Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/10148
Long Beach Bike Fest 2010 By>>Nate JacksoN 4 LIVEMAGS.NET MAY>>10 L ook down almost any street in Downtown Long Beach for more than 10 seconds and it's likely you'll see evidence glide right past you of the city's thriving bike- riding movement. Whether it's on a pair of skinny black tires or the thick, welded frame of a street bike, this area of the city is rife with bike riders looking to save a little cash on gas, loose a little weight or just wander around town. It's a means of transportation that the city hopes will one day make it the most "Bike Friendly City" in the U.S. Though that's definitely an ambitious goal, it seems that events like the 2nd Annual Long Beach Bike Festival pretty much make their case a slam-dunk. As Long Beach peddles its way to becoming a two-wheel 'in town, local riders will again have the opportunity to take advantage of the city's bike-friendly facilities during the Second Annual Long Beach Bicycle Festival presented by Wokcano Asian Restaurant. This three-day event will be held May 7-9 in various areas of downtown. Looks like they've expanded the fun since last year, which jammed everything into just two days. Aside from hosting a fun weekend of bike culture, the festival also allows the city and Mayor Bob Foster to highlight the success of Long Beach's Bicycle Master Plan (BMP)--a progressive initiative to make Long Beach the most bike-friendly city in the U.S. Whether you are a casual rider, a fixie-cruising hipster or a pro racer, the LB Bike Festival aims to be as diverse as the city itself. The festival fun kicks off on Friday, with fixed gear competitions at the East Village Arts District. "Fixies," or fixed gear bicycles, have no free wheel, which means they can't coast like a regular bike and the pedals are always in motion when the bike is moving. Sounds scary right? Well for those that ride them everyday, the Friday night of the festival Fixed Gear Fest in East Arts Village will be the time to show people just what kind of ninja-like coordination it takes to bust out some tricks and free style on a bike with essentially no brakes. Gold Sprints competitions will also be held on the main stage. The expansion of this weekend bike extravaganza resulted in one major new event that is open to riders of all ages and skill levels. The Tour of Long Beach is a 33- mile course that allows non-competitive cyclists a chance to weave down various bike-friendly paths constructed by the City. If nothing else, consider it a chance to get familiar with all the different bike routes that can take you to your favorite downtown destinations. Your newly acquired knowledge will probably come in handy when you feel like saving some gas money in favor of a relaxing two-wheel cruise around town. The best part: proceeds from the tour go to Miller Children's Hospital, California's biggest, full-service children's hospital located in Downtown Long Beach. Fans of a more competitive, spandex-wearing brand of cycling will probably have the best time at the Bicycle Grand Prix. This mix of 600 professional and amateur cyclists is set to compete in a total of eight events starting at 9:30 a.m. The start/ finish line is located on the corner of Broadway and Promenade so make sure to get there early to watch them compete for a total of $17,000 in cash prizes. One of the most appealing aspects of the Long Beach Bicycle Festival is a desire the city has to supply the streets with family fun. That sentiment is expanded on this year with Sunday's all-day event "Fourth Street in Motion." Located on 4th St. between Cherry and Junipero (a.k.a "Retro Row"), this is a chance for locals to infuse creative culture with action sports and more. Whether it's the Bike Film Festival presented at the Art Theatre, a batch of action-packed roller derby exhibitions, or any of the other great things going on down there, the last day of LB Bike Fest is all about making sure that the fun and spirit of bike-riding culture is ingrained into the future of the Long Beach.