Lenoir Bicycle Festival to roll through this weekend

News-Topic, Lenoir, N.C.
·3 min read

Jun. 1—LENOIR — Who's ready to ride around city streets, tackle obstacle courses, and win a free bicycle? If that sounds fun, then come to Downtown Lenoir from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 3 for the 2nd annual Lenoir Bicycle Festival.

The Lenoir Bicycle Festival is a free, family-friendly event celebrating bicycling. Activities include a free-ride lane, obstacle courses, and the Impossible Backwards Bicycle Challenge. There will be a time trial with prizes for five age groups and bicycle safety classes with free helmets. Visitors can also register to win prizes including four, brand new bicycles.

"Last year's festival was a ton of fun," said Event Coordinator Joshua Harris. "Everyone had a blast riding around downtown. We'll have a new pattern for the time trail this year, which was very popular. And we have a lot of great prizes to give away thanks to our sponsors."

Everyone who comes to the festival can register to win a prize. Visitors should go to the information tent and ask for a ticket. Tickets are free and limited to one per person. You must be present to win.

The prizes are a Paramount 100 bicycle from Stone Mountain Bicycle Co., a 20-inch mountain bike, a 20-inch street bike, and a 26-inch mountain bike. Other prizes include bike lights, a Google Chromecast, a Google Stadia controller (which can be used as a standard Bluetooth controller), Summer Family Swim passes to the Lenoir Aquatic & Fitness Center, and registrations for City Parks & Recreation sports programs.

The Lenoir Police Department will give bicycle safety classes during the festival. Anyone who completes the class will get a free bicycle helmet, while supplies last. The helmets are provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

The festival starts at 10 a.m. The bicycle safety classes will be from 10 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m. Staff will announce the time trial and prize winners at 1:45 p.m.

Free water will be available. Riders are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

Mayor Joe Gibbons said he is glad to see the festival is back for round two.

"The Lenoir Bicycle Festival is a great event. When else do you get to ride around downtown without traffic?" Gibbons said. "There are a lot of cool prizes, and we're doing the bicycle safety classes this year."

The following sponsors are supporting the 2023 Lenoir Bicycle Festival.

— FleetGenius

— Fairfield Chair

— Blue Ridge Energy

— Happy Valley Filling Station

— Episode 11 Productions

— Rock N Road Bicycles, Hickory, NC

— NCDOT Bicycle Helmet Initiative

— City of Lenoir

— Downtown Lenoir

— Downtown Lenoir Development Alliance

— City of Lenoir Parks & Recreation

"I want to thank the sponsors for supporting the festival," said Gibbons. "I know everyone enjoys the free events we host in Downtown Lenoir, and the sponsors help make those events happen. We really appreciate their generosity."

To read more about the activities and see photos from last year, go to https://www.cityoflenoir.com/calendar.aspx?EID=2795.