blue Bikes will host the Cache Valley Bike Festival May 16, sponsor a bike tour to Maple Hot Springs May 22-23 and host a bike movie night May 29.
                “We hope to get more people in the community riding bikes and riding responsibly,” said Christy Jensen, Aggie Blue Bikes event coordinator. “We want cyclists to better understand bike safety and bike laws so they can interact with cars and not be seen as an enemy. We hope the planned activities will raise awareness and make Cache Valley a more cycle-friendly community.”
                The Shake Your Peace concert is part of the “Utahpia Now! Tour,” where the members ride bikes and tow all equipment to every show performed, from Logan to Orem. In addition, an audience member will pedal a stationary bike during the show to power all the sound equipment. The concert is free and begins at 5:45 p.m. at the amphitheater on Old Main Hill. In case of inclement weather, the location will move to the True Aggie Café (117 N. Main Street, Logan).
                The Cache Valley Bike Festival will be held in Merlin Olsen Park (300 E. Center St.) from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. May 16 and is free. The festival will focus on bike education. Vendors will be available to teach visitors how to buy a bike that fits properly, about safety techniques and cycling laws, provide helmet fittings and more. Competitions, including a slow race, drag race, bike toss, obstacle course and more will be held. A raffle for a new bike, gift cards and other prizes is planned.
                On May 22 and 23, Aggie Blue Bikes employees will lead a 50-mile bike trip to Maple Grove Hot Springs in southern Idaho. The cost is $25 and includes the soaking and camping fees and three meals. Up to 10 people can join the trip. To sign up, visit the Aggie Blue Bikes workshop on USU’s campus at 700 North between the Nelson Field House and the Military Science building.
                The classic cycling movie “Breaking Away” will show in the shop May 29 at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
                Aggie Blue Bikes is a student-managed and student-run program that checks bikes out to students free of charge for up to a semester at a time. Its mission is to get more people on more bikes more often to promote health, sustainable communities, reduce vehicle congestion and to better the air quality in Cache Valley. For more information about Aggie Blue Bikes or any of the activities it sponsors during National Bike Month, contact Jensen at 435-797-0964, ext. 3.